Fields of Gold

You'll remember me when the west wind moves 

upon the fields of barley.

You'll forget the sun in his jealous sky 

as we walk in fields of gold.

Silly Saturday Morning

I filled most of my time waiting for Isabel either reading or writing blog posts. I lived vicariously experiencing what motherhood would be like... especially to a tiny Chinese baby girl.


I also remember being disappointed when folks would suddenly slow down their blog posting after the chid got home. And while I know, logically, that this was an inevitably reality, I found myself sort of sad. I wanted to know what  Life After the Adoption was like.

The irony, of course, being that I am now one of those people.

Life continues. All the more busy with this new baby>toddler>little girl. And so, I find myself with a child at the halfway point of her Kindergarten year and stand in awe at how quickly it has all passed.

Life is good. Isabel fills my life with joy. She is a pack rat, a lover of laughter, the ocean and cheese.

And so, if anyone is still reading this blog, here are some photos from yesterday morning. They totally convey her personality.

Going with the Flow...

I grew up in New England… where each season’s weather was fairly predictable: hot and sticky in the summer, cool and breezy in the fall, freezing cold in the winter and miserably rainy in the spring. The rain in particular, which began in March and pretty much hung around until May, was predictable. The sky would gradually start to darken one day, and then the rains would begin and last for days. I was used to the weather staying pretty consistent. So you can imagine my surprise when, after moving to Florida for college, I was introduced to the daily 30-minute summer afternoon rain shower.  It was amazing to me. Sun one minute, rain the next. Though it took a while for my northern brain to get used to the southern weather, I have come to expect that weather changes here often .. and quickly.

Check out the rest of this post... {and the pictures} over at the photo blog by clicking here.

Simple Thanks

It's inevitable. I mean… they DO grow up. I recognize that. It's just that it hits out of nowhere. Like when my daughter came dancing into my bedroom wearing a dress she liked from last summer. Only, THIS summer it looks like a long shirt.

She starts kindergarten in less than three weeks. It seems like just yesterday we were in China with her being placed in my arms. And then there's is that wonderful rite of passage that she went through yesterday… the loss of the first tooth. Is there ANYTHING cuter than those goofy gap-toothed smiles?

And so I sit here. Having just finished slipping some quarters under her pillow and writing a letter from the Tooth Fairy for her to find in the morning. I sit here in amazement at the incredible life I live. And for that I am thankful.

Exciting Things Happening!

I know, I know.
Where have I been?
Well, the mystery has been solved. I have been making one of my dreams come true: starting a photography business. After a year and a half of slowly building a portfolio and client base, I am excited to announce that my photography business is in full swing. I had two amazing women design my new logo and my new blog. You can check them out here.

Where did the time go?

I can't believe it's been almost three weeks since my last post. Such is the schedule of December. In addition to both our of birthdays, one day apart, there was The Polar Express at the Symphony and the Nutcracker Ballet. Throw in the final days of school before Christmas break and, oh yeah, shopping, and three weeks flew by fast.

I got two photography books as birthday gifts that I have been wanting for over six months. I can't wait to dive into them and play. I have yet to get through all the latest photos, however, here are a few from the last couple of weeks. The final one... for B+W Wednesday... is, I think my favorite shot ever of Isabel. I love everything about it.

A Very Merry Christmast to All.

Birthday Girl Enjoying the Cake Batter

Hello Kitty Cupcakes

Birthday Art Project

Big "Brother" Lucas

A Visit to the Symphony's Instrument Zoo

The Nutcracker with Friends

B+W Wednesday

A Teddy Bear Tea at school on Friday and the final concert in the Family series of our city's symphony made for a full weekend.

I love this first shot. Lucas and Isabel are like brother and sister.

His mom is a good friend and colleague.

This is just minutes before we went in to the concert.

After the concert, we headed back over to the fountain at The Landing.

Within minutes, a random game of tag erupted.

There is so much I like about this picture. The joy on the kids' faces, the three different races of the kids, the fact that the girls are in both dressed in their Sunday best and -my favorite- that Isabel is actually airborne.

These next shots are rare... Isabel with a serious expression.

Thinking about her Tea Party.

Listening attentively to the teacher.

I have a picture of her right after we got home from China

that is almost a double of this.

As much as she has changed,

there is still glimpses of that little baby girl

that I can catch now and then.

Mother and Daughter

18 days down, 347 left

This month's color...RED!

I am more than halfway through my first month on the new blog.

This is actually fun and helps me be more focused during my day.