Flying high!

Ever since I heard it mentioned over a year ago I knew that I had to do this:  Trapeze School!  Who could NOT want to do this?!  And it is right in my own backyard in DC... how did I get so lucky?!  I talked my adventure buddy, Lisa, into doing it with me.  We headed up early in case of traffic and had enough time to walk down on the Navy pier.  The class was 2 hours long.  I had figured they would teach us for an hour or so and then we'd get to fly a couple of times.  Nope... they talked for about 10 minutes and then we got going!  There were 10 students in the class and we all went 6-8 times.  It was a blast!  The initial jumping off the platform and then letting go of the bar to dangle by my knees was scary, but after that it was all adrenaline!  By the end of class I had done a flip dismount and was caught by one of the teachers.  Of course, we signed up for two more classes!

Relaxing before class

Lisa went first

I'm ready to go!

and... let go!

"I gotcha"

Lisa finally lets go!

Second 2nd birthday celebration!

My birthday is only 4 days before Cadence's so it seems like a no-brainer that we will occassionally have some combined celebrations.  I did get a little "me time" on that day when my girlfriends and I went to our favorite vineyard to wine "taste" (ok, I did more than taste!).

Off to Kristi's house to meet up with the guys and kids.  My brother had driven all the way from Ohio to surprise me!  The food, wine and friends were good.  I am so blessed to have these people in my life to care about me and my kids... I wouldn't have wanted our birthdays any other way!

Ode to Cadence's favorite book - Counting Doggies by Sandra Boynton

Cadence had a ball with my brother Chris

G's beverage of choice (j/k!)

Some of my favorite kids!

My friends love my girl



First 2nd birthday

 Even in the chaos of my life (we've moved this month) I feel guilty that I am just now posting pictures of Cadence's birthday... but, such is life!  Our sweet girl had celebrated her first birthday at home as she turned 2 years old!  By her 3rd celebration she had the unwrapping thing down like a champ and thoroughly enjoyed all of her sweets.  These pictures are on her actual birthday.  A celebration at my parents house complete with cookie dough cupcakes and a surprise visit from my brother, all the way from Ohio!  I am so glad he was here for Cadence's special day!



 

The day of her birth...

Today is Cadence's 2nd birthday!  We've already celebrated it twice and have another one planned for today.  She's gotten lots of presents, tons of kisses, too much cake, and hundreds of pictures taken to document this event.   I can't imagine our home without her laugh, her antics, and her silliness!  I am so thankful that we get to celebrate this time with her and that she is in our life. 

Honestly, though, I have some guilt about our thankfulness.  Because for all of our happiness and joy, someone else has heartbreak and suffering.  Regardless of "why" her birthmother abandoned her, I can't imagine it was done lightly or without tears.

It's 1:19pm in China right now.  Is she counting down the hours and minutes of the day to note exactly when Cadence entered the world, like I do with Sierra and Laurel?  Has she shed any tears for the little girl that she will never see grow up?  Does she imagine Cadence alone in an orphanage crib or have brighter visions of her in some mother's arms?  Does she have another child in her arms right now?

Not only do I think about Cadence's first mother, I think about the heartbreak that Cadence will endure one day.  One day, when she can understand her story.  We can give her the sun, moon, and stars, but it will never take away the fact that someone gave her up. It may not be until she holds her own child in her arms and feels what maternal love is, but it will come one day.  I pray often that she will understand, forgive, and be at peace with it.  I hope that the love we give her will be enough to make up for the love that she didn't get.