What do we do in the summers???? Baseball!!

Another day in the life of the Cavenders! Today was Judi's first day at her daycare; a home daycare. She did really well, no tears or anything. Daddy said she gave him a high 5 when he left and she didn't even ask for me until just before I showed up. Tonight we have a baseball game for James and Jazmin's first game. They're at the same time, but at least at the same ballfield. I can stil between the fields with my head swiveling back and forth! Jazmin is so excited; she is very into softball right now; I hope she stays liking it even if they don't do well!

James is pitching and playing first base this year; I think he looks good. The first game he walked a couple but struck a couple out, too. As the season goes on, I'm sure his skills will improve. I do love watching him out there on the mound.

Tomorrow is Jazmin's piano recital; she has what I think is a really hard piece, but she's been practicing a lot. Then next week, she's got dance recital. May is always such a busy month for us.

Judi is gaining so much English! In fact, so much, I've started putting in at least one movie a day in Chinese, to try to keep it going. It doesn't seem to hamper her English skills, which I worried about at the beginning. She's just hysterical with her antics and funny the way she "handles" the older kids! She and Jazmin are getting along so well now and play together wonderfully most of the time. They still have their moments when they irritate each other, but that's just sisters for you! Judi is in teeball and liking it very much, except she peters out on the practices early. Her first game is next week; should be veeeerrrrry interesting!

The picture is of Jaz in part of her dance costume and her hair all curly (shhhh, the curls are an add-on!), but they look great!

I love my daughter..........

For those of you reading this who aren't familiar with adoption, it's not always a case of "love at first sight". With Jazmin it was; she was a baby, and who doesn't just fall in love with babies instantly, especially ones with huge eyes that stared into your soul?
With Judi, it was different. I had hoped that it would be the same, but instead of a sweet, quiet baby, we were handed a 3-year old teenager! She had a fully formed personality with some rather undesirable habits and was fully articulate in Chinese, and just by the tone of her voice you could tell what she was thinking, which wasn't always a good thing!
So I had to fall in love with my daughter over time. I've been Judi's Mama for 60 days today, and I'm thrilled to say I'm no longer going thru the "motions" of mothering. There's a saying in the adoption world, "Fake it til you make it!". That's what I did; I did for Judi all the things I am supposed to do as her mother: fed her, played with her, comforted her, hugged her, kissed her, you name it. At first, I felt like I was babysitting; when was someone going to come get this rambunctious, misbehaving child??
Than last week, something happened. We were at Grandpa's house as usual. I was fixing dinner and called everyone to come eat. Judi came running at full tilt, hit the kitchen floor in her socks, and WHAM! Right on her little hinny she went, and slid right into the stove; ouch! Well, you can imagine, she came up wailing and grabbing for me, her Mama! I picked that little girl up and held on tight; she was sqeezing me so hard I could hardly breathe! But I felt that amazing rush of emotion, that overwhelming feeling that you're the only one in the world who can soothe the hurt and take away the pain. So for all the world to know, I love my funny, silly, rambunctious, stubborn, always-on-the-go Miss Judi!