Amazing Adventures of Adagirl

My parents, of ‘giving us tickets to DisneyWorld for Christmas’ fame, gave us year passes to Busch Gardens for my birthday. The three of us went last weekend without a camera and had a great time. It’s a big place, so you kind of have to choose what you’re going to do each visit. That first trip we did animals and the train, which is the best way to see some of the animals on the plains. We were excited to see lions which our top-rated zoo for some reason does not have!

Ada and I went again Wednesday with our friends (taking a deep breath here to get out all the names in one go) Laura, Dan, Cole, Camille, and baby Serena. We somehow fit in one vehicle, and managed not to loose any of the four kids between us three adults. It helps that Serena stays where you put her.

We did the train ride and saw animals, and then we went to the land of the dragons where they have wonderful kid rides and play spaces. I brought my camera this time:

The car ride:

The dragon boat ride:

The dragon carousel:

The big bouncy thing:

David’s brother Peter came to visit, bringing his lovely wife Sue, and son Sam. We were so happy to have them, after about five years since our last visit together. That one was when I was pregnant, so they had never met Ada!

We had a blast! These are those kind of people who don’t have to do what everyone else is doing just because it didn’t occur to them not to. They live on their boat even though they have a house in Hawaii. Sometimes when they vacation they sail through the wilderness and catch their own food. Then again, sometimes they go to Hawaii. Pete has been playing guitar his whole life and it shows. Sue is a masseuse and photographer. Sam has been playing guitar his whole life too and has amassed quite some skills. And there are many more fascinating details about them that I look forward to learning so that I can share them with you in future.

Things I wanted them to learn about Ada (and this way if they didn’t learn it during their visit, they can find out when they read this blog) are that she is usually a fairy, that she is a constant storyteller and has the vocabulary of Jack Vance. That she can be kind and sweet and darling, often is.

We started out with an evening at Pastinos Restaraunt where our own Captain Rick Hatfield was playing with Rent Money.

The next day we began with crepes at our house. Aside from the practical reason that Ed & Merry and their refrigerator could only survive feeding 14 year old Sam so many meals, I wanted to show off the beautiful house that I hope to sell soon, but will love forever. Pete and Sue had seen it when it was tiny and bland. Now they got to bask in all its current splendor (for those of you who might want a gorgeous Florida home, please see pictures and info at www.wrapyourbaby.com/house/details.html). We had a lovely morning (overlooking how long it took me to get the crepes made for this hungry crew. AND, Pete and Sam did the dishes. What do you think of that?

While I was cooking, Sue was reading to Ada and they got along great. Sue is the kind of person who is able to bond with Ada because she talks to her like a member of the same species. That, and she doesn’t interrupt Ada’s long winded and very important sentences, nor does she either take offense at Ada’s frequent ruffled feathers (which manifest in some very dramatic ways), or pay too much attention to them. She was perfect for us!

After food, we went to Honeymoon Island to explore the nature trail and find Sam an armadillo. Sure enough we found one who was completely oblivious to our presence. We started out with hushed voices, careful not to make any sudden moves or come too near to it. Slowly, we realized that it was paying us no heed, and indeed we even went up and petted it, by now in noticeably irreverent tones. Ada was on my back in a mei tai by this point. here’s a picture:

David, Peter and their father (Ed) demonstrated that they have identical walks. Here’s a still of that:

At the end of the trail was the water. In Florida, all trails lead to water. Here’s David and I, with Ada just venturing in:

And a family shot of us all with Pete and Sue and Sam (I love this one):

And when we got back, we went to the other side of the island where there’s beach. Ed and Merry and a seagull relaxed on the swing:

When we got back, we recovered for a few hours at Ed & Merry’s beautiful home, before dinner and a party. My dad and sister came over, as well as Captain Rick, and all the musicians present made music deep into the night. The rest of us sang. Everyone brought two extra guitars in case our guests needed them. So there were enough guitars to go around, but it seems that in our family, the women all marry guitar-playing menfolk but do not learn the art ourselves. Here’s the party pic:

We got together again Sunday evening, and then they were off to visit Sue’s parents on the other side of Florida. They had a blast there without us, but we managed to contain any bitter feelings so as to continue to enjoy their company when they got back for one last evening of dining at the Cajun Grill (where Sue deigned not to try alligator and a raccoon came in to look for scraps), and then music at Pangea Cafe where my dad’s band Dumb Blind Luck was playing.

The next morning we exchanged promises to not let it be so long until the next visit, and sent them to the airport with verbal directions and hugs all around. We really are going to get together sooner next time. David and Ada and I are looking forward to visiting them in Marin County.

I’m one of those women for whom it is easier to walk into a hospital and request abdominal surgery than it is to get agreement to perform natural childbirth. Here’s an article on the topic: http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1880665-1,00.html

I’m making a fuss about it because the truth is I don’t know what I’m going to do. I know I want to have several more babies, but the risk of repeat cesarean may rob me of the ability to make that choice safely. There are risks associated with vaginal birth after cesarean (VBAC), but then there are risks associated with any birth, any airplane ride, drive, or shower. Do I let it stop me from bringing children into this world? We’ll see.

What I do know is that the risks associated with VBAC go down with each subsequent vaginal birth. The risks associated with cesarean go up with each subsequent cesarean. For someone planning several children, the former path seems the better investment.

I have the dubious honor of being a higher-risk VBAC candidate than usual due to the nature of my cesarean incision–vertical rather than horizontal. This almost makes the question of my choice moot–I haven’t found any practitioner in my area to consider assisting with my vaginal birth. But the unwillingness I have encountered does not mean that it is unsafe. It means that litigation has made it unsafe for the medical profession, that the socialist version of equality means that the best way for me to birth is the way that matches the recommendations of ACOG, as esteemed an organization as the FDA. It means that the insidious nature of statistics means that the birth of my child is a disaster waiting to happen, regardless of the actual truth of the matter, the condition of my body, my baby’s, our diet or strength, or spiritual intention and resilience. Mark Twain accused people of using statistics like a drunk uses a lamp post–for support rather than illumination. Is it possible that my life can be dictated by such rules?

When did birth become complicated? Why is it on me to sift through dense medical study reports, trying to distinguish whether the rate of uterine rupture included patients whose births had been induced–an occasion that increases the chance of rupture? I’m not medically inclined. Can’t I know how to give birth without sifting through medical journals?

How can I even learn of all the intricacies that affect the statistics–from flipping through my own records months ahead of time to learn whether my incision was single or double sutured, to deciding in the exhausted, hormone-filled moments of stalled labor whether the risks of pitocin or the risks of cesarean are greater.

What am I to conclude from studies whose own conclusions are void of help such as this one: CONCLUSION: There is wide variation in the way residents are trained regarding different technical aspects of and indications for cesarean section, choice of repeat cesarean versus VBAC and patient choice of cesarean.

The only conclusions I can retain confidence in are those that come from me and my knowingness. I know that I can give birth vaginally, and I have successfully done so at home (in case that makes anyone feel better about it). I know that I have healed perfectly from my prior incision. In fact let me segue here to relate my huge win on this subject:

After I had recovered from abdominal surgery last January, I decided to do a Scientology Purification Rundown. I’m a Scientologist and my church has a program specifically designed to rid the body of toxins. Just what I want after all the pain killers. The purif took me a few weeks, doing it five hours a day. It involved excercise, sauna, and specific consuption of vitamins/minerals and fats, as well as vegetable-rich diet.

I was doing the purif in the mornings and one evening I was sitting at the computer and my stomach was hurting which annoyed me. On top of that, I felt suddenly very overwhelmed–I had so many things to take care of that I could never get to! I complained to my husband, who tried to help by suggesting that it helps to make a list of all the things I have to do. I yelled, “I’ve done that-it doesn’t help! You don’t understand, it’s just impossible!” I was like a mad woman.

So, in mad woman fashion, I stormed out of the room. Now that I was standing, my abdomen really hurt and I thought tearfully, “What’s wrong with me? Is this related to the surgery? Is there no end to the trouble?!”

I went to the bedroom and threw myself on the bed and next thing I knew I was sobbing uncontrollably for maybe 20 seconds. Then I felt better. Totally better. Peaceful. The pain had stopped, I wasn’t sad, I wasn’t overwhelmed. I wondered if this was related to the toxins running out of my body, as it is common on the purif for emotions to turn on and off as the toxins associated with specific events are flushed out. When David came in, I apologized for yelling, which is not something I normally do. I told him I felt happy now.

The next morning when I woke up I noticed that my tummy wasn’t tender to the touch, as it had been ever since the surgery. I prodded it experimentally and discovered that I could feel every touch–there was no longer a band of numbness circumventing my middle!

And that is my win from doing the Purification Program. My pain and numbness were healed completely, and obviously some emotions that were stuck with those sensations (or lack thereof) were gone too! I’m particularly thrilled since in talking to other cesarean survivors (oops–too dramatic?) I know that it is common to retain tenderness and numbness. Not me. I’m healed.

And, to segue right back to my right to birth, I feel that the complete recovery of the surgical site should up my personal chances of trouble-free natural birth. But the statistics don’t allow for that. They can never be more than statistics, which have nothing to do with people, afterall.

I’ve ranted for so long now, I’m not sure where I started or whether I’m at the beginning again so I’m just going to hit ‘publish’ without rereading. I couldn’t possibly read it all!

That’s right, we went! My parents gave us Disney World tickets for Christmas, and during a very frugal time for us, it was spectacular to have the opportunity to take a ‘free’ trip to one of the most coveted family vacation spots in the world!

Okay, here’s what happened:

I was loathe to waste any of our one free day, but I also know that Ada tires (and tired gets unpleasant rather quickly) after two or three hours at the zoo, so Disney World, with it’s renowned randomity, could only be more exhausting. So instead of getting to the park at 9am and staying until it closed at 9pm, we agreed to get a slow start on the day.

We woke, breakfasted, packed, dressed, and drove to Orlando, arriving there around 11am or maybe 12 noon.

With only one day, the Magic Kingdom was the obvious choice for us. The tram from the parking lot took us to the ferry dock and the ferry boat took us straight towards Cinderella’s castle. We entered the Magic Kingdom, rented a locker for our food and warm clothes (in case it got cold at night), and embarked into the park.

It was a warm day (which is why we decided to go to Disney World that weekend). We brought a stroller, a thing we’ve never used, but I had read enough Disney advice to know it was a good idea.

We headed straight for Pixie Hollow because there were two things we HAD to do at Disney World: go on the Peter Pan ride and meet Tinkerbell. Tinkerbell can be found at Pixie Hollow. If you wait in line for 75 minutes. We did. While we did, David ran off to fastpass Peter Pan, which is a system Disney uses to let you reserve a future time to do a ride so you won’t have to wait in such a long line.

Finally, we were in the final waiting hallway with four other families. The walls were painted like an enchanted forest, tinkly noises and forest sounds were playing, and best of all, projected sparkles manifested in fairy-like dances across the walls to indicate tinkerbell’s flights of fairy dust. “Look, there’s Tink!” we’d holler to each other. Then, “Where’d she go? I see her–over there!”

Ada, I should mention, was a fairy, complete with fairy wings. So she began to flit around the hallway, following after Tinkerbell’s example. She quite delighted me so that the wait was very pleasant.

Once we got into Pixie Hollow, we were pointed toward the beginning of the meet and greet line. First Silver Mist, then Tinkerbell, then Faun. The only one we were familiar with was Tinkerbell, but a fairy is always worth meeting, and Silver Mist was a water fairy, which Ada could identify with as her imagined fairy world includes watery fairies too. So they chatted and had pictures taken together and Ada told her that her name was Thunbergia, which each of the three fairies would misduplicate in turn. They each thought Ada was saying, “I’m from ’somewhere’. ” and I would call out, “Thunbergia is her name!”

I should, perhaps, explain that Thunbergia is the name of the flowering vine in our yard that our little fairy lives in.

Ada really enjoyed meeting those fairies! Some magical property of Pixie Hollow has caused me some distress: In this very well lit room, none of our photos came out recognizable. After a lot of work on photoshop to just make the figures clear enough to make out, here are some of those photos (click to see big versions): SilverMist first, then Tink, then Faun.

Then we found we were right next to Mickey’s house, so we toured it. Here are David and Ada in Mickey’s bedroom:

We went on our first ride: Aladin’s flying carpet ride which was totally fun. Every ride we went on was able to seat the three of us together which I really appreciated. The magic carpets circled round and round, while Ada operated a joystick to control how high or low our magic carpet went. Meanwhile, a camel statue periodically spit on us for authentic Arabian ambiance!

Next we toured the Swiss Family Treehouse which is amazing for many reasons, not the least of which is the giant fake tree that supports the whole thing. It’s one of the biggest trees I’ve ever seen and it’s all crafted by . . . somebody! Right down to the long limbs with tiny leaves. Amazing!

Time for one of our few expenses: one mickey-mouse shaped ice cream on a stick. We shared it. It made us happy. By now Ada was definitely using the stroller. Yay for me doing my research and knowing we needed one!

We went on a humorous jungle cruise that we all really enjoyed. We rode on a boat down a river and our guide told really bad jokes to accompany the amazing animals that are what Disney refers to as Audio-Animatronics. In other words, they’re not real. But, as an aside, Disney’s audio-animatronics on many of their rides are spectacular and not like any theme park I’ve ever been to. Anyway, the elephants moved and trumpeted. The hippos submerged. The cannibals danced. The tour guide morosely promised that the jokes weren’t going to get any better. It was fantastic!

Pirates of the Caribbean time. We told Ada it would be dark, there might be skeletons, it could be scary, but she would be sitting right there with us so she wouldn’t be scared, would she? She said not, so in we went. Afterwards she would inform us that she didn’t care so much for that one, but there was no particular trauma. The long line (40 minutes?) was improved by several windows into underground prisons with dark pirate scenes. This was another boat ride, on the open sea under a night sky, passing by many pirate scenes. More of them animatronics. Men chased women, women chased poultry, prisoners cajoled the dog with the keys in his mouth. Good times! Here we are waiting in line:

It was about time to keep our date with the Peter Pan ride. Ada was looking sleepy. Did I mention that despite my best efforts Ada did not sleep well the night before. I had it all planned out, of course. We all needed to be well rested, particularly Ada (because David and I can still behave when we’re tired). But what could I do? She was too excited to sleep and I got very little sleep as well, what with her frequent coming-to-get-mes.

Anyway, we made a quick stop to fastpass the Buzz Lightyear ride in Tomorrowland, then got to the Peter Pan ride where we waited in the shorter fastpass line for about 10 minutes, and the three of us boarded our very own tiny galleon. They were SO cute! We were wide awake now, and lucky thing because this was a great ride! Our galleon was on a track that took us through the nursery where Wendy and John and Michael sleep, and out the window where the track fell away and the ship flew through the air past many a Neverland scene built in fine animatronic form.

When we got out of there, we found ourselves facing the Small World Ride. We went in. Not too bad a wait–maybe twenty minutes. And well worth it. The scenes were amazing and there were so many of those animatronics going on in any direction you looked: tight rope walers, flapping geese, dancing Japanese ladies in kimonos, ice skating penguins. It was mostly a visual delight. It was another boat ride, by the way, and here’s a couple of shots of us on that one:

Now it was time to check out the Buzz Lightyear ride but on our way there we passed Cinderella’s castle where a show was going on. There were dancing princesses, prince charmings, giant mice, even Peter Pan showed up to battle Captain Hook. We put Ada on David’s shoulders so she could watch as we passed, but she wasn’t interested enough for us to stay so we continued to Tomorrowland. I snapped a picture of the to-do with Ada and David in the very corner:

The Buzz Lightyear ride was more fun for David and I than Ada, I think. It’s a great concept–an interactive video game ride. It’s like virtual reality but without the virtual. The three of us boarded a little spaceship and David and I each had a gun mounted to the dash which we used to skillfully shoot the many evil doers that we passed (I haven’t seen the movie so I probably missed a lot of the significance). There was also a joystick to control our ship so we could face it in any direction or just spin around and around. We swiveled and shot and basically felt like Han Solo and Luke in the gun pods on the Millennium Falcon. I’m sure Walt Disney would not have appreciated that description. But I’ve SEEN that movie.

We had now been on every ride we were interested in. I wanted to stay for the 8pm fireworks which I thought Ada would love, and we decided to head for the entrance where we could get some food from our locker and maybe see the fireworks from not so crowded a spot. Unfortunately, we ended up trying to move down Main Street where everyone was gathered to see the pre-fireworks parade. Progress was impossible and Ada was getting impatient, for the first time all day. That’s right, despite her lack of sleep and incredibly hectic and exciting day, she had been sweet as a lollipop! It IS a magical place.

Anyway, now she was in a stroller because she was too tired to walk, just at knee level to the writhing mass of humanity we were pressed up against. Not very pleasant. We imposed on several people to get across them and into a bakery where we’d be out of the crowd and could breathe again. This meant we had to buy a baked good. It was a giant cinnamon roll which we split. Ada pickily refused to consider eating a cinnamon roll, having never done so in the past and seing no reason to start now. We bought her a banana. It cost a dollar. That’s what stands out to me most from our day in the Magic Kingdom.

Ada had acquired a light up Tinker Bell–our one souvenir. She loved it BUT a real Tinkerbell wouldn’t have a safety pin built into the back of her so that you could pin her to your shirt. The tired and impatience was on, so nothing would do but for David to manhandle poor little Tink until he broke the pin and got it off her. Now it was that plastic loop at the top that rendered the toy unrealistic. What Ada was after was a real fairy–not a trinket. We couldn’t cut off the loop, which was a part of the figure’s mold, without a knife or scissors so Ada dramatically insisted on hiding Tinkerbell under her skirt so she wouldn’t be seen until she was fixed. We did cut the loop of at home and Ada woke up the next morning to find her absolutely perfect, at which time she promptly lost her and I haven’t seen her since. It’s been a week and I’m pretty sure she’s somewhere in our living room. Somewhere that seemed like a good place for a fairy at the time. Today I moved the couch, and swept and washed underneath while I was at it, but that was not the place.

The parade was over and the crowd was looser. We left the bakery and headed for our locker. Ada was pretty done in, but I had been so excited about the fireworks, knowing how she loves them in July and looks forward to them all year. So we asked a park employee if we’d be able to see them from the parking lot. Yes. That decided it. We emptied our locker and boarded the ferry. We saw some of the fireworks from the tram that took us from the ferry to our parking lot, but it was not so spectacular from that distance and while Ada did see them briefly, she was too tired to care. So we drove away much more easily and quickly than we would have if we’d stayed to see the fireworks.

And we called it a success. I really loved it. It was a great place to be with a four year old and it didn’t seem to matter a bit that she wasn’t familiar with most of the movies that the characters had sprung from. Nor did we spend much time in gift shops or encounter anything that we couldn’t or wouldn’t get. All she wanted was that Tinkerbell, and since we had decided on one souvenir that was perfect. I still aim to find her. I hope the battery was off when she was lost. According to the text, when a fairy’s light goes out she dies, and Ada knows it.

Lincoln Alexander was born on Tuesday just before noon. He crowned just when his mother thought he never would, and I imagine her relief was surmounted only by the shock and joy of motherhood, which comes always in a rush and all at once. It’s no use planning for it. There is nothing gradual about it.

I am so happy for two of my very best friends who became parents this week, and who live so frustratingly far away. In a great cloud of irrationality, I am envious of his mother who gets to hold him and gaze at his squeezed shut eyes and tiny pursed lips.

Weather (that’s what they have in other parts of the country) permitting, they must be home now, learning to be a family of three. Lincoln, of course, is learning to flail and fart and fuss and oh, so many important things all at once. His parents have mastered all that, so they’re just adjusting to parenting.

I cannot help wondering what is happening in their home now, and what feelings must be swirling through their exhausted thoughts. Did the intense adoration hit immediately, or will that strong feeling of self-sacrificing love for baby hit next week? Are they managing sleep well, effectively taking turns being awake, or is Lincoln keeping them on their toes when they’d rather be on their beds?

The birth of two babies to dear friends has made this a rather spectacular and memorable week for me. I cannot help but feel optimistic in a world that will be populated by the offspring of some of the most astoundingly amazing people alive. May you have a dozen more!

Here’s Lincoln:

Serena was born on Friday. Sunday I found out that she was in the hospital, and soon after she had summoned the strength to get all better and she’ll be home with her new family by this Friday (tomorrow). At one week old, I expect her to look like a three month old. She was born approx 13 lbs strong!

A friend reported that she was a giant among preemies in the NICU. But soon she will be just where she should be, in the bosom of her family and at her mama’s bosom.

When I told Ada that Serena needed us all to send her our love and strong thoughts to get strong enough to go home, Ada decided Serena needed a fairy. So one of her paper fairies was picked out to bring to her family who will deliver her to Serena to help her get strong. Fairies are magical.

We get to meet Serena on Monday. I can’t wait. She’s been very heroic already and is surely destined for great things.

I could really commiserate with her parents, because my own newborn was in the NICU in the very same hospital one year ago exactly from Sunday (the day I found out that Serena was there) with superficially similar difficulties. The big difference was that my daughter had a known dangerous condition in the womb and they knew when they decided to birth her by cesarean a month before her due date that she might not live. Serena, however, was a healthy baby, full term, born without intervention to a mother who went into labor naturally. She encountered some difficulties after birth due to a rough ride out the birth canal, but her body was strong and perfect and her spirit was intent on healing up quick.

I am very proud of Serena’s mother who always stays impossibly strong during her labors and the births of her (now three) babies, and who also had a rough time on this one. She and Serena have both been healing and regaining strength and I look forward, as I’m sure they must, to their reuniting, at which time I’m sure they will nurture each other spiritually and physically and exactly as needed.

Serena, I’m told, is to be her parents’ warrior princess. Ironically, or perhaps inevitably, the same words we used in reference to our daughter who, a year ago, was newborn and in critical condition, but whom we were temporarily confident would live. She needed a name, and my mother suggested Xena, as this one would need to be a warrior princess. My sister suggested a terrifically strong name that had no chance of being accepted by those of us with the power to grant names to babies. I wish I could remember it. It was the name of some mythological dragon. We decided on Clementine Annabelle. A sweet name for a sweet girl who deserves a perfect body and a long life.

I am happy in my confidence that she can have that yet, and I feel surprisingly peaceful about her departure from the little body we fleetingly cradled. Sunday was her birthday, but I thought of it more as the anniversary of the day we got to meet her, and wish her well, and kiss her goodbye.

It is good to have new, healthy babies born into our circle of friends. We are all so happy that Serena is here now, and she reminds us to look forward to the unknown others destined to join us.

I think this is an awesome look at the ubiquitous question of socialization:
http://home-educate.com/unschooling/socialization.htm

Santa ate our cookies (his reindeer polished off the carrot we left) and filled our stockings. We had a great time upending them on the bed together. The theme of my stocking seems to have been health–filled with herbal teas, stuffed with various chocolates, a maple candy and a tangerine, I have everything I need to live on!

David’s gift to me was an adult trike–a beautiful red three-wheeled bike–and he spent Christmas morning (after presents) building a seat onto the back for Ada. The day after Christmas we rode to a playground and had such a pleasant trip. We both loved being outside, feeling the breeze of our progress, and skipping the car ride. I love my bike!!

David got a bike too, conveniently enough, and now we can all go riding together as a family which we did on Saturday and it was SO nice. Ada’s little legs are not great for going for walks together as a family, so bikes are the answer for our family constitutionals.

Ada was very pleased to receive a sky-blue bike helmet (exactly as requested), wooden fruit for her kitchen, some entirely endearing handmade wooden animals to play with, and many another fine gift! From our friend Jesus she received a beautiful fairy dress that she immediately donned. Uncle Pete and Aunt Sue’s present arrived the day after Christmas and it turned out to be another fairy dress, in Hawaii yellow with a fringe, the suggestion of a red hibiscus on it, and a hair clip with a yellow frangipani for her hair. Which she immediately donned. When Grammy and Grandaddy gifted her a grass skirt, she pulled that on right over the yellow dress for her petal skirt, and called it even better. All the time with one thing or another tucked into her collar for wings.

When we took Grammy and Grandaddy to a surprise Christmas light display at the botanical garden, Ada was wearing the yellow dress, pink floofy “wings” and the grass skirt. I forget that this is unusual until we are in public and I hear all the “Oh, how cute!”s.

Aunt Susan and Uncle Larry sent Ada two books which she adores. Grandma and Grandpa gave her a big book of fairies and a fairy paper doll book . . . big hits! Our friends Rachel and Tim bought her a fairy pop-up book that she loves. While grammy wrote and illustrated a book just for (and about) her that must be 100 pages! Grammy and Grandaddy also gave Ada a complete Pippi Longstocking book, which we are both enjoying immensely.

Our friend Robby sent a deep purple gown and shawl that I eventually remembered wearing in the wedding our our friend Christal. Robby had costumed that wedding, and since I didn’t anticipate needing such a very purple dress again, I left it with him. Well, he must have thought it was time for Ada to have it, and she immediately and happily put it on, without any reservations about the size (which is floor length on me). Robby also made two amazingly wonderful dolls which I appreciated more than Ada, but we shall see.

Ada received a BIG beautiful Poinsettia plant from her Aunt Kake, which was perfect, seeing as I had lovingly stitched her a poinsettia fairy for Christmas and everyone knows that a flower fairy lives in her plant.

Grandma and Grandpa bought us passes to Disney World and we are hoping to go THIS SATURDAY! Ada is VERY excited, though I’m not exactly sure why. Not that shouldn’t be, but how does she know how exciting it is? As far as I know, she’s never heard of Disney World! Disney World was nowhere on my radar, and the gift was a complete surprise, but we are really excited to be going with a four year old. It’s just perfect!

We had Christmas morning together, first taking turns exchanging gifts, then out to the heat in the yard where David built the Ada seat onto the back of my new bike. In the afternoon we went to Grandma and Grandpa’s house to bring them our mostly homemade gifts which they seemed to dig. And we had a delicious taco dinner with them and our friends Lee and Delon. Followed by chocolate pie and decadent chocolate chocolates.

The next day David went to work and Ada and I got to play with our new toys, including the aforementioned bike ride. And Saturday Grammy and Grandaddy came over for another Christmas and the visit to the lit up botanical gardens wherein Ada dressed like and behaved just like a fairy–flitting so quickly I’ll have to get the film developed to find out if I even caught her.

We loved displaying our Christmas cards from loved ones, just as we enjoyed making gifts and sending cards out throughout the month. I feel very warm and happy about this Christmas, and have fantastical plans for the coming year with the people I love!

We took sandwiches to the park on Christmas Eve Day to share with some homeless people who live there. We learned that it is not always easy to tell a Clearwater homeless person from a Clearwater person with a home. The problem is that it was 80 degrees, and so no one was bundled up in blankets. Instead, they were sprawled under shade trees in t-shirts and it isn’t easy to tell whether they’re there for the afternoon or because they have nowhere else to go.

It worked out, we overlooked a few we weren’t sure about, and those we offered the sandwiches and apples to were very sweet and appreciative. And, one of them had rescued a baby bat which she took out and let us pet–so soft and tiny, like a little brown mouse with curled up legs and it wasn’t until the woman gently pulled on the arm to extend the wing that it looked like a bat at all.

We felt really good about having shared our food, something I was reluctant to do because I wasn’t sure how it would go. As it turns out, everyone was most gracious, wished us a merry Christmas, and complimented our pretty daughter! I was glad to have done it.

A year ago for Christmas Ada got a handmade Waldorf doll from yours truly, and some kind of Hawaiian sarong from Uncle Pete and Aunt Sue. Here she is using the sarong to sling her baby on her back. Just like her mommy!