the OTHER mother

Puzzle Junkies Rejoice!

Drag the tiles to make one word.  When they link together, they are correct. 

Word Of The Day Puzzle provided by Quote Puzzler.  There will be a new puzzle in this space every day.  Idea provided by Heather.

Procrastination or Bust

When the going gets tough, the tough procrastinate--do other people operate this way or is it just me?   Here are my favorite procrastination websites of the week.  (If you don't like word games, skip down to the next post.)

• The Problem Site
• Babble
• Word Sandwich

Click on the art to send a free ecard via Writers in the Schools!

Details from our Weekend

• Yes, friends, crazy Jojo (Carrie) can sit and twist and shout.  She is a tiny, human tumbleweed, rolling across the prairie of our lives.  And oh, what a screamer!
• Pearl has learned the names of at least 60 of the trains from Thomas the Tank Engine from the toys, the books, and the videos.  Marcia has decided that as long as Pearl is--at this developmental moment--capable of memorizing so much stuff so fast that she's going to try teaching her something useful, such as the name of all the birds.  Or Spanish.  Go Mommy go Pearl go!
• We have the most wonderful social worker helping us with our adoption, and the home visit went well last Friday. The craziest moment of the morning was when Carrie had just gotten up from her nap.  Marcia had taken Pearl to go look for a panda bear (emergency!), and I was holding Carrie in my lap, and I sneezed.  The loud sound scared her so much that she began to sob.  And when the only face she could see was the social worker's (I held her facing out), she began to shed huge, marble-sized tears.  As soon as she saw Marcia return, however, all was well.  Just in the past week, Carrie has figured out that some people are strangers.
• We went to a pride party Saturday night.  It was fun, and we also saw what we thought to be a glimpse into the future.  Among new (to her) folks, Pearl usually sticks close to Mommy and Baba.  At this party, however, she met a 3 year old girl and the two of them played with dolls and a doll house for 2 hours.  Pearl didn't even stop to eat dinner.  The 8 year old girls were so great with the younger ones, even letting them dance to music with them.  At one point, Marcia interrupted the dancing to see if Pearl needed a potty break.  Pearl gave her an adamant NO and waved her out the room!
• Lately I have gotten addicted to a new (to me) computer game.  If you like word games such as Scrabble or Boggle, do NOT click on the link for Babble.  You have been warned.
  
• Inspired by Shannon, I have been trying to cook more lately.  As usual, my intentions are much more impressive than the reality, but I have been serving up whole grains, vegetables, and other good foods when possible.  All yummy too, I might.
• We started a modified cry-it-out routine with Carrie about 10 days ago, and to our great surprise she and we are all doing well with that.  She's slept until at least 4 a.m. most nights since then.  A light at end of the tunnel of sleeplessness?  We shall see.
• Happy Pride!  Have a great week.

Hide & Seek

Hide & Seek is "in" at the new house.  Boxes (empty and full) create the perfect hiding places where wide open spaces should be. 

Once Pearl has found a hiding place, she hides in that spot for the rest of the day.  She's at the developmental phase in which she thinks that if she can't see you, then you surely can not see her.  Then when you finally "find" her, she squeals with excitement, runs to you, and gives you a most enthusiastic hug.  Absence makes the heart grow fonder.