We went to Paradise Cove on Friday (Dad has Fridays off over summer...YAY!!!) and of course Marley made friends with the ladies!!
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
Mommy's Little Helper
After letting me sleep until 9am...God belss you my child...Marley helped me unload the dishwasher!! He must know it's not my favorite chore!!
Tuesday, July 8, 2008
Houston, We Have a Virus
Marley developed a rash over the course of the last week. At first I thought it was a heat rash rash, but it kept growing and wouldn't go away even with a cold bath and the fan. So I took him the pediatrician, not his...she was on vacation, and he said Marley has a virus, so there is nothing we can do but wait it out! Poor little guy! He doesn't seem to be too affected, although he has been clingier than usually today...but I love any excuse to cuddle...is that wrong?
I am sure when Marley is 15 he will be soooo thrilled that I posted these pix!!
Drought: A New Perspective
As you know, I have been extremely concerned about the conditions in Ethiopia and other parts of Africa due to the current drought. This is a concern that I share with many on my adoption forum on the CHSFS website . There have been posts and some amazing forum family members who have gone to great extremes to get aid to those in need. I am sure many of us have donated money to various charities, yet perhaps still feel there is something we could and should be doing.
I know it may not be much, and I know that there are many other reasons why the people of Ethiopia are suffering, but I couldn't help put my two most passionate causes together...Ethiopia and the environment. I ran across this article while doing some research and, although it is old and referring to the last major drought and subsiquent famine, I know the problem still exists. Global warming has been a hot topic lately and I am sure that many people feel they can't do much to contribute to its reversal, but there are many things, simple things that we can do to feel like we are doing EVERYTHING we can to make sure Marley's first family doesn't have to suffer and live in squalor while "we" continue to live a life a frivilous excess.
So, here, in no particular order, are 10 things you can do to help reduce global warmimg (some no brainers, some "major give ups")
1. Bring cloth bags to any store where you shop, it's not just grocery stores that use bags...Walmart, Target, Macy's...and/or recycle your plastic and paper bags.
2. Replace your most frequently used lights for CFLs...turn off the lights when you leave the room.
3. Unplug appliances and charges when not in use...do not leave your cell phone charger or lap top plugged in when the they aren't attached or being used...unplug the toaster, blender, electric razor etc. when you are done using them.
4. Buy organic and locally grown/produced ANYTHING when it's available...it's not only good for you to eat organic produce, it's good for the environment when pesticides aren't being used, that includes things like cotton, hair care products and makeup! And when they are grown/manufactured locally they don't have to drive/fly as far to get to you!
5. Drive a hybrid, drive less and drive smart by inflating your tires and keeping on schedule with oil and filter changes...shop once a week instead of every few days...keeping your fridge stocked also helps keep you from waisting energy...and don't leave your fridge open after you retreive an item (my hubby has difficulties with this one and I am now known as the fridge police...and the water police...whci leads me too...).
6. Don't run the water while you are brushing your teeth or shaving. Turn the water on and off when you need it...also, fill up your sink when doing the dishes instead of running the water continuously...you will see a savings in your water bill as well!
7. Do your laundry in cold water and cancel the dry cycle on your dishwasher, your clothes and dishes will get just as clean...and make sure both are full before running them...and combine loads of laundry in the drier (yes, that probably counts for more than one point but...)
8. Recycle and use recycled products as much as possible!! You will be amazed at the amount of things that can be recylcled!! Look for products that use post consumer waste...don't buy paper towels or napkins, use cloth, reusable or recylced/biodegradable brands (Trader Joe's has lots of these paper products).
9. Plant a tree...anywhere!
10. Don't eat meat...ok, I know all you meat and potato types are trying to pick yourself up off the floor right now because you are laughing so hard (believe me, I am an Atkins addict and this one was hard for me to swallow!!) If you can't give up meat (and/or dairy) altogether, then at least try for a meatless Monday (or any one day out of the week) when you don't consume livestock. If you think about the fact that the amount of grain and water it takes to feed a cow could feed (and water) an entire village where our children's first families live, you might reconsider!!
As I said, I know this isn't the be all end all, but for me, it makes me feel like I am doing something everyday (I just recently gave up beef...which was really hard today when the organic fillet mignon at Trader Joe's looked so inviting) to try to make a difference in a land I am now forever connected to.
Here are a few sites with some more information. E the Environmental magazine is another fabulous resource!!
I know it may not be much, and I know that there are many other reasons why the people of Ethiopia are suffering, but I couldn't help put my two most passionate causes together...Ethiopia and the environment. I ran across this article while doing some research and, although it is old and referring to the last major drought and subsiquent famine, I know the problem still exists. Global warming has been a hot topic lately and I am sure that many people feel they can't do much to contribute to its reversal, but there are many things, simple things that we can do to feel like we are doing EVERYTHING we can to make sure Marley's first family doesn't have to suffer and live in squalor while "we" continue to live a life a frivilous excess.
So, here, in no particular order, are 10 things you can do to help reduce global warmimg (some no brainers, some "major give ups")
1. Bring cloth bags to any store where you shop, it's not just grocery stores that use bags...Walmart, Target, Macy's...and/or recycle your plastic and paper bags.
2. Replace your most frequently used lights for CFLs...turn off the lights when you leave the room.
3. Unplug appliances and charges when not in use...do not leave your cell phone charger or lap top plugged in when the they aren't attached or being used...unplug the toaster, blender, electric razor etc. when you are done using them.
4. Buy organic and locally grown/produced ANYTHING when it's available...it's not only good for you to eat organic produce, it's good for the environment when pesticides aren't being used, that includes things like cotton, hair care products and makeup! And when they are grown/manufactured locally they don't have to drive/fly as far to get to you!
5. Drive a hybrid, drive less and drive smart by inflating your tires and keeping on schedule with oil and filter changes...shop once a week instead of every few days...keeping your fridge stocked also helps keep you from waisting energy...and don't leave your fridge open after you retreive an item (my hubby has difficulties with this one and I am now known as the fridge police...and the water police...whci leads me too...).
6. Don't run the water while you are brushing your teeth or shaving. Turn the water on and off when you need it...also, fill up your sink when doing the dishes instead of running the water continuously...you will see a savings in your water bill as well!
7. Do your laundry in cold water and cancel the dry cycle on your dishwasher, your clothes and dishes will get just as clean...and make sure both are full before running them...and combine loads of laundry in the drier (yes, that probably counts for more than one point but...)
8. Recycle and use recycled products as much as possible!! You will be amazed at the amount of things that can be recylcled!! Look for products that use post consumer waste...don't buy paper towels or napkins, use cloth, reusable or recylced/biodegradable brands (Trader Joe's has lots of these paper products).
9. Plant a tree...anywhere!
10. Don't eat meat...ok, I know all you meat and potato types are trying to pick yourself up off the floor right now because you are laughing so hard (believe me, I am an Atkins addict and this one was hard for me to swallow!!) If you can't give up meat (and/or dairy) altogether, then at least try for a meatless Monday (or any one day out of the week) when you don't consume livestock. If you think about the fact that the amount of grain and water it takes to feed a cow could feed (and water) an entire village where our children's first families live, you might reconsider!!
As I said, I know this isn't the be all end all, but for me, it makes me feel like I am doing something everyday (I just recently gave up beef...which was really hard today when the organic fillet mignon at Trader Joe's looked so inviting) to try to make a difference in a land I am now forever connected to.
Here are a few sites with some more information. E the Environmental magazine is another fabulous resource!!
A Weekend in San Diego
We spent the fourth in San Diego with Lesley and Ricky (although for some reason I have no pix of them...but they were there!) We went to Sea World and the World Famous San Diego Zoo. We also had a babysitter for two nights and enjoyed some adult time as well!! All in all, it was a fantastic holiday weekend! And yes, ear plugs were used in the water feature!
Hangin' With Uncle Phil
Last weekend we enjoyed the beautiful weather on the boat and Marley got to spend some good time with his uncle Phil and some vintage wine!
Monday, July 7, 2008
lOOK oUT mARC jACOBS
Yes, M n' M is at it again...headwear is his claim to fame and he is quite the expert when it comes to fashion break throughs!!
Thursday, July 3, 2008
Lettuce Hat
Look out Marc Jacobs, Marley is trying his hand at accessories and I think he has a winner with the lettuce hat! He is really into putting things on his head...the kid cracks me up!
Tuesday, July 1, 2008
Surgery Day
Today was Marley's ear tube insertion day. He, of course, handled it like a champ! I think he was more upset that he had to wear peach colored scrubs than he was about going under the knife!! As you can see, he made a full recovery!
Monday, June 30, 2008
We Tried...
Marley and I went to a Gymboree music class a couple of weeks ago, but we didn't like it. Too much structure and lap time, not enough moving around and exploring..but I got a couple of cut pix from before the class started!
Thursday, June 26, 2008
Marley's New Babysitter
Yesterday we hung out with one of my students, Sarah. She is going to be one of Marley's babysitters and as you can see he is quite taken by her!!
A Weekend With the Davis Fam
This weekend we spent time with my best friend and her family in Irvine and Newport Beach. We were celebrating Lesley's neice's 13th birthday...so much fun...wishing she lived closer!!
Thursday, June 19, 2008
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
A Very Happy Father's Day
This was Michael's birthday and Father's Day weekend! Marley got us tickets to see Winton Marsellis at the Hollywood Bowl in July...great job buddy! And we went to diner at Shudders Beach Resort for a romantic dinner on Saturday. We also went man shopping: Best Buy, Sport Chalet, Lexus dealership and had our first family portraits taken at Sears on Sunday. All-in-all it was a pretty good weekend!!
Monday, June 16, 2008
What is This?!?
Marley has been making some very loud vocal projections lately! Most of them are happy and jubilant, and others we can't quite identify. So, please chime in and cast your vote:
Tantrum or Laughing?
Tantrum or Laughing?
Sunday, June 15, 2008
Doing Better With What I Can
After the last post I had some serious discussions with myself and Mike. The ones with myself were along the lines of the difference of being caring and compassionate versus obsessive and counterproductive. So I took action in the ways I knew how to feel like I was doing something to help the people of my son's homeland. I read more articles about the drought and watched some BBC...why doesn't the American media report this stuff?? And then I made a donation to UNICEF and purchased some protein bars on behalf of my dad and fahter-in-law as part of their Father's Day present. I then sat back and asked myself what else could I do? I could give more money, but that might be irresponsible right now with our financial situation...I could keep crying and worrying, but what good would that do? So I took stock of what I had done: Educated my family and friends via email and a post on this blog, made a donation to a cause that I know will help Ethiopia directly and purchased two really gifts that will do the same thing. Could I as a human being do more? Yes. Can I as Lauren Marcos do more with what I have right now? No. What good will come of it if I wallow in my sadness for these people? I will have a bad day which would take away from the gift of spending the next 2 months home with my son. My decision: I was happy with the extraordinarliy small change I made and loved the poop out of Marley for the rest of the day!
The discussion I had with Mike was much shorter and went something like this:
M: Are you OK?
L: I've been thinking about the drought in Ethiopia and Mathewos and Marley's two brothers.
M: Yeah, it's been all over the news, really sad.
L: I'm worried about what would happen if Mathewos had to make an adoption plan for Marley's brothers.
M: Why?
L: Well because we would get that call.
M: Well, we would do whatever we had to to be able to adopt them of course. So see, there is nothing to worry about?
L: (no words...just tears...)
So to my husband I say this...you have grown so much in the last few months and I see you continuing to to do so. I am so proud of you and happy to be your wife! I love you more and more each day, especially as I see you embrace your role as Marley's father. Thank you for being such a wonderful man...you amaze me!
And that is why I love this man!!
The discussion I had with Mike was much shorter and went something like this:
M: Are you OK?
L: I've been thinking about the drought in Ethiopia and Mathewos and Marley's two brothers.
M: Yeah, it's been all over the news, really sad.
L: I'm worried about what would happen if Mathewos had to make an adoption plan for Marley's brothers.
M: Why?
L: Well because we would get that call.
M: Well, we would do whatever we had to to be able to adopt them of course. So see, there is nothing to worry about?
L: (no words...just tears...)
So to my husband I say this...you have grown so much in the last few months and I see you continuing to to do so. I am so proud of you and happy to be your wife! I love you more and more each day, especially as I see you embrace your role as Marley's father. Thank you for being such a wonderful man...you amaze me!
And that is why I love this man!!
Friday, June 13, 2008
Struggling Today
I haven't yet posted about any of the issues surrounding international adoption, as I am trying to make this blog a place for friends and family to see the smiling little boy they love. But there are many things that some friends and family (those who are not familiar with international adoption and all of its "issues") don't know or think about; one of them is the life long connection I now have to a country and man half a world away.
Today my heart is very heavy as I am thinking about Ethiopia and its people; especially Marley's birth family. I worry about Mathewos, Marley's birth father a farmer, and how he must be struggling in the midst of one of the worst droughts his country has seen. I worry about how he is managing to care for and feed Marley's two older brothers. I think about Mathewos often, trying to empathize with the hole in his heart created by the many losses he suffered in such a short amount of time. I pray for him daily and include him in the prayers I say with Marley...hoping that hearing Mathewos' name will help keep him close to Marley's heart. I felt joy this morning hoping that upon receiving our first post placement report he will be releived to see how happy and, most importantly, healthy Marley looks (and is) and perhaps he can take some comfort in his most difficult decision.
The picture in this post is of Marley on the day he was admitted into the care center. It is hard to even recognize the smiley, chubby boy I call my son and so easy to see why Mathewos was forced to make an adoption plan. When asked what Mathewos wanted for Marley and his new life, he simply replied, "To live." In another photo (which I decided not to post because I don't know how Marley would feel about it) Mathewos is looking at the picture of Marley that was taken only days before we met him. A picture that shows a healthy, chubbier, smiling boy; this boy made Mathewos cry tears of joy. I like to think that in the photo of Mathewos with Michael and I taken in Hosanna, there is a glimmer of a smile upon Mathewos' face; perhaps some relief in his decision knowing that as difficult as it was, his very selfless act saved the life of his youngest child.
And now, to juxtapose his selfless struggle, I worry that because of this drought Mathewos won't be able to feed his other two boys. I worry that he will again be faced with the most difficult decision of placing his child(ren) for adoption, a last and desperate attempt at saving their lives. I worry, not only for Mathewos and his boys, I worry for Mike and I. I worry because I know we will be the ones contacted if they do come into care. I worry about making the most difficult decision that Mike and I would ever have to make about growing the family we are so content at keeping to a threesome. I worry about how I would live with myself and us if we didn't adopt Marley's brothers; I worry about how we would all live, and how dramatically our lives would change if we did.
As I said, I pray daily for Mathewos, but lately my prayers have included some other sentiments and I don't know if what I am asking for is worthy of prayer. So now I am doing the only thing I know how and that is taking some sort of action, so at least I don't feel completely out of control. In addition to praying and meditating on the health of Marley's birth family, today I wrote not only to all of my friends and family, bit also to my state senators. I told them who I am, a mother of an Ethiopian who still has family alive and struggling in his birth country. I asked them to what they can to ensure that Mathewos won't have to lose his entire family to drought, famine and poverty. If I were able to send Mathewos aid myself, I would, but I can't, so I did the only thing I knew to do. And now I am asking you to do the same.
Please write your senators and urge them to send aid to Ethiopia. Here is the link to the letter template I used, it is from my agency's forum.
And here is the link to find the email address for your senators.
And if you would like to donate to UNICEF's Ethiopia program, you can do so here:
Please take the few minutes it will take to help in getting aid to a country and its people who are forever a part of your life as well; if you are reading this blog, you are a part of Marley's life. And a very large part of Marley needs you to act on his behalf.
Sending Sunshine to a Friend
This post is for our freinds Steve and Julie who are going through a difficult time!! We had lunch with Julie last week when her life was a bit more simple! Here's some sunshine for you Julie...anytime you need to squeez his cheeks, you are welcome to!! Hope things get easier for you guys soon!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)