We may or may not ever be able to make an announcement that "we're pregnant"...but we have come to understand that the blessing is the fact that however parenthood happens, it is a miracle! ....... Now we have been home with our precious blessing from Russia since August 2007. Join us on our fun and crazy ride that we call "life with this child of mine."
Friday, November 06, 2009
The Curtain Drops and the Lights Come Up

When I started this blog, in April 2006, my intention was to inform family and close friends of the happenings in our adoption process. I didn't really know, but I sort of figured that I would have several updates throughout the process...and keeping a blog seemed easier than keeping up with what details I had already told to whom.

As it turns out, blogging became a hugely therapeutic thing for me...I learned to use it as an outlet, and the more I blogged, the more people followed...new friends, more family, even people I had never met before, but who were going through similar processes to becoming families.

As our family has made the transition from 2 to 3...and I've become just another regular busy & strapped for time mom, my posting has dropped off...but I still enjoy blogging. I enjoy posting photos and stories of our life...even if I don't post nearly as often as I would like. But, I guess, in the grand scheme of things...it's probably better that I'm out living and making the most of life more often than I'm blogging about it.

So with that, I am retiring use of this blog. As I mentioned in my previous post, it will still be out there for perusal, anytime you are I am feeling nostalgic...but everything here is already over at the new blog, too. So, you won't have to go between blogs to get our full story (you will, however, have to live with formatting issues in some of my older posts at the new blog...till I get around to fixing them :)).

The lights come up, and the curtain drops on Act I of our family blog...

And I invite you to update your feed readers & bookmarks as you join us for Act II - at www.themiddlethatcounts.com

Why The Middle That Counts?

I'm glad you asked! Come on over...there's a post waiting, just for you!
Written at Friday, November 06, 2009 by Melissa.
3 comments
Thursday, November 05, 2009
In Preparation of a Move
In the next day or two, I will be making the transition to a new blog - new look, new address. I love this blog - this is where it all started, and it is a comfortable place for me...so, the decision has been drawn out and, as far as decisions like this go, difficult for me........

When we first came home with Iliya, I had toyed with the idea of creating an entirely new blog. I struggled with what to do, because, for me, "The Road Home" was the story of how Nathan & I became parents, and I wanted to create a blog that was the next chapter in our life together as a family of 3. However, every time I thought about creating a whole new blog, I was faced with one problem in my mind: I feel that our life is just that -- our life. From the moment we decided to adopt... until this very moment...and continuing through any subsequent life changes we may undergo. And I decided, then, that I didn't want to have to refer back to old blogs in order to keep up with things that happened in our life as a family.

Fortunately, waaaay back in 2006 (wow!) I had chosen a "Bl0gger address" (child-of-mine) that helped me make a very easy final decision: my blog was simply went from "The Road Home" to "(Life With This) Child of Mine."

It was perfect & has served us well for the past 2 years!

But...

Ever since I started a photography blog, last year, and was introduced to W0rdpress, I have felt severely limited by Bl0gger (I suspect this only means something to those of you who blog).......so, I have determined that it is finally time to make a move.

But...

You know how I mentioned that - a couple years ago - I hadn't been a fan of keeping several different blogs in different places? Well, I still feel the same way, now...I would like to have it all in one place. So...I am in the process of actually transitioning all of my posts to the new blog. Everything from April 2006 will be there, to make the transition easier for all of us (well, at least for me). Some of my posts have lost their formatting - and I will slowly work on fixing that - but they will all be there.

Lest you - (and I) who don't like change - worry,

This blog is actually not going anywhere. It will close to any new posts - so to follow us, you'll have to go to my new site. But if you're like me, and just need to look at it sometimes, it will be here for you come back in for a walk down memory lane.

I have an October Recap post almost ready to go, but I'm going to save it...so, I guess the next time you hear from me, it will be an announcement of my new blog address. So hang on tight...the wait won't be long!
Written at Thursday, November 05, 2009 by Melissa.
1 comments
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
'Tis the Season...!
Written at Tuesday, October 27, 2009 by Melissa.
6 comments
Friday, October 23, 2009
Parenting tip of the week: Give choices
For instance, on Tuesday night, Iliya was t-i-r-e-d. We had taken him to a fall festival with friends, and he was worn out, but sticky from a big bag of cotton candy. When we got home, I told him we needed to take a quick bath....for which he expressed a huge amount of disdain.

So I had an idea. I said, "you don't want to take a bath, right?" Right. So, I followed that with, "well, how about a shower, instead? A bath or a shower, tonight?"

He typically likes showers much less than baths, so he chose a bath. No more crying, and definitely not a battle.

Of course, this doesn't always work. Because he's learned that he actually has one more choice that I don't give him. And that choice is..."nothing! I want to do none of those!" Which is what he said last night, when it was time to bathe.

But hey, it's always worth a try!
Written at Friday, October 23, 2009 by Melissa.
0 comments
Thursday, October 22, 2009
I Love This Blog
I keep this blog in my feed reader. It gives me a daily laugh...so I thought I might share it with you, so you can have a daily laugh, if you so choose. :)

The Cake Wrecks Blog
Written at Thursday, October 22, 2009 by Melissa.
1 comments
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Around Our House
Once upon a time, this blog started out as a simple way to keep close family and friends updated on our adoption process, since all of our families are so spread out. I never had any intention of writing anything other than the more superficial details to keep everyone in the loop. As time progressed, though, and we became more steeped in the adoption process, and subsequently, parenting, my readership expanded and I found that this blog was an excellent outlet for me as I worked my way into my role as a mother.

I feel like I've had some pretty good, thoughtful posts over the years (years?! wow...) but things are so busy, these days. I still have the occasional great idea come up...but between work, my photography business, and all of the other things we do (and Iliya is not even involved in any extra-curricular activities yet!), I'm really doing good to sit down a couple times a week (or every other week :)) to post photos. So, despite my best intentions to get around to actually write a meaty post (you know, about potty training, sleeping, and other relevent topics), this blog has come full circle, and now seems more like the blog it was in the beginning.

A way to give family and friends (old, new, IRL, and virtual!) quick, snippet insights into our life as a family of three. And though I'm tempted to, I will not apologize for not having the time to make each post the most riveting thing you've ever read.

Which is okay by me, if it's fine with you.

There. Now that we have that taken care of. :)

----------------------

And I have to tell you that I am VERY behind in updating on our life. I have virtual mountains of pictures from our life that I need to post, so I figure I won't waste any time in getting on that task.

So, I'll start with Nathan's cousin, Justin.

Justin is one of Nathan's youngest cousins, who graduated from highschool in May. All through his senior year, he was busy deciding on a direction for his life...perhaps military....perhaps college. When we lived in Tuscaloosa, he came to visit us one weekend, to try talking out a few of his plans on fresh ears. Despite a shoulder injury, he's a great football player and - long story short - actually ended up being recruited to play for a small college, all the way up in Illinois.

Of course, his absence is difficult on his parents, but I think he is thriving away!

And, a couple weekends ago, it happened that his team traveled down to LaGrange, GA to play a game with the college there. Since we are within an easy drive, we didn't want to pass up the opportunity to see him play. A side benefit was that we got to see a lot of Nathan's family, too, who traveled down for the game!

Here is Justin in action...
Just after halftime, I took Iliya out to the car to rest. I ended up making him a little palette in the floorboard of N's mom's car, and laid him down for a quick power nap.

I had to wake him up to go back into the stadium, but the game was already overwith by that time. We got a quick picture with Justin..can you tell I have a tired boy in my hands?

And then, he realized that was a football field behind us, and that he could actually go ON the field... and we shut the place down. (Literally! The stadium manager finally had to come ask us to leave so he could go home!)

I think Iliya could have a strong future ahead of him...don't you think?
Written at Wednesday, October 21, 2009 by Melissa.
1 comments
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
More Precious Than Gold
On Friday, I picked Iliya up from school, and his teacher met me at the door, excitedly telling me that Iliya had something special to give to me.

Earlier in the day, she had put out pipe cleaners and beads for a threading exercise, and the children were making bracelets.

She said that all the children were so excited to make bracelets for themselves. Every one of them, except for Iliya. She said declared that he was going to make a bracelet for his mommy...and he sat and carefully chose each bead, until he had the bracelet just right.

I challenge you...tell me what could be more precious than a pipe cleaner bracelet made by your almost 4-year old? For me, not even gold beats the thoughtfulness and love of a child.

I am so blessed.
Written at Tuesday, October 13, 2009 by Melissa.
6 comments