What I Should Be Doing

/ Dawn Kasal-Finley / Leave a comment
  1. My statistics homework.
  2. Laundry
  3. Dishes
  4. Cleaning
  5. Having coffee
  6. Making/Eating breakfast
  7. Playing with Noah

What am I doing?  Laying on the couch trying to keep my eyes open.  I am not feeling well and of course, I have a huge stats test tonight and a big assignment due tonight.  Bill is out of town and the kids have me on high energy alert.  Noah does have school today, so I should be able to get some work done, but Zo keeps me pretty busy–as she isn’t as much into independent play as Noah was/is. 

Can’t wait for this weekend–I get to get away and have a weekend without my kids.  I’ll miss them, but boy do I need it.

Yes, We Can!

/ Dawn Kasal-Finley / 4 Comments

This victory alone is not the change we seek.  It is only the chance for us to make that change and that cannot happen if we go back to the way things were.  It can’t happen without you; without a new spirit of service; a new spirit of sacrifice….to look after each other.–President Elect Barack Obama, November 4, 2008.

I was and continue to be moved by our President Elect and his message of change.  I was listening to some talk radio pundits who are already attacking his message of change by implying that Obama feels that there was something bad about our country before.  Obama is not saying that we were a bad country.  He is not saying that everything about our country was wrong or bad.  But things have changed with this election.  We saw the biggest voter turnout since 1908–over 64%.  There is change needed.  And that change is the participation in our democracy of those who have felt and have been marginalized by those who have held power for so long. 

Obama has already brought about change.  He electrified a generation and minorities who have felt under served and ignored.  He represents all of us in his ideas and ideology.  I am excited to hear the rhetoric of unity and the idea that we are all responsible for the direction of our country.  For too long those who have felt under served and under represented now recognize their voice and their power.  Once again, we have a nation that is for the people and by the people.  All people. 

It is beautiful, inspiring and moving.  I am proud again to be an American.  I am proud to have voted for Obama.  It’s time to become the United States again.  I’m ready.  We are ready.  YES.WE.CAN.

12-Months And 1 Day Old

/ Dawn Kasal-Finley / 2 Comments

Dearest Zoë,

Yesterday you turned one.  I know you are now a whole number instead of parts of a month.  Of course for the coming year, your age will be marked in months.  Who am i kidding.  Your age will be marked in months until I decide to stop writing these letters to you.  I could sadly decide to stop them as quickly as I decided they need to be written.  If you like these letters you owe a huge debt of gratitude to Heather.  I stole the idea from her and when I did, I have to say I didn’t really think how quickly a month passes and because you and your brother have birthdays that are close in number, I feel like I am just cycling through writing letters.  But they are awesome ways to remember what is going on in your life. 

You are one and I just can’t believe it.  The time has gone so fast.  Yesterday caught me thinking a great deal about your Ethiopian mother and how bittersweet the day must have been for her.  To finally get to hold you in her arms after nurturing you in her womb for 40 weeks (give or take).  To see your face and to know that she could not keep you–this will be something we talk about often as we remember the brave and courageous choice she made.  I know in my heart that she loved you greatly.  She has given us the greatest gift of all–the gift of life. Without her you would not be part of our family.  I can see her in you and know that she must have been a beautiful person.  I too thought and think of your Ethiopian father.  As the case with adoption and often international adoption the biological father is overlooked.  So many questions left unanswered.  We will work through it all together.

You had your first birthday party and I have to say you enjoyed it.  You loved having people play with you–you didn’t pay much attention to the presents–most of which were clothes, aside from the cermaic Jonathon Adler Squirrel ring box that your uncle’s Jay and Curt gave you.  Because every girl needs one.  You ate cake and smashed it all over your face.  It was fun, but made mom realize birthday parties are too much work and even though it is nice to have the extended family over for the party and who doesn’t like presents, its too much work and so from here on out we may just do small immediate family parties. 

You still aren’t walking, but you are so close.  You’ll stand on your own and rock back and forth, you just haven’t developed the bravery or confidence to try and move those feet.  You’ll walk with me holding on to only one finger, but the minute we lose touch you drop to your butt and crawl.  This strikes me as odd only because you are a bit of a daredevil.  You are a climber–you climb on everything.  You’ll be walking soon, even though I was pretty positive that you would be walking already.  I am not rushing you–take your time baby.

You are developing so well.  You are very different from your brother though.  I know I shouldn’t compare but it’s hard not to.  I do it not for competition reasons–I promise.  This past month was a busy month for you–you went to your first pumpkin patch, had your first sleepover at Grandpa Mike and Grandma Lori’s house, you celebrated your first halloween and you traveled home from a foreign country.  Hard to believe that is was only a month ago that we returned from St. Maarten.  It seems like a life time.  Part of that is because you are a non-stop ball of energy.  There is no stopping  you. You go and go and go until I think you have hit  your limit and then you keep going. 

Your smile is bright and you smile big with both your mouth and eyes.  You still are goofy in love with your daddy and are starting to exert yourself with your brother.  You scream at him when he pisses you off by pushing you out of the way.  It’s pretty cute.  You are laid back and a little mellow but mostly you just go.  You are an awesome little girl and have a beautiful personality.  I am excited about seeing it develop. 

Love you,

Mommy

Charity And A One-Year-Old

/ Dawn Kasal-Finley / 3 Comments

I posted here today about Good Search and helping Ethiopian Orphan Relief, Inc.  Consider helping us out.  If there are other charities dear to your heart that use Good Search consider switching your charity each money to spread some of the benefits around.  It is tough in these economic times for charities and we depend on our supporters for money.  So, click over and read about it.

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I just want to give a big shout out today for my favorite one-year-old.  Zoë is one today.  I will post more in-depth about the amazingness of this little person tomorrow when I have a little more time.  I can hardly belief she is one.

31-Months

/ Dawn Kasal-Finley / Leave a comment

Dear Noah,

On Friday you turned 31-months old.  I don’t know where the time has gone.  You have grown so fast.  You are such a little boy.  You are a hilarious little boy.  You have really begun to develop a sense of humor and I have to say that I spend a big portion of my day laughing with you and at you.  Sorry, about the laughing at you, but sometimes you are just too cute and too funny.  I know that I am helping you on your way to “class clown” status.  I’ll deal with that when I get those calls from school.  I’ll take some of the blame and make sure your teacher knows that you really are funny–I know as a teacher I shouldn’t encourage that. 

You have developed a profound interest in all things that have to do with balls–soccer, basketball, golf, baseball and you love your bat and golf clubs (which you often try and use as a bat).  You are such a boy.  We have spent quite a bit of time outside playing soccer.  It’s a lot of fun.  The other day when we were playing, we had been playing for about 20 minutes when you all of a sudden wowed me with what you have picked up verbally and have been able to apply to the right situation. You kicked the ball and shout “he shoots!”  the ball misses me and goes past me and you shout “he scores!” and run around in a circle with your arms in the air and then fall down to the ground.  I have never laughed so hard in my life.  It was the most surprising and one of the cutest things you have done and I have seen.  It was that kind of moment where I wished I could capture it on video–but sadly the memory of it will have to be written. 

I am amazed at how you have become able to pick up words and/or phrases that we use in one context and then apply them to another context.  I can recognize the intelligence that is lurking inside and works its way up to the surface as you get older.  I try not to be biased because your my kid, but you are pretty smart and my belief is often reinforced by the ladies at your school who tell me you are too smart for your own good.  It makes me proud. 

You are really starting to come into your own.  You are the popular kid at Mom’s Day Out.  I dropped you off one day last week and when you walked into the room all the boys yell “Noah” and about four of them run up to you and you all start wrestling.  It is pretty cute.  Then you all give high-fives when you leave.  It’s cute and I am pretty sure you are going to be the popular kid.  Again, not because you are my kid and biased, but because your personality is magnetic.  People are drawn to you and have always been since you were a baby.  There is something about your unassuming smile and the happiness you radiate.  You’re a special young boy who will grow up to be a special man.  I hope that I can give you the tools and the desire to do good with your gifts.  I hope that’s not too much pressure for you.  But the world needs people like you. 

I can’t believe how much you have changed and grown and how you continue to change and grow at such a rapid pace.  You are an amazing kid and the love you show us is undescribably awesome. 

I am so happy and blessed and honored to be your mother.

Love you,

Mommy