I’ve been on a roll making homemade popsicles. (My current go-to is frozen mixed berries blended with plain whole milk yogurt and a bit of sugar to sweeten.) Ali loves them and she’s totally adorable and photogenic.
Gosh, I love this kid so much! By the way, Happy 20 Months, Alianna!
2 Comments | 
Art, Art: Cooking, Family, Family: Precious/Ali | Tagged: alianna, courtyard, parenting, popsicles, precious, spring | 
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Posted by mahlbrandt
Depending on the angle of the photo, it looks like a den…
But 98% of the time it’s a playroom. (Technically, it’s a guest room, too, though it hasn’t been used as such yet. Someday it’ll be a bedroom.)
The closet is full of books, toys and games.
A few things to note about this room:
The sofa is vintage. We’d like to reupholster it someday but it’s not in bad shape and the pull out mattress is in excellent shape.
The rug is from Urban Outfitters. I purchased it for a staging project right before we moved in. We had it in the living room for a little while but it was way too small in there. It’s perfect in here.
This room is the smallest bedroom in the house but the super high ceilings make if feel big and the high windows and concrete wall make it very unique. I’m hoping a teenager will love it as a bedroom someday.
The play stove is second-hand, hand made but someone. I got it at a yard sale. It was Ali’s adoption day gift.
Ali’s navy table was a Christmas gift from Grandma and Grandpa. The metal folding chair is vintage from an estate sale in my neighborhood. I got it when I was putting together our first room for future foster kids.
The small guitar was a baby shower gift before our first placement. It’s still a bit too complex for Ali but she likes to bang on it, August Rush style. The blue guitar is really special to me. It was the guitar Jason first learned to play guitar on…it deserves it’s own post.
The TV is not attached to anything except power. Eventually we plan to get another Roku box for this room (which we use for Hulu and Netflix) and attach a DVD player. We’ll also need some kind of shelving for that.
The robot decals I won from a giveaway on Design Mom. Ali loves to give them kisses.
Ali’s favorite activities right now are the slide (going down and sending toys down) and sitting at her table to play with stickers
…
FYI, our architect is Ryan Thewes.
Related Posts:
Leave a Comment » | Art, Art: house tour, Art: interior design, Art: modern design, Family, Family: Precious/Ali | Tagged: den, kids, new home tour, new house, parenting, playroom, toys | Permalink
Posted by mahlbrandt
Oh, but not a foster placement. Boy did I confuse a few people on facebook! On the foster care front, our case worker is coming out on Thursday to check out our new home and move us back into open status, assuming all goes well. (GULP.) We could potentially start getting placement calls this weekend. (DOUBLE GULP.) Our home is as ready as it’s going to be, which made it easier for us to agree to watch our friends’ little boy Jaron for 4 days/nights with less than 24 hours notice. We joked that it would be good practice for life with two kids but dang… it was good practice! We learned a lot. It was almost as big of an adjustment as suddenly being parents to a toddler (our first placement). That was encouraging on two levels – 1. It was not as big of an adjustment. (We’re experienced now! Woot!) and 2. With our first major adjustment it got better after a week or two so I know that it would get better with two kids, also. The major difference, of course, is that we already knew and loved Jaron and his parents and we knew it would just be a few days. They also gave us a ton of directions on how to care for him, clothes, food, toiletries, etc. All of those things made it easier. It was still very stretching to have two almost-twin toddlers, and I know it was hard on little Jaron, too. One of the biggest things I learned: Being out numbered by munchins is no joke! It was much easier when Jason and I were both there to split the duties. He’d put one kid to bed, I’d put the other to bed. He’d carry one kid into the store, I’d carry the other. We both had at least 1 day where we were solo parenting both kiddos. Oy! But again, I know it would get better the longer we had to settle into a ruetine and get used to each other. Ali did really well sharing her parents. I hardly noticed any jealousy. There were a few periods when both kids wanted the one-on-one adult attention that they’re used to and I wasn’t able to meet both of their needs at once. They weren’t upset with each other but at one point while I was trying to warm up some leftovers for dinner (no way I was going to be able to cook!) and I had one kid clinging to each of my legs. It would have been comical if the shrieking/crying/whining wasn’t making me lose my mind. I even attempted to take a photo so I could laugh about it later but it don’t turn out. And I realized…What am I doing?! Just get the dang food in the microwave so I can sit on the floor and hug both kids at the same time.
So on to the fun stuff. These two are so sweet together.
This boy is a messy eater! Lord, have mercy…He’s so stinkin’ cute though. Smiles and laughs easily.
They two both get kissed a lot by their parents so they love to kiss each other as well. So cute!
Happy Valentine’s Day!
Ali thought the chalk would make good lipstick…her latest obsession.
Hi, Lucy! Yes, I still love you.
Flashback… one year ago:
2 Comments | Family, Family: Extended Family and Friends, Family: Me, Family: Precious/Ali | Tagged: adoption, Ali, buddies, friends, Jaron, kids, parenting, toddlers | Permalink
Posted by mahlbrandt
Meal times are getting so much better now! When we first moved into our new house, Ali was used to having the attention of 4 adoring adults every meal. It was a big adjustment with just Mommy and Daddy who would occasionally be trying to talk to each other. Her way to get attention was to throw food. And it worked marvelously. She would even seek a scowl face that one of us must have been giving her, because she would throw food on the floor, yell “no” and then scowl at us. I scoured my parenting books for advice and landed on a suggestion from The Connected Child that positive reinforcement of good behavior is really the most effective discipline.
I was skeptical. But willing to try.
It seems obnoxious to say, “Good job, Ali! You’re doing a great job feeding yourself! Wow, look at you! Can you put that banana in your mouth? [As she dangles it over the floor…] Great job putting the banana in your mouth! What a good eater!”
ButOhMyGosh! It worked. If I would forget to do it—to give her positive affirmation for her good eating behavior—food would fly.
Above: Messing but she polished off a whole plate of food at our favorite Mexican restaurant!
My eyes were opened to how much difference it makes to Ali’s ability level when she gets verbal encouragement and affirmation. It’s not just eating. When she’s trying to climb up her slide and grunts because she’s stuck, if we encourage her, “You can do it, Ali! You’re doing a great job. What a good climber!” There she goes. Right up to the top of the slide…and then head first down to the floor (that’s her style).
I’ve also been noticing a physical change in her posture depending on what I say. “Listen and obey” is a script explained in The Connected Child as well. Instead of saying “No” I give Ali verbal instructions and wait for her to comply, pending immediate danger. If she doesn’t do it, my tone gets more serious and I say, “Ali, listen and obey. Shut that cupboard.” When the words listen and obey come rumbling through the airwaves, I see her straighten up her shoulders. She knows I mean business.
Likewise, when I praise her actions I see her body respond. The other day she was putting back the glasses case that she had taken from my nightstand (as instructed) and as soon as she put it down, before she had a chance to pick it back up again (as she often does…) I said, “Thank you, Ali! Great job listening and following instructions!” and I saw her head lift up with pride like an invisible string just pulled her up a little bit. She smiled with confidence.
How humbling it’s been to realize what an affect my words have on my sweet little girl. I have the power to crush her or to lift her up, just with what’s coming out of my mouth. I mess up plenty, and she does too I suppose. Thankfully, she’s always been quick to forgive me and I give her grace, too. We’re learning and stretching a lot these days.
3 Comments | Family, Family: Me, Family: Precious/Ali | Tagged: dinner, discipline, feeding, mealtime, parenting, toddler, words | Permalink
Posted by mahlbrandt
Guess who peed in the potty yesterday?!
Ali has been really curious about the whole bathroom process so we’ve been explaining to her how it works for the past couple of months. She’s not quite 18 months old and we weren’t planning on even introducing the potty seat until then. Since Ali got an Amazon gift card for Christmas, I went ahead and ordered the Prince Lionheart WeePOD seat attachment I had researched. One day after she was watching me go, I said “when you get bigger you can go pee in the potty, too.” She immediately tried to climb onto the toilet and I realized she may be ready to try this sooner than we thought. So here we are, after about 10x of practice/pretending on the seat, yesterday she told Jason “poop” and wanted to get on the potty. He put her up there and what do you know? She passed some gas and then peed! I don’t think she’s physically ready to be fully potty trained just yet (to be able to know and communicate that she has to go, and to be able to hold it until she gets to the potty…) however, we’re excited that she’s so interested and determined that she’s going to go how we go.
2 Comments | Family, Family: Precious/Ali | Tagged: parenting, potty training, precious, toddler | Permalink
Posted by mahlbrandt
Almost every January here in Nashville, we get at least one weekend of warmer temperatures. It’s a nice break from our [relatively mild] winter weather. Jason and I call it January Spring. Last week, we had a whole week of 60-70 degrees (…40s are more typical in January). It was AMAZING!
One day I took Ali out to draw with chalk in the driveway, blow bubbles and swing in her swing.
Another day Jason did some gardening while Ali played in the dirt. Saturday afternoon while Ali was napping Jason refinished a table while I gave our cocker spaniel Lucy a haircut and a bath outside (using our warm/cold water tap).
Oh, it was a glorious January Spring! Thank you, God!
Now we’re back to winter. I feel like I’m fueled up and ready to face another month or so of cold weather.
1 Comment | Art, Family, Family: Precious/Ali | Tagged: january, january spring, outdoor, precious, sidewalk chalk, weather | Permalink
Posted by mahlbrandt
The other day I was thinking about some things that are challenging about Ali’s age (17 months) and I was grateful that she will eventually mature and grow out of these.
Things I Will NOT Miss About this Age:
meal time messes and food throwing on the floor
changing nasty, stinky diapers
testing every boundary we set
tangled car seat/crib hair
…
But it didn’t take long for me to start thinking about all of the sweet and fun things about this age, too. Starting with when I was folding laundry the other day.
Things I Will Miss About this Age:
tiny socks
neon, sparkly, colorful clothes
kisses with a “mwaw”
hugs with an “awe”
kisses without puckered lips
wonder and excitement about the simplest things
chubby little hands and feet
celebration when she says a word for the first time
how she tries to imitate everything we do
pointing to what she wants and saying “yes”
calling her sippy cup “this”
the way she say “cacka” for cracker, “mo” for more, and “bow” for ball
how thrilled she is with her reflection (see below)
These were taken sequentially on self-portrait mode on my phone…
The second list could easily go on and on. It’s nice to have a little perspective shift sometimes. 🙂 Even with the challenges, each age is more fun than the last.
1 Comment | Family, Family: Precious/Ali | Tagged: 17 months, Ali, daughter, parenting, precious | Permalink
Posted by mahlbrandt
I don’t feel like I’m ready to do a “real” photo tour of any rooms in our new house until we have art hung. Is that weird? Ali’s room is the closest to finished. I hung a few more pictures the other day. We still need to get a curtain rod… then I’ll take better photos with my camera! Hahaha… for now, this is how it’s looking with phone photos:
She loves to look at herself in that full length mirror. She got the owl coat hooks as a housewarming gift from Aunt Jessica and the owl backpack for Christmas from Nana. The alphabet poster below is from Petite Collage. I won it from Design Mom years ago.
Ali loves monkeys and immediately said, “Ooh ooh ooh!” when she saw this French Paper poster that was a gift from my friend Renata. The needlepoint art was an adoption day gift from Nana. The polka dot blanket on her rocker is a gift from Ali’s great-aunt Janice.
The flower (below) and the A pillow (above) were adoption day gifts from my co-worker Dawne. The hand-painted burlap name banner is a gift from my high school youth group friend Emily. And you can’t really see it, but the quilt that she sleeps with in her crib was a gift from her great-aunt Linda. Wow! That’s a lot of thoughtful gifts!
Leave a Comment » | Art, Art: new home nursery, Family, Family: Precious/Ali | Tagged: ali's room, bedroom, kids room, new home, new house, nursery | Permalink
Posted by mahlbrandt
At the end of December 2011, just a few days before Christmas, Jason, Ali and I celebrated the new property we had just purchased.
Earlier that day, we were at the juvenile courthouse accepting Ali’s birth mom’s surrender of her parental rights to us. We took the photo below afterward while we waited for some paperwork. It’s a dark and crappy picture and it’s a bittersweet reality, too. We were thankful she was willing to do it because it made our process to adopt Ali smoother, but it was also very painful for her. She’s a tough woman but she couldn’t hide her tears as the judge asked her if she was absolutely sure this is what she wanted to do. She was positive it was the best thing for Ali. But it was like watching a chunk of her heart get torn out before our eyes. I wanted to give her a big hug afterward, to thank her again, but she ran out quickly when her part was over and I haven’t seen her since then.
She had my phone number and sent a text a few days after Christmas last year but that was the last I’ve heard from her. Apparently she lost her phone at some point. I’m thankful that we’ve been able to maintain some communication with some of Ali’s other biological family members but it pains me that we’ve lost contact with her first mom. I’m thankful for the time we did get to spend with her and for the pictures we have.
It’s hard to believe it’s been a whole year since all of that happened. Perhaps because we were living in transition for 10 months between homes, it feels like it was just a short time ago. When I look back at that chubby little baby with slick, straight hair and barely able to sit up on her own, it feels like it was so long ago! She’s changed tremendously since then. I wish I could let her first mom see how much she’s grown and how she’s running all around and talking up a storm. I wish she could see her outgoing personality and her toughness (which I’m sure Ali inherited from her). I wish I could hug her and thank her again for giving us her blessing to raise this beautiful little girl that she birthed.
2 Comments | Family, Family: Foster Parenting, Family: Precious/Ali | Tagged: adoption, birth mom, daughter, Family, foster parenting | Permalink
Posted by mahlbrandt
Ready for Christmas picture overload? OK, here we go!
Our niece Eliza came over to play on Christmas Eve.
In case it’s not obvious, these girls have a blast together.
Jason was so awesome and made my family’s traditional Christmas Eve Swedish meatballs while Ginger and I chased the little girls around the house and visited before the rest of the family got there.
These two can empty a toy box in less than a minute.
Who me?
After the house got quiet, it was time for this mama to pack up the stockings.
This one is for Lucy:
For Jason (not pictured: pack of underwear. You’re welcome.)
For Alianna. She’s an awesome gift receiver. Equally excited about the socks and the owl stickers.
For me; yes I stuff a stocking for myself. (not pictured: pack of underwear. You’re welcome.)
On Christmas morning I woke up around 9 but Jason and Ali slept until closer to 10. I made a little treat for Ali and I and she learned a new word: cocoa.
Round 1: stockings and Ali’s presents from Mom and Dad.
In addition to the stocking littles, Ali gets three gifts from us. (Side note: Jason and I gave each other a house for Christmas. And I recently got a new camera and he got a new computer; both for our work. Merry Christmas to each other!)
Good morning! It’s Christmas!
Something to play with: Mind of My Own by Frances England.
Something to Read: The Skin You Live In by Michael Tyler
Something to Wear: “seaspray” Converse low tops
New car from Grandma and Grandpa
Yogurt as a finger food?
We got to FaceTime with my brother’s family in PA. My parents were there for Christmas. My sister’s family was driving there at the time so we didn’t get to see them.
Eli got a tractor!
Jason got some egg poachers in his stocking we he tried them out for our breakfast.
After morning nap she had a bath and got all dressed up for the rest of Christmas day.
Sometimes “Where’s Ali?” is the only way I can get her to turn towards the camera but this is the facial response I get.
Round 2 of opening presents. She got some great stuff from her aunts and uncles (my siblings in PA).
This Leap Frog Phonics toy seemed to be Ali’s favorite of the day.
Hmm, I might be realizing where Ali gets her “Ooooh!” face from.
Jason’s parents, brother, sister-in-law and niece spent the afternoon and evening with us. There were lots more presents, little girls running around playing with new toys, and a delicious dinner of ham, chicken, brussel sprouts, roasted beets, macaroni and cheese, rolls, berry delight, pumpkin pie…mmmm…I’m getting hungry again. I didn’t take many pictures during all that fun but after dinner I took these.
My handsome husband:
Ali checking out one of her new shirts.
The FP Little People airplane was a big hit.
Daniel and Ginger
Daniel, Ginger and Eliza
Papa showing Ali how to use Nana’s Nook
Tongue out in concentration? That’s new!
Jason’s parents: Papa and Nana
We had a wonderful Christmas. I hope you did too!
5 Comments | Family, Family: Extended Family and Friends, Family: Jason, Family: Me, Family: Precious/Ali | Tagged: Christmas, christmas eve, Family, pictures | Permalink
Posted by mahlbrandt
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Graphic designer, MCM interior design enthusiast, wife to amazing guitarist and hard working realtor, mama—by way of foster care, adoption and biology—and follower of Jesus Christ.
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