How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria?.....

Fraulein Maria arrives in a few weeks! It will be interesting to see Brie's reaction. I recently put up a framed photo of Maria, Brie and I in the house and she saw it one morning and was yelling "fraulein! fraulein!" while I was getting dressed. I think it will take about 5 seconds for her to reconnect with Maria. Someday, I hope to share with her how critical Maria was in taking care of Brie as a baby. I think at the time, I knew she was being super helpful but really no words can describe the gratitude I have for her...esp in the early days when I was recovering from my c-section and trying to feed, bathe and care for Brie. Maria didn't have to take one of the night feedings, but she did. Without hesitation and I think that's how Brian would have handled parenting. I believe in divine intervention and I truly believe that Maria was brought to us from a higher being. Call me what you want but I do. I think her time here was good for her and obviously for us. I think this world works in funny ways but I can't wait to take Brie to Germany and show her how the other side of the world lives and maybe someday she can go and live in a foreign country and get a new experience with life!

bad guys

Oh! Its so sad but Brie is all of a sudden scared of 'bad guys' and I am just trying to comfort her and tell her that mommy is here to protect her and daddy is too even though she can't see him. And when we read books I show her that the policeman gets rid of bad guys. But I did tell her that if she ever feels like she's around a bad guy to just tell him "no, go away" and that's the extent of it. I do admit that I am scared of the bad guy too sometimes and I am constantly trying to watch strangers in public. Seeing if they are checking out my child..etc. When I started taking her to Miss Patty's house I did a Megan's Law Search around her house to see if there were any convicted child molestors nearby and I also did a very entailed Q&A with the County of Orange over the people Patty employed and have access to my daughter. I told Patty that no men are to change my daughter's diaper or take her to the potty. Its sad that at age 2 yrs and 2 months that Brie is already aware of dangerous people. I guess I can say I am too but at least its on my mind and I am not going through life acting like things like that dont happen!