Mommy daughter dates.

***Edited to add Nini's date on Thursday! Check it out...

For those who don't know, my lovely girls were adopted. With this, our moving, and Craig's business traveling, Cici and Nini have developed problems with attachment and the fear of being left behind. It's very disheartening to me because I know there is nothing worse than being insecure and having these feeling. Being adopted myself, I have them more than I'd like - yet have the ability of an adult mind and experience to overcome them.

Early this year, I was hit with the realization that everything I was doing to help them, wasn't enough. I prayed daily to understand what to do. One day while looking in the local magazine an add for a children's clinic popped out at me, and I knew instantly that this was where I should go to seek the help I needed. After four months of appointments, my girls are finally on track with two specialists who will be helping them overcome these issues. With this and a better understanding of how they work emotionally, we are starting to have clarity.

One thing that I wasn't doing enough of with the girls was spending quality alone time with them. They were so emotionally needy that to separate them at home, while the other played wasn't a good idea and when I tried, it never worked. With my parents here and the girls receiving this extra help, I've been able to start something that I have always wanted to do. Mother/Daughter Dates. Today I am going swimming with Nini, but yesterday Cici and I headed to the mall and had a great time. She got to ride the rides, help me look for glasses frames, we shopped a bit and then had an amazing snack. This cookie is a macaroon dipped on the bottom with chocolate and w/ striped chocolate on top. It was sooooooo good.

Cici loves to draw pictures of pretty dresses, so we picked out this book that let's you design and draw your own clothes. It's a little old for her, but if we work together it works perfectly. Do you have personal time with your kids? If not, speaking from experience, you should start today!

On a side note... I got to go out by myself while my parents watched the girls and I found these really cute starts and tin. Yesterday I also was able to finish some curtains for Nini's room. I purchased the valance and then sewed the ribbon at the bottom. Simple and Easy! Today, I am working on a quilt for Cici. I know I'm in way over my head with it, but it never hurts to try.

We headed to the Ville swimming pool where we were met with everyone else that wanted to swim! It's been really hot, in the 90's, which I love! Although, I can't say much for staying cool around the house because no A/C - but I'll endure it to stay warm for a few weeks. Nini is such a fun little girl. She loves to jump, before looking and doesn't care to wait or listen. She gets sooo excited about things. It was great swimming just the two of us. I purposely left her life jacket at home, so she would have to rely on me to help her in the deeper sections. We were able to talk a lot, a few moments of not listening, but mostly, I felt it was a lot of fun for her and me. After swimming we headed to a small market and got a Popsicle and watched the trains go by. Fun times!