Digital Camera Woes

Last night we met up with Michelle and Malia. Michelle brought Malia home from China a couple of weeks ago. What a cutie. Sorry I don't have pictures but it looks like yet another one of my digital cameras has bit the dust. I'll bring it in this weekend but it definitely has problems. This will be camera number 4 I believe. The first one was stolen when our house was broken into a couple of years ago. The second one quit working and I was able to exchange it for another. But, then that one quit working after we got back from China with Ella. I sent it in for repair as it was still under warranty. The day it came back it was dropped again and quit working. So, I got number 4. I swear we didn't drop it, for real life we didn't. But it got locked up in zoom mode when Elizabeth and I were looking at one of the pictures I took of Elizabeth. I tried taking the battery out and it still wouldn't shut off. Hope we can get it fixed.

*UPDATE* Camera is better. I took the battery out and left it that way overnight and was able to turn the camera off today (4/25/08).

Yesterday Elizabeth was sick. She said she felt like throwing up and was tired. Since I was working from home, I let her stay home with me. Ella went to daycare. I tried to get Elizabeth to nap but she didn't. She did just hang out and relax though. She didn't bug me too much while I was working either. Good job Elizabeth.

Late in the afternoon I asked her to go up and pick out an outfit to wear since we were going to go straight to the Mall of America after daycare to meet Michelle and Malia. Elizabeth came down in a great outfit but her hair was the best. She had put in 3 different pigtails and a daisy barrette on top of her head. That was the picture we were zooming on when the camera locked up. Thankfully that picture is on the memory card so someday I'll be able to load it.


We picked up Ella at daycare and dressed her in a clean outfit and off we went to the MOA. It was great meeting Malia and visiting with Michelle. I had a couple of newbie mom moments though. You would think I wouldn't have those anymore. Ella and Elizabeth (AKA Mulan and Gabriella) shared a meal from a Chinese place on 3rd floor. I got them each a lemonade. Before Ella could take many sips, it was all over the floor. Accidents happen, but what I can't figure out is why I didn't move us to another table. The lemonade got Malia's Build a Bear box all wet. Luckily her bunny was fine. All our shoes were sticky on the bottom too. It was also one of those nights that we went to the bathroom more times than I can remember. It sure can be fun with my two and me and public restrooms. The auto flush options bug them but Elizabeth is getting better. And don't mention the air blowers. Usually they choose to wipe their wet hands on my jeans. You would think I would bring something wouldn't you? LOL

We all went to Lego Land and the girls played. Then Malia and Michelle went home and we stopped at Barnes and Noble for copies of the National Geographic issue about China. Really cool pictures. After that I took the girls to Old Navy for dresses. We are doing a fun thing on Saturday called Baby Loves Disco so now they have new dresses. Should be fun. My girls love to dance and have recently been dancing to just about anything. They were even dancing to the music played at Old Navy. It was pretty empty so I let them do it. I enjoyed it except for when I needed them to pick out a dress. :-)

On the way home the girls took turns telling stories. Elizabeth's was about Cinderella, Ariel, Snow White, Sleeping Beauty and their Princes. The poor guys don't have names so she was calling them Cinderella's Prince, Snow White's Prince etc. Ella's story was harder to figure out but she did mention bad guys and witches. She also did this thing with her lips, sounded like she was smacking her lips. It drove Elizabeth crazy. She thought it sounded like kissing and gave her whole body a headache.

Then it was clean up time at home and try on dresses and story time. I am playing hard ball with the girls though. Ella had been sleeping in my bed since the surgery but I decided I want my room back. Monday night everyone slept in their own bed. Tuesday Ella slept in my bed and I slept in hers. Last night I put my foot down and after book time, she went in her bed. Elizabeth also went to her room and bed without issue. She is really good about that. Ella was not happy but didn't cry. She had a kids magazine in her bed and she was looking at it by the light of the night light. I could hear pages turning from my room but let it alone. But then I heard her walking in her room and little bit of sniffling. So, I got up and checked on her. She was climbing back into her bed and said "Sleep in Momma's Bed?" I said no but picked her up and rocked her for a bit. She was doing the hiccup scared breathing kids do. So we rocked for a while. She still wasn't ready to go to bed alone so I laid down with her. We spent a few minutes talking and that was amazing. Something about the day reminded me of moments with Ella in China so I was telling her that. Ella reached over and held my face and we just looked into each other's eyes. It was a soul to soul moment for sure. We talked a little more about China and her foster family and then Ella turned over and pretty soon she was asleep. I am sure she is going to have a good nap today because it was close to midnight.

I need to have more soul to soul moments with my girls. That is what builds memories for all of us.