Christmastime Memories 2009

Stressing out over getting family pictures in time for making cards

Noah watching Toy Story and/or Polar Express once a day
Anna uses a fork for the first time
Anna's word list grows to: wow, whoa, Dada, done, bye, yay
Getting a Mickey and Minnie holiday inflatable for the yard


Moving Santa forward on the advent calendar every night
"How Deep the Father's Love for Us" stuck in our heads
Josh and Noah going to a Toy Train Show


Noah's favorite carol: Santa Claus is Coming to Town
Noah visits with Santa 4x: Lights show, Bass Pro, My Gym, Publix
Going to Monkey Joes and having the place all to ourselves
Alisa comes over for the first visit for our Home Study update
Emptying the guest bedroom/setting it up for a little girl
Cruising the neighborhood for house lighting ideas for next year
Researching Jesse Trees and planning for making one next year
Going to see Sherlock Holmes and Avatar 3D
Mistaking my sunglasses for 3D glasses for the first part of Avatar
Josh sews a new nose on Calvin
Noah and Daddy playing ATV2 on XBOX like crazy
Accidentally buying two of the same Disney movie on Ebay
Putting out trains before Thxgiving, taking down on Christmas Eve

Opening 1 gift on C'mas Eve; N - monkey board, A - doll stroller
Making cookies and chocolate milk for Santa like Max and Ruby do
Being home Christmas morning for 3rd year in a row


Traveling to Mimmie and Papa's after all the presents were opened


Seeing Emily, Lee, Brooklyn, Natalie, Aunt Gail, Uncle Mark


Getting rid of our 6 yr. old Christmas Tree after Christmas


Noah picks a Santa ornament for his collection; Anna - a mitten
Noah and Josh playing hide-n-seek with his "talkie talkies"
Daddy horsey rides become very popular


Looking forward to going to Memaw/Papa John's for New Year's

Keeping Track @ 15 Months

I took Anna to her 15 month check up today and she was surprising and impressive during her four shots. Barely cried at all. She was much more dramatic about it last time. Today, she weighed 18 lbs. 10 oz, which concerns her doctor a little since it left her, like Noah at this age, below the 5th %ile. She has us on strict orders now to up her caloric intake, curb the full belly of milk during the daytime, and be back for a follow-up in 4 weeks. (I don't think it will be that simple - the girl won't eat which is why I give her the milk to compensate - but I'm willing to try). Anna's height was in the 30-40%ile at exactly 30 inches.

I posted some tid-bits about Anna at 14 months, so there isn't much more to update about her quirks and traits. But there are a few other things that come to mind as I recall and compare the last time we had a 15 month old in our family. First off, Noah still was not walking, so that is still the biggest difference in our two. Curiosity, and therefore safety, is another big difference in Noah and Anna at 15 months. Noah was mild, content, and cautious. Anna is a go-getter, curious, and fearless so this creates more moments and places where we have to safeguard her from herself. Just last week we had to purchase various child-proofing gadgets that we never needed with Noah. The most useful and reassuring of these gadgets is an oven lock. I also grabbed a fridge/ dishwasher lock to keep on stand-by to save me the trip later. Third, Anna is much quicker on the uptake with things that Noah took much longer to master - things like puzzles, stacking toys, climbing on and off, sliding, and obviously, mobility. Fourth, Anna is a much neater eater. Not only does she not wear bibs during the day like Noah did still, but we don't even bother with bibs on her while she eats. That would have just blown our minds to consider when Noah was this age. Fifth, they both had 6 teeth at this age - 4 on top, 2 on the bottom. Although Anna is cutting 2 more on the bottom right now. Sixth, Anna can use a fork already and usually insists on it or she won't eat. I can't say for sure when Noah started using a fork/spoon, but it was NOT 15 months. Speaking of eating habits, Noah was a great eater then and Anna is not. Eats like a bird. And seventh, Anna collapses into a puddle like a limp noodle on the floor when she is displeased. Noah's version of showing such distaste at that age was to bend over and bang his head on the floor - one bang to make his point, two bangs for effect. I can't help grinning at the mental picture I get of both of their attempts at tantrums. Poor things.

Noah, then, at 15 months old:


Annabelle, now, at 15 months old:

Christmas Day Festivities

What a super family day we had on Christmas. We got an early start with just the four of us and the gifts under the tree, and then made the 2 hour trek to my parents' in Alabama for an overnight visit with them and Emily and her family. It was a nice time.

And man-alive, the gifts. Oh, the gifts. A lot of them. A somewhat discouraging part of it all was how Noah plowed through them and never once looked back and said Thanks for anything (without being told, that is) or took a moment in all the unwrapping to actually LOOK at and appreciate what he had just unwrapped. It was like a fever overcame him (both here at home and also at my parents'). On the way home last night I told Josh that I am adding "Teach Noah self-propelled and sincere gratitude" to my New Year's Resolutions.

Anna's fave gift from us: Playskool Busy Gears.


Noah got a doctor dress-up kit. He only looks evil here because he is grinning so hard about the little play shot he is holding. After this he came up to me to administer my shot and he warned me that I might cry.


This is really all Anna did (play with paper and plastic) while Tornado Noah ripped the wrapping off all the presents.


Shredder Noah...


Noah's fave gift from us: This fishing game and a set of walkie talkies (funny note about the walkies - we gave them to him last Christmas and they ended up being ignored so we put them away and regifted them to him this year which turned out to be a great idea)


Quick family shot once we got to Mimmie and Papa's house.


Anna hanging out with the girls.


Anna's fave gift from Mimmie and Papa: ride-on train toy. I don't have a picture of it, but Noah's fave gift from Mimmie and Papa was a Hot Wheels race car stunt track that has already replaced the trains on his train table...for the time being, that is.


Christmas dinner at the kiddie table. Shame on me for not taking a pic of the grown ups as well. My Aunt Gail and Uncle Mark joined us all for this part of the day, too.


I'm a little in love with this tu-tu Anna got with a pj set from my parents. It looks like she is showing it off here, but she is really trying to get it off.


More of Noah mastering the skill of unwrapping...


Brooklyn and Noah sharing what we all call "the red car" ... until we had to institute a 3-5 minute rotation for taking turns. I think our holiday soundtrack will most definitely include the sound of that buzzer that kept time for us.


They weren't even posing for a pic here. They were just being lovey dovey watching the gift giving and I seized the moment.


Holiday moments and memories to be continued over New Year's in FL with Josh's family. Looking forward to it!

Recipe: Turkey Chili

Mmmm. Made this quick-fix recipe last night and we ate the leftovers for lunch today. Somehow, I think the leftovers were better than the hot-off-the-stove servings.

This recipe was taken from the January 2010 edition of Parents Magazine. "Power Meal for a Chilly Day" they called it. They said it's chock-full of lean protein - just what your kids need after an intense snowball fight. Now we don't have snow, or cold hardly - we are enjoying temps in the upper 50's, but this makes me think of all of you buried in snow further east. Enjoy!

Turkey Chili

In a large saucepan, cook 1/2 lb. ground turkey breast until no longer pink. Stir in 1/2 tsp. chili powder, 1 15 oz. can of drained, no-salt-added kidney beans, 1 10 3/4 oz. can reduced-fat, reduced-sodium condensed tomato soup, and 1/2 cup water; cook until heated through. Serve with low-fat shredded cheddar cheese. Serves 4.

How I tweaked it for us: I used regular tomato soup. I used twice that amount of turkey. I added a can of black beans. I doubled the chili powder. And it goes without saying that we piled, repeat PILED, the cheese on. Needed a little salt, too, which kind of defeated the purpose of the no-salt-added kidney beans. Hah! Still - a good, quick recipe.

WPTM #19: Spinnin' Wheels

What Parenting Teaches Me #19: Spinnin' Wheels

Anna is hard to play with sometimes - short attention span, changes her mind, demanding. She puts something in your hands and then takes it back. She wants your participation in what she is doing and then she wants to do it all by herself. If it's a crayon, she hands it to me to color and, as soon as I start coloring, she wants to color with it. If it's a book, she hands it to me to read to her and, as soon as I start reading, she yanks it back.

I grinned at her spinning her wheels with me in this way last night while we played with her MagnaDoodle. She can't do it herself. She wants me to make it happen for her. I oblige. She takes it back. And Rinse. And Repeat.

Now this, THIS, feels familiar, except I play the part of Anna and God plays me.

Take FORGIVENESS, for example. I ask the Lord to help me forgive someone, I forgive them, and then I feel angry or resentful toward them again later for the same thing I thought I forgave them for.

Or maybe it's about WORRY. I give something to the Lord only to take it back again and work it over and over in my mind thereby worrying myself to death all over again.

Sometimes it's about TIME. I determine to give the Lord more time in his word and in his specific presence. And then something comes up, or I just don't commit like I intended to, and I take that time back for myself or my to-do list.

And other times it's just like Anna, about CONTROL. I ask the Lord for help and/or guidance, He answers me, and then I take over the situation again, or the next time, without inviting his direction.

Oy. Point taken, Lord. Here's to not spinning my wheels in the New Year. Here's to giving it to You and meaning it.

Schooled

This morning, Noah was irritating the mess out of Anna with his bear, Calvin, and in the process, irritating the mess out of me. It was early yet (6:30 am) and I was not awake enough to have the energy for scolding or explaining what I have explained to him a million times before. So I snatched up the bear and plopped (probably more like - shoved) it back into Noah's lap - a silent sort of "STOP IT!!" gesture, if you will.

Noah's red flags went up, but not for the reason I had hoped - that being his needing to STOP IT. No, he was alert to the fact that I had not been gentle. This he knows because he gets schooled on gentleness every day (being gentle with his sister, in particular). So when he caught me not being gentle, he took it upon himself to remind me what gentle is. You'll notice he knows this corrective script by heart and was confident in his delivery.

Here's how it went. Btw, "genter"=gentle:

Me, impatiently shoving that bear into his lap to send a message
Noah, pauses and then proceeds: Mommy, do genter.
Me, at a crossroad - correct impudence or model teachability?
Noah, cautiously hands it to me: Twy again, Mommy. Genter.
Me, guilty, I know, so I humbly and gently hand it back to him
Noah: Tank you. Dat's bed-der.

Sleep, Baby, Sleep

It's official. I am a sucker for anything this woman (Maryann Cusimano Love) writes! Love. Every. Word. I've even pre-ordered her next children's book that comes out next year, entitled You Are my Wish. The book I got today, however, is like a lullaby with an I-Hope-You-Dance sort of wish/blessing for the child. I told Josh today I am going to find some decorative way to print and frame the words in all three of our babies' rooms.

Sleep, Baby, Sleep
by Maryann Cusimano Love

Sleep, baby, sleep,
snuggled like a sheep.
Be always like the lamb so mild,
a kind and sweet and gentle child.
Sleep, baby, sleep.

Rise, baby, rise.
Wipe the sleep from your eyes.
Be like the chick who leaves her shell
to toddle over field and dell.
Rise, baby, rise.

Soar, baby, soar.
The whole world you'll explore.
Fly like the goose who climbs and roams
yet always knows his way back home.
Soar, baby, soar.

Laugh, baby, laugh.
Frolic like a calf,
nose tickled by the grass and rye,
eyes twinkling at the beaming sky.
Laugh, baby, laugh.

Look, baby, look,
surprise in every nook.
Be like the hawk who trusts her sight
of canyons grand and feathers slight.
Look, baby, look.

Climb, baby, climb,
one step at a time.
Be like the cub who scales great trees
to peer above the canopy.
Climb, baby, climb.

Sail, baby, sail,
calm in the windy gale.
Be like the duck who paddles through
the storm to glide in waves of blue.
Sail, baby, sail.

Splash, baby, splash.
Stand tall as the waves crash.
Be always like the hound who dares
to find adventure everywhere.
Splash, baby, splash.

Grow, baby, grow.
From our arms you'll go,
unfurling like a butterfly,
cocoon opening to the sky.
Grow, baby, grow.

Hush, baby, hush.
Growing can't be rushed.
Be always like the newborn foal
with whispered wind songs in his soul.
Hush, baby, hush.

Shine, baby, shine,
graceful child of mine.
Be like the firefly who glows
no matter how the darkness grows.
Shine, baby, shine.

Peace, baby, peace.
All your cares release.
Be always like the snowy dove
who spreads her wings and sings of love.
Peace, baby, peace.

Dream, baby, dream,
rising like moonbeams.
Be always like the dragonfly
shimmering in the misty sky.
Dream, baby, dream.

Sleep, baby, sleep.
Our promises we'll keep.
Be the miracle you are,
a wish come true on a shooting star.
Sleep, baby, sleep.

Home Study Update

We had a great time with Alisa, our case worker, on Thursday. That in itself came as a relief. I was worried she would be irritable/unhelpful with us for having hounded her so much to get us on her schedule before the year's end. Turns out that wasn't the case. We think she is just one of those laid-back personalities (and therefore work styles) that you just have to keep on top of. Alisa was one of the several trainers we had during our classes, so we were familiar with her already. We all three had to keep making ourselves stay on topic because it was so easy to go off in different directions. Course, most of you already know how chatty I can be. And when you get me talking about adoption, well, there's just no stopping me.

Somewhere along the way during her visit, we enlisted ourselves to be on their next adoptive parent panel that they offer as an informative session during the training of prospective adoptive parents. So that's something we'll look forward to doing. It was our favorite of all the training sessions we did over the past few months. And I love, love, love to talk about our experience with Noah's adoption. On top of that, I love what a positive, real-life example we can speak from about maintaining a relationship with a child's birth family.

We were able to get a lot of our questions answered during the course of our 2 1/2 hour visit with Alisa, so that also came as a relief. Joshua and I both felt really good after she left. We found out the following:

1. We only need one more visit to complete our home study update. Alisa will come back out to the house Friday, January 8, so she can catch us up on a training class we missed, and more importantly, so she can meet and visit with Noah and Anna. I look forward to that.

2. The home study approval timeline is nowhere near what our experience and wait was when we went through DFCS in Georgia 4 years ago. It is simpler and quicker, emphasis on the quicker. She said we can expect our home study to be approved by the end of January.

3. The steps that come after that are for us (or our agency) to identify a child we are interested in knowing more about and have Alisa send that organization/state department our home study. She said it's a little like sending out resumes.

4. When we hear back from those inquiries, they will want more information about us as well. She said we can likely expect them to want to meet us for themselves. And that we could be asked to prepare a scrapbook-style presentation of our family and what we are about.

5. After their meeting us and our all agreeing to go ahead, a meeting with the child is set up. And if all signs continue to point to yes (including the child's reciprocal interest), visits are repeated, increased in length of stay, and the visit location gradually shifts from the foster home to our home.

6. Last up, would be placement in our home. Six months from there, the adoption can be finalized.

I just think it's neat to know this time next year we could already have been a family of 5 for awhile. Could possibly not be yet, but still, quite possibly could. Will keep you all posted.

Praying for you, Thinking of you, Waiting for you, Planning for you, little-girl-Brown-to-be.

Book Count 2009

Ahhhhhhh! I finished reading my 35th book of the year last night! Feels good to wrap things up. Some notables from 2009:

Favorite author (read 5 books of hers): Philippa Gregory

Fastest reads: Twilight Series by Stephenie Meyer

Got me most flustered: An Unlit Path by Deborah Hannah

Most change-effecting: Family Driven Faith by Voddie Baucham

The one Josh read: Family Driven Faith

Will go through again: Creative Correction by Lisa Whelchel

Already started reading for 2010: Spectacular Sins by John Piper

Books in the cue so far for next year:
Adopted for Life
Peace like a River (a reread)
Creative Correction (a reread)
Shepherding a Child's Heart (a reread)
The DNA of Relationships
The Shipping News
Everyday Talk

Still looking for and hoping for some good novels, so if you have any recommendations, do tell.

Father-Son Bonding

Josh was just bragging on Noah as they played an Offroad ATV game on his old XBox. Noah hasn't played since last Christmas, so his skills have vastly improved since then. When Josh told Noah how impressed he was with his game, Noah was eager to hear more.

Noah: Daddy press (read - impressed with) me? Daddy happy?
- It's safe to say, Noah, that yes, Daddy is impressed with you. More than that, Daddy enjoys your company and is grateful to have a little gamer to play with. Daddy also has his eye on a Wii for himself, I mean, for you for your birthday in May. Lucky for him, I like the idea for you as well.

When Josh bought that XBox several years back it was against my wishes and without my knowledge at the time. I was pretty peeved about it and as a result swore I would never, never play it. And I never, never did ... except for a little Dance Dance Revolution phase I went through. Anyway, as Josh and Noah bonded over the video games this morning, Josh was grinning with pride in Noah's skills and with joy in Noah's company. He told me how great it was to know that he had someone to play video games with for the next 15 years. :)

Even if it does mean, for the time being, he has to play a hefty dose of Hide-and-Seek and Candyland every day, too.

Adoption Update

We get asked a lot lately what is new with the adoption, and more specifically, when will we have a child in our home. Unfortunately, the process is just not simple or straightforward enough to give a clear answer. We're hoping to have a better idea of what to expect in the coming weeks.

I gotta say, though, a heartfelt Thank you, Thank you, Thank you to our friends and family who provided references for us this go round. We got word of our last one making it to our agency this past week, which wraps up all the paperwork associated with our end of the footwork.

Medical stuff - check!
Fingerprints - check!
References - check!
Paperwork, forms, and more paperwork - check!
9+ Weeks of Training - check!
Next up - Home Study (or rather, a home study UPDATE since our last one is still new enough to be considered current - which kinda makes me laugh because we have moved twice and had two children since that bad boy was written - which to me makes it not at all current - but whatever - an update is cheaper than a full out home study!)

So this Thursday we will get our first home study visit underway. We only had to nag our case worker 10 times over to get her to answer us in a timely manner and actually commit to an appointment. It has been slightly discouraging to realize what second-rate citizens we are to this agency since we will not be a continued resource for them as a set of foster parents would be. As adoptive parents, we get our child and get out of there, so there is no real incentive to them to get us taken care of. At least that is our take on the no-rush, low priority we seem to have taken since our classes ended in October. It's been a little frustrating. I'll have to re-gauge my expectations in the New Year to be better equipped to handle the wait ... which most adoptions are - a big, giant wait.

In the meantime, we put it to the Lord to guide us to the right child for our family AND for that child. We have been poring over national and state-wide websites already and will keep looking until we get the go ahead to move forward. That seems like the point where the rubber will really meet the road. Until we get an approved home-study, we can't do much else. To be honest though, based on the indicators we have set and then re-set for the age and type of child we can bring home right now (considering how little and vulnerable Noah and Anna are) there have been next to no matches for us anyway. Picking a child is a very weird feeling and experience so we are clinging to the Lord to guide us and the timing and to clear our thinking of the guilt and worry that comes along in this process; guilt over not being able to consider certain kids for different reasons; and worry over whether or not we are making the right decisions about what we will and won't consider right now. You want to be so Spirit led in a decision like this, but how to go about it while being reasonable, practical, and not naive? It's emotional and confusing.

I have been reminded lately (via multiple readings,discussions, situations) about the measure of grace the Lord gives you in the moments you need it, not before. And I trust that and welcome that. So like I said, we are focusing on the task at hand for today - which is getting the home study completed and then waiting for its approval.

Btw - to answer the most obvious question people wonder about - we are looking for a little girl age 3-8ish. Not set in stone - but most likely that. Today we emptied our guest bedroom to make room for more child-friendly furniture in the coming months. Noah asked about that (but only after wanting to know more about the big Salvation Army truck and its drivers) and when I told him it was being cleared to make room for his new sister, he asked me if she would be a baby. I reminded him that she would be older, a big sister to him, and he asked me if that meant one or two years old. I had to chuckle.

And then shudder at the thought of having a baby again. No. No. No, Noah. Definitely older than you and Anna. And being already potty-trained would a real bonus.

You Know You're Southern...

You know you're Southern when you head straight to Bass Pro Shops to see Santa. I felt a little silly about it at first, but in truth, it was a fun and perfect setting complete with trains, snowmen, remote-control monster trucks and race cars. And, really, where else could you get real-live reindeer in the shot. Well, used to be alive, anyway. :)


This makes our season's quota of Santa visits complete - 3. Although for Anna it was her first (that she can remember anyway). We worried she might scream and freak out. Of course - she couldn't have cared any less when the big moment came. I guess the lack of a panic-riddern toddler scene makes it a success. :) Somehow, though, I was still a little disappointed. SOME sort of reaction from her would have been nice I guess. Noah, as ever, made an eager and trusting beeline for Santa and practically climbed up onto his lap all by himself. He was waving and calling to Santa before it was even our turn. It was too adorable to me. His innocent trust and familiar greeting to Santa who, in his mind, will of course remember him from last week at the Christmas Party. His innocence moves me to tears, it is so precious to me.

So anyway, no, Santa did not get a grin from Anna, but Monkey Joe's earlier in the day sure did. We were the only people there the entire time (which is what we hoped for by going on a Monday morning) and we had a blast. Jumps, games, pizza, toys, candy, and their daddy's undivided attention. What more could a couple kids ask for?

You Are My I Love You

I recently posted the lines to a new (to me) children's book I fell in love with called You Are My Miracle by Maryann Cusimano Love. This is another book by that author that I just got in the mail. Same premise. Same heart.

You Are My I Love You
by Maryann K. Cusimano

I am your parent; you are my child.
I am your quiet place; you are my wild.
I am your calm face; you are my giggle.
I am your wait; you are my wiggle.
I am your carriage ride; you are my king.
I am your push; you are my swing.
I am your audience; you are my clown.
I am your London Bridge; you are my falling down.
I am your carrot sticks; you are my licorice.
I am your dandelion; you are my first wish.
I am your water wings; you are my deep.
I am your open arms; you are my running leap.
I am your way home; you are my new path.
I am your dry towel; you are my wet bath.
I am your dinner; you are my chocolate cake.
I am your bedtime; you are my wide awake.
I am your finish line; you are my race.
I am your praying hands; you are my saying grace.
I am your favorite book; you are my new lines.
I am your night-light; you are my starshine.
I am your lullaby; you are my peekaboo.
I am your goodnight kiss; you are my I love you.

To my Running Leap, my Peekaboo, and my next New Path -
I love love love love love love you.

Taken from 1 & 2 Timothy

For my collection of phrases I like in Scripture, either for expression or meaning:

1 Tim. 1:17 - the unseen one who never dies
1 Tim 1:18 - fight well in the Lord's battles
1 Tim 1:19 - their faith has been shipwrecked
1 Tim. 2:8 - pray with holy hands lifted up to God, free from anger and controversy

2 Tim. 1:10 - broke the power of death
2 Tim. 2:4 - affairs of this life
2 Tim. 2:9 - the Word of God cannot be chained
2 Tim. 2:22 - Follow anything that makes you want to do right.
2 Tim. 4:5 - Complete the ministry God has given you.

Killing Me

Noah went to a Christmas party at his My Gym place last night which turned out to be a pretty lame excuse for a party except for this priceless moment that Josh just happened to catch on video. In case you can't quite tell, Noah is stepping down from his time with Santa when he suddenly turns back around to remind him that Anna (who was not in attendance) wants a "dowwee" (aka-dolly) as well. He kills me with the finger he pointed at Santa. So exact. So careful. Remembering sister and killing me with cuteness. Killing me.

Wintry Weekend

We skipped a Christmas parade b/c it's Cold, Cold, Cold!
Finished backsplash in the kitchen. Yeah!



Noah and Anna went to a birthday party.



Watched My Sister's Keeper with Josh. Made me cry.
Went and saw Everything's Fine by myself. I cried again.
Watched Alabama stomp all over Florida. Too bad.
Anna got tooth #7.
Noah and Daddy made a gingerbread house.



Successfully coaxed Anna into saying Mama more.
Created a make-shift ball pit at home.
Anna started using a fork and is quite pleased with herself.
(love that prissy hand in the air)

Noah @ 3 1/2 yrs.

Noah, last night we sent you to your time-out spot until you could pull it together and stop being ornery and whiny. You obediently went to the chair and sat and sat and sat ... so quietly it was a little unnerving. When your daddy called to you asking, "Are you done whining yet?", your sweet little voice called back, "Almost!" and you sat and sat and sat some more all on your own. Your daddy and I did not expect that answer and it sure melted our hearts. You do that often - melt our hearts. Little boy, we love you, and we love getting to be your parents. We can't believe you are closer to 4 years old than to 3 years old. We want to trap you here and now and keep you sweet and adorable and innocent forever.

These days...

You like to crash cars with your daddy.
You love to take baths and showers with him, too.
You wore out the tires on your "big car" (power wheels).
You like to crash balls in mid-air with me.
You can catch balls and make baskets better than ever now.
You love to cast-and-reel your fishing pole in the cul-de-sac.
You'd play Candyland all day if we would, too.
You share my hummus and pretzels with me while Anna naps.
You are so, so ticklish when we put lotions or medicine on you.
You have such a repentant little heart. I love that about you.
You say words like "Cool!" and "Awesome!" now.
You have recurring dreams about a big giant alligator.
You will inhale your dinner if dessert depends on it.
You like popsicles and push pops for dessert.
You nap about an hour each day, sometimes 2 hours.
You are still really into trains.
You actually let us read books to you now from start to finish.
I still worry that you will need speech therapy.
You still think it counts as hiding when you just cover your eyes.
You love to watch Toy Story, Peter Pan, Max and Ruby episodes.
We always have to get onto you to stop knocking Anna over.
You always, always, always want to touch, hug, or pat Anna.
You are not much for coloring. You scribble a little and quit.
I want to put you in gymnastics. Daddy wants you in karate.
You've started pressing buttons on many things you shouldn't.
You are ga-ga for your Imagination Movers CD.
You love to do Waterford on the computer in your room.
You just started doing (and loving) the calendar Daddy got you.
You like to "hide, hide" when Daddy or I come in a room.
You are obsessive about doing things all by yourself.
You like to be outside, especially when the big kids are there.
You pretend you are sleeping when Daddy carries you to bed.
When we watch football, you say to the players, "Catch it, catch it!"
We're thinking about what preschool to choose for you for next year, if any.

Things you say often...

Open my window down pwease.
No thank-you. (one of my personal faves)
Done now yet?
I miss you/I wuv you. (said to inanimate things as well)
Make Mommy happy? And Santa happy? And Jesus happy?
Dude! (with all the strain and emphasis your body can convey)
Ti-i-ny bit in my uh-wear. (when you leak before going potty)
Daddy alway dwiving. (when we're waiting for Daddy to get home)
Tickle my back.
That's siwwy! (when I realize I am mistaken about something)

Words you can't say right yet...

Uhgether (together)
Gebb-e-o's (Spaghetti-o's)
Dom-e-o's (Dominoes)
Thowgurt (yogurt)
Chickaway (Chick-fil-A)
Buzzbob (Spongebob)
Santa-tizer (sanitizer)
Ativvy (nativity)
Denture (gentle)
Jujujujubed Man (gingerbread man)
Miss Kersey (Ms. Kristie)
Gwubs (gloves)
Puzzer (puzzle)
Tweat (treat)
Tuh Stowy (Toy Story)
Sither (sister)
Siwwy (silly)

Made my Day

I totally had to borrow and share this excerpt from a blog I love to follow - Baby Bangs. It was an encouragement to me today about the stay-at-home mom life I lead. And the blogging I have grown to love and appreciate along the way as well. It made me laugh and it made me cry a little, too. I short, it made my day, and I've only been awake for 1.5 hours. (yes, I got to sleep in today and it was heavenly).

Taken from the tail end of a post about her youngest turning 10 mos. old. ...

This is very long, but I know I've forgotten a bunch of things. I recently went back and read all my posts from when she was born and from the following months. It reminded me of so many things I'd already forgotten. I'm thankful that even though they were long, overly-detailed posts, I have all of it written down. So if you're about to have a baby, I'd encourage you to keep blogging throughout those crazy first weeks. That time will be precious in your memories one day. I don't long to have another baby, but I do long to go back and spend those first moments with each of my children again, armed with the knowledge of how much we would grow to love and know one another.

All I can think to end with is this - isn't it an honor to be a woman? As hard as it is and sometimes unfair, we get a front row seat to see the magic of a life growing from tiny cells into a baby, a toddler, a preschooler, and so on. And to feel it all so fully! To others and often to ourselves our lives can look utterly mundane and common. Every day I load my babies in and out of my Jeep with my oversized purse and huge diaper bag falling down my shoulder and smacking into the baby's face. Meanwhile, junk falls out of the floor boards and onto the driveway, and I know another Chickfila receipt is going to wander into our neighbor's yard and, help me Lord, she's going to know that I didn't recycle it! My son has lost his shoes inside the car and I'm thinking "Calgon, take me away!" Only that's what they said in our moms' day and I don't even know if they make that anymore. But maybe I can find some Thomas the Tank Engine bubble bath in the kids' bathroom!

The thing is, God is using us to grow lives. Physically. Emotionally. Mentally. Stop and marvel at whatever new thing your three-year-old said or did today. In all likelihood (as long as it was pure and lovely, of course), he learned it from you! In case no one else says this to you today, well done mama. You're doing an important job and you will be richly rewarded, even if for the time being it's a big hug around the knees every time you have to wipe your preschooler's rear.

Anna's Evil Twin

Anna's newsletter from Mother's Day Out had an extra note from her teacher today that leaves me quite concerned. She said, "Anna had a great day today. I love her laid back attitude."

What? Who?


Sorry, not my daughter. She is many things (smart, dramatic, irritable, beautiful, prissy, pouty, and assertive), but she is never, no never, laid back. Clearly, Anna has an evil, no wait, angelic twin we have yet to meet.

This is the only Anna we know to date:

You Are My Miracle

Last month I ordered some books from Scholastic for Noah and Anna. You know those colorful, newspaper print book order things that we used to bring home from school as a kid? I know them very well having been a classroom teacher myself since my own days as a student. So this was a little surreal to be on the household receiving end of those orders. Footing the bill like a grown up, like a real-live mommy!

Anyway, my point is that one of the Christmas books I ordered turned out to be so touching. I could not help myself but post its lines here. They make me get all sappy - something I NEVER did before I had my own children. Ah, life, love. What can you do?

You Are My Miracle
by Maryann Cusimano Love
(dedicated today by me to my Noah and Anna)

I am your parent; you are my child.
I am your quiet place; you are my wild.
I am your hot cocoa; you are my marshmallow.
I am your nutcracker; you are my cookie dough.
I am your gingerbread; you are my frosting goo.
I am your paper; you are my glitter and glue.
I am your wrapping; you are my surprise.
I am your don't peek; you are my wide eyes.
I am your bundle up; you are my dash outside.
I am your uphill pull; you are my fast sleigh ride.
I am your fortress; you are my snowball fight.
I am your decorate; you are my tangled lights.
I am your helper; you are my do-it-myself.
I am your Santa Claus; you are my Christmas elf.
I am your glass ball; you are my popcorn strings.
I am your pageant; you are my angel's wings.
I am your steady hands; you are my rising star.
I am your stocking; you are my chocolate bar.
I am your caroling; you are my jingle bell.
I am your favorite song; you my first noel.
I am your old stories; you are my make-believe.
I am your go to sleep; you are my Christmas Eve.
I am your hush now; you are my lyrical.
I am your peace on Earth; you are my miracle.

Christmas Lights 2009

We had a bit of a rough weekend with Noah and Anna. I think it must have been all the excitement of company and Christmas coming and upset routines. Noah had a relapse in regards to using the bathroom. Over and over again, no matter what we said or how he was punished, he kept going in his underwear. There was much weeping and gnashing of teeth over that. Even now, it is quite perplexing to us. He seemed as surprised and befuddled as we were with the whole situation. Add to that, Anna suddenly decided to stop taking her afternoon nap. By now, we get that she is probably ready to skip that one. But the 3 to 4 days of figuring that out was painful.

As it turns out, Sunday night after Anna refused, refused, and even a third time, refused to take a nap, we decided to go for broke and load her up in the car with her brother (who had FINALLY used the potty like he knows how to do) to go see Christmas lights. This was a sort of reward for Noah and a desperate attempt to distract Anna from all her crying and grumpiness.


As luck would have it, we beat any crowds, the air was hardly cold, and Anna was quite content with her first-ever chicken nugget a-la-car seat.


Not surprisingly, Noah was ecstatic. Much too excited to eat.


Besides all the lights, displays, and music, there were sheep! How cute is that?


The sheep were a soon-to-be forgotten memory, though, once we came upon the drive-thru Santa station!

Since there was not much of a line going through when we were there, Santa came over to Noah's window with candy canes and jingles bells. Noah really enjoyed that one-on-one car side chat with Santa and Mrs. Claus. He was squealing, talking, and waving like a madman. He even forgot his wish-list script again this year and only asked for candy. With a reminder from daddy, he gathered his senses and asked for "wace cars" after all. I'm kicking myself now for not getting some actual pictures of Noah and Santa's little interlude. I was too busy videotaping the talk which, as it turns out, is too long to post. Noah thinks we should go back again to get it right.

Anna just stared at the big man in the red suit, unmoved, as usual. :) However, we'll take that over tears and a meltdown anytime. We still have it in mind to actually put her in Santa's lap by Christmas Day. Noah is prepping for it by reassuring us he will make her feel better and bring her toys, too.

A Christmas lights video that was NOT too long to post:



This lights display also has a live Frosty who waves and dances from his little covered stage. Unfortunately, he was nowhere to be seen when we drove by, though his lights were all on. Never fear, Noah thinks he knows where Frosty went. After the weekend he had, Noah is pretty sure - Frosty had to go potty.

How very appropriate.