Favorite Foto Friday- Black and White

This was the first visit with Eliza. It was 4 days after we received the referral of our daughter. I had never held something so tiny before. We were in awe, in shock, and in complete amazement. The next nine months brought a lot of pain, but also a lot of rejoicing. In just one week this tiny bundle will turn 2, and I am not sure I can stand it. She is still tiny, but for what she lacks in stature, she sure will make up for in 2 year old attitude!

Thursday

Today was a full day. First Nommie came down to spend the night so that I could go work in Callan's classroom for Green Eggs and Ham day. It was so much fun... and very nasty all at the same time. Nothing like scrambling up 3 dozen eggs with green food coloring... but I LOVED IT and made lots of friends (and maybe one enemy).

Before I even got to school, I must share that this has been taking place in the mornings.




I thought I would give it a whirl again,(remember last year)
and my theory is that they are too tired in the mornings to pick fights with each other on the bus so it is calm and quiet where as in the afternoons they are wild and crazy from being contained all day. The kids have loved it so far and I have forgotten to take pics until today. Yes, Callan is in a green sweat shirt. Our conversation went something like this.
C: "Mom, I sweat a lot at school, I need a sweat shirt."
M: "Callan, that is really not what sweatshirts are for, they are for cold weather, and it would just make you burn up."
C:" No, but I want it, I need it, I really have to have it... and it is GREEN."
M: " Whatever, Callan, you are going to be hot all day."
C: "Then why is it called a sweatshirt?"
M: " Umm... because... umm... because... ummm, maybe you wear it so you will be hot and sweat. I really have never thought about it before."

Then we came home and Callan and I worked on his "Me" for tomorrow. I had to let go a little and let him decorate it. I had it all planned out and wanted to put his name on the chest and maybe a big star on the hat... all scrapbooky and stuff. But he just wanted to draw with markers and since it was our family project... I had to concede. It cracks me up because the head is almost normal size.



Then while taking the dog out I found this ( I call them June bugs) but what are they doing, and WHY... this is the second time in about a month they have done this. They do this for a few days and then disappear and now they are back. Whatsupwiththat?



And... anyone want a cute dog who is soooo on my nerves??

Wordless Wednesday

Right back atcha' Tonya

Well, he's off...

Today was offically the first day of school. It went well... meaning mommy did good. Like I said before, I think by the time this day finally came around, I was prepared. Prepared, until we went into Kroger and sissy got to sit in the seat instead of the cart seat of the big blue cart... and then I only had to get 2 cookies at the bakery... it just made me miss him, terribly.
So here he is my big boy Kindergartener (who had to wear his first day of school EVER shirt and a RED shirt for red day). I sure am glad I got some cute pics of him on staggered days, because he looks a little like momma did not care about his appearance on the first day of school.

My BIG boy-




Being the brave big bro showing Silas how you walk in school.

With his WONDERFUL teacher!


All went well on his first day. The boy who had no need for the letter P decided that letters do work together to make words and was excited that he learned how to spell red (R-E-D, red, R-E-D, red, firetrucks are RED...) he also told me LOTS about his day. How he loved music, how a new friend was not nice and had to pull his banana, how a new friend has a mohawk, how he was sad that because of the rain he did not get to play outside, how he did rest but no one even closed their eyes... the list goes on. It was a nice change to have information. However, I did make him sit at the table (and not go play) until he told me stuff from his day.

In other school news. Baylor was awarded the winner of the "dance" competition in PE today. From what I understand it was a X-box game where he had to do the steps it told him in the right order under a time limit. You know those dance machines you see at Arcade places (or the bowling alley) where you stomp forward, back, and to each side. He won... out of 50 kids, he says ( A couple of classes are combined).

Silly Saturday

Enter Silas:

S: "Mom, sometimes we get little snots, and sometimes we get big snots."

Me: " Yes, Silas I guess we do... but why are you thinking about snot?"

S: "Cause God made snots"


Note: I have no idea where this came from... I was making the bed, and no one in our family is suffering from the "snots".

7 Things

I was tagged by Stephanie...

7 things I want to do before I die

1) Go on Mission Trips
2) Learn Spanish
3) Watch my children fall in love and get married
4) Watch my children have children
5) Travel (anywhere but also to Paris)
6) Give more freely
7) Enjoy Entertaining

7 things I can do

1) A handstand
2) A cartwheel
3) Love unconditionally
4) Birth a 10 pound baby
5) Leave my daughter in Guatemala for 9 months
6) Fly to another country by myself
7) Take care of my children

7 things I cannot do

1) train my dog
2) play Endless Ocean (I cannot figure out how to make him swim)
3) Win at Mario Kart against Baylor... Callan is my match
4) Discipline Silas like I do his brothers?????
5) Watch my children hurt/cry
6) Sit quietly at a baseball game
7) Run a Marathon (and I think about it a lot)

7 things that attract me to the opposite sex (changing this one to 'my spouse')

1) his faith
2) his dedication
3) his parenting
4) his coaching
5) his loving
6) his handsomness
7) his sensitivity


7 things I say most often

1) Seriously???
2) Time to get up
3) Just a minute
4) Hello
5) Bedtime
6) 2 more bites
7) How is your day looking?

7 celebrity crushes (in no particular order)

Opt out... I went google searching... found a few cute ones, but crush... I don't know???


7 People to Tag
Sonja
Heather
Big Nanny
Nicole
Teresa
Alicia
Tonya

Wordless Wednesday

Answer to a simple prayer- check! 1st staggered day- check!

If you have been following along, you know that even though I did not expect the journey of sending Callan to Kindergarten to bother me greatly, since I had "been there" already... it knocked me off my rocker a little (not that I was not already there). I have been praying for a specific teacher based on recommendations of good friends. I thought that the friend putting in a good word for our family was going to help my case, but as it turns out the teachers did not get to help place children in classes this year. So I sent a little note on my son's behalf and prayed. HARD. Because in my opinion who you get in Kindergarten can make or break at least the next 5 years. I have tried not to be anxious, but then PT had to go and speak from the pulpit on Sunday morning about momma's sending their babies off to Kindergarten and I went all into the ugly cry (though I tried to restrain it as much as possible under the bright lights of the choir loft). He proceeded to have us pray as couples Sunday morning and Brent and I focused on our kids school and teachers. As set there praying to God for my baby and for the woman who might love on him for this next year of his life, I prayed... sobbing for a friend so my baby would not be scared to be alone... AND PRAISE GOD... he heard my cry and he answered my prayer. NOT ONLY did we get the teacher we hoped and prayed and petitioned for, we also got a sweet friend from church. And I have been beside myself with excitement. It was a simple prayer for my baby... and it was a simple answer, but I am blown away sometimes that God allows me these precious favors. THANK YOU!!!

I convinced myself that today was NOT the first day of school...that is next week. Today, was STAGGERED DAY (don't ask... just nod in agreement). So we loaded up all the school supplies (with notebooks that cannot be found ANYWHERE lacking) and head off to school. Callan is thrilled and wears his backpack from the moment he is dressed and holds his lunch from the moment it is fixed... like 45 minutes. He is READY TO GO... I grab one more all important piece of sending my baby off to school all day for the first time ( I will show you below), and we head out. I walk him in, get him settled, and his teacher walks over to him. He turns pale, he gets shy, bites his lip, and stares at his shoes. I MELT and tears form. He was fine, and she gets right down to his level and tells him all will be well and that he was going to have so much fun. We show him to his seat, he looks at me like he is ready but not 100% sure... I kiss him again, tell him I love him and walk away... hiding the ugly cry.

He had a blast, won't tell me much other than something about a raccoon that I do not understand (I think it has to do with the Kissing Hand book), getting to go to PE, 2 boys that were kind of mean, a scissors situation, and a big lunch room where Baylor gave him "five". We STAGGER again Thursday... and then Monday is the real thing. Hopefully by then, I will be numb and "over it", but I make no promises.




I got this from Build-a-Bear. I gave it to Callan for his pocket and sealed it with a HUGE kiss. I told him if he gets scared, nervous, or just wants Mommy then pull it out and my kiss will be right there and he will know I am very close and thinking about him (We also talked about Jesus always being with him when Mommy is not). He was glad to have it and would not even give it up when he got home.

Callan's first STAGGERED Day pics.

Cast your vote-

Okay so little sissy's birthday is coming soon and I am in a quandary about what to get for her. You see we have a kitchen set... a VERY BOY kitchen set that is just a few years old. She plays with it some, but not a lot (it is upstairs in the "toy room" and my kids do not play unless I am up there with them)



I am thinking that she would love a big-ol kitchen set and would play for hours... since it is just her and Silas I am thinking that we might get back to some good classic playing in the house. (instead of all the Power Ranger/Spiderman/ Knight role play)
I like this one...

But I also like this one because my friend Amy has it and it is kitchen set (on the side you cannot see) and manly grill on the other. It is too cute in person.


And then there is the doll house issue. This is what I originally thought I would do for her birthday and anyone who wanted (Nommie/Gran) to could contribute a room set to the house that they sell separately. My issue here is it only comes in 2 families... Caucasian and African American. I think either would be fine, but every doll I have bought her so far has been Hispanic so which family would I choose?



So, I thought about this Hispanic Doll house, and she loves Dora (or "Elmo" as she calls it) but I am afraid she will get tired of it quicker. But, it does have the same concept of buying rooms and vans and playgrounds.



And then there is this one that she plays with every time she goes to The Factory. But I am afraid the pieces are just to small for our house right now and she will not play with it as much until she is older. Instead of people it has all kinds of animal families that you can buy... and they are TOO CUTE!



So, as you can see, I cannot make this decision alone. I need help!

Cast your vote-

Sometimes...

Sometimes, life just has to stop. Sometimes, you have to put aside a fresh shower, a few loads of laundry, and making your daughters birthday invites. Sometimes you have to take the opportunity to snuggle up on the coach with your 5 year old who is about to spend his days with a stranger. When only you and him can be together because little brother and little sister are sleeping. Sometimes you have to hold that child, that not too long ago was a baby in your arms and just stay there for a few hours doing nothing (but watch his favorite show). SO, that is what we did, and I LOVED IT!
And sometimes, you have to choke back the tears when you just drift off to sleep and that 5 year old, who will all too soon think he is too big for Momma is giving you sweet kisses over and over again, because he loves you.

It is not the heartbreak of momma losing her baby to Kindergarten I want to remember, it is this... this time, this day... because I never want to forget.

FAIR Friday

I did not get a chance to post our Fair pictures from last week so I thought I would share a few. We enjoyed a great time at the county fair. Seeing as my family has not yet been to Disney World, you could not get any better than this.

It is no county fair without the typical cuisine.

Eliza was serious about her farming... all except the milking, and she had no part of that.


How could you not stop for a photo op like this?

Daddy and Bay did not know what they were getting into with this $4 per person ride. Let's just say it was not hot and Brent was sweating.

Callan loved the ride where he flew like Superman.

And even though Silas got the short end of the stick when his Bee would not fly up and down, only in a circle... he thought it was cool.

This is only a test

Callan had his pre-testing for Kindergarten today. I am not sure what happened when they took him back into one of the classrooms, but he tells me that they asked him..."Well, I cannot remember, but something." So much for this must-know momma who has been asking him things like...

Mom: "Did they ask you to count?"
Callan: "Um... yeah I think so, but I do not remember."

Mom: "Did they ask you how old you are?"
Callan: "No, I do not think so."

Mom: "Did they ask you your letters?"
Callan: "Maybe a few, I don't really remember."

Mom: "What about shapes... did they ask you about shapes?"
Callan: "Shapes? Ummm... No."

Mom: "Okay, colors, did they ask you about any colors."
Callan: "Yeah...OH YEAH...they asked me my colors, but they mixed them up funny, and I could not remember them."
Mom:"WHAT??? You have known your colors since you were like 2, what do you mean they mixed them up funny?"
Callan:" I don't know, I don't really remember."

GREAT... first of all they are sending us back to Pre-K, second they are taking away my teaching certificate, and third I am SOOOO in for it. I will have to volunteer each week just to know he actually even went to school. This from the same kid who told me he really did not have a need for the letter "P"??? Where does he get this from? sheeeesh

EIGHT

Exactly 8 years ago I woke up in the hospital after a night of monitoring 5 minute apart contractions with no progress (I should add here that sleeping pills and a 9 month pregnant woman do not go together, sure I needed the sleep... but a pregnant bladder never rests-it was not a good idea). I woke up to my Dr. coming in to check on another patient who was in active labor. The nurses had already told me that I was going home, and I was crying like a baby. I did not know if I could make it another day, I was miserable.

The Dr. came in and had pity on me, she told me that "since she had to be there anyway, and since I was 2 days past due (according to one of the doctors)", she would go ahead and induce. But, I had to promise not to call in any family until we started seeing progress. That was about 6AM. The rest was a blurr of unconsciousness and pain but after only about 30 minutes of pushing, Nicolas Baylor arrived into our world at 12:40 PM. My life changed forever. I was in shock for a long time. I just kept saying over and over, "This is my baby", "I had a baby". We were also in shock to discover that my first child weighed 9 lbs, 14 oz. I knew he was big because he had been cutting of most of my lower body for weeks, but I had no idea that he would be THAT big.
From the moment he entered the world, his life has been BIG. He is full force in whatever he does and never settles for anything less than his best. He really is a great kid, who knows how to turn on the charm. I have loved every minute of his precious life (okay I can count a few minutes that I might take back, but they were mostly my fault)and I thank God that He has given me the joy of raising him.

Second Grade

Why oh why does my second grader look as if he might be heading off to his first day of High School? It seems as if the days just pass by while I blink. Baylor had a great first day at school. I asked him what he loved the most, he said that he thought it was cool that he had his own desk. When I asked him what he could have done without, he said one girl KEPT ON ASKING QUESTIONS when Mrs. W said to raise your hand to ask a question. He is very excited that his going on the 3rd year buddy, Christian, is in his class again. He thinks it is going to be a great year, and was told that they would soon be getting their very own caterpillars in Science (he is just like his momma when it comes to that stuff). We are looking forward to a great year.



Could he have anymore school supplies?

One of those days...

This sure is how I am feeling today. I know Baylor feels this way too, and Callan does not know it yet, but he will feel this way all too soon. His life is about to change as he knows it.


Tomorrow is the official start of school for Bay and the unofficial start for Callan. Tomorrow Callan goes to "camp" so that all the teachers can size the kids up and see how they interact with each other, who is going to have trouble with going to school, who is going to be a "wild-man" and who the shy ones are. Wednesday he goes for his testing and he will go two full days next week. THE FOLLOWING week will be his official start.

I honestly thought I was doing fine with it, I mean... I have survived it once, I can do it again, right? I do not know, maybe not. My stomach is in knots and I had to have Brent take me home from church this morning because of my stomach issues. Really, I think it might be God getting a good kick out me by making everyone who encounters me with my tummy issue at church thinking I got "knocked-up" again. Because YOU KNOW if you are in the child bearing years and you get a little queasy, then SOMEBODY is gonna ask, and a few somebody's are going to ask other people if they have heard you are.

ANYWAY, I am sick. Like can't eat, can't really sleep, must stay busy, can't think about it spending lots of time in the potty room kind of sick. And God created my tummy to show my emotions like no other. I can't go into the whole-I'm sending my 5 year old to school right now... it will send me to the bathroom again. Perhaps I will save it for the official start when I have warmed up to the idea a bit. You might find me at Target tomorrow around 10 AM with a little boo-hoo on. But don't ask... or you will get the full out ugly cry.

Favorite Foto Friday

Here is a great one of my biggest boy and littlest boy wanting to be just like daddy while working in the yard.

Our hearts still in Guatemala

My friend, M, that I met when we were completeing our classes for our Homestudy sent me this info a few days ago. I know that many of you are so torn for the children of Guatemala and want to help in any way that you can. Here is a way.

EAC Announces
Guatemala Mission Trip



Strongsville, OH - 08/01/2008


On August 10th, Margaret Cole, EAC's Executive Director, is leaving for Guatemala. The purpose of her mission is to take monetary donations to save Guatemalan orphanages from closing.

Below is a copy of the donation request letter that was recently sent, which asks for your assistance.



The Orphaned Children in Guatemala
Need YOUR Help!

Dear EAC Families,

The orphaned children in Guatemala need your help! As a direct result of the temporary standstill in Guatemalan adoptions due to the implementation of the Hague Treaty, humanitarian aid to Guatemalan orphanages has greatly suffered. Many orphanages have been abandoned by staff and are closing, leaving the children with no food, no one to care for them and no place to go. European Adoption Consultants was recently approached about an opportunity to sponsor an orphanage in Guatemala City. Sponsoring an orphanage is a huge responsibility that comes with many expenses. &nb sp;

I am leaving on August 10th to deliver emergency food and necessities to the children in need. Please consider helping us with this mission. We are asking that you reach out to the same people who continue to support you though your journey of building your family (your friends, family, places of worship, civic groups, etc.) for assistance.

Our goal is simple; we want to raise $100,000 in order to save this orphanage from closing. Minimally, we would like to be able to secure the current staff and caregivers as well as provide the children with food. Should we receive enough funds, we will additionally purchase medicine, educational material and toys.

Due to the difficulty of transporting materials to Guatemala, we are requesting monetary donations. EAC is a 501(c)(3) non-profit company, and provides tax deductible status for your kindness and consideration. Just mail your donation in the pre-addressed envelope (enclosed) for your convenience. You will receive a status update and a thank-you letter to use for tax purposes as your receipt.

If you would like to be updated on the progress of this mission, informed about further opportunities to help, and/or would like to meet with me about ideas for helping an orphanage, please contact Margaret@eaci.com

Thank you in advance for your generous donation.


Margaret Cole, Executive Director
European Adoption Consultants, Inc

Please make checks payable to:
EAC Guatemala Orphan Relief Fund
12608 Alameda Drive, Strongsville, OH 44149

OR CALL 1-800-533-0098

23 Months Old

You see this face...

I only have one month left. One month of her being a baby. Yes, I know she will always be my "baby". But, one month from today she will be TWO. TWO, REALLY? As in the terrible two's, as in toddler two, as in NOT ONE! I do not know if I can take it. She has been such a wonderful addition to our family. She has added sweetness, and fun, and tenderness, and fun, and PINK, and fun, and laughs, and fun. Each of us has loved every minute she has been here, but it has flown by way too fast. So I am going to cherish this month, and I am not going to worry a bit about the fact that she is not talking, not pottying, not terrible two-ing (well maybe it is starting a little)... and just thank God that He sent this angel to us.

What did you do today?

If you are a mom of preschoolers, DO YOU KNOW WHAT I AM SAYING? I think my kids drink their weight in juice/milk/water/"nem-naide" every day. But that is not the only problem. It seems like all I hear all day long is "Mom, I need some juice!" (and when I do not reply) "PLEASE". I have gotten to the point where I say, "I will fix you something to drink if you can find and bring me your cup." Because if I do not then not only do I spend my entire day refilling juice cups, but I spend the other half hunting for and retreiving juice cups.

The following juice cups were found in their auctual locations. No juice cup was posed or adjusted for the purpose of this post.

Things that make you go... HUMMMM

I do not like waking up to surprises. Or better yet, waking up my kids who present me with a surprise. Baylor did it again. For no known reason, Baylor woke up in head-to-toe hives. I noticed a spot on his cheek last night but thought it was a little bite. He is hard enough to get up in the morning so I was trying to rush him so we could go to the gym. That is when he told me he was "itchy" all over. Upon closer examination...

Well, you can't really tell, but that red splotch on his face you can find all over his body. His hand and feet are swollen.

This is the 3rd time he has done this. The 2 previous times were in the spring during blooming season. This one throws me off. Since I am bad at dates, I am blogging this so I will have a record of exactly when it was. I called the allergist and after spending about 30 minutes on the phone with her I am documenting everything he came into contact with in the past 24 hours. From foods to detergents, etc. I am supposed to copy labels from foods so they can check preservatives and compare. That is really a daunting task. You don't realize what all they come in contact with until you start itemizing it.

We could not get in until August 20th. So today he has a bad case of the spots. If you see us out and about and you see a spotted Zombie, he is not contagious... but he has taken 50mg of Benedryl.

BLACK BELT

HE DID IT! HE MADE IT! Baylor is officially at the Black Belt Rank FOR LIFE! I am so proud of all his hard work.