My Little Show Stopper

Lily was so excited to go to the dress rehearsal tonight for her tap and ballet dance recital. She asked me yesterday if during the performance she could do the little pirouette and arabesque moves that she has been practicing at home. I told her she needed to ask her teacher first but that she probably had to do what the rest of the class was doing this time. Well, she didn't ask but decided to go ahead and bust out her own dance moves tonight at practice!! We talked afterward about looking at her teacher to remember the routine, but I don't think she forgot it. I think she just wanted a solo! The parents all got a good giggle watching her. I'm curious to see if she does it again at the dance recital! She loves to perform. We may have a future actress in our family!

Happy Mother's Day

I always wanted to be a mother. 

For years, I was a babysitter, a nanny, a preschool teacher, and a pediatric speech-language pathologist, and I loved the children I cared for and taught like they were my own. I knew I loved these kids and imagined how special it would be when Jim and I had children of our own. 

 Walking out of a baby home in Vladivostok, Russia with this once tiny little boy in my arms was one of the happiest moments of my life. I became a mommy that day, and my lifelong dream come true. I loved this little one and a half year old boy more than my heart even knew it could love. 

 In the next three years, I became a mother three more times (actually from 2009-2010), and my heart grew bigger each time. It's not always easy being a mother, but it is one of the greatest gifts God gives us, and I am thankful He chose me to be the one my kids call  "Mommy."

 

 These sweet babies let me stay in bed (visiting just a handful of times--;-)) until afternoon today. When I got up, they surprised me with breakfast, sweet Mother's Day cards from them and their Daddy, and a gift card for a massage and facial! Jim sent me roses and chocolate yesterday so today was a big surprise. This has been one of the best Mother's Days ever, and I feel like one loved mama.

 

 Happy Mother's Day to everyone who is a mother, whether your children are on Earth, in Heaven, or yet to come.

Big Boy

In March, all four kids and I had a terrible case of the flu. Bennett got so sick he lost almost a pound, and, on him, that's a lot of weight! It was the first time he has lost weight that I can remember, and we have worked so hard on his gaining that it worried both me and his pediatrician. We had hoped last Fall to get rid of his g-tube this year, but because of the upcoming flu season, we had decided to keep feeding him by mouth and keep the tube longer just in case. It was a blessing to have while he had the flu, as he had a hard time eating.  His doctor recommended that we see his nutritionist again this summer to be sure he was taking in enough calories.

Well, since he had the flu in March, our little peanut has been eating like a racehorse! I went ahead and got an appointment to see his nutritionist this week, and we were all thrilled to learn he has gained THREE POUNDS since March!! She was so happy with his growth and to see that he is quickly approaching the regular (non-preemie) growth chart! He has a new love for chocolate whole milk, bacon, cereal, oatmeal biscuits, butter, and eggs for breakfast, turkey, grilled cheese, or pb&j sandwiches for lunch, and beef, chicken, buttered pasta and garlic bread, Mexican food, and macaroni and cheese.  He also has a big heart for chocolate like his Mommy. 

 He is hilarious, loves playing with his brothers and sister, and learns something new every day. We are so happy he is growing so much and doing so well!

I have a very excited little big boy today! 

He lost his first two teeth!!

  

HAPPY EASTER

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY

These beautiful tulips arrived today for me from my sweet hubby. They were such a great surprise! Tulips are one of my favorite flowers, and I love pink and red.  Lily said they were for both of us, for her and for me, that is. She loves flowers just like her Mommy. 

This picture was taken last summer at the beach, and it is one of my favorites. Today we celebrated our 16th Valentine's Day as a couple, and I love him just as much as I did on our 1st. I remember the great big white bear he gave me and the 3 red roses like it was yesterday. We'd only been dating a couple of months, but I knew I would be with him forever if he wanted to be with me forever. I am so thankful for Jim and the way he loves me just the way I am. We have a love that is so different from many couples i know. We are friends, partners in parenting, and love each other so much. We don't get to go out on dates as much as we did back then, but our nights on the couch watching tv and chatting after the kids are asleep are special too. I am thankful he chose me to be his forever valentine.

Happy Valentine's Day!

Funny Story

Tonight when I was putting the kids to bed, I started singing, and my 2 1/2 yr old Bennett interjected.

It went like this.

Me: "Hush little baby, don't say a word. Mommy's gonna buy you a mockingbird."

Bennett: "I want a iPad."

Hahaha! 

He's growing up so much!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

 From our family to yours!

Praying

‎"And He took them [the children up one by one] in His arms and [fervently invoked a] blessing, placing His hands upon them." Mark 10:16

My heart is aching. I am holding my babies close to me and praying praying praying. 

Christmas Trees!

I have been wanting to get some little Christmas trees for the kids' rooms, but I haven't found any small pre-lit ones that I thought were cheap enough to buy 3! Last night, I stopped by our local pharmacy to pick up Bennett's breathing treatment medication, and I found the cutest little shatterproof ornaments and sparkly stars to go on top of two little Christmas trees so I went ahead and got those. 

Our big Christmas tree is an artificial one we got from Jim's family last year so that we didn't have to buy one every year, and this year almost all the lights have gone out! We are going to have to find a new one after Christmas or get a live tree again next year like we used to always do. 

Do you use live or artificial trees at Christmastime? 

Have any of you found any good prices on artificial pre-lit trees this year? 

How many trees do you decorate for Christmas, just one in the living room or do you put trees all over your house?

photo above was found HERE