Showcase 09

The girls put a talent show together with several friends and performed it for the parents and grandparents.  Here is Lauren reciting her poem.  :)

(pause music before viewing)

Caught on Camera!

What?

(Gabe caught by the paparazzi again - apparently pulling a McConaughey pose)

Boys will be Boys

I haven't posted one of these in quite a while, but don't think it is for lack of material.  Puh-lease.

Yesterday, alone, was quite a day.  For starters, he Crayola'd himself from hand to shoulder.  By that I mean, both hands and shoulders.

Yes, I've had to coin the term Crayola'd which should tell you something.  

As you can see from my photo attempt, he was not happy about showing off his work.

(remember, he does not care for the paparazzi!)

As I was downloading the attempted picture on the Mac, he strolled in with his very soiled diaper down at his knees saying, "I poop on potty?"  

No, my love, you pooped in your diaper and there is now residue streaked down both of your legs.  Wonderful.

(potty training is starting to look somewhat enticing to me)

Later as I was making dinner, I hadn't seen him for about .9 seconds (which usually means he's had enough time to escape the house and cross into the neighboring suburb) so I asked Madeline to take a peek.  She found him covered head-to-toe in conditioner.  Completely. Covered.  Apparently, he is into body treatments.  I wish I could have snapped a picture but honestly, I wanted to scream by brains out  I was just trying to handle the whole situation with grace.

Don't laugh but as I was trying to quickly post this I heard some quiet noises in the kitchen. Those are never good.  I peeked in to find him pouring an entire box of cereal into a bowl of very little milk.  Yes, the breakfast dishes are still on the table.  What's your point? 

And did I mention it was organic cereal? Read: expensive

I gotta run.  Literally, run.

Did I Read that Right?

Yesterday I purchased a used (and vintage) reading textbook for Abigail.  It is full of classic stories and poems.

On in the inside front cover is stamped:

STATE TEXTBOOK PURCHASING BOARD

This book is property of

THE STATE OF ALABAMA

Part of today's reading especially caught my eye.  

We Thank Thee

Author Unknown

Dear God, we Thank thee for the night,

And for the pleasant morning light;

For rest and food and loving care,

And all that makes the world so fair.

Help us to do the things we should,

To be to others kind and good;

In all we do, in work and play,

To grow more like Thee every day.

I wonder if this edition is still being circulated?  Hmmmm.

And the Winner Is

Let me start by saying.....we should have done this a long time ago!  You guys came up with some incredible names!

You sent celebrity names, biblical names, popular names, classic names and a few names that we're going to let you name your children.  ;)

We are deciding between 2.....both of which you suggested to us.  Muy bien!

Here is a list of all the names that were submitted:

(don't worry, I'm going to announce the winner in just a sec)

Parker James Isaiah Colton Luke

Evan Lincoln Samuel Michael Jackson (I'm sorry, what?)

Luke Mitchell Landon Michael Caden Darren

Lee Cole Liam David Jackson Toller

Thomas William Daniel Japheth

Alexander Samuel Elijah Preston Landon

Mark Ayden Jeremiah Mason Tate

Timothy Liam Johnathan Cole Benjamin

John Isaiah Noah Isaiah Preston Ronald

David Jordan Xavier Benjamin Costello

Zachary Michael Quinn Logan Daniel

Caleb Asher Case

Carson Levi Jonah

Harrison Ryan  Connor

Sullivan Charlie Malachi

Jackson Jack Xander Ryan

Michael Jude Christian Ethan Daniel

Nathaniel Caden William Joseph

Joshua David Shane Benjamin Aiden

Elijah Isaiah Colson Zaccariah

The submission that came the closest to the name we are leaning toward is...............

........drum roll please........  Jodi 

Congratulations Jodi!  I will put you in touch with the incredible people over at Miracle Blanket who will send you a fabulous new Miracle Blanket of your choice!

*I chose to publish a list of your suggested names instead of all your awesome comments just to keep a bit of the mystery alive....at least until we decide between these 2 names! :)

Throwback Friday

This is a true Throwback Friday photo.  The kind you run across and think, Oooooh, if only I could Throwmyselfback.

Ron and I had escaped to Mexico in the middle of the cold, tundra-like winter, and we are lying in our cabana waiting for Miguel to bring us a cold beverage....with an umbrella in it.  Ahhhhh.

Name Our Baby

UPDATE:  Winner will be announced Monday morning.  Why?  Because I'm tired.  ;)

(think of it this way, a few bonus hours to enter!)

It's a Baby Naming Contest!!!

For the first time ever, we don't have a name for our baby!  We're gonna need your help. Although we can't guarantee we'll use your name, its a real possibility since we don't have one!

What do you think we should name Little Bambino?  (who we do know is a boy, btw!)

Submit a comment in this post with your choice of name for our baby. Use our other children's names as inspiration.  Or, something completely new!

Nothing in life is free so there's something in it for you as well! 

 Our favorite entry will win a new Miracle Blanket.

Even if you don't currently have a baby to swaddle up, these make great gifts!  We were first introduced to the Miracle Blanket with our 2nd chid and I can't tell you what a life-saver it has been for us!!  (although life-saver seems dramatic, it is actually an understatement.  true story.)

Submit your entry today.  Contest will end this weekend.  Oh, and just to spice it up, a first-middle name combo will receive 2 entries.  

Name away!

(I may publish comments at some point but not until we have decided on a name.  So, when you don't see your comment appear, never fear! :))

Completely Enamored

I'm going to "out" myself here and confess that I am completely enamored with newborns.  

Smitten.  Hooked.  Enraptured.  Captivated.  

Especially with my own new babies, or new babies of friends or family members.  Or neighbors. Or friends of friends.  Ok, even random women in the grocery store.  

I am that girl.  

You know, the one that randomly approaches you at Kroger to ask about your brand new baby (it isn't that weird is it?  Fine, its somewhat strange....to some.)

I have been ambushing new mommies for as long as I can remember.  I can vividly remember begging and pleading asking every new mom in church if I could hold their just-born infants when I was only about 6 years old.  Every. One.

I recently phoned a friend for the 7th time to ask about her friend's labor progression only to be reminded that I didn't even know this woman.  And she lived clear across the country. Whoops.  That was awkward.

I might have been seen lingering in the Waiting Room while my sister delivered my nephew. 

(and during my other SIL's delivery and also my friend from high school and possibly, a random stranger.  Do we really need to draw a distinction?) 

A friend invited me to be in (IN!) the delivery room while she gave birth to her son and I can't even blog about that for fear I will damage my stellar reputation.

I might have been sitting in my car (engine running?) and ready to head to my SIL's house just as she was pulling into town with her newborn son that she had adopted.  Whatev.

All this to say, you can imagine my self-induced, panicked frenzy sheer delight when I found out I was going to get to take a peak at my new niece, Claire Emmanuel last night.

Here we are together.  Btw, that's an American Girl doll hat she is wearing.

She is so tiny that she doesn't latch well (yet) so I got to feed her a bottle after she breastfed.  I wish it was an understatement to say that I thought I had died and entered heaven.

When I arrived back home, I skipped into the house with so much energy that my hubby texted my brother to thank him for the "legal high for my wife."  

So over the top, he is, don't you think?

Happy 2nd Birthday Gabriel

Happy Birthday my sweet boy!

Son, you light up each day.  I love the way you wait so patiently for me to come and get you in your crib each morning.  Your smile, as I walk in, melts my heart every time!  

I love how you say, "Okay!" every time I tell you that I love you.  You make me laugh when you crawl around the house pretending you are a puppy....even going as far as to lick me!  

I can hardly believe that God is giving you a brother.  It would be impossible to feel more blessed.  You have a destiny and I can't wait to see it unfold.  I adore being your Mommy.  I love you!

Newbie

Introducing....my newest niece:

Claire Emmanuel

4 lbs 6 oz

17 inches

Born in perfect health!  Praise God!

(check out how many times the tshirt is rolled up.  too cute! :))

Happy Birthday Re-do

 Thank goodness for second chances.

My heart is smiling.

(oh, and if you want a good laugh, check out the end.  Abby is stage left trying to blow out the candle.  Maddie gives her a stern "No, Thank You!"....to which Abby replies, "Yes, Please!")

Happy Birthday To You!

Madeline and I took the afternoon on Sunday to get ready for her (and Gabe's) party.  I gave her complete autonomy, letting her set up everything exactly the way she wanted to.  As we were working together, I asked her what she was most excited about. 

Her exact words:

"Even more than the presents, I am most looking forward to everyone singing Happy Birthday to me.  I love that part.  Everyone singing.  Its such a happy time!"

I was so touched by what she said and it was so completely Madeline to say it.

I will be honest and say I didn't think too much of it later (lots of activity with a huge family and 2 birthday celebrations!) until I downloaded the pictures and video later that night.  When I watched the video of the Happy Birthday song, I burst into tears.  She was so concerned about Gabe (he is seemingly reluctant about the whole thing) that she didn't even get to enjoy her part.

(scroll down & pause music before viewing)

I might have woken up at 2 am and started bawling again.  Ok, I did.  Poor Ron, he never knew what hit him!  Emotional much?  (Actually, yes)

Thankfully, I have an opportunity to "re-do" it again at her party tonight.  She is having a couple girlfriends over for little celebration.  Thank you God for second chances.  

Throwback Friday

Ok, I'm cheating again.  This isn't a Throwback.  I snapped it about 2 seconds ago.

Couldn't resist.  Gabe carries this baby around everywhere.  

He affectionately refers to it as, "My Baby."

Honduras - Part 4

Here are a couple of my little girlfriends from one of the schools we worked at near Pena Blanca.  They would run home at noon (when school let out) and change into clothes to come back and help paint.  One day during recess, they gathered all their friends and danced around me singing a song.  The interpreter came over and told me they were singing a song to my baby!

On the last day they presented me with a card that read, "Felicidades Por El Nuevo Bebe"

(Congratulations on your New Baby)

I heart these precious girls.