Pic-a-nic...

Today, we had a picnic with our friend Jacob and his Mommy. She caught a few snapshots of J and MG. They are on her blog if you'd like to take a peek...

Playin at the park...

It is exciting to watch J play with a friend. MG entertained herself eating plastic cups, paper, dirty rocks and the like...but doesn't she look cute in her pink gingham dress?

Our family is growing...

Please...do not have a heart attack, we aren't growing like THAT. It just so happens that Santa brought J. an ant farm for Christmas. The long awaited arrival of his ant friends came on Thursday. Apparently, there was a back log of ant requests so we had to wait five months instead of five weeks. Guess Santa left everyone an ant farm for Christmas. Anywhoo...

It took the ants a little time to get over the jet lag I suppose. After a few days they are now getting down to business. A few of them arrived "smashed" as J. described it. Look closely and you will see where the ants built a gigantic ant hill to bury their friends. It has been pretty fascinating to watch them work. It came from Target if you're interested in a little science for the summer. Hopefully your ants will come quicker than ours. Happy Farming!

Music to my ears!!!!!!!!!!

Ma Ma...

Such a simple word but apparently a difficult one to say. Both of my children decided it would not come first in their vocabulary. This time, I came in third behind Da Da and Bye Bye! I strongly encouraged her to say it on Mother's Day. Wouldn't that have been a special memory? She didn't think that was a great idea. Ma Ma, Momma, Mommy, Mom, Mother...whatever it sounds like...it is still music to my ears!

Lesson learned...

So, follow me here. Two boxes of hydrocortisone cream. One is opened, one is not. The opened package is put away OUT OF REACH OF CHILDREN just as the package says. A brand new box of UNopened hydrocortisone cream is inside the Walgreens bag on the end table. It had never been opened so the foil seal is still intact...no danger there, right? Ha. Mistake #1.

Enter a Mommy who doesn't feel so good and a fussy whiney teething 11 month old. Mommy is snuggled up with brother while said baby is playing with toys on the other side of the sofa. Three feet away but behind my back. She is quiet for the first time in a few hours so I leave her be. Ha. Mistake #2.

I hear very loud screaming and I sluggishly get up to look at fussy whiney 11 month old. She's right beside me, what could be wrong? OH. MY. OH. MY. OH. MY. What to do? What to do? Fussy whiney 11 month old is covered in hydrocortisone. It looks like it has exploded all over her face. It is in her mouth, her eyes, her hair, all over her face and hands. She is screaming bloody murder and I am in a bit of a panic. Ha. A bit? Oh, what do I do? Oh, where is the phone? Found it. Two nanoseconds later I'm calling my friend Anna, Oh please be home...please be home...please be home. Phone picks up...blah blah blah...Uh huh Uh huh, got it, click...OK, off to do what she told me to do. Give bath, wash off cream, get cream out of her eyes. I know MG thought I was trying to drown her because I was washing her so quickly and running water in her eyes. SHE WAS NOT HAPPY WITH ME. She probably cried for 15 minutes AFTER I finished her bath. All I could think was I had blinded my child. That's a really great thought for a Mother...blinding your own child.

And now to my lesson learned...what could have happened you ask? The package was brand new, still sealed by the manufacturer. How did she get the package open? Is she so smart that she unscrewed the cap and poked the little hole in the foil? Was it already opened at the pharmacy and I didn't know it? Oh no, none of those. It appears our fussy whiney 11 month old found a new teething toy. I'd like to present to the court...

Exhibit A: a brand new box of hydrocortisone. Look closely to see the sharp teeth marks on the top of the box and the missing tab.


Exhibit B: a tube of hydrocortisone with a large hole chewed into it. Note that the tube looks as if someone has used most of the cream inside. Not so...

What is our lesson learned today Mommy friends? Do not leave ANY kind of medication out for your children to touch. If they want it bad enough...they will find a way in. And that is my public service announcement for the week. Good day.


****I should explain that with six years of Pediatric Critical Care Nursing experience, I tend to always think the worst. Sometimes it IS the worst case...been there-done that...but MOST of the time it isn't. That's why I have friends without PCCU experience...to remind me that not every child ends up in critical care (or blinded by a brief encounter with steroid cream in the eyes). Oh, and by the way, opthalmic steroids CAN cause blindness but only after long term exposure. In my panic, I forgot the long term exposure part. Ha.****

Quote of all time...

Tonight after tucking my little man into bed, I was headed out the bedroom door when he stopped me with this...

JTW: Mommy, can I tell you something?
Mommy: Yes, J., what would you like to tell me?
JTW: When I grow up to be big, I want to grow up and be a Daddy just like my Daddy, because HE IS THE BEST!

11 months old and counting...

MG turned 11 months old today. She loves to dance to music, wave bye bye and say it repeatedly, eat pretty much anything except green beans and bread, say Da-Da (still no MaMa!!!) and annoy, oops I mean play, with her brother. She is cutting sharp tooth #8 (see Wednesday's upcoming post) and can chew a page of a book or magazine in 10.8 seconds flat. I'm already planning the big party and J. is so excited for her. He thinks she should have a "jumpy house" like Andrew had at his birthday party. He is certain that "she'll have SO MUCH FUN"!!!!!!!!!! Ha.

Spending time with MeMe...

Today, my grandmother (MeMe) came to spend the day with us. We did not get to see her on Mother's Day so we had own belated celebration. I think she enjoyed getting away from home and spending time with her great-grandchildren. She is soon to be 77 years old and as most of you know, MG is partially her namesake. We are fortunate in that both sets of our grandparents have been able to love and enjoy our children. Not everyone has those memories and I am so thankful for them. MG really had fun with her. She wanted her to hold her and play with her all day. J asked her a thousand questions and enjoyed snuggling up to her on the couch. I am certain she enjoyed it as much as they did.

MeMe and her four great-grandchildren...J., MG., Lovey and Lovey...do you see an argument in the making...look who has BOTH Lovey's!

Happy Mudder's Day Mommy!

For Mother's Day, I received the greatest gifts. First, J. gave me hugs and told me "Happy Mudder's Day" about 100 times. That is a perfect gift in itself. He also made two special gifts at preschool: a little wooden birdhouse and a windchime. I'm sure Ms. Kara helped a little. Thanks Ms. Kara.

Daddy helped them out with an Anniversary/Mother's Day gift. It was a beautiful charm bracelet with two charms, one boy and one girl. Each charm has their name and birthdate engraved on the back. It is something they can add more charms to over the years. I thought it was a perfect gift! I hope you received something very special in your honor for Mother's Day!

Hooray for Mommy's Day!

I never knew how special Mother's Day was until I became a Mother myself. Last year, I was the proud Mother of one handsome little boy with a baby girl on the way. I remember the realization that next year I will be a Mother of TWO! I secretly wondered what it would be like. At the time, I had so many questions about mothering two children. How will I parent another J.? Will there be enough Mommy for both of them? How will I have enough time for two children AND my husband? Will I love her the same as her brother? I had so many questions and I could not imagine loving another little person as much as I loved J. Everyone told me the same thing, "you can and you will". I could not understand how such complicated questions could be answered so simply. As I have discovered along this road of motherhood, you can't really understand ANYTHING until you have been there yourself.

Over the past year, I have discovered that all babies do not come in the same package. It is possible to love two children equally and yet in so many different ways. Two children can come from the same parents and be completely different in every other way. You can love them both with the same passion and depth of overflowing love. You can love them both with the kind of joy that stops you in your tracks...the kind of joy that requires you to take it all in...the kind that brings you to tears at the happiest of moments. You CAN love them both equally and yet in so many different ways. Only Mommy experience shares with you the meaning of, "you can and you will".

At almost 29 years old, I often think back on my own Mother's life. When she was my age she was a single Mother of an almost 10 year old little girl (me). At the time, she had little help from my father but somehow she made it work. My MeMe and PaPa were a huge help to us and I'm sure that made all the difference. Knowing what I know now, I can see how difficult life was for her. To my Mom (AKA Grammy), you are such an important part of our life. I certainly love and appreciate you more today, as a Mother myself, than before. I love you and Happy Mother's Day!

To all of my Mommy friends: I love being part of this "club" with so many amazing women. Being a Mom wouldn't be quite as fun (or funny) without other Mom's to share the adventure. A wise man once said (though I bet it was a woman), "it takes a village to raise a child" and I believe it. Thank you for being part of my "village". Happy Mother's Day friends!

Our little author...

J. has been studying the ocean this month at preschool. Today he made a story mobile and wrote his very first fiction story. Ms. Kara wrote it word for word as he "wrote" it. I would like to share it with you.

Title: "6500"
Author: JW
Characters: Fish, Seahorse, Crab
Type: Fictional

"One day there was a little Dolphin, and a long time he met a sea horse and a crab and a fish. They swing and play and slide and eat. Then along come a wolf. He chased them and said ROOOAAARRRR! Then he gobbled them up! The End."



I asked him what the title meant. His reply, "I can't tell you". OK...4 year old secrets I suppose. As for the wolf on the beach, not sure about that one. I bet that's a secret too!

Thank you Mr. Brick Man and crew...

Happy Anniversary...

8 years ago today, I married my Prince Charming. I am amazed when I look back on the photos from that day. We were such babies back then and yet so grown up at the same time. Two 21 years olds in love and all we knew is that we wanted to be together for the rest of our lives. We said vows to each other and we meant every word. Eight years later, I love him more now than I did that beautiful day. Honestly, I don't remember my life without "us". We are living the hopes and dreams we had for each other and for our family. Two beautiful healthy children, a strong faithful marriage and a life that only God could have orchestrated. Happy Anniversary honey...I love you.

Can you say BAD HAIR DAY...

King of the Jungle...

J. gave a stellar performance at church tonight in our children's choir musical. He was a "big scary Amazon River turtle" and he sang his little heart out. yes, that's what I told him to tell his friends :-)

Note the progression of the hat (that he HATED by the way). At least it stayed on for a few minutes...

Field Trip with Friends...

Today, we took a little road trip with J.'s preschool class to the Aquarium. We saw all kinds of aquatic animals in both the Ocean and the River Journeys (and we even saw penguins). The kids had a fantastic time and I think the parents did too. MG was a trooper and spent most of the time riding along in her stroller. Afterward, we had a picnic and played at the playground before we headed back home. It was a great time and here are the pictures to prove it...

Not the greatest way to start an adventure but funny nonetheless...

Checking out the butterflies in the butterfly garden with Mrs. Kara...

"Look Daddy, IT'S A PENGUIN!!!!!!!!!"

FISH...FISH...FISH...


















Fun with friends...

Finally, out of my stroller...


















After a long day, so long Aquarium...

Congratulations Eliza's Mommy!

Hooray! Hooray! Hooray!

Over the past few months, I have asked many of you to pray for a little girl named Eliza. Eliza is 7 months old and lives in Guatemala (but not for long). Up until today, her new family has been waiting to find out if and when they are going to bring her home. We have been praying that Eliza would get out of the most difficult part of the process (it is called PGN) and home to the US without delay. Well, today was THE day!!!! ELIZA IS OUT OF PGN and her paperwork moves on to the final stage of the adoption. That is something to celebrate!!!!

For those who aren't familiar with the situation, Guatemalan adoption law hit a few potential roadblocks several months ago. Nothing has changed yet but the fear of such changes have caused many sleepless nights for the families involved. Please continue to pray that if and when the laws change, they will be in the best interest of the children who desperately need families to call their own.

Congratulations Eliza's Mommy!!!! I know jumping this hurdle brings you one step closer to your family of six. To all of you who read this blog, I know I speak for Eliza's Mommy when I say thank you for your prayers. Prayers for a sweet little girl thousands of miles away and for a family you don't even know. If all goes well, she should be home for good by mid June.

And with her Mommy's permission, a beautiful picture of Eliza for all of you to adore. Isn't she gorgeous?
Hooray! Hooray! Hooray!