A Visit

I went to visit this guy and his Mom this weekend and had the good fortune of capturing this picture of him.  It represents him perfectly. He looks good.  He is adjusting well, and his Mom is doing a good job taking care of him. 

 I miss him like crazy. 

the best ice cream photo?

Not even close, but it was (probably) our last hot day (86!)to get ice cream. I  I know that's cool to some of you, but here, that is crazy hot for this time of year. I have no problem getting ice cream when it's cold out, but this is probably the last time in sun dresses until next year. Oh, and Allie decided she'd like to try my pumpkin pie ice cream and decided it was much better than her black raspberry, so we traded.  No worries, I "helped" her keep up with the drips, so I got some, too.

Coping and hoping

Our tiniest houseguest was picked up on Saturday morning.  It was heartwrenching and hopeful all at the same time.  His Mom is trying, she really is.  She loves him so much, and so do we.  I guess I have to look at it as how lucky he is to have so many people who are over the moon about him, that makes everything a little easier.  A little.

Even though we knew it was coming...

Our sweetest houseguest is leaving us on Saturday.  I would be lying if I said that we are not heartbroken.  It is impossible for me (and Will) to not fall in love with a baby who lives in our home.  Seriously, I never thought I could love a kid who isn't mine as much as I love my own, but I've got to say, that little guy wiggled his way in and is now lodged directly in the middle of my chest.  I am glad he gets to see his Mom again and that she has improved her situation, but I don't want to let him go all at the same time.  It's going to be a tough weekend around here, so send a good thought our way in Saturday if you don't mind...

Love!

Happy Birthday, Lilly!

Dear Lilly,
Eight years ago you were born.  You were the one who made me a Mom.  You are my first lovely daughter, the one who taught me to love so fiercely, so unconditionally, so wholly.  You looked up at me the night you were born with big, dark eyes and immediately showed off your three dimples.  You couldn't have looked more like your Daddy if you tried.  You settled in qiickly and were the calmest baby ever.  I don't ever remember a time that you cried as an infant.  We were very lucky.  We ARE very lucky to have you as our daughter.  You are unendingly unselfish.  You are helpful beyond measure, you are moody and quiet, you are joyful and loud.  Your smile lights up everything.  Your eyes have setteled on Hazel, more brown than greeen, except those rare occasions when you cry, then they are the brightest of green.  You are going into the third grade, and have made some amazing friends.  You have learned quickly that when a person isn't kind, she isn't worth being close to.  You have become an amazing friend. You are an amazing sister, you always share and think of Allie and Maya when you are doing anything.  You are a stickler for rules.  You love  the lake, and learned to swim well this summer.  You swim underwater and can do flips as well.  You also went off the diving board at the lake.  You are very proud.  You also learned to ride your bike without training wheels this summer.  That was an ordeal.  You cried and pushed and refused and tried to give up.  I wouldn't let you and you finally figured it out, and figured out what it means to persevere and to be truly proud.  You are a wonderful person.  Not just an amazing kid, but truly a person everyone should have the chance to know.  Thank you for teaching me to be a better person.  Lilly, I love you more than you could ever realize, and I only hope you will be happy and have a daughter one day who will allow you to feel the level of pride and love that you have shown me.  Have an out of this world ninth year, I cannot wait to see what comes along next.

Happy Birthday Allie!

On this date, six years ago, at 6:59 am, my amazing middle daughter was born.  She has changed my life.  She looked at us with the biggest shockingly blue eyes that morning, and immediately had me forever. Allie, you are one of a kind.  You are sweet and caring and lovely.  You are so into make up and fanciness and style.  You also love Harry Potter, and playing in the mud.  You love to water all the flowers and plants, and basically anything that can be watered, and some things that can't. You have the most beautiful lips.  Usually they are covered in some type of lip gloss, unless we are going somewhere, then you aren't allowed to wear it. You love nail polish and nearly always have your fingernails painted. You have learned to ride your bike without training wheels this summer, and it took you only about ten minutes to figure it out. Incredible.  You are incredibly sensitive, cry at every injustice, real or perceived.  You bounce back quickly.  You are extremely ticklish.  You love babies, and want to hold them all the time, unless they are crying, then you are all set.  You love the playground and ice cream and your family and friends.  You love television.  Love it.  You are extremely fair.  You want everyone else to be fair like you, and don't understand why people are mean sometimes.  You are nervous to start the first grade.  Your best friend (aside from Lilly and Maya) is Elowen.  You saw her at school after not seeing her much this summer and you literally jumped into each other's arms.  You are beautiful.  You love spending special one on one time with your favorite grown - ups, and I promise to do that more in the coming year.  Allie, you are my amazing daughter.  You look at each day with a sense of adventure, where anything is possible.  I love you more than you could ever fathom.  Have a wonderful, happy, sparkly seventh year, making this world better simply by being in it. 

Our newest (temporary) family member

We are keeping a friend's baby for the time being.  She is in a tight spot and wants what is best for him, and that is our family right now.  She is incredibly strong to leave him, but knows that we will love him like she does.  He is eight weeks old, and this is our second week with him.  He fits in perfectly, and we are all trying desperately to walk that line between loving him like no other and keeping in mind that he will go sometime.  It is difficult, and will teach us all about sacrifice when we have to let him go, but for now, he is here and we are in love.  The girls keep asking if we can keep him, and I try to explain that he has a Mommy, and they understand and know that he won't live with us forever, but keep hoping that will change.