A Bit of Truth

I have tried for years to educate people on the do's and don'ts in adoption verbage. I know that most people are not out to hurt anyone's feelings and if it were just me it wouldn't be a real issue, but it's not just me, my children often must hear these comments.

Several of my friends have also built their families through adoption and Christianne has addressed this quite well in her post "Real Parents" I'm grateful for her perspective and I know how much her blog is read so I'm grateful for the education she is spreading. Please take time to read this post.

I would like to add that my kids are not defined by their adoption - they are not "adopted daughter" or "adopted son" or "adopted child" they make have come to our family by adoption but it is not who they are.

Also, my children's birthfamilies did not give up or give away their children, they chose to place them with a family or they made an adoption plan. These children are not throw away kids and they are not unwanted by their birthfamilies. To imply such can be damaging for such a little person.

I so appreciate all of the support we have received in building our family through adoption and I am certainly not saying that adoption is not something we want to talk about. It is not a secret, it is not shameful, it's a beautiful way to create a family, and I'm thankful to a loving Father in Heaven for bringing my wonderful children into my home and entrusting them to my care. I'm thinking that that feeling is not any different than anyone who had Him bless them with children in their home that came to them through birth.

Savannah Sayings.

Savannah is constantly asking us where we are going. Lakin's typical response is "Crazy, and you're driving." Savannah, having heard this time and time again, typically get's frustrated and responds, "Daaaad, no I'm not!!" Today's response was a first and was the best! "No, you're going all by yourself."

She's a quick one.

He is such a boy!

I wasn't able to get a picture but I had to post about it.

Savannah was in the tub playing and the door was inadvertantly left open. Next thing I hear is !!!SPLASH!!! and then "CHRIFAFER!!!!" Christopher had decided that he wanted a bath too and climbed in diaper, pajamas and all. I guess if he is that determined to bathe I shouldn't be one to stop him so I stripped him down and put him in the tub.

He is such a boy! :-)

Handsome Little Man

As a parent do you ever stop being amazed at the changes in your children? When I got this picture of Christopher at Angie's wedding reception I couldn't believe how grown up and handsome this little guy is. He has a joy for life that I envy (and more energy than I can keep up with most of the time.)

How blessed I am to be his Mommy and I thank my Father in Heaven and the wonderful people who made this possible (you know who you are!)

"My Mama"

As most of you know Christopher is delayed in his speech so little milestones are huge for us. Today he came over, leaned up against me and said "My mama" I thought I was just hearing things so I said "My Christopher" and he repeated it "My mama"

There could be no more beautiful words to this mama's ears.

Seven Things

I was tagged from the Zoo

Seven things I CAN do:
- Put together a nice dinner
- Multi-task
- Design a multi-worksheet workbook in Excel
- Photograph just about anything
- Bake a great dessert
- Scrapbook what I photograph
- Teach about things I believe in and love

Seven things I CAN NOT do:
- Knit – with real knitting needles
- Carry a tune
- Keep a clean house (still working on that one)
- Draw, paint – anything that requires good translation of depth
- See well
- Play an instrument with any skill
- Dance

Seven Things I say the Most:
- Excuse me?
- Soooo……????
- I’m sleepy
- If you ask me again the answer is no. (Do I hear my mama?)
- I love you
- You’re so silly – I love that you’re silly
- I’m gonna get you! – followed by chasing and squeals

Seven reasons I fell in love with Lakin.
- He looked at me like I was the most beautiful person on earth and made me feel attractive
- He liked NASCAR
- I instantly felt comfortable with him
- He was romantic
- He treated me with respect
- He was a great cook!
- He respected who I was and what I believed

Seven things I love to eat
- Chocolate
- Chicken with Fettuccini Alfredo
- Chicken and dumplings
- Filet mignon
- Macaroni with milk
- Warm jello
- Strombolis
-
Seven people I tag
- Denise
- Jamie
- Kim B.
- Janine
- Amy
- Summer

My Big Little Girl

My cute little girl decided that she was tired of the frustration of tangles and wanted shorter hair like Mommy's. Tonight I complied. Look how big my little girl has gotten.