Reservations

Hey Blog World, I know I know...who the heck are you anyway? Many folks who used to follow this blog are have probably long lost interest in us. That's okay, I don't think I need to write to attract an audience, although it's an interesting element of blogging. I think having that secret desire to connect with others is partially why we all blog. I love the attention I get from having someone post a response. It means a lot to a woman who spends most of her days thinking and processing on her own with only a bunch of kiddos to share her thoughts with. Seriously, by the time the hubby gets home I'm either too tired or too busy to regurgitate my only barely comprehend able thoughts. Needless to say then, I am hesitate to start writing again. If I don't have time to speak, then how do I have time to type. Easy, typing can be done very quietly in the kitchen, while my kiddos play. If I were to say, phone a friend, I would be instantly attacked by little people needing my attention. They have a honing beacon for when I'm on the phone, because that is when I am most vulnerable. There is always the chance that mommy might throw me a cookie to get me to be quiet for two minutes so she can talk.

"Life moves pretty fast", very true Ferris. Since I have last blogged, we have moved, survived the moving, the summer and the start of a new school year. So far, so good on all of that. We purchased a house that I think is going to be great for our family for many years to come. We have not sold our old home and are currently landlords. Our tenants can be described as hmmmmm, Kat Von D and the cast of Jack###. Oh well, they have paid a large portion of their rent up front, so far so good.

Aria and Elijah are now in second grade. And thus starts a new year of negotiating grades and expectations for our sweet eight year old twins. Regardless of the struggles we can sometimes have in school they are without a doubt the best kids in the world. I know I am biased, but I am so proud to be their Mom.

We have a ton of kids in our new neighborhood, which is a big blessing! I have enjoyed getting to know them and their families. My kids have instant friends and the neighborhood is in constant block part mode! Aria has become good friends with a young lady who is a little older than her and that is perfect! Elijah has a buddy who goes to his school and is just a great little guy. He and 'Lij are too cool for school on their scooters and skateboards. Plus their Mom has been doing the after school pickup for me and that is huge since I don't have to wake the babies up any more to go get them.

Speaking of babies, Rowan is no longer one. In fact he very rarely naps and just last week taught himself to ride a bike with out training wheels. Amazing! It took us two years to teach Aria and Elijah how to ride a bike. He is in preschool and making lots of friends, but really learning very little. So we have to do some "homework" in the afternoon, or he will never be ready for kindergarten at Dennison next year.

Selah is....well she is just plain amazing...amazingly beautiful, amazingly smart and amazingly naughty. I am reminded every day of what a treasure she is. We discovered she is lactose intolerant, after many months of changing endless poopy diapers that smelled like death, I took her off milk. Now she poops like a normal two year old and is probably ready to potty train.

Well friends, Selah is getting naked as we speak and if I don't catch her soon she will be naked and probably poopy too. I hope this got you caught up a little bit. I have much more to share and will soon. I promise...

MAHB!!

Oh my life, oh my darling babies. It's mother's day and so much is going on in our life I could never get it all down. Today was an exceptional day. Exceptionally not great. Worst part was taking all four kids with me to the Children's Hospital because my darling seven year old baby badly sprained and possibly broke her ankle. I could go on and on abouts today, but what really matters is that I love my kids. I really do. I love them and they complete my life and totally blow my mind and they have changed me more than any thing else ever could. I thought of our lost baby today and how I wanted to love that little thing. I blow it daily with my kids. I mean I blow it!! I yell at them, ignore them, push them aside, whine at them and talk down to them. They are under my feet and in my way. They are snotty and poopy and dirty and gross. They are hungry and bored and messy. But oh my Heavenly Father they are so spectacular. I suppose that's the gift of motherhood. Such amazing love and so conflicting and so hard. I love you babies, I do. I love you and cherish you.

This post is entitled MAHB because that's what Selah calls me. I'm not sure why but I think it's because most of the time I am called MOM! by the others not Mommy or Mama. Sometimes it sounds more like BOB...we're working on it.

A Thousand Words

Yup...

Yup...this pretty much sums it up for me at this point. I really have difficulty attempting to do anything else but stare at this face, and then kiss it again and again...sigh

Round Tuits

When I was a kid my mom had these little round wood disks in her make-up drawer. They were apparently from some promotional thingy back in the sixties or something. But, they were very cleverly called round tuits. They said things like "I will blah, blah, blah when I get a round tuit". Then you gave them to people and said, "here's your round tuit." Long story short that has become my new favorite saying "I will update my blog and share all of the wonderful things that have been happening in my life when I get a round tuit." I apologize for being a blog writing looser, but you see I have a list a mile long of "right this minutes" so I'm having to be patient about all my "round tuits". There's a good chance that my not blogging means very little, to very few. But I like blogging and I will be back when, say it with me, I get a round tuit!

(and admit it, all you really wanted to see were pictures of the baby. Can't blame you...we're obsessed too!)

the Moment...

It's about one hour before we leave for the airport. This past week I have been swayed by a mix of emotions. Literally their have been moments of just laying my head down on the kitchen counter and taking ten deep breaths, because the world is swaying a little bit. The closer we come to getting on that plane, the better I feel. This is the moment, isn't it? This is when time is suppose to stand still while I completely absorb all that is taking place. Of course, that isn't what happens at all. But this is still the moment, and we have pushed and pulled and fought for this moment and it will happen and it will change our lives forever. I sometimes have this bubble of panic that rise up and fill with all that I still need to conquer and all that is out of my control. And then when I feel like I couldn't take anymore it sort of floats away and 'pops'. Because when the time comes, there is no denying that what you have prepared to do you will have the strength to finish. At one hour till the start of our "amazing race"...I feel totally ready.

Please pray for us friends. Please pray for our little ones in Nebraska. Please pray that these next few days won't be too hard for little Selah. Please pray for our health and safety. Please pray that flights are made and luggage not get lost. I know many of you have been praying for us this entire time, we know because we can feel it. So much of this journey has been out of our control. It blows my mind still of how enjoyable this whole process has been and how quickly our time to get our baby has arrived. So many times I have said "who knew"? I have recently come to understand that "God knew", thank goodness.

Okay...time to hit the showers and then the road. Waiting families...we are so excited to meet your babies and your children. I know this time of waiting is so hard, we will be sure to answer all your questions as best we can.

We love you all,
Anne

Corduroy

Corduroy blinked. There was a chair and a chest of drawers, and alongside a girl-size bed stood a little bed just the right size for him. The room was small, nothing like that enormous palace in the department store.

"This must be home," he said. "I KNOW I've always wanted a home!"

Lisa sat down with Corduroy on her lap and began to sew a button on his overalls.

"I like you the way you are," she said, "but you'll be more comfortable with your shoulder strap fastened.

"You must be a friend," said Corduroy. "I've always wanted a friend."

"Me too!" said Lisa, and gave him a big hug.

"Corduroy" by Don Freeman