Boy or Girl?

We went to the doctor today for the ultrasound. We really wanted to know if we're having a boy or a girl. E has been informing us since before conception that we'll be having another girl and she got upset when I sold a lot of my baby girl clothes in the last consignment sale. My sweet husband wanted another boy because he believes they're easier and cheaper. They basically need a ball and food. What? Just because a girl might cry over spilled milk, need a new dress for the dance, or has to have those shoes and those shoes doesn't mean...well, maybe he's right...partly. It all depends on the kid, right? Anyway...

We 

are

having

a

GIRL!

It's a good thing too because I only thought of a girl name and E really did have her heart set on a girl. I need to have a girl to help me teach the boys she said. She plans to have the baby in her room and take care of her in the middle of the night. Sounds great! Just this morning, before the appointment, E drew a picture of the family that included a little baby with hair down to her bum and declared that was her sister. We might have a baby boy I reminded her. No you're not. It's a girl. What do ya know? She's been telling me this since January. Another funny thing she said to me, before she knew about the baby, was Mommy, when are you going to have another baby? You need to have it soon...and Mommy, why don't you try to have it in your tummy this time, ok?

Well, E got her wish. It's a girl and we're thrilled! Still in awe, but thrilled.
Thanks for all the kinds words. We love it!

Crazy, huh?

Soo...for a few months now I've felt like this...

a little lazy.
Majority of the sickness is gone, but I still have my share of pregnancy symptoms. 

It's crazy!
We've been married 11 years, adopted three beautiful kids, and now...surprise!
It was a huge shock to say the least.
We're excited and a little nervous about this whole adventure...and wow...we're just full of suspense over the sex of the baby. We'll find out this week!

Perfect Miracle

Miracles  

By Walt Whitman

Why, who makes much of a miracle?
As to me, I know of nothing else but miracles,
Whether I walk the streets of Manhattan,
Or dart my sight over the roofs of houses toward the sky,
Or wade with naked feet along the beach, just in the edge of the water,
Or stand under trees in the woods,
Or talk by day with any one I love--or sleep in the bed at night with the one I love,
Or sit at table at dinner with my mother,
Or look at strangers opposite me riding in the car,
Or watch honey-bees busy around the hive, of a summer forenoon,
Or animals feeding in the fields,
Or birds--or the wonderfulness of insects in the air,
Or the wonderfulness of the sun-down--or of stars shining so quiet and bright,
Or the exquisite, delicate, thin curve of the new moon in spring;
Or whether I go among those I like best, and that like me best-- mechanics, boatmen, farmers,
Or among the savans--or to the soiree--or to the opera,
Or stand a long while looking at the movements of machinery,
Or behold children at their sports,
Or the admirable sight of the perfect old man, or the perfect old woman,
Or the sick in hospitals, or the dead carried to burial,
Or my own eyes and figure in the glass;
These, with the rest, one and all, are to me miracles,
The whole referring--yet each distinct, and in its place.

To me, every hour of the light and dark is a miracle,
Every cubic inch of space is a miracle,
Every square yard of the surface of the earth is spread with the same,
Every foot of the interior swarms with the same;
Every spear of grass--the frames, limbs, organs, of men and women, and all that concerns them,
All these to me are unspeakably perfect miracles.


As for our family, we have had a few miracles dealing with family, jobs, and houses. Each with its own story and fond memory. Our most precious miracles have been our three kids who have joined our family in their our due time, bundled in love and pure joy. Each have their own amazing story that started with the love of a birthmother and continues today with the knowledge that we are an eternal family and that so many people love them. I have always known that there is one more miracle for our family and it will soon arrive. Yes, we're getting another baby and we're thrilled...astonished...just completely shocked by the news. When we announced the news to family, everyone was surprised. We had them guess where the baby would be coming from (Russia, Guatemala, China) and no one imagined that it would be coming from me. That's the real surprise. A true miracle. We'll have another reason to be thankful come November twenty fifth.

Mr. Fancy Fix It

 O is really into building and fixing. He has to fix the castle, the stairs, the chairs...you name it. The funny thing is that he has worn a tutu while working.

 E has mentioned that she wants to be a ballerina. O copies. He has quickly learned how to push E's buttons and when O says he wants to be a ballerina, it creates major confrontation.

 He loves to get under her skin. So when he enthusiastically dances in her tutu, he's enjoying every second of E's meltdown.

 So Mr. Fancy Fix It not only enjoys his building and fixing, but driving his sister nuts.

Her cries don't bother him a bit.

A Day For Mothers

At church, I received the classic carnation, which in years past has not made it 30 seconds because the kids descend upon it like they've never seen a flower before.  This year I managed to bring it home. I also received some chocolate, which is always a real treat.

 The kids made me cards and pictures. Very cute. 

 From E

 From W

From O

O wanted nothing to do with this project, but W was game. At MOPS, he made a hand print. Funny.

E prepared a treasure hunt to find my gift.

 We searched the house, top to bottom. We even went on an elevator ride.

The treasure was found.

Daddy made a photo book of the kids, which was so cute and very entertaining.

I had a great day. Daddy made it even better when he served Chicken Marsala. Oh, so good.

All Dressed Up

I'm E. I'm 5 and love pretty dresses, fairies and music.

I'm W. I'm 3 and I love my new Thomas the Train underwear, light switches and buttons.

I'm O. I'll be 3 soon and I love outside, trucks and riding E's bike. I'm just a few inches shorter than E and we weigh the same.

Having fun being thrown onto the chair.

Big laughs.

 

Do it again, Daddy!

Bloon-boom

 When the tornadoes ripped through the South, we were fortunate to not have any damage in our area. For our neighborhood, the worst was extreme wind and loss of power. I wasn't up for throwing dinner together, so we traveled to the neighboring city to eat at Red Robin. Yum. The kids were great and very excited to eat out. O wore this necklace around his head the whole evening. He was looking gooood.

This is his second balloon. As we left the restaurant, we tied the balloons on all wrists. As we walked out into the huge gusts of wind, O's balloon was ripped from his wrist and then hovered a few feet from him. O screamed out for his bloon-boom. I jumped out to grab the balloon just as it flew off into the night sky. O cried hysterically over his loss. Of course we had to walk back into the restaurant to get another balloon (practically laughing the whole time) and he was happy as a clam...although, he still talks about the wind and the moon taking his balloon way.

The Park and First Radish

We had such a good time meeting friends at the park. I planned to take several pictures, but I was so busy keeping track of all three kids. It was mostly O, who was on the slide one second, playing in the water fountain the next, and then easily scaling a chain link fence, jumping over into a no play zone to ride on a train that wasn't working yet.  

Great to see you guys!

 The first radish from the garden sure excited the kids.  They each got to hold...

 and take a picture...

with the radish before devouring it.