Sweet Child of Mine.

For weeks, Layla's has been begging me for "grown up" pictures. She wanted her hair and makeup done and to pick her own outfit. I needed a break yesterday and the weather was mild, so we went ahead. It was so much fun. She picked her clothes, her accessories, and her props (Heidi). She told me how to fix her hair, and we brushed on a little pink shimmer eye shadow with some mascara and lip gloss. She chose her locations (within our yard) and we spent about 15 minutes collaborating our creative powers to come up with these! I love them!










I also got this "interview" from another adoptive mom who's blog I follow and thought it was too cute. These were Layla's answers:

1. What's something Mommy always says to you? Hey, Sweetie.
2. What makes Mommy happy? Me.
3. What makes Mommy sad? Daddy going to live somewhere else this summer. (Deployment)
4. What does Mommy do that makes you laugh? Make up funny dances and funny faces.
5. What did Mommy like as a child? playing outside with Uncle B and watching movies.
6. How old is Mommy? Well, first you were a little girl. Then you were 26, now you're 27. (Yep, pretty much felt like it went that quick too!).
7. How tall is Mommy? (Holds hands up above her head).
8. What's Mommy's favorite thing to do? Take pictures.
9. What do you think Mommy does when you're not around? Clean and feed babies. (So basically the same thing I do when you ARE around, lol).
10. If Mommy were to become famous, what would she be famous for? Being a great colorer.
11. What is something Mommy is good at? Playing with me.
12. What is something Mommy is not good at? Jumping. I'm better.
13. What's Mommy's job? Taking care of me and the babies and pictures.
14. What's Mommy's favorite food? Lettuce (??!!?!?)
15. Why are you proud of Mommy? You hug everybody a lot.
16. If Mommy was a cartoon character, who would she be? June (Little Einsteins) bc she is smart and she loves to dance. (love this!! lol).
17. What do you and Mommy do together? Play farm. (huh?)
18. How are you and Mommy the same? She has my nose and my fingers. (I thought it was the other way around?)
19. How are you and Mommy different? My eyes are brown, Mommy's are green.
20. How do you know Mommy loves you? Tells me alll the time, and lots of hugs and kisses.
21. What's Mommy's favorite thing about Daddy? I guess his mouth cause you are always kissing. (hahahaha).
22. Where is Mommy's favorite place to go? The hardware store (what in the world?!?), walmart, and kroger (lol).

Thought that was too cute!!

Encores and More North

Sitting here DROWNING in stacks of childrens clothes past reminded me of Brea's blog! If I give a shout out to her consignment sale, which I am currently feverishly preparing for, my name will be entered (twice!) for a drawing and I could win a $25 gift certificate to the sale! It's no secret that we are struggling to survive at the moment, so you know if I could, I would blog it a hundred times!

This is THE spring/summer consignment sale you don't want to miss! Brea and her team of happy helpers work very hard to pull off this "event" (and it is!). I was hoping to become part of that team this year, but Nathan's schedule isn't going to allow me to commit unfortunately.

Visit www.encoresandmorenorth.com to get all the juicy details!
The sale opens to the public on March 7 and she promises it will be bigger and better than ever!!

Ashes, ashes, we ALL fall down.

It's Ash Wednesday, beginning of the Lent season.

"Immediately the Holy Spirit compelled Jesus to go into the wilderness. He was there for forty days, being tempted by Satan. He was out among the wild animals, and angels took care of Him."
Mark 1: 12-13
But explained in more detail in Matthew 4:1-11 and Luke 4:1-13

Temptation is bad for us only when we give in. We shouldn't resent times of inner testing, because throuhg them God can strengthen our character and teach us valuable lessons. When you face Satan and must deal with his temptations and the turmoil he brings, remember that Jesus used God's Word against Satan and won. Your convictions are only strong if they hold up under pressure. When temptations seem especially strong, or when you think you can rationalize giving in, consider whether Satan may be trying to block God's purposes for you life (or someone else's life).

... I didn't write all of that. Bits and pieces were in the footnotes of one of my favorite Bibles (I have about 16!). Just thought I'd share!

Obviously, we are all tested on a regular basis, usually when we are most vulnerable and already weakened or when we are just coming off of a spiritual high and Satan wants to knock us back down. I have experienced both recently and know for sure that the things I have chosen to sacrifice for the next 40 days are going to challenge me! It's amazing what silly little things we allow to become between us and our relationship with God and that we need a date on a calendar to remind us to remove that from our life for a specific number of days in order to re-focus. Whatever works I guess!

On a lighter note...
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, DEDA!!

Re-using this picture we made for you three(!) years ago because I still love it =)

desperate times, desperate measures.

The toddler beds were NOT working out. They were sleeping in them fine, when they were sleeping, but I have too many tears of frustration to go on like this. Today was the final straw. They were exhausted, so I thought they would go down for their naps ok. WRONG.

After hearing a THUD, I went in there to find both babies sitting ON TOP of the changing table. The floor was covered in clothes, shoes, and diapers of course and they had reached all their lotions/oils off of a super-duper-high shelf that I never thought in a million years they'd be able to reach which they were throwing down from their high-rise position. And that was only after pouring the oil all over themselves (and the floor and the clean clothes).

It doesn't sound like that big of a deal but it's all day every day and I can't take it anymore. After talking to Nathan, we decided we were going to put the cribs back together and buy crib tents. We didn't like that idea at first, but we are desperate at this point. But then we get to Babies R Us and realize that they are $70 each. Well, that's not an option.

Plan B.... ready for this? Lol. We both thought of this at the same time- we drove to Walmart and literally bought a regular old, 2 person pop-up tent. Came home, took Brynn's crib apart and set it up. Both of their mattresses fit in it PERFECTLY and they LOOOOVE it (so far). We put their blankets and pillows, their loveys, and a few little toys to occupy them in the morning in there and they were thrilled. They played for about ten minutes then went strait to sleep! And the best part? It's zipped up. The little tazmanian devils can't get out!

Pleeeeease cross your fingers that this works!! Or we are absolutely going to lose our minds. It feels sort of brilliant at the moment, but those little boogers can twist things on ya in a second!

I'm on drugs =)

So I finally managed to make it to a neurologist, just in the nic of time. I immediately started Topamax (migraine preventative), which is working overtime at the moment- no insane side effects yet, though I will be gradually increasing my dosage over the next several weeks and am told I could possibly require the maximum amount. Awesome. Pretty sure not being able to feel my arms or legs coupled with memory loss are completely worth a migraine-free life to me at this point.

Also started a new pain medication. Thank you, Jesus (and Dr. Anderson). No more shots! I've traded them in for giant horse pills, which is fine by me. Even more fine, is that for 6 days I am required to take a half of one EVERY 6 hours. I can't really remember why (I suppose I am seeing some side effects of the Topamax already), but I don't really care because they have struggled to do their job for the last two days already. But I am thankful for their existence in my life and beyond thankful that our military insurance decided to cover them.

This HAS to work.

Crossing our fingers (and eyes and toes)...

Deep breaths. It's over.
Layla had her Kindergarten test this morning at Merrol Hyde. It sounds like it went well, but obviously the teacher didn't say anything =)
Nathan, Nonie, and I were convinced they would use the Brigance test, but it doesn't sound like they did at all, according to Layla (it's a 15 minute one-on-one interview with her and the teacher). I know they talked about her brother and sister and she told her that she likes to learn about dinosaurs and dragons (so true), but couldn't get much else out of her as far as what she was asked. She only said that they did NOT ask her address, phone number, birthdate, etc. Or read any letters or numbers or have her write her name or anything else. So who knows?!

I had been super nervous until today and then I just felt like it was okay. Nathan was the one jumping out of his skin! But Layla was in a good mood; she was playful and personable. Seemed to be her normal self, so I'm sure it went great.

Should hear by Easter whether or not she got in! It's in God's hands now =)

However... how is it even possible that my baby is old enough for Kindergarten?!?! When did that happen?! Ugh... that's a whole 'nother post for a whole 'nother day (which I am not ready for just yet!).

Happy Saturday!

V Day.

We had a very sweet and relaxing Valentine's as a family. We started the day with heart-shaped pancakes. The kids got little goody bags with Valentines socks, Valentines little debbies, and sugar-free heart lollipops. We cleaned most of the morning, but took a break to bake some heart-shaped cookies, that we would decorate after dinner. Dinner, by the way, was heart-shaped pizza. So basically, our entire day revolved around food, as usual. We played all afternoon and then Nathan and I watched a cute romantic-comedy after the kids went to bed. Pretty laid-back, but VERY much enjoyed!!

Mmmm... Daddy makes yummy pancakes!


Mommy and Layla make yummy cookies!


Our sweets and their sweets:


My cookie on the left, Nath's on the right... awwww =)


We didn't get a picture of the pizza bc...well, we were starving and we tore right into that thing!



P.S. I actually really dislike hearts, but whatcha gonna do, right?! I mean, it's Valentine's afterall =)

Going to "the bowl" for Jason's 30th.

As Layla would say anyway...

She took these pics of her "honey" and her "buddy" (Bree's mouth is full of nachos).


They were loving some Aunt Paige on friday.


my tiny hilarious dancers:

Time to bowl!



Layla getting some tips from Bo. Kim helping Brynn, Jamie instructing Cale.

Brynn decided she needed NO help. She marched right up and chucked that ball down the lane like it was nothing.

Toddler beds, Takes I and II

So we decided to convert the cribs into toddler beds Saturday afternoon. We had tried naps in the cribs again, but we had to keep putting them back in there and they got out again when they woke up. So, in an effort to avoid a broken neck or concussion, we made the change.

We put the babies to bed about 7:45 and they were finally asleep by 10:18. Cale actually did really, really well. He laid in his bed and covered up and (to our knowledge) didn't get back up. Brynn on the other hand... oh, Brynn. Every 30 secs she was jumping on Cale's bed, taking his puppy away, stripping down until completely nude, the works. Over and over and over for 2 1/2 hours. but then I guess she decided she was done and laid down. They both slept until 5:30 yesterday morning.

Could NOT get them to nap in their beds yesterday for anything. Again, Cale did fine but Sis wasn't having it. I did finally lay down with them in our bed in an act of desperation and they both fell asleep after about 30 mins. But as soon as I got up, they were up again too. We tried their beds again later to no avail. The girls and I left for the afternoon and Cale laid down with no problems. Brynn didn't rest until later in the afternoon in the car.

BUT, they were exhausted by the time we got home last night, so for the most part, they both laid down and went to sleep with no problems! Hopefully, we will have more success with naps today, but I definitely have my work cut out for me!!

On a side note- Brynnie has used the potty TWICE today already!! But only with Layla?! She hasn't done with me yet, but she goes if L takes her! YAAAYY! Keep your fingers crossed!!

Two Toddler Tornadoes- help wanted!

So we woke up to find both "babies" had climbed out of their cribs. How they both figured it out at the same time- who knows. They immediately started knocking on their door (which was closed) and trying to turn the knob (which I heard). Ok... so maybe it's time to talk about moving to big girl/boy beds. No big deal.

Wellll... After breakfast, they both asked to go back to bed. We had a late night, so that made sense. Put them in their cribs, didn't hear a peep. 20 mins. later, Brynnie opens the door (how?!) and walks out with Cale Benjamin right behind her. Not only had they both climbed out again, they had: taken their clothes off and put other clothes on, taken their diapers off- she put on a swim diaper, he put on one of her pull-ups; they had opened a new pack of diapers and spread all 72 out in the floor; dumped their basket of hair oils/lotions/etc. off the changing table; dumped out the sock drawer, bib basket, and clothes hamper; pulled all their shoes off the shelves; filled their cribs with toys; etc etc etc etc etc etc etc. Their entire room was an absolute DISASTER in a matter of minutes.

So... NOW WHAT?!? We can convert their cribs to toddler beds, but I guarantee you they will destroy their room every single time we leave them in there. Some of the stuff that is within their reach, we can move to somewhere else, but there is no way to put it ALL up and it would be a total pain in the rear to not have the stuff we use every day accessible.

We talked about moving them into LP's room (her bottom bunk is a queen sized bed) and letting them sleep down there together. There is not much else in her room we'd have to worry about them destroying or any other safety issues, the problem with that option is that almost every single day, Layla wakes up when Nathan leaves for work at 3:30am and she comes to get in the bed with me and she would probably wake them up, which means all three kids would be up every morning at 3:30.

Which is the lesser of two evils? I feel like having to clean the same mess in their room every single day would drive me insane. But all three of them being awake before dawn every day doesn't sound any more appealing!

So- anyone have any suggestions?? We want/need to make the changes today 1) because it's not safe for them to climb out of their cribs and 2) so we have tomorrow to make any necessary adjustments. PLEASE OFFER ADVICE, lol!!

We didn't go thru this with Layla. She moved to a twin bed flawlessly and woke us up in the morning. No disasters. No risky business.

HELP!!!

A day of loooove.

We choose to make Valentines more of a fun, family event than a cheesy, commercial holiday for couples. So we are working on a special project for daddy. He never reads this, but just incase, I didn't want to give away too much. Just liked this picture =)

Airman West, part deux?

If it belongs to Nathan and goes on your head, Cale wants it. He loves to wear his Daddy's things around. So he was obviously quite pleased to have gotten his hands on Nathan's beret after drill this weekend. And apparently wanted me to take a picture, bc he came into the room saying "cheeeese mommy, look! cheeeese".

Like mother, like daughter.

Are you the babysitter?

Yep... I got my first one. At Walmart of course, where else? Before the babies came home, several other adoptive families warned us that 75% of the moronic questions/comments would occur at Walmart. Right now, I think we are actually averaging 100%. Not that we've had a lot, because we haven't, most have been genuine, innocent, and appropriately worded. When I am by myself, I can see/feel people watching us, trying to figure out if they're mine, did I carry them, do they have 2 (or 3) different daddies, did I adopt them, what? And if they do speak, it's usually a simple "Are they all yours?". Which is basically what this lady was asking, just with a different set of words. She recovered nicely by telling me how beautiful they all were and that they were all very well-behaved and well-mannered (which they were yesterday, but you know... it's hit or miss with 2 yr olds and the Drama Queen of the World).

Apparently we are much more approachable when Nath and I are together. I suppose at that point, it's more obvious that Yes, we are their parents and Yes, we did adopt. People stop us constantly to comment on our family or ask questions. Especially, because we have twins.

A lot of people get upset about these sort of things. I'm not offended at all. I am surpised- 1) that it actually took two whole years to be asked this particular question and 2) because it seems so much more common for families to be a blend of colors, I'm surprised people are still so curious about it. Either way, it just didn't bother me... unlike that one lady who pointed at Cale and said "Is he yours?". "Yes". Then she gave me this smug look and said "Are you sure?" with all kinds of attitude, CLEARLY probing as if I owed her some kind of explanation of why my son's skin was so much darker than mine! Of course, instead of knocking that smug look right of her face, I simply gritted my teeth and replied, "Yes". She then proceeded to tell me everything I was doing wrong as a parent in the 30 secs she had been standing there ("A 2 or 3 yr old should NOT have a paci, you are ruining his teeth!" Um... he's 14 months, thanks. "I see a dry patch on his knee, you don't know how to take care of his skin". I do. It's dry. I have a dry patch on my elbow, wanna check that out too? Etc. Etc. Etc. Until I finally just walked away without saying a word). THAT I was upset about.

The Gift of Music.

This is the 2nd year in a row that I've been to this event in honor of Dustin J. Wells and the W.O School of Music, which offers instruments and lessons to inner-city kids. Last year, I attended as a photographer, this year as a guest... who happened to take a lot of pictures.
It was really exciting for me- I have seen Ronnie Dunn and Kellie Pickler several times before, but this was my first time to ever see Dolly Parton! Vocally, she was FLAWLESS. It was amazing to see the legend in action. And the woman can move! I couldn't believe the way she was getting around on those 5 inch heels! SO much personality. She was just so sweet and genuine. She was everything I'd hoped she'd be. =)

It was super-crowded and I was lucky enough to be up against the stage to get some pics. But that meant I had to work with some pretty awkward angles from time to time. Who cares... I saw Dolly!

Mr. Ronnie Dunn:


The one and only, Ms. Dolly Parton:


Kellie and Dolly doing "9 to 5":



Kellie Pickler: