Monday, June 14, 2010

Adah is 2

June 14 2010, my Adah turned 2 today.  Oh, how quickly the last 2 years have passed. 

The day that she was born, was quite a day.  I was induced in the morning, I think it was around 8 am and I laid in the bed waiting for the arrival of this little person who had been making my butt ache for months and watching the news.  (Seriously, I had a sore butt for most of my pregnancy - no reason they could give me - I did jokingly say that the pain in my butt was a sign the baby was a girl.  But, I promised myself and Curtis that I would never be a mom to call my child a pain in the butt since before their birth - no one wants to have that running through their head for life - Good grief, you can't please that woman, I was a huge problem for her before I was even born . . .  - so far I have not said that to Adah.) 

 It was the flood of 2008.  Living in Mediapolis and having friends living in the bottoms who had evacuated their homes earlier in the week, it was a waiting game.  Would the levy hold?  How bad would it be if it didn't?  All kinds of questions were in my mind.  I hadn't been able to help anyone that week, at all, being overdue with a 3 year old.  I needed to stay home.  As things got serious in my delivery, the levy had not yet broken.  But within a half an hour after I was blessed with a girl, (I was probably still saying, it's a girl, it is really a girl) the nurse came in and told me that the levy in Oakville had just broken.  Isn't that the way life works?  One family is blessed beyond measure and another is devastated at the same time. 

We named her Adah, which means beautiful addition.  She has lived up to that name, daily, for the past 2 years.  Isn't it amazing what God does to your heart when you give it away?  Suddenly that person that you never laid eyes upon, is someone you couldn't imagine living without and you pray that you will never have to learn how.  This has happened to me with Curtis, then Michael, and finally with Adah.  A miracle of love when a family is created. 

Now, watching Adah grow into a 2 year old.  Things change daily.  She doesn't take her brother's stuff.  Adah will let you know when she is not happy.  She is really developing a will, which is great.  I want a child with an opinion, but shaping how she chooses to share her wishes is the challenge.  I hope I figure out how she needs to be led, directed, parented, . . . not controlled. She is really starting to talk a lot, and I think more people are beginning to understand the words she is speaking.  Last week she stopped calling her brother "brother" and started calling him "Michael" actually it sounds more like Bucco, which I think is hysterical.  Is there anything better than a little, bitty 2 year old hollering "Come here Bucco"?  I don't think so.  She loves chocolate.  She chose to eat pizza tonight for her birthday dinner and when given a choice wanted to go to "azio" Mazzios.  She rarely snuggles, but when she does, she tells you that it is time.  She can tell me when her glasses are dirty or crooked and wants them fixed, now.  She will only kiss you on the lips and if you offer her your cheek, she will chase your lips until you give in or there are no kisses. 

There are so many little funny things about this beautiful addition this is just the tip of a long list.  I  know that you have a person in your life, with all the little things that make them too adorable for words.  I don't want to be one of those mothers who thinks that my kids are the cutest, sweetest, most interesting, and smartest in the world, they just are those things to me.  If you ask I will tell you that I am incredibly biased.  :)  I am also blessed to be able to learn all these things and watch my children go from 1 to 2 or 5 to 6.  I just pray that I will always find them fun and interesting. 

Wednesday, June 9, 2010

Humbling

Sometimes children give us the best dose of humility and reality, better than Dr. Phil.  (I reference that man a lot, but don't know that I have watched a show of his - um - ever or not since he left the warm embrace of Oprah's show.)

Yesterday at lunch we were talking with Michael about being left handed.  Here is the conversation:
Curtis - You know Michael, if you love baseball and could pitch an 80 mph fast ball, you could play for the big leagues.
Michael - Like on TV?
Curtis - Yeah.  And you would make a lot of money too.  Then you could say thanks to your mom and dad by buying us cool stuff.  Like a big house, and I want a Dodge Charger (maybe I have the wrong car, but it was in the Dodge family and started with a C) and you know that your mom wants a Jaguar.
Me - It doesn't have to be new, just a convertible
Curtis - What do you think, wouldn't that be great.
Michael - I'm not doing that. 
Curtis - Really why?
Michael - You don't need that stuff.  I'll give my money to kids who need it.  Isn't that what we are supposed to do when we have extra?
Curtis - You're right, that would be better.

Love that boy.  Today he brought me a cap from I think a Spray N Wash bottle, filled with change he collected, and told me that we need to get to Wal-Mart and give it to those kids who need it, because there were a couple hundred dollars there and that could make kids like Shaelynn feel a lot better and not have to go to heaven before the grow up.  Now, you need to know that I don't have a couple hundred dollars in change around here, but if I did have some extra I would be taking it to Wal-Mart to donate in the Children's Miracle Network collector, to match the generous spirit of my son.

Why am I so selfish?  Seriously, a convertible Jag.  I would love that, but he is right there are kids out there who need help.  I guess I will be rolling in my Sienna for a while and praying that my son remains generous and continues to show me when I'm not. 

Thank God for matching us with the children who teach us to be better people.  I love being a mom :)  Back to matching socks.

Tuesday, June 8, 2010

What a week . . .


Wow, it was a beautiful wedding.  I loved it. 


From watching Tim and Joy do cookies in the yard in Dad's Mustang all the way to them driving away, it was a blessed evening.  It was one of those "Can you feel the love tonight" (are you singing) moments. 





I will give you some of my highlights: watching all the children come down the aisle - let's see 12 total, Joy's 11 nieces and nephews and Grant's 1,

Grant pledging to love Joy with his WHOLE body later that night (yes that was in his vows),
the butterfly release in honor of Shaelynn Sue the heavenly flower girl, the frequent train whistle prompting kisses from the bride and groom, the kids peanut butter buffet, the sparkler dance to "Put Your Head on My Shoulder", the flowers - have I mentioned the flowers absolutely gorgeous, and so many other moments.  What a lovely evening.  What a blessing to be a part of this couple, this family, and everything that surrounded the wedding and marriage.  Boy, those shoes - I picked out some duds, my feet may never be the same.  By the time the wedding was over and it was time to walk back up the aisle I had to tell Sarah to slow down, I couldn't feel my feet and knew I was going to topple any moment.  I think that was the only bummer of the whole day, and really that was just me, I'm sure everyone else's feet were fine.  Everyone knew that Joy and Grant loved each other and were truly giddy at the thought of marriage and being linked for life.  Someone even told me that it was a rare wedding, they left knowing that this couple would make it, without a doubt.  Don't you love how when God is in it, everyone knows it is right.  Not that it is smooth sailing, but when you start solid you have a good place to build from. 

But boy was I tired.  Life doesn't slow down for you just because you are tired though. 

I had my wisdom teeth taken out last Thursday, which hasn't been too bad.  Nothing like I feared.  When I went for my consultation with the oral surgeon they made me watch a video, which the theme of went something like this . . . TAKE YOUR WISDOM TEETH ABOUT BEFORE YOU ARE 25 OR ELSE TERRIBLE THINGS WILL HAPPEN TO YOUR MOUTH.  bwah, hahaha.  Now, I know that most of you are shocked to know that in fact I am 25 and have been for more than a year or two.  So, I questioned why they made me watch the video and prepared for the day with some trepidation (wow - that is a good word here, every once in a while I do use that education).  I am sore and glad for some those 800 mg ibuprofen, but am doing okay.  I have a great husband who is patient and helpful.  My mom also took the kids the whole day on Thursday and then my sweet friend Natalie had them all day Friday.  Don't know how people make it in life without some extra hands to back them up. 

So tomorrow will be Curtis and I's 8th year anniversary.  Does that make it our STAR anniversary - 8 years on the 8th?  Can you believe it?  I have been blessed to be legally and spiritually bound to this man for the last 8 years.  Wow, time has really flown.  I can honestly say that I love him more today than I did in 2002.  I find him funny and charming, and cute.  He is an awesome dad and a great husband.  God did direct the path that put us together, there isn't anyone on Earth better for me than Curtis.  Ask around, there are people who will tell you.  Oh, yes, Curtis and Bek - no one else could put up with her.  He is a saint :)  Love that man.  I am so blessed that he chose me.