Swimming lessons...

...no, we didn't learn to swim, but we are not afraid of the sprinklers anymore!

Make an on-line slide show at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Random summer pictures

Playing in the backyard

Making music with Ella, Emma and Laura Joy

Jonah comes home! (this picture does not do justice to his charming smile!)

Boat ride at Oak Mountain

Lily's first interest in our family story book

More dress-up (Kate on left)

Kate with Granddaddy

Lily with Granddaddy

Eating donuts in the front yard!

The failed Princess Bed experiment

Thanks to all of you who left such sweet comments on my last post. I'm so blessed to have a job where my patients are also friends so that it an extension of my life rather than just a regular job! I've also been so awed by the support you all have given me during my own adoption and my first years of mothering. Thank you!

I've been taking pictures like crazy lately since the girls are almost 3 years old. I want to capture every moment of the two's before it slips away! So I'll post some random events in the next days.

Below is our failed experiment that tried to get the girls sleeping in their own beds rather than a mattress on the floor. Our nights have never been great (understatement of the last two years!), but when Phil went on a trip to China this summer, things went downhill and I've been sleeping in their room between them on the floor ever since. One of my many "great ideas" for a sleep cure was to build interest in these Princess toddler beds. They picked them out online, we talked it up for about a month, I went out and bought $50 worth of Princess toys for the big event, and Phil and I (painstakingly) put the crazy things together. Here's how it turned out...

Lily: Hmmm...its REALLY pretty...think I'll jump in a give it a try! Look at this beautiful blanket Mommy bought. Didn't she say that we could open our Princess gifts in the morning if we slept here? I love the Princess nightgown she bought. I wonder what kind of candy she has for me in the morning?

Kate: Wow! It's like a REAL bed...pretty cool. I like pink! Something new to jump on! This is fun and exciting! It is exactly in the place my crib used to be...where IS my crib?? I liked my crib a lot... I think I miss it.

Lily: You mean...sleep at NIGHT here? With the lights off and Mommy all those long 6 inches down and 2 feet away from me on the floor? Kate...you're not REALLY going to go through with this are you??? I'm getting nervous...and I'm not doing it if you aren't.














(lights out)...Screaming, crying and clawing to get to me...

Ahhh! This is better!














MUCH better!

My clinic...my friends.

I found this picture the other day of last summer during the height of the heat wave. It was so stinking hot this day, but it is the only picture I have of the staff with our kids here at the UAB International Adoption Clinic. Most of us have been together for 6 years since the clinic has been open. When we started the clinic, only one of us had adopted. Now, we have 7 children among us. Each year, one of us has been out for maternity leave for an adoption. It has been quite a journey. These women are like family to me. They have had a huge impact on me professionally and in my journey to become a mom. I have never met a group of women that I admire more. Pictured here are Leigh Anne, our family therapist; Lynn, our medical assistant; Jill, our developmental specialist; me, the pediatrician...and all of our children. Since this picture, we have added 3 other staff who are just as wonderful as these women. For all you waiting for a referral...be sure to call us for your pre-adopt review AND don't forget to tell me that you are a blogging friend! (Visit us at adoption.chsys.org)