...no, we didn't learn to swim, but we are not afraid of the sprinklers anymore!
Saturday, September 29, 2007
Sunday, September 23, 2007
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!
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!
Tuesday, September 11, 2007
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?
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!
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!
Monday, September 10, 2007
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)
Wednesday, August 22, 2007
Sunday, August 19, 2007
Don't you want to come over for cupcakes at our house?
One of our favorite past times is making cupcakes. While I clean up the enormous mess made from baking, icing and decorating cupcakes, Kate (right) and Lily get to lick the bowl. As you can see, no drop of batter is wasted.
Friday, August 17, 2007
A portrait of Mommy by Kate
Kate loves to draw. Kate has a lot of patience. She will work on a piece until it is perfect. She erases many times until she gets what she wants. Here is her portrait of Mommy. Don't you love my hair? Those are my glasses, by the way. I'm really excited about this desire of hers since I'm a "wanna be artist." Interestingly, Lily's art talent is very similar, but she enjoys other things more (like dominating airspace by chatting while Kate is busy drawing).
Wednesday, August 01, 2007
Wednesday, July 18, 2007
Tuesday, July 10, 2007
Hadley's finally home
We've been anxiously awaiting the arrival of our sweet Hadley. She is the newest addition to the Eddins' family and only 8 months younger than Lily and Kate. We are hoping they will be the best of friends! The girls have been praying for Hadley for almost a year and were excited to finally meet her!
She came home from China on her 2 year old birthday. We didn't want to overwhelm her, but wanted her to have some pictures to look back on to know that we had celebrated her birthday. So our two families got together for a low key birthday dinner at an isolated park a few days later. Kate and Lily have been talking about making cupcakes for Hadley's birthday for a month now. They were beside themselves that they finally got to make them with their Mammaw and Granddaddy.
Below is Hadley with her new siblings.
Many days later, she got to meet a few other friends from church. Hadley, Hudson, Kate and Lily will all be in the same Sunday School along with 3 other children who joined their families through adoption. We are hoping they will be a support to each other as they grow up together!
She came home from China on her 2 year old birthday. We didn't want to overwhelm her, but wanted her to have some pictures to look back on to know that we had celebrated her birthday. So our two families got together for a low key birthday dinner at an isolated park a few days later. Kate and Lily have been talking about making cupcakes for Hadley's birthday for a month now. They were beside themselves that they finally got to make them with their Mammaw and Granddaddy.
Below is Hadley with her new siblings.
Many days later, she got to meet a few other friends from church. Hadley, Hudson, Kate and Lily will all be in the same Sunday School along with 3 other children who joined their families through adoption. We are hoping they will be a support to each other as they grow up together!
Friday, June 22, 2007
More beach fun
We are so thankful that Sarah could come spend a few days with us at the beach!
Kate on left
Lily on left
Lily on right
Kate's "I can see that I've got you wrapped around my littlest finger" grin.