Listen To My Words With Your Heart: An Oral-Motor Giveaway!#comment-form#comment-form

Listen To My Words With Your Heart: An Oral-Motor Giveaway!#comment-form#comment-form

Halloween 2009

This year Jackson went Trick or Treating as a Football Player (doesn't he look scarey?). His costume was easy as his jersey was from his Flag Football team.
I had an idea about Madeline going as Little Red Riding Hood -- orginally I thought Jackson could be the Big Bad Wolf, but he wanted to be a football player - kids! Any how, one call to Aunt Cyndi and voile' Miss Madeline becomes Little Red Riding Hood. Thanks Aunt Cyndi!

Here is another shot of her taking the cape off - or trying to put it back on :-)

Happy Birthday Madeline Jayne!

Our little girl is a grown-up two years old today! She is a spirited, fearlessly independent toddler who likes to dance, sing, giggle, cuddle, wrestle with her big brother, move and eat, move and eat, and move and eat. She is simply a delight and we can't imagine our lives without her.

Two years ago today Maddie was born at 11:03 pm and weighed in at 8 pounds 3 ounces. Her birthparent's caseworker called a little after midnight to let us know "the baby" was here - and she was a GIRL! This was my heart's desire and (although it would have been perfect if she had been a he) it was God's plan (or Alla or the universe) that this child be entrusted to us to raise...just as he had entrusted us to raise our son. Somehow they both found our light and I couldn't be more thankful.

While her brother came into the world in the morning (10:59 am) she came in at night. Funny that this little girl outweighed her brother at birth (Jackson was 7 pounds 11 ounces). Even in their personalities, they remain my ying and yang - she jumps right in while he cautiously approaches everything.

From the beginning it was evident that he is the big brother - carefully holding her and taking care of her - and she is the little sister - adoring her big brother and trying to test him at every turn.

I've said it many times since even before Maddie joined our family - my greatest wish is that my children grow up being the best of friends.

Our family wouldn't be complete without Madeline. We are thankful to her birthparents for choosing life for Maddie and for being loving, strong and wise enough to choose what they wanted for their baby. And we our thankful that they picked us. We love our Madeline Jayne.

Bright-Eyed Jackson

When Jackson got home from school today, I snapped a quick shot of him - up close and personal. He is enjoying school. He has a math aptitude, but I wondered how he'd do with reading. What an amazing skill to watch unfold! He has gone from answering any question posed to him with a clue such as, "It starts with an nnnnnn (sound)" to reading Dr. Suess books aloud and as he does so changing the intonation of his voice. It is impressive and comical at the same time.

Jackson seems to have the girls following him at school. In the morning and in the afternoon the number of girls flocking around him is crazy! They are in Kindergarten! He asked me the other day, "Why does McKenzie try to kiss me every time she sees me." I told him it's because she likes him...like a boyfriend. He looked at me with that expression like DUH! and then said, "Of course, because I'm a boy and I'm a friend." Boys are so clueless...right from the start. His friend Zeta sends home drawings for Jackson with hearts on them. She has begun hugging me in the morning while we adults chat until the first bell rings and the kids go in...already trying to butter up to the Mother-in-Law - smart girl. :-)

Jackson started T-Ball this year...so far it's just been practices; Saturday is his first game. It's like watching 12 kids doing their own thing and then every once in a while it's their turn to catch the ball or hit it. The games should be fun to watch.

Other than that Jackson comes home after school, has a snack and does his homework and then he's out playing until dinnertime. The other day I counted 12 kids in our backyard - boys and girls from 4 years old up to age 11 ...good thing we got the swing set! The nice thing is that they all seem to get along. It should be a fun summer!

Hoppy Easter!

After helping our kids find the goodies left for them by the Easter Bunny, Rodney and I grabbed our same gender child and raced to see who could get Easter outfits on (selected and purchased by Grandma Franco). The boys won, but with "Mommy" (i.e. me, Terri) still in a vicadin fog while recovering from a root canal (not so bad) and tooth extraction (OUCH!), Rodney had an obvious advantage. Here are the three of them ready for Easter service at St. Luke AME.

Grandma Franco (GF) proudly showed off her grandchildren. It was Madeline's first time at Grandma's church and she apparently "stole the show" according to GF.


Jackson and Madeline tried their hand on the old church organ.

Jackson looks like a "natural" tickling the ivories.

After church, we enjoyed an Easter dinner with just our family and GF and Grand Dad. It was low key which after my dental run in was a welcome relief. Here is a picture of Maddie's dress without her shrug; I think the dress is cuter without it. I think Maddie is cute whatever she wears :-)

Bath Tub Fun

After spending a fun and rather dirty day up north, it was bath time! Jackson is at an age where he complains about having to get in the tub and then he complains about having to get out of the tub. I decided to grab the camera and take a few shots of the kids waiting to get into the tub and then the classic siblings in the tub shot. I still remember taking baths with my little brother Jim. He was a great play companion in general. At bath time, one of us would suds up the other's backs and then "write" letters. The other would have to guess the letter written. This was our entertainment! Really quite a sweet memory, especially when I watch my own two...speaking of...

I SO wanted to include the photos of them waiting to get in - their little bodies are simply beautiful, especially their little bums as Grandma Dee calls it. I made an effort keep these published photos rated G. Remember YOUR bathtime as a child...

In the shot below Jackson hams it up for the camera (what a surprise, huh?) and Maddie blows kisses.

In the end they were clean and snuggly and ready for bed. Oh, to be a child again...

It's Raining, It's Boring...

I think this look says it all - It's raining, but I want to go outside and PLAY!!