Happy 11th Birthday, Caroline!

Caroline's choice for dinner: orange chicken and egg rolls

Caroline's choice for dessert: cherry cheesecake

Hmmmm....No boyfriends - on the 2nd attempt!

Can I please open my presents now????

One day, a big box arrived at the front door. Caroline had to go into the house while the big box was put away. From that point forward, she was just sure she was getting a birthday present. Then, I took a bunch of boxes and stuff to Goodwill. June suggested to Caroline that I had accidentally taken the big box by mistake. Caroline looked so bummed that we had to tell her we were just teasing. So, what was in the big box? A new mtn bike and helmet. She loved it.

A Quiz Book and a book on manners from Adah.

"Carolina Girls" bag from June "Heelies" purchased with gift card from Mom and Dad. Itunes gift card from Wendy and Blaine.

Thank you, Adah, Dave, Wendy, Blaine, and Shaun for celebrating with us!

Thanks, Mom, for the press!

Click on the title to be linked to the newspaper clipping announcing Mishayla's birth and adoption.

Melania at 2 months - sometimes it seems like a long time ago already!

Mishayla - 2 months old

I just love how expressive Melania can be.

Laughing together.

Always so helpful!

Cute little baby Mishayla.

Mishayla is now 2 months old. Time flies. Here she is all buckled in Sunday evening after gospel meeting. She has a polka dot blanket and Melania has a new pink polka dot dress. They really looked very cute together. I wondered how I might feel about dressing them alike, etc. I didn't really like it when I had to dress the same as my sister. We'll see, but I think I'll probably end up with "matching" girls more often than not - at least while they are little. Tub time. Mishayla likes her bath just fine. It's the washing of the neck wrinkles she could do without! Melania usually is not up when I leave for work. So, this morning, she greets me with, "Good morning, sunshine! What still doin', Mommy?" She was wondering why I was still at home and had not left for work yet. I am amazed nearly everyday at her ability to express ideas and questions using language. Kisses and more kisses. I had trouble determining how many pictures to include...

No Fussy Babies!

Don't you just love it when you find your name and parts of your life in the comics?

Melania wearing her new coat from Great Gma and Uncle Duane & Aunt Barb. Mommy found her hat, and I think the gloves are left over from last year. She was pretty distracted by the garbage truck on its way down the street. Melania and June were headed out on a walk. Mishayla's not big enough to walk, so she has to ride in the stroller. Wow, to be all grown up at age 2! Melania's hair is actually sort of fascinating! This is what happens when you take out braids that have been in for several days and then sleep on it. Dreads! She's just so stinkin' cute! (to quote my friend Lisa's niece).

Sorry there are no new pictures of Mishayla to post. I will try to do better tomorrow. It's just that there are none on the camera, and she is working really hard on falling to sleep... (I hope!) Let's just say the last few days and nights have not been a picnic. It's probably all my fault for choosing a different brand formula with what I assumed were the same properties as what I had been using. (I had coupons!) Enfamil, Similac, all the same stuff, right? Absolutely not. Gpa and Gma let me know that I am not a first time mom, and I should have known better. OK, now I know better. Mishayla has been very fussy, and only sleeps a few minutes without crying unless she is being held, patted, etc. (No, she's not just spoiled!)

It has been a literal "month of Sundays" since I have been able to go to meeting because of the kids or myself being sick. It will be wonderful to be back...

Until about a month ago, I could always get Melania to laugh when I told her, "No fussy babies," in a silly voice when she was on the verge of whining or fussing. So, last night she was patting Mishayla's tummy and telling her "No fussy babies" over and over. It was cute, so I just thought I'd share. Maybe she'll do it again and I'll have the video ready to go...

Mishayla - Almost 8 weeks

Melania wanted to be "All done." Mishayla has a little "deer in headlights" look about her. Kisses for the baby. A regular happening. A great smile picture. Such a good smile I included it even though slightly blurred. There's that dimple. What a sweet baby! She slept for a 6 and 1/2 hour stretch last night! Hope this is a preview of things to come. Sadly, that was before shots. After shots might not look so good...

Are we about better yet?

Sorry the updates have been few and far between lately. We have all been sick. Pictures of snotty noses, crusty, watery eyes, and crabby babies are really not that exciting... I missed most of work last week because of bronchitis. However, this is a new week, and we are starting to feel better! Melania had her 2 year old well child check today. She is 36 inches tall (90th percentile) and 28.8 lbs. The Dr. asked if she knew about 20 words and I had to laugh because I think her vocabulary is around 300 words. My friends, Brian and Sue, have a bird, Kirby. Brian used to brag that Kirby knew more words than Melania, which inspired her to greatness in this area. Mishayla, on the other hand, had to get all her shots. She is not a happy baby this evening. She now weighs almost 11 lbs. and is 22.5 inches tall. I talked to Nancy, the attorney in OH, today and she told me that Cortney is doing well and appears to have lost all her "baby" weight. I was glad for the report. I guess she asked about the baby, but still did not indicate she wants anything more in the way of an open adoption. I was happy to feel like working today! However, the census is really low. We need patients, but how can you wish for anyone to have to come to the nursing home? So, maybe just a few outpatients would be nice... I'm off to try to download a few pictures that June took today. Give me a couple more minutes, Carmen!

Melania at 4-6 weeks

Still catching up.

My wild child, or at least wild hair! Melania loves her bath! I shouldn't get in to much trouble when she is an adult for posting this picture! A wide-eyed Mishayla with Great Aunt Barb on Christmas Eve. Love these two shots of the girls with Grandpa. Not much changes in a couple of years.

Mishayla & Grandpa

Melania & Grandpa

My dad loves babies. He rocks them, gets after me for giving them cold formula, and just can't quite get enough of the "little duffers." Without the support of mom & dad, I would not have had the courage to adopt one baby, let alone two! Thanks so much for loving all your kids and grandkids so much. It means everything to us.

A post with pictures...

I found my camera battery charger, and since we are all sick, my stab at productivity yesterday was centered around charging the battery and downloading the pictures. Impressive, I know.

Melania continues to be very helpful with Mishayla - patting, bouncing, holding the bottle, bathtime, sharing her cold, etc. This was taken mid December 2007. June punched the lenses out of some old glasses. Melania loves glasses. Don't they make a nice statement? Not a great picture of the girls, but Melania's braids were pretty cute! Sleepy girl. Plus a little piriformis muscle stretch. It is truly amazing how flexible little kids can be. The kitty went "simming" in the bathtub with Mishayla yesterday, so Melania found out that cats who go swimming are not dry enough to go napping! She was quite sad, but pleased to recover the kitty by bedtime. We enjoyed having Leota with us for a night during special meetings.