Classic prayer from Bradshaw:

(We give him the first few words, and he fills in the blanks)

dear... "Heavenly Faw-der"
we thank thee... "For Hi-yah's!"
we thank thee... "For Got You's!"
please bless... "Bad Guys!"
please bless... "Bad Guy Lindy on her Motorcycle on her Mission!"
in the name... "of Jesus Christ Amen...  Hi-Yah!"

We're not sure why, but he's sure his Aunt Lindy rides a Bad Guy Motorcycle on her Mission in Montreal.

Bradshaw always wants to know where his friends live

Thanks for the map Nelson!
(We could only fit one name per city)

bradshaw-isms

When we first began asking Bradshaw if he'd say family prayer he angrily replied no.  Now, it's Bradshaw's personality that if we try to cajole him into doing anything when he's already said no, he will only become more adamantly opposed.  But knowing he was completely capable and that he would be proud of himself afterwards, I said, "I can't think of what to say...will you help me to say the prayer?"
Now almost every night he asks to help and feeds me all the lines. Sometimes the content is comical sometimes it's surprising observant.  It's always fun to hear what's on his mind.  Last night, he whispered to me "we thank thee for Jack" (his cousin) and I repeated.  Then he squints at me with a big grin and whispers, "you're doing a great job Mom."

Me: Uh-oh Bradshaw, I can't park here or we'll get a ticket.
B:  Yay!  Then we can fly on an airplane.

When we first moved to our building, I often reminded Bradshaw as we stepped on the elevator to watch that his fingers don't get pinched in the elevator door.  It was a calm reminder but somehow it has become his phobia that Olivia will get her fingers pinched in the elevator and he gives her regular pep talks.
"Liva it's coming!!  It's coming.  'Member to watch yer fingers and no touch da door.  When you grow up to be a big lady I want you to have all 8 fingers."

And an Olivia-ism:

After I change her diaper she typically hops up, grabs the diaper like a football, runs it to the trash, closes the lid, and looks at me for praise.  Well the other day, she had a really saturated diaper, and fearing it would goosh all over her, I put it in the trash.
She looks dumbfounded at me, looks at the trash can, looks back at me and throws herself on the floor in a puddle of tears.

National Sick Day?

The holiday should include permission to wear pajamas all day long

and freedom to eat whatever brings you comfort

They look fine and dandy in these pictures but as the day progressed, so did their misery. Olivia was burning hot when she woke up from her nap.  Her cheeks looked like they'd been painted and her hands shook as she reached for her cup. :(  All she wanted to do was be held and all I wanted to do was hold.

You're my reason for laughing, for crying, For living and for dying

Today a nurse in the emergency room (everyone's fine) was telling me about her grandkids and said in a confiding whisper, "grandkids are the reward you get for sticking with your husband for 50 years."
I'm sure my facial response looked like I was trying to smile while swallowing a quarter.

While I hope she was speaking at least partially in jest, I still left thinking "I want to do whatever it takes so I never forget how much I love Dustinn."

I've heard people say, around the time you get married, you should write a letter to your spouse telling him all the specific reasons you love him and are eager to spend the rest of your lives together.  Instead of giving it to him, store it, and re-read later down the road.

My sister-in-law Elisse wrote a great post stating the secret to happiness in married life is couple prayer.

My cousin (i.l.) Amy wrote a post called I am my husband's girlfriend

Dad as he's getting ready to leave: "Where's my phone?"
Bradshaw giggling from the other room: "hee hee hee, Gone forever!!"

Luckily he couldn't help but run to make sure it was still in his favorite hiding spot

Luau in the middle of winter?

Yes.  We sang, danced, limbo'd, learned about Hawaii, made leis, and ate pupu (Hawaiian for snacks).  Something about the sound of the ukelele just makes me feel warm and happy. 

I looked over and Bradshaw was taking this video.  Like mother, like son, like grandpa I guess.

 

Some days you just want to curl up with a good book...

Tuesday

We've had some unseasonably warm weather (imagine this: we watched fireworks on New Year's Eve from Navy Pier--a dock extended out over Lake Michigan--and were perfectly comfortable in light coats because it was in the high 50's) which meant ALL of the snow melted away.  We even had rain instead of snow.

On Tuesday, we woke up to thick snow falling...and it continued all day long...and we had nowhere to be.  It was lovely.

Snow makes everything look so beautiful.  I am very grateful to live in a place where we get to experience all four seasons.

Then (2/2010)

Now (1/2011)


What a difference a year makes!  They both look gigantic to me.

So the precious thing is, she's not learning letters from me (B.& I "play school" during her nap--she's not there to overhear) she's learning from Bradshaw!!

Books to Read:
It Takes a Mother to Raise a Village (Parenting) (n/a library)
The Five Love Languages of Children (Parenting)
Five Signs of a Loving Family
The Five Languages of Apology
It Takes a Parent: How the Culture of Push-Over Parenting is Hurting Our Kids
Atlas Shrugged
Mountains Beyond Mountains
For Whom the Bell Tolls
For Instruction in Righteousness: Pam Forster (n/a library) 
Creative Correction: Lisa Whelchel (n/a library)
The Post-Adoption Blues: Overcoming the Unforeseen Challenges of Adoption (AT library)
Poppie Children's Book
I am a Big Brother Children's Book
The Connected Child
Raising Adopted Children
Coraline
Infertility Books
Well-behaved women seldom make history
The Power of Positive Parenting


Books Read:
Never Let Me Go
Mocking Jay
Charlie St. Cloud

Christmas Day

Bah, my original post seemed superficial.  Suffice it to say, we had a wonderful time watching our children so happy & excited. 

from Olivia's birth parents :)

We also got to share the day with friends, talk on the phone to my missionary sister, and skype with family.

Pack Up Your Troubles in Your Old Kit Bag

My little sister Genny introduced us to this song and my kids have been dancing around to it all morning. :)