Wordless Wednesday: New Food

Note: It must be said that while my daughter does love to eat, she loves to eat those things she loves to eat. For instance, while I cut some corn off the cob for her, she wanted to eat it the same way Mama and Daddy were, right off the cob.

"Daddy, you just help me a little bit."

"Cheese!"

"What's this part? Are you sure I won't like it?"

Ten on Tuesday - Mia's Top Ten

This is one post I've been mulling over for awhile now. I don't have an actual baby book started for Mia, for a variety of reasons, but one being that I hadn't yet found one that had an adoption focus. I never wanted her to have a baby book that had a ton of empty pages because they didn't apply to her (i.e. pregnancy, birth, ultrasounds, hospital stay, etc.). I did actually see one on another family's blog (My Family, My Journey) that is adoption focus and has plenty of pages for those extra special events in her life, but just haven't gotten around to purchasing it.

Anyway, I digress. I tell you all this to say that while I don't have an actual baby book, I do have a small journal that I've kept all her important milestones. Awhile back I started a 10 Things Mia Loves list. It's evolved and changed as our little one continues to grow and change herself, but I wanted to share Mia's Top 10 List with you:

10. Her Giant Teddy Bear: Given to her at a baby shower last March before we even had her referral, I remember wondering what the heck I was going to do with so many stuffed animals. This bear, however, has found a special place in her heart as she requests it almost every morning when she wakes up in her crib. She take a few moments to roll around with it (it's as big as she is!) and then is ready for her "mil" (milk).

9. Being Outside: I'm pretty sure my kid would live outdoors if I'd let her. Don't get me wrong. I love spring, summer, and fall because the weather is for the most part pretty temperate. But I'm not one of those people that enjoy sweating profusely in the sweltering sun. I do make an effort to take her out a least once a day, but tears almost inevitably follow when it's time to go back inside.

8. Sneezing & Tooting: Must I say more? What kid doesn't think these are hilarious?

7. Wind chimes: This one surprises me. We have a couple of wind chimes outside, and it is her most favorite thing to make them sing. It must stem from her love of music, but I have never seen a kid get more excitement from such a small thing.

6. Ducks: Ah yes, our Quack Quacks. This was the first animal noise she could make, and has since applied the sound to all birds. And when she's feeling extra silly, she'll tell you cows and sheep also say Quack Quack with a big ol' grin on her face because she knows she's teasing you. I thought it apropos that she should be a duck this year for Halloween.

5. Her Grandmas: She's got three of them, and she loves them all. Besides Mama and Daddy (and Papaw, too!) these three ladies are her most beloved playmates. She's certainly got them wrapped around her finger and they can't get enough of her either.

4. Anything electronic: This kid loves cell phones and anything that might look like a cell phone. Remotes, walkie talkies, computers, cameras, you name it. Most items become like phones to her, as she walks around the house with them to her ear. I used to occasionally let her play with my cell phone, but after she accidentally called 911 (twice!) with my locked phone, I had to cut her off. They call back, in case you were wondering.

3. Blueberries: Our kiddo certainly loves to eat (and now, please) but she has a love affair with blueberries that I just don't understand. She asks for "blues" at least 4 times a day; in the morning, in the afternoon, in the evening, and even in the car. I have to cut her off because you know what too much fruit will do. I'll leave it at that. We almost had a meltdown yesterday at Meijer because the lady in line in front of us was purchasing a pint of beloved blues. Mia couldn't quite understand that they weren't ours. I kept telling her she could have some when we got home, to which she said, "Yeah!" and then promptly pointed back to the blues. Oh well. I guess you really can't reason with an 18 month old.

2. Doggies: It's a good thing Hank took so well to her because Mia absolutely adores him. She loves to love on him, including giving him kisses (sometimes with her tongue - yuck!) and "gently" patting him on the back. And now since she's learned the parts of her face, she likes to point out his eyes to us.

1. Her Mama and Daddy: This one brings tears to my eyes as I type. I could not have asked for a more affectionate little girl. She loves to give us hugs, kisses, and cuddles, and she above all other things, wants her Mama and Daddy close by at all times. She hates to be separated from me, which is something we've been working on, but I do secretly love that she prefers me to anyone else in the world. I mean, isn't that how it's supposed to be?

Will Starve for Food

I've had Africa on my mind a lot lately. It's hard not to especially as Travis and his youth group are gearing up for their annual 30 Hour Famine. The Famine is an event started by World Vision in which youth groups all over the country go 30 hours without food in order to raise money and awareness for starving children all over the world. Did you know that 25,000 children die each day from hunger and other preventable causes? That is a massive amount of kids. The good news, however, is that hunger related deaths are 100% preventable.

This is our fourth year to participate, and each year our kids have raised around $7,000. With World Vision's matching grants that number gets multiplied x 4. Pretty cool for a group of 30 kids, wouldn't you say?

The 30 Hour Famine is probably the most near and dear to our hearts as we realize that our daughter could have been one of the countless faces you see in the promotional videos. I think it especially struck Travis harder this year, having been home with Mia for almost a whole year. He came home the other night from youth group and said that he just wept watching a video with his kids about the hunger plight of the kids in Niger. He said, "I just kept seeing Mia's face in these kids. How much more personal does it have to get before we realize we have everything to give?"

I know there are plenty of good causes that need financial and prayerful support. This is one of them. Would you consider donating $30, $60, or even $90 to this effort? Just $30 will feed a child for an entire month. Your donation is tax deductible. If you are interested, please leave me a comment with your contact information, and we can make arrangements. You can read more about this awesome event at: http://www.30hourfamine.org

They Grow Up Too Fast...

I've been somewhat sentimental lately in regards to Mia. I suppose it's because I feel like somewhere in the last month we turned the corner from baby to toddler. Her vocabulary literally exploded in what seems like a week, and she now adds probably 2 to 3 new words every day. She now regularly says Mama, Daddy, Mamaw, Nana (which works for Nana, Banana, and Savannah), Babby (for Gabby!), blues (blueberries), quesedilla, baby, book, duck, kitty, whale, truck, boy, girl, ball, please, cheese...the list goes on and on. She's become quite the parrot (like when I called her a little punk the other day), but she's also putting together the words with the actual objects which some days shocks the pants off of me.

We also got in four new teeth last week. Four! We doubled our teeth! And she just looks bigger to me. Every morning I think she's grown an inch. And her hair. Where to begin. I noticed in the bathtub last week how long it was getting and decided to do a little experiment in pig tails. Oh. my. goodness. She not only looks adorable, but it really makes her look like a little girl. We've also been exploring more hair products, which I'm sure is only the beginning of what will be a life long experiment for Mommy.

Here's a quick video especially for Auntie Anne who wanted to see all her new teeth, but bonus! you can also see her trying to wear Mommy's shoe and some of her new vocab.

Our Water Baby

I can't believe July has almost passed us by and the summer is quickly coming to an end! Although I do love fall, winter is my least favorite season and so I always dread it. We've had so much fun this summer, especially outside and in the water. I think my daughter would live outside if I'd let her! She loves any kind of water, from the baby pool in our yard to the toddler pool at the YMCA to the ocean waves. I'm not sure if it's just her nature or the baby swimming lessons, but she is fearless. I crack up when she sticks her whole face in and comes up smiling! Yesterday I drug out the pool and some of her stacking cups. She thought it was hilarious to pour water on poor Hank as he was trying to rest in the shade. Every time he'd move, she find him again!
Here's a few pictures from a week or so ago when Daddy was home with us.

I promise we give our daughter plenty of water to drink!

At the Y's pool for Cooper's Bday party with our BFF Savannah.

Wordless Wednesday: Why Hank's Bed is Better

10 years ago...

Some called us crazy. Others said it wouldn't last. (Wait, does this sound like a song?) Yes, it's true. Ten years ago today I, a 19 year old bride, said I do to the most wonderful (23 year old) man in the world. Were we crazy? Probably. 19 doesn't look nearly as old as it did back then. But here we are a decade later, and I have absolutely no doubt we're in this thing till the end.

Our wedding day,
July 1, 2000

Our life together has definitely taken some twists and turns, some planned and others unexpected. I've heard it said that if you want to make God laugh, just tell him your plans for the future. Well, I'm sure He's had a great big chuckle over me. I always thought we would have moved somewhere more exotic, that we'd have uber-cool careers, and be world travelers. I guess we're 1 for 3. We've definitely done our share of traveling, though not all of it has been recreational based. We still live in the same zip code I grew up in, and as for uber cool careers? I guess it's up to how you define cool. Ten years ago I would have said that for me it involves wearing a suit, working in a high rise building, and being so important you'd get called anytime, day or night.

My college graduation,
May 2004

You know what I learned? My mistake was thinking that this life was all about us. Because it's not. God has much more planned for us, and it's really only just beginning. And that is what I treasure most in my husband. Although he only came to believe in Christ a little over ten years ago, he is one of the most devoted and serious Christians I know. And I'm sure he would be embarrassed to read this and would even argue why that isn't true, but that's really all part of his humble spirit. He is the spiritual leader of our house (a job that I wouldn't want to try to fill), and I know that I am truly blessed with this man. It doesn't hurt either that he's handsome, makes me laugh, loves me and our daughter to pieces and would walk though fire for us.

Paris, May 2005
Five Year Anniversary European Tour

Sedona, AZ, June 2008
Navajo Mission Trip

I love you Travis. You are an amazing husband and partner in this life. God has richly blessed you and your ministry, and I'm excited to see where He takes us next. Thank you for an awesome first 10 years; I wouldn't trade one single minute.

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia,
August 17, 2009