The comfort of Mommy's bed!

Being sick is definitely no fun!

Being able to cuddle in Momma's bed AND watch Clifford..... makes it a little better!

The 'Spicy' Factor

Breakfast

 

 After school snack!

We have a 'spicy' girl...


So we were told back in February of 2007...by the locals....in China.

"Spicy food...spicy baby"

Huh???

I must admit I had no idea what they were talking about.  Really!

Now, we do!

Shea:
My spicy baby. From the Sichuan Province.
Complete with a "Spicy" personality.
A child who is both loving, kind, & sweet as well as opinionated, bossy, & ferocious!
A more passionate child you will never know!
She tells it like it is...
Pulls no punches!
Is the most forgiving, protective, and helpful child ever!
A child of mass contradictions!

My spicy baby who is growing into a spicy little girl..
Who without a doubt will grow into a very spicy young lady!

A daughter who I adore!

A daughter whose first restaurant meal was at El Rancho.
Who couldn't (at 26 months old) get enough of the extra hot salsa onto her chips into her mouth fast enough!
Who would continue to eat until tears were streaming out her her eyes! (Aunt Cindy & Uncle Jerry, y'all know exactly what I am talking about!)
Whose {new} momma had to wrestle away the salsa from her baby's chubby little hands!
Who has won the admiration of many adult men....who are very impressed with her ability to tolerate all things spicy!

 Just to give you some perspective of her preferred breakfast choice:

The noodles in the back of the picture are hers....
The noodles in the front are Avery's.

'Nuf said!



I hope this spicy girl of mine never changes!

{She} is "the very spice of  life"!  :)

Sunday Snapshot {Destination: Cupcake Shoppe}

Our quaint, little town has recently acquired a new place to gain a few pounds enjoy one of our favorite foods:

Cupcakes!!!

The girls and I thought this would be a good opportunity for us to hang out together as well as delight our taste buds!

Do they look excited, or what?

Avery ordered a very traditional cupcake:
Chocolate with orange butter cream frosting......mmmmmm

Shea:
Cookies and Cream cupcake.....amazing!

Faith:
Pumpkin Cheesecake cupcake....holy moly!

Mom, also went the traditional route:
Vanilla with vanilla butter cream frosting.....sounds boring, but it was absolutely heavenly!

Let the Cupcake Eating Games begin!

First a little sharing.

Might I add....
Just a very small amount of sharing occurred!

The Littles completely enjoyed this eating experience.

Follow along.....

Shea is definitely my 'robust' eater! A hands on sort of girl.

 First a little taste.

Then complete commitment!

Food on the face...

Always a good sign!

This cupcake passed the test!

One happy girl!

Avery takes a more gentle, tentative, thoughtful approach.....

 A small and tidy bite!

 I think she is enjoying it!

 Very focused!

Completely absorbed, this little one is!

Slow & Steady!

Avery eventually finished her cupcake....I had to help....what a burden!



Faith also immensely enjoyed her cupcake....
Look at her, little "Miss Skinny"...
She should have been the one helping Avery!

Overall, our Cupcake Excursion was a success!
We will more than likely be making multiple visits to this shoppe in the future!

Click on the button above to join in on the fun!

21! Really?

 My oldest daughter (my first baby) turned 21 yesterday!!!

Kinda wondering how this happened?

I

 She is growing on me.....

But she will will never be too old for random silliness!
I mean, after all, she is still Faith.
A girl, who always enjoys a good laugh!

 I love this girl!
She brings me so much joy & happiness!
I am so incredibly proud of her!

 I still don't know where all the years went though.....

Happy Birthday, my dear Faith!

(You can stop getting older now!)
(Please!)

{Her} Chinese Name... part 2.....finally!

"No one loved Zu La...." (click here for part 1)

This statement still takes my breath away...even now as I type it....tears are threatening to fall....

She whispered this....
I almost missed it....

Faith, my oldest daughter looked at me and said, "Did you hear that, Mom?"

We were instantly struck with the reality and the heartbreak of what Avery said.

She is only four years old!  No four year old child should ever have to feel that she was not loved!

No child *period* should ever feel this!!!!


Reality one:

Without revealing too much of her history, she was not an infant when she was relinquished.  She had lived with her first family for a while....

This is her first sense of loss.  How does one recover from this??

Reality two:

She had lived in a very progressive, well-managed orphanage.
She was bathed every morning.
Her teeth were brushed daily.
She knew how to color, cut, glue....
She had music and dance opportunities at her orphanage.
She was a part of many activities to enhance her social skills.
She had friends and companionship.

She was well-cared for....

But!

She wasn't loved.  Her words, not mine!

She is only four!

She knows the difference!


This is heartbreaking!
As an adult, I am having a hard time wrapping my head around this....

Did she ever feel special? Unique? Appreciated? Cherished?



Oh my sweet Avery....

You were loved!!!  You were treasured!!

"Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart..."
Jeremiah 1:5

"I have loved you with an everlasting love...."
Jeremiah 31:3

"See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands...."
Isaiah 49:16

"From birth I was cast upon you; from my mother's womb you have been my God."
Psalm 22: 10

"Your hands made me and formed me..."
Psalm 119:73

I am so crazy in love with this child!

She has a quite strength about her...
She is very compassionate and ultra sensitive...

Oh, how she loves to laugh!

She is constantly singing, humming,
and dancing through out the house.




She has a sparkle in her eye....




She has a tender heart....




She loves Jesus!

Avery ~ you are God's little princess!

Avery ~ you are His creation!

AVERY ~

He will never forsake you or leave you!!!

Neither will I...... my precious one, neither will I!

Sunday Snapshot {Toothless Smile}

Very early this morning, the big event occurred!!!

Shea's tooth was hanging on by a 'thread'!  Y'all know what I am talking about. 

The lovely 'dangling' look....
The desire to want to just yank gently pull out the cute little tooth....
(By the way, I would not be the one ever wanting to yank any body's tooth...no not me! And, please don't believe a single word that my older kids would ever say on this subject!)

**********************************************************************************

Earlier this week, Shea was working hard to get this little tooth out!

She tried and tried.

Nothing!
(Oh, how I wanted to help get that tooth out. But since I do not believe in yanking anyone's tooth out, I just kept my hands to myself! ahem!)

But this morning, it was definitely ready! Yes indeedy!

I was more than willing to assist in this endeavor....
I mean, really..I was ready to go. 
I had my fingers poised...

Then for some reason , my oldest son shouted out calmly suggested:
 "Mom, do not go near that tooth!"

Hmmm, I just can't imagine why??? ;) It's not like I ever yanked out his tooth....before it was ready.  I think he has a skewed vision of the truth!

So to alleviate any....ummm.....concern....
My husband offered to help Shea with the removal of her tooth.

I must say that he did a fine job.

No tears!
No blood!

He gently pulled on the tooth just enough so that Shea could push out her little tooth with her tongue!

 We have one happy and completely adorable little girl with the cutest toothless smile ever!!

Sigh....
Another milestone indicating that she is indeed growing up on me!

(I am completely fine with not being the one to pull on her first tooth....
Completely!)