At my baby shower for Chloe back in 2005 I received the most beautiful baby bedding. I had picked it out from Pottery Barn Kids and my very generous mother in law bought it for us. I have loved it since day one. When she grew out of the baby bed I kept it because I just couldn't bear to get rid of it. It was where our sweet girl had laid her head. Well, recently I pulled it out of storage. My very resourceful and extremely talented mother dismantled, so to speak, the beautiful bumper pad and made it into a very special quilt. Now, it will go with her when she grows up. I am so thankful that now she will be able to have a quilt that both grandmothers had a part in. ♥

The bumper pad before, serving it's original purpose.

The beautiful masterpiece designed by my mother.  Something our girl will always have.

The Triathelete

Chloe's first triathlon turned into a duathlon! It was too cold for the swim. She ran about 100 yards (instead of the 50 yard swim), biked 2.4 miles, then ran again .5 mile. She placed 2nd in her age division. Her daddy and I will be on cloud nine for some time!

Pre-race instructions from Daddy...

A little encouragement from Mama....

The official timekeeper chip.....

The body marking....

The transition area...

The bike... (2.4 miles)

The run...(.5 mile)

2nd place in her age division...

The girl never ceases to amaze me

  I don't remember learning these things when I was in school.  She's just in the first grade!

Sitting in car line to let her out at the bus stop.  I see a deer.  I say to her: "Look at that deer, it sure is pretty."
She says: "Mama, that's a consumer. There are decomposers, producers and consumers."      Huh?

Sitting in the car at the railroad track.  Watching the train I tell her the train is carrying gravel.  She corrects me and says: "Actually,  it's aggregate."     Huh?

Ben says by second grade she is definitely going to be smarter than us.

Housekeeping

Ben made Chloe make her bed yesterday.  She huffed and puffed but when I went into her room it was finished and she had done a really good job.  Our girl is not much on housekeeping.  We discovered all sorts of stuff after dismantling her bunk beds this weekend.  A zip lock baggie with a few peanut butter cookies was one of the little "treasures" we found.  No telling how long it had been under the bed.  I am continually going behind her to put the toothpaste top back on, pick up clothes, pick up her towel and flushing the toilet.   As her mother, I can't help but want to come to her rescue when daddy is making her do chores.  He keeps saying it's good for her and I know it is, but I just keep thinking she's only six years old.  She needs my help.  I know he's right, though.  Now is the time to start teaching her responsibility.

 Anyway, he called me this morning after dropping her off at the bus stop, as he usually does.  He will call to give me the "morning report."  I like to know how things went taking her to school.  On Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday she is still in the bed when I leave for work so I miss that special time in the mornings with them.   He told me that when he told her to make her bed this morning she looked at him and said: "Am I going to have to make it EVERYDAY?"  We both got a chuckle out of it.

First Grade

She got right up this morning.  I asked her if she was excited.  Her response was a pretty sharp, "No!"

She did not want to ride the bus.  As we arrived at school she jumped out of the back seat and said: "Can I go on in to first grade??"   Glad and a little sad she's so independent.  Mostly glad.

She refused to carry the lunchbox that matches the backpack because it does not have a shoulder strap.  So she opted for the bright green Floyd one.  

Her sweet teacher, Mrs. Bergin

She and daddy are always making funny faces.

Notice the "rabbit ears" daddy told her to do.

So, my girl and I took a little vacation with my sister and niece.  We left Ben at home to work and make us some green money, as Chloe likes to call it.  We had a great time all week at the beach.  The only bad part about the entire week was the June grass.  I think some mistake it for seaweed. The local news reported on it every evening.  People were complaining, including us.  This June grass comes around every year and last for several weeks.  It's pretty disgusting.  Slimy green stuff floating around in the ocean.  Not only in the water but on you and all in your bathing suit when you get out.

Chloe and I spent a lot of time in the hot tub and at the pool.  

Of course, you can't go to the beach for a week and not get in the ocean.  We suffered through the June grass and did have fun.

She came up with a smile on her face every time.

Pawpaw joined us for the first three days.  Chloe had to teach him not to be afraid of the ocean. ;)

Decided to show how much my girl has changed in two years and how nothing on me has changed.  Same bathing suit, hat, everything.  Ha!  It really is a great bathing suit.  

But I must say, the best part about the entire trip was the night before we left.  I borrowed my sister's car and just me and my girl went for some fun.  Money spent at the miracle strip is money well spent!

 You have to be really serious when driving an airplane.

And this picture is my favorite.  The hot air balloons that made me utterly sick and made me feel like if I didn't get off this ride I would hurl, brought absolute joy to her.

What a great trip thanks to my sister and husband.  My sister provided the condo and transportation and my honey provided the money.  I'm just sorry he missed this.  :(

Tybee

Tybee took her first vacation with us this weekend.  She loved going and being with us.  I noticed that she seemed extra tired, especially after getting home.  We became extra worried as she began standing around awkwardly not allowing any of us to get close.  Wednesday she became really sick.  I stayed up with her all night.  She was struggling to breath.  It was the most heartbreaking thing to witness.  Thursday morning she stopped breathing three or four times. I called the Vet and we made the gut wrenching decision  to not let her suffer and struggle for breath.  The Vet confirmed she had congestive heart failure.

My heart is broken.  The little dog Ben and I picked out 10 years ago is now gone.  I remember we couldn't get the perfect name for her at first.  After several days, I remember Ben saying to me, "I have the perfect name but I'm afraid to tell you because I know you'll love it and that will be the end of it."   He was right.  Tybee.  She was named after Tybee Island, the special place where Ben proposed to me.  I will never forget her.

Tybee Hansard

7-3-01    7-7-11

Father's Day

For Father's day we invited my daddy and Ben's daddy over for lunch.  Three terrific father's all eating at one table.  

I just had to include Tybee in some of the pictures.  I just liked this one.

Literally, the best father I know and his girls.

Braves and Monkeys

We took a quick trip to the Zoo followed by a Braves game.

Chloe fed a parakeet.

A couple of monkeys (in the background, of course!)

We had a fantastic day, not sure why Chloe's face doesn't reflect that.

A really cute Brazilian monkey of some sort.

We finally made it to the Brave's game only to have it pour down rain on us.  The girls quickly scrambled for their make-up to powder their noses.

It was a really fun day.  We had a good time.

So much has happened since my last post.  I'll have to go back and fill in.

Tonight though, Chloe has written a book.  All About China.  Page one, China has pretty mountains.  Page two, China has pretty buildings.  Page three, China has the Great Wall too.  The End.

As I look at it, I glance back at her.  She's so proud of herself.  She says, "That's all I remember about China."  I say to her, "Maybe one day we can go back."  She then says, "Yeah, maybe then I'll remember it."  She smiles, then leaves the room to go outside with her daddy.  I'm thankful because the tears start flowing.  I'm not sure whether or not to let her see me cry.  I don't want her thinking it's a sad thing.  However, it is somewhat sad to me that she's starting to wonder about where she came from.  Landscape is one thing.  Birth mother is another.  I don't want her to yearn to know about her past.  I'm not ready for questions I can't answer. 

But she's so smart, I know the questions are coming.

My go-to book, besides the Bible,  is The Lost Daughters of China.  I go to it often for help. 

"For every daughter lost, somewhere there was once a mother and a father, and grandparents, perhaps, plus an aunt or uncle or two." "Uncertainty is where we begin and uncertainty is where we may end."

"The daughters of China, set down in public places, found and cared for, have blessed thousands of families thousands of miles away.  But by necessity in most cases, the blessings came anonymously, as secret offerings."

 Tonight, I will pray that that mother, father, and perhaps grandparents know that the girl they set down in a public place was miraculously found and by God placed in our family.   That she is happy, healthy and growing up in a family that is simply crazy about her. 

Mother's Day

I love Mother's Day!

Soccer

Soccer season again.

Nothing like a little game of rock, paper, scissors at half-time.

 Chloe usually has the most fans.

Aunt Kiki, Nana, Kaci, Pawpaw, Mama and Daddy were all at this game.

Mrs. Niedrach showed up too!

Scissors cut paper!  Yes!