15th High School Reunion

2006 marks 15 years since I graduated from high school in Hattiesburg, MS. It seems like a lifetime ago that I was in high school. There were a lot of people who were nervous about the reunion, but not me. I like myself so much better now than I ever did then. I hear on TV shows all the time that high school is the best time of your life. Not for me. I've gotten better with time, in my opinion. I was so excited about seeing old friends and believe it or not, I made some new ones! I spent so much time planning the reunion and got in touch with 2 ladies I never knew in high school, but have totally loved getting to know as adults. Leading up to the reunion, we talked every week or so. It was surprising to see how little people had changed. Except for a few. Kenneth Yarrow and Allison Prescott got married after high school and they look like rock stars now. And don't get me started on Casie Gotro, who I didn't get a picture of! She looks like someone off the cover of a magazine! Everyone else looked the same. We had a great weekend and I wouldn't have changed a thing. We danced and laughed and played and got to know each other's children. There are some gorgeous kids from the Class of '91!

Carnival Conquest

On October 15, I escorted a group of 200 from our church, MCC Austin. This is an annual fundraiser for the church and we have so much fun. To date, the church has raised over $60,000. This year, we sailed from Galveston to Jamaica, Grand Cayman, and Cozumel. The ship is gorgeous! This was a working vacation, if there is a such a thing. Kim and Maddie had a great time and I thoroughly enjoyed being with my clients and my family.

The cruise aboard the Conquest marks Maddie's 5th cruise. It was the first time she really got into Camp Carnival, a program about which I cannot say enough. She had so much fun! And we got to have some fun too. Every day, there was a different theme in Camp Carnival. One day she was a pirate and another day a butterfly. Maddie made several friends, but couldn't remember their names. So she would shout Hey Friend when she would see them on the ship.

I think our favorite port was Grand Cayman. We visited the turtle farm, which was amazing! Kim really connected with the turtles and I totally thought we were coming home with one. Maddie was afraid of them at first because they are huge! She eventually came around. Lisa and Karen came with us and we loved it. Next, we went to Hell, which is the remaining lava that formed the island. So cool. Next, we swam with the stingrays. I did this excursion in '96 and thought it was a spiritual experience. I was so excited to share this experience with Kim and Maddie. While Kim loved it, Maddie hated it. I spent the rest of the afternoon with Maddie on the boat. Fortunately, Kim had Lisa and Karen to play in the water with.

I tried some new things on the cruise. I actually sang karaoke. The plan was to sing with Madison. As a mom, you can do anything with your kid and it's cute. So we picked the song Car Wash and went up on the stage. That little buger turned tail and ran off the stage, leaving me alone with a spot light. I could have died! I didn't have much choice but to start singing, if you can call it that. Let's just say I got a lot of "Ada Girl!" I also did an impromtu stand up comedy routine in an open mike situation. I have decided I want to be a comic when I grow up. I loved every one of the 3 minutes I was on stage making people laugh. I strung together stories about being a mom and being a travel agent that had them rolling in the aisles. Of course, these were my clients. Maybe they were just being nice. Who knows! I still had fun!

Halloween 2006

Halloween was so much fun! Madison loved her costume and had a ball wearing it to school. Kim and I took Maddie and Hailey to see Becky and Janean, which is an annual tradition. We had planned to trick-or-treat in their neighborhood, but no one was home! As we left their house, we passed the home of my hair dresser and one of my favorite people in the world - Cheryl Godfrey. Well, Cheryl lives on Trick-or-Treat alley and we worked the street for about an hour. So much fun! We came home and hit the homes of our neighbor's before calling it a night. Thankfully, Maddie has already forgotten about the candy. Maybe next year I can introduce her to the UNICEF tradition. I used to have so much fun doing that with Gayla, Margo and Julie. And it's much better than candy!

Hailey

The month of October was a blur for me. When November 1 finally rolled around, I felt like I had post traumatic stress disorder. On September 25, we welcomed Hailey into our family. All of us fell in love with her and were heart broken that she couldn't come with us on the cruise we had planned for over a year. We left her with another foster family in Round Rock while we were away. When we came back from the cruise, it was evident how much all of us had missed her.

Of course, Maddie loved her but didn't like the amount of attention she received. Kim and I went through an emotional and physical transformation in having a second child. We have wondered for years how we could love another person as much as we love Madison. Through Hailey, we discovered we could. Maddie did the normal stuff when a new kid comes along. There was some acting out and her ears stopped working, but all in all we did ok. Maddie thought Hailey was the greatest baby doll. She "mothered" her a lot and was very protective. It was so cute to watch them together. And Hailey was totally captivated by Madison. She sit and watch her every move.

Personally, I adored Hailey's gummy grin. I remember crying when Maddie's first tooth came in because I would never see those gums again. Hailey was such a happy baby. She only cried when she had gas, which is understandable. I would cry too if I couldn't relieve myself. Despite all the changes in her short life, she was happy. I learned a lot from Hailey. She reminded me what joy looked like and how it feels. We would sit together and talk and coo and smile every morning before day care. Hailey was so special to our family.

Hailey went with us on our big road trip to Mississippi for my high school reunion. I was dreading the 10 hour drive with a 4 year old and a 4 month old, but it went really well. I was so proud of Hailey, who wasn't too fond of the car. Now she is. 20 hours round trip!

Hailey left us last Monday. She has gone to live with her aunt and uncle and while we are sad to lose her, I am so happy for Hailey. She will grow up in a family who loves her and who is willing to go the distance to help her mom. We all pray for her daily. I miss her smile and giggles the most. We had a wonderful time with Hailey and none of us will forget her. Here are some of my latest Hailey pictures. She is quite a little girl! Her mother is very lucky to have such a bright light in her life.

Sisters

Hailey has been part of our family for 1 week now. Maddie is definitely in love with Hailey and is going through some transition now that there is someone else in the house. Kim and I have worried about this leading up to the arrival of a new baby. And here we are. It is 100% clear that Maddie loves Hailey and she is a huge help. I didn't count on her being able to help so much. See what you think!

Welcome to the Family, Baby Girl!

On Monday, September 25 we welcomed a new member to our family, although it will be temporary. Hailey is almost 4 months old and she is truly a delight. We spent 5 hours in the ER Monday night and then several hours at the pediatrician's office on Tuesday to diagnose and treat some infections she is already fighting. I think we should have all of this cleared up in a few days. She is a very happy baby with a fabulous smile.

Maddie calls her "My Baby" and is the best helper we could have ever hoped for. Yesterday, Hailey was fussy and tired and generally not in a good space. We were on our way home from Wal-Mart and Maddie starts singing to her in the back seat. It was so sweet. She sang Hush Little Baby just like I sang to her as a baby. I joined in the singing to Baby Hailey and I apparently became distracted and missed a word. Maddie said, No, no Mommy. "It is a diamond ring that turns brass!"

This morning, I was getting Maddie ready for school in the living room while Hailey lay sleeping in the bedroom. I usually have a cup of milk waiting for Maddie when she gets up in the morning. Of course, today, Maddie tells me she can't hold the cup and I need to hold it for her like the baby. So, I rocked my big baby and fed her a sippy cup of milk. What a ham!

On Sunday, I told Kim how much I love being a mother. I wish I had more money and more hours in the day so I could mother more children. I was feeling unappreciated and not in a good place. Suddenly, we have a new baby. It has been so precious to watch Hailey bond to us. It has been the same with every baby we've fostered. The bonding takes place when you feed a negleted baby. It is a matter of trust. She begins to trust you when you feed her. She watches you, alert and attent, to make sure you aren't going to take the bottle away. Looking in her eyes, she understands that you won't take it away until she is finished and that will let her sleep as long as wants while her belly is full. It is a powerful and intimate connection that happens and I am so thankful for this blessing!

Hailey should be with us for a while. She will, more than likely, be coming with us to Savannah for Thanksgiving and Chicago for Christmas and Hattiesburg for my reunion. I can't wait for you to meet her. As with all of our babies, save our forever baby, we don't know what the future holds. We just appreciate every day to give a child a safe and secure place to learn about love.

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Kim worked for the Attorney General's office for about a year. Her friend, Misty, is by far the best thing to come from that experience. Did we mention how crazy Maddie is about Misty?



Ok, she's cute. And now everyone can know that I wear Breathe Right strips. They are awesome! Maddie thinks they're hysterical!

Halloween Preview

Kim and I took Maddie shopping for a costume yesterday. We talked at length about being a princess or fairy or maybe even a mermaid, like Ariel. Much to our surprise, Maddie chose her own costume. It is my honor to present our daughter, the Incredible Super Hero!



Witha little bribery, we talked Maddie out of the costume (we clearly bought this thing too early in the season) and into her new church dress. I bought this dress in Hattiesburg and it was exchanged by the lovely Ms. Sara Miller when the dress was a "wee bit" too short. Thank you Ms. Sara!

Hollywood Maddie

In our next house, we definitely need a stage. Maddie loves to sing, dance, and strike a pose. This is her Mississippi dress that I bought in Hattiesburg in July. I just love the smocking! She feels like a Princess in it. I can see why!

Maddie's favroite commercial is the Identity Theft Commercial with the black man sitting on the weight bench singing UnBreak My Heart by Toni Braxton. She cracks up laughing when she sees it and this is her imitating the commercial.

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Creativity

I've never thought of myself as a very creative person, but I'm beginning to. I started knitting last year and have perfected the basket weave baby blanket. I just finished this one for my friend who has a new baby boy. This one is blue. I made a lavender one for my new neice, who should be arriving this weekend. Kim and I made these "designer" flip flops for business prospects. Sitting at the dining room table, I wondered if these would become a signature piece of our business. Maybe like Mary Kay mixing up make up in her bathroom! Wouldn't that be wonderful! I am really impressed with the flip flops, which was the brain child of my friend Emily. Kim went crazy with the glue gun and had so much fun. It was a good project for us!

Eli's Birthday Party

Today we went to our friend Eli's 3rd Birthday Party! It was a lot of fun and Maddie had a blast on the blow up water slide. Maddie was fearless, causing her Mommy to have many heart palpatations! We had a lot of fun with all the children who attended the party, including Eli's new brother, Simon, who is 17 months old.

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