Nyah's diaper stinks and Orin is trying to negotiate getting out of changing it ;) Take one for the team, Orin!

"Sure, I think my two little teeth could handle that hamburger you've got there."

sister love




Nyah can officially crawl now! Yesterday while changing her diaper I found a piece of blue plastic in with the poop. Either Mommy needs to pay more attention or get baby gates.

I Love Summer

Mommy even got in with her clothes on because it is just way too hot!

The swingset is finally done :) I've never heard so giggle so hard as when we tickle her toes on the swing. ADORABLE.

Makaylee

Marquez's hair is getting kinda funky looking. Orin's friend said he would give Marquez $100 if he didn't cut it for a whole year. This is going to be interesting.

Marquez's friend at Vacation Bible School said he could do a back flip on the trampoline and asked if Marquez knew how. He didn't so he went home and after a couple of minutes of practice, he could!

Practicing the splits

Couch Potato in Training

Come watch me go down the slide!

Could she be any cuter?

Questions

People say some pretty lame things sometimes without thinking. They are just curious but Marquez is getting to the age where things don't just go over his head anymore. He understands what the questions are implying. That he looks different than us. That all of them do. But why do people have to constantly be reminding him of that with their endless questions? Obviously I didn't give birth to them, but they are calling me Mom. Can't you hear them? Why do you need to know the details when you don't even know us and will probably never see us again? I'm talking perfect strangers at stores waiting in line to check out. I know, I know, I'm sure this doesn't come as a surprise. Here are a few of the questions we've received:

"Why did you have to go buy a baby?" (from the 5 year old neighbor girl)
"Are these all your kids?" (in line at Ross. No, I rented them.)
"Where did you get her from? (Pointing to Nyah. After explaining that she is adopted from Ethiopia, the lady then proceeded to point to Makaylee and ask me then where did I get her from-as Makaylee is standing right there, listening. Poor Makaylee. She just knows that I am her mom. Period. Nobody asks other mothers standing in line where they got their kids from. But just because we have different skin colors it is okay to ask this?!
"Where is her real mom?" last time I checked I am not plastic
"Is this a birthday party?" No. "Oh, you guys run a daycare?" No. (someone approached me and my friend who has adopted while we were sitting down eating at McDonalds)
"How much did she cost?" (from an adult neighbor)
Maybe I am just being overly sensitive. I've heard stories of questions way worse than these. Now all these questions are perfectly harmless and information seeking only. It just becomes annoying when the validity of us being a family seems to always be in question. But I guess that is what you sign up for with transracial adoption. I actually like answering people's questions when it is just Nyah and I. If Nyah can plant the seed for adoption in someone's heart and another child in an orphange gets a forever family, that is great! I don't mind being the poster child for adoption, but don't ask me questions in front of the kids. I worry about their feeings.

Elmo's Splashtime Sprinkler Mat review

What the heck is this thing?

Oh, a drinking fountain!

It fits 5 years olds too!

Great for giving sisters "baths".

I'm outta here.

Review: 3 stars

It cools them off, they can't drown on it, but better for pre crawlers because she lasted only a few minutes until she went exploring elsewhere.

Best Mom in the World

My mom came down from Tacoma to watch the kids for two days after my surgery. I only wish I could be half the wife and mother that she is. She is the most selfless and giving person I know. The kids love hanging out with her and cooking. They were in the kitchen the entire first day it seemed making granola, homemade pizza, carmel corn. She took them to the library, park, visiting great grandmas, ice cream. Yeah, pretty much spoiled them and they feel so loved when they are around her. She actually has a calming effect on them even though they are eating so much more sugar than normal.

Thank you God for my mom.

Listening more than I realized

Makaylee: "Mommy, what is God doing in heaven?"

Jill: Thinks for awhile... "Watching us."

Makaylee: "What else?"

Jill: Hoping she wouldn't ask anymore hard questions..."I don't know."

Makaylee: matter of factly "I know, Mommy, counting our hairs."

I can't believe this. I told her Matthew 10:30 two months ago.