Three Year Old Language

I love MK's language. Her voice is so sweet and she tops everything off with her own animation. Tonight we were driving home and she kept asking me, "Mommy, why we not go to Krisme Kreme?" Love it....

MK - Krisme Kreme
AKA - Krispy Kreme

MK - Girl Girl Panties
AKA - Big Girl Panties
**Special note here, we are totally trained, night and all! YAY!

MK - Plub-blix
AKA - Publix

MK - Chic A Let
AKA - Chik Fil A

MK - Cupcake Party
AKA - Birthday Party

MK - What's your ploblem?
AKA - What's your problem?

MK - Clone Wars the Clone Wars
AKA - Star Wars the Clone Wars

We changed her seat in the van this week. She is now seated behind the passenger seat in the van due to the fact that she was constantly kicking my seat. She would oblige when I would ask her not to but within minutes the kicking would begin again. Rather than tempt her, we moved her. She is so confused and keeps asking, "What happened to my seat? Why you move me over here?" and she asks with such an insulted tone in her voice.
On a special note, today our friends accepted the referral of a baby girl in China! We are so thrilled for them and their family! Can't wait to update everyone on their journey! She is gorgeous! MK looked at her picture and said, "Who is dat baby? She need her mommy."
Tomorrow I plan to update on Colin's special day! We have been steady celebrating today. As I type, the boys (along with Ryan) are all out playing and hopefully headed home for the evening. We still have to sing, eat cake, do presents and hopefully sleep....

Since MK's arrival, many people have asked me, "Gosh, things are going so well for all of you. Everyone has adjusted and bonded and attached. Do you ever have a bad day with MK? Is she always happy?" And, quite honestly, unless you are family or a very close friend, I put on my happy face and smile to say, "Oh yes. MK is doing great!", because, MOST of the time, this is true. However, there are the days that this is less than true. MK, MOST of the time, is happy, silly, obedient and a joy to be around. She is funny and loves that she has the ability to make others laugh. Above all, she can be so sweet. She can say things that would make anyone's heart melt. She is affectionate to her family, to her teachers and to her baby dolls. She is a cuddlebug, loves to be cuddled up with blankets and her mommy. MOST of the time, these are all true. Along with that side of her comes the strong will that has been ever so present since the moment we first met her almost two years ago. This is one of her stronger qualities and defines a lot of her demeanor towards us, her family, as well as her peers. She has her own mind on how things are going to be and there is little room to negotiate without a full blown scene and/or tears. I struggle today with this, her will. Some of her behavior is totally an age thing. And, as I am often told, some could just be the fact that she is a girl. What I struggle with is how to shape this personality that she has been given? How do I make it a positive in her life and something that she can rely on as she ages? MK is so perfect in so many ways and we do just love her to pieces. We just have to figure out what to do with that ever so present strong will!

The Countdown Begins....

We began the countdown to Colin's birthday on Saturday. This Friday, March 5, he will turn 10 years old and we will have a child in double digits. Yikes. I am thinking that this may be as detrimental to my health as turning 30 was. Double digits. Ten years ago, on this day, we were childless and clueless. Everyone told us the standard, "Just wait, your life is going to change so much." And we smiled and thought we knew it all, everything there was to know about parenting. I mean, after all, I had practically raised several children that I babysat for and Ryan was no stranger to small children being that he already had 7 nieces and nephews. We thought we knew it all :) This week I know I will be busy reflecting on him and how much he has taught us as parents. He is the firstborn, the example, the "experiment" - meaning, we have tried it all on him and, if it worked, we used it with the others; if not, we tried something new and improved, again, on him. He is the one who made us parents first, the one who ultimately made us a family. How special he is to us and how honored we are to be his parents for the past ten years and the years to come. Ten years ago, on the night - or morning technically - Colin was born, we called our parents, both sets, to come join us in the hospital for his birth. They arrived and not too long after, Colin made his appearance. They were all with us for our first child's birth and they were all with us again this weekend to help celebrate his almost ten years of life, just us and the four of them. A very special way to kick off a very special week.

At almost ten, you are capable of lighting your own candles on your birthday?