LOTS OF PICTURES

 Miss Smiling Tessa

 Luke getting sugars

 How rude!

 Lukey Boo

 Thumbs up Mommy!

 Luke feeding baby sister---he loves this!

 Look carefully---she killed the giraffe with her thunder thighs!!!! LOL

 Sisters!

 Intense expression!

 Emy was very HAPPY to have Josh's iPod

 Huh?

 Sisters talking and telling secrets.

 Emy chose to take Ma to the "Me & My Gal Dance" for girl scouts.

 Love the outfit.

 Complete with PINK hair--to match of course.

 Pretty smile. We were strolling outside for this one!

 Napping on the couch.

 Funny girl.

 My 3 babies.

LOVE the hat!

Thanks to my friend Ronda for this precious little hat!

Normalcy

Is that a word?  I have felt like there is not much normalcy in my life since Tessa made her grand appearance.  Do I love her?  ABSOLUTELY!  MORE THAN WORDS can express it.  Does having three children make me crazy?  ABSOLUTELY!   It's hard to explain.  It just seems like Tessa has always been here.  And I'm so very thankful to have all my babies. Life is so.......exhausting......but is even more fun.

It's just a different kind of normalcy now.

Miss Tessa feels much better today--actually since yesterday.  Last night she wanted to pull an all nighter.  So we did.  She talked and cooed and smiled.  And I looked at my wonderful little miracle and smiled back.

We told secrets.

It was so worth the loss of sleep.

I love her.

I am a mommy of 3.

WOW!  God is so good!

Time marches on.....

Time is just flying....Tessa is 3 months old.  Emy is halfway thru 2nd grade and Luke has 2 permanent teeth already.  Geez.  I'm completely and totally worn out today.  Tessa had her 2 month shots a month late. I refused to take her because the flu bug was crazy here.  I don't want to take her anywhere.  She had diarrhea terribly bad last week.  She is gnawing on her hands.  Do you think she could be teething this early?  Geez.

I'm exhausted today---did I say that already?  Tessa and I have walked around the house, rocked, bounced, swung, talked, read, sung. . . we've done it all today.  Plus, we have napped quite a bit together in the recliner--no better feeling in the world.  Poor Luke and Emy.....I feel like they are getting the short end of my stick LOL.  I don't know how mothers of 4, 5, 6 or more do it.  Three is really stretching my limits these days.  I know, though, in the end that God doesn't give one more than they can handle.  So here I am, handling it.

Have a great weekend guys.  Mine is going to get better--starting now!

Gotta to go and rock a sweet, precious baby.....but first, I think I'll play a game with my Emy & Luke.

Adios!  More pictures will be posted soon--I promise!

HAPPY GOTCHA DAY #3 LUKE

 He has been with us for 3 years.

 I love this smile!

 This is from his first week home with us.

And the same smile---LOVE HIM!!

My Luke.

My little man.

My huge blessing from God.

He has manners.

He has a quick temper.

He has quicker hugs & kisses.

He has a HUGE laugh and a GIGANTIC heart.

He no longer puts food in his pockets...He knows he's gonna have a next meal.

He knows our love and he knows God's love and he knows that Jesus lives in his heart.

That's my boy, my Luke, a great little brother and a great big brother.

I love him with all my heart.

He says "Mommy, you are the best cooker". 

From Luke--that IS THE BEST COMPLIMENT EVER! I'll take it.

Happy 7th Gotcha Day Emy!!

I can't believe another year has gone by. Emy is 8 years old and so different than she was when she came off of the airplane.  The biggest thing on her back then was her eyes!!

Her eyes are still very expressive.

My beauty queen.

My sweetie pie.

My Indian princess.

Our blessing from God.

Happy 7th Gotcha Day Emy!!!!!

Getting some weird comments--please email me.

If you would like to continue to see my blog, please email me your email address and identify yourself.  That way, I can invite you to view my blog.  That way, I can keep away the riff raff. I'm tired of comment moderation and if I invite certain readers, I can keep everyone else away.

Thanks everyone.  I will give you a couple of weeks to get this information to me so I can invite you.

Have a great week!
Cindy

Pictures, pictures everywhere!!

 1st real bath!!!

 Luke's 6th birthday!!

 Tessa is 1 month old

 Emy getting spa treatment from Luke

Christmas play at church

Feelings.....geez.

Here goes.  When I found out I was pregnant, complete disbelief took over.  I think in some ways I'm still in denial.  Even having Tessa at home, cooing, crying, smiling and making us happy as can be, it's still so hard to believe that I went through a pregnancy, delivery and ultimately becoming a mother of 3.  These kids are a HANDFUL at times but a HEART FULL ALL THE TIME.

I wasn't prepared to LOVE being pregnant.  I wasn't prepared for the feelings of guilt because I chose NOT to breastfeed.  I wasn't prepared for missing that little life inside of me so much it hurts. I find myself waiting for her to kick me, only to remember she is here now.  I had her all to myself for 9 months and now I  have to share her with other people.  I wasn't prepared to feel the jealousy of having to share her with others.  I wasn't prepared to actually MISS being pregnant.  I wasn't prepared for the swarm of emotions for the first two weeks after delivery.  I wasn't prepared for the weakness in my back and for the sleepless nights. And I wasn't prepared for the guilt I felt for having my tubes tied.  Lots of stuff to be prepared for folks....I was clueless.

Ultimately though, I wasn't prepared for falling so head over heels for this precious baby girl so fast and so strong.  Just like I did with Emy & Luke.  I can say one thing. It doesn't matter how you become a mommy--adoption or biologically--doesn't matter.  Did you hear me?  The LOVE is the SAME! 

I'm feeling so much better since I'm able to get out and drive and go places.  I'm not a stay at home type a gal.  Tessa and I have been ON THE MOVE.  Emy & Luke joined us in our travels during the holidays and I loved having all my kids together with me at home.  What memories we did make this Christmas!!

So here we are--a family of 5--HAPPY AS CAN BE and  we are meshing together quite well as a family. . everyone loves Tessa and I'm feeling better every day....I love being a mommy to these three children.  God has definitely moved in my life and I thank Him daily for his many, many blessings.

Have you counted your blessings today?  On the top of my list is my sweet husband, Darrell.  He is definitely my rock, the LOVE of my life and I do so appreciate him.  He is the BEST daddy ever.  He wins daddy of the year in my book, for sure.

I don't think any year will top 2010 for me, but who knows what kind of blessings are in store for me in 2011??  Keep reading my blog and I'll share them with you.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Tessa is 1 month old today!

 Can you believe my sweet baby is a month old already?!

Funny!  She looks scared on this one---the flash, I think :)

Luke is 6 years old!

Can you believe my little Luke is 6 years old?!  He is so excited.  We had a very small party here at the house for him and he will have another party with pinata at his preschool tomorrow.....my sweet fellow is so happy (almost always).  He is a special boy to me.  I love him so much and I am so happy he is part of our lives.

 This is his "you caught me" look.....and again, that smile....love him!

 His sweet smile.

He was so excited to be singing to the parents at preschool in this picture.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY LUKE!!!!!!

I have a few more pics I will post in a few days.....the time gets away from me these days (geez, I wonder why) LOL!!

More pictures...

 Emy & Tessa (my favorite picture so far of these two)

 Emy getting kisses from Tessa

 Tessa's favorite sleeping place and position

 Luke is so proud to be a BIG brother :)

 Tessa in a funny sleep position--we laughed at her for this one.

 Luke & Emy "camping out", watching a movie.

 My sweet Princess Emy.

 I love her sense of fashion!

 Luke

My BIG kids.  I can't believe how tall they both are!