Libby Lou

There is just something about this girl...she melts my heart and fills me with joy! 

I will admit that at times that the second child gets a little bit of a bad rap or even just a little less attention.  It's never meant that way but those stinky first born children (I know because I am one) are good at stealing the attention.  Lately though, it's the little red head that has caught my heart.  She literally bounces around the house.  Not in an obnoxious, out of control way though.  Just a happy gallop with a giant grin.  She is a little one bursting with feelings and emotions.  Sometime's I'm not sure how to handle them but I'm learning. :-)

I was talking with Mark the other night about what I was seeing in her.  At first I couldn't quite put my finger on what it was but as I talked it all came together.  She truly loves and cares about people...even at the age of 2.  This is an example that happens MANY times every day.  Libby is being bugged in some fashion, usually it's that someone wants a toy that she is holding.  She initially holds a little tighter to the toy but then when the other child slows down and Libby is able to look them in the eye, the toy is passed along happily.  I'm no expert but I've found that if my oldest child is in a similar situation her eyes immediately seek out the adult authority in the room to correct the situation.  She wants the rules to be followed.  Not Libby.  She doesn't look for the adult, she looks at the person.  When she has been assured that that particular toy will make the person happy, she hands it over.  Not every time but probably 85% of the time. 

It's been crazy to watch her learn how to control her emotions too.  I can literally watch her stop herself and process what to do when our 2 year old foster boy is hitting her.  Sometimes she will hit back but the majority of the time, she tries so hard to hold herself together and just moves away.   

One last story.  The picture below was taken before church a few weeks ago.  I had tried to get a group picture of all the kiddos but a 3 of them, including Libby, were just not into it.  No big deal we moved on to loading up the car.  However, Libby was not ready to move on.  We loaded everyone up but her and me and she was still pitching a fit.  I could tell that she realized she had missed an opportunity and that she wanted to make things right.  I asked her if she wanted to take another picture.  She wiped her tears, put on a smile and viola.  She was not pitching a fit to get her way, she didn't want a picture in the first place.  She was continuing to pitch a fit because she wanted to right the wrong.  After the picture, she hopped into the car without a fuss and grinned the whole way to church.  

I know I'm going to continue to learn more and more about her as she grows but it's been such a blessing to observe her over the last several weeks.  I can see change in her.  I can see her growing in her love for others and in her ability to control her emotions.  It's brought me great joy.  :-)    

Loved!

This is probably going to be a little bit of a messy post but here goes nothing...

Sometimes I feel a little discouraged about this world we live in.  We all get so busy in our own individual/family lives that we forget about the people all around us who may need a listening ear or a helping hand.  Mark and I try so hard to keep our eyes and ears open so that we can be available to help others.  However, we've gotten ourselves in that too busy situation lately where it's a bit harder to think outside our own family.  I definitely understand how it can happen.

Last week I was feeling a little disconnected from my friends and family since I had been buried in family, work and Christmas craziness.  I had not had a meaningful conversation with anyone in days.  Mark was out of town and chattering with 2 year olds just wasn't cutting it.  Everyone was spinning like crazy at church, trying to get stuff together for Christmas.  The lack of connection had me down.  However, a few small acts helped me to re-think this crazy world.  Our DFCS worker came to visit us and our new kiddos for the first time last week and she brought a present.  It wasn't a present for the kids though.  It was a present for Mark and me!  Woohoo!  Of course, we don't need presents but it was the thought that someone had put into doing something for me.  A church in another county had put together these baskets for foster parents.  I felt so loved.  

The next day, it hit me that we had 4 different groups of people that had offered to buy presents for our foster children.  4 separate groups!  As I counted it up, I couldn't believe it and told 2 groups - no thank you.  The other 2 were large companies and they had already bought the presents. 

The following day I went to the Foster Care Support Foundation.  I had never been there before because we've always had all that we needed for our foster babies.  This little boy needed some clothes though.  When I walked in they handed me a list and told me to go shopping and pick out all of these things for him...10 shirts, 6 pants, 4 pj's, underwear, socks, shoes, hat, gloves...the list went on and on.  They even gave us slippers.  My own girls don't even have slippers. ;-)  While I was shopping I heard my name being called and as I arrived at the front desk I see 2 large black trash bags filled with toys that they had picked out for us.  All of this was so overwhelming to me.

It was after shopping here that I got into my car and gave God thanks for all that people that have been caring for us.  I still miss that personal connection with individuals.  I still want to sit and have coffee and talk about life.  However, I have realized that everyone is just doing their best.  They may have donated clothing to the foster care support foundation or purchased a toy through their company.  The personal connection is not there but the heart is beating love.  

And as it turns out, we've also received some personal love this week too.  I came down with the flu this weekend and we've had several friends that have offered to help out and bring food.  I'm more than thankful for this community in which we are living.  I hope that we never take for granted all that has been given to us (both materially and emotionally) and that we give back 10x more!  

Caroline and Libby's Christmas Party

 A few weeks ago Caroline brought this drawing to me and said, "Momma, do you see the Christmas tree and all the names on my paper?  This is who I want to invite to my Christmas party."  I wasn't really aware that we were having a Christmas party but Mark and I talked about it and sprung into action.  She doesn't always get her way so quickly but who could refuse our "shy" girl wanting to invite her friends over for a party!  We also decided that it could be a party for Caroline and Libby.

We invited *almost* everyone that we know!  We had a great turnout and lots of fun!

We had a play room...

A craft room...

A cookie decorating room...

Which led to hand washing...thanks Aunt Lindsay!

Thankfully, it was also warm enough to set up the bounce house.  

Caroline, even got her first flower from a little boy in her class.  

I think we may have to make the Caroline and Libby party an annual tradition.  We may choose a less crazy holiday....we'll see!

New Tradition

or at least I hope!  All the girls in the family had a tea party the Saturday after Thanksgiving!  It was so adorable and so much fun!!!

The pictures are awesome but let me be the first to say that we had MANY spills throughout our time there!  Our waitress was so gracious!!  I think they must deal with that all the time because there is so much stuff on the table.  We obviously need some more lady-like tea practice. ;-)

Surprise / Thanksgiving

I cleaned our foster room the other day and decided to snap a photo because it looked so good  :-)  Little did I know that a few days later, we would have both of the beds full!  We always thought we would take just 1 foster child at a time but we got 3 phone calls in 4 days for siblings.  After the 3rd day we decided to accept a placement of a 1 year old girl and a 2 year old boy.  I have gone through the whole range of emotions when thinking about this crazy life we are living.  There were two surprises, 1) I missed our foster baby more when we got the new kids.  There is just something about snuggling a baby.  2) There was almost a sense of mourning over the holidays and how our life in general was changing.  A baby can be transported almost anywhere.  A 2 year old and 1 year old, not so much.  Our now family of six had to and will continue to make adjustments that are outside our normal routines and traditions.  All that being said, everything is really going well.  They have been with us for just a week and a half but are already picking up on the routine and seem to be doing well.  

They arrived at 10:30 on a Monday night and our hearts just broke because we learned that the next day was her 1st birthday.  We quickly got a few presents together and had pizza and cupcakes for her birthday.  Thankfully, she is just turning 1 and doesn't know any better.  

I don't have many pictures from Thanksgiving that don't include our foster children but we had a good time.  We went to Lindsay's house and enjoyed dinner with the family.

The kids played like crazy...

 Grand-dude was a good sport and played superwoman with Libby!  

We got a family picture.  

The Friday night after Thanksgiving we got our Christmas tree and spent some time decorating.  

And then enjoyed some cookies and books by the lighted tree.

Latest Happenings

The month of November flew by!  We've had a lot going on.

We were so glad to have Janet and PaulPaul come visit!  We would love to have them down more often. :-)

We ate out a few times together and enjoyed spending some time chatting and catching up.  I can't believe how big the girls are getting!

The day that Dad and Janet left, our sweet little foster baby left our home after being with us for 4 months.  I was so worried about crying and being sad in front of the girls but it all worked out really well.  Although Mark was out of town, the girls were a good distraction and kept things light hearted.

We enjoyed a couple of weeks of just being present with the girls and playing with them!

They are a delight (most of the time)...

and they love each other very much!

Thanks to Mom and Vern, Mark and I snuck in a weekend trip to Chattanooga for his birthday.  It was one of the first trips in a while that we really talked and enjoyed one another's company, as opposed to just getting away from the normal craziness of life.  We took a short train ride and looked around a train museum while there.

After getting back we had some more fun with the girls.  I've been trying really hard to get back in a workout routine and the girls have decided that they like the treadmill too.  Caroline seriously asks to do it every day!

Daddy's been home a good bit since it's holiday time.  He dropped them off at school one day.

One night we decided to have a sleepover in front of the fireplace.  We roasted marshmallows and watched a movie.  The girls loved it and did really well.  However, I must be getting old because it wasn't nearly as comfortable as I had hoped...I even brought the twin mattresses downstairs. :-/  It was a good memory for them though.  :-)

The temperature has gone up and down a bunch lately.  I found 4 gloves around the house, unfortunately none of them matched!

Mark hung Christmas lights around the back deck and we ate chili outside one night by the "campfire."

While we didn't have any foster babies in the home, we worked hard at giving the girls our undivided attention and making some fun memories with them.

Myrtle Beach Family Vacation

We are so incredibly thankful that Mom and Vern took us on vacation again this year.  It's such a blessing to get to spend a week away from our normal routines and just play with the girls.  It's also a huge blessing for us to spend time together with the extended family.  Caroline and Libby both love Gigi and Granddude and Caroline and Kelsey are the best of friends.  

Here come a ton of pictures and just a few words.  :-)

We spent lots of time at the pool...

Libby was attached to her bucket!!

Love this girl!  She was so brave this week.  We learned that she likes to do things on her own time.  One day this week Caroline took my hand and said, "Come with me. I'm going to jump off the side of the pool."  Ummm...ok!   

There was also a good size water slide at the pool.  For 3 days we tried to get Caroline to go down it.  All of a sudden one day, she just hopped up and strutted over to the stairs.  We couldn't believe it!

The next thing you know she is coming down the slide!

With Daddy there to catch her.  All in her own time!

 The kiddie area was awesome!  The girls all loved it!

and a couple of mornings at the beach.

I was so thankful for Mark, who spent a good chunk of time swimming in the ocean with Caroline.  Mark and I remarked several times how awesome it is that he can now swim!!

Sad there is a water drop on this picture but Libby's face is too cute!

Lots of hanging out and playing.  Libby is the baby whisperer...

There were also several nights of "rides,"  I was surprised at how much the girls liked the different rides.

I was also surprised that Mom conquered another one of her height fears and did the zipline across a pond!

 

Mark is enjoying teasing her.  :-)

Matchy...

Matchy.  The children were planned, the adults...not so much but it was fun.  ;-)

We had a great time going to a pirate dinner show this night!!  We were all in!

Love watching the girls faces as they watched the show.  They were captivated.  

Libby was so awesome through the whole thing.  It's so easy to treat her like the "baby" because she is our youngest and because she has so few words at this point.  However, it's awesome to see her take cues from Caroline and others around her.  She hangs in there with the big kids too and sat through the whole show like a big girl.  :-)

The picture also shows her black eye that she got on our first night.  We're still not entirely sure what happened.  She was standing with a remote in her hand and all of a sudden she was on the floor crying.  We think she just fell and bonked the remote on her eye and the coffee table.  Poor girl.

The plan was to swim and wear them out in the morning, sleep in the afternoon and go out on the town at night.  It was perfect!  We enjoyed several nights out!

We also went to see some animals one night.  You could "hold" a baby tiger and a monkey (of some sort)!  

Caroline happily agreed to do it and then quickly regretted that decision! 

One other night activity was the large ferris wheel on the beach.  

On the last morning we woke them up early to head for home.  We certainly wore them out!

Precious girls!

My sweet family!

We could not have been any more thankful for this time with our family!  Thank you to Gigi and Grandude for inviting us to come along!