So excited about this!

One of Zulilly daily deals today is a language learning system call Little Pim. If you aren't aware, Zulilly is this awesome website that sells kids boutique items at Target prices....) If you aren't a member, check it out HERE
Anyway, Little Pim. In the World of "Language Learning" Russian often is the Black Sheep of the spoken word. Maybe because it's really hard? Maybe because it isn't in as high of a demand as say, Spanish or French? I don't know. But you'll be hard pressed to find anything for children teaching Russian. However, today on Zulilly, Little Pim has a 3 DVD set with a little stuffed Pim teaching Russian! So exciting! I want Charlie to retain as much Russian as possible, or at least make better correlations between his first and second language and to be quite honest with you, I am doing a horrible job at this! I hope this will be a good tool for both of us! Also, if you use the coupon code COUPMT10P you get 10% off- bringing your total to right at $30 for the set. 

Happy Birthday NeNe!

We love you more than Peanut Butter! We love you to the moon and back! We think you are funny and sweet and kind. We like the ways you make us laugh and aren't afraid to be silly.
Even though when you are at the house Charlie asks you every five minutes if you are going bye-bye, we never want you to leave us. You are our family.
Somedays I wish you still lived upstairs. If this career woman thing doesn't pan out, you always have a job as our au-pair. The pay isn't great, I can just offer you free meals and curbside trash service (No more driving to the dumpster!)

Even though you loose your keys EVERY time you come to my house and I worry about you constantly when you don't answer your cell phone, I want you to know- you are perfect. God made you with the kindest heart I have ever seen in another human being. He made you gentle and trusting. And I thank Him everyday for giving me not only a sister, but a best friend and an Aunt for Charlie. Happy Birthday NeNe! 

Baba's to the rescue!

My Momma

My bonus Mom

Tonight is the first night in four weeks we've been Baba-less in our house :0(
While I'll been icky-sicky, I have been so thankful to have two live in nannies, housekeepers, chefs, and chauffeurs taking care of business! Chad's mom for three weeks and my mom for a week. I am so spoiled! I had to cook my own dinner tonight....What's a girl to do?
So, ok- I promise I am done talking about mono. It's over. You don't have to listen to me complaining anymore. Ok- just one more time....the only thing good that came of the last 5 weeks of my life with mono, was loosing 17 pounds. The rest required around the clock Baba intervention. Which under healthy circumstances would have been awesome- doing lunch, manicures, pedicures, shopping, not being a zombie.....but I am so thankful for two wonderful, kind, Godly, strong women in my life that aren't scared of mono germs!

After driving the Baba's to SC, the Dada's needed a break!

Transformation

This week we have had Bible School at our church. I must say, I was "that parent" on the first night.
I still have mono, yes, I know, it's been 4 weeks....but I am feeling 100% better than I was. My only symptoms are what I thought mono was all along- extreme fatigue. I feel like myself, UNTIL I start moving around too much. Then I break out in a sweat, get dizzy, and MUST find a seat. Anyway, I was so determined to go to Bible School with Charlie. I couldn't stand the thought of missing any more of his firsts. So, I went. I sat. I sat nervously and anxiously during opening ceremonies-Will he tell anyone if he has to use the bathroom? Is he going to cry since he doesn't know his teacher? Is he going to escape from the room? Is he going to push the other kids around? What if no one understands what he is trying to say?
It was slightly chaotic, as any event with 90 children should be. Shuffling, shifting, finding name tags, registration forms. I sat with him while the youth praise band did their thing (wonderfully, I might add....) and then I walked Charlie to his class. He says "Bye Mama!" I think I must be hearing him wrong and go into his class with him. I sit for 5-10 minutes. He is sitting on the carpet with the rest of the kids, listening to the teacher read the story. Then it's time to rotate to the craft room. Once again, he says "Bye Mama". Que tears.  From Mama.

For the next three nights, I drag my hiney to Bible School (with the help of my live in nanny, house keeper, cook, and chauffeur for the last three weeks, my mother-in-law, Donna, God Bless her....) and it's the same thing. I sit with Charlie for the opening and closing concerts, but he is so excited to go to school every night, he can hardly stand the excitement. He grins from ear to ear about "Bible ool" He starts talking about "Jesus" non-stop and he insists we fold our hands to pray at meal time instead of holding hands. Then he starts creating costumes and brings out his books about Jesus. He wants to take his Bible to the grocery store with Baba. He knows after dinner we get dressed for Bible School, so he keeps saying he's done with dinner.

Easter Celebration, April 

I say all that to say this. Two months ago, we had an Easter Celebration at the church. Same chaos, same crowded rooms, people moving here and there. Same loud, rockin' praise band. This was Charlie then. Quiet, timid, unsure of himself.
And this is him now. Singing, dancing, engaged in his surroundings.

Bible School, June

At some point, I got a little weepy at the transformation he has made in just a few months. While I was thanking our children's director, Ms. Jana, for all the hard work she had done (without me helping her at all because I had been so sick....) It lead to this thought. Just think about if adoption didn't exist. Charlie would have never had this opportunity. He would have never learned about the love of Christ. He wouldn't be singing or dancing. He wouldn't have the joy that he has in his heart. He wouldn't know the love of a Savior.
If that isn't motivation for every Christian to adopt or help someone else to adopt, I don't know what is.

Stomp Audition

Singing with my microphone and my guitar,
Oh and of course, with a bag on my head....

 Have you ever seen STOMP? Talented musicians that sing and dance and make music with common household items? Well, it's like STOMP in my house 24/7. Anything and everything is used for making music. First, there is the "costuming". Charlie prefers to begin his routines with fun clothes and a hat. Next, it's the gathering of the supplies-getting his toys that already make music and then the items that add a little flair, you know, like Happy Meal toys and kitchen utensils. Then, the show begins. Singing, dancing, banging. And he takes all of this VERY seriously. You can tell from the look on his sweet little face. He is so animated! When one song is done, he demands "Mama, CLAP". Oh boy. Then the next song begins, and the next, and the next..... He is so cute- if you're ever in town and in the mood for a concert, stop by. My boy LOVES a captive audience!

Xylophone playing my kitchen knives (of course?!?!)

Playing drums on my beanbag chair with a Happy Meal toy. 

Workin' at the Carwash....