Cherished Always

I was watching a show the other night on PBS-- "Call the Midwives." It's pretty cute, about midwives working in London's East End in the 50's. This episode was about a special needs child that was born, and how the family, doctors and nurses usually reacted to that. It broke my heart how most of these children were sent off to special institutions, where they saw their families rarely, if ever. I could never imagine in a million years giving my child up, no matter what kind of issues he or she had. I know it was a different time, but it's still hard to relate.

Avery's issues are tremendous, obviously, but she enriches our lives so, so much. I grieve for these children that were sent away. What a loss that their families will never, ever understand. At the end of the episode, the narrator is speaking about this particular family changing their minds and deciding to keep their son at home. She says,

Sometimes in life, one has to take a chance.
Without risk, there's no possibility,
without potential loss, no prize.

He defied all odds
and thrived
and was cherished always.

That's how I feel about my Avery. Her future is always uncertain, but no matter what, she will be cherished always. She deserves that.

We Heart Books

I was thinking the other day about how thrilled I am that Maddie loves books so much. I don't want to forget all of the precious first books that she adored. I think it's so important to get your kids excited about reading. You might remember that we started pretty early.

it's my favorite! "Bubbles, Bubbles"

ohh mom, you caught me!

books make me SO happy :)

By 5 months, little Maddie Brynn already loved turning the pages and looking at silly pictures. Other favorite books at this age included "Beetle's Bug Party" and "Pat them Gently." Both little board books from Target for $1 each-- continued entertainment for so little!

Soon enough though, Maddie graduated to "Moo, Baa, La La La" and lots of lift-the-flap books like "Where is Baby's Belly Button." Both were also Avery favorites!

Around her first birthday, Maddie's patience and focus improved a lot and started enjoying longer books with more words, like "Hippos Go Berserk!" and "Counting Kisses." I just love the illustrations in the Karen Katz books, we have many of those. Maddie loves to name the people and body parts, and I love giving her all those kisses :).

It's just been in the last 2-3 months that she is requesting even longer books and letting us turn the pages at a normal pace! For awhile there, I felt like I was reading this book ten times a day:

It's so cute, about Big Bird being too big for some things, and Elmo being too small...Maddie couldn't get enough! She's also more interested in books like Olivia and The Very Hungry Caterpillar. She loves to repeat all of the things that the caterpillar is eating.

Recently her Nana bought a cute little book called "Where oh where is huggle buggle bear" and I seriously thought she might go to college with it. She loves to point out all the places that huggle buggle bear is hiding. So cute...the first ten times ha.

Currently she is excited about her mini Berenstain Bear books that we have from Chick-fil-a, especially "Safe & Sound" and "Sick Days."  I like how "Sick Days" is about how Mama Bear takes such good care of everyone, and then at the end, when she's totally exhausted, Papa Bear takes over and then takes  special care of Mama too. Reminds me of Bub the hub, and a good lesson for little ones I think!

A new development that I am really excited about is catching sweet girl in her rocking chair, "reading" books to herself. It mostly sounds like babble, but every now and I then I hear a word: "cow!" "mama" "sissy" "sad" "go there!" and it just make my heart melt.

Keep on reading baby bub!

Easter 2013

My blog could not be sadder from lack of use. I hear it calling to me all of the time, but this momma is totally spent at the end of each and every day! I can't let it fall into total oblivion though, so here are some Easter pics. Maddie had a lot of fun at her two Easter egg hunts! Saturday with Bub the hub's fam and Sunday with mine. Avery sat these hunts out, but had a good time on both days anyway, I think. Wish we could still carry that big girl bunny around for hunts, but it's just not possible :/

On Saturday:

quality ranch swingin' with daddy

watching the other egg hunters

found some!

Maddie did a great job of finding eggs and then promptly opened them and ate her very first jelly beans.... and then raided at least 3 other kids' baskets and found 
even more! A jelly bean fiend just like her mom, I should have known. 

the new generation at the Klotz farm,

nine out of the thirteen total great-grandkids (I think)- not bad!

(thanks for the photo, Lauren :)

On Sunday:

sweet girls in their Easter dresses at the Transou Farm

most of the kids, ready to run...

look Maddie, a peep!

Johnny is pretty good at this :)

 surprise, surprise, Maddie's mouth is already full!

Maddie says "cheese!" and Avery says I am SO over this photo thing

Johnny is super excited that Maddie brought her iPad

windy day!

as close to a family pic as it's gonna get

Later that day we had a visit from granddaddy.

Maddie wanted to show him all about her car track.

happy girl with granddaddy!

Hope everyone else had a nice holiday. Somehow I avoided my usual jelly bean coma. A certain person I shall not name DID drop off a ton of chocolate that I sure didn't need! I'm not saying it was granddaddy, but I'm not saying it wasn't...

Still looking for a new place to call home! Had some close calls lately, but haven't won any bidding wars yet. The housing market continues to be complete insanity. Really thought we had found the right place last week, but then somebody put in a bid $35k over asking price, which definitely beat us out. Still pretty sad about it. Where is our next home hiding? Or as Maddie would say, "Houuuuse, are youuuuuuu??"