My heart is so full of Thanks!

I wish every day was Thanksgiving! It is so easy in our busy lives to forget our blessings and complain about how tough we have it. I have to say this 3rd child has put me over the edge. It seems like life just speeds by and I have no control over it other than making it through another day. I want to stop and smell the roses but I am to busy chasing after 3 fighting, taunting, screaming little ones to smell anything other than the coffee that keeps me going during the day. What I need to learn is that I should be grateful they have the spunk and health that they have and appreciate them for who they are. Life is a challenge but I am so Blessed to have these beautiful Babes! Thank you God for these remarkable Gifts!

My favorite about a month ago.

Our first day together forever! 13 months old

10 months old at the Marriott

8 months old in Antigua in February!

My little pumpkin was only 10 lbs at 4 1/2 months but it was all in her cheeks!

Layla 1 year ago on my visit trip!

She's been home 3 months

I can't believe that Layla has been home 3 months! She will be 17 months old in a few days!! The excitement is building over Christmas around our house already and I remember vividly how I had hoped and prayed that she would be here for Christmas last year. Layla is really becoming her own little person. She is so much more relaxed in the last couple of weeks. Has started to love her Daddy and he is just so proud of her! She is finally starting to talk and babble, she has said ma ma and da da and that was about it. But she is vocalizing now with alot babble and is expressing herself with telling us exactly what she wants. She is sleeping in her crib next to my bed for over 1/2 the night, which may not sound like much progress but she hated that crib when we came home so I will take what I can get. I still have to lay next to the crib while she draws in my hand and picks at my fingernails, something she has done for comfort since day 1. She is a little spitfire, loves to climb and is a daredevil. Nothing stops her from getting to what she wants. She is the love of our lives and we are so grateful for her being here with us. So much is happening in Guatemala that could change the lives of all the children there. I am filled with so many emotions as she ventures farther into toddlerhood. All of the months I missed but yet I was able to visit and capture just a little of that baby stage. Layla, we love you with all our hearts and are so glad that God chose YOU for us!

She found this beret in my e-bay stash! She put it on and did not want to take it off!

Then I found her upstairs by the sink where she had pulled over the stool and decided to brush her teeth! Notice the toothpaste on the side of her head!

Layla likes to wash her hair and did it with applesauce at breakfast this morning!

To Everything Turn, Turn, Turn

This has always been one of my favorite songs. A time for every purpose under heaven. I was thinking back yesterday of all the turns my life has taken in a mere 10-15 years. I have lost both of my parents, divorced my first husband, became a grandmother very young as my daughter had a baby as a teenager, remarried, ( a few years later), adopted 3 children, and quit a job I had worked for almost 20 years. Alot of these circumstances were very much out of my control and I must say that I am in a much better place now than 10 years ago. Sometimes though I think about how I didn't think I could go on after each tragedy took place and yet here I am today, a better person because I did make it through. My question to God is always, How many more tests? I know there are trials in life and I usually can work through them through HIM. But who doesn't wonder Why Me? I have always had the attitude that if you don't show your gratitude that bad things will happen, crazy, I know but just something that might have been instilled in me as a child. Most days I am filled with gratitude in just wondering how I became so lucky to be chosen as these little ones Mommy and count the many blessings I have. To everything Turn,Turn,Turn.

Our little bumble bee!

Noah is all about Cowboys and horses!

Eli is total tough guy!

Batman, Bumblebee

and the cowboy!

Happy Halloween!!

Layla dressed up for her 1st Halloween( with us anyway) and I find it funny how last year I wished so badly she would be home by every passing Holiday and this year I did not even have a costume for her until Tuesday!! Of course the selection was pretty picked over by then but we made due with a bumble bee costume! She was a trooper trick or treating although we only went to a few neighbors and friends houses. She has a keen smell for candy and can find any little piece that might be lying around. This morning she cried for her bag that was hanging on the door. (I didn't even realize she would remember what was in there.) The boys thought it was much more fun to hand out candy at our house!! They were in the door calling people in from the steet to solicate more business!! " Come to our house We have candy!!" Too funny.