Tap, Tap, Tap...

... this thing still on??? Anybody still here?

I am the world's worst blogger... I have so much to catch up on that I am frozen in my tracks and don't know where to begin... so how about some cute pictures to make up for things???

Have you been missing this big guy? I don't know what happened over the past 15 months... but my boy has turned into a young man! He has grown 9 inches!! Yes, you heard that right! No more shopping in the boy's section for him anymore! He has matured so much and finally got his braces and is just so handsome, if I do say so myself! He is still the world's greatest big brother! I am so proud of him!

This girl? She went and turned 18 on me... and in just a few short weeks, will be spreading her wings and going off to college. I truly am not ready for my nest to start emptying... but I am so happy and excited for her and all that is yet to come! What an exciting time of her life! I am so blessed to move from raising her to being a witness and hopefully a confidant that she will turn to every once in a while for advice. I am trying to hold back the tears while I type... what a gift I was given to have had the privilege of being this gorgeous young woman's mom.

And my little Bug... well, she is coming out of her little shell with a vengeance! Just catch a look at this little attitude being thrown around. My friend, Hannah, was able to catch it on camera! Am I in trouble or what?

I have more of her 5th Birthday photo shoot to share. I even tried my hand at a few! Stay tuned! And can you believe that Sophie will be starting kindergarten in just a few weeks? Me either! Her elementary school holds a Boo Hoo Breakfast for the kindergarten parents each year... with both my girls moving into new chapters of their lives, I think I may be the mom with the loudest sobs over in the corner!

I can't believe how fast this summer is flying by! It is filled with so much preparation, so much fun and so much love. Big things happening around here, hold tight to your pants! Talk about milestones for this family! They are happening right and left!

PS... I really want to update my blog and be able to post big pictures. Anybody know how I can do that?

Love, hugs and FROG!

Love at first sight... five years later.

May has been such an exciting month for us... filled with two girls' birthdays, the Kentucky Derby, prom, two graduations, Mothers Day and an annual adoption picnic among many other things. Pictures soon, I promise!

However, a day that I never want to forget is the day five years ago when my world changed for forever. It was the day that I first glimpsed the face of a tiny little angel who became my daughter the moment my eyes saw her. No going back... I was in love!


All five pounds, three ounces of pink dreams come true! I am lucky that I still have this little pink sleeper and the Humpty Dumpty/ Cow Jumping Over the Moon blanket she is pictured in. Her foster mother brought her to us in them when we went to visit when she was 10 weeks old... and yes, they still fit with room to spare! What I treasure about this picture is the fact that she is being cradled in her birth mother's hands... presenting her for this photograph... knowing well what this picture meant. She made a plan for her daughter and I think of CL every day when I look into the eyes of our daughter, who looks much like the woman who made a sacrifice that I can never begin to understand.

Here is my dream come true five years later! My beautiful Sophie~Bug!! She was so excited to hear her story today and willingly posed with her referral picture that we keep beside her bed.



How on Earth did I ever deserve the gift of being able to be this child's mommy. I am so blessed!!


Five years... and all 32 pounds of her later, I still fall in love with her every. single. day.

Goodbye Preschool it's been fun...

...Kindergarten here I come!!!

Guess who was so excited to graduate from preschool today?? Even more, she could not wait to wear a cap and gown just like Sissy's!! Is she not the cutest little graduate you have ever seen?



Luckily, her best friend, C (who is 3 months younger and a head taller!) will be going to the same kindergarten with her this fall! They have been BFF's since they were 8 and 5 months old!!

This is M... one of the ever so charismatic and adorable little boys who I would love to see her date in about 12 more years! LOL! He loves to make her laugh!

Can you even stand all that cuteness?

And here she is with her "Diploma" with her teachers! This is a recreation as the original "moment" was so blurry because I attempted to shoot manually with my camera... but she looks just as excited and proud!!

Two graduations down!! I know this summer is going to just fly by and soon, I will be crying my eyes out at the Boo Hoo Breakfast after I drop one of my baby girls off at college and the other one off at kindergarten this fall.

Buffett Baby!!

In honor of my baby's graduation from high school, she and I (and a friend each) loaded up the SUV and headed to Margaritaville last night! We had so much fun and the rain held off! Jimmy still sings as great as he did 20+ years ago!!



Great times in these fleeting last weeks before she is off on her own....

By the way... this time 18 years ago, I was enormous and waddling like a duck and praying that she would be born ON her due date... little did I know I had 10 days to go!!

She did it!!

My baby girl graduated high school!!!!

It was a day of true pomp and circumstance.

In the sea of white hats... there is one girl who made my dream come true...

As she came onto the stage, the smile reflecting the beauty that she is on the inside...

...had her moment in the sun.

And the spunk on the inside flowed to the outside...
(rock on, sistah!)

The paparazzi were waiting outside...

Papa was so proud!!
(Pretty good job for a 38 3/4 inch little sister, huh?!!!)


Hugs were bestowed...

Her "little" brother was so incredibly proud of her and told her so...

Smiles were all around!

And the celebration began...

Your parents are so proud!!

And grandparents too!

The whole family came out to celebrate our girl!

Congratulations beautiful Morgan! You have the world at your feet
and the heavens to guide you...

As your teachers sung to you... it is very appropriate for this time in your life...

May the road rise up to meet you.
May the wind be at your back.
May the sun shine, warm upon your face.
May the rain fall softly on your fields,
and until we meet again,
may you keep safe in the gentle
loving arms of God.

I love you, Morgan! I am so proud of the young woman you have become. And, I can't wait to see what the future holds for you.

FFF... Laughter and Smiles!

Hey guys!! Have you missed me? I have absolutely LOVED watching FFF continue over at Hannah's Blog and have missed posting my own!! This week, Hannah has asked me to host FFF for her so she can enjoy some much deserved away time to celebrate her 138th Birthday (yes, she is THAT OLD and wrinkly!!) and Dmitry's 10th Family Day!

This week's theme is Laughter and Smiles!! We sure have been experiencing a lot of that around here lately as spring has definitely sprung! As a matter of fact, several weeks ago during Spring Break week, Hannah and I got our kids together as some of you have already seen and had a little Princess and Pettiskirt photo session with the Sophias! They were FULL of laughs and giggles that day! Thought it would be a perfect opportunity to share some of those beautiful smiles on their cute little budding friendship!

Even some tickle tackles occurred and the girls LOVED it!

Dmitry was a sport and posed for the mamarazzi but would not wear a tutu!!! ha ha

Sophia was teaching Sophie the ropes on how to pose effectively!!

Yep, I think the tips were effective!! LOL!
Look at their little tudes!!!

Can't see their smiles, but this is one of my favorite shots!

Loads of laughter and smiles!!

Thanks Hannah for showing me the ropes of my new camera! And, I can't wait to get together again for another round of fun!!!

As Hannah says... Link Up and Leave Some Love!!!! See you next week back at Hannah's!!!

Best. Mothers. Day. Ever.

...because I heart these faces... and get to call them my own.

Will I ever catch up??