Fun Day With Cousins

Every Wednesday throughout the summer I am watching my sister, Molly's, kids. Yesterday we all had a fun day. Eliza and Sadie love to play with their cousins, Wyatt and Elliot.

DaDa

This little scene is from when Eliza was about a year and a half old. She is such a teaser! I used to ask her to say "Mommy." EVERY time she responded, "DaDa!" She cracked me up then and I still think its hilarious that she teased me!

NuNu

This is hilarious and so kooky...My kids have an odd relationship with our vacuum cleaner. It dates back to about a year and a half ago. At about 12 months old Eliza suddenly developed a fear of the vacuum cleaner. She began to call the vacuum, NuNu, which is the name of the vacuum/pet on the PBS show, Teletubbies. She'd sit up high on the couch when the vacuum was turned on but as soon as it was turned off, she'd want to sit next to it. Her relationship with NuNu became even stranger over time. She would want me to park NuNu next to her so they could watch tv together. She began to cry every time I put the vacuum away in the closet. As long as "he" is quiet, they are great friends. This inspired Santa to bring Eliza her very own NuNu for Christmas last year.

So I guess I started this...I wanted to put the vacuum away in the closet without Eliza crying. So, we would go through this dramatic routine of saying good-bye to the vacuum. We would thank "him" for helping us clean our floors. Eliza decided to go the extra mile and kiss and hug him good-bye. While Sadie has never shown fear of the vacuum, she does exhibit the same affection for it.

Sweet, Sweet Eliza

A couple of weeks ago Sadie ripped a page in my Book of Mormon. David tells a story about it here.

Well this morning I was sitting on the couch and was reading in the said book. Eliza comes up beside me to look at what I am doing. She tells me that Sadie ripped Mommy's book. I nodded my head and solemnly noted, "Yeah." Eliza then with concern puts her little hand on my shoulder and says, "Mommy sad... Its okay, Mommy, Daddy fix it." I said, "Yeah, Daddy fixed my book." Eliza goes on, "Daddy tape it. Eliza helped Daddy tape... Mommy Happy!" I was smiling through her darling comments and I agreed, "Yes! Mommy's Happy!" She smiles and repeats, "Mommy happy!" Then Eliza put her little arm around my neck and said, "Mommy, I love you," and then she ran off. I think that was the first time Eliza said I love you to me when I didn't say it to her first. Eliza has shown compassion and concern for others since she was an infant. She's a caring person by nature. Add that to her wild side and she is really quite charming.

Making up for lost time...

I have only been blogging now for about a month. I wish I started sooner but I am making up for lost time. I just spent many hours on my computer uploading pictures of my girls that span their whole lives. David made this possible by watching the girls all afternoon. Thanks. I know its a little long, but its sort-of like family history. I hope you enjoy it.

Eliza's Adoption Video

In honor of Mothers Day I created a special slide show presentation for your viewing pleasure. I became a mother because another mother selflessly and lovingly gave me the opportunity. David and I adopted our first born, Eliza. Because her birth mother chose to place her with us, I was given the gift of motherhood and David and I were blessed to have a family. We will always be grateful for her sacrifice. So on this Mothers Day I wanted to remember Amanda so I created a little slide show. The pictures are from the first few weeks of Eliza's life. Eliza was born on August 13, 2004 in Anchorage, Alaska.