5 Hours (and 4 years) Ago...

About 5 hours (and 4 years) ago, I became the mommy of a little boy.

April 13, 2007
7:13 pm
8 pounds 12 ounces
21 inches long

About 5 hours (and 4 years) ago, she became a big sister.











About 5 hours (and 4 years) ago, she became a big sister (again.)





About 5 hours (and 4 years) ago, I looked down at this extraordinary little being...





and felt proud he chose me to be his Mommy.

Happy 4th Birthday Carter... I love you to the stars and back.

On His Way!

Three-and-a-half year old Rylee always wanted to join in on my monthly "belly pictures."

(Very often, a baby doll got in on the fun, too.)

We were waiting for Carter, who we had already named, to make his arrival.




He was due to arrive on April 25.

But, 4 years ago tonight, I went into labor.

Our little boy was on his way!

Right Where You Belong

Antonio's picture.




It's still on the Reece's Rainbow website.

Which means he's still overseas, in an orphanage... waiting for a Mom and Dad.

But, his picture is on a different page on the website.

"My Family Found Me."

That's the page.

The Gibson family of OshKosh, WI is working on bringing Antonio home.

Home.

And do you want to know what's ironic about the story of this little boy?
This little boy that's been on our minds and hearts (and Christmas tree) for 2 years?

They will be renaming him Carter.

* heart smile*

(Though I think in our minds he will always been Antonio!)

So, Antonio... you will always hold a special place in our hearts.

But you're picture won't be on a 2012 Reece's Rainbow Christmas Ornament on our tree next year.

You'll be at home, with your Mom and Dad, opening presents under your Christmas tree.

Right where you belong.

We've Been...

learning how to be a good sport.

Not easy when you're 3.

You're Allowed... and I'm Allowed

Thanks to the Special Olympics Facebook announcement, I learned this week that Tim Shriver, the Chairman and CEO of the Special Olympics, would be a guest on the Colbert Report. I was interested, especially after hearing he was going to tackle the use of the "R" word.

I've never watched the show.... even would have pronounced "Colbert" wrong until I heard it said. (So, thanks to the Special Olympics "person-in-charge-of-Facebook-updates" for the announcement!) After spending 20 minutes trying to find it on my channel guide, I set my DVR to record the show. You can watch the clip here.... (and you're welcome for saving you 20 minutes of searching your TV guide.)

A day later, Jeremy and I sat down to watch it.

Though there were a few things I wasn't thrilled by (mostly on Colbert's part), I was impressed.

Tim not only talked about People-First Language (which we appreciated)...

but it was the dialogue about the "R" word that got us.

In fact, after we heard it, we rewound it and listened again.

Then we rewound it again.

We looked at each other and smiled.

Have you experienced a time when you hear something and wish it had been you that said it? A time when you feel like holding your picket sign a little higher? A time when you feel like throwing out some "that's-what-I'm-talkin'-'bout" attitude? A time when you think that, if you were standing among friends with the same beliefs, you'd hear a loud "AMEN!" from the back of the crowd?

That's what I felt.

And every other word, I paused it... then rewound a little... then paused it again...

You guessed it.

I wrote it down.

* * * * *

Colbert: "You say that you cannot use the word... even as a character you cannot use the word."

Shriver: "I didn't say you cannot..." (interrupted by Colbert)

Colbert: "Isn't that 'thought police'? That's 'thought police.'"

Shriver: "I don't want to be a cop; I want to be a teacher. You're allowed to be humiliating, degrading, and hurtful. I'm allowed to petition you to at least recognize what you say and be aware of the option you have to stop."

* * * * *

Well said.

Okay, and I've gotta say it....

That's what I'm talkin' 'bout.