Good Ol' Rocky Top (lots of pics)

Oh what a wonderful weekend we had. We loaded up the car and headed to the Smokey Mountains for a long weekend. We were looking forward to enjoying the beauty that is so bountiful up there along with visiting some 'kin folk' (as Judson likes to say). Well, Mother Nature had other things in store. It rained inches upon inches! They even asked that people not come to Neyland Stadium because the streets were flooded. So outdoor beauty was limited to our view from the hotel room. We did get alot of visiting in and that was so much fun. It was the first time my family had been able to meet Ansley. She warmed up to them pretty quickly. (especially the men!)


We did have a few meltdowns. Have you ever stayed in ONE hotel room FOUR days with THREE very young children? The key is to keep moving. Do not stay in the room very long. We hit the mall in Knoxville (the 'K' is silent, so Judson tells me), the outlet mall and Christmas village in Pigeon Forge, along with a few eating establishments. Another key is NOT to go to restaurants where the food takes longer than 10 minutes to arrive at your table. All I can say is we left the hotels in one piece and the restaurants just a little bit messier than we found them.



It was wonderful and we're already thinking about what we'd like to do next time!

Observations after 3 months.

Can you believe it has only been 3 months since Ansley came home? It just hit me today, this child hasn't been with us FOREVER. It sure feels like she has. Her communication has grown geometrically over the last 3 months. Don't get me wrong, she still WHINES. Oh boy, does she whine. But she has gotten better. She is saying alot of words: Momma, DaDa, JuhJuh (Judson), SawSaw, bye, hello, wah(water), MeMe (cat), eat, no, bad. She is sleeping thru the nite with minimal waking. She still bites Sawyer every once in a while but she knows that is "BAD". She also knows what timeout means. She loves to GO, just like her mommy. She is very observant. She loves to put puzzles together. She loves music. She loves shoes. She is a little gymnast. She likes to play games: "Where's Ansley?" and "Ring around the Rosies". And she follows Judson around like a little puppy. What a perfect addition to our family!

This Week's Pictures

I had so much fun adding pictures to the collage last week, I decided to do it again for this week. Couple of things: One, Sawyer has a black eye because he fell while trying to cruise aroung the kitchen table. Two, Ansley LOVES music and LOVES to dance. Three, Ansley loves hiding underneath the bed! Four, Judson has a new Big Boy bike, hence the helmet.

Enjoy!!

Odds and Ends

This is just a collage of pics I've taken the last couple of days. EXPLANATION: Ansley is underneath the megasaucer in the middle right pic. While underneath the megasaucer, she was using the seat like a periscope. Thus the picture in the top right.

Judson's Birthday

Let me just take this opportunity to brag on my oldest son. His #4 birthday is coming up. And his Nana and Pop were in town and we decided to celebrate. I asked him what he wanted for his birthday. His answer was " His mommy and a cake". Then I asked would he want a store bought cake or would he like to make a cake. He decided he wanted to make a train cake. So we spent a few hours making and decorating the cake. He even cracked the eggs (including some shells) and ran the mixer.
Then we opened presents. I promise you he would have been happy with any 'one' of these gifts. After opening each one, he'd want to play with it. He didn't want to move on to the other gifts. I've seen so many kids just mow thru packages and when the packages were all opened, they'd just say, "Are there any more". Not this kid. He was content just playing with the one gift he was opening. We had to coax him to get him to open the rest of the presents. Gosh, I hope he never changes.

He is an awesome little boy and growing into quite a young man!!!!!

Play Date

We had a playdate today with some cyber friends from Reece's Rainbow. The kids and I loaded up the car and treked north. It wasn't that bad, comparatively. We had a great time and got to make some new friends. Plus, it's always more fun to play with someone else's toys rather than the 'same' toys you have at your own house.

Re-adoption (Domestication of Adoption)

Here we are in the judge's chambers. We just completed Ansley's re-adoption. Everything went very smoothly and quickly. The process took all of 5 minutes. To celebrate, we went to McDonald's and ate cinnamon rolls and played on the playground!!!! WooHoo!!!!!

Pool Party!!!!!

Ever wonder how the poor smucks who don't have pools keep cool in the summer. We pull out the hose and the plastic pool!!!!! Life doesn't get any better.

Say Cheese!!

Don't you just love these smiles??????

Yet another Geek!!!

Can you believe it? It must be the house!!! Isn't it written somewhere, The Geeks shall inherit the earth?????? Just kidding....

Just a Swingin!!

We finally added another swing to the swing set. Now all three kids can swing at the same time. I don't think Ansley likes to be in the swing because it makes her sleepy. It's pretty funny to watch those little eyes trying to stay awake. Judson can swing so high he touches the leaves on the tree! And Sawyer just likes to swing. He'd swing all day if someone would push him. Enjoy.

More Pictures

Don't let those innocent faces fool you.....


Daddy and Judson fishing









Pop-Pop holding fish Judson caught
Sawyer and Ansley doing what they do best....mess









Ansley doing her best Scarlett impersonation----It was very hot!

Trip to Nana and Pop's House

Be patient, lots of pictures.

We loaded up the car and headed to Alabama for a long weekend. It was the first road trip we had made since Ansley got home. First let me say, it was the saddest little face you could have ever seen. She saw the bags being packed and the car being loaded. She got so anxious and so very sad. Her eyes said it all. "Am I going to be taken away by another family, now"? It made me want to cry. But we loaded up the kids (Not quite like Jed and Granny on the big truck, but almost) and headed out. She was so subdued the whole way. She just didn't know what to think, I'm sure. When we got there, it took an hour or two for her to warm up to everyone and everything. But after that, she was fine.

We spent the weekend eating and playing around the farm. Ansley ate boiled peanuts and freeze pops for the first time. (At least since arriving in America) She got to meet her cousins and had fun playing with them. Judson caught a fish! Sawyer got a buzz cut! There was excitement galore for everyone. Everyone at church ooo'd and ahh'd over all of the children. On the way home, we stopped to eat lunch. A stranger said "You have very beautiful children". We agreed!!!!!



So the weekend was a success and Ansley learned that trips can be good things. I have more pictures but will save them for another time.

The Difference

We all know men and women are from 2 different planets, right? Who knew that difference was so prominent at such an early age?

Did you know boys belly laugh? It's a deep and wonderful laugh that makes you smile and laugh too. Sometimes that belly laugh starts and they can't stop it, no matter how hard they try. Now girls will sometimes belly laugh but what is special about them is the giggle. They just giggle when they are enjoying something. It can be when playing tea party with big brother or when mom does a silly dance or when daddy twirls them around. It can be for no obvious reason at all. They just feel good and that giggle just wiggles right out of them.

Did you know when little boys want something that you are playing with, they will go sit beside you and watch you and hope to goodness you'll share. (probably won't ask because that is against the rules to 'ask' anything, especially directions, right?) Little girls will go grab what you are playing with because it is obvious you do not know how to play with it properly and it is their duty to teach you. Of course, little girls only want to play with the toy if you are going to sit and watch them play and learn how to play properly.

Little girls can give you 'the look'. It's that piercing glare that tells you that you have crossed the line and are in danger of 'bad things'. Little boys are oblivious to that stare. (Just like their older counterparts) They go on about their way until something 'bad' happens and then they wonder 'why', what did I do. It all could have been avoided had they heeded 'the look'.

Little girls are Drama Queens. When they get 'corrected' or disciplined, the hand goes over the brow with the palm facing out (very Scarlett O'hara-like). If that doesn't work, they start the wailing. If that doesn't work, then the tears. Little boys just go, "what's wrong with her" or "make her stop"?

Little girls try to be neat eaters. They don't try to slurp their cereal milk because it sounds so funny. They don't purposefully dribble milk down their shirts. They don't try to eat as fast as they can, just because. Little boys, DO!

It is so funny to watch these little ones. The picture is of the kids sporting their 'true colors'.

We Belong in the Zoo

We went to the zoo today. It was Ansley's first time to visit our zoo. We had a great time. Not too hot and humid, as summers in the south go. It was wash the stinky elephants day and show off the birds day. And the grand finale was to ride the train. I think everyone enjoyed our zoo visit.

Temper, Temper

Have you ever heard it said that a child with Down Syndrome is happy all the time. Let me dispel that rumor right now. The child I know with Down Syndrome throws fits just like any other child. The above fit was thrown because he did not get his 4pm macaroni and cheese. Nope, Mom tried something 'new'. As you can see, it did not go over well.

The picture below was taken after Sawyer stood up all by himself. You can see how proud he is of his accomplishment. Life is never dull in this household. I was at the mall today. I catch Ansley getting out of her side of the stroller, into Sawyer's side of the stroller. Not sure what happened but when I get her off of him, I see that he has teeth marks in is finger. I'm betting he tried to take her pacifier away. You don't touch her pacifier without major ramifications!
The only thing worse than touching her pacifier is touching her blanket. I'm thinking ABC needs to do a Reality TV show at our house.

Shameless Plug

If you or someone you know has ever thought about adoption, I would like to refer you to www.reecesrainbow.com (link is on the right hand side of your screen). All of the children on Reece's Rainbow have Down Syndrome. For all who know Sawyer, you know what a bright, happy, funny, special little guy he is. (not to mention handsome like his dad) All the children on this site are beautiful and special and need a forever family. There is one little boy who will be sent to a mental institution soon if a family does not find him. So I ask you to pass this information on to people you know who might know someone who might want to adopt. There is also opportunity for those who would like to donate financially. It is a great cause and one that is near and dear to our hearts.

And just to keep things 'happy', here's a new pic of the kids. Don't let those innocent faces fool you. Not 2 minutes after I took this picture, I hear a thud and a whimper. Ansley was behind the chair, flat on her back. I suspect she stood up (after 100 times of being told not to) and fell(was pushed). But all ended well, she was not hurt.