Photo of the Week

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It wasn't necessarily any special.  Maybe it was just the way the light seemed to fill everything so I could see things very clearly.  Maybe it was my vantage point.  The girls and I normally sit right beside each other to eat, but on this particular morning, I decided to sit across from her...and she was so small.

She has seemed so small to me lately.  Last night when she crawled into my bed and I wrapped my arms around her...she was so small.  When her feet rested against my legs to listen to music and read a story together...she was so small.  When she came to me and whispered, "I have a secret...I love you," she seemed so small.

I forget because I'm constantly in a state of amazement at how smart, talented and kind she is.  It's because of this that the tiny whispers of "I'm scared, mommy" throw me off and make me remember, she's still just a baby.  My little baby who wraps her arms around me so tight during the day, and at night, just lies in my arms in complete trust.  She's just a baby.

Until next time...

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The Hollie Rogue

McDougall Photography

The Long Road to China

Photo of The Week

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Pumpkins! 

Oh, pumpkins.  Pumpkins, pumpkins, pumpkins.  I love the word, pumpkins.  Grace does too because that is all I’ve heard this past week since telling her we were going to go to the pumpkin patch on Mr. MCD’s day off.

Every day it was, “Are we going to the pumpkin patch?  Oh no!  I’ve got to go get dressed, we don’t want to be late!”

She would run off in a frenzy gathering any and all clothing she could find.  One day she even brought me a hair tie and a bow and asked me to put her hair up so she could play in the pumpkin patch.

So when the moment finally came for us to leave, I was a little worried that the pumpkin patch might not live up to the hype of the week.  We’ve made maps to the pumpkin patch, talked about it endlessly, made drawings of what the carvings should look like (I should have taken pictures of those…there wouldn’t be any pumpkin left!).  It’s been a big deal around here.

When we were a little ways away, I saw the pumpkin patch…and it was dry.  Ohio was hit pretty hard by this year’s heat and it showed.  The ground was so cracked and dusty and everything was so withered.  But, we were not disappointed!

Photo of The Week

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Look at those two.  It doesn't get much cuter than that. 

That's baby boy Ben and Jubbles the Claire...see what I did there...

I love two babies together.  They are always so fascinated with one another.  From the moment these two met they have been lovey doveys.  Claire used to crawl onto Ben when he was still back bound and would kick her legs up and down behind her with excitement.  She loved to give him kisses.  

When Ben was just starting to move around, he got her back.  He would grab her and kiss her.  He even kind of tackled her a couple times.  He would just pin her and give this amazingly huge smile.  I've never seen anything like this kids smile.

And this visit was no different except for the fact that they haven't seen each other in a while and a lot has changed.  Claire walks very well and Ben is just starting to.  Claire would squeal with excitement when Ben would get going and he was so gentle when would touch her face and hair.

They played and played together.  At one point I caught a stare down and then a giggle.  They were so sweet together.  

I already had my photo of the week post written and ready but when my friend and her boys decided to crash my afternoon...YAY!...the pictures I got were just too much for me to pass up.

That's right...boys.  We had four little kiddos running around.  Grace, Claire, Jake and Ben...and I think Ben took his very first solo steps to mommy!  That was exciting.

And even though this is the "Photo" of the week...I can't help but share a few others from our visit...

Jake, smiling.  He's so active and busy...

Claire and Ben playing on the computer... 

Jake and Grace playing in the dirt and having an absolute blast.  At one point they were sitting right next to each other working together to fill a bucket and quietly talking to each other.  So cute.

Look at that cuteness!

Oh, that smile.  It just kills me.  And boy does he loves his Momma!

Everyone played together so nicely.  It was so much fun.

A little platter of our finest meats and cheeses.  Jake kept feeding Claire and it was very serious work.  He kept saying, "Care like cheese....I do too."

Such a fun afternoon.  It was definitely the icing on the cake for my day.  

Thank you Jen for sharing your friendship and your family with mine. ♥ 

Until next time...

Linked up to... 

The Hollie Rogue

McDougall Photography

The Long Road to China

Photo of the Week

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Obviously, this photo wasn't taken this week.  But I thought that since this little angel has been on my mind so much this week, it was only fitting to have her as my first Photo of the Week post.   (That's a lot of "weeks" in one paragraph!)

Claire just turned one in August and even though I desperately try not to think about her birth and the days after, that seems to be all I can think about lately.  

There are a couple new and, quite frankly, stinking adorable babies around me these days.  Holding these tiny little creatures has given me a bit of baby fever.  But as soon as I think, "Yeah, why not?  We could have another one."  My brain then comes to a screeching halt and I immediately think about her birth.

I don't know if Mr. MCD and I will ever have another baby.  We both want one.  But I think I'm too afraid right now to even try.

As for the picture.  This was the very first picture I took of her to share with everyone.  I took it on August 31st, 2011, 20 days after she was actually born, and I still didn't share it until September 1st.  I remember thinking and asking Mr. MCD if he thought we could...if we should.  I think I kept thinking that the amazing miraculous recovery she had made would all of a sudden disappear and I really wouldn't get to have her after all.

Claire is a miracle and there is no doubt about that.  She has no physical issues...a shock.  She has no brain damage...a COMPLETE shock.  In fact, she's crazy smart.

I am lucky I came out of it alive and, God willing, still able to have future babies if our family wishes and Claire is truly a blessed baby.

We love our family and we love our friends.  It always amazes me the support and comfort people can give in the darkest of situations.  

Happy 1st Birthday to my little miracle.

Until next time...

Linked up to "Photo Friday" at The Hollie Rogue