Corinna's 3rd Birthday= No More Paci

September 15th, 2009 was the day our little red head entered this world and captured our hearts.  September 15th, 2012 was the day she said goodbye to her paci and became our "big girl".

For months leading up to her birthday we had been repeating, "When you turn three, no more paci!"  We had been making such a big deal out of turning three and becoming a "big girl".  So it was only fitting that at her 3rd birthday party we said a big good bye to her paci. 

We were prepared to loose sleep that first night, but in true Corinna fashion she surprised us all by being a big girl and went right to sleep no problems.  Oh, since that first night we had whining, crying and screaming, but for the most part she is doing really well without her beloved paci.

Happy Birthday Corinna Bean!  You continue to keep us on our toes.  You are a challenge one minute, cracking us up the next, and then melting us with your sweetness.  Your confidence, independence, and passion are simply amazing.   We love you our big three year old girl!

Summer Review: Starlight Spectacular

Summer Review: Taylor Park Camping

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"Picnik Show"

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Happy Daddy

Tim became a dad for the first time January 31st, 2005 when Elise was born. This picture of Tim kissing Elise is one of my all time favorites. (My mom took the picture!) So when Corinna was born September 15th, 2009 making Tim a dad for a second time I had to stage a kissing picture. I love these pictures side by side revealing the moment Tim fell in love with his sweet precious daughters.

Tim is the wonderful dad. I am often in awe of his ability to parent with what seems to be ease. He is a natural teacher allowing the girls to listen, watch and participate in whatever the task at hand might be. His explanations are simple, to the point, and on their level. We jokingly say, "Tim's lot in life is to be surrounded by beautiful girls." He takes the girly-ness of our household in stride. He can play dolls, pretend, and yes the occasional dress up with the best of them. He is one incredible dad and I blessed to watch him love and parent our sweet girls!

Happy Father's Day Tim!

I like to move it, move it

Corinna Sunglasses

Corinna Walks Into Chair

Pemanent Marker!!!!

While on the telephone with Tim this afternoon Corinna walked up to me looking like this....

Corinna found a permanent marker. The really big and thick kind you would use to make a poster. She came to me with the marker in hand and my phone call with Tim ended with, "I have to go now, bye." Thankfully her canvas was her mouth and I am hopeful in time her tongue will not longer be black!

She's SIX!

Oh my heart! Today I took a six year old to school. I am not sure how we got here so fast. When I was looking through pictures for the collage I kept thinking I remember that just like it happened a little bit ago instead of years ago.

Elise came into this world January 31, 2005 at 5:32pm weighing 7 lbs 4 oz and was 20 1/2 inches long. Today six years later she weighs 43 lbs 4 oz and is 43 inches tall.

She is growing into a wonderful little girl. She is so hard working, eager to please, and has a very compassionate heart. It brings a smile to my face when her sentences begin with "Mom, did you know..." She has a knack for getting her baby sister to belly laugh harder than anyone else. When asked if she would rather have a big sister than be a big sister her immediate and proud response, "I like being the big sister."

We are so blessed that God has given her to us! Happy 6th Birthday, Elise!

Clips, Cake and Celebration

The bad news is I don't have any pictures of Corinna's first birthday over the weekend because I broke my camera. My sister-in-law did give me permission to harass her until she sends me some pictures! The good news is I have a wonderful father-in-law with a new Mino Flip video camera. Enjoy the celebration!

Happy First Birthday

You entered this world at 12:36pm September 15, 2009 and our world has never been the same.

Happy Birthday Corinna!



Stats: weight 18 lbs 7oz height 29 inches

Nicknames: Corinna Bean, Bean, and a lot of combinations using bean... stinky bean, bean sprout, little bean

Likes: animals, clapping hands, WALKING, climbing, pulling purses around, getting into the baby wipes and toilet, reading books, pulling books off the shelf

Dislikes: the word "No"

(I am very sad to say that this is the only current picture I have from Labor Day weekend. I fell last Saturday at Garden of the Gods and broke our camera. Thankfully nothing else was broken just a lot of scraps. I would post pictures, but my camera is broken!)

Anticipation

Tomorrow is a very special day... Corinna's first birthday! When Tim and I were talking about her birthday, I realized that the eve of her birthday held something special... the call. The call we had been anticipating. Around 9pm Monday September 14th, 2009 the call came that our birth Mom was in labor. I knew the minute my cell phone rang that night it was the call we had been anticipating. We weren't expecting the call for another week, so there was some rushing around packing everyone up before we could hit the road for Alamosa, Colorado. We were so nervous we wouldn't make it in time for her arrival, but thanks to my lead-footed husband we made it in record time. We made it with plenty of time to wait..... anticipate.... and wait some more. Corinna wouldn't make her arrival into the world until about lunch time the next day, but I'll talk more about that tomorrow. Here are a few pictures of what that night of anticipation held for Tim and I.

Growing Pains

So the other day Elise says, "Mom, feel my tooth it's loose!" She has said this for the past year since cousins and friends have been loosing their teeth so I didn't really believe her. It wasn't until she said it hurt that I took a closer look and feel and what did I discover... Elise has fer first loose tooth! It is not that loose so it will be some time before tooth fairy visits. And not to be outdone by her big sister Corinna has learned how to stand all by her self. She did it for several seconds several times yesterday. I am not sure my heart will survive this growing up stuff. Will someone please send me some no grow pills or a stop time machine???

Kindergarten Denial

We filled out paper work...
We bought school supplies...
We bought school clothes....
We went to meet your teacher night....
and somehow I failed to process the fact that our first born was really starting kindergarten. So today August 16, 2010 I dropped Elise off for her first day of Kindergarten. I was a little teary as I left her sitting at her desk in her classroom. I thought I was fine until I had to drive away. I was less than a block away when this mama lost it. There was so much emotion that just came flooding at me all at once. I am hopeful that by the time she reaches first grade I'll be fine with the whole kindergarten thing.... maybe.
And let's just continue the denial by not talking about how we will have a one year old in a month!

Summer Sprinkler Splash

Not An Update

o this morning I was looking for some cute video from Elise's preschool graduation, but I could not find them. During my hunt I found this video and it made my heart sigh. The first sigh was for the little girl in the video who is so not three anymore, but many of her mannerism, facial expression and voice inflections are exactly the same at five. The second sigh was for the cat she is holding. Troub got very sick and is no longer around try and avoid Elise catching him. He is not a kids cat. He avoided Elise and Corinna from the day we brought each of them home from the hospital, but he never scratched or bit them no matter how much love they forced on him. So join me in my sighs down memory lane....

Photo and video editing at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Five Year Old Faith

On the car ride home from preschool today the following conversation took place....

Elise: Mom, did you know when you hear the trumpet sound and see the clouds roll back that Jesus is coming back?

Me: Yes, Elise I did know that.

Elise: Is it exciting?!?!

Me: Yes, it is very exciting to know Jesus is returning and we don't know when, but we keep watching and waiting.

Exciting news indeed that our risen living Lord will not stay in heaven forever, but will one day return for us!

Tonight in the bathroom after telling Elise all I wanted to do was lay down and sleep. ( I have a cold that is taking it out of me.)

Elise: Maybe at bedtime when we do prayers we could pray and ask God to help you feel better and heal you?

Me: Yes, Elise that would be a very good thing to pray.

Elise: We could pray now. Do you want to pray now?

Me: Yes!

Elise: (eyes closed head bowed) Dear God, Thank for today. Thank you for going to preschool. Please help mommy to feel better and heal her. Amen .

Again my five year old reminds me that we can pray any time, any place, for anything.

It's Official

The above pictures is our copy of the Final Decree of Adoption. On September 15, 2009 Corinna entered our hearts. On September 16,2009 Corinna entered our home. Today March 26, 2010 Corinna Lynne Bennett entered our family forever! We loved her when we first saw her in the hospital, we loved when we entered the court room to finalize, and we loved her leaving the court house. It was all very official and formal. We had to raise our right hands and swear that our testimony was truthful. After answering a series of questions the magistrate decreed the adoption final! It was all so simple yet the meaning behind this piece of paper is very profound. And before I share some pictures from our day let me share with you what I want to always remember when I look back at this day.

The teary eyes of my mother when we walked into the court house. She looked just like the day we brought Corinna home for the first time, only this time her eyes seem to say welcome to the family.

Tim pushing Corinna around the mall in the stroller. He was one proud and protective daddy today.

Elise singing to Corinna "You are a Bennett- it's official" over and over on the car ride home.

Holding my sweet baby girl tonight as she fell asleep in my arms knowing today only gave me a piece of paper to prove what my heart has always known to be true Corinna Lynne Bennett is my daughter.

Picture Bragging

I took the girls to Target to get pictures taken. I could not decide on a package partly due to cost and partly due to the limiting number of pictures in a package. So I paid the price and got at CD which contains 30 pictures which I can do whatever I want with. Here is what I have done so far.....

5 Years and 5 Months

So for the past month I had fun saying I have a five year old and a five month old. Well tomorrow all that changes... Corinna will be six months old. (Thankfully Elise will still be 5!) I know I keep saying it, but time keeps passing too fast. This past month feels that way especially as Corinna has started eating solids, rolling over, sitting up (still a little unstable) and teething (two in one week!). My baby is so quickly growing up it is hard to remember her as an infant just six months ago. She is so sweet and has a smile for everyone. She is laughing a lot more, but we can't get video because she becomes mute when she sees the video camera. Tomorrow we are off to the doctor for our six month well baby check and a five year old check as well. So if you think of it pray for me and the girls at 1:30 tomorrow not sure what one mom+ two girls getting shots=