Hot Hot Hot

It is so hot outside...and I am a winter girl.  Tonight, Jakob and Jada went outside to play for a short stint.  As they walked out the deck door, hubsters told them not to get soaking wet.  HA!  They ventured out to the uncovered sandboxes.  I think there is more water in there than sand.  We got some MAJOR jungle style rain on Saturday.  First, Jada was 'stirring' the water, then she got in, then Jakob followed, then they were dancing, then they were sitting in the water, then they were laying in it (remember, there is sand in there too), then their white clothes were brown from the dirty water, then they took their shirts off, then their shorts, then the diaper and underwear came off.  It was funny--until you remember we have people in the neighborhood who I certainly don't want to catch a glimpse of my children in the buff.....then I went out to tell them to come in, and THEN, they started running around the yard so I couldn't catch them.  It was the most hilarious thing ever, but I couldn't laugh, and I couldn't take pictures, but all I could do was think how awesome it is that they are having such a fun summer and that I can't wait until Jenay is out their running with them and I hope and pray they are all the best of friends forever.  Childhood innocence....I hope we can hang onto that for a very long time! 

3 Peas Photography and Celebrating Adoption

If you didn't know, there is a program out there called Celebrating Adoption.  Briefly, it is a program where a photographer is willing to donate their time and talent to offer a family that has adopted a free photo session and in our case, we also get 15 free 4x6's and then 15% off anything else we order.  I'm not sure if all the photographers are current on the list link but we used Amy from 3 Peas Photography--twice--when we adopted Jada and then again with Jenay.  She is simply an AMAZING photographer and has been incredibly generous to our family.  If you click on the 3 Peas link, it will take you directly to the sneak peek of our photo session.  Absolutely incredible!  It is going to be difficult to choose, but she is worth EVERY SINGLE PENNY!  Thanks Amy!  You will have to visit her site to see our gorgeous babes!  She is also on facebook.....Enjoy!

Gift of Adoption

Here are a few lives that Gift of Adoption has truly made a difference in the past year. These are awesome stories and hopefully you will be inspired to give to this charity that truly helps to change lives. I should know, they've made a HUGE difference in ours! We are truly blessed!

Dark Girls

I have a lot to learn.  I came across this AMAZING documentary that is being created right now.  Being the mother of two brown babies after growing up in a white privileged world makes me really really really naive about racial issues.  I want to believe that the world is changing for the better....I hope to be a part of that change.  Here is a link to a preview of the Dark Girls documentary.  They are in need of funding to continue filming.  If you feel compelled to donate--you can click the link on the right hand side of my blog.


Dark Girls: Preview from Bradinn French on Vimeo.

You can also help create awareness too!  Head on over to DARK GIRLS on facebook and give them a little love!  

And if you are curious where I got my fabulous connection....head on over to MY BROWN BABY!  You will not be disappointed!!  Thanks Denene for all your time and kind hearted support answering all those questions that every white momma is afraid to ask!  You are very much appreciated! 

Little things.....more precious than life!

Sometimes the littlest things are so big in your life!  Jenay took her first baby steps today.  I was able to catch some on video.  The sweetest thing EVER!  I'm not sure if I would have ever appreciated something as small as this if I wasn't given all the complicated circumstances in my life.  All I know is I'm thankful that I was here to witness what I believe is truly a miracle! YAY JENAY!!  And just a note:  we are dog sitting for the dog...we are not crazy enough to add a dog to our lives right now, especially when Jakob is not a big fan of dogs anyway.  AND, there is something to be said about a poop free yard with three kids 5 and under!  Sorry about the turned video....I'm unable to rotate it on this computer.  It's not very long anyway.....

Party train!

I guess you have to get creative when you have an odd number of kids.  Thanks to my dad (whom can build anything), I can now get out with all three and enjoy the summer weather.  We got a lot of double takes tonight, but I figured it was because of my orange socks.....right?  I'm used to my family drawing a lot of attention anyway--so it's really no big deal.  I suppose there is room for one more since both trailers seat two...  I suppose technically, Craig could hook another double trailer to his bike and we would have room for even more!  I suppose I would have to okay that with him first! haha!  So far, we are having a pretty great summer! :0)

Birthmother's Day!

I know there is a lot of controversy about Birthmother's Day.  We celebrate it in our family.  All three of our children's birthmothers  celebrate with us.  We want them to feel honored, loved, and respected.  We want them to know that we feel so blessed that they have chosen us to be their children's parents.  We want them to know that we are forever grateful that they chose life for their babies despite their circumstances.  We want them to know they are part of our family.  We want them to know that we will make it through life's challenges--good and bad--together.  We want them to know that we understand that it will never be easy and that we will all ebb and flow throughout our lives.  Most days we will fit together easy as pie and as with any other family member, there will be challenging days too.  I hope they know that they pretty much made all my dreams come true when ALL THREE of them were able to come over to our home on Birthmother's Day.  There is no possible way that I could put into words what I was feeling on that very special day.  I hope we can manage to do that again in the future.  I have the BEST photo ever of all three together with their babies.  I will cherish it until no end!  I can't post my favorite for privacy reasons...but here's a couple more of my favorites!

Tanisha and Jenay

Jenay was so happy to be around Tanisha!  She was chirping and talking up a storm the ENTIRE time!  We are so very blessed that she was able to make it!

Kaiti reading to Jada and Jakob.  I'm surprised they are not both on top of her!

Kaiti and Jakob--they have the same smile!

I love this one!  Proof that Jada's beautiful birthmother was here....but yet, maintaining her privacy. 

I certainly would not have been a mother without these three extraordinary women.  I certainly would not have been the same kind of mother I am now without open adoption--without having the privilege of knowing these women (Jada's birthmother started out wanting a closed adoption).  It is truly a miracle that we were all together for a day and I will cherish that in my heart FOREVER!  I feel every ounce of heart ache and pain that comes parallel with the joy and celebration of our children.  That is why I believe that these mothers deserve recognition on their own day.  And we celebrate with their blessings.