tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-43882299914755501212024-03-06T00:26:52.510-05:00flip flops and lip gloss*pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you.* ~james 1:27leslihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16809283354584827538noreply@blogger.comBlogger327125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4388229991475550121.post-8141306276613839492020-04-12T01:07:00.000-04:002020-04-12T01:11:45.118-04:00<div> Mrsleslisweeney</div><div><br></div><div>https://hideuri.com/7b0r81</div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div>Lesli Sweeney</div><div><br></div>leslihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16809283354584827538noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4388229991475550121.post-69524553373428604372020-03-29T03:48:00.000-04:002020-03-29T03:52:54.165-04:00<div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:10.4pt;font-family:sans-serif'>Mrsleslisweeney<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:10.4pt;font-family:sans-serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:10.4pt;font-family:sans-serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:10.4pt;font-family:sans-serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:10.4pt;font-family:sans-serif'><a href="https://clck.ru/Mi8wf">https://clck.ru/Mi8wf</a><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:10.4pt;font-family:sans-serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:10.4pt;font-family:sans-serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:10.4pt;font-family:sans-serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:10.4pt;font-family:sans-serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:10.4pt;font-family:sans-serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:10.4pt;font-family:sans-serif'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:10.4pt;font-family:sans-serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p></div>leslihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16809283354584827538noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4388229991475550121.post-21249182500832947522019-07-08T06:44:00.001-04:002019-07-08T06:44:14.082-04:00hi Mrsleslisweeney<div dir="auto">      Mrsleslisweeney<div dir="auto"><br></div><div dir="auto"><a href="https://imolko.com/aurora-ws/s-e/b524bd2b/53be9b4a0cf21666e6824570/53be9eb40cf21666e6824c73?i=22&u=https://u.to/Uj3PFQ">https://imolko.com/aurora-ws/s-e/b524bd2b/53be9b4a0cf21666e6824570/53be9eb40cf21666e6824c73?i=22&u=https://u.to/Uj3PFQ</a></div><div dir="auto"><br></div><div dir="auto"><br></div><div dir="auto"><br></div><div dir="auto"><br></div><div dir="auto">Lesli</div></div><div dir="auto"><br></div>leslihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16809283354584827538noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4388229991475550121.post-90380481041253939392017-09-22T14:13:00.001-04:002017-09-22T14:13:03.912-04:00salutations Mrsleslisweeney
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<br>Lesli Sweeneyleslihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16809283354584827538noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4388229991475550121.post-68254353021967007102017-09-15T10:24:00.000-04:002017-09-15T10:25:02.759-04:00sup Mrsleslisweeney
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<br>Leslileslihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16809283354584827538noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4388229991475550121.post-18521038028275659372015-01-05T13:49:00.001-05:002015-01-05T13:49:54.324-05:00rug<p class="mobile-photo"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jWjjacxlhW8/VKrc055akOI/AAAAAAAABkQ/ovJExxy8jZ0/s1600/IMG_5016-794325.jpg"><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jWjjacxlhW8/VKrc055akOI/AAAAAAAABkQ/ovJExxy8jZ0/s320/IMG_5016-794325.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6100931446679703778" /></a></p><div style="color:#000; background-color:#fff; font-family:HelveticaNeue, Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, Arial, Lucida Grande, sans-serif;font-size:16px"><div><br></div></div>leslihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16809283354584827538noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4388229991475550121.post-53106248542556332912012-03-19T16:08:00.003-04:002012-03-19T16:16:48.859-04:00happy 1st gotcha home day, greer!!<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; ">i interrupt this previously scheduled blogger silence to bring you this announcement:</span></div><div><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RKjZHYKoe3U/T2eSd0BmrhI/AAAAAAAABc4/-d_6DfJUgII/s1600/Greers%2B1st%2Bgotcha%2Bday.jpg" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 368px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RKjZHYKoe3U/T2eSd0BmrhI/AAAAAAAABc4/-d_6DfJUgII/s400/Greers%2B1st%2Bgotcha%2Bday.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5721702892476739090" /></a><span ><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 100%; ">i can't believe it's been a WHOLE YEAR since we marched off the plane with this little man!! we love our little buddy more than life. God has been so </span>abundantly<span style="font-size: 100%; "> and undeservedly good to us.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 100%; ">we like his little sister a whole, awful lot too :) </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 100%; "><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 100%; "><div style="font-size: medium; "><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0p-8Zw13f2E/T2eTqCaAPZI/AAAAAAAABdE/W5mpvAipYcI/s1600/416827_10100584566725520_12900566_50444636_57506238_n.jpg" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; "><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0p-8Zw13f2E/T2eTqCaAPZI/AAAAAAAABdE/W5mpvAipYcI/s400/416827_10100584566725520_12900566_50444636_57506238_n.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5721704202007231890" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px; " /></a></div></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 100%; "><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 100%;">ok, that is all for now. i hope y'all are doing </span>exceedingly<span style="font-size: 100%;"> well too! now back to our previously scheduled silence...</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 100%;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;">x0x0~</div></span><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><br /></div></div>leslihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16809283354584827538noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4388229991475550121.post-68988262600303010072011-10-12T15:27:00.003-04:002011-10-12T15:42:52.438-04:00180 movieok, i know i'm being slacker blogger again lately. we've got so much going on {which i love}, but that's leaving my time and motivation for blogging lagging. sorry friends, if you're even still out there :) <div><br /></div><div>however, i watched this video today and can't quit thinking about it so i wanted to share! it's a long one, well at least for youtube videos, but it's worth your time! please sit down and watch this, but maybe not with your young kiddos, as there are some pretty graphic pictures. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/7y2KsU_dhwI" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div>knowing what we know about greer's family history, it definitely makes my heart burst with love and appreciation for greer's birth mother. she obviously loved him enough to give him a chance at life when he could have very well been an exception to many other people's view of deserving of his God given right to live. </div><div><br /></div><div>anyways, i hope you will watch this video and share it with others. also, keep in mind that right now <a href="http://www.40daysforlife.com/blog/">40 days for life</a> is going on all around the country. through this campaign, you can unite with thousands of other christian who are peaceful holding prayer vigils at abortion clinics around the clock at local abortion clinics through november 6th. i'm planning to go pray with some friends from church, as i know that taking this huge grievance to God's throne is the only way things are going to change. </div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 19, 32); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 21px; background-color: rgb(249, 253, 255); "><span class="Apple-style-span" ><b>"your hands have made and fashioned me; give me understanding that I may learn your commandments." -psalm 119:73</b></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 19, 32); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 21px; background-color: rgb(249, 253, 255); "><span class="Apple-style-span" ><b><br /></b></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">ps - let me know what you think if you watch the video! </div><div><br /></div></div>leslihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16809283354584827538noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4388229991475550121.post-68027936432584734702011-09-19T15:24:00.004-04:002011-09-19T15:41:12.965-04:006 months!<div style="text-align: center;">has it really been 6 months since we were doing this: <a href="http://redtreephotography.com/other/sweeneys/">http://redtreephotography.com/other/sweeneys/</a>??</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">stepping off that last flight on march 19th, ryan and i really had no idea what joy this sweet little boy would bring into our lives and the lives of so many!! </div><div><br /></div><div><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SVL9U40yYtA/TneaD8KIffI/AAAAAAAABb4/KRi4I4ThmwI/s400/IMG_1729.jpg" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5654157249665859058" /><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKlwy7qzTd27RU5JD-4UE0zczEN1QUAUV3HsCuhJlyaIcD5-Xn39a57EPNannRVIiz-CuDIGhX3NueiJ5O0CG3wCr4zel5Hyn3dY_wcaqbGIIdoxmmt4WgxpS5PSHyNraLuSdmI5ZW3f0/s400/216787_10100284976696340_12900566_48752665_5677428_n.jpg" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5654157228346702818" /><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2YSVWbneq2o/TneaDFW_8CI/AAAAAAAABbw/qb6EfZVX_Cc/s400/Greer%2Bsummer%2B11%2B018.jpg" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5654157234955874338" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">happy 6 months HOME, greer. we love you more today than yesterday! you are a gift, a delight and a treasure in our home and our hearts forever!</div>leslihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16809283354584827538noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4388229991475550121.post-68403903015155344302011-09-14T11:12:00.004-04:002011-09-14T14:52:27.999-04:00a God appointmenti know i haven't mentioned our former foster boys, R & P, much lately but that doesn't mean that i'm not still thinking about them.<div><br /></div><div>in actuality, i think about them a lot. it's funny how a song on the radio {the country song about the dog named ole red} can remind me of R or a particular shirt {the light blue and white striped one that reads "happy camper"} now hanging in greer's closet can remind me of P. sometimes i find myself laying in bed at night thinking of how we would rearrange our bedrooms to accommodate 4 kids or what kind of vehicle we would need for 3 car seats and a teenager.</div><div><br /></div><div>it's almost been a year since they went back with their mother, but they are still with us in the little things pretty much daily. </div><div><br /></div><div>i just took the last picture of them in the house down a few weeks ago. i didn't really want to, but ryan asked me to take them down, so i obliged. i understand his feelings...sometimes it's just easier not to have such an in your face reminder of what our family once was. </div><div><br /></div><div>when we're praying together, R & P, are a very common topic of our petitions. ryan and i have both moved past the whole bargaining with God to bring them back to us phase, and now we typically just pray for their safety, salvation, and general well-being.</div><div><br /></div><div>i struggled a lot when school began a few weeks ago. i wondered where R would be going to school this year, if he'd have uniforms that actually fit him, if someone was there encouraging him to wake up on time so he wouldn't miss the bus, and if anyone would be there to ask him what he learned that day. </div><div><br /></div><div>we haven't heard from the boys since <a href="http://flipflopsandlipgloss.blogspot.com/2011/02/our-house-is-closed.html">february, when everything happened that caused us to decide to stop fostering</a>. this was partially our decision and partially not. at that time, our SW advised us for our safety to step back from the situation and cut communication ties with the kids {mainly just to avoid their families}. since i was pregnant and already riding the emotional roller coaster of waiting for greer's homecoming, we agreed that this was probably necessary too for the time being. since then, we've tried to reach out to R on occasion but solely through email and f@cebook, rather than calling his mother directly. we never heard anything back from either of those channels so we unsuccessfully just tried to let it go.</div><div><br /></div><div>last friday night as i was rocking charlotte before bed {in the same glider where i rocked little P for almost a year}, i got the urge to pray for the boys, as i often times do. however, on that night in particular, i remember being moved to tears when praying for them. as i held my sweet little charlotte, i thought about how much i loved her and how it was the same type of love that i felt for R & P. i asked God that night to please let us know somehow that the boys were safe and doing alright. my heart was so heavy for them and i was worried for them but wasn't sure why.</div><div><br /></div><div>i shared about my request with ryan and a few days later brought it up in conversation with my mother-in-law as well. i've had a lot of times when i felt urgency to pray for the boys but i don't recall ever pleading with the Lord to show us that they are alright. in fact, even as i prayed for it, i'm pretty sure i doubted that we'd actually hear concretely how they were doing. i figured the sense of peace i received after praying for the boys was God's way of showing us that He's still in control and is taking care of the boys. </div><div><br /></div><div>little did i know, God had bigger plans. </div><div><br /></div><div>as i left my work on monday night, i was a little miffed because my mother was bringing the kids to my office and was running late. i had a hair appointment at 6:00 p.m. and it was already 5:15 p.m. and my mom wasn't there yet. as i rushed out of the office and was locking up the door, i saw my mom pull in the parking lot. i was so busy looking at my mom pulling in that i almost didn't hear my name shouted out from the road behind me. </div><div><br /></div><div>when i turned to see who was shouting for me, i realized that there was R standing on the sidewalk across the road. before i even had time to process seeing him, he took off across the street, full of traffic, and came over to where i was standing. i gave him a big hug and he received it just as awkwardly as ever, but he was smiley and looked genuinely happy to see me. </div><div><br /></div><div>we got to talk for about 10 minutes before he had to head back to his friend who was still waiting for him on the sidewalk. while we chatted he told me that he is still going to the same school, just a mile or so down the road from my office, but that he's having to take public transportation to get there. i was glad to hear that he's at the same school and that he's willing to take the public bus to get there, although i wish he didn't have to ride the bus alone every day! he also told me that he's not sure if he'll get to play basketball this year because he's got high blood pressure, but i was just happy to hear that he had a physical and told him to keep me updated on what they find out with his blood pressure. i, of course, asked about little P and he told me that he was getting big and was pretty much all over the place. i asked him about doing all his homework and keeping his grades up, and he didn't seem too put off by my nagging for him to keep up with his schoolwork. i guess after 11+ months with us, he's used to my nagging about school!!<br /></div><div><br /></div><div>i was so thankful that my mom and nieces were there too because they also got to hug his neck, and told him how much we missed him. i introduced him to greer and charlotte too, and the introduction was a little surreal for me. R was with us during the first several months of the adoption process, and i couldn't help but to think back to <a href="http://flipflopsandlipgloss.blogspot.com/2010/04/quick-update.html">our home study when he told the SW that if he was still around when we finished our adoption, that his role would just be being the kiddos' brother</a>. it was also during the time when R was in the hospital for his foot surgery last september that i found out i was pregnant with charlotte. as i stood there with greer hanging by my feet, charlotte in her car seat, and R by my side, i felt like 2 of my worlds had finally collided.</div><div><br /></div><div>before R had to go, i made him put my number in his phone and told him to call us sometime. i told him how much we missed him and loved him, and then he darted back across the street.</div><div><br /></div><div>it was such a crazy few minutes but i immediately knew that it was the answer to my prayer. i had asked and God had coordinated the timing perfectly so that we'd run into each other. outside of God's providence, there is not really an explanation for us running into each other:</div><div>...on a typical work day, i would have already left the office 15 minutes prior. i also usually pick the kids up at my mom's house, not her coming to my office, so she would not have normally been there to see him. R was going to his friends house or would not have even walked past my office. the list goes on...</div><div><br /></div><div>if i had planned a time to see him, i would have been a nervous wreck and would have over-thought the whole thing. instead, God knew that a random meeting like that was exactly what i needed. i got to finally see R in the flesh to see that he looks alright and hear that he is doing well. he didn't appear overtly dirty or sickly, and that made me very relieved. he was happy to see me and he also seemed excited about running into each other. in a few short minutes, many of the questions i've been pondering recently about the boys were answered. </div><div><br /></div><div>what a gift that "chance" encounter was. i know many times through our experience with the boys i doubted whether or not God was listening to our prayers regarding them, and i feel like this is one last way that God has shown me that He was and is. </div>leslihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16809283354584827538noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4388229991475550121.post-64227513590041182562011-09-11T22:32:00.000-04:002011-09-12T10:56:54.507-04:00Both Hands...1 year agoa year ago today, we completed our both hands project on the home of mrs. lucille. i cannot put in words how much this project meant to our family! we were able to serve a sweet woman and her family, and also saw our friends and family come together to help us bring greer home from ethiopia.<div><br /></div><div>through our <a href="http://www.bothhandsfoundation.org/">both hands</a> project, we raised over $16,000 {including our $4000 matching grant from <a href="http://www.lifesongfororphans.org/">lifesong for orphans</a>} through this project for our adoption. i know God helps fund adoptions in tons of different and creative ways, and i would have never guessed that this fundraiser would have been it for us, but what a gift!</div><div><br /></div>in honor of this anniversary, i had to rewatch our video today and just cried at God's provision.<br /><br /><iframe width="560" height="345" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/_o68S1LgorY" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe><div><br /></div><div>thanks to all of you who gave, served, prayed, and loved us through our fundraising process. it was certainly one of the more challenging parts of our adoption {besides waiting to bring greer home}, but God definitely used it to refine us and to show us that He <i>will</i> fund what He favors!</div>leslihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16809283354584827538noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4388229991475550121.post-54872369918792205222011-09-08T19:56:00.000-04:002011-09-08T19:56:00.117-04:00charlotte reese: 3 months old<div style="text-align: left;">well, little miss charlotte reese, on august 21st, you turned 3 months old!</div><div><br /></div><div>where has the time gone and when did you get so big? i cannot tell you how many times a week i tell your daddy that i want to keep you little forever. he just keeps telling me how we're going to blink and he's going to be walking you down the aisle. i'm beginning to think he just likes to make me cry because every time he says something like that, i bawl like a little baby {no offense}. </div><div><br /></div><div>although i wish you would stay little forever, i have to admit that i love seeing more and more of your personality every day. you are super smiley and are such a laid back little girl. {that is, unless you're in your car seat and we're headed somewhere. unlike your brother, you don't really seem to like to be on the go too much. although, you don't seem to mind when we get somewhere and you can be held. i guess you just don't like car rides!}</div><div><br /></div><div>you have taken a liking to blowing bubbles and drooling a lot lately. so much so that i keep wondering if you're already getting some teeth. i haven't felt or seen any yet, but your momma's definitely on the look out.</div><div><br /></div><div>i love how cuddly and sweet you are, especially at night. truth be told, i'm really going to miss our late night hang out sessions when you drop your twilight feedings. i am trying to soak in every last opportunity to hold you close, and look forward to getting a chance to pray over you while you sleep in my arms. i also love going into your room in the mornings and seeing you break out into the sweetest little smiles once you see me. </div><div><br /></div><div>you are sleeping pretty good right now, usually from about 8:00 p.m. until 7:30 a.m., with a twilight feeding around 10:30 p.m. the only disruption to this schedule is when you decide to flip from your belly to your back in the middle of the night and wake up screaming because you can't flip back over. who knew that you learning to roll over at 2 months and 1 day old, would bring so much late night excitement to our house? i think your daddy can now walk into your room, turn you back over, and get back in bed without even waking up!!</div><div><br /></div><div>right now you are pretty fascinated by your paci but your hands aren't too far behind. you love to "talk" and i can't get enough of all the little stories you tell me. you are also fascinated with your big brother, but not as much as he's fascinated with you! when he wakes up in the morning, you are usually the first person he asks about. he loves offering you his toys and books, at least for now, and you love watching him running around and make lots of noise. the highlight of his day is if we let him get into your crib and "hold you". </div><div><br /></div><div>exhibit a}</div><div> <img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-iyB4G2Xj6Cw/TmfGRWbJmyI/AAAAAAAABbc/qcOcnBeW3BE/s400/229780_10100284993347970_12900566_48752923_6114754_n.jpg" /></div><div><br /></div><div>you are a good eater and have grown so much! at your 2 month check up, you were 11 lbs, 7 ounces and in the 97th percentile for height. i'm not exactly sure where you got that height, but at this rate, you'll be taller than me by your twelfth birthday. just 2 weeks ago, we began moving you out of your 0-3 month clothes and into 3-6 month clothes. i'll admit it, i cried when i realized it was time to move you on up! </div><div><br /></div><div>you still have a ton of light brown hair and i take advantage of it by adorning you with cute bows every chance i get. your daddy isn't too fond of the bows though. he seems to always be keeping tabs on how big they are, and he's constantly telling me if your bows exceed his "bow to head ratio". although i just tell him that there's no such thing in the baby fashion world :) the higher the bow, the closer to heaven, right? </div><div><br /></div><div>since you are growing like a weed, we've been documenting you every month. i enjoy these little photo sessions and know that these pictures will be ones i cherish for years to come. </div><div><br /></div><div>here you are my little charley bean...months 1 through 3:</div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6RY4M3xAvUk/TmfA22AKkqI/AAAAAAAABak/qSa59U0VPtU/s400/270087_10100208993851570_12900566_48211146_4778922_n.jpg" /><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xgZjEOSEFuI/TmfA2SzuHqI/AAAAAAAABac/hXRqfLRpuqc/s400/269842_10100208994340590_12900566_48211155_3176029_n.jpg" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IYRRPfayIvY/TmfA4PLXKMI/AAAAAAAABa8/-Xn2WuVDv1A/s400/198687_10100284971711330_12900566_48752577_279219_n.jpg" /><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HsphxzsHnsg/TmfA3MPsenI/AAAAAAAABas/k6u2QrHtNVM/s400/284372_10100284972090570_12900566_48752582_3802104_n.jpg" /><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsdAvH14pHDptwaWtXiSk_5QgR5TRBVslwBxS5qJpdcUO5iJVqxvRgbSSgqsFo0LwmHGF_8ivsIJVVn0ykkuaiWNqcj_j-e_B-2BCVfB4A7Ul4Hn-ClvpYBkWLP5qzG9osO6SwKq_orbE/s400/285503_10100284972165420_12900566_48752583_4892323_n.jpg" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fbE_uQyBQdU/TmfEDAv-s7I/AAAAAAAABbU/EvN7Kmm7tK4/s400/311367_10100302950182330_12900566_49028812_118751060_n.jpg" /><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-G6gEHWONXlQ/TmfECtQIc9I/AAAAAAAABbE/6tbnOF80s5c/s400/300860_10100302953395890_12900566_49028884_706976572_n.jpg" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NTew0FfdUYQ/TmfEC5nlGDI/AAAAAAAABbM/nUlqw5qchqM/s400/303245_10100302952856970_12900566_49028872_330513203_n.jpg" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">little sis, we love you more than we ever imagined. what a precious gift you are to me, your daddy, and your beloved bubba!!!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">"every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from <a name="2"></a>the Father of lights <a name="3"></a>with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change." -james 1:17</span></div>leslihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16809283354584827538noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4388229991475550121.post-3849033906088838772011-09-07T19:37:00.000-04:002011-09-07T19:37:00.446-04:00a few of my favorite mommy things: nursing edition<div style="text-align: left;">since having charlotte, i've been exploring a whole new market of products...double strollers, nursing supplies, tiny baby clothes, etc.</div><div><br /></div><div>i've found some things that i love and other things that i don't care for as much, so i thought that i'd share some of my feedback in case any soon-to-be mommies are looking at any of these things.<div><br /></div><div>if you're a nursing momma {or a soon-to-be nursing momma}, you know that it's one of the most time consuming parts of your day, so i guess that's why nursing products were on the top of my mind! here are some of my favorites~<br /><div><br /></div><div>{1} <a href="http://www.target.com/p/My-Brest-Friend-Deluxe-Nursing-Pillow-45-Pink/-/A-10787938">my breast friend deluxe nursing pillow</a>: </div><div><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><br /></p></div><div>ok, so i know this pillow has an absolutely ridiculous name, but i totally believe it now. this pillow has really become a friend...a very dear one at that due to our endless hours spent together each day :) i use this pillow every-single-time-humanly-possible when nursing charlotte. in fact, when i don't have it, both charlotte and i are uncomfortable and she struggles to get a good feeding. i think we've both been a little spoiled by all this deluxe nursing goodness!!</div><div><br /></div><div>if you're new to the whole nursing game like i was a few months ago, i highly doubt you will regret investing $50 in this baby. i know a lot of people use a b0ppy pillow for nursing, but this pillow is WAY better {in my opinion}! we have both and i can't stand using the b0ppy now that i have this one. it's more rigid than the b0ppy so it doesn't slump or slide down when you put the weight of your baby on it. it was seriously a miracle worker for me for charlotte's first 6 weeks since i had major carpel tunnel leading up to delivery and for several weeks after. i had a very hard time supporting charlotte's head and body without my hands and arms falling asleep at first, and was so thankful that this pillow could do a lot the work for me. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZpPOkpMwzbJRT9-VDeXdmyUElXn0IfL2mDxIDhU6HGCgFT4UgyaTZu43BoEhuaDW6DW-Z134yUroIRFmozU9To2SLwMLmoFFXoP_G-iM0HRWe-kYx0jI_CLVmt3Vk9Em_O-_8L5jGJxM/s400/10787938.jpg" /></div><div style="text-align: left;">{2} <a href="http://www.target.com/p/Gilligan-O-Malley-174-Women-s-Full-Sling-Long-Nursing-Tank-Assorted-Colors/-/A-12250747">gilligan & o'malley full-sling, long nursing tanks {found at t@rget}</a>:</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">prior to having charlotte, i freaked out about all the new attire that nursing would require after an intense discussion on various styles of nursing bras, tank tops, and shirts in one of my nursing classes. after many months of wearing maternity clothes, the thought of then having to go into another new wardrobe specifically for nursing kinda scared me. since i like to be prepared and to have a plan, i rushed out to one of our local nursing stores and stocked up on several different styles of nursing bras and nursing tanks so i would be prepared. in fact, i made my husband's jaw drop when he saw how much money i HAD to spend to get the perfect nursing tank top {$50 later...} and name brand nursing bras, as recommended by said nursing store. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">unfortunately, after charlotte was born and i finally began nursing, i soon began to see that all the money i spent on the name brand nursing bras and tanks wasn't really worth it :( i found most of the bras and the tank tops to be uncomfortable, and ended up checking out good ole t@rget for some other options. and i'm so happy that i did!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">for $16.00 each, i purchased these gilligan o'malley nursing tank tops and am in love! i think i now own 8 of them and seriously wear one EVERY DAY. for the price i paid for <a href="http://www.glamourmom.com/store/shopexd.asp?id=414">one fancy nursing tank</a>, i was able to buy 3 very similar and very comfy nursing tanks from t@rget. i know that every one is different and by no means am i trying to knock you if you love the other brands, but just consider this fair warning if you're about to have a baby and are worried about having all the "right stuff". just because it's more expensive, doesn't mean you'll like it better! don't do like me and spend tons of money on various bras and tanks until you've actually had a chance to try them out :) </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wYS1Xwmp7Mc/Tmd9ueMsCeI/AAAAAAAABZs/f-PJ6kvOeGI/s400/12250747.jpg" /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">{so i feel like this is a little TMI, but i'll share any way... <a href="http://www.motherhood.com/Product.asp?Product_Id=972470361&MasterCategory_Id=MC29">this is my favorite nursing bra</a>. it's nothing fancy but it's comfortable and gets the job done. i also spent $$$ on a couple medela and bravado bras and don't ever wear them!}</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">{3} <a href="http://www.target.com/p/Lansinoh-Breast-Milk-Storage-Bags-50-45-pk-46/-/A-10478547">lansinoh breast milk storage bags</a>:</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">i know milk storage bags aren't really an exciting topic of conversation, but i just wanted to point out that these lansinoh bags are typically much cheaper for 50 bags than other brands. usually by about $7 or so! i use them all the time and have found the quality to be just fine, so if you're registering or purchasing storage bags you should give these a whirl.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XW_xvdHbt18/Tmd9tyMbu-I/AAAAAAAABZc/S366ZXXFycU/s400/10478547.jpg" /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div></div></div><div style="text-align: left;">{4} <a href="http://www.target.com/p/Medela-Pump-In-Style-Advanced-Breast-Pump-with-Metro-Bag/-/A-10762138">medela pump in style advanced pump with metro bag</a>:</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">i don't have any experience with other pumps at this point, but i do love this one. i use it mostly on days when i'm working from the office or on occasion when ryan and i are planning a date night and need to have milk for our sitter. i love this kit because it comes with everything you need. it even has a car adapter in case you are traveling and need to pump in the car. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">i know these babies are very pricey and i debated a lot about getting a single pump instead of this double, but i'm glad i opted to go ahead with the double. especially if you're working outside the home, the option to pump in double the amount of time is huge. my work has one small restroom for everyone to share, so it's nice to have a double pump so i'm not tying up the restroom for a half an hour on end. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-V7lqumM5cjw/Tmd9uXCHLAI/AAAAAAAABZk/mBUbjeBRd40/s400/10762138.jpg" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">{5}<a href="http://www.target.com/p/Playtex-Original-Nurser-Bottle-Gift-Set/-/A-528070?reco=Rec_pdp_528070_ClickCP_Adjacency"> pl@ytex drop-in bottles</a>:</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">i think i've mentioned before how much i loved using these bottles with greer when we were traveling, but i'll plug them again since we've also loved using them with charlotte. these bottles look a little old school, but they are seriously great! when we had our foster son, P, we used a fancier bottle and several of them cracked easily from being dropped or even sometimes from washing.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">these bottles are obviously easy to clean since you just throw out the liners once you've used them, which is a major bonus when you're sleep deprived and not in the mood to wash bottles! i also love them because you can purchase an <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Playtex-Drop-Ins-System-Breast-Storage/dp/B0011UH78G/ref=dp_cp_ob_ba_title_0">adapter for the medela pumps</a> which allows you to pump directly into these bottles if you're not planning on storing the milk. if we're running to the park or the zoo, and i need to prepare a bottle for charley before we go, i use the adapters and have her bottle ready to go without dirtying any extra bottles or wasting a storage bag.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">pl@ytex also makes a variety of nipples for these bottles, including a "<a href="http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2792436&CAWELAID=107505579">natural latch</a>" for breastfeeding mothers. i have a lot of friends who've had trouble getting their nursing babies to take a bottle but charlotte never had a problem using these.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WlmHkcXcIbg/TmeNnU-vQxI/AAAAAAAABZ0/VQPFiodLjNM/s400/528070.jpg" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">alright folks, that's my two cents on nursing products that i love. if you have a suggestion for me, spill it! i'm always open to trying new products, especially if they'll make life easier :)</div>leslihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16809283354584827538noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4388229991475550121.post-84799008874352368262011-09-06T14:34:00.003-04:002011-09-06T14:55:08.462-04:00crock pot love<div style="text-align: left;">i mentioned a few weeks ago about my new found love for my crock pot. well, the obsession continues...</div><div><br /></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://gandhiappliances.com/images/Rival-SCC600enl.jpg" /></div><div><br /></div><div>i have been cooking about 5 nights out of the week for the last month, which is MAJOR for me! i've never been one to hang out that much in the kitchen. in fact, i quite like when other people do the cooking {and the cleaning} for meals, but i've turned over a new leaf! </div><div><br /></div><div>my new love of our crock pot could not have come at a better time for us financially and time wise! i am only working part time now, so our income has been cut a decent amount as of late. going from 2 full-time incomes down to 1 full-time income with a small part-time income, plus adding 2 children has been a little challenging so cooking is a new way to help out our budget. thankfully, i'm really enjoying it! </div><div><br /></div><div>i love finding new recipes to try and to impress ryan with! and boy am i glad that usually a fully belly is all it really takes to impress him :) </div><div><br /></div><div>with that said, i wanted to share a couple great links with some crock pot resources in case you need to mix up your menu planning. here are a few resources i've found uber helpful:</div><div><br /></div><div>*<b>the crock pot girls</b>: <a href="http://crockpotgirls.com/">http://crockpotgirls.com/</a></div><div>we are having the super easy <a href="http://crockpotgirls.com/recipes/game-time/game-time-chicken-tacos/">game time chicken tacos</a> for dinner tonight. yummy!</div><div><br /></div><div>*<b>a year of slow cooking</b>: <a href="http://crockpot365.blogspot.com/">http://crockpot365.blogspot.com/</a></div><div>this blog is great and she has recipes for everything imaginable in a crock pot, plus her commentary on making things. i personally cannot wait to make the <a href="http://crockpot365.blogspot.com/2008/04/crockpot-5-layer-brownie-recipe.html">5 layer brownies</a> sans the coconut. </div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisuRsp30fmeTiqToQsAwhyphenhypheno2TJLBHaNh_icAUzcwKyjEBNRRtKH5x9cB8LgcbdopwQACYwJ6HkuZOZrvGs57eXacF3QK1C44PtF5P4qZIK9ebouextUb5NTNacku-tZvvOwNHqZzhmU2c/s320/IMG_1751.JPG" /></div><div><br /></div><div>*<b>the crock pot blog</b>: <a href="http://www.thecrockpotblog.com/">http://www.thecrockpotblog.com/</a></div><div>this is another fabulous resource of tons of crock pot recipes in case you want to try something different. i've seen lots of recipes for italian/pasta recipes in the crock pot but have yet to try them so i think that will be on my agenda for the week.</div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-uyrOp7iZwi5rd8SSXc0Qcw0AV2zvn7njROqbw1SWNNkbNuMECpPGi7cJ4HXVOE2c3OsU260sMN1rxVebD-svLA_OYoo8m3CuXqDyb2TOHEai-i-IfRhCKT8uFrn01KvIX94uQxSqQ5E/s400/crockpot-lasagna-1.jpg" /></div><div><br /></div><div>if your crock pot is collecting dust in a cabinet somewhere like mine was for the last 5 years, i'd suggest you breaking it out and trying some of these great recipes. let me know if you find any that you love!!</div></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><b>happy crock potting :)</b></span> </div>leslihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16809283354584827538noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4388229991475550121.post-59741481858291548202011-08-26T10:12:00.009-04:002011-08-26T16:34:02.720-04:00missing ethiopia today<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mKTC1rPWdwY/TlgCcF9fx7I/AAAAAAAABYc/bbFfd56cjlg/s1600/DSC00855.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mKTC1rPWdwY/TlgCcF9fx7I/AAAAAAAABYc/bbFfd56cjlg/s400/DSC00855.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5645264814568622002" /></a><div><div style="text-align: center; "><div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">i can't stop thinking about ethiopia the last few days. not sure what it is, maybe just God's way of reminding me not to forget the sights, smells and people that impacted my life 5 months ago. on days like this, i find myself flipping through our pictures more frequently and praying for the country: for those who are unable to put food on the table for their babies, for the friends we met there, and for all the fatherless children.</div></div><div>
<br /></div><div>aside from obviously bringing our sweet boy home, i'm still not sure how God is going to use our time in ethiopia for His glory in the future, but i sure hope He will!</div><div>
<br /></div><div>it's no secret that we'd love to go back to ethiopia, for missions and/or to adopt again, but we're still praying about the<i> how</i> and <i>when </i>of such things. although after looking at these pictures one more time, i sure hope it's soon!!</div></div><div>
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<br /></u></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><u><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; "><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_KeUZRnsGMA/TlgCQwC7-9I/AAAAAAAABYM/NtjlJumc2rI/s1600/DSC00907.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_KeUZRnsGMA/TlgCQwC7-9I/AAAAAAAABYM/NtjlJumc2rI/s400/DSC00907.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5645264619707300818" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a><div></div></span></u></span></div><div>
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<br /></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "></span><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-oh-BgUqpc5E/TlgCROpJSWI/AAAAAAAABYU/dbIjWwakg1Y/s1600/DSC00921.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-oh-BgUqpc5E/TlgCROpJSWI/AAAAAAAABYU/dbIjWwakg1Y/s400/DSC00921.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5645264627920619874" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a><div><div style="text-align: center; "></div></div></div><div>
<br /></div><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wI6J2s9ru9A/TlgAgzMWTMI/AAAAAAAABXc/Vc_pDfCD2bI/s1600/DSC00867.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wI6J2s9ru9A/TlgAgzMWTMI/AAAAAAAABXc/Vc_pDfCD2bI/s400/DSC00867.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5645262696406731970" /> </a>
<br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XPcXaSpDnqI/TlgAgucFlCI/AAAAAAAABXU/Mw_xRS_1YSk/s1600/DSC00860.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 306px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XPcXaSpDnqI/TlgAgucFlCI/AAAAAAAABXU/Mw_xRS_1YSk/s400/DSC00860.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5645262695130567714" /></a>
<br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7_o8kXS0hZ4/TlgAf6EKo4I/AAAAAAAABXE/9_T63SvkK3E/s1600/DSC00850.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7_o8kXS0hZ4/TlgAf6EKo4I/AAAAAAAABXE/9_T63SvkK3E/s400/DSC00850.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5645262681071592322" /></a><div>
<br /></div><div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qLeyEdlrhK0/TlgAfmQ74zI/AAAAAAAABW8/snaQHGsfdgQ/s400/DSC00848.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5645262675756442418" /></div><div>
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<br /></div></div></div>leslihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16809283354584827538noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4388229991475550121.post-11002974359187429062011-08-24T17:12:00.002-04:002011-08-24T17:23:30.587-04:00prayers for our friendsmy heart is breaking today for our friends, jon and bethany meacham. we have known them since our college days at the university of kentucky, and jon was one of ryan's groomsmen in our wedding. we have had the joy of walking alongside them in recent months as they strive to adopt a little boy and a little girl from the democratic republic of the congo. <div>
<br /></div><div>unfortunately, after having a referral for a little boy fall through a couple months ago, they also got the terrible news last night that their referred daughter passed away 4 days ago. i can only imagine the pain and heartbreak that they are going through, as they will now no longer get to bring this sweet child into their family. however, the Lord is more than faithful and i know He is sustaining them through this heartbreak.</div><div>
<br /></div><div>if you think of it, please stop by their blog and read their post regarding their loss. it was such an encouragement to me to see that despite this trying time, they are walking out their faith by leaning into the Lord and choosing to continue to trust Him. please lift them up as they grieve.</div><div>
<br /></div><div><a href="http://wewillcometoyou.blogspot.com/2011/08/we-love-you-baby-girl.html">http://wewillcometoyou.blogspot.com/2011/08/we-love-you-baby-girl.html</a></div><div>
<br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-family: verdana, tahoma, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 19px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><strong style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">“for i am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” -romans 8:38</strong></span>
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<br /></div><div> </div></div>leslihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16809283354584827538noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4388229991475550121.post-60267509542386103062011-08-23T22:00:00.000-04:002011-08-23T22:23:49.018-04:00some really cute kids :)<div style="text-align: left;">in june, my sister and i decided to get some pictures taken of our kiddos together. a local photographer was running a special, and so we thought we should take advantage of it. here are some of my favorites:</div><div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi269FMobg_FlaV4sv7hrqXDSd5bbWaE__-JI_mG6GI8dspSggRLY90xC3Ys3ZoFhePwo6r7AkwTMY1lBinAqgNVpco9FvYCGPEI3cojhD3H1vUq44gLD3tNcrLoDPLirvMluXi37Qyk9c/s400/IMG_1652.jpg" /></div><div style="text-align: center;">*this picture reminds me of this verse: "how beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, who publishes peace, who brings good news of happiness, who publishes salvation, who says to zion, 'your God reigns." -isaiah 52:7</div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jFsn5lUETQ8/TlRYyJfE5WI/AAAAAAAABWE/OxHfukPGTF0/s400/IMG_1642.jpg" /></div><div style="text-align: center;">*i think their both pretty stinkin' cute, but maybe i'm a little biased</div><div>
<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-voU9Q-YTrhE/TlRZM5CEm_I/AAAAAAAABWM/ci8w89u5fDw/s400/IMG_1649.jpg" /></div><div style="text-align: center;">*i can't believe our little charlotte was only 6 weeks old in these pictures, and now she's already 13 weeks old. she's already changed so much!!</div><div>
<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ccy4Mh2-m5A/TlRb8MjqLII/AAAAAAAABWk/7boW2N5V3NI/s400/IMG_1771.jpg" /></div><div style="text-align: center;">*i love that we were able to finally give nana some shots of all her grandkids together :)</div><div>
<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TUVMGksH0mc/TlRbR8ETIBI/AAAAAAAABWc/suzaKby1v8E/s400/IMG_1740.jpg" /></div><div style="text-align: center;">*love this one of all my sister's kids</div><div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wBhYjNserjs/TlRcgDysHqI/AAAAAAAABWs/GCIKi28B9Uc/s400/IMG_1828.jpg" /></div><div style="text-align: center;">*isn't this such a typical ethiopian face with the raised eyebrows? any other adoptive mom's get this face from their ethiopian kiddos? we get it all the time! </div><div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kXlzCu32SgQ/TlRdLpEPq7I/AAAAAAAABW0/C0RNuav2QK8/s400/IMG_1772.jpg" /></div><div style="text-align: center;">*love this little girl so much</div><div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">these pictures will definitely be treasured by us for years to come!!!!</div>leslihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16809283354584827538noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4388229991475550121.post-14087892035268576332011-08-21T23:27:00.003-04:002011-08-21T23:34:27.719-04:00a new look!ok, as promised, my blog has finally received a new look and is no longer having technical difficulties!! tell me what you think of the new look :)<div>
<br /></div><div>personally, i love it and once again appreciate the quick and awesome job by <a href="http://kreatedbykelsey.blogspot.com/">kreated by kelsey</a>. if your blog needs a face lift, i'd suggest checking her stuff out! she's got some super cute pre-made blog templates and also will personalize your blog to your liking.</div><div>
<br /></div><div>thanks so much, kelsey!!!! </div><div>
<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i141.photobucket.com/albums/r75/kelsey0527/label-1.png" /></div>leslihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16809283354584827538noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4388229991475550121.post-81370512931492243972011-08-19T07:55:00.000-04:002011-08-19T07:55:00.335-04:00confessions friday<div>so it's friday and i think it's time for me to join in on the confessions friday fun. here goes nothing!</div><div>
<br /></div>*i confess that lately i don't even slap on any makeup at all most days. in fact, i'm lucky if i get out of my pajamas and do something decent with my hair! so, that means if you decide to show up at my house unannounced, don't be surprised if i look scary when i answer the door! flip flops and a little lip gloss really are about as good as it gets on most days :)<div>
<br /></div><div>*i confess that about once a week, i do usually decide to put on makeup and normal clothes just to take the kids to t@rget. not because i necessarily need anything, but mostly just so i can have a bit of my former t@rget loving self back and because i just need to get out of the house. lately i've been reading a lot {i know i'm way behind, but i just started "the help" and LOVE it!} so i like to peruse the book aisles, check out the kids sale clothes, and hit up the new fresh market our store just got. </div><div>
<br /></div><div>*i confess that on said t@rget trips, greer now immediately asks, "snack?" upon me placing him in the cart before entering the store. whoops. i guess i started a bad habit with the whole bribing him with a little treat from the snack bar thing so i can prolong my shopping adventure!</div><div>
<br /></div><div>*i confess that for the first time in about a year, i've actually cooked for our family about 4 out of 5 weeknights for the last 3 weeks. that's a major record for me! i enjoy cooking but just never really had time or the desire to put in the prep work that it takes. </div><div>
<br /></div><div>*i confess that because of my latest cooking spree, i actually unearthed my crock pot and used it for the second time ever! we got it as a wedding gift, and i used it once to cook for ryan while we were engaged. that meal didn't go so well, so i haven't pulled it out since. after a serious cleaning, i've truly learned to love and respect the crock pot now :)</div><div>
<br /></div><div>*i confess that i need some more healthy and yummy crock pot recipes so if you've got any, let me know. if they're good, ryan and greer will be forever grateful!!</div><div>
<br /></div><div>*i confess that i'm actually writing this thursday night and am exhausted, so that's all i've got for today.</div><div>
<br /></div><div>tgif y'all!!</div><div>
<br /></div>leslihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16809283354584827538noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4388229991475550121.post-19462303217223375342011-08-16T11:22:00.006-04:002011-08-16T22:39:39.548-04:00at the hospital with charlotte<div style="text-align: left;">here are some of my favorite photos from the couple of days we spent in the hospital following charlotte's birth:</div><div>
<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">*my sister, jennifer, aka - auntie diva {or "deba" as greer affectionately calls her} meeting little miss charley.</div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-B6yT1lsZID0/TksdA-QsxQI/AAAAAAAABVI/uZd8hAzyssY/s1600/DSC01121.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-B6yT1lsZID0/TksdA-QsxQI/AAAAAAAABVI/uZd8hAzyssY/s400/DSC01121.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5641634860761924866" /></a><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;">
<br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); ">*ryan's brother, uncle zachary, loving on charlotte and meeting her too. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-40_kXuYSHmw/TksmmEUFeRI/AAAAAAAABVU/6p6ienIlo9I/s400/DSC01113.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5641645393646549266" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px; " /></span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;">
<br /></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "></span><div><div style="text-align: center;">*my dad, aka - pawpaw hanging with charlotte.</div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4Hcj-3_QxPc/TksdApo1LBI/AAAAAAAABVA/M5FoWv7PidM/s1600/DSC01105.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4Hcj-3_QxPc/TksdApo1LBI/AAAAAAAABVA/M5FoWv7PidM/s400/DSC01105.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5641634855225994258" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">*charlotte's first photo shoot. {no, we didn't purchase any of the ridiculously expensive hospital pictures so we just took our own!} the adorable quilt she's laying on was made for her by my mom. </div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1JPci_0vUAWDa1een5f0DZwTaon-CIP8BRG4j6WDYUQWLTVNh8xy7REQWvvMYjYmCpQ6loPvbpTMaEmUkwnhDWpZxfZ7lxveHOkrKdWEvDPSH2p4odWzlfRXoSMjacHkK-Exc8qppUug/s1600/DSC01102.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1JPci_0vUAWDa1een5f0DZwTaon-CIP8BRG4j6WDYUQWLTVNh8xy7REQWvvMYjYmCpQ6loPvbpTMaEmUkwnhDWpZxfZ7lxveHOkrKdWEvDPSH2p4odWzlfRXoSMjacHkK-Exc8qppUug/s400/DSC01102.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5641634850106879714" /></a>
<br /></div><div><div style="text-align: center;">*ryan's parents, mimi and poppy, gazing at our girl.</div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-o5ozCYaEp3s/TksdAChXEII/AAAAAAAABUw/PGBt3C4nU3g/s1600/DSC01099.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-o5ozCYaEp3s/TksdAChXEII/AAAAAAAABUw/PGBt3C4nU3g/s400/DSC01099.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5641634844725678210" /></a>
<br /></div><div><div style="text-align: center;">*the grandmas checking out charley.</div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-N8W_cYDU-5Y/Tksc_xO3QTI/AAAAAAAABUo/_H1XHuCmRZI/s1600/DSC01098.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-N8W_cYDU-5Y/Tksc_xO3QTI/AAAAAAAABUo/_H1XHuCmRZI/s400/DSC01098.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5641634840084693298" /></a>
<br /><div style="text-align: center;">*greer's first time meeting charlotte and our first moments as a family of 4!!!</div></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-j1HIOMXouyc/TksoJ-_mhiI/AAAAAAAABVc/sfcWllCn0r4/s400/DSC01152.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5641647110205376034" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 303px; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; ">
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<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">*i was so happy to be with my favorite little boy again and for him to finally meet his little sister he had heard so much about.</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TrlpXMLgIM0/TksoKCgm3JI/AAAAAAAABVk/KVHS5aG9xgY/s400/DSC01156.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5641647111149116562" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;">
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<br /></span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;">*daddy with his 2 kiddos finally!</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZPvlALDhSew/TksoKUV41AI/AAAAAAAABVs/amIFJcMZymM/s400/DSC01163.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5641647115935994882" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 345px; height: 400px; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;">
<br /></span></div><div>i actually really enjoyed our stay at the hospital. the nurses were amazing and it was such a blessing to know that charlotte was in great hands for a few hours in the night so we could catch up on much needed sleep. since i had charlotte at 8:49 pm, we didn't actually get settled into a room until around 11:00 pm following her delivery. i was starving after not having anything to eat since dinner the night before so i enjoyed a delicious meal of frosted flakes and then we settled in for the night. i had the best and deepest sleep i can remember ever having, even with getting up every couple of hours to feed charlotte.</div><div>
<br /></div><div>although it's been 12 weeks already since she was first born, i can still so vividly remember every time the nurses brought her into the room. despite being exhausted, i mainly remember being beyond excited to see her and kept feeling like i could not get a good enough look at her! after 9 months of her baking in my oven, i just wanted to take in every last detail of her...her petite little hands, her long toes, and all that wild hair!! i was overwhelmed once again by how much i could love another person i just met, but i'm confident that only God could design such a deep and overwhelming love. </div><div>
<br /></div><div>when we were released from the hospital that monday morning i was somewhat terrified to go home. despite fostering R and P, and taking care of greer, neither ryan or i had ever been that hands on with a such a tiny little person!! it seemed like her carseat completely swallowed her, and i was nervous every time we hit a tiny bump that something bad would happen to her. everyone kept telling us not to worry too much because she wasn't that fragile but it took some time for that to actually sink in :)</div><div>
<br /></div><div>we are so thankful for all our sweet friends and family who came to the hospital to meet charlotte and to encourage us while we were there. it made those couple days truly special and ones we will cherish for a long time!</div><div>
<br /></div></div></div>leslihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16809283354584827538noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4388229991475550121.post-21682433385645814382011-08-15T11:24:00.000-04:002011-08-15T11:24:00.286-04:00stop the traffic<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><u>
<br /></u></span></div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rTb-xKhShuk/TkAFwgG_2DI/AAAAAAAABSw/6w1oJ3qOAqk/s1600/298cdaed8f388dbd5fe38db58cc741e8.wix_mp_128.dms.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 128px; height: 55px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rTb-xKhShuk/TkAFwgG_2DI/AAAAAAAABSw/6w1oJ3qOAqk/s400/298cdaed8f388dbd5fe38db58cc741e8.wix_mp_128.dms.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5638513064279005234" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><u>
<br /></u></span></div>you may have noticed the link on the top left of my blog that says, "stop the traffic". i hope you've already checked it out, but if not, here's my shameless plug for you to do so :)<div>
<br /></div><div><a href="http://www.stopthetraffic5k.com/">stop the traffic </a>is a 5K run/walk that <a href="http://www.blogger.com/www.fellowshiplouisville.com">my church</a> is hosting on october 8 @ 9:00 a.m., here in louisville, ky. the idea behind the race is to raise money and awareness in an easy way to help stop human trafficking in our backyard and worldwide. the event website definitely has a lot more information if you're interested, but please know that all proceeds from the event will go to help benefit these 3 very worthy charities in their work to abolish modern day slavery:</div><div>
<br /></div><div>*<a href="http://www.cclou.com/">Catholic Charities</a>' program called "Rescue & Restore" that helps educate and rehabilitate victims of human trafficking </div><div>
<br /></div><div><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LGl1ADCuf30/TkAFw4sGOsI/AAAAAAAABS4/Xpvl04ht78Y/s400/ccol.JPG" /></div><div>
<br /></div><div>
<br /></div><div>*<a href="http://www.scarlethope.org/">Scarlet Hope</a> which is an organization that ministers to women in the sex industry. {my mother-in-law has been involved with this amazing ministry for the past few months. this great organization is showing Jesus' love in easy ways, like providing meals and a shoulder to lean on, for women employed by local strip clubs.}</div><div><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-f8bwJbe7sQI/TkAFwaBX2wI/AAAAAAAABSo/Fwe7weHRXNM/s400/scarlet.JPG" /></div><div>
<br /></div><div>
<br /></div><div>*<a href="http://www.blogger.com/notforsalecampaign.org">Not for Sale</a> who is working to abolish slavery in the US and worldwide. there is a great documentary i saw awhile back on this organization, and they are definitely a worthy cause!</div><div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeoIehepTGofrPMHjOJaM6CGKc_soRonwmiANHGX8i-Zhj_wMU4-fQiVOhmltfr1_Ye0WOrNAEyDPza1N0zF-LPMq-FOriblHxRz9_JJJVvbvWdXmJc0FHCXVsBVb-7a5SoA4X22KKCuc/s400/nfs.jpg" /></div><div><blockquote></blockquote>
<br /><div>just like it's very easy to ignore the global orphan crisis, it's also very easy to brush these kind of problems under the rug, but let's not. i know that God's heart is closely aligned to caring for people who are hurting and destitute, so our hearts should be too. </div><div>
<br /></div><div>if you want to get involved by running in the race, volunteering, or donating, please let me know or check out the website here: <a href="http://www.stopthetraffic5k.com/">http://www.stopthetraffic5k.com/</a> </div><div>
<br /></div><div>thanks ahead of time for getting involved and for helping STOP THE TRAFFIC!!!</div><div>
<br /></div></div><iframe src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/10769438?title=0&byline=0&portrait=0" width="400" height="225" frameborder="0"></iframe><p><a href="http://vimeo.com/10769438">Not For Sale | Shadowhands</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/notforsale">Not For Sale Campaign</a> on <a href="http://vimeo.com/">Vimeo</a>.</p>leslihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16809283354584827538noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4388229991475550121.post-24749660853447093782011-08-12T13:26:00.003-04:002011-08-13T16:47:27.066-04:00everything went great!<div style="text-align: left;">greer's surgery went great on thursday and he is just about back to his normal self! thanks for praying for our family. we could definitely feel your prayers as the day went so smoothly.</div><div>
<br /></div><div>despite all my concerns, the time leading up to the surgery was fine and none of greer's food issues really came into play. we woke him up at 5:00 am the morning to get the only real meal he was allowed prior to surgery. although, we were also given clearance by the anesthesiologist to give him jello and other clear liquids up to 2 hours prior to his appointment, so he also ate a 2nd breakfast complete with tons of jello and sprite. i'm not sure he knew what to think but he definitely enjoyed it! </div><div>
<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2y-fOc2gCXxL3M_NzO_uCRSrKu4LQbSCmNgb1lKYd6jS2-ljbOAtCUUKKPE2QB7MXOQCwM1DTZqq4I6XBxLfLZ406BeCpL2NRtE7W06p1smOcrI1kQFUvIgojP2AxlauzcR2EJJN9eOQ/s400/photo+%252848%2529.JPG" /></div><div>
<br /></div><div>his surgery was scheduled for 1:45 pm at the outpatient center of our local children's hospital. we were asked to check-in around 1:00 pm, so we got there in plenty of time since we did not want to be late. unfortunately, it wasn't until we arrived at the hospital that they informed us that the doctor was running extremely late himself. in fact, around 1:15 pm, we found out that the other family in the waiting room with us was there for a surgery at 11:45 pm with the same doctor. knowing that greer was already super hungry and that we know had several extra hours to wait, i wasn't very excited at this news, but greer did great! we played in the toy room, cruised the halls of the hospital in his little car, and even got him to take about an hour nap on his daddy's shoulder while we waited.</div><div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jrmEjR-JDAw/TkbXulgp5iI/AAAAAAAABUY/QhGQ36TKJb4/s400/photo%2B%252850%2529.JPG" /></div><div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">around 4:00 pm the nurses finally called us back to our room so that greer could get in his little hospital gown and drink some "silly juice" prior to being taken back. </div><div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-v61OkddLyYk/TkbXuZKswDI/AAAAAAAABUQ/dNA6xb4L6_k/s400/photo%2B%252851%2529.JPG" /></div><div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">the nurses told us that the silly juice would induce an amnesia-like state so that he wouldn't remember being separated from us or being put to sleep. hearing that relieved some of our fears and the medicine had us cracking up once it started taking effect. greer was laughing hysterically, blowing spit bubbles, saying "cheese" over and over again, and being hilarious overall. at one point i thought, he was going to fall off the bed because ryan was having such a hard time holding on to him! here he is being his crazy self :)</div><div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lbS9-gQyJA4/TkbXuHIU7GI/AAAAAAAABUA/2LgShsAhRqM/s400/photo%2B%252853%2529.JPG" /></div><div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5nQEca7KixQ/TkbXud7RZWI/AAAAAAAABUI/IBYtvrfBWBA/s400/photo%2B%252852%2529.JPG" /></div><div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwrPZCWZXsWJnXHryNM92abibPu1LtH0VyWOHUqSDQQUFxxqtI6YETo4YOZZrsFSAkRMAhXoFdhdSbOrAC_cA' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div>
<br /></div><div>once they took him back for surgery, it was only about an hour before he was all done and already awake in recovery. he was super groggy and grouchy, but that was to be expected. we got to take him home after about 30 minutes in recovery and he slept in the car for most of the trip home. as soon as we got home, he woke up and was ready to eat. he pretty much ate until the cows came home and then was more than ready for bed!! </div><div>
<br /></div><div>overall, the day went as smoothly as i could ask. ryan and i were both obviously relieved that his first surgery experience was over and were thankful for the Lord's protection of him.</div>leslihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16809283354584827538noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4388229991475550121.post-48880539341739192082011-08-10T21:46:00.002-04:002011-08-10T22:03:01.018-04:00surgery tomorrow<div style="text-align: left;">this little cutie is headed to surgery tomorrow :(</div><div>
<br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dn3ElSOL5E0/TkM1Saikg5I/AAAAAAAABT4/LTvf8uSWWag/s400/DSC01253.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5639409748876231570" style="text-align: left;display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; ">
<br /></span></div><div>nothing major...just taking care of some male issues that weren't taken care of when he was born in ethiopia. i'm definitely a nervous momma tonight and am praying that tomorrow goes perfectly!!</div><div>
<br /></div><div>if you think of it, we'd appreciate your prayers too. i'm praying especially for the surgeon, for our little guy's recovery, and for a smooth day tomorrow prior to the surgery. greer still has some food related issues that we're dealing with {examples - NEVER being "full" and constantly asking "more PLEASE!", and throwing a fit if you ever deny him food - even if he just ate}, so the thought of him not being able to eat all day leading up to his surgery at 3:00 pm really worry me. he can eat his last solids at 5:45 am tomorrow morning, so we're planning on getting him up around 5:00 am for a super early breakfast. i'm also praying that somehow he'll understand that we aren't denying him food just to be mean but only because we have to :( </div><div>
<br /></div><div>thanks for praying for our little g-man!</div><div>
<br /></div>leslihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16809283354584827538noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4388229991475550121.post-73128518068571378982011-08-09T20:13:00.000-04:002011-08-09T20:13:00.192-04:00charlotte's birth day<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpKFXnbkRkgziRhnPWM3zXMey0h2ht8qquO2iFwi-DdX3K1po1W2uYxP9ZBGr8Sa-IzqcjzzBpBFicH88Bd49rUgfDslTY1eixyLj2UmkfX1e00MgwBNKip_bBCQLjzm104YD3jCsh4yw/s1600/DSC01088.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-oySsXLZCtQU/TkCRA6mQpiI/AAAAAAAABTQ/uZA4-hWFLKk/s1600/DSC01075.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 294px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-oySsXLZCtQU/TkCRA6mQpiI/AAAAAAAABTQ/uZA4-hWFLKk/s400/DSC01075.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5638666178383619618" /></a>
<br />since i was too out of it to record charlotte's birth right afterwards, i thought i'd try to share it now while i can remember everything. here goes nothing:<div><div>
<br /></div><div>on thursday, may 19th, ryan and i headed to labor and delivery after work because i was pretty sure my water was leaking. after about 3 hours in l & d getting monitored, we were sent home around 10 p.m. after being told it was a false alarm. when we left the hospital that night, i was totally bummed. we had left the house in frenzy, grabbing all the bags i had packed and getting greer squared away with my in-laws. it was pretty much just as i had always pictured charlotte's birth, but i guess it just wasn't meant to be.</div><div>
<br /></div><div>the next morning, greer and i met some friends at the zoo. after walking the hills and pushing the stroller all morning, i knew that my previous inkling of my water leaking was correct. i didn't want to have another false alarm though so i tried to put off going back to the hospital since i wasn't having any contractions yet. that evening at about 8:00 pm, ryan finally convinced me to go back. although that time, we decided not to even take our bags or anything since the likelihood of me really being in labor was so slim in our minds.</div><div>
<br /></div><div>when we got to labor & delivery, i felt like i was having a little bit of deja vu. we got checked in and they began monitor me again. i wasn't having any contractions, {no surprise to me!} but after another check, they said that my water was indeed leaking! that news really began to sink in when the nurse told me that they'd be moving me to a l & d room and that i wouldn't be leaving the hospital until our little girl had finally arrived!! whoops, leave it to us to not really have all our stuff when we really needed it :)</div><div>
<br /></div><div>we got moved to our room and began furiously calling and texting all our family and friends to let them know the news. that night the nurse told us to settle in and get some sleep because the action was most likely not going to happen until the next day. however, around 11:00 p.m., they began giving me pitocin, making it not so easy to sleep. in fact, i'm pretty sure that i didn't sleep more than 30 minutes all night combined! meanwhile, ryan was completely zonked out over on the rollout couch. in fact, at one point, i actually launched some ice pellets at him to get him to stop snoring!! </div><div>
<br /></div><div>the next morning, my contractions had begun getting a bit stronger but were still pretty mild overall. i was more tired at that point than i was in pain, but my mom and sister came by for a visit giving me a little burst of energy. since i was bed-bound, we all just chatted and watched a crazy amount of tv coverage about the <a href="http://www.foxnews.com/us/2011/05/21/preacher-harold-camping-gets-doomsday-prediction-wrong/">predicted doomsday</a>. while the thought of delivering a baby seemed pretty scary at the time, i also didn't want the world to end before i could meet her :) </div><div>
<br /></div><div>around noon, the nurse told me that i could go ahead and get my epidural. i still wasn't in an unbearable amount of pain but since i knew i wanted one, i went ahead and got it. after it kicked in, i'm pretty sure that i began feeling the best i had in 9 months! i was finally feeling good enough to get some rest, and later even had a brief visit from my mother-in-law and little greer. it was so good to see him since we didn't really leave the night before anticipating to be away from each other for a couple days. </div><div>
<br /></div><div>some time around 4:30 pm, the nurse came in and told me that my doctor was not very happy with the progress i was making. she cranked up my pitocin again {as she had been doing about every half an hour} and told me that they were giving me until 5:00 pm to make some progress or they were going to go ahead with a c-section since my water had been broken so long. when we heard that news, we were majorly bummed. i hadn't progressed at all since i was admitted to the hospital the night before so we were thinking that a c-section was imminent. i had never had surgery before so the thought of having an unexpected major surgery was terrifying. ryan and i prayed, and asked a few friends and family to pray as well. </div><div>
<br /></div><div>around 5:00 pm, the nurse came back in for another progress check and we were expecting the worse. much to everyone's surprise, i had progressed more than double what i was before!! we were so happy and praised the Lord for not having to worry about a c-section afterall. </div><div>
<br /></div><div>the next few hours were basically a blur. the time passed quickly and i knew the big event was about to take place. around 7:30 pm, the nurse came in to tell me that we were going to begin pushing shortly. i was panic stricken but beyond excited to know that miss charley was about ready to make her appearance. the nurses began filing in the room around a quarter to 8:00 pm, and the time had finally come. </div><div>
<br /></div><div>ryan and my mom were both in the room with me, and ready to help coach me through the pushing. ryan may have taken the word "coach" too literally though :) more about that on another day! the pushing was tiring and pretty darn intense, but i was obviously motivated by the end result so it was bearable. {big props to you mommas who do it without an epidural!!} after about 50 minutes of pushing, our long-awaited charlotte reese arrived at 8:49 pm. She was 7 lbs, 11 ounces and 19.25" long. </div><div>
<br /></div><div>seeing her for the first time was such an amazing high! i can seriously only equate it to the first time we walked in greer's nursery in ethiopia and saw him standing in the crib waiting for us. it was such a rush that i immediately forgot about the not so fun parts of pregnancy {like those 4 months of yacking daily!} and labor {i'll spare you the not-so-blogworthy details!!}. </div><div>
<br /></div><div>here are some pictures from our first moments with our little charley girl:</div><div>
<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">*this was ryan's first good look at her. i think i was still crying too hard to really see her at this point!</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Cqn-AkbeOwY/TkCUMthIkMI/AAAAAAAABTo/TPAbCNaNtNE/s400/DSC01087.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5638669679565770946" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; ">
<br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;">*my first time holding her!!</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CHb5YbKTDkI/TkCUMdEKVQI/AAAAAAAABTg/eGdyUOUPcVE/s400/DSC01086.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5638669675149284610" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; ">
<br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;">*i don't think i've ever been so happy to hear a baby crying :)</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cQNW1AnvRMY/TkCUMHQ3l4I/AAAAAAAABTY/nrl3c2FcKLM/s400/DSC01083.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5638669669297002370" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); ">
<br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); ">*charlotte's first weigh in. by the way, please check out that cone head!!</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpKFXnbkRkgziRhnPWM3zXMey0h2ht8qquO2iFwi-DdX3K1po1W2uYxP9ZBGr8Sa-IzqcjzzBpBFicH88Bd49rUgfDslTY1eixyLj2UmkfX1e00MgwBNKip_bBCQLjzm104YD3jCsh4yw/s400/DSC01088.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5638669681218916930" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;">we were more than smitten with her right off the bat, and things have not changed yet! </div></div>leslihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16809283354584827538noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4388229991475550121.post-25289637785339953172011-08-08T11:03:00.003-04:002011-08-08T16:57:55.061-04:00i'm BACK!<div>that's right...i'm blogging! can you believe it?? {if any one is still out there...bueller?}</div><div>
<br /></div>i had no clue that it has been over 2 months since i've blogged! while one part of me is sad that i've neglected this little bloggy so badly, the other can't really apologize since i've spent every waking hour in the last few months kissing babies!! <b>MY</b> babies, that is :) <div>
<br /></div><div>one word can easily sum up my last few months, and that is <b><span class="Apple-style-span" >JOY</span></b>. {the other word is diapers} </div><div>
<br /></div><div>time has flown though. i can't believe that our little charlotte is now quickly approaching 3 months old. much less that greer has already been home 4+ months! i feel like i have so much to fill you in on! don't worry, i have many pictures of my 2 cuties to come :) </div><div>
<br /></div><div>we are blessed beyond measure, and parenting both of our kiddos is everything and more than i dreamed it would be. sure there are days that are tough...especially in the beginning when i was adjusting to parenting 2 little ones, but thankfully, the good days are by far outweighing the bad! i love being home with the kids and filling my days with obnoxiously loud toys, dancing around to silly kids' songs, and strolling around the neighborhood with our ginormous bus of a stroller. </div><div>
<br /></div><div>as weird as it would have seemed a few months ago, there are many days now where i don't even crack open my computer. however, since my memory is less than stellar and because i miss all you, i've decided to try to dedicate myself to blogging some again. i love just putting to <strike>paper</strike> the keyboard all the things rolling around in my head, especially when i go several hours out the day with no real adult conversation! plus, i really want to be able to use this blog to look back on how much my kids have grown and changed, and also how God has moved within our family over the years. </div><div>
<br /></div><div>so, all that being said, let's consider this a new chapter for good ole' flip flops and lip gloss. no more wishing, waiting, hoping and praying for my son in ethiopia or my daughter in the womb. all the sweeneys are now accounted for and right where i like them...TOGETHER!</div><div>
<br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >{ps - please excuse my technical difficulties on the blog header. i'm under construction and should be getting revamped in the next week or so.}</span></div><div>
<br /></div>leslihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16809283354584827538noreply@blogger.com1