We will live our summer to the fullest.

The heat has arrived and with that comes summer fun. And busy schedules as we finish out the school year. Who am I kidding ... busy schedules are nothing new. Ha.



We are two weeks from being out of school and I.cannot.wait to have more flexibility with our schedule during the week. We will play, we will swim, we will go on field trips ... we will live our summer to the fullest.



And I am trying to make a pact with myself to return to blogging often. Ha.



Mason is finishing out the school year strong ... he has come so far with his reading and phonics. He passed his end-of-the-year testing with flying colors ... and that makes my heart happy.



Payton is coming along with her speech ... we have full on conversations even though we sometimes have no idea what she is saying. She has made great progress since we started her with PROMPT therapy ... and that makes my heart happy.



When I think back 19 months and imagine the little girl we brought home from Russia, I become more and more amazed at Nika's progress. And that makes my heart happy. She loves to learn, especially through music. And the more comfortable and confident she becomes, the more defiant she becomes. I have never seen a child experience more melt downs over something as simple as who gets their snack first. Little stinker. I am completely serious when I say I hope this is an age related phase versus lingering emotional issues brought home from Russia. That is something that scares me very much ... and all we can do is try to balance love and comfort with discipline and proper behavior.



On that note ... here is to the beginning of summer fun!

So proud.

Mason is growing up so fast. The things he says, the questions he has ... his mannerisms, his curiosity ... where did my baby go?

As his kindergarten year comes to a close, I am seeing just how hard he has worked. Earlier in the year I was concerned that he was falling behind in phonics. We have worked hard on site words, letter sounds and reading ... and it has paid off.

Mason's teacher just let me know that he passed the PALS (Phonological Awareness Literacy Screening) screening with flying colors. The screening consists of several tasks relating to letter, sound, and print knowledge:

Rhyme: The student is asked to identify a picture that rhymes with the first picture in a row.

Beginning sounds: The student is asked to identify a picture that has the same beginning sound as the first picture in a row.

ABC Lower: The student is asked to name the 26 lower-case letters of the alphabet.

Sounds: The student is asked to produce the letter sounds of 23 upper-case letters of the alphabet, as well as three digraphs (sh, ch and th).

Spelling: The student is asked to spell five words that have consonant-vowel-consonant patterns. The student receives credit for sounds represented correctly.

Concept of Word (COW): The student is asked to point to words in a familiar poem while reading, identify target words in the familiar poem, and read some words in isolation from the poem.

We will continue to work on all of these things over the summer so that Mason retains this going into first grade. And I love having to go through all of this with Mason, so that I know what to work with Payton on before she heads to kindergarten.

So proud!

One of us, not one among us.

Mason: Mommy, what does Chicky's shirt say?



Me: It says, "One of us, not one among us."

Mason: What does that mean?

Me: It means that Chicky is just like everyone else, even though she has Down syndrome.



Mason (in a joshing voice): Noo she doesn't.

Me: Yes she does. Do you know who else has Down syndrome?

Mason: Nikers (referencing Nika, pronounced Nee-kers).

Me: Yep, and who else?

Mason: Lila.

Me: Yep.

Mason: And lots of babies have Down syndrome. Like Charlie.

Me: No honey, Charlie does not have Down syndrome.

Mason: Oh!

Ha. He was  impressing me there for a minute until he told me that he thought Charlie has Down syndrome. But you know what ... it just shows me that he views Chicky, Nika and Lila just the same as he views Charlie.

And isn't that the point? Love him.

Love this chick.

I gotta brag on my girl.



For the past couple months, Payton has been working very hard on learning how to write her name using correct letter formation. And she loves it. She is so interested in learning ... she is amazing!

Today during occupational therapy she traced her name with awesome precision ... independently, on her own! I seriously am so proud of her.

She amazes me more and more every day. Love this chick.

It is all I ever wanted.

I remember it clear as day. We lived in Michigan at the time and we were walking along Lake Superior, like we so often used to do. I was in fifth or sixth grade and I am not quite sure what brought it on ... but I wanted a baby. 

In my ever-so-juvenile little head, I wished that my parents would get me a baby for my birthday. Realistically, I knew it would never happen, but having to wait until I was old enough to have my own baby seemed so far away. All I knew was that I wanted a baby to care for ... and I have no idea why I felt that way. Of course the longing soon left my ever-so-juvenile little head and I went on to enjoy my childhood.

Fast forward about 15 years ... the longing came back. I had married my love a couple years prior and we were ready to have a baby. Only it didn't happen quite like you would expect it to.

We tried, we tried again. Month after month, the tests were negative. We sought medical help ... they had no idea why our dream was not coming true. We sought the help from an infertility specialist ... and that proved to be one of the most stressful things we had ever endured. 

Four failed IUI procedures. And then ... wait for it ... one successful IVF procedure.

Praise God!

I had waited for that moment my entire life ... I wanted it so bad, it hurt. My dream had finally come true.

Fast forward seven years ... I am the blessed momma to three beautiful children. Three children that have each rocked my world in their own little ways. Three separate journeys that have united us so deeply.



Three children that call me momma ... it is all I ever wanted.