Too Sweet

Dori,
Mrs. Angie Brown sent this to me in an email. Mommy isn't very emotional, but this just got to me. I HAD to post it to your blog. I love you!


The Price of Children This is just too good not to pass on to all. Here is something absolutely positive for a change. I have repeatedly seen the breakdown of the cost of raising a child, but this is the first time I have seen the rewards listed this way. It's nice.The government recently calculated the cost of raising a child from birth to 18 and came up with $160,140.00 for a middle income family. Talk about price shock! That doesn't even touch college tuition.But $160,140.00 isn't so bad if you break it down.
It translates into:

* $8,896.66 a year,

* $741.38 a month,

* $171.08 a week.

* A mere $24.24 a day!

* Just over a dollar an hour.

Still, you might think the best financial advice is; don't have children if you want to be 'rich.' Actually, it is just the opposite.What do you get for your $160,140.00?

* Naming rights. First, middle, and last!

* Glimpses of God every day.

* Giggles under the covers every night.

* More love than your heart can hold.

* Butterfly kisses and Velcro hugs.

* Endless wonder over rocks, ants, clouds, and warm cookies.

* A hand to hold usually covered with jelly or chocolate.

* A partner for blowing bubbles and flying kites.

* Someone to laugh yourself silly with, no matter what the boss said or how your stocks performed that day.For $160,140.00, you never have to grow up.

You get to:

* finger-paint,

* carve pumpkins,

* play hide-and-seek,

* catch lightning bugs,

* never stop believing in Santa Claus.You have an excuse to:

* keep reading the Adventures of Piglet and Pooh,

* watch Saturday morning cartoons,

* go to Disney movies, and

* wish on stars.

You get to:

* frame rainbows, hearts, and flowers under refrigerator magnets and collect spray painted noodle wreaths for Christmas, hand prints set in clay for Mother's Day, and cards with backward letters for Father's Day.

For a mere $24.24 a day, there is no greater bang for your buck.

You get to be a hero just for:

* retrieving a Frisbee off the garage roof,

* taking the training wheels off a bike,

* removing a splinter,

* filling a wading pool,

* coaxing a wad of gum out of bangs, and

* coaching a baseball team that never wins but always gets treated to ice cream regardless.

You get a front row seat in history to witness the:

* First step,

* First word,

* First bra,

* First date,

* First time behind the wheel

You get to be immortal.

You get another branch added to your family tree, and if you're lucky, a long list of limbs in your obituary called grandchildren and great grandchildren.

You get an education in psychology, nursing, criminal justice, communications, and human sexuality that no college can match.

In the eyes of a child, you rank right up there under God. You have all the power to heal a boo-boo, scare away the monsters under the bed, patch a broken heart, police a slumber party, ground them forever, and love them without limits, so one day they will, like you, love without counting the cost.

That is quite a deal for the price !!!!!!!
Love & enjoy your children & grandchildren & great-grandchildren !!!!!!!
It's the best investment you'll ever make !!!!!!!!!

Sign Language Class

Dori,
Today you had your first sign language class at the Birmingham Zoo! You did great. The class started out with you petting a snake, ferret, and a guinea pig. You squeezed the snake and wanted to pet the ferret and guinea pig over and over. Mommy was a bad Mommy, I forgot the camera!!! (this is a sin in our house!) I will take it next time! You learned the sign for milk, daddy, mommy, change diaper, cow, and a few more. We will continue to work on these and watch your progress over the next few months.

I love you,
Mommy

Having a moment

Dori,
As you grow older you will find that Daddy is much more mushy than I am. However, right now I am having a mushy moment. I am sitting here watching you lay on the floor in your own little world. You are such a happy and content child. Daddy and I could not have asked for a better baby! You are growing up so fast. The bad thing is that even though Mommy has had tons of practice with other children, I had to google "what activities to do with a 6 month old baby" last night! You are constantly needing to be stimulated. That is a good thing, however, I can't think of enough things to keep you stimulated!!! This Thursday you start your first sign language class. I am very excited about that. When the weather warms a little more you will start classes at the zoo to learn about the animals. And during the summer, I am trying to find a swim class for you. Man, why couldn't you just be a "average" little baby????? Dr. Byars is so proud of how you do things so early! Last week, you started drinking from a sippy cup! (Dr. Byars said you should be doing that around 9 months) I am very proud of you too, however, I do not want you to grow up so fast. I know I get on here and just ramble...that's just how I am...from one thing to the next.
The whole point of me writing today is just to let you know...I will always love you!

Tampa trip

Hanging with Daddy and the Bats

Our section of the zoo!!

I LOVE playing with Aunt Merle

This week we went to Tampa to see all of the gang down there. We spent time with family and went to the Tampa zoo. I told you....we love the zoo. Also, each year Nanny and Aunt Shirley gives everyone money for Christmas, so Daddy and I spent ours on a year pass to the Birmingham zoo, so we can visit alot of zoos for free! Thank you Nanny and Aunt Shirley!