tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16209009552510221072024-03-18T20:01:31.598-07:00Rosebelle's BlogRosebellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03767920671254903880noreply@blogger.comBlogger29125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1620900955251022107.post-54706493644691042962020-05-23T10:53:00.003-07:002020-05-23T14:12:22.298-07:00Homeschooling: you asked, I answered... (NOT crisis schooling)<div dir="auto">
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I homeschool/unschool my children. I have since the beginning, although that was not my original plan. I get inquiries all the time asking me <b><i>why we have chosen this path</i></b>? How does that work?What made me decide to homeschool/unschool? <b><i>What is unschooling</i></b>? <b><i>Where do you start if you want to homeschool/What does my family do? What curriculum do I use?</i></b> <i style="font-weight: bold;">But don't I worry my kids won't be socialized? Aren't I worried my kids will be weird? What if I want my kids to enter the school system after homeschooling? What about college? </i>The list is long. People are curious. Many just because its different and they just find it fascinating and many because they are interested in exploring it to see if its a viable option for them.</span><br />
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<b><u><i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Some of my history:</span></i></u></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I was a school teacher (Masters in Special Education) before having children. I loved teaching and I loved children. Having grown up as the youngest of four and all of us having varying degrees of Learning Disabilities and Dyslexia and ADHD, school was not always easy but our parents were always supportive and we were constantly told we were smart and we could do what we put our mind to and we were lucky enough to have resources and support to help us along the way (much as someone who has eyes that are not 20/20 might need glasses to see).</span><br />
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</span> <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">My husband says I need to address the fact that I was a school teacher briefly. He thinks once people hear that they stop listening because they figure, "oooohhh You're a school teacher. Okay. That makes sense." Keep reading as I address this throughout this blog and homeschooling has little to do with my educational background and the fact I was a teacher.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Once I had my oldest, Hartly, I never intended on homeschooling. In fact Frank kept telling me I should but I felt unqualified. I thought it was crazy to think that I could teach him every subject for every single grade. It felt overwhelming and I felt inadequate (even with the Graduate Degree in teaching and years of experience).</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">But every birthday of his came and went and I kept not putting him in school. For anyone who knows Hartly, he is incredibly verbal. He started signing (got up to over 100 signs by 20 months <a href="https://rosebellesblog.blogspot.com/2012/03/sign-language-update-hartly-at-19.html?m=1" target="_blank">Toddler Hartly signing</a>) and was communicating so young. It was and is how he processes and learns. I didn’t want his natural curiosity and way of processing squashed by the necessity of the classroom structure. I didn't want him to be told to sit still or to be quiet or to not be called on or told his questions were not on topic or that they had to move on. So I never really decided to homeschool. I just never put him in school.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I chose to homeschool. But really I chose to “unschool” or some variation of it anyway (keep scrolling for more on this). I didn’t want to recreate school at home. So I just followed his lead and when he was interested in letters or writing or a certain subject... we did that. We looked stuff up and went to museums and field trips and read a ton... and we played. Most of the play was totally child led. Every day was filled with snuggles and reading and playing and laughter.</span></div>
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</span><i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large; font-weight: bold;"><u>Top 12 reasons </u></span><span style="font-size: large; font-weight: bold;"><u>we chose this path</u>:</span></span></i><br />
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</span> <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">1.) <b>I WANT TO</b>:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Homeschooling is definitely not for everyone. A lot of parents want and need time and space away from their children. A lot of parents do not have the temperament or desire to homeschool. I was a teacher previous to being a Mom. I have always thrived around children. It is where I am happiest. Sure I get frustrated and exhausted and impatient. I am human. And homeschooling is <b><i>hard!!</i></b> There are definitely days where I wish they were all in school and I could do a million other things with my day and time. But, the majority of my days, I want to be with my children and I want to homeschool and I can't imagine having it any other way.</span><br />
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</span> <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">2.) <b>I CAN</b> (and if you really want to, you can too!):</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I mean this in two different ways. Initially it was my husband who kept introducing the topic of homeschooling. I fought him on it insisting that I do not know all subjects and, therefore, can't teach everything to my boys. After some research I realized, I don't need to know everything to homeschool. There are libraries and computers and other resources to guide me and the boys as we cross each crossroad and subject and interest. Anyone with the desire and a computer or library card has the potential and ability to homeschool. </span><br />
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</span> <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The second way I mean I can is that I am fortunate enough that I do not need to work outside of the house for another income. But I have also since learned of lots of homeschoolers who work and homeschool. We have a lot of homeschooling friends where One parent works full time and the second parent homeschools and works part time. I even know one or two families with slightly older kids where the parent homeschooling also works from home a 40 hour week. Again, it is possible <a href="https://www.fastcompany.com/3055528/how-these-parents-work-and-homeschool-too" target="_blank">to work and homeschool</a> (article is intentionally Pre-covid </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">because this is geared toward homeschoolers and not Crisis schooling. That is a whole other beast which I am not qualified to talk to but I am sure there are plenty of current articles out there addressing just that.) </span><br />
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</span> <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">3.) <b>WE TRAVEL</b>:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We love to travel. We want to travel when it is convenient and cost efficient for us and not according to schools and holidays.</span><br />
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</span> <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">4.) <b>NO ONE TIMELINE FOR ALL CHILDREN</b>:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In the first year of Hartly's and Tayo's life I used to get weekly email updates on what to expect in the first year of life. I found it fascinating that there was such a huge range of healthy development. Some babies learn to roll over as early as 8 or 9 weeks old. Other babies don't roll over until 6 months old. Both are completely healthy and neither better or worse than the other. This applied to all sorts of milestones. <b><i>But once a child goes to PreK suddenly all the children are meant to learn the same things on the same timeline. That doesn't sit right with me</i></b>. And I do not want to make my child feel bad because he may or may not be ready for the mass curriculum or because they are ahead of it in certain areas.</span><br />
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</span> <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">5.) <b>CHILDREN ARE MEANT TO PLAY:</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I strongly believe that play is so underrated. Research has shown that play is essential for children, yet children are being taught to read and write and sit still earlier and earlier. This <a href="https://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/pediatrics/119/1/182.full.pdf" target="_blank">article on the importance of play</a> says it way better than I ever could. I want my children to have plenty of time everyday to play.</span><br />
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</span> <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">6.) <b>I CAN ACCOMPLISH A LOT MORE, IN LESS TIME...</b>:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">A recent article, <a href="https://monkeymum29.wordpress.com/2015/09/13/time-is-precious/" target="_blank">Time Is Precious</a>, broke down the amount of time in a school day where children were actually being taught/learning. It was eye opening and astonishing. It also made sense. As mentioned, I used to be an elementary school teacher. Much of the day is spent setting up and cleaning up and rushing from one class or activity to another. There is also the fact that a room full of children are going to understand the subject being taught at different rates. There will always be one or more children who understand right away while others take a lot longer to grasp what is being taught. So much of the time is spent waiting. Either waiting for next activity while teacher answers questions of those confused or waiting for teacher to help you because you are confused. What can take all day or a week to learn, can often, be taught in an hour or a morning when one on one or one on two…</span><br />
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</span> <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">7.) <b>…WHICH LEAVES MORE TIME FOR EVERYTHING ELSE: </b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This leaves a lot more extra time for everything else. More time with parents. More time to play. More time to explore. More time to delve into outside interests. More free play where my kids are connecting and creating their own languages and games and ideas! Who doesn't want that!</span><br />
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</span> <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">8.) <b>SCHOOLS OFTEN TEACH MEMORIZATION, NOT HOW TO ASK QUESTIONS OR HOW TO THINK:</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">While some memorization is important and necessary for the foundation of a lot of learning, it is not the most important tool. I want my children to learn how to ask the important questions. I want them to learn where to seek out the answers. I want them to research and listen and research some more. I want them to sit with the answers and see if they feel right. And if they don't or they can't find the answers to certain questions, I want them to believe in themselves and their abilities enough to seek those answers out. In our society today there is spell check and calculators and questions are answered by stationary robot/computers we have all over our house or almost all of us carry in our hands. We don't need the same things we used to. What we do need is creators and thinkers and seekers.</span><br />
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</span> <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">9.) <b>I HAVE BLACK CHILDREN</b>:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">If you haven't already, I highly encourage you to read an older blog of mine, <a href="https://rosebellesblog.blogspot.com/2015/03/i-never-knew-how-black-i-was-until-i-had-a-black-child.html?m=1" target="_blank">I Never Knew How White I Was Until I Had a Black Child</a>. Here is an article that details how <a href="https://www.dailytargum.com/article/2019/02/white-teachers-three-times-more-negative-with-black-students-rutgers-study-finds?fbclid=IwAR2dnN9MUqco_2pJrrKw87oBlglB5aPYCFP5r1s7pBwwED1unvQPSKJ1zHc" target="_blank">Rutgers study </a>found White teachers three times more negative with black students. Here is another one that shows that <a href="https://www.vox.com/identities/2018/4/5/17199810/school-discipline-race-racism-gao?fbclid=IwAR0T0azMZ2c_ahaetKDnD9_Nayhgp-whvgxW3wTt-SipsKnemoXBBntCboM" target="_blank">Black Children are Punished More In School</a>. These articles suggest that growing up white in a country that that was built on the backs of stolen humans, humans that were made into slaves, creates inherent and deep rooted bias in the white population. Until we can all admit that, and then take action in ourselves as well as in our communities to change that deep rooted bias, this country will continue to be a dangerous place for my children. It is not enough to not be racist. You need to be actively fighting racism. Here is a great list of <a href="https://medium.com/equality-includes-you/what-white-people-can-do-for-racial-justice-f2d18b0e0234" target="_blank">What White People Can Do For Racial Justice.</a> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><i><u>Black people are so tired </u></i></b>(author unknown)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We can’t go jogging (#AmaudArbery).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We can’t relax in the comfort of our own homes (#BothemSean and #AtatianaJefferson). </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We can't ask for help after being in a car crash (#JonathanFerrell and #RenishaMcBride). </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We can't have a cellphone (#StephonClark). </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We can't leave a party to get to safety (#JordanEdwards). </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We can't play loud music (#JordanDavis).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We can’t sell CD's (#AltonSterling).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We can’t sleep (#AiyanaJones)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We can’t walk from the corner store (#MikeBrown).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We can’t play cops and robbers (#TamirRice).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We can’t go to church (#Charleston9).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We can’t walk home with Skittles (#TrayvonMartin).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We can’t hold a hair brush while leaving our own bachelor party (#SeanBell).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We can’t party on New Years (#OscarGrant).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We can’t get a normal traffic ticket (#SandraBland).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We can’t lawfully carry a weapon (#PhilandoCastile).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We can't break down on a public road with car problems (#CoreyJones).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We can’t shop at Walmart (#JohnCrawford) .</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We can’t have a disabled vehicle (#TerrenceCrutcher).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We can’t read a book in our own car (#KeithScott).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We can’t be a 10yr old walking with our grandfather (#CliffordGlover).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We can’t decorate for a party (#ClaudeReese).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We can’t ask a cop a question (#RandyEvans).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We can’t cash our check in peace (#YvonneSmallwood).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We can’t take out our wallet (#AmadouDiallo).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We can’t run (#WalterScott).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We can’t breathe (#EricGarner).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We can’t live (#FreddieGray).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We’re tired. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Tired of making hashtags.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Tired of trying to convince you that our #BlackLivesMatter too. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Tired of dying.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Tired.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Tired.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Tired.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">So very tired.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Author Unknown</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">10.) <b>SAFETY:</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">When I originally started writing this blog I was referring to school shootings and to Bullying (and see above concerns for my black children). <a href="https://www.cnn.com/interactive/2019/07/us/ten-years-of-school-shootings-trnd/" target="_blank">Cnn reports. Ten years. 180 school shootings. 356 victims</a> and <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2019/05/24/health/bullying-damage-trnd/index.html" target="_blank">Bulling can cause both short term and long term damage.</a></span><br />
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</span> <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Now I am referring to school shootings <i style="font-weight: bold;">AND </i>Bullying<i style="font-weight: bold;"> AND </i>currently Covid-19. </span><br />
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</span> <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">11.) <b>SLEEP</b>:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Kinda obvious but we all function better when we wake up when our body is rested and not when an alarm tells us its time to wake up. It is what works for us.</span><br />
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</span> <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">12.) <b>WE CAN ALWAYS CHANGE OUR MIND:</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It used to be as soon as I said we homeschooled the first question was, are you going to do that forever. My answer was always, we are doing it this year and we will reevaluate and see if it is what we want to do next year. That is what I used to say. And I still feel that way. But the more I homeschool, the less likely every year that passes that I could ever imagine placing my children in a typical and traditional school environment.</span><br />
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</span> <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><i><u>What is Unschooling!?</u></i></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Unschooling is a subset of homeschooling. Basically it advocates for student/learner chosen activities that are learned through the environment and play. It is child-led. There are no text books and is no curriculum.</span><br />
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</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Our family borrows from Unschooling but since they do get together with a tutor twice a week with a plan (albeit flexible, there is still a plan) we are not radical purist unschoolers. But we also are not true homeschoolers either. We borrow from both. In fact, I read a lot of books and blogs and I borrow from anything that feels like it will work for my children and our family.</span><br />
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</span> <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">More info on <a href="https://youtu.be/GFg-4Ez_AKU" target="_blank">Unschooling</a>.</span><br />
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</span> <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">*BONUS</span><br />
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h11u3vtcpaY" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">When I Grow Up I Want To Be Happy </span></a><br />
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</span> <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><i><u>Where do you start if you want to homeschool/unschool? What does my family do?</u></i></b></span><br />
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</span> <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The most important thing, I believe is to first decide, is this something that you really want to do (not what feel you <i>need to do</i> or <i>have to do</i> or <i>should do</i>) but is it something that you <b><i><u>REALLY WANT TO DO</u></i></b>? If you really want to do it, know that <u style="font-weight: bold;">YOU CAN DO IT!</u> And if you read this and decide it is not for you, that is perfectly okay too!</span><br />
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</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">VERY IMPORTANT!!!! I am not trying to convert anyone. To homeschool or not to homeschool is a highly personal choice and the only wrong answer is if you do something that does not feel right to you. I have many friends I love and whose children I love that go to school and love traditional school and thrive there. That is awesome and what works for them!!!!!!</span><br />
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</span> <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Every state is different. This website should be a helpful jumping off point <a href="https://hslda.org/legal" target="_blank">homeschooling by state</a>.</span><br />
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</span> <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In Virginia you have to send in a proposal mid summer for approval from the state proving you’re fit to homeschool. First year is most annoying with most forms to fill out and you have to show proof of education (copy of your High School diploma) etc. There are a bunch of detail oriented forms to fill out. This was the most annoying and time consuming. The good news is every following year you don’t need to repeat all that as you are on file. What you do have to do every year is either send in proof of education (for example if you follow a certain curriculum you need to send in all their papers and quizzes and tests you’ve done throughout the year to show progress) or you pay someone qualified and with the appropriate training and titles, to test them once a year to demonstrate progress (this is not just anyone. They have to be certified in this are to qualify). </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Since we had no curriculum or textbooks or papers I chose to test them. We ended up loving our tester so much that now she is their tutor. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I made a very conscious choice that I did not want to have a teacher/student role with my kids. I was a teacher. I loved teaching. I have a Masters in it and years of experience. I am qualified. And yet I made the chose for our family not to take that route. Everyone has to decide for themselves what makes sense. But I didn’t want that. So I pay her to come twice a week for one hour for each of them and work on whatever she and I think they need work on AND what they want to work on. It’s still very child inclusive and she is very flexible and let’s me take the lead in deciding or changing things up. So I am very involved. But I am involved behind the scenes. And when they come to me (which they often do) to read or do math games or write stories etc., I absolutely oblige and love working <b><i>with</i></b> them. But I never have a set time where I sit them down with an agenda and "teach"to them.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We didn’t start with our tutor though until Hartly was 6. And when he started, he started one 45 minute session a week and that’s all.</span><br />
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</span> <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Tayo joined in, I think, the next year at age 5 because Tayo wanted to. He started with just one 30 minute session a week (his attention span and energy was and is much different than Hartly’s)...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Over the next few years we slowly built up to twice a week. But <b><i><u>the most instruction they get a week is 2 hours total</u></i></b>. They do not need more. <b><i><u>No homework ever.</u></i></b> Amazingly they often want to write on their own or search different subjects or do fast math games etc. but nothing required. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It’s awesome because if they’d been in school Hartly would be in trouble <i><b>all the time</b></i> for being too curious or talking too much. Tayo for sure would be treated as though he was slow as he gets very shy in big groups and if he doesn’t know an answer 100% he has to really trust you to talk and give his thoughts. He would fall through the cracks.... and Tayo's math is way higher than his reading. Hartly’s reading is way higher than his math. And she adjusts to that.</span><br />
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</span> <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">AND we do NOT tutor when we travel. We travel, on average, during the "school year" about 8 weeks. They also, like children in school, do not have tutoring during holidays. My guess is they have 26 weeks total every "school year" with 2 hours per week of instruction. With this they are both "on track" and meeting minimum or higher of grade level equivalents to their age.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I love it. I love how we do it because it fits best for our family and is ever changing as they are growing and changing. But if you decide to homeschool, you will find homeschooling has every possible and different story and family. Not one type fits all. </span><br />
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</span> <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><i><u>What curriculum do you use?</u></i></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We don't.</span><br />
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</span> <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Their tutor looks at surrounding schools' curriculum and material that is being taught and introduces it to my kids. She also has her own background and methods that she was taught in so she pulls from that as well. So my children are learning similar things as children their age/grade level nation wide and if they surpass those things, she looks ahead and teaches ahead in certain areas. If they are having certain difficulties in areas, she stays on those areas longer and tries different methods and approaches to help them in that area. It is all catered specifically to them. So Tayo just turned 7 and if he was in public school he would be in 1st grade. And a lot of what he is learning is first grade material. And in some areas he is on lower end of spectrum and in other areas he surpasses first grade material so she borrows from second grade material. Hartly would be in 4th grade I believe and same as Tayo, different areas he is on lower end of spectrum and in other areas he is grade levels above. </span><br />
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</span> <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Do you need a tutor to homeschool? No. We only know one other homeschooler that has a tutor out of dozens of homeschooling and unschooling friends. A few have used a tutor in just one subject or for brief amounts of time. If you don't want to spend your money on a tutor, there are so many different programs out there. Start doing your research and go onto homeschooling pages and ask and search their history. Often you choose a method and buy it and all the materials and instructions are sent to you (different programs cost different amounts of money from very reasonable to very expensive). Some even break down how much and what to teach per day, per subject and you, the "teacher" literally read out of the book instructions and just follow along. Or join a co-op and sign them up for a bunch of classes. Or search the curriculum for local schools and then you make your own schedule and borrow from a bunch of different methods and philosophies. Or unschool and don't do any of that. It is a very personal choice.</span><br />
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</span> <b><i><u><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">BUT DON'T YOU WORRY YOUR KIDS WONT BE SOCIALIZED? AREN'T YOU WORRIED THEY WILL BE WEIRD?</span></u></i></b><br />
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</span> <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">No. And No.</span><br />
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</span> <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">My children get more play time and friendship time being homeschooled/unschooled than if they went to school. </span><br />
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</span> <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">My children <b><i>are</i> weird.</b> They <i>are</i> very strange and unconventional. We don't just homeschool but we are vegan. My kids don't eat processed sugar. My husband is ketogenic and eats no sugar. We have a non adopted child and two adopted children of color. I had a home birth with my oldest. My husband is an entrepreneur and has start ups and works from home. We have never followed the beaten path. Much of what works for us and is authentic for us is incredibly crazy to others. So, by definition, <i>T<b>he LLosas are all weird</b></i> and strange and unconventional. We do not view this in a negative light. And we definitely do not think homeschooling them is why they are weird. They were just weird to start! And we value what makes our children unique.</span><br />
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</span> <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">But no fear! They are weird AND they are also socialized. My children take a lot of extracurricular activities. Some of these classes are with other homeschoolers and some are with "typical" children.</span><br />
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</span> <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><u>EXTRACURRICULARS:</u></b></span><br />
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</span> <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Every Fall and Spring my children are on a <b><i><u>Track team</u></i></b>, McLean Youth Track and Field (<a href="http://www.mcleantrack.org/" target="_blank">MYTF</a>). This is a sports class that is <i>not a homeschool class.</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">During the School year my kids are on <a href="https://weaquatics.com/" target="_blank">WEAquatics </a> <b><i><u>swim team </u></i></b>(also <i>not a homeschool class</i>). We have been with this group since Hartly was 6 months as we took ISR (Infant Survival Resource) class with them. Then Tayo did ISR with them and then Tatiana did their ISR program and is currently doing their SFS (Swim Float Swim) class (if interested in learning more about <a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=1620900955251022107#editor/target=post;postID=8526960161994427429;onPublishedMenu=publishedposts;onClosedMenu=publishedposts;postNum=21;src=postname" target="_blank">ISR and WEAquatics</a> I wrote a blog on it years ago and it all still stands!).</span><br />
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</span> <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">My kids also take <b><i><u>piano</u></i></b>. They started years ago with an awesome teacher but recently she left town and we have switched to a new teacher we are really enjoying. They do this during the "school day" with just the teacher and them.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZJmeDxpnNeYVjwKIPROeiGxj-k4jpl2nH74pxu8m5jdftQRE-2NVaslHWXLB5ww6PUL6IG7xwYKZK8pvnsuNNJdEKp7b9WXxG7J3_ZxmXHdCAbq83-MR1hWxKQWzaUNU03yd_hItgCSwO/s1600/IMG-1128.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZJmeDxpnNeYVjwKIPROeiGxj-k4jpl2nH74pxu8m5jdftQRE-2NVaslHWXLB5ww6PUL6IG7xwYKZK8pvnsuNNJdEKp7b9WXxG7J3_ZxmXHdCAbq83-MR1hWxKQWzaUNU03yd_hItgCSwO/s200/IMG-1128.jpg" width="150" /></a><br />
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</span> <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">My kids also love our local <b><i><u>Parkour Classes</u></i></b> they take at <a href="https://www.urbanevo.com/" target="_blank">Urban Evolution</a>. There are <i>homeschooling classes </i>during the day as well as all inclusive in the evenings. They run around and flip and jump and climb and they love their instructors as well as the other kids that attend these classes. </span><br />
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</span> <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Another class they take, which is their <i><b><u>absolute most favorite</u></b></i> is <a href="https://www.ancestralknowledge.org/" target="_blank"><b><i>Ancestral Knowledge</i></b></a>. This program has classes for non homeschooling children and <i>homeschooled children.</i> For my homeschoolers, basically once a week a group of 7-12 year old homeschoolers go into the woods for five hours with incredibly talented and gifted instructors to learn about indigenous animals and plants and foraging and building shelter and fire safety and playing games with like pine cones and sticks... it’s so rad and they come home dirty and sweaty and so happy!! Their brains, hearts, bodies and souls needs are all met in this class! They absolutely love it!</span><br />
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</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">And, when not in midst of a National Pandemic, my children have multiple play dates a week! </span><br />
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</span> <b><i><u><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">FIND A LOCAL GROUP!!! </span></u></i></b><br />
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</span> <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We just this fall FINALLY found a homeschooling group we love. It took years. I can't tell you how many different meetings of different groups I found online I went to. We never had any bad experiences but we never meshed with any of the groups. As I mentioned briefly, there are so many different and awesome and amazing ways to homeschool. Some are faith based and there are many specialized groups for that. Some are strict homeschoolers that wake up the same time everyday and brush teeth, get dressed, eat breakfast and then sit down at the table to do school. Some kids have homework and some don't. We have a friend who does very radical unschooling and everyday they just kinda do what they want and go where the wind carries them. Many borrow from different philosophies and methods to create a life that fits best into their world. There are also a lot of Black homeschooling families that are multiplying in numbers every year and support groups for that. Search on google, ask friends, search facebook groups and instagram groups and go to the meetings a few times to figure out what works for you. As I said, Fall of 2019 was first group we have found in last 9 years that really meshed for us. We are eternally grateful for them! Find your group because when you do, it is worth it!</span><br />
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</span> <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Our group (when it is not a world pandemic) meets every Wednesday from 12-4. It is a parent/Mommy led group. The organizer created a list of all Wednesdays and we each chose dates to sign up for to lead. </span><br />
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</span> <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Here is a list of all the amazing meetings we had this school year (before stay at home orders arrived): Fun at Lake Barcroft Beach, Blue Ridge Center for Environmental Stewardship hike, Wayside fieldtrip, Letterboxing at Balls Bluff, Spooktacular Halloween potluck for the whole family, Mount vernon, small manipulatives class, Group games, weaving and clothing swap, Skeleton day to learn about our skeleton and bones, Cox Farms Fall estival, Book club, STEM day building catapults, Animal shelter class and tour, friendsgiving celebration, Science fair, Shenandoah caverns, Holidays and traditions around the world, Slingshots and popcorn/cranberry garlands, Winter solstice hike and potluck, crafting and hiking, sky meadows state park hiking, wild rangers tour and hiking, artist study of Alexander Calder, Sock puppets, Valentines day and potluck, show and tell/building fun, RecyBots, Tour at Wolf Trap... I mean, these woman are so creative and awesome! We would start meeting at 12 and eat lunch together as everyone arrived at different times. Then often the parent and the kids "teach" or introduce subject and craft, if there is one, and then we do it or go on hike... and then the kids run off and play and the Moms connect. It is wonderful! This group of Moms all live close together and have known each other for years. They are different races, religions, follow different methods, have different styles, different number of children and different personalities. They are in different situations, and have different viewpoints and I adore them all. Somehow, because my son was in Ancestral Knowledge and met another awesome kid, I was invited into this sacred group and I'm forever grateful! </span><br />
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</span> <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">P.S. One of the hardest things about the stay-at-home order for my children (and for me!) is missing seeing this group of people weekly in person. Luckily one of the moms kept on trucking and created zoom events for every Wednesday! And most of our kids connected on Facebook Kid Messenger so they message each other and videochat often. In addition I bought a Minecraft Realm so that once a week anyone from our group can go online at the same time an play together. They will often call each other and talk while they play. It is a special group of friends! </span><br />
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</span> <i style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-weight: bold;"><u><span style="font-size: large;">What if I want my kids to enter the school system after homeschooling?</span></u></i><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I've had people worry that if they homeschool for a year or two and then decide it isn't for them or their kids want to go back to school, how difficult would that transition be? What would it look like? </span><br />
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</span> <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This will depend on the child's history as well as their current situation. We have met a number of homeschoolers who had children in traditional school, took them out to homeschool for a few years and then put their children back into traditional school. Off the top of my head I can think of 5 families that have done this. Three of these are currently young adults who have graduated college but spent a few years, around middle school/junior high, being homeschooled. How easy or hard the child's transition into traditional school will depend on a number of factors. The child's temperament and personality will factor into the transition. Whether or not it was the child who wanted to be homeschooled in the first place and if it was the child who wanted to return/go back to traditional school. For the 5 families I know, the first few weeks were hard because of them having to be "on" all day and the schedule change. But after a few weeks, they were fine. It's like riding a bike, one of the Moms, who went through the transition back to school, told me. </span><br />
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</span> <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">For my children who have never been in a traditional school day, I still think they would be fine. Both of my boys, starting at age 4, showed great interest in week long specialty camps. When they were little the camps were 4-5 hours a day. Last summer they both were in camps that were 7 hours long (length of average school day) and they would've stayed longer given the choice. Now I know that is camp and not school but some of their camps were coding or chess camp or creative writing camp, so "desk work" was involved. They have also taken co-op classes, some of which are 3 hours long. They know how to interact with other children, be in groups of children, and follow instructions from a teacher. Again, they chose all of these classes and most classes they take are smaller (think private school). I think they would be very unhappy in a large public school (but that is their individual personalities and it would depend on which public school).</span><br />
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</span> <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">As Hartly is starting to get older he is showing interest in areas that his tutor nor I are proficient in. I will start to look to go outside the home to find teachers whom are skilled and passionate in these areas. We have also always talked about him taking one or two courses at local schools as he gets older. Many schools allow this of homeschoolers. I just am not at that point yet but plan on doing that in the future.</span><br />
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</span> <i style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-weight: bold;"><u><span style="font-size: large;">What about college?</span></u></i><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">A lot of people worry that if they homeschool their children will have a harder time getting into college. All you have to do is spend just a couple of minutes doing research to find out that this simply is not true. Colleges often look at: grades, extracurricular, essays, recommendations and SAT scores. Depending on how you homeschool or what method you use, the grade portion is easily the most difficult to assess. The rest is going to be very similar to someone in a traditional school. I have read that a lot of schools weigh SAT scores heavier for homeschoolers than non homeschoolers but otherwise there won't be too much difference. Can your children write a compelling and good essay? Are they interesting? Would they be a good candidate for whatever school they are applying to? Just like non homeschoolers, there will be a variation among the group. And choosing the right college for your child's interests, passions and strengths will play a huge role as well. But there is no evidence showing that if your homeschooler wants to, and is adequately prepared, they will have difficulty getting into college just based on the fact that they were homeschooled. In fact just the opposite may be true.</span><br />
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</span> <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Family Education website had this to say about the question about if Homeschoolers will get into college, "</span><span style="color: #585961; font-family: "ubuntu"; font-size: 18px; letter-spacing: 0.2px;">On average, homeschooled kids score one year ahead of their schooled peers on standardized tests. The longer the student homeschools, the wider this gap becomes. By the time homeschooled children are in the eighth grade, they test four years ahead of their schooled peers.</span><br />
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Of course, these results translate into better ACT (American College Test) scores. Research shows that high achievement on the ACT strongly indicates a greater likelihood of success in college. According to official ACT reports, homeschooled students repeatedly outperform publicly and privately educated students in the ACT assessment test. "What you can say about the homeschoolers is that homeschooled kids are well-prepared for college," says Kelley Hayden, a spokesman for ACT." </div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">And, of the homeschoolers who decide to attend college, on average they graduate faster and have higher GPAs than their non homeschooled peers. Some even believe that <a href="https://www.usnews.com/education/high-schools/articles/2012/06/01/home-schooled-teens-ripe-for-college" target="_blank">Homeschool teens are ripe for college</a> and better socialized and prepared for all the new changes that colleges call for.</span><br />
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</span> <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Do we homeschool our children in order for them to get ahead? No. Do some homeschoolers' parents homeschool in order for their children to get ahead? Sure. I don't know any personally but I am sure they exist. Are my kids ahead of their peers? In some areas, yes. In other areas, no. We do not homeschool our children to compete against non homeschooled children or homeschooled children. We homeschool to find their passions and their interests and to prepare them not for college, but the world. And if college isn't a good fit for our children, they don't need to go. We do not equate automatic success with college or believe college is necessary or right for everyone. But our children are little and we have plenty of time to think about that later. In the meantime, whether they want to go to college or not, we will make sure they are adequately prepared either way.</span><br />
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<b><i><u><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">DO WHAT WORKS FOR YOU:</span></u></i></b><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">A lot of people/friends I have do co-ops - like tiny little groups of kids with teachers and you choose the class (can do one or 5). My guys have never officially been in a Co-Op but we have taken classes periodically from them (Creative writing, Space and rockets, Introduction to being an entrepreneur, and an Engineering class). We have also done on-line classes (A stock market class, A class on guinea pigs, and a fantasy class). As I mentioned, a handful of my friends order curriculum and do “school” a few hours a day, a few times a week. I also have one or two that don’t even declare their kids to the state and do all hands on learning out in nature and through travel and the "real" world. Find your area and supplement. And if it doesn't work, try something else.</span><br />
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</span> <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">That’s a lot. And I rambled. And I’m not sure I actually answered any questions adequately. Please feel free to ask follow ups or for clarification if you want or need any. Also please feel free to join my Facebook Page (<a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/unschoolingva/?ref=share" target="_blank">Unschooling/Play Based Learning in Va/Dc/Md</a>). My participants are not that active so I don't go on too often but there is some cool stuff on there (and I would love to have it become more interactive).</span><br />
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Rosebellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03767920671254903880noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1620900955251022107.post-90106093114592994932019-05-14T20:44:00.001-07:002019-05-14T20:44:11.664-07:00Tatiana turns 1!!!!<br />
My sweet baby girl. Mommy can't help but tear up as soon as I sit down to write this to you as your first full spin around the sun approaches. You are such magic and this family is made so much better with you in it.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCy1DCjyE38PTJaB2Tk6If7vgw9r2pvBeqF6OG0l-KmJfeh7cUamicYnffkwDEOWTYoipQ8TM1ASF-0fM0tnXFyTX7HamhO6Y_HxiY0rrPlfs6AtaC4JSQDvup8SREk89CPJlyWa4D-nzF/s1600/DAA8EE3F-3E03-4882-9702-F10382CD941F.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #0066cc; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-left: 16px; margin-right: 16px; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCy1DCjyE38PTJaB2Tk6If7vgw9r2pvBeqF6OG0l-KmJfeh7cUamicYnffkwDEOWTYoipQ8TM1ASF-0fM0tnXFyTX7HamhO6Y_HxiY0rrPlfs6AtaC4JSQDvup8SREk89CPJlyWa4D-nzF/s320/DAA8EE3F-3E03-4882-9702-F10382CD941F.jpeg" width="240" /></a><b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><br />
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Hartly put it best a few days after you were born. He said, "Mom, my whole life I have felt like something was missing. Since Tatiana, I don't feel that anymore." Truer words have never been spoken.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghrIFrYb-U2l8ql2O0-vZgQNfkywfHWbHMxY7FCfdo8J-nhIbeG5-cmce8fRuugUs_O9Oyua43wi42bZsm4hFOQXG61iJS1TL94UJszgIHc1tKWTPqcKz5iyH6STDPdItik06jz22Aipdp/s1600/866F8CE0-0B0C-4B73-A746-6D69930B98B1.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #0066cc; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-left: 16px; margin-right: 16px; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghrIFrYb-U2l8ql2O0-vZgQNfkywfHWbHMxY7FCfdo8J-nhIbeG5-cmce8fRuugUs_O9Oyua43wi42bZsm4hFOQXG61iJS1TL94UJszgIHc1tKWTPqcKz5iyH6STDPdItik06jz22Aipdp/s320/866F8CE0-0B0C-4B73-A746-6D69930B98B1.jpeg" style="cursor: move;" width="240" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLwh7jw2l0ZkQFRgO17OZoPOHOgMSQID4OnPfW6x0hlDLa1okjSxNXU9iiXlBURzbfx4y0Efx_5jHA31_j5pgTgNl9CNA7VJEE5VKNuyfyUXOQ4dnPEAKIs67fdhB5RdXuELBS0_u7f3ah/s1600/2EDA9C9D-8AD2-473E-86FA-51E2AD3EB065.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #0066cc; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-left: 16px; margin-right: 16px; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLwh7jw2l0ZkQFRgO17OZoPOHOgMSQID4OnPfW6x0hlDLa1okjSxNXU9iiXlBURzbfx4y0Efx_5jHA31_j5pgTgNl9CNA7VJEE5VKNuyfyUXOQ4dnPEAKIs67fdhB5RdXuELBS0_u7f3ah/s200/2EDA9C9D-8AD2-473E-86FA-51E2AD3EB065.jpeg" width="150" /></a><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJuVJ46Yiy_rKSChB-rBK7k3zHZwyhg2V4wGCnFv_J4ebEXo8-Cs904Xw0m3MbsMhzKminCdY4dYfYU6uMZPz7vQ8EBe27kFlH_Ps5-udsSPUcGjaAN-IyFZd2kWDLXngOdzMV2hisYlWn/s200/3530B60D-C743-4C4B-AB43-6A847D8AA62F.jpeg" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;" width="150" /><u><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJYCfBKcS7BeRb_A9RC5orVGcFBC1bWepJmQ88C2SNEb4Svfv-Jr9bXBMhThvzslqKO2TSmd47IbNzND0IA3WJON5omFI17zSFcjjUBE8ZcbhcsDF85eFxxJ2qrQ8Ka7KL2VaLc3V5grSY/s1600/65F71F89-1AFC-458D-8BA7-B5DA3168EDDD.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #0066cc; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-left: 16px; margin-right: 16px; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJYCfBKcS7BeRb_A9RC5orVGcFBC1bWepJmQ88C2SNEb4Svfv-Jr9bXBMhThvzslqKO2TSmd47IbNzND0IA3WJON5omFI17zSFcjjUBE8ZcbhcsDF85eFxxJ2qrQ8Ka7KL2VaLc3V5grSY/s200/65F71F89-1AFC-458D-8BA7-B5DA3168EDDD.jpeg" width="150" /></a><a href="https://www.blogger.com/u/1/null"><img border="0" data-original-height="734" data-original-width="261" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxry87yeYbxnDECQ5qLh5WZngCpBDt7RYPoMjV8FALtmq9SXPeu9R7N2WfhPhiGzeeB9ep31gqcLe9Kr-kYP4S72qstGmEirpWeOxc-zuWmS3kJsj5SME604-3B-xY-OvHsuCj_rS-Po9h/s200/B13176CE-8011-49BA-B7CB-FDEA8302F537.jpeg" width="70" /></a></u><br />
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Where does one even begin to express a letter of gratitude and love.<br />
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Lets begin before the beginning... I will start with my love for my Mother. Jinky, as she was affectionately called by all whom loved her, was an incredible soul. She loved huge and as a childhood friend once said to me about my relationship with my Mom, there was never a child who was adored as much as I was by my Mother. She was a kindred spirit and we were and are connected behind time and space. After my two boys, my heart ached for another child. This desire only grew after my Mother passed away in July of 2017.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpI0kSBLouYk2DI_FdvBYo-d_qIQh-oZYOUHspRaes8rSV46EEHgu-aq6rI8bOAfZUyF7yf9EnkcFxxc8Wgk0SK_7Bj9xZm5ceQsvShjYRsKxYe5GXfiw2Vp-hLb72BJqz1M1zbpy8Ng1h/s1600/2E47BDEE-6BB0-483C-B82E-FDAF998AA19E.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #0066cc; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-left: 16px; margin-right: 16px; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpI0kSBLouYk2DI_FdvBYo-d_qIQh-oZYOUHspRaes8rSV46EEHgu-aq6rI8bOAfZUyF7yf9EnkcFxxc8Wgk0SK_7Bj9xZm5ceQsvShjYRsKxYe5GXfiw2Vp-hLb72BJqz1M1zbpy8Ng1h/s200/2E47BDEE-6BB0-483C-B82E-FDAF998AA19E.jpeg" width="112" /></a><b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><br />
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Adoption is a strange, difficult and beautiful world full of so much. It is strange to wish for a child while knowing that if your wish is answered, that means that something went wrong in the world. What I mean by this is the natural order of the world is that children are able to stay with and grow up with their 1st Mothers. When adoption occurs, that means something has gone wrong with that natural order. Even when it is the 1st Mother's choice to place their child with another family to grow up in, it is the hardest choice any person ever has to make. Every Mother loves their child.<br />
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<u><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFsw4u0Ca_JgEb3JCjOvr_A4wSZQv5c2yHWluolH-8GXmhao97wZTpxnBxYzzmmFYqMudSW42FYNkZeNe0sVMI2MEgjlB89vyl_9jlmekfbbUqTZi_Jef2XTUAGZGjYiryUexGyHP7UlNS/s1600/81ED6162-B5D7-4EB2-805A-D9E812431F22.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #0066cc; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-left: 16px; margin-right: 16px; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1334" data-original-width="750" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFsw4u0Ca_JgEb3JCjOvr_A4wSZQv5c2yHWluolH-8GXmhao97wZTpxnBxYzzmmFYqMudSW42FYNkZeNe0sVMI2MEgjlB89vyl_9jlmekfbbUqTZi_Jef2XTUAGZGjYiryUexGyHP7UlNS/s200/81ED6162-B5D7-4EB2-805A-D9E812431F22.jpeg" width="111" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7gnCojXwFATKPSK-YV4c8ucJqUDdAy1erEXBrKn7c9aM6ov7ipB-hSKN3Nx5ivySY6CQyxpuFFquFVrYLgD-3mMb90iSyFXQalK5Qel9I_yKONAbXqdqG477DQ4ZCSHYCq9hVTsuFMhcT/s1600/9BAA3FC4-47F6-4BFC-B0E4-88A7F42540B3.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #0066cc; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-left: 16px; margin-right: 16px; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1334" data-original-width="750" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7gnCojXwFATKPSK-YV4c8ucJqUDdAy1erEXBrKn7c9aM6ov7ipB-hSKN3Nx5ivySY6CQyxpuFFquFVrYLgD-3mMb90iSyFXQalK5Qel9I_yKONAbXqdqG477DQ4ZCSHYCq9hVTsuFMhcT/s200/9BAA3FC4-47F6-4BFC-B0E4-88A7F42540B3.jpeg" width="111" /></a></u><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinNrlmsDWggGt7o_CemeNdbOXKHy8ovG0e2OE3qlK8FtlaUlsvx-YI645u4et1JsyB7W1U2NwRgsny0gDuVuOOCOkpIXq8PMYp4Bn1ODEzrTUnCrUSuPjMZNI_iHbt5joGFOifxfx8-HCF/s1600/5F9C4301-E60E-443A-AD0C-03CE7F2AF934.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #0066cc; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-left: 16px; margin-right: 16px; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1334" data-original-width="750" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinNrlmsDWggGt7o_CemeNdbOXKHy8ovG0e2OE3qlK8FtlaUlsvx-YI645u4et1JsyB7W1U2NwRgsny0gDuVuOOCOkpIXq8PMYp4Bn1ODEzrTUnCrUSuPjMZNI_iHbt5joGFOifxfx8-HCF/s200/5F9C4301-E60E-443A-AD0C-03CE7F2AF934.jpeg" width="111" /></a><b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><br />
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This being said, once your 1st Mother knew she needed to place you with another family to grow up in, through many different avenues, she found and chose us. But this only occurred weeks before your birth and I was convinced, like all the other "matches", this would not go through either.<br />
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May 16th - Frank had JUST left the house to take the boys to their Ninja Warrior class. I was on a Skype call doing some meditation work when minutes after the guys had left, they popped through the door saying, "The baby is here! The baby is here!" I honestly, was so confused. I got off my call right away and your Dad said, "I don't know much but I know she was born. I am not even positive it is a she." The day is a whirlwind in my memory but I know the following...<br />
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I started throwing things in half packed bags and literally found myself turning in circles a few different times, like a dog chasing his tail, excited and confused and not knowing what to do with myself. The boys were jumping off the walls, laughing hysterically and having no idea what to do as they asked a million questions a minute, none of which I was able to answer. Daddy was in the computer room multitasking - he continued to call and text the adoption lawyer while also trying to get us plane tickets. There is some rule about buying tickets within a certain number of minutes before take off, so while he was able to find and get tickets on the next airplane, by the time he pushed the button to complete the transaction, the computer kept bringing up an error notice saying we were too close to time of departure to purchase them.<br />
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Much like what occurred when Tayo was born, we just hopped in the car and zoomed straight for the airport hoping against the odds, somehow we would get there in time and be able to get on the flight to you (because the next flight was for the next day and none or us could imagine waiting). It was pouring (literally pouring, not drizzling, but bucketloads of water falling from the sky). When we got to the airport we had to drop Daddy off at the front to race inside and try to complete the purchase of the tickets within 45 min of the departure. Your brothers and I had to find long term parking in the pouring rain and the then 7 year old Hartly and 5 year old Tayo had to help Mommy gather all the bags and run through the rain and locate Daddy inside the airport!<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGyh97PO2HQsLxUNFp_ZVfvrVS_8WABjskh3utYjilFDecnLrhFw9dp02wnSQEj286BuzGjLq-dZHkXVbrXvvWJB9qlZVLoGgNcsV0P0ZhlNAGIihwYHtik1b629I9V9esm0XIrHpiz-4v/s1600/5E59F341-B850-4BAB-87BF-AF6D5D33F8BD.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #0066cc; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGyh97PO2HQsLxUNFp_ZVfvrVS_8WABjskh3utYjilFDecnLrhFw9dp02wnSQEj286BuzGjLq-dZHkXVbrXvvWJB9qlZVLoGgNcsV0P0ZhlNAGIihwYHtik1b629I9V9esm0XIrHpiz-4v/s200/5E59F341-B850-4BAB-87BF-AF6D5D33F8BD.jpeg" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Somehow we made it!</td></tr>
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Somehow we were able to do this and as we reconnected with Daddy. He had managed to get the tickets and we all raced for the gate and onto the airplane and minutes later we were in the sky and on our way to you!<br />
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By the time we touched down and got into a rental we knew this much: we knew you had been born the day before, May 15th. We knew you were indeed a little girl. We knew what hospital you were at. We knew you and your 1st Mommy were healthy. We rushed ahead holding our breaths and hoping beyond hope we could see and hold you soon.<br />
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A bit of bad luck when we made it to the hospital. There was another little newborn on your unit having major complications (we found this out later, as far as I know they ended up being fine) so we were unable to go in and see you for many, many hours after reaching the hospital. At the time we didn't know why and it was so frustrating to be so close and not be able to meet you. The second thing we found out, which about broke your brothers was, unlike the hospital Tayo was born in, this hospital absolutely did not allow anyone under the age of 12 in.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj80FDEVPhO_Rr0Rg7C42u9zT4Q6lzrJV0JKkAwzfCMXfX5KVsAAQyBt3Q1-XkPaYEkXxOM2Zr3E7WCQxgoVuWXHe6tLOFauMo8LAg6EKkg-w0uSZmHC1a54yekB2lyQYKl_GDpOSWINWPL/s1600/A6039613-DDAA-4AEF-A97C-7659C0082D50.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #0066cc; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="895" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj80FDEVPhO_Rr0Rg7C42u9zT4Q6lzrJV0JKkAwzfCMXfX5KVsAAQyBt3Q1-XkPaYEkXxOM2Zr3E7WCQxgoVuWXHe6tLOFauMo8LAg6EKkg-w0uSZmHC1a54yekB2lyQYKl_GDpOSWINWPL/s200/A6039613-DDAA-4AEF-A97C-7659C0082D50.jpeg" width="111" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sending love through the wall to you!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The above aside, a few hours later I was allowed in to see you. You were in a brightly lit nursery all bundled up and sleeping peacefully next to a window where we were able to pull up the blinds so Daddy and brothers could at least see you as I was able to pick you up and hold you for the first time.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-17ZMmzIyYluz60vA-RVGB9bxYyWp-tuGZ3gqzDIRAJPk-G6YEySS1b-iuD4cji-JyRGKVtc7dxKYIvrDFUZMASJNA7p5BsvJ95xTclivpxm3lvlJIAIRwLai4TxgH5rnLwyWCqhNFabU/s1600/E6A710D5-DE78-4E2C-851D-0790782DAA4F.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="background-color: transparent; color: #0066cc; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-left: 16px; margin-right: 16px; text-align: center; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-17ZMmzIyYluz60vA-RVGB9bxYyWp-tuGZ3gqzDIRAJPk-G6YEySS1b-iuD4cji-JyRGKVtc7dxKYIvrDFUZMASJNA7p5BsvJ95xTclivpxm3lvlJIAIRwLai4TxgH5rnLwyWCqhNFabU/s400/E6A710D5-DE78-4E2C-851D-0790782DAA4F.jpeg" width="225" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHno-qTT11JwTxUD91SRGiYbRDc2B9WJrfllBXN4PbBrMaxGNJoYxegfRtIXYGNb5SGce0noECNd6CvUYRJ2FVkUYWRpz_2vFT8Rif-NwdjwdFyr6okxM2K7ZJanCA3skDmpcHpqRk_97H/s1600/1F74C60E-297E-4211-9903-EA8EB172D120.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #0066cc; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-left: 16px; margin-right: 16px; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHno-qTT11JwTxUD91SRGiYbRDc2B9WJrfllBXN4PbBrMaxGNJoYxegfRtIXYGNb5SGce0noECNd6CvUYRJ2FVkUYWRpz_2vFT8Rif-NwdjwdFyr6okxM2K7ZJanCA3skDmpcHpqRk_97H/s200/1F74C60E-297E-4211-9903-EA8EB172D120.jpeg" width="112" /></a><br />
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Again, I pause in writing this as I relive those moments. You were so soft and so peaceful and I couldn't believe you were part of our family. I picked you up as I cried and whispered how much I loved you and I held you up for the boys to see. All I really wanted to do was walk out with you and home with you that moment. But hospital rules prevented that. Daddy got to come in and hold you and then we begrudgingly left you for the night with promises you'd be taken good care of by the night nurses and whispers to you that we would be back soon.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS2LGE78MfWpempwvzeIm-yxW2XRYaGjY3-VlZWgt_30BYfOJ4HsyVWqQ71Dugc-TFG7l-Y2NGHRDfE2pTEQGiy4bIQ8q9VMDkIQDV2Sg62-6-pLqpJZ5UVQ1EpmIHiJah-gWe6bfjkAMv/s1600/E9DB88C2-ACD7-4C37-B657-EC670C22B57C.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #0066cc; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-left: 16px; margin-right: 16px; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1203" data-original-width="1600" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS2LGE78MfWpempwvzeIm-yxW2XRYaGjY3-VlZWgt_30BYfOJ4HsyVWqQ71Dugc-TFG7l-Y2NGHRDfE2pTEQGiy4bIQ8q9VMDkIQDV2Sg62-6-pLqpJZ5UVQ1EpmIHiJah-gWe6bfjkAMv/s200/E9DB88C2-ACD7-4C37-B657-EC670C22B57C.jpeg" width="200" /></a><b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><br />
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The next day we got physical custody and your big brothers got to touch and hold and kiss you for the first time. Again, I pause to wipe away tears with this memory. I can't think of this memory without recalling the first time Hartly lay eyes on Tayo and I witnessed love at fist sight. This happened again with you and your two big brothers. The difference was I got to see Tayo fall in love at first sight. This sibling attachment and bonding is by far my favorite part of being a Mother. Hartly, I believe as the oldest, held you in his arms first. But it was Tayo that night in the hotel room that quietly, sweetly and insistently requested he be allowed to fall asleep with you in his arms. And we let him and I captured it with a photo - his peaceful sleeping body next to your peaceful sleeping body with his little 5 year old arm gently over your whole tiny body. When it was time for your first feeding we gently untucked the two of you but honestly, your souls have been intertwined ever since.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieI2Y0meQNl44z6xnOAZeevVWUhnLJ36ZEjM5ow1CBTOWdus1T42PrZWRZHsxCK63xtGKYJOd0US8PasrZ1SlVGQXc_8Fm5R12O286vRmcqz40Co4pYkAqtsaRYcICZsu4ovPAFlBp0wdu/s1600/BD1BFFB5-03F7-42F2-A852-8A6C703E2081.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #0066cc; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-left: 16px; margin-right: 16px; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieI2Y0meQNl44z6xnOAZeevVWUhnLJ36ZEjM5ow1CBTOWdus1T42PrZWRZHsxCK63xtGKYJOd0US8PasrZ1SlVGQXc_8Fm5R12O286vRmcqz40Co4pYkAqtsaRYcICZsu4ovPAFlBp0wdu/s320/BD1BFFB5-03F7-42F2-A852-8A6C703E2081.jpeg" style="cursor: move;" width="240" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHSz_0AvIaayNzlLRP33dH3a7iJ2OL_9oNdc4kUD0m39EdQxd-guL4FMb-M8nFp6ZS5GVtWyaDEdWuC5OL5aqSQj_-3FryimxwHJ7-5h6vM6FB3KtfFGUQllx2ZmSj5KWCERS-BzaZc4p8/s1600/3F890ADD-471B-41CD-B668-3286CE3D99CD.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #0066cc; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-left: 16px; margin-right: 16px; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHSz_0AvIaayNzlLRP33dH3a7iJ2OL_9oNdc4kUD0m39EdQxd-guL4FMb-M8nFp6ZS5GVtWyaDEdWuC5OL5aqSQj_-3FryimxwHJ7-5h6vM6FB3KtfFGUQllx2ZmSj5KWCERS-BzaZc4p8/s200/3F890ADD-471B-41CD-B668-3286CE3D99CD.jpeg" width="150" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv3Dvb-BKkOlMSrkJImxaBwmxQcv_2UhyphenhyphenDg3Nl35OavAkxmQ4gpELD2Jj4diLDulG8KkDRG0tMOBIifpoJziMWJ075Enk964fY8Vv-jdgs71lZBqk5yMI_x6r_fLVIDb7rlCV1jCSbqxa6/s1600/6D55DF9E-F7B1-4FC2-8C07-774AA69309DF.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="background-color: transparent; color: #0066cc; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-left: 16px; margin-right: 16px; text-align: center; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv3Dvb-BKkOlMSrkJImxaBwmxQcv_2UhyphenhyphenDg3Nl35OavAkxmQ4gpELD2Jj4diLDulG8KkDRG0tMOBIifpoJziMWJ075Enk964fY8Vv-jdgs71lZBqk5yMI_x6r_fLVIDb7rlCV1jCSbqxa6/s200/6D55DF9E-F7B1-4FC2-8C07-774AA69309DF.jpeg" width="150" /></a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjojQji0Zl99i5gl2RF9O55Pkdu6o-g2FomiD-pVZNM7xEo1CwkIN1SeFWO-6ejvRstPp2cHcgs4nHKLYlmBVtsLWX0Br3lNOEPeqZcLtFeEePswXIBMfPKexRRFb6y_drlCRvbmeq1gq81/s1600/62BF4A00-DAF1-48FF-A672-13596948147E.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #0066cc; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-left: 16px; margin-right: 16px; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjojQji0Zl99i5gl2RF9O55Pkdu6o-g2FomiD-pVZNM7xEo1CwkIN1SeFWO-6ejvRstPp2cHcgs4nHKLYlmBVtsLWX0Br3lNOEPeqZcLtFeEePswXIBMfPKexRRFb6y_drlCRvbmeq1gq81/s200/62BF4A00-DAF1-48FF-A672-13596948147E.jpeg" width="150" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBXLSs3HOBJ2cgLjwj3OF6A1soA4Yeck9p2B15uFUAH-v_vpYAkOTJLOOSn6qAJDIphzSn7aEjyLVsUj0K4aH2DG6nFQtQoDZiOXInPkQ2Ms71iS_ZDDe3AKkJik1c252ucy1829tLP1Vo/s1600/A0BC471B-0073-43E1-A58B-9F326E4F8C9B.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #0066cc; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-left: 16px; margin-right: 16px; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="453" data-original-width="196" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBXLSs3HOBJ2cgLjwj3OF6A1soA4Yeck9p2B15uFUAH-v_vpYAkOTJLOOSn6qAJDIphzSn7aEjyLVsUj0K4aH2DG6nFQtQoDZiOXInPkQ2Ms71iS_ZDDe3AKkJik1c252ucy1829tLP1Vo/s200/A0BC471B-0073-43E1-A58B-9F326E4F8C9B.jpeg" width="86" /></a><b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><br />
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A bit about you my girl as the days, weeks, months and almost a year followed... There are a few things I am sure of. One, you are fiercely and completely loved through and through by your 1st Mother. She is a beautiful and wonderful soul and she thinks of you everyday and loves you every moment. Secondly, your Daddy, brothers and I have a much better life than the awesome one we were living before because of you. That's right. Our life was great before you.... and it is crazy amounts better because of you.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiLvnqoxeNUbz_bqCJmlKQ0R5NxRgWWO9qY0iT6rvx5x9eJ3QpLX05JJBIqYSSExeOVJwHpMXrj0z1WzHN9UdhWnRizALV_EEPjVNQmgwLCu-wjex2fFEQlHOlM5FsOeHHCCTBYLl40FDo/s1600/91064768-7752-47AD-8B92-206E8FA27A6D.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #0066cc; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-left: 16px; margin-right: 16px; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1069" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiLvnqoxeNUbz_bqCJmlKQ0R5NxRgWWO9qY0iT6rvx5x9eJ3QpLX05JJBIqYSSExeOVJwHpMXrj0z1WzHN9UdhWnRizALV_EEPjVNQmgwLCu-wjex2fFEQlHOlM5FsOeHHCCTBYLl40FDo/s320/91064768-7752-47AD-8B92-206E8FA27A6D.jpeg" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a><b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><br />
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Okay. Now you. You are amazing. Your name means Queen of the Faeries and it suites you perfectly. As we always say, "There are no princesses in our house, only Queens". And just like Faeries are pure magic, so are you! Lets begin with your physical milestones. You were pretty much born holding your head up solidly from day one. By 10 weeks you were rolling over!! You started crawling at 5 months and could pull yourself to standing and crawling up the stairs solo by 5 1/2 months. By 7 months you were scooting around on furniture and by 8 months you were walking while pushing toys and chairs around rooms. At 9 months, in Fajardo, Puerto Rico, you took your first solo steps. As I write this you are 10 days shy of a year and you can also run, dance, and jump. You graduated from <a href="http://rosebellesblog.blogspot.com/2012/03/splish-splash-awesomeness-of-david-and.html" target="_blank">Infant Resource Survival swim class (ISR)</a> which is a 6-8 week long program and completed it in 5 weeks! (fastest ISR baby in this area for David who has been teaching ISR for 10+ years!). The boys call you Little Houdini because you're able to escape everything. You are my first child I have to put in a 5 point harness in your highchair because otherwise you climb up and try to climb out. You are also the first child we have had to get gates for because you undo or break or climb around or over every barricade we've tried to make. You aren't much for sign language (yet) but definitely know "fan", "music", "cheese" and "more." You babble and hum and chatter a LOT! But really only say "dada" and "Lexuh" clearly. Yup. You can say our computer Alexa's name before you can say, "mama." You are a wonderful sleeper and I can really only recall a handful of times over the past 11 months where you woke in the middle of the night, usually for teething... although you only have your two middle bottom teeth. You got those two at 8 months old. You love your "bunny bear" and are excited to get to cuddle and hold her at sleep times. I will say you only did 3 naps for a short period and shortly after that you dropped it down to only one nap. It's the rare occasion where you take a second nap. This is unusual for such a young child but its you.<br />
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You have gained a plethora of nicknames in your short time on earth: Buddha baby, Little Thing, Mini Mador, Tiana, Tati, Lady, Little Houdini, Sissy, Queen Tatiana (the boys often announce in deep voices when you enter the room, "All hail Queen Tatiana!!")… You are showered with words of affirmation daily. The boys tell you how clever, how smart, how strong, how pretty you are and no less than five times a day they tell you that they love you and you are the best and cutest baby there is. There is no shortage of love in your life.<br />
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You are the third child of a homeschooling family and there are pros and cons to this. You are often woken from naps, or skip them altogether because brothers have classes or playdates or there are errands to run. You are constantly doted on - Tayo starts each morning climbing into your crib with you. Hartly is sad if too many hours pass and he hasn't seen or hugged you. While they are slightly jealous of the love and attention I bestow upon you (which, lets be honest, is a lot), they are not upset with you about this and you are the love of their lives. They play with you, pick you up, carry you around and cuddle you constantly. You happily follow them around and love being near them.<br />
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You and Daddy - your Papa is as enamored with you as the rest of us. When he has had a particularly long or hard work day, he comes seeking you out for his arms. When he sees you, worry disappears and is replaced with an instant Tatiana smile. You greet him with a "dada!" and hug and smile whenever you see him. The two of you are definitely bonded.<br />
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<u><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyvXhaItTgh5YDRlQvAXBL_9sya_Lq6oCgqmDyRMstMPUKWzCPMgGlpEIs6LXgtbP797l-nmoVBZ3zIY7Xj1aqQSiEB03HlbtahKVGtz8TF1iyZniYFJl3NR_iVxMhNZSYoLn69IV_21eL/s1600/A22C5020-0C95-4275-AD1C-C6E11998D566.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #0066cc; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-left: 16px; margin-right: 16px; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyvXhaItTgh5YDRlQvAXBL_9sya_Lq6oCgqmDyRMstMPUKWzCPMgGlpEIs6LXgtbP797l-nmoVBZ3zIY7Xj1aqQSiEB03HlbtahKVGtz8TF1iyZniYFJl3NR_iVxMhNZSYoLn69IV_21eL/s400/A22C5020-0C95-4275-AD1C-C6E11998D566.jpeg" style="cursor: move;" width="300" /></a><a href="https://www.blogger.com/u/1/null"><img border="0" data-original-height="1252" data-original-width="748" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJvMedhsG1_BF4CE_8uS2khuufY5hI0Yo0uxVFJpYSasbqAY5JSKsa1todEXAKKYLdkMnE2vjIi0tg9eRMjtqxoxizKquTWPz8MD7TfPafiCOFbW8m_DSnxp-IAoM_UT3OL4xfzx65q1pN/s200/0141CF93-A371-4E38-8EDB-6AD735AF7D0A.jpeg" style="cursor: move;" width="118" /><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGmRPiMcvYhaFw85IX94ScHFTqjLSNvrbpGIjVhi-HI5a3DjR-VQrgefYyx5ycyMfpPsdCtVki0fow3A9tSPUjdhw453GkJA9sjs_TTNPzBa0y0lNDv3_x-2qxsbHgcNrB1tjsmOEhPMdt/s200/69090714-8537-4B92-9EF5-200D48E53DDE.jpeg" width="150" /></a></u><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNzGXeTJClvltRDZu46kGjoQP0JDQu4cDj39jA1b19FynSqS27-_YHEiDrl4wMoo-XkNqQaIWvBCTYFR-QYXidt6AtyqkhMxVIp_4Efnp5iMPtlKWeDxmWOyTQ_pCVcj3Wix2H5eA4mXDh/s1600/7DC3E0B5-C933-46D8-9A93-978A0544E6E9.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #0066cc; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-left: 16px; margin-right: 16px; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1030" data-original-width="666" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNzGXeTJClvltRDZu46kGjoQP0JDQu4cDj39jA1b19FynSqS27-_YHEiDrl4wMoo-XkNqQaIWvBCTYFR-QYXidt6AtyqkhMxVIp_4Efnp5iMPtlKWeDxmWOyTQ_pCVcj3Wix2H5eA4mXDh/s320/7DC3E0B5-C933-46D8-9A93-978A0544E6E9.jpeg" style="cursor: move;" width="206" /></a><br />
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Tatiana, you are one special soul. You are unique and so special. I've never met anyone like you. You have a very happy and calm temperament. You are go with the flow. But it is strange because you are not passive. You are always watching and exploring and can have the most pensive and serious expressions as you navigate the world around you. You also are quick to giggle and are often very expressive in your joy and happiness. You love music and often this is why you often yell out, "Lexuh" as you stare at the computer and start dancing, anxiously awaiting music to spill out... when it does you laugh and giggle and dance and sway. You like new people but mostly only like to be in Mommy or Tayo's arms, or near Hartly. You are very attached to me and I don't mind this at all. We have never owned a stroller and I wear you daily. When you aren't physically attached to me, which is often since you have been so mobile for so long, you often run back to me or check in on me frequently when playing. I get many hugs and squeezes and cuddles a day and I'm in heaven when you are slightly tired and reach for me as your thumb goes in your mouth <span style="color: black;">(you gave up the pacifier once you found your thumb around 3 months) </span>and your head nuzzles into my neck. In those moments I feel at home and gratitude pours out of my soul. How grateful, of all the families in the world, I am to be able to be with you and love you daily.<br />
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<u><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkj7Y8c9iUZzbkXKbc-rebDhPgZj-hQCdgP1caaHICbYnpx3rdkwFN60sTqEQZBA2sb4IhyphenhyphendacPkCYuqe66ozKpmXodfdgbIH1QNBwl76sS4btY3NwoGJaVVYw7qse0_1zIb_RrDPErMpp/s1600/32ADCD82-9783-4C3F-AD69-A293012838FA.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="background-color: transparent; color: #0066cc; font-family: "quot"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-left: 16px; margin-right: 16px; text-align: center; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="576" data-original-width="1024" height="112" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkj7Y8c9iUZzbkXKbc-rebDhPgZj-hQCdgP1caaHICbYnpx3rdkwFN60sTqEQZBA2sb4IhyphenhyphendacPkCYuqe66ozKpmXodfdgbIH1QNBwl76sS4btY3NwoGJaVVYw7qse0_1zIb_RrDPErMpp/s200/32ADCD82-9783-4C3F-AD69-A293012838FA.jpeg" style="cursor: move;" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3RfaA15oBVfcMyip_iJTAmApcSDnvPLd5EVIMKUD-uf5htV5ZLWAbhR2XB963PJrCgewyKsr9uYJpjon-GmOgvbnKOehXDgGkspX2IVcxXURa1M_Q-6SmrS8iLn4KjjC9_n2g6AHjXv87/s1600/C47EBA28-B817-4BE6-B8CA-AA65D723BCC0.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; 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Since Hartly first made me a Mother there has been no truer saying than, the days are long but the years are short. I remember before you, but I feel like you were always there somehow... Many days with 3 children are long and tiring days. 3 kids is a lot of energy, a lot of personalities, a lot of impulses and a lot of attention needed. And I still find myself boggled with the passage of time because how can my last baby be about to turn one.<br />
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Tatiana Tomasena Manuel LLosa. I want you to know you are loved. I know that as a human you will face all sorts of emotions and highs and lows and challenges, this is inevitable. But through every milestone and every experience, may you always know you are loved completely. This is not based on your accomplishments or milestones or if you have a good day or bad or if you make good choices or bad ones. You are loved completely for your essence and your very being. While you as a human may occasionally act flawed, as all humans do, you yourself are flawless. You are perfection. There has never before, and there never will be another you. And I love you completely my sunshine. Happy Birthday.<br />
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<br />Rosebellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03767920671254903880noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1620900955251022107.post-52834613474524814892019-03-14T10:07:00.000-07:002019-03-23T14:04:27.654-07:00Puerto Rico, Details of our Annual Trip<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b id="docs-internal-guid-10449ea1-7fff-ad5b-db7c-ba89abbcf510" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: red; color: white; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 36pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">PUERTO</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 36pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"> </span><span style="background-color: blue; color: white; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 36pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">RICO</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 36pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">:</span></b></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<b id="docs-internal-guid-10449ea1-7fff-ad5b-db7c-ba89abbcf510" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">When I was a child, my family spent three Christmases in Puerto Rico. I have fond childhood memories of it. After Frank and I married and had Hartly, We still loved traveling. We still loved the warm and getting away for pockets of time during long grey Winters in DC/MD/VA area. But Frank still had work and his Real Estate Company, Frankly Real Estate, to run. At the time he didn’t have many clients but he did have a couple. He also had many agents and he was constantly brainstorming ways to market his company and improve his website, as well as constantly creating new websites. Going out of the country was too difficult (more than once a year). The distance, time change and crazy cell phone/internet rates and lack of access made it impossible for him to get anything done. We tried Florida a few times (and still love and go there often) but in the middle of Winter, it was too cold for shorts and swimming in the ocean. With California we ran into the long travel time (with a baby) and time change that made it hard for Frank to work. We were not looking for a vacation spot. We were looking for a relocation spot. We needed to find a place that was:</span></b></div>
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<b id="docs-internal-guid-10449ea1-7fff-ad5b-db7c-ba89abbcf510" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: magenta; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">WARM</span></b></div>
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<b id="docs-internal-guid-10449ea1-7fff-ad5b-db7c-ba89abbcf510" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: magenta; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">IN USA</span></b></div>
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<b id="docs-internal-guid-10449ea1-7fff-ad5b-db7c-ba89abbcf510" style="font-weight: normal;"> </b> <br />
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<b id="docs-internal-guid-10449ea1-7fff-ad5b-db7c-ba89abbcf510" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Puerto Rico fulfills all those requirements plus so much more. </span></b></div>
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<b id="docs-internal-guid-10449ea1-7fff-ad5b-db7c-ba89abbcf510" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: yellow; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">WEATHER:</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"> The average temperature during the day in the dead of Winter in Puerto Rico is 83 degrees fahrenheit. It rarely goes below 80 or above 86. Perfection!</span></b></div>
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<b id="docs-internal-guid-10449ea1-7fff-ad5b-db7c-ba89abbcf510" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: #ea9999; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">US TERRITORY</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">: While Puerto Rico is not a state it does fall under the term of US territory and, as such no passport is needed to go there. It has many advantages of being in the US (almost everybody speaks some english, internet and cell phone is the same, currency is the same) with a lot of the benefits of visiting another country (Puerto Rico has its own culture, and sounds, sights, smells and language that is wonderful to experience). </span></b></div>
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<b id="docs-internal-guid-10449ea1-7fff-ad5b-db7c-ba89abbcf510" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: #6aa84f; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">CLOSE BY</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">: For us, direct flight to Puerto Rico is only 3 hours and 30 minutes (give or take depending which airport you leave from and wind that day). And there is only one hour time difference (it is an hour earlier in Puerto Rico than DC)</span></b></div>
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<b id="docs-internal-guid-10449ea1-7fff-ad5b-db7c-ba89abbcf510" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">The first year Frank and I went, Hartly was just 1 ½. We checked out a lot of the island that year when we realized we would be returning. We kept extending our ticket home and ended up staying almost 8 weeks.</span></b></div>
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</b> <b id="docs-internal-guid-10449ea1-7fff-ad5b-db7c-ba89abbcf510" style="font-weight: normal;"> </b> <br />
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<b id="docs-internal-guid-10449ea1-7fff-ad5b-db7c-ba89abbcf510" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">In the 8 years we have been going (9 times because one year I took the boys who were in their babysitters wedding and she is Puerto Rican), we have checked out lots of the island. Our main place we stay for the bulk of our visit is DORADO.</span></b></div>
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<b id="docs-internal-guid-10449ea1-7fff-ad5b-db7c-ba89abbcf510" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: #ff9900; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 24pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">DORADO: </span></b></div>
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<b id="docs-internal-guid-10449ea1-7fff-ad5b-db7c-ba89abbcf510" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Dorado is in the North Central part of the island. It is about a 30 minute drive West of San Juan (main city and where main airport is).</span></b></div>
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<b id="docs-internal-guid-10449ea1-7fff-ad5b-db7c-ba89abbcf510" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">When we travel, we, as I mentioned, are not vacationing. Frank works a lot of the time and in order to go for 2-3 weeks at a time, we are not looking for fancy but for convenience and liveability. </span></b></div>
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<b id="docs-internal-guid-10449ea1-7fff-ad5b-db7c-ba89abbcf510" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: red; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">PLACES WE STAY IN DORADO:</span></b></div>
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<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"> </span><a href="https://www.hotelsone.com/dorado-hotels-pr/aquarius-vacation-club-at-dorado-del-mar.html?as=g&aid=69382816838&dsti=251864&dstt=8&akw=aquarius%20vacation%20club%20dorado&asrc=Search&ast=&gclid=CjwKCAiAiJPkBRAuEiwAEDXZZd0SpnVd45sfeNK5yJfxYpgG4Yu1gV_6SKPN45Z_I4z8sHCEptC3whoCYHIQAvD_BwE" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">AQUARIUS VACATION CLUB AT DORADO DEL MAR</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">. It is right next to/attached to</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"> </span><a href="https://embassysuites3.hilton.com/en/hotels/puerto-rico/embassy-suites-by-hilton-dorado-del-mar-beach-resort-DORPRES/index.html?SEO_id=GMB-ES-DORPRES" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">EMBASSY SUITES BY HILTON DORADO DEL MAR</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">. </span> </div>
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<b id="docs-internal-guid-10449ea1-7fff-ad5b-db7c-ba89abbcf510" style="font-weight: normal;"><br />
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<b id="docs-internal-guid-10449ea1-7fff-ad5b-db7c-ba89abbcf510" style="font-weight: normal;"> </b> <br />
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<b id="docs-internal-guid-10449ea1-7fff-ad5b-db7c-ba89abbcf510" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">We stay at Aquarius (also named Golden Sands) because it has washer/dryer and a kitchen</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: red; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"> We love the ground level room 2188. We eat a lot of our meals at our kitchen when we travel. We also love Aquarius because it is attached to another hotel so we get to use the hotels pool and my children love socializing with the guests that come and go. It is also right on the beach. For us, it is ideal. I believe Embassy Suites has deals with food and drinks and packages for those who are into or make use of those types of things. Parking and the beach is also much further with Embassy. It is not for our family.</span></b></div>
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<b id="docs-internal-guid-10449ea1-7fff-ad5b-db7c-ba89abbcf510" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">This is probably a good time for a bit of a reality check or REMINDER. Puerto Rico has been in a recession for over a decade now. Close to 50% of the people there live below the poverty line. It was already in crisis when Hurricane Maria hit the island a year and a half ago (September 16th, 2017-October 2nd, 2017). It is a VERY poor island. It NEEDS tourists now more than ever. But it is not fancy-schmancy. The people (from our experience) are all very nice and lovely. It is clean and beautiful. And there are many abandoned and run down buildings and just poverty all around. Keep your expectations in line with this information and knowledge.</span></b></div>
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</b> <b><span style="font-size: large;">And now a ton of photos from our time over the years at Aquarius!</span></b><br />
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<b id="docs-internal-guid-10449ea1-7fff-ad5b-db7c-ba89abbcf510" style="font-weight: normal;"><u><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn6lz2SRK7f6T7-Y2gX7HPwZ8cBs7o60tZ3GYXfe1zhZZCf3OjKA4iks2Z4t3TAK046TmnMB5XgFS5qH0KfrK_X4ae_qs6DOVM1e0tmwUgI7h6A25G-XFYhLLB4CasT2ovGP0uV2RyiXNS/s1600/9F7D8AC1-4B7C-4FDA-9B37-67DA6DE1D32E.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #0066cc; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-left: 16px; margin-right: 16px; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1252" data-original-width="748" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn6lz2SRK7f6T7-Y2gX7HPwZ8cBs7o60tZ3GYXfe1zhZZCf3OjKA4iks2Z4t3TAK046TmnMB5XgFS5qH0KfrK_X4ae_qs6DOVM1e0tmwUgI7h6A25G-XFYhLLB4CasT2ovGP0uV2RyiXNS/s200/9F7D8AC1-4B7C-4FDA-9B37-67DA6DE1D32E.jpeg" style="cursor: move;" width="119" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0hgtCphbVhLw2oOsncElkwsS9J5Sh2CcjaN9mFh6aGe0ni3UW9FVINL4t80MwcKZfAvtEI90PrlFfyeObXjT_xPR4fqmdKllZyZNekIiLwq_zO650LL5gyPCzttRfbqmSeRGDp_6M4nkF/s1600/15BD4739-667E-482A-996E-3CC993F44F1D.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #0066cc; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-left: 16px; margin-right: 16px; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1203" data-original-width="1600" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0hgtCphbVhLw2oOsncElkwsS9J5Sh2CcjaN9mFh6aGe0ni3UW9FVINL4t80MwcKZfAvtEI90PrlFfyeObXjT_xPR4fqmdKllZyZNekIiLwq_zO650LL5gyPCzttRfbqmSeRGDp_6M4nkF/s200/15BD4739-667E-482A-996E-3CC993F44F1D.jpeg" style="cursor: move;" width="200" /></a></u><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiepFeXU870hJ6t2WfzAleLsD80vrb5W85YaepueQ_9CFik3-vgLOVEOMcFcDmdfCkM8sFzK1uNRWPcx0ava5MgF97xVV34S0CpDUNzHn_SnaQGHijPc4izmgta8_s3DFK1ZTt-yUt2uTwH/s1600/D0FBE34B-4513-4C76-B719-E15471958B1F.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #0066cc; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-left: 16px; margin-right: 16px; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiepFeXU870hJ6t2WfzAleLsD80vrb5W85YaepueQ_9CFik3-vgLOVEOMcFcDmdfCkM8sFzK1uNRWPcx0ava5MgF97xVV34S0CpDUNzHn_SnaQGHijPc4izmgta8_s3DFK1ZTt-yUt2uTwH/s200/D0FBE34B-4513-4C76-B719-E15471958B1F.jpeg" style="cursor: move;" width="200" /></a><b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike></b></div>
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<b id="docs-internal-guid-10449ea1-7fff-ad5b-db7c-ba89abbcf510" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: cyan; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">PLACES TO VISIT IN DORADO: </span></b></div>
<b id="docs-internal-guid-10449ea1-7fff-ad5b-db7c-ba89abbcf510" style="font-weight: normal;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGspPr9j_1-QmlFJsOpRzxVvgiu3_J6R4SIPJJSe3imbjjpzSTPuvFN0AUe65HyXENGwoL6eB1Mm3iwOtmAx1IBGx0l-5kyabRnA1DQIaurq9Rj4CTz2Zr34aDBchY-9_i0dRAlu6s4NkS/s1600/DEBC32D4-11BF-42EF-90A5-FD5DE4566882.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="background-color: transparent; color: #0066cc; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-left: 16px; margin-right: 16px; text-align: center; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGspPr9j_1-QmlFJsOpRzxVvgiu3_J6R4SIPJJSe3imbjjpzSTPuvFN0AUe65HyXENGwoL6eB1Mm3iwOtmAx1IBGx0l-5kyabRnA1DQIaurq9Rj4CTz2Zr34aDBchY-9_i0dRAlu6s4NkS/s200/DEBC32D4-11BF-42EF-90A5-FD5DE4566882.jpeg" style="cursor: move;" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHNRj4p9j7-bUEPI_ONj2Xn0enah1d3JspsR9HUoF3wExJ06iOoZf61DzPVRJLrzJvtwkLmn1Ee8Kir5KSnxfPObDBjRkMDmllPw88TPtEkCKTaVJwgq6X1sxz8AhgxgBorHg6MTfdyGHo/s1600/7ECF581D-4799-4FAF-80B7-59635B2D83DB.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #0066cc; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-left: 16px; margin-right: 16px; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHNRj4p9j7-bUEPI_ONj2Xn0enah1d3JspsR9HUoF3wExJ06iOoZf61DzPVRJLrzJvtwkLmn1Ee8Kir5KSnxfPObDBjRkMDmllPw88TPtEkCKTaVJwgq6X1sxz8AhgxgBorHg6MTfdyGHo/s200/7ECF581D-4799-4FAF-80B7-59635B2D83DB.jpeg" style="cursor: move;" width="150" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVcQariNLCeGDaBcRizWw1vvOFmsEsdB6zwMSL0epDPxWUneRdRtOhYDAu9IfCgQv-KMLsabH6KPt-z3omfxt5nYuZ6ql7W52kCTkyVZzE4KnaT7jB_Wcu9qd-wWHC2Zq7gnQTI1NrAXlV/s1600/584D3E37-7558-43C4-AAB1-A8A72AA2A770.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #0066cc; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-left: 16px; margin-right: 16px; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVcQariNLCeGDaBcRizWw1vvOFmsEsdB6zwMSL0epDPxWUneRdRtOhYDAu9IfCgQv-KMLsabH6KPt-z3omfxt5nYuZ6ql7W52kCTkyVZzE4KnaT7jB_Wcu9qd-wWHC2Zq7gnQTI1NrAXlV/s200/584D3E37-7558-43C4-AAB1-A8A72AA2A770.jpeg" style="cursor: move;" width="150" /></a><a href="https://www.blogger.com/u/1/null"><u><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL_a8-C1TPw8Ml31B0XmLLPG82YW7bdSwD-2q5PlPgT8f6AEYsIcwL9qL0UZ_E3Aq98w0VaiRXKx6PmkIoj_OHYvcaPG6NhT7BRbWKWirHeCUVy02C6_j0M-XntiZtpb9tBsY7UJctMQEe/s200/0EC16A10-EED6-4AF9-9D85-01BE9A97F975.jpeg" width="200" /><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI-LKET2oY-8VjHlCnu_RDNZhtITLea85lYK4MYPUsWng5JOvt0FqWQkFB-TeS-AGKj3vjvi9k5reCWrgOcysLFq279ZstkoCSfFlcQYqJo1UHYTlwhlXKdcQo13LZw4D0OGr9TXSL814c/s200/46910BC4-3187-4FF4-ACEE-64C88E69FCC3.jpeg" style="cursor: move;" width="150" /></u></a></b><br />
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<ul style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-10449ea1-7fff-ad5b-db7c-ba89abbcf510" style="font-weight: normal;">
<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">We mostly stay at our hotel and play at the beach and pool all day, and take long walks on the grounds</span></div>
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<u><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnrQ-M5ofio20P4nxSmV2L8f8FTKmTy177wo7o3ALTaS-TNFjEdjsgaWPIyfYiE1FKg96kTqGS5OAdHbmbvnNSUaIbz0cGdaknLOHZezO6i16hKAtEAhkfu8Sbe8MtSIOpA8CBufARxmts/s1600/B4F0D54A-278F-4BE5-89FB-550405089784.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #0066cc; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-left: 16px; margin-right: 16px; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="900" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnrQ-M5ofio20P4nxSmV2L8f8FTKmTy177wo7o3ALTaS-TNFjEdjsgaWPIyfYiE1FKg96kTqGS5OAdHbmbvnNSUaIbz0cGdaknLOHZezO6i16hKAtEAhkfu8Sbe8MtSIOpA8CBufARxmts/s200/B4F0D54A-278F-4BE5-89FB-550405089784.jpeg" style="cursor: move;" width="200" /></a><i></i><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBp5KalM9xBFPO-FIJLb9QSrXKthyphenhyphenbD1CmIPmE3gSKHdOHEN8WuPBwTt741_14k0daRheOa8TdidkInjoQ3fOOTWLghrm5Z4KiOgfrgkyx7NP3gFCs2JCnyImxANIGMRx35zjg_Rtnr03G/s1600/F739DBC2-30CE-41F2-BAF5-986A3AC959E5.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #0066cc; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-left: 16px; margin-right: 16px; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1068" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBp5KalM9xBFPO-FIJLb9QSrXKthyphenhyphenbD1CmIPmE3gSKHdOHEN8WuPBwTt741_14k0daRheOa8TdidkInjoQ3fOOTWLghrm5Z4KiOgfrgkyx7NP3gFCs2JCnyImxANIGMRx35zjg_Rtnr03G/s200/F739DBC2-30CE-41F2-BAF5-986A3AC959E5.jpeg" style="cursor: move;" width="133" /></a></u><i></i><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinp6waY4iqK_bdamw2x0us1GlxVax6vehWEF9fEHDJ6OPIhn1kZGQwWIWyK2VsXsiZPILLXy8WdPURfPdCURsNR7xHdO4mOfWIqDlvkyw1xTffEtmmmM7M4B-44mUyzVlmSmSrnY59_P6O/s1600/DF9931E6-BD4F-42A9-9740-83F18E6E0533.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #0066cc; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-left: 16px; margin-right: 16px; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1068" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinp6waY4iqK_bdamw2x0us1GlxVax6vehWEF9fEHDJ6OPIhn1kZGQwWIWyK2VsXsiZPILLXy8WdPURfPdCURsNR7xHdO4mOfWIqDlvkyw1xTffEtmmmM7M4B-44mUyzVlmSmSrnY59_P6O/s200/DF9931E6-BD4F-42A9-9740-83F18E6E0533.jpeg" style="cursor: move;" width="133" /></a><b> </b></div>
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<b id="docs-internal-guid-10449ea1-7fff-ad5b-db7c-ba89abbcf510" style="font-weight: normal;"> <b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><br />
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<b id="docs-internal-guid-10449ea1-7fff-ad5b-db7c-ba89abbcf510" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: lime; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">FOOD PLACES WE LOVE in DORADO:</span></b></div>
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<ul style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-10449ea1-7fff-ad5b-db7c-ba89abbcf510" style="font-weight: normal;">
<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<a href="https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g147322-d1399505-Reviews-Katrina_s_Restaurant-Dorado_Puerto_Rico.html" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">RESTAURANT KATRINA</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"> </span></div>
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<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">We really enjoy this place! It has great ambiance and friendly wait staff. They have a few “kid” tables which my boys LOVE to sit at solo (and have even written and performed a song about). In general, for us being vegan, most places we eat: rice, beans, tostones… And this meal (plus meat) is the staple of most food places in Puerto Rico.</span></div>
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<b id="docs-internal-guid-10449ea1-7fff-ad5b-db7c-ba89abbcf510" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"> <u><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSpsRJdM97hVg7JQE_C506Ea_XLQDJRqqDQXuwaOK82sZQrQ8Pke9vJjd59OdgzlFTMZ1sDSA6mz6AFULxZgfEN6cyWOMt-7Vviw59RPRtSyJzF9HitxNbmTB8c3MXkkKCA0dTgDmeFjS9/s1600/3BC84D40-78FA-4DA8-A62B-8E58FE6921DF.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #0066cc; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-left: 16px; margin-right: 16px; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSpsRJdM97hVg7JQE_C506Ea_XLQDJRqqDQXuwaOK82sZQrQ8Pke9vJjd59OdgzlFTMZ1sDSA6mz6AFULxZgfEN6cyWOMt-7Vviw59RPRtSyJzF9HitxNbmTB8c3MXkkKCA0dTgDmeFjS9/s200/3BC84D40-78FA-4DA8-A62B-8E58FE6921DF.jpeg" width="150" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxPp9NHcOeRMLKCGLhIHpndpro1BL9HbBeGZiqlBahx_1Q0ovWh-41kjYEqImSpDU2G3ELLlrD9Un6KybPXxiS2M4ZnttT_CxsgSM6Wxx0eaxelsE665V8DbwucuJxbGI6nGCwIwfO7pnq/s1600/4DF7A41F-F420-49E7-B86F-1F6DF4734F0B.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="background-color: transparent; color: #0066cc; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-left: 16px; margin-right: 16px; text-align: center; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxPp9NHcOeRMLKCGLhIHpndpro1BL9HbBeGZiqlBahx_1Q0ovWh-41kjYEqImSpDU2G3ELLlrD9Un6KybPXxiS2M4ZnttT_CxsgSM6Wxx0eaxelsE665V8DbwucuJxbGI6nGCwIwfO7pnq/s200/4DF7A41F-F420-49E7-B86F-1F6DF4734F0B.jpeg" width="200" /></a></u><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1_08Y7fFvdLatRXv6Bppdq2R3VJNbEQsvUIrntKb12OkvVXRCsp804p8wzxvTOV016KhA-o3Pgr4xorv7mwE_TAgbPmqv3nFHk5V67t66U_YTVyJvW4Aj1HGBfA7O2PMMMXgI9irAoAak/s1600/B7255D11-18D5-429D-9022-852437ABE9E7.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #0066cc; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-left: 16px; margin-right: 16px; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1_08Y7fFvdLatRXv6Bppdq2R3VJNbEQsvUIrntKb12OkvVXRCsp804p8wzxvTOV016KhA-o3Pgr4xorv7mwE_TAgbPmqv3nFHk5V67t66U_YTVyJvW4Aj1HGBfA7O2PMMMXgI9irAoAak/s200/B7255D11-18D5-429D-9022-852437ABE9E7.jpeg" style="cursor: move;" width="200" /></a> </span></b></div>
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<b id="docs-internal-guid-10449ea1-7fff-ad5b-db7c-ba89abbcf510" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">[INSERT VIDEO SINGING SONG]</span></b></div>
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<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<a href="https://metropolrestaurant.com/restaurants/metropol-restaurant-dorado" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">METROPOL</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"> </span></div>
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<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">We love eating outside at this restaurant (we have never eaten inside here - side note: bug spray in evenings in Puerto Rico is highly advised). The kids can run around a little before the food comes and Frank and I like to spend as much time outside as we can when we travel. The servers have always been helpful and nice. Same type of food - cuban/latin. We love and think it is delicious. Bring bug spray.</span></div>
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<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">In addition, this shopping center is one we go to often. There is a drive-thru Starbucks as well as a cute surf shop with cute bikinis and board shorts. There is also a little pharmacy (where you can get bug spray if get there for dinner early enough and have forgotten the bug spray).</span></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoFcXR7NzlmiW-_L57XbKXo_KecDdnePiIQEBhSCnh-YBcE0zzxw25iXPqrDZC92QoSA_dUYrE4_KQlNMxr6ScErnuKWAhmRiIefxU8Z43FFAOhz4WBN7WXRqRsnQPLCJUq85-2BqPlfNC/s1600/64F74D75-4392-47BB-8D2D-A78DAED1BBF9.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #0066cc; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-left: 16px; margin-right: 16px; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1203" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoFcXR7NzlmiW-_L57XbKXo_KecDdnePiIQEBhSCnh-YBcE0zzxw25iXPqrDZC92QoSA_dUYrE4_KQlNMxr6ScErnuKWAhmRiIefxU8Z43FFAOhz4WBN7WXRqRsnQPLCJUq85-2BqPlfNC/s200/64F74D75-4392-47BB-8D2D-A78DAED1BBF9.jpeg" style="cursor: move;" width="150" /></a><b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike> </b></li>
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<b id="docs-internal-guid-10449ea1-7fff-ad5b-db7c-ba89abbcf510" style="font-weight: normal;"> <b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><br />
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<ul style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-10449ea1-7fff-ad5b-db7c-ba89abbcf510" style="font-weight: normal;">
<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<a href="https://www.yelp.com/biz/el-chile-ardiente-dorado" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">EL CHILE ARDIENTE</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"> </span></div>
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<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">So this is not our favorite restaurant because not a ton of vegan options but I want to put it here because I think non vegans would love it. It is super cute and fun and near the “town center” of Dorado. Again, we sit outside and it is fun to watch people and cars going by. Puerto Rico has cars that go by blaring music and its fun. And they have high top tables and high stools and kids and I really like it.</span></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNSD2z2-qKUYejGnawoxzB83eygPLgoaGwLUhy6GQH_yioZPXreRbc0kfCs03EtXiymUSwtJaQi0wzP_p5BDJ5NJnwQ1PapwW9muQ8OAYscYp7DapuT0nkOgL4xRMrF3yKLxk7V9O5Qc5m/s1600/C82D01B4-D999-4861-8B45-113355F382FE.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #0066cc; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-left: 16px; margin-right: 16px; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNSD2z2-qKUYejGnawoxzB83eygPLgoaGwLUhy6GQH_yioZPXreRbc0kfCs03EtXiymUSwtJaQi0wzP_p5BDJ5NJnwQ1PapwW9muQ8OAYscYp7DapuT0nkOgL4xRMrF3yKLxk7V9O5Qc5m/s200/C82D01B4-D999-4861-8B45-113355F382FE.jpeg" style="cursor: move;" width="150" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjh_oBPpfzjXHJoGr9ufiUNT4L3LXjTXYGxbtLVTJ_sM1scJHOLzvd9xBcXUymgm1bFx5ul2MXLiM6FN3DP5l9BkZymtthAdJ0Ng-lwtZa3mvO2dOEGKU4fNQbqwgCv4Nw3oNqwZzfmn6_/s1600/8CEA0784-5091-4106-BA44-96EE91F7BBF5.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="background-color: transparent; color: #0066cc; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-left: 16px; margin-right: 16px; text-align: center; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjh_oBPpfzjXHJoGr9ufiUNT4L3LXjTXYGxbtLVTJ_sM1scJHOLzvd9xBcXUymgm1bFx5ul2MXLiM6FN3DP5l9BkZymtthAdJ0Ng-lwtZa3mvO2dOEGKU4fNQbqwgCv4Nw3oNqwZzfmn6_/s200/8CEA0784-5091-4106-BA44-96EE91F7BBF5.jpeg" style="cursor: move;" width="150" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuMWRjOEIUzdrfpK_lu1AFqPB3jFOzakSPVRr43fcc4sXu2RwthOo7KVBoubiV18bNS6DgY3w3fnIOL-sBeudJd6vOnaKjHMep2QyQ9Gqyq6OTvrzLaoBaF5vBwTAI4LAiF0Ku6SAYhOys/s1600/D93AE756-5F8F-4DFD-BBFC-10886AEC34B2.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #0066cc; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-left: 16px; margin-right: 16px; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuMWRjOEIUzdrfpK_lu1AFqPB3jFOzakSPVRr43fcc4sXu2RwthOo7KVBoubiV18bNS6DgY3w3fnIOL-sBeudJd6vOnaKjHMep2QyQ9Gqyq6OTvrzLaoBaF5vBwTAI4LAiF0Ku6SAYhOys/s200/D93AE756-5F8F-4DFD-BBFC-10886AEC34B2.jpeg" style="cursor: move;" width="200" /></a><i></i><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><u><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj92vyGpVROXN4vU_oKBobszO_5zO0yl5y76m0lXnBehxg438scxXzyoaRr5oDJF-wOzCpr4fuk95OhWnzcoHQVeLvQBnSPT4IRtKzZVStNF7h5guw90zy2V8gn6hSeEF00t1M6nVs0rxn7/s1600/CC17D9B3-D359-4182-BC47-9447064D9A48.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #0066cc; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-left: 16px; margin-right: 16px; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1237" data-original-width="1600" height="154" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj92vyGpVROXN4vU_oKBobszO_5zO0yl5y76m0lXnBehxg438scxXzyoaRr5oDJF-wOzCpr4fuk95OhWnzcoHQVeLvQBnSPT4IRtKzZVStNF7h5guw90zy2V8gn6hSeEF00t1M6nVs0rxn7/s200/CC17D9B3-D359-4182-BC47-9447064D9A48.jpeg" style="cursor: move;" width="200" /></a><i></i><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOj3CHL5IDrgx9158GqFtw-QlktfjwbcQ5s6PJMIO6ppdwNZFQ7Q7a2n6hvdHuawBF_ttI2ZQoX0T6M18LWrY9lgyui9xNLOup21WZN6H46gHBmnRXp_raH9ypJOVsOqL_1AfxmAeSpmyg/s1600/5DBFEEE0-4E8E-4427-B876-7748DBF59952.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #0066cc; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-left: 16px; margin-right: 16px; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="984" data-original-width="1046" height="188" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOj3CHL5IDrgx9158GqFtw-QlktfjwbcQ5s6PJMIO6ppdwNZFQ7Q7a2n6hvdHuawBF_ttI2ZQoX0T6M18LWrY9lgyui9xNLOup21WZN6H46gHBmnRXp_raH9ypJOVsOqL_1AfxmAeSpmyg/s200/5DBFEEE0-4E8E-4427-B876-7748DBF59952.jpeg" width="200" /></a></u><b><i></i><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike> </b></li>
</ul>
</b></ul>
<b id="docs-internal-guid-10449ea1-7fff-ad5b-db7c-ba89abbcf510" style="font-weight: normal;"> <b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><u></u><u></u><br />
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<ul style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-10449ea1-7fff-ad5b-db7c-ba89abbcf510" style="font-weight: normal;">
<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<a href="https://www.google.com/maps/uv?hl=en&pb=!1s0x8c0314837c05bd65:0x7b09910d5e7f00c8!2m22!2m2!1i80!2i80!3m1!2i20!16m16!1b1!2m2!1m1!1e1!2m2!1m1!1e3!2m2!1m1!1e5!2m2!1m1!1e4!2m2!1m1!1e6!3m1!7e115!4s/maps/place/verde%2Bnatura%2Bdorado/@18.4657422,-66.2751375,3a,75y,195.54h,90t/data%3D*213m4*211e1*213m2*211s-bJ8-q5QkFKFmwOQ5M0zdw*212e0*214m2*213m1*211s0x8c0314837c05bd65:0x7b09910d5e7f00c8!5sverde+natura+dorado+-+Google+Search&imagekey=!1e2!2s-bJ8-q5QkFKFmwOQ5M0zdw&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjEsunuzf_gAhUyqlkKHfk-CQ8Qpx8wEHoECAYQCw" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">VERDE NATURA</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"> </span></div>
</li>
<ul style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">There is no website I could find for this place but it's behind Church’s Chicken in Dorado (few blocks before drive thru starbucks… dorado small). It's a pharmacy that has a juice/acai bar at front and its super yummy. Very fresh and not like so many other places that have added tons of preservatives and sugar. They cut fruit fresh daily and make their own granola. I highly recommend for a delicious treat.</span></div>
</li>
</ul>
</b></ul>
<b id="docs-internal-guid-10449ea1-7fff-ad5b-db7c-ba89abbcf510" style="font-weight: normal;"> </b> <br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 72pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<b id="docs-internal-guid-10449ea1-7fff-ad5b-db7c-ba89abbcf510" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial";"></span><u><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBf8jrMmOzNL4I6ZRmovv16sm9v5H_PAP1kQuCJml7j7ZMFzTHVA7Jbjp-uYK1u0fflkjvavgbd3ttrII3E4YgbppCZo7EAVW7F1UJuVYg6j7SNQs874650qd09GSjPTzTmg_FcfoUhyJC/s1600/2094A8F7-9604-49FA-BB07-A21EC15FC2AB.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #0066cc; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-left: 16px; margin-right: 16px; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBf8jrMmOzNL4I6ZRmovv16sm9v5H_PAP1kQuCJml7j7ZMFzTHVA7Jbjp-uYK1u0fflkjvavgbd3ttrII3E4YgbppCZo7EAVW7F1UJuVYg6j7SNQs874650qd09GSjPTzTmg_FcfoUhyJC/s200/2094A8F7-9604-49FA-BB07-A21EC15FC2AB.jpeg" style="cursor: move;" width="150" /></a><a href="https://www.blogger.com/u/1/null"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYIukh6H7_uOZifDWYGcS3IJUzZ28hylQ5vmiYgZyUkqlG1_Z5WNz7YiiTRHc9JXuRa_iC1I7VVcW7hKbycSpgG9q9LN32zEBCOgTin3eVev4GohKK2ihULpOmoknaYIsYBvs1fDK5m8Tj/s200/21AD7BD8-7F5D-490E-9DCB-CAF3C9F8F0B8.jpeg" style="cursor: move;" width="150" /><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirk9Dnpo5QXEUqvYNgLvK0KtVaEJv9OOns-gCIcrynG7ARLAwE2NTtVVjO6-Y20Q72JjwBvjAYrSb-q-0HlI30A9Fmq0AEpvfdItG7W4NHPhFDeErlQxqDH8QH2MTTRxv5Cv7JJYOvCR7X/s200/0AA6618C-A18F-4978-9CD1-352060316DB3.jpeg" style="cursor: move;" width="150" /><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOVriI2HoXChHkZX2DxwiPNoaLMHv3rl-1EI7NFW6ghD1U3UyK7C9KbKMFItsVBeRwGk9ElemDH3cQReJyOgflgcg04ujxzpBDY0IbbjaitDXSchotyBh98fsv7ZeoDZ37tCY8noRkFQXO/s200/E8EA9454-2C71-45F1-81C7-E230F2955596.jpeg" style="cursor: move;" width="150" /></a></u><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuKtJXR3iMV5RLbFu9QjhoklPsI1MeFO5dT8uJa1Lw4TRLIa3au90d4gtogk8VlYfoMPRahU0v9cOeglKmlpfd8inY8fx1whH-AWGAIot4O63jldKTxWrFfiM6d9MYfix7pEyQ7yzyER1D/s1600/2FE58054-6CE6-4D7C-B880-EE36623ACFFF.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #0066cc; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-left: 16px; margin-right: 16px; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuKtJXR3iMV5RLbFu9QjhoklPsI1MeFO5dT8uJa1Lw4TRLIa3au90d4gtogk8VlYfoMPRahU0v9cOeglKmlpfd8inY8fx1whH-AWGAIot4O63jldKTxWrFfiM6d9MYfix7pEyQ7yzyER1D/s200/2FE58054-6CE6-4D7C-B880-EE36623ACFFF.jpeg" style="cursor: move;" width="150" /></a></b><br />
<b id="docs-internal-guid-10449ea1-7fff-ad5b-db7c-ba89abbcf510" style="font-weight: normal;"><b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><br />
</b></div>
<b id="docs-internal-guid-10449ea1-7fff-ad5b-db7c-ba89abbcf510" style="font-weight: normal;"> </b> <br />
<ul style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-10449ea1-7fff-ad5b-db7c-ba89abbcf510" style="font-weight: normal;">
<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><a href="https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g147322-d2461150-Reviews-Orient_House-Dorado_Puerto_Rico.html" target="_blank">Orient House</a> (across from Embassy suites)</span></div>
</li>
<ul dir="ltr">
<li dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">Hartly especially loves this place and we have had date nights there over the years </li>
</ul>
</b></ul>
<b id="docs-internal-guid-10449ea1-7fff-ad5b-db7c-ba89abbcf510" style="font-weight: normal;"> <br />
<u><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiSzd9sSmN8eWcvau9gB7Ddo4PZbNwV05Ib70HvVheWxWzeMZ13TQqpzdPow5yObL_s_YlQAdaaf2CePhP-6HOxluidJmRq3nOqa6_GkkwIs1xDYHG4f8SFHT4ZW4NFB7p_GEixytVGnkv/s1600/644A627D-BC9E-44C1-84BD-214AA353FB08.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="background-color: transparent; color: #0066cc; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-left: 16px; margin-right: 16px; text-align: center; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiSzd9sSmN8eWcvau9gB7Ddo4PZbNwV05Ib70HvVheWxWzeMZ13TQqpzdPow5yObL_s_YlQAdaaf2CePhP-6HOxluidJmRq3nOqa6_GkkwIs1xDYHG4f8SFHT4ZW4NFB7p_GEixytVGnkv/s200/644A627D-BC9E-44C1-84BD-214AA353FB08.jpeg" width="150" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisnSmO2EsySCVtZTix9VyHvPKV_K-KJq50xLBtEjjYBwvC55As5xw7mqAYp60BJQIYrSphEGBy7LwnBytRauJVvN_DbX3sVmNFa6LpVBFX7OiarRMnA53MUxLJtP9uEy6tOuShWYLvfLOn/s1600/8EF228AE-5014-4BE8-BBB0-945ECF264611.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #0066cc; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-left: 16px; margin-right: 16px; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisnSmO2EsySCVtZTix9VyHvPKV_K-KJq50xLBtEjjYBwvC55As5xw7mqAYp60BJQIYrSphEGBy7LwnBytRauJVvN_DbX3sVmNFa6LpVBFX7OiarRMnA53MUxLJtP9uEy6tOuShWYLvfLOn/s200/8EF228AE-5014-4BE8-BBB0-945ECF264611.jpeg" style="cursor: move;" width="150" /></a></u><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXVeC1YM-Ld0U5cG5Q3Vnu9jFm2kbVo2umstOUaRKb5thrCaccuHt0MswV-ZAONZmeUOyGaAks4Bsy1OZVDf-B7AiwfBSEQVu70CECTLhnidHmWrpi0rX7Ud39yCXGRcNFMU3gPzAjpWwz/s1600/68FA9372-CF11-4CB5-B6BE-D7D94D2A1990.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #0066cc; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-left: 16px; margin-right: 16px; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXVeC1YM-Ld0U5cG5Q3Vnu9jFm2kbVo2umstOUaRKb5thrCaccuHt0MswV-ZAONZmeUOyGaAks4Bsy1OZVDf-B7AiwfBSEQVu70CECTLhnidHmWrpi0rX7Ud39yCXGRcNFMU3gPzAjpWwz/s200/68FA9372-CF11-4CB5-B6BE-D7D94D2A1990.jpeg" style="cursor: move;" width="150" /></a><br />
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</b><br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<b id="docs-internal-guid-10449ea1-7fff-ad5b-db7c-ba89abbcf510" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: #ff9900; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 24pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">ARECIBO: </span></b></div>
<b id="docs-internal-guid-10449ea1-7fff-ad5b-db7c-ba89abbcf510" style="font-weight: normal;"> <br />
</b><br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<b id="docs-internal-guid-10449ea1-7fff-ad5b-db7c-ba89abbcf510" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: cyan; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">PLACES TO VISIT IN ARECIBO: </span></b></div>
<b id="docs-internal-guid-10449ea1-7fff-ad5b-db7c-ba89abbcf510" style="font-weight: normal;"> </b> <br />
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<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<a href="https://www.naic.edu/ao/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">ARECIBO OBSERVATORY</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"> - Nothing here except the observatory. It's a long drive from Dorado and in the middle of country with bad cell service… But our oldest loves it. It was home to the largest radio telescope until a few years ago (2016) when China finished theirs. It is now 2nd largest radio telescope in the world and its impressive. There is a small museum, a short film about the telescope and what the scientist do there and a cute gift shop. I enjoyed it the first year. The 2nd and 3rd year… not so much. Hartly likes to go every year. The rest of us are over it lol But if you have a long stay and want a fun few hour adventure, it is neat. Know your audience.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #ff9900; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 24pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">GUAYNABO:</span></div>
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<a href="https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g1021518-d7140537-Reviews-Parque_Forestal_La_Marquesa-Guaynabo_Puerto_Rico.html" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">LA MARQUESA</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"> (currently closed for unforeseeable amount of time due to Hurricane Maria damage) </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #ff9900; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 24pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">SAN JUAN</span><span style="background-color: #ff9900; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 24pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">:</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: cyan; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">PLACES TO VISIT IN SAN JUAN: </span> - We like going once a year for 1/2 a day or so to explore Old San Juan and San Juan. We like going to the Fort/Castle and walking the grounds and seeing the movie on the history of it and standing in the old towers that the guards used as look outs so long ago. The boys love running down the huge hills and climbing the castle walls. The city has a few favorite places we like to pop into and vendor drinks and foods as we explore. There are a couple of restaurants that have vegan options and it is fun to take the ferry over and back. If you are visiting for more than 4 or 5 days, I recommend you do a day trip there.</div>
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<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-variant: normal; list-style-type: disc; white-space: pre;"><a href="https://www.nps.gov/saju/index.htm" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #0066cc; font-family: &quot; font-size: 14.66px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: pre; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.66px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">CASTLE IN OLD SAN JUAN</span></a><b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike></b></li>
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<u><a href="https://www.blogger.com/u/1/null"><img border="0" data-original-height="1196" data-original-width="1600" height="149" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-C8XOnBg5Zw8H7tYfybxzD19bMacmqhaq_jxpPKRgPuaLyboZ6zDqvAEjuka1_QnYJtJ136ahb6UxWTXq4Tgf55TS74EA-a5yD9bGbWKDQu6UUSFZgwIAonDPh0QH-qcxoCyNt4HzGP2Q/s200/A660D1FC-69D9-478D-AFA2-AC11318D0B2A.jpeg" style="cursor: move;" width="200" /><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDNX3tAmNjJLZABKztFiFICV879yz8FDFa6myw4UlVBv5DMLRvo88D_tXsmjYhP5ianyTsNTq0pQGixcePM02nxr9Fh0NO9B2JWX2WhHQ9qH4fNV7e0oBIta7d_U09RCVYLiKpU7df60GT/s200/1BC81E4F-DDB7-4195-B115-B09375C6EE16.jpeg" width="150" /></a><a href="https://www.blogger.com/u/1/null"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioGjSV9E_61TLfkzQvknKSiEA230jWI3Jtmpjol-7vsJTnJ002QMsXu2gCxD_-NZi2QOyZvJx_6ALnmo42n1j26T-fRygmj4nhjdZj08q54i6J5R-dbOS-Qg15rUp-Xetyi9j5F_bvyzfE/s200/554DD31B-C668-47DA-BB1C-4A5CA33BA2E3.jpeg" style="cursor: move;" width="150" /><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwIfELs64uObh3kZ4sO3sDB2M3vmSllpWc7Mu2t8dAubEPWlcX0eGqDeMkKCpBUnbXDk4JwIFjh1_xBCeA0GSHUEQ34WHXviDL9yN0QgnPkIMs7vvIVR5_Uu7gT705wzl8r0LGg5G8OFBW/s200/C831B26C-F83A-492D-8B3D-31261188F33A.jpeg" width="200" /><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjANMMigndzaOpaBRhWLlSH3Wl1Q6zWT4c4lDWa_smOigiWlQPsCa7dX8pqMMa5mE_CG6X1cz8AoE3khw4FCJeNQ3pje-dSdmuJmAZLysysKv9lcQjgcNkDSyoLTg7C9sT1Yi20wz1v7njz/s200/F485AA76-5B4A-4739-A793-14B79DB6BFF2.jpeg" style="cursor: move;" width="150" /><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEgtasAQ0K_vFpE5uomUKD0W1TIJJxp62syp_-itm1Er0eeEIPM2oHbJI1HNmeOVn2fi_vU29HdkM-5KstiV6YUZQhFIjVEsmlc6FDSmPqOEiUFjvmtU5b3zFbpqcWqKhmAaE3iqCJPC7f/s200/91EE1276-ECF0-41D7-A8C5-1307382F499D.jpeg" style="cursor: move;" width="150" /></a></u><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtU_TpVGjlWOwLZtRHLXKZ9DWRwfG2uwTjPe7oz5bYSm6Rg5ojSII2hMo6isKL_Ud2SGgO2dZLQmhtFpZFlHi_H1LJ8Z15RwWdo1Orbcr29ezDSgdnxHwAUaVq2Yulaq5O2uXOFwiLs6e1/s1600/75D2DD2A-0838-47AD-B001-FB9B3CC30B3D.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #0066cc; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-left: 16px; margin-right: 16px; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtU_TpVGjlWOwLZtRHLXKZ9DWRwfG2uwTjPe7oz5bYSm6Rg5ojSII2hMo6isKL_Ud2SGgO2dZLQmhtFpZFlHi_H1LJ8Z15RwWdo1Orbcr29ezDSgdnxHwAUaVq2Yulaq5O2uXOFwiLs6e1/s200/75D2DD2A-0838-47AD-B001-FB9B3CC30B3D.jpeg" style="cursor: move;" width="150" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g147320-d150526-Reviews-Science_Park-San_Juan_Puerto_Rico.html" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">SCIENCE PARK </span></a></div>
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<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Butterfly People</span></div>
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<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<a href="https://sanjuanpuertorico.com/catano-old-san-juan-ferry/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Ferry</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"> to San Juan from Catano (20 min from Aquarius)</span> </div>
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<span style="background-color: lime; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">PLACES TO EAT IN SAN JUAN: </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><a href="https://cafeberlinpr.com/" target="_blank">Cafe Berlin</a> (Old San Juan)</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><a href="https://www.happycow.net/reviews/st-germain-bistro-and-cafe-puerto-rico-39402" target="_blank">St Germain Bistro & Cafe</a> (Old San Juan)</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><a href="https://www.peaceandloafpr.com/#/" target="_blank">Peace N Loaf</a> (outer San Juan)</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #ff9900; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 24pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">FAJARDO:</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: red; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">PLACES TO STAY IN FAJARDO:</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"> </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Fajardo Inn was NOT great and pricey.</span></div>
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<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><a href="https://www.elconresort.com/" target="_blank">El Conquistador<span style="color: #b00000;"> </span></a>(closed in 2019... check back because amazing!)</span></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisJX9gDmnlbENG2Z5V49PMqPCU21yPhwfzBTp2cEsO6-JwkX79EA6sjtgdWTzbVUYxIZrwRw7lqqZTdyJxyyZh-DkaW0k18VbydzY7RI5vSB1Ysdj55cldEWJZ_Pzg0JIz8vUpSDbfw8SZ/s1600/D239FF86-549F-4F43-B21C-D9C428B5C02A.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #0066cc; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-left: 16px; margin-right: 16px; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1334" data-original-width="750" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisJX9gDmnlbENG2Z5V49PMqPCU21yPhwfzBTp2cEsO6-JwkX79EA6sjtgdWTzbVUYxIZrwRw7lqqZTdyJxyyZh-DkaW0k18VbydzY7RI5vSB1Ysdj55cldEWJZ_Pzg0JIz8vUpSDbfw8SZ/s200/D239FF86-549F-4F43-B21C-D9C428B5C02A.jpeg" style="cursor: move;" width="111" /></a><i></i><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSWLHBlDZ89pgYO5M8-rVykc37lvOW7xLcuypej-V1iUCMkqJjN60CTe6OsgDI29rZD7bdIb0XkN9d8QGVPuP20K-fP40_MJJ0Nupsjbad8ldaltVrBkJ0rONvRvanD7FXN5nKrew9hueT/s1600/A62A9B85-FEB9-46D9-959F-4C6F6E1747FE.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #0066cc; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-left: 16px; margin-right: 16px; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="750" data-original-width="1334" height="111" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSWLHBlDZ89pgYO5M8-rVykc37lvOW7xLcuypej-V1iUCMkqJjN60CTe6OsgDI29rZD7bdIb0XkN9d8QGVPuP20K-fP40_MJJ0Nupsjbad8ldaltVrBkJ0rONvRvanD7FXN5nKrew9hueT/s200/A62A9B85-FEB9-46D9-959F-4C6F6E1747FE.jpeg" style="cursor: move;" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXTLViX1Ac9OM3PXqtfE245F-rVWVBZ-0NvXQq86cLmu92zV39l89qP8e14SAosWhl3PBWin6sQbrxDpVIQiUJ5AV3MW-e8dnIA0BDsC_ZtkSIXxvbpTiKExVirI7xTa5J63X9n0V72CgA/s1600/42AFBD4C-B349-47D9-A1EB-B754C188EB5E.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #0066cc; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-left: 16px; margin-right: 16px; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXTLViX1Ac9OM3PXqtfE245F-rVWVBZ-0NvXQq86cLmu92zV39l89qP8e14SAosWhl3PBWin6sQbrxDpVIQiUJ5AV3MW-e8dnIA0BDsC_ZtkSIXxvbpTiKExVirI7xTa5J63X9n0V72CgA/s200/42AFBD4C-B349-47D9-A1EB-B754C188EB5E.jpeg" style="cursor: move;" width="112" /></a><i></i><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><u><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm7TeE4A53qdob3O2_hRRXb_rg0LgUYAFZjNTmDG6IHZTkBXypTHBnN8a-8NPPQp-LiSqNisxKSgmvxad3OAyFy49urGq7ifIpP7IweDmfouF66wnGCK8YIlrvgpvUiGSJX1a50-ygFzq1/s1600/7967D68C-9EC7-4943-AFE5-B4927D7430FA.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #0066cc; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-left: 16px; margin-right: 16px; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="937" data-original-width="750" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm7TeE4A53qdob3O2_hRRXb_rg0LgUYAFZjNTmDG6IHZTkBXypTHBnN8a-8NPPQp-LiSqNisxKSgmvxad3OAyFy49urGq7ifIpP7IweDmfouF66wnGCK8YIlrvgpvUiGSJX1a50-ygFzq1/s200/7967D68C-9EC7-4943-AFE5-B4927D7430FA.jpeg" style="cursor: move;" width="160" /></a><i></i><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfhA2EkQ1J6f2RS2rmLAkW5cxQ0GXkdJAFqMy2tOm7XJ2S01oEj5L02xJ0aqnlJ7_UpSNOPBBK3akkO0Voqm1O5E1199Op4ZSYvjHRhMX6drOnRf7g9GsMDmi6bfwsQl6HAAau6XFOXDTK/s1600/1374E237-8E1C-4688-9682-BD333FC584A6.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #0066cc; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-left: 16px; margin-right: 16px; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="750" data-original-width="1334" height="111" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfhA2EkQ1J6f2RS2rmLAkW5cxQ0GXkdJAFqMy2tOm7XJ2S01oEj5L02xJ0aqnlJ7_UpSNOPBBK3akkO0Voqm1O5E1199Op4ZSYvjHRhMX6drOnRf7g9GsMDmi6bfwsQl6HAAau6XFOXDTK/s200/1374E237-8E1C-4688-9682-BD333FC584A6.jpeg" style="cursor: move;" width="200" /></a></u><b><i></i><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike> </b></li>
<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><a href="https://www.google.com/maps/uv?hl=en&pb=!1s0x8c04994c2bf1854f%3A0x96d6bcb20975f945!2m22!2m2!1i80!2i80!3m1!2i20!16m16!1b1!2m2!1m1!1e1!2m2!1m1!1e3!2m2!1m1!1e5!2m2!1m1!1e4!2m2!1m1!1e6!3m1!7e115!4shttp%3A%2F%2Fwww.iceportal.com%2Fbrochures%2Fice%2Fbrochure.aspx%3Fdid%3D2813%26brochureid%3D65647%26type%3Dpic!5swyndham%20resort%20fajardo%20puerto%20rico%20-%20Google%20Search&imagekey=!1e10!2sAF1QipOQgRE5cSB_gclonekud9YhLeS8ixpoIA1Ybg7n" target="_blank">Wyndham Resort<span style="color: #b00000;"> -</span></a> has small waterslide. Parking $20. Beach close, but not amazing. Oftentimes Priceline Name Your Price will pick this resort. </span></div>
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<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">AirBHB near Wyndham. Ask if you can use the Wyndham pool. Otherwise you can use the pool of the AirBNB community, but it will have no people and not near the beach. Some come with a golf cart.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: cyan; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">PLACES TO VISIT IN FAJARDO:</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><a href="https://islandsofpuertorico.com/el-yunque-national-rainforest/" target="_blank">El Yunque Rainforest</a> (waterfall, bring suit) There are a lot of options when it comes to this Rainforest. Drive up and stop at lookout spots only. You can also do a hike in to a (freezing) waterfall. Its pretty (though can be chilly bc all shaded) and we highly recommend it as a fun activity.</span></div>
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<u><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipvqUAqd2mP6fxUrkmPKdZH-vKC-7mSaT3BUl9FvHi7MgG0MzY2vgX4B88SnbEn4JwdryIvyzK_B_0xWw2JsZH2ODfa_fFkwMLJ9FFac0i_XshmDhAgBtyUPqTKX-G2aWNryr68EH6Lxkd/s1600/1D3FE0A5-7E51-49BF-8D6C-94EF90A2D6F4.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #0066cc; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-left: 16px; margin-right: 16px; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1196" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipvqUAqd2mP6fxUrkmPKdZH-vKC-7mSaT3BUl9FvHi7MgG0MzY2vgX4B88SnbEn4JwdryIvyzK_B_0xWw2JsZH2ODfa_fFkwMLJ9FFac0i_XshmDhAgBtyUPqTKX-G2aWNryr68EH6Lxkd/s200/1D3FE0A5-7E51-49BF-8D6C-94EF90A2D6F4.jpeg" style="cursor: move;" width="149" /></a><a href="https://www.blogger.com/u/1/null"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1196" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihx496-coQlWHLDxADZsIgZDGzJp5I8VpF4TbpWkpDNEh2LqZrexYFQSPMXKzEqCuY2tqXyEf7gyNtaAni01GZlXektm0bU5IcBqXGBrJRq1xTLSnasRwuVkS12IqrLoVnePtS-e_My4AM/s200/5A0FEEA3-8AB0-4361-BE63-D193E77D3B0E.jpeg" style="cursor: move;" width="149" /><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1203" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizq9m6dkBcyLaN7vGmE9lQcgn3TYWubsx5J3CK3gxynX0ibx0EMjQRacRWZCoUBmfIos_kQRpruOPuo8sHGmeyZUgHQDli9wFU600BpyLrIDiUMPTNSEBvIn8liPqloxSEnrAfrFC5puGH/s200/B1554483-E054-4D19-A192-2CAB17F78074.jpeg" style="cursor: move;" width="150" /><img border="0" data-original-height="1203" data-original-width="1600" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHwNZxj7hLkHNeZDf8CYf2f_fEFF_mgbI2LIPcIpn6oP_AzptMSpODAxsCl9Gqw5gnNAEwL4XSyxssst_R1SrBbDCBx6jrHRZRgWMHjbmFWaklIcK4kMF-e6M8E6a_w24-iHBfB_OtCyBO/s200/7BC64B2B-F609-4BE8-9337-92CD1EEE1679.jpeg" style="cursor: move;" width="200" /></a></u></div>
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<a href="https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g635965-d1422453-Reviews-Yunque_Ziplining-Luquillo_Puerto_Rico.html" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><span style="color: #b00000;"></span><span style="color: #b00000;"></span>Yunque Ziplining </span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"> (min age 7 or 8) Hartly absolutely loved it!</span></div>
<u><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje74bjiL9ezZjmSnKOCbejvO3xPVPEaLQtqn-riR91CshKvlV6gEuwNhHxxMtRnXPcQwyivu-bsoTweUUpCFMv8vg0hecVNaXxB6h1iSocNYzdklFPmh2TulnpZM94TjRBcCbvp_Gvz41v/s1600/DEFC7A75-BE69-46E8-981B-3F7BEDF9A043.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #0066cc; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-left: 16px; margin-right: 16px; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="889" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje74bjiL9ezZjmSnKOCbejvO3xPVPEaLQtqn-riR91CshKvlV6gEuwNhHxxMtRnXPcQwyivu-bsoTweUUpCFMv8vg0hecVNaXxB6h1iSocNYzdklFPmh2TulnpZM94TjRBcCbvp_Gvz41v/s200/DEFC7A75-BE69-46E8-981B-3F7BEDF9A043.jpeg" style="cursor: move;" width="110" /></a><i></i><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIzX1zdWcd6GpTX4U08X8M8zor69-vJUnTw-Iwpn2ZkZUj_GxkxWqDkBz78eVw8ujRxOF_hhGUL9UNWlpGcoQpsLV5o14dDiyDbQfK5QSQIiYLWt5EG175QEmPvsKNlIj3swLpBl0eDp2s/s1600/530EEFB6-7DAC-4172-B628-EA66C0B9184B.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #0066cc; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-left: 16px; margin-right: 16px; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="889" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIzX1zdWcd6GpTX4U08X8M8zor69-vJUnTw-Iwpn2ZkZUj_GxkxWqDkBz78eVw8ujRxOF_hhGUL9UNWlpGcoQpsLV5o14dDiyDbQfK5QSQIiYLWt5EG175QEmPvsKNlIj3swLpBl0eDp2s/s200/530EEFB6-7DAC-4172-B628-EA66C0B9184B.jpeg" style="cursor: move;" width="110" /></a></u><i></i><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN49hlptOflefhPFDGnR8ULFiQvZj2D-AkJkktjfBZTeLYt11LYn2der5ll8d-SGCmEGGuVlIft1_HZBZzuKAHuIQ7i-R9HXlHok3ohe-4s_p_spCf8vPFufwANbKsPxtnsVgrbWscFlMU/s1600/9F9F9E7E-5A99-4B98-AF15-81EDB54D890B.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #0066cc; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-left: 16px; margin-right: 16px; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="889" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN49hlptOflefhPFDGnR8ULFiQvZj2D-AkJkktjfBZTeLYt11LYn2der5ll8d-SGCmEGGuVlIft1_HZBZzuKAHuIQ7i-R9HXlHok3ohe-4s_p_spCf8vPFufwANbKsPxtnsVgrbWscFlMU/s200/9F9F9E7E-5A99-4B98-AF15-81EDB54D890B.jpeg" style="cursor: move;" width="110" /></a></li>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Biobay at night. Electric boat or kayak (minimum ages for the Kayak)</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: lime; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">FOOD PLACES IN FAJARDO:</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><a href="http://degree18juice.com/" target="_blank">Degrees 18 Juice Bar<span style="color: #b00000;"> </span></a> - Can't rave about this awesome place enough. The people are super friendly and authentic and the vibe is so chill and relaxing and loving. There are a ton of delicious options and all 5 of us love it! Plus, the people working there always are full of information if you have any questions about activities or places. This is the real deal. We have now made a tradition of even going on our way to the airport out of town to get one more bite!</span></div>
<u></u> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge28VI9F_EF9fDhNN3BGZohS5qT7D-5OTcfWA_fsRq7Loh1kDee86OKgoiAU8c3t_7gdOtW1ps5qNvu4JwfWTOfcKGjaEVXTcz9_2SL8QLZ8gjNnoH36lYgdFdw9nvPrOCuiRaABzHq0io/s1600/E659FFCE-60B9-4BE7-9397-79729B1B0DDF.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #0066cc; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-left: 16px; margin-right: 16px; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge28VI9F_EF9fDhNN3BGZohS5qT7D-5OTcfWA_fsRq7Loh1kDee86OKgoiAU8c3t_7gdOtW1ps5qNvu4JwfWTOfcKGjaEVXTcz9_2SL8QLZ8gjNnoH36lYgdFdw9nvPrOCuiRaABzHq0io/s200/E659FFCE-60B9-4BE7-9397-79729B1B0DDF.jpeg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdkjkVgztP8ZZKpIhBLINCpXzXwdKgJNMu7era61YeawOUqbcodkgJ_EMgM5CUKJBpBGQMgUtVznclBPS7BCCSUfHYR5EunyWbF5iZ2TYGJDyiapScZcUivQftXtzSWGa8TgC3NmgKXbeD/s1600/0867A7F4-7138-4CCF-A146-33B56E4DDF5F.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #0066cc; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-left: 16px; margin-right: 16px; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdkjkVgztP8ZZKpIhBLINCpXzXwdKgJNMu7era61YeawOUqbcodkgJ_EMgM5CUKJBpBGQMgUtVznclBPS7BCCSUfHYR5EunyWbF5iZ2TYGJDyiapScZcUivQftXtzSWGa8TgC3NmgKXbeD/s200/0867A7F4-7138-4CCF-A146-33B56E4DDF5F.jpeg" style="cursor: move;" width="150" /></a></li>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><a href="https://www.tripsavvy.com/dining-at-the-luquillo-kiosks-1621893" target="_blank">Luquillo Kioscos<span style="color: #b00000;"> - </span></a>about 4 miles away, 20 restaurants side by side. I need more photos. Check out the website link. It is a pretty cool place. Looks like open aired on both sides places side by side by side. Tons of food and cute shopping options. Tayo and Tatiana and I hung out at the beach behind the stores (after getting Tayo a crazy pineapple drink because he was sad he was too young to zip line) while we waited for Frank and Hartly to finish their ziplining activity. Great and fun place. </span></div>
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<u><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzAAc_9oZLGdzrB20eHr5Fj548HToWj6SrkEIgYOAgK-aF2fNBdXGDHtTQydfQuCFJ7dfQae9RcrstPq7QyeL4OeI1J8vx9L8S4wNNHkcYVA-AzMjytv0F1LA9B7n7dtBO6aGK3-yOB3Mb/s1600/D0223752-7A8D-49D4-BDD3-2235F011E027.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="background-color: transparent; color: #0066cc; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-left: 16px; margin-right: 16px; text-align: center; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzAAc_9oZLGdzrB20eHr5Fj548HToWj6SrkEIgYOAgK-aF2fNBdXGDHtTQydfQuCFJ7dfQae9RcrstPq7QyeL4OeI1J8vx9L8S4wNNHkcYVA-AzMjytv0F1LA9B7n7dtBO6aGK3-yOB3Mb/s200/D0223752-7A8D-49D4-BDD3-2235F011E027.jpeg" style="cursor: move;" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhICwY9ddjwvYB7x6ZCvc8alu8792B377HkYTrfdBmHOcraCy5JttL7iBSn4S2O0z_E-XLgsGXFbcl9Zg1gFwsZJWKUismcYc-1fMLilnKwO36SqS0xbARoTLlSw2YG7CLrJFBr6ti-QaE-/s1600/1AC94D35-DDE6-4F97-B6BD-46BD21F1FA18.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="background-color: transparent; color: #0066cc; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-left: 16px; margin-right: 16px; text-align: center; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="907" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhICwY9ddjwvYB7x6ZCvc8alu8792B377HkYTrfdBmHOcraCy5JttL7iBSn4S2O0z_E-XLgsGXFbcl9Zg1gFwsZJWKUismcYc-1fMLilnKwO36SqS0xbARoTLlSw2YG7CLrJFBr6ti-QaE-/s200/1AC94D35-DDE6-4F97-B6BD-46BD21F1FA18.jpeg" style="cursor: move;" width="113" /></a></u><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyaAhcrmb5Q6XnrdPExZPCKadCoAl3BGvKBRwxg2WfbaQe8WKky4b0ewLanpEoghjUYoJ8bdoC9lhw6pX8A8oaoUQdQNJ7NwRXX1hcCNsQArGfFPUPaNiM3WSBawJrZVRJhnoD1XWhtYhG/s1600/4C08115D-F956-48C1-9138-4ED188770EC9.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #0066cc; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-left: 16px; margin-right: 16px; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyaAhcrmb5Q6XnrdPExZPCKadCoAl3BGvKBRwxg2WfbaQe8WKky4b0ewLanpEoghjUYoJ8bdoC9lhw6pX8A8oaoUQdQNJ7NwRXX1hcCNsQArGfFPUPaNiM3WSBawJrZVRJhnoD1XWhtYhG/s200/4C08115D-F956-48C1-9138-4ED188770EC9.jpeg" style="cursor: move;" width="150" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><a href="https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g635965-d1026270-Reviews-Lolita_s-Luquillo_Puerto_Rico.html" target="_blank">Lolitas</a> (on way back to San Juan)</span> </div>
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<span style="background-color: #ff9900; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 24pt; font-variant: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><b><i><u>RINCON:</u></i></b></span>I need more photos from here. This is where I spent my childhood visiting. Its very popular among the surfers. We have fun when we've gone but it is many hours drive.</div>
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<span style="background-color: red; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">PLACES TO STAY IN RINCON:</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: cyan; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">PLACES TO VISIT IN RINCON: </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Watch surfers</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: lime; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">PLACES TO EAT IN RINCON: </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">There is a sushi bar with an outdoor movie screen.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #ff9900; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 24pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">VIEQUES:</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: red; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">PLACES TO STAY IN VIEQUES: </span></div>
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<a href="https://haciendatamarindo.com/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><span style="color: #b00000;"></span><span style="color: #b00000;"></span>Hacienda Tamarindo</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"> This is at the edge of the only downtown area, can be loud on weekends with cars with loud music doing drivebys. Esperanza is the area name I believe.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: cyan; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">PLACES TO VISIT IN VIEQUES: </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Biobay here is better than Fajardo by far. Look for glass bottom Kayaks if possible.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">No need to rent a car, there are shuttle van taxis that charge a couple bucks a person.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlLBUWD58Bx37lpUvjEbNmwBdbggG2HdOiQbORAP8JHxwCM1mk1WboaPxDNHw8zxz43RR6DOW9G7EeJlRF6q65b_gAwo8K9WeLQ8U1sg75wf4ALz6GwBvXKcTToOCGoJ8RkZNgI_LJcnum/s1600/F2D73BED-7091-405A-B611-59A17A10CB7E.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #0066cc; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-left: 16px; margin-right: 16px; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1196" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlLBUWD58Bx37lpUvjEbNmwBdbggG2HdOiQbORAP8JHxwCM1mk1WboaPxDNHw8zxz43RR6DOW9G7EeJlRF6q65b_gAwo8K9WeLQ8U1sg75wf4ALz6GwBvXKcTToOCGoJ8RkZNgI_LJcnum/s200/F2D73BED-7091-405A-B611-59A17A10CB7E.jpeg" style="cursor: move;" width="149" /></a><br />
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<span style="background-color: lime; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">PLACES TO EAT IN VIEQUES: </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"> - </span><a href="https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g147326-d1135226-Reviews-Bananas-Isla_de_Vieques_Puerto_Rico.html" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Bananas</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"> restaurant in Esperanza</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #ff9900; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 24pt; font-variant: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><b><i><u>CULEBRA:</u></i></b> <b></b><i></i><u></u> <span style="background-color: white; font-size: small;">This is easily one of my favorite places in the world. The water temperature is always perfect. The different shades of blue in the crystal clear water are almost unbelievable because they look so unreal. The sand is a soft pale tan and soft doesn't adequately describe just how much it feels like silk in your hands. The island is pretty untouched from a tourists' stand point. There is not much to do or places to go and its fairly isolated. The sky is incredible at night with barely any light on after dark. Strangely, I only like to stay here for 3 or 4 nights precisely because it is so perfect to me. I like to leave when I still want to stay. I don't want to ever get sick of this paradise or it to lose its magic or the kids to complain. It really is amazing!</span> <span style="background-color: white;"></span><u></u><i></i><span style="font-size: small;"></span> <iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxnR_DjzIXE10kVVs7NWfwvyR6YZUgIu6kASFUb-xJdXQuDMzquTkp9ZuugHglLldan1dg0mZCuMELXSH8lSA' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe> </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 24pt; font-variant: normal; white-space: pre;"><span style="background-color: white;"></span><u><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdY5Q9s0S0N8k3hkfmOcLrMIWN5JVoGOZrRkZXniKWSVRJI90mIdVPkl0F54c88_wMMORd6uFoNdf3Vg9zHa2a-tX50sWidyq1pC2uONucf1jHYyrxExal1A-Zi371oT8qZ9QqXTbxiL26/s1600/32C72D07-8C84-4853-8509-3D681C4D7624.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #0066cc; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-left: 16px; margin-right: 16px; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdY5Q9s0S0N8k3hkfmOcLrMIWN5JVoGOZrRkZXniKWSVRJI90mIdVPkl0F54c88_wMMORd6uFoNdf3Vg9zHa2a-tX50sWidyq1pC2uONucf1jHYyrxExal1A-Zi371oT8qZ9QqXTbxiL26/s200/32C72D07-8C84-4853-8509-3D681C4D7624.jpeg" style="cursor: move;" width="150" /></a><i></i><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyG3n-c9n-_qnMPN3ssWqiPTV1NdpBLZ8n7HF-c673HkAerxnxlDN8MegJpZUPNnxZvk8RUOTPaShFvWY_XWfgBL52M4ZrLIbkOLNmMjs9nFRoz1hW5yi4LyHpxi8JStulDWllIM13EkN0/s1600/18F5A4D8-AE5B-49FB-B3B5-E905A9AA51AA.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #0066cc; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-left: 16px; margin-right: 16px; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyG3n-c9n-_qnMPN3ssWqiPTV1NdpBLZ8n7HF-c673HkAerxnxlDN8MegJpZUPNnxZvk8RUOTPaShFvWY_XWfgBL52M4ZrLIbkOLNmMjs9nFRoz1hW5yi4LyHpxi8JStulDWllIM13EkN0/s200/18F5A4D8-AE5B-49FB-B3B5-E905A9AA51AA.jpeg" style="cursor: move;" width="150" /></a><i></i><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN4R2lQZcotc1MI_Wnn5Z6AdK6s_uO3Gu-LsJsQ0JjdTlD6j-e55uowoc0_EB3RiME8x_loRTqTEyvDuukQPe2HE3OCs1BSuv4-W-XpKN_h3CU1SKN8_fgR278a-7tT8dKc-o_oIfhzTmE/s1600/E5444050-9A1F-4373-9CC9-8313756CCAAD.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #0066cc; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-left: 16px; margin-right: 16px; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN4R2lQZcotc1MI_Wnn5Z6AdK6s_uO3Gu-LsJsQ0JjdTlD6j-e55uowoc0_EB3RiME8x_loRTqTEyvDuukQPe2HE3OCs1BSuv4-W-XpKN_h3CU1SKN8_fgR278a-7tT8dKc-o_oIfhzTmE/s200/E5444050-9A1F-4373-9CC9-8313756CCAAD.jpeg" style="cursor: move;" width="150" /></a><i></i><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidNRbHR68LdgtRWRHDax5MFiQiRofmUYdKj4OqXpNmlx-wWg3_OvLhQAP6iNxGFBlLv4KVuFdO2PWPf9X03ztSBiTNtWu2oFXpEkLLh_ZnSwBDZT1Lg4vJzdoDhmaO91BWpIU0Ofjgavke/s1600/9E649C69-3196-44A7-B9E6-B80C7453A9B4.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; 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background-color: transparent; color: #0066cc; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-left: 16px; margin-right: 16px; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1203" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKPp7YSP1mOiiuhK11q-vrOPXPUNKROeHi8GWuaODjxLztXBI1Ijo0Fcim0NJOFG0v4u8qhDHBIeTCYcr44mhCKA9hpbuxg5zaONjqc_5HpobbciwmQUY3lsFeKooVCaQIMWa256Bc62Jh/s200/6771AEE7-AFFB-4301-8192-5B81E62F72AC.jpeg" style="cursor: move;" width="150" /></a><i></i><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-6jFqRObrm5zJSrFFyjieZA-jGr6q4m0pLF7ic12jMqqReenHUGooYXzvsLp_gaSvSOWbZhzKDi9YCnRPupCRi-RD7v2llib3DgWrRIg-tGiTiCXC8gOlDHhLbIFDt3BcVBb2p8iE8hlZ/s1600/E1710DF8-014C-426D-8415-7C2DA7FF046F.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #0066cc; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-left: 16px; margin-right: 16px; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-6jFqRObrm5zJSrFFyjieZA-jGr6q4m0pLF7ic12jMqqReenHUGooYXzvsLp_gaSvSOWbZhzKDi9YCnRPupCRi-RD7v2llib3DgWrRIg-tGiTiCXC8gOlDHhLbIFDt3BcVBb2p8iE8hlZ/s200/E1710DF8-014C-426D-8415-7C2DA7FF046F.jpeg" style="cursor: move;" width="150" /></a></u><i></i><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFu8U07NYLiDwHtw5UMPMUP65xHARHild8Erg1E7vWNfqus24aDk9oMRkJCKRBIitUXsd9mYEw_eYcobA2vABz8efhYnr7ubKupoXi_PVjqn_hfmTXRzLxJzyyHD0LGqj6uRwWxcjEnkwu/s1600/03A75A02-AE61-4009-B77E-BC38ABF05B13.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; 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<span style="background-color: red; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">PLACES TO STAY IN CULEBRA: </span></div>
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<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><a href="https://www.google.com/travel/hotels/Culebra/entity/CgsIiMj1qbDWtfSjARAB?g2lb=4207875%2C4208993%2C4223281%2C4240601%2C4242081%2C4242898%2C4238563%2C4244078%2C4244566&hl=en&gl=us&un=0&q=villa%20culebra%20on%20flamenco%20beach&rp=OAJAAEgC&ictx=1&ved=2ahUKEwjc6_bIi4rhAhWQ2FkKHd5ECy0QvS4wAHoECAEQGg&tcfs=EgBSAA" target="_blank">Culebra Beach Villas<span style="color: #b00000;"> -</span></a> right on the Flamenco beach. It has 20 rooms, we prefer the single ground level villas. There is also a Villa Flamenco next door, that is much smaller, 4 units. Very limited food, some kiosks down the beach that close at 4 or 5pm.</span></div>
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<u><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIhYG4mmhto1JjXFO6UuYM58eqbWT5g3zvC1p0nNv1Nojuu6AuIthKGq0BfSZ8ohfVK-g0EPHtbrNZZpIz551lSSwgNYwlpkm3VC8gdkIcZE4_DPlbpEUguw4Xx3n8r7OtOxxn0NxLdr-B/s1600/C79B93F8-8144-48D9-8129-06513067803D.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #0066cc; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-left: 16px; margin-right: 16px; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIhYG4mmhto1JjXFO6UuYM58eqbWT5g3zvC1p0nNv1Nojuu6AuIthKGq0BfSZ8ohfVK-g0EPHtbrNZZpIz551lSSwgNYwlpkm3VC8gdkIcZE4_DPlbpEUguw4Xx3n8r7OtOxxn0NxLdr-B/s200/C79B93F8-8144-48D9-8129-06513067803D.jpeg" style="cursor: move;" width="150" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSHGGmJM7xe6DoWPLmDDVl55E2q95iiQwpzfEtFDGmie-iNBkM3t0Vu7-r6qnI0C_lUNolU28B9a83BHbCLMaW-B-nvzlzb9ghIlY65WWdXc5J6q2wtMFTJr7H9c-X8wcLAbM_BdqnYn_u/s1600/9484AA99-A472-4867-AE97-927AFA8F4B19.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="background-color: transparent; color: #0066cc; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-left: 16px; margin-right: 16px; text-align: center; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSHGGmJM7xe6DoWPLmDDVl55E2q95iiQwpzfEtFDGmie-iNBkM3t0Vu7-r6qnI0C_lUNolU28B9a83BHbCLMaW-B-nvzlzb9ghIlY65WWdXc5J6q2wtMFTJr7H9c-X8wcLAbM_BdqnYn_u/s200/9484AA99-A472-4867-AE97-927AFA8F4B19.jpeg" style="cursor: move;" width="200" /></a></u><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5AKXIUAAkojv1a6ULUGW-jkDFGZk6qkWyQEGdTl-hFmywTMhkSWjo_Onm-lugnL03tjUJ5wM__dL85HPJ2HS-ROvydx59hDnxq-TovnxmNZkMkK01PkbbkJuZEHrdSbPXpiucdma2TVBt/s1600/D85AB9AA-DDAD-43DE-9B8C-3C5EE045F9C9.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #0066cc; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-left: 16px; margin-right: 16px; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5AKXIUAAkojv1a6ULUGW-jkDFGZk6qkWyQEGdTl-hFmywTMhkSWjo_Onm-lugnL03tjUJ5wM__dL85HPJ2HS-ROvydx59hDnxq-TovnxmNZkMkK01PkbbkJuZEHrdSbPXpiucdma2TVBt/s200/D85AB9AA-DDAD-43DE-9B8C-3C5EE045F9C9.jpeg" style="cursor: move;" width="150" /></a><br />
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<span style="background-color: cyan; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">PLACES TO VISIT IN CULEBRA</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">: </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"> $5 per person to take taxis/vans from the port or restaurants to the hotel.</span></div>
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<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Rent a Golf Cart (no kids under a certain age). </span><a href="http://www.carlosjeeprental.com/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Carlos Jeep Rental </span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">for about $40 a day for the golf cart. Actual Jeeps were like $90 a day. They will have pick up signs at the port. Call if nobody is there. Or you can walk 1 mile to the location.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: lime; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><i>PLACES TO EAT IN CULEBRA:</i> <i></i> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">- <a href="http://zacostacos.com/" target="_blank">Zaco's Tacos</a> This place is in "town". It was fun to leave our little isolated area and get out for one night. There were a lot of "locals" (transplants now living there) and the vibe was fun. There was 80s music playing the whole time we were there and the food was good.</span></div>
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And that's about it. I have way more photos and probably a lot more information too but this will have to do for now...<br />
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<span style="background-color: #3d85c6; color: #444444; font-size: large;"><i><b>BIG THANKS TO THIS GUY WHO WORKS HIS BUTT OFF ALL YEAR, ALL THE TIME IN ORDER TO ALLOW ME TO HOMESCHOOL AND US TO TRAVEL!!!</b></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"></span><i></i><span style="color: blue;"></span><span style="background-color: #ffd966;"></span><span style="background-color: #3d85c6;"></span><span style="color: #444444;"></span><b></b><br /></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiah2l3989k0IzNYH0OYNaAWc783E_TL2TI0CPfLfm3MHD78K9NRLzuGSahe2D2luMPtojh3JU2MfO451-apunuLoGRfSafcrPHYPz3JVrPFCeXsB-u5HifM0Ihg8KDcosL4MXCvobzxNT-/s1600/6989C571-D285-4CB6-A78B-772A4461066B.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #0066cc; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1196" data-original-width="1600" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiah2l3989k0IzNYH0OYNaAWc783E_TL2TI0CPfLfm3MHD78K9NRLzuGSahe2D2luMPtojh3JU2MfO451-apunuLoGRfSafcrPHYPz3JVrPFCeXsB-u5HifM0Ihg8KDcosL4MXCvobzxNT-/s320/6989C571-D285-4CB6-A78B-772A4461066B.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Frank works really hard in order for us to travel! Never a day off!<br />
(note this photo is old, there is now a tall white fence)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><span style="background-color: lime; color: #38761d; font-size: large;"><u>PHOTOS OF IGUANAS:</u></span></div>
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<u><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBlE4rF1lok10OGAvd_O8dkIcKLe32olzubxOWQWKcUuuaknWDiVpjDvzn2Wx4VPDrruP3BK3ShNzsDsn7r2PC03RQiA6bUQQaATvchfOcGTJCDUqn8dtKmOu4WIOYyZ17AZ_A95o19u04/s1600/1A8A21F0-3C93-44CA-9CF3-9445E639959F.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #0066cc; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-left: 16px; margin-right: 16px; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="746" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBlE4rF1lok10OGAvd_O8dkIcKLe32olzubxOWQWKcUuuaknWDiVpjDvzn2Wx4VPDrruP3BK3ShNzsDsn7r2PC03RQiA6bUQQaATvchfOcGTJCDUqn8dtKmOu4WIOYyZ17AZ_A95o19u04/s200/1A8A21F0-3C93-44CA-9CF3-9445E639959F.jpeg" style="cursor: move;" width="93" /></a><a href="https://www.blogger.com/u/1/null"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidAODA2peRPnVRkcePOmsvFrB6IETMHGWOzsn4kjJ6WRxHKYv1EFMCTh8TfKtg9_BTrPrNd3X2J2fXRO6o1nAnFy-GTrBy2I35ecIY35Zv8gOzUmVaz0x_mdyyQ2VCsWmznZEAGEczNvep/s200/1FA4B4DF-AFAE-4598-A99C-97822794DD48.jpeg" style="cursor: move;" width="200" /><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="960" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyNHm0dg9xZSwRMWQJyd0Q6ZWlJp5fzhOOSfNMoihB3kL3U5o72f-L_9YWOJHBGaP9VfEugXFSLD6t2y3A309GpjCJ2AgAz2V7inEIn6JkmP1fUfwCN2P25lQIwsnV7OdM531_wkjwuwAm/s200/CB323F19-BDC3-42AE-9EDB-EFBB35E22661.jpeg" style="cursor: move;" width="200" /><img border="0" data-original-height="1196" data-original-width="1600" height="149" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmbgp971rTWXL0JV8Qp0m7voPmgTLlUIFFnMeuyLvS0uxxnIBxS4tBEYTQktgKV_WhFitpjrnZoXJXjKs5nnYA85hpjp48GqDWpFXf_b5gWyRWfMrgvfAtIugc2xH1fSysUiAzqQ2PJ-j-/s200/AD8315E9-4956-41EB-AAF2-FC3C11882DCC.jpeg" style="cursor: move;" width="200" /></a></u><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm7TeE4A53qdob3O2_hRRXb_rg0LgUYAFZjNTmDG6IHZTkBXypTHBnN8a-8NPPQp-LiSqNisxKSgmvxad3OAyFy49urGq7ifIpP7IweDmfouF66wnGCK8YIlrvgpvUiGSJX1a50-ygFzq1/s1600/7967D68C-9EC7-4943-AFE5-B4927D7430FA.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #0066cc; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-left: 16px; margin-right: 16px; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="937" data-original-width="750" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm7TeE4A53qdob3O2_hRRXb_rg0LgUYAFZjNTmDG6IHZTkBXypTHBnN8a-8NPPQp-LiSqNisxKSgmvxad3OAyFy49urGq7ifIpP7IweDmfouF66wnGCK8YIlrvgpvUiGSJX1a50-ygFzq1/s200/7967D68C-9EC7-4943-AFE5-B4927D7430FA.jpeg" style="cursor: move;" width="160" /></a><b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike></div>
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<span style="background-color: cyan; font-size: x-large;">FAMILY PHOTOS I LOVE FROM OVER THE YEARS JUST BECAUSE:</span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: x-large;"> </span><span style="background-color: white;">(I am super lucky that my sister has been able to come a bunch of times and spend a few days with us!!)</span></div>
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<u><a href="https://www.blogger.com/u/1/null"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVUwo3_TSR9d-kDpJDW6_QzIPvVFpFT2UkNLxcDVAnEZddXuVJ4FgZonR_MjDdH78568uilUwPxh20cu2RHzP0Yo4uT4yW5r6K8sKwKMUQTsCPAGe-fir4b4BlTfocfmFg33JTnkNO2kx2/s200/1FBD9FBC-B3FB-4F93-9614-F60F1F3616A4.jpeg" style="cursor: move;" width="150" /><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF6tFZMPNdgJ-khA_Ev_qTcjQvwI8bz1wIVo1Cm_MGI37eOlBQ6Zdjb7zttKyqabCqTp-1fchlUWYx8WRAm8Qe2O7vBfIFD1PO-voQARrQ6UcJeVHBajZGDy-AuV0OsRpqIIL4aIxeI_ZR/s200/43EC8636-6218-4ED7-947B-1468A711462E.jpeg" width="150" /><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3mjuRsi7awUdMouMD2doN5prAM-Bt8osUNHFn5Mpy07RvvBg3wu3DYkvkx1Av-ZNX6VQ3adq-C05q1NeTbR4Vx6i7VVKIZogM0gYyGHKMXD8iflevG1pKgFnhhdJZfjgGQgySgChZN0uz/s200/0361D428-A8EF-4DC4-9664-676829AE0837.jpeg" width="200" /><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiirOKhE5EGGfyuzxSf8-a_B9yucBR_3XffDx5Lw06i7rqt9XZGoGI9pdZ-d-NYBH2_AqbM02xWF8ZEISDzjhRLiniSTcLFUdzj-thTSDOjIs78fJRYQoW5MelLzYMIpxmWZktRkJf4Fnx4/s200/476F7569-C7F9-4802-9D1E-02CB6F1A636E.jpeg" width="200" /></a></u><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxVb3wh3Hkk3mjQU51pp-EeBxtDf0heLk17_GwXcheTuh2E1gyqDjo4FSTkRjEzoeYpm_PE_Xv1llAPb3HkzpBu5jU4C1L-KCznR9H3CC8ZBcOrzMdVsuAdz7WjNW7jStQwzSnxsJRX7U4/s1600/9128C356-80DB-4294-94BA-0EF4B41B9E8F.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="background-color: transparent; color: #0066cc; font-family: "times new roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-left: 16px; margin-right: 16px; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxVb3wh3Hkk3mjQU51pp-EeBxtDf0heLk17_GwXcheTuh2E1gyqDjo4FSTkRjEzoeYpm_PE_Xv1llAPb3HkzpBu5jU4C1L-KCznR9H3CC8ZBcOrzMdVsuAdz7WjNW7jStQwzSnxsJRX7U4/s200/9128C356-80DB-4294-94BA-0EF4B41B9E8F.jpeg" style="cursor: move;" width="200" /></a><br />
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<b id="docs-internal-guid-10449ea1-7fff-ad5b-db7c-ba89abbcf510" style="font-weight: normal;"> </b><u><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ0EBM0Cuo5W7gAD5IrExP4vqO8Y5X0UR2WMGTqZxALGNAD1duJowSES6qJT5EBGR6EdciGWU7tpG2ayrxCOY0LcRw3IXaRVjwzbuBzSJB6Hnhs8PGEMvL7hFqdfg0Y5Wd4frqeagLwRSU/s1600/7A643F15-8878-470D-B089-33B514D4A062.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="background-color: transparent; color: #0066cc; font-family: "times new roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-left: 16px; margin-right: 16px; text-align: center; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ0EBM0Cuo5W7gAD5IrExP4vqO8Y5X0UR2WMGTqZxALGNAD1duJowSES6qJT5EBGR6EdciGWU7tpG2ayrxCOY0LcRw3IXaRVjwzbuBzSJB6Hnhs8PGEMvL7hFqdfg0Y5Wd4frqeagLwRSU/s200/7A643F15-8878-470D-B089-33B514D4A062.jpeg" style="cursor: move;" width="150" /></a><a href="https://www.blogger.com/u/1/null"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1203" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9kg83462gkLuFcEh1zLcUCUUujYPCX4K3cpLbDGZ0M4BnIwxi5zoMLsxhh2aBoXbeh_bjO95_RS0o-BbgLLBee8bxTk6NlTR8U9xIZN4b-cBChxWr5CKe3_RIGjQw_ur2V1UQqENZF6VY/s200/1FCF2726-E82C-434A-BEE0-3E115A0CF392.jpeg" style="cursor: move;" width="150" /><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="894" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqmT8-3iPH6jmsegRjkuEWc_u-0VmFQzeuJOtSuqcIcmE8qAfX4WoRjr4k43AyDiDnF8xe4LLvL7XNeakrung-nL0C2qSgu4Tmsq1ImEiNVhMcS62NZa9wcIeM4sCiDxy_yyJs-20ASfux/s200/DFC6BD3D-826B-46FB-9000-4855416BB4B8.jpeg" style="cursor: move;" width="111" /><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1203" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6vSqNE5QTKwqW5HZdqHrsZUOmGa5VPFai2obRkgHPywGi16d37aJ_lKI9rXsiIHWdmM2zHvdMXTvbWt9iRSIKn2MZGmyBiM_eWdYoHS_IsVyOKwsMNRLsaeo9FsF8vfUl0hG1iHLRpkhU/s200/7076C907-0D64-4E5A-9466-D21E96216C7E.jpeg" style="cursor: move;" width="150" /><img border="0" data-original-height="1203" data-original-width="1600" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfP0i-6tF8QI4ZvXpbLOXz-MYMcpALtrBdWAAjwuIEj0dLlBaQUS7Z3g8nrnqQ2KAxH1iSWcqGvTPa9T3GPpusLYP7sfhy4acJsS3GmEShvgFyDgJ0FAmbjpQLjsJSTXO5oQcI6CgurQaI/s200/76A69AF0-3746-42BD-ADA2-165873011F6F.jpeg" style="cursor: move;" width="200" /><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-kKJefzi_Q_SBNzAwlmaFeshVvtjhnexpOb5_QggPsPE9x0WTPCzmYhoVJhHs5RJGee54SOf8xWdiE-NhcqCYQMuq5_7JlDAa_pz0_Ak3f9LJ88k2LfHYraMo3ZdtASJv_SE_DbgxRqjO/s200/AFB2E194-BEDC-4BC6-AD0E-1E261B79BA8D.jpeg" style="cursor: move;" width="200" /><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5llWFtZZTQZevApTZckP-qFyxOXyz2vjypKIdDXfZWQtR15yJWEnvL68gv8Ll9DBWoupB8M-CmMGbzfCmvOnYqh_l1MdiiHdCukmjkdeRjoyzbRORwT0T61LwjoA2dtvbMaV7rgE7cbD2/s200/56707716-49A2-459E-B8D2-0BC2BFC7291A.jpeg" style="cursor: move;" width="150" /><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTt4t6rV2j13YUhQS90tGI-ADragSgaKHe1wVKLIkej07xJcFbE3q_Ts6DSGHxEwIMNkIMOOJUz_Ta2gL7pe63LRhMGnMQkbXmjON5enrAXEqabaN7lp3pF4-RXZeE-OI-tjalg20xvffK/s200/6A04F2AE-A03D-46F1-AF12-F69723B09DC4.jpeg" style="cursor: move;" width="150" /><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="889" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpiv5ZkG8f2NbRp9bPDUqp-ARKUo2flM-h6lTjj04uIKyNHgVxQMqHaXPrZ3cdAQxf_s6Za78umbmGmTyFVD3Ir0i2nyi_wUrea89QOB-6gGxfj9Wy0lPfRfueqU4aVd4ltuQYsXh-WWbe/s200/5F5C7C4E-37B4-410C-BE12-63AEC7610EA7.jpeg" style="cursor: move;" width="110" /><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1203" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXMVsw4OHiz69E0iZcpeKLIf36BZvXbHZH0b5u-N9v-yZ8v-OArMxqewQAxvWnq3wVHcN2GfSiRv48JCPVgYv3s0H3spwrFr05Oo0TuMgMCdirrMDJuFFb2uQkHvSWBC-5YarIlu3_zI6d/s200/70DA7431-61BE-4A1B-90F0-C132E6FC7A81.jpeg" style="cursor: move;" width="150" /></a></u><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-dREqsdtTkvZN9lrygI4oR42VzU641v1-SIl3oXiRr2lNiGiaVW0rWH23ly_oDVvAcBZxlP0uesiBueu2z5zbX1brW4c-01m3eYqC5bA0_vyPg6R2ee54EynXik6qNkVafyJ-aM7t3fYR/s1600/E058BD46-26BB-4A05-8CD8-52B09553A4A2.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="background-color: transparent; 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<span style="background-color: yellow; font-size: x-large;"><b>IN CONCLUSION - YOU SHOULD COME TO PUERTO RICO!!!</b></span></div>
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<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike>Rosebellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03767920671254903880noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1620900955251022107.post-75479952893769527142015-03-30T12:40:00.004-07:002015-10-21T10:55:42.879-07:00(Shortened Version) I Never Knew How White I Was Until I Had A Black Child <span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I Never Knew How White I Was Until I Had a Black Child.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I can't sleep. Hartly, our 4 year old, came into our room sobbing. He'd had a nightmare. There was lots of tossing and turning but, about an hour later, he is finally asleep.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I, however, am not.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">These days when I wake up in the middle of the night I am reduced to a ball of fear and worry. The majority of this fear and worry reside around my youngest, Tayo. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I am white. Frank, my husband, is white (he is actually first generation Cuban but when people look at him, they see white). Hartly, my oldest, is white. Tayo, my baby, is black. And he is not just a little black. Nope. Tayo is a rich and beautiful and unmistakable dark black. And in 2015 his color is still not a safe color to be.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><i>I never knew how white I was until I had a black child</i></b>. </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I grew up with </span><br />
<a name='more'></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">black friends. I went to a very prestigious private school that was also the first integrated school in Washington, DC. I have dated black men. I wanted a black child. I knew adoption is a tricky world. I understood that adopting a black child would bring with it different things than if we had adopted a white child. I did not, however, realize how different.</span> <b style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>I did not realize that the fear of death, due to the color of my child's skin, while unlikely, is real. And, while death is avoided by most, racism, in the most subtlest to the most blatant, is unavoidable. </i></b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> How do I prepare my children. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Everywhere I look, everywhere, my eyes have been opened in a way that I can't ignore, to the continuing wrong done to black people... Racism whether that black person did something wrong or not... Racism whether that black person is a grown up or a child... Racism where it is not just verbal and physical abuse and mistreatment but can result in death as well.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I do realize that because my littlest love is black I am much more aware of these horrors. It is something my black friends and black boyfriends never discussed with me but now that I have a black child and I ask, the stories they tell and the life they lead is very different than the one I had seen previously. And that is not okay. And that is not fair. And, as a mother of a black child, that kills a part of me inside and keeps me up at night.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Hartly is a four and a half year old beautiful child with white skin and auburn hair. He is long and lean. He is a first child and a people pleaser and rule follower. He is sensitive and thoughtful and, usually, for a four year old boy, has a fairly calm and mellow temperament.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Tayo is a two year old beautiful child with dark black skin and dark black hair. He is tall and muscular. Tayo, even at two years old, has a little six-pack and no baby fat of which to speak. He is incredibly physical and strong. He is a giggler and a runner and mischievous. He does not follow the rules and is incredibly funny and energetic. His temperament is that of a very spirited and joyful soul. His smile lights up a room. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Hartly and Tayo are best friends. They wake up wanting to be together. They spend most days together all day and this makes them happy. They do not like being apart. They crawl into each other's beds. Tayo follows brother everywhere. Even when they fight and I attempt to separate them, they refuse to be apart and forgive each other very quickly in order to remain together. When Tayo falls or gets hurt, Hartly, even from another room, will drop whatever he is doing and come running to check on his brother. Tayo can't go to sleep without hugs and kisses and another hug from his brother. They are best friends.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;">Hartly's reaction to his new baby brother </td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Sometimes people inquire about our family, because we look different. One time a sweet little girl came over to us and she said as she stroked her arms as a visual explanation, "My father has very dark skin. My mother has very light skin. This is how I came to have medium skin." She then looked and gestured in turn to each of us as she said, "But you have very light skin, and he has very light skin, and the boy has very light skin. But the baby has very dark skin. How did this happen?". She was delightful and could not have been more polite. But 3 year old (at the time) Hartly got upset. Later on he sunk into my arms in tears. He said, in his sweet and young, but broken-hearted and wise-beyond-his years voice:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><i><b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">"<span style="font-size: large;">Mommy. Why don't they see it? When they look at us, why don't they know we are all family? Why don't they know he is my brother?" </span></span></b></i><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We talked at great length and revisited the subject many times and since. He understands logically but his heart doesn't understand at all. Tayo is his brother. From the moment he heard about him and the second he saw him, Tayo is Hartly's brother. They are brothers. Hartly can not possibly understand how people can't see this connection, regardless of their skin and body type and hair texture and skin color not matching visually.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;">My two gorgeous children 1/2015</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But people look at them and often don't see brothers.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And as they get older they will experience different worlds. Because of their skin color and skin color alone, they will have different experiences unless our world shifts fast and soon.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">What can I do? All the websites, seminars, people and blogs that I seek out say - do not be colorblind. Talk about it. Prepare him. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">They go further to say things like I have to teach, and sooner rather than later, my youngest son to never question authority. I am supposed to teach him to always have his hands where they can be seen. I am to teach him to never make any sudden movements. I am to teach him that it is best if he is not wearing certain things, like hoody's, at certain times or in certain places. I am supposed to teach him, regardless of what authority figures say or do, comply and we will deal with it later because if he doesn't, there may not be a later… The list goes on and on. And none of it really applies to my auburn haired, white skinned son. If we had not had Tayo, I can't picture any of the above ever coming up in conversation with my youngest, whom I talk about everything with. It is not a talk my brothers or husband got. it is not a talk I got. It is not even a talk I knew about. <b><i>But every mother of a black child, especially a male black child, knows this talk all too well</i></b>. It is sickening.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The other day a power line was down in our neighborhood (we live in a cul de sac) and the police officer was going to send us back home because the only exit out, he said, was unsafe. As we were (unhappily) preparing to turn the car around, that same officer let a car drive into our neighborhood - the same exit he said we couldn't exit because it was unsafe, he was letting someone enter. Frank got out of the car and, pretty aggressively, challenged the officer and said, if it isn't safe to exit than why was it safe to enter. The officer ended up saying fine, we could leave. Frank got back in the car and we drove off but the energy was different and we were both silent. Frank and I spoke later. We both had been thinking, what if Frank had been black? There is no way he would have gotten out of the car and aggressively approached the officer with his hand gestures and tone of voice. It was eery and sad. These are the things that we would have never thought about if we were not a transracial family. And, again, that is not okay. It is not fair. It is just not okay.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And Hartly is starting to ask those hard questions. I thought I was ready. For goodness sake he knows, at four, exactly how babies are made. We talk about death and afterlife and what we believe. We discuss all this openly. We talk about families looking and being different. But I find myself tongue-tied when my four year old asks me why people who look like is brother (whom he in fact has said he wished he looked more like because he thinks Tayo's skin is so beautiful and soft to touch), <i style="font-weight: bold;">why would people not be nice to someone because they are black? Why would black people be treated differently? Why did there used to be different laws and rules?... Why is there still injustice today? </i> How do I answer these questions.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">What do I want to do? What I want to do is swoop them both into my arms and fly away. I want to go to an island with only kindred spirits… Where skin color is loved and admired no matter how light or dark or what shade. Where differences are celebrated. Where people are judged for their actions and not appearance. Where history is taught and acknowledged but people are not judged based on their ancestors but by their own character and choices. I want to go a place where I am not scared that my son will be harmed or killed because of so much fear. I want to get away from the bad guys.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But I have learned, as I grow older, that the world is not made up of just good guys or bad guys. It is way more complicated than that. Oh, to be sure, I think there is a spectrum of sorts. But what about the naive comments and what about borderline comments... I tend to believe that all people want love and want to be good. How do I balance this and take care and protect my child? Because <b><i>I have anger but mostly it is overwhelming fear and sadness that my heart dwells in when I think of the state of our world.</i></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So most days we play. We laugh a lot. We hug a lot. We kiss and cuddle a lot. We talk about everything. I spend much of my day in the present because how can I not with two beautiful and fun and energetic and creative little souls. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But when I wake up in the middle of the night these days I often think about - the news I read of a 5 year old black girl put in the back of a patrol car left alone and crying for hours because of a misunderstanding, The <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2015/03/09/us/wisconsin-protests/" target="_blank">Tony Robinson</a> shooting a few days ago, A </span><a href="http://www.cnn.com/2015/03/11/opinions/liu-oklahoma-boren/" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;" target="_blank">racist fraternity </a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">in Oklahoma chanting all sorts of atrocities, a A black boy, <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2014/02/16/justice/florida-loud-music-trial/" target="_blank">Jordan Davis </a> killed just days ago for playing his rap music too loud… the fact that I do not know one black male that hasn't been stopped and questioned (and sometimes worse) purely for being black. Not for breaking the law or doing anything wrong but because they were black. My white male friends did all sorts of nonsense as teenagers and in their 20s and rarely were there any repercussions. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Black men are treated differently than white men for doing the same exact thing or nothing at all even. And those who say that if black people just follow the law and show respect, they won't get killed I say shame on you. Is that the world we live in? A world where if you make a mistake or are disrespectful or even break the law, you are as good as dead and you deserve it? Because that is not what happens when white people are rude or do illegal things. But, somehow, it is ok when it happens to a Black person.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So, I worry about things like - <i><u>when Hartly is a teenager walking alone in a store in the middle of the day versus Tayo walking in a store in the middle of the day. Hartly wearing a hoody versus Tayo wearing a hoody. Hartly going for a run versus Tayo going for a run. Hartly being pulled over for speeding versus Tayo being pulled over for speeding.</u> <b>The list is endless. And I ache.</b></i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><i><u>And don't tell me I'm overreacting. Please. be respectful. This is my child</u></i></b>. I guarantee if you had a child that was black, you would see a different world than you do now. It is actually quite scary. It is like that <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2015/02/26/us/blue-black-white-gold-dress/" target="_blank">blue and black dress phenomenon </a> where some people see white and gold because of it being backlit or different people's eyes not adjusting as quickly… Just because you live in a world where you see the white and gold does not mean the world is white and gold. Just because your eyes aren't able to see it, it does not change the fact that it is black and blue. That is what happened when I became the mom to a black son. <b><i>My eyesight shifted and I see things now that I can't unsee.</i></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So, I don't want to talk about it all the time. But I am going to talk about it sometimes. Because maybe I am a bridge of sorts. Maybe a few more people will listen and maybe conversations will be had. And maybe enough talk will happen that there will be a tipping point. Maybe me mentioning or saying something will make me the one that triggers change and effect everywhere like, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hundredth_monkey_effect" target="_blank">Hundredth Monkey Phenomenon</a>. This <b><i>"...is a studied phenomenon in which a new behavior or idea is claimed to spread rapidly by unexplained means from one group to all related groups once a critical number of members of one group exhibit the new behavior or acknowledge the new idea."</i></b> Wouldn't that be lovely. So one of the first steps is just acknowledging that things are not right. Acknowledge that we can do better. We need to do better.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Maybe I just need one, maybe two people that wouldn't have otherwise thought about these things to at least pause and think about it. </i> because it is not them, it is all of us. And one person does make a difference. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I want my children to grow up in a different world than the world we live in now. <i>I <b>want</b> it for all of us. I <b>need</b> it for Tayo</i>. Can you help me do that, is the question.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><u>Hartly: "Tayo, do you love brother?" Tayo: "Yeaaahhh!..." </u></b></span></div>
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<br />Rosebellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03767920671254903880noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1620900955251022107.post-2739133152603500752015-03-16T12:35:00.000-07:002015-03-21T11:28:11.895-07:00I Never Knew How White I Was Until I Had a Black Child<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I Never Knew How White I Was Until I Had a Black Child.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I can't sleep. Hartly, our 4 year old, came into our room sobbing. He'd had a nightmare. He is usually able to go right back to bed and tonight he couldn't. There was lots of tossing and turning but, about an hour later, he is finally asleep.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I, however, am not.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">These days when I wake up in the middle of the night I am reduced to a ball of fear and worry. The majority of this fear and worry reside around my youngest, Tayo. I am white. Frank is white (he is actually first generation Cuban but when people look at him, they see white). Hartly, my oldest, is white. Tayo, my baby, is black. And he is not just a little black. Nope. Tayo is a rich and beautiful and unmistakable dark black. And in 2015 his color is still not a safe color to be.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I read a lot. We took seminars at our adoption agency. I am on many blogs and webpages for transracial adoption and for raising a child of color. It is a bleak world.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><i>I never knew how white I was until I had a black child</i></b>. </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I grew up with </span><br />
<a name='more'></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">black friends. I went to a very prestigious private school that was also the first integrated school in Washington, DC. I have dated black men. I wanted a black child. I knew adoption is a tricky world. I understood that adopting a black child would bring with it different things than if we had adopted an asian child or a white child. I did not, however, realize how different.</span> <b style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>I did not realize that the fear of death, due to the color of my child's skin, while unlikely, is real. And, while death is avoided by most, racism, in the most subtlest to the most blatant, is unavoidable. </i></b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> How do I prepare my children. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Everywhere I look, everywhere, my eyes have been opened in a way that I can't ignore, to the continuing wrong done to black people... Racism whether that black person did something wrong or not... Racism whether that black person is a grown up or a child... Racism where it is not just verbal and physical abuse and mistreatment but can result in death as well.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I do realize that because my littlest love is black I am much more aware of these horrors. I get that it is not every single black person, every single day. I also realize now, more than the majority of white people, it is way more black people and way more often. It is something my black friends and black boyfriends never discussed with me but now that I have a black child and I ask, the stories they tell and the life they lead is very different than the one I had seen previously. And that is not okay. And that is not fair. And, as a mother of a black child, that kills a part of me inside and keeps me up at night.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Hartly is a four and a half year old beautiful child with white skin and auburn hair. He is long and lean. He is a first child and a people pleaser and rule follower. He is sensitive and thoughtful and, usually, for a four year old boy, has a fairly calm and mellow temperament.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Tayo is a two year old beautiful child with dark black skin and dark black hair. He is tall and muscular. Tayo, even at two years old, has a little six-pack and no baby fat of which to speak. He is incredibly physical and strong. He is a giggler and a runner and mischievous. He does not follow the rules and is incredibly funny and energetic. His temperament is that of a very spirited and joyful soul. His smile lights up a room. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Hartly and Tayo are best friends. Whomever wakes up first, always the first thing out of their mouth is a request to see their brother. They spend most days together all day, yet, when they are separated there are often many hugs and kisses, accompanied sometimes by whining and tears, as they leave each other. They crawl into each other's beds. Tayo follows brother everywhere. Hartly is constantly frustrated that his two year old brother does not always follow the myriad of made up rules to made up games that Hartly creates, yet the thought of not playing with him greatly upsets Hartly. When Tayo falls or gets hurt, Hartly, even from another room, will drop whatever he is doing and come running to check on his brother. Tayo can't go to sleep without hugs and kisses and another hug from his brother. Tayo will knock over a project Hartly has been working hard on and Hartly will swat or pinch his brother and send him into tears... yet as I try to separate them, Tayo will cry to get back to his brother. Hartly will grab something from Tayo's hands and Tayo will scream and push or kick Hartly and Hartly will cry and they will both be crying and I suggest them going to different rooms to play or I will be lecturing one about hurting the other and the other will always, always forgive and forget and want to be with his brother again before my lecture is through. They are best friends.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hartly's reaction to his new baby brother </td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">When we were in st lucia last year a lot of people stopped us everywhere we went to ask about our family. St. Lucia has a very rich and diverse and mixed race population. People, on the whole, are very lovely and open hearted. It is not unusual for godparents to be a different race than their godchild. It is not unusual for parents to be different races. What is unusual is adoption. Many people asked us if we were Tayo's godfamily? They had seen so many different combinations but adoption is not one. One sweet little girl came over to us and she said as she stroked her arms as a visual explanation, "My father has very dark skin. My mother has very light skin. This is how I came to have medium skin." She then looked and gestured in turn to each of us as she said, "But you have very light skin, and he has very light skin, and the boy has very light skin. But the baby has very dark skin. How did this happen?". She was delightful and could not have been more polite. Actually, everyone was very sweet and I was not defensive or offended once. But 3 year old (at the time) Hartly was. Finally, after many days and, at least, one inquiry a day, Hartly sunk into my arms in tears. I had no idea why he was upset. He said, in his sweet and young, but broken hearted and wise beyond his years voice:</span><br />
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<i><b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">"<span style="font-size: large;">Mommy. Why don't they see it? When they look at us, why don't they know we are all family? Why don't they know he is my brother?" </span></span></b></i><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We talked at great length and revisited the subject many times and since. He understands logically but his heart doesn't understand at all. Tayo is his brother. From the moment he heard about him and the second he saw him, Tayo is Hartly's brother. They are brothers. Hartly can not possibly understand how people can't see this connection, regardless of their skin and body type and hair texture and color not matching visually.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-irWTL3TQdvU/VQB44KNhssI/AAAAAAAAy9Y/1r11WSUue3o/s1600/IMG_4067.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-irWTL3TQdvU/VQB44KNhssI/AAAAAAAAy9Y/1r11WSUue3o/s1600/IMG_4067.JPG" height="400" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My two gorgeous children 1/2015</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But people look at them and often don't see brothers.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And as they get older they will experience different worlds. Because of their skin color and skin color alone, they will have different experiences unless our world shifts fast and soon.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">What can I do? All the websites and people and blogs that I read say - do not be colorblind. Talk about it. Prepare him. Expose him to other people who look like him...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">They go further to say things like I have to teach, and sooner rather than later, my youngest son to never question authority. I am supposed to teach him to always have his hands where they can be seen. I am to teach him to never make any sudden movements. I am to teach him that it is best if he is not wearing certain things, like hoody's, at certain times or in certain places. I am supposed to teach him, regardless of what authority figures say or do, comply and we will deal with it later because if he doesn't, there may not be a later… The list goes on and on. And none of it really applies to my auburn haired, white skinned son. If we had not had Tayo, I can't picture any of the above ever coming up in conversation with my youngest, whom I talk about everything with. It is not a talk my brothers or husband got. it is not a talk I got. It is not even a talk I knew about. But every mother of a black child, especially a male black child, knows this talk all too well. It is sickening.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The other day a power line was down in our neighborhood (we live in a cul de sac) and the police officer was going to send us back home because the only exit out, he said, was unsafe. As we were (unhappily) preparing to turn the car around, that same officer let a car drive into our neighborhood - the same exit he said we couldn't exit because it was unsafe, he was letting someone enter. Frank got out of the car and, pretty aggressively, challenged the officer and said, if it isn't safe to exit than why was it safe to enter. The officer ended up saying fine, we could leave. Silence followed in the car. Frank and I spoke later. We both had been thinking, what if Frank had been black? There is no way he would have gotten out of the car and aggressively approached the officer with his hand gestures and tone of voice. It was eery and sad. These are the things that we would have never thought about if we were not a transracial family. And, again, that is not okay. It is not fair. It is just not okay.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And how much is enough? My family is already off the grid. We did a home birth with Hartly. We are Vegan. We don't do sugar. We don't punish. We home school. We don't lead a typical life… How do we ensure we get enough diversity for both of our boys? How do we make sure we are fully delved and committed to making sure that Tayo is not always the minority. Because it is not just important for him and his self esteem and self awareness and confidence but it is really important to me and to Frank and for Hartly as well.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And Hartly is starting to ask those hard questions. I thought I was ready. For goodness sake he knows, at four, exactly how babies are made. We talk about death and afterlife and what we believe. We discuss sex openly. We talk about families looking and being different. But I find myself tongue tied when my four year old asks me why people who look like is brother (whom he in fact has said he wished he looked more like because he thinks Tayo's skin is so beautiful and soft to touch), <i style="font-weight: bold;">why would people not be nice to someone because they are black? Why would black people be treated differently? Why did there used to be different laws and rules?... Why is there still injustice today? </i> How do I answer these questions.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">What do I want to do? What I want to do is swoop them both into my arms and fly away. I want to go to an island with only kindred spirits… Where skin color is loved and admired no matter how light or dark or what shade. Where differences are celebrated. Where people are judged for their actions and not appearance. Where history is taught and acknowledged but people are not judged based on their ancestors but by their own character and choices. I want to go a place where I am not scared that my son will be harmed or killed because of so much fear. I want to get away from the bad guys.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But I have learned, as I grow older, that the world is not made up of just good guys or bad guys. It is way more complicated than that. Oh, to be sure, I think there is a spectrum of sorts. But what about the naive comments and what about borderline comments... I tend to believe that all people want love and want to be good. How do I balance this and take care and protect my child? Because I have anger but mostly it is overwhelming fear and sadness that my heart dwells in when I think of the state of our world.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So most days we play. We laugh a lot. We hug a lot. We kiss and cuddle a lot. We talk about everything. I spend much of my day in the present because how can I not with two beautiful and fun and energetic and creative little souls. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But when I wake up in the middle of the night these days I often think about - the news I read of a 5 year old black girl put in the back of a patrol car left alone and crying for hours because of a misunderstanding, The Tony Robison shooting a few days ago, a black garbage man put in jail for 30 days for picking up garbage too early, A racist fraternity in Oklahoma chanting all sorts of atrocities, a A black boy killed just days ago for playing his rap music too loud… the fact that I do not know one black male that hasn't been stopped and questioned (and sometimes worse) purely for being black. Not for breaking the law or doing anything wrong but because they were black. My white male friends did all sorts of nonsense as teenagers and in their 20s and rarely were there any repercussions. Black men are treated differently than white men for doing the same exact thing or nothing at all even. And those who say that if black people just follow the law and show respect, they won't get killed I say shame on you. Is that the world we live in? A world where if you make a mistake or are disrespectful or even break the law, you are as good as dead and you deserve it? Because that is not what happens when white people are rude or do illegal things. But, somehow, it is ok when it happens to a Black person.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So, I worry about things like - <i><u>when Hartly is a teenager walking alone in a store in the middle of the day versus Tayo walking in a store in the middle of the day. Hartly wearing a hoody versus Tayo wearing a hoody. Hartly going for a run versus Tayo going for a run. Hartly being pulled over for speeding versus Tayo being pulled over for speeding.</u> <b>The list is endless. And I ache.</b></i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><i><u>And don't tell me I'm overreacting. Please. be respectful. This is my child</u></i></b>. I guarantee if you had a child that was black, you would see a different world than you do now. It is actually quite scary. It is like that blue and black dress where some people see white and gold because of it being backlit or different people's eyes not adjusting as quickly… Just because you live in a world where you see the white and gold does not mean the world is white and gold. Just because your eyes aren't able to see it, it does not change the fact that the dress/world is black and blue. That is what happened when I became the mom to a black son. <b><i>My eyesight shifted and I see things now that I can't unsee.</i></b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So, I don't want to talk about it all the time. But I am going to talk about it sometimes. Because maybe I am a bridge of sorts. Maybe a few more people will listen and maybe conversations will be had. And maybe enough talk will happen that there will be a tipping point. Maybe me mentioning or saying something will make me the one that triggers change and effect everywhere like, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hundredth_monkey_effect" target="_blank">Hundredth Monkey Phenomenon</a>. This <b><i>"...is a studied phenomenon in which a new behavior or idea is claimed to spread rapidly by unexplained means from one group to all related groups once a critical number of members of one group exhibit the new behavior or acknowledge the new idea."</i></b> Wouldn't that be lovely. So one of the first steps is just acknowledging that things are not right. Acknowledge that we can do better. We need to do better.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">My husband is always telling me to write. I love that he values me and my opinion and viewpoint and thoughts. I tend to think, it's already been written about and it's been said much more succinctly and eloquently. But maybe I shouldn't worry about that. <i>Maybe I just need one, maybe two people that wouldn't have otherwise thought about these things to at least pause and think about it. </i> because it is not them, it is all of us. And one person does make a difference. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I want Tayo to grow up in a different world than the world we live in now. <i>I <b>want</b> it for all of us. I <b>need</b> it for Tayo</i>. Can you help me do that, is the question.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><u>Hartly: "Tayo, do you love brother?" Tayo: "Yeaaahhh!..." </u></b></span></div>
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<br />Rosebellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03767920671254903880noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1620900955251022107.post-54877340808846003982014-07-12T13:31:00.001-07:002014-07-12T13:35:47.866-07:00Sleep while Traveling with Children<b style="color: #e69138; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-large;"><u>Traveling with children:</u></b><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Our children, are currently 4 years old and 18 months old. Hartly has been to about 20 different places and Tayo maybe about 8 different places. My children, and we, are no strangers to travel. We are often asked what we do when we travel with them and the most frequent asked question is how we get them to sleep when we travel. <b><u><span style="color: #674ea7;">All children and families are different. These are just a few things that we have found that help immensely with our children (and us) to get our sleep while sleeping away from home. </span></u></b></span><br />
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<b><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">- Expectations</span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">- Routine</span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">- Nap(s) </span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">- Food</span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">- Activity</span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">- Baby Wearing</span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">- GoCrib </span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">- Baby Monitor</span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">- Bathroom/Closet/Dark</span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">- Static</span></b><br />
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<span style="background-color: #e69138; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><i>EXPECTATIONS</i></b></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">This one is huge. When Frank and I got married everyone told us, 'say goodbye to sleeping', 'say goodbye to traveling' among other things. We smiled because we knew that you can have children AND sleep. You can have children AND travel. Will it be the same? No. Can you do it? Absolutely. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><b><i><span style="color: #6aa84f;">Sleep when traveling will be different than at home</span></i></b><span style="color: #f1c232;">.</span></span> </span><br />
<a name='more'></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> Our boys are incredibly awesome sleepers. Currently our littlest(18 months) takes a nap from 1pm-4pm and sleeps through the night from about 8pm-9:30am. Our oldest(just turned 4 years old) no longer naps but is in his room from 8pm-when I often have to wake him around 9:30am. (I say in his room because I do not force him to go to sleep but he must be in bed after our bedtime routine. Sometimes he falls asleep right at 8:30pm and other nights he reads in bed until 10pm.) When we travel we are often up later than usual and we often wake up earlier than usual. We have come to accept that, in general, our kids do not sleep past 8am when we travel.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">In addition, when Frank and I decided that we would still travel with our children we knew we would not cover as much in a day with littles tagging along as when we were solo. We would rather go somewhere and see only 5 awesome things in a week than not go at all or push our kids to see 15 and everyone be grumpy and overtired. <span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #6aa84f;"><b><i>We do a lot less in a day when our littles are with us than if we were alone. And we do not rush them.</i></b> </span> </span>If they get fascinated with a pile of rocks outside of a museum, we spend time looking and playing with those rocks instead of ignoring their interests and rushing them into what we think is the main attraction.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b style="background-color: #e69138;"><i>ROUTINE</i></b><span style="background-color: white;">:</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Children, like humans in general, are <b><i><span style="color: #6aa84f;">creatures of habit.</span></i></b> Taking them away from their normal sights and smells and sounds… is hard. We try to take things from home that are familiar and we try and keep a semi-normal bedtime routine. I bring their favorite lovies (<b><i><span style="color: #6aa84f;">stuffed animals and blankets) as well as a few favorite books and pajamas.</span></i></b> At home we start our bedtime routine together. Often we have a bath and then potty, diapers and pajamas. We then read to both boys as Tayo drinks his last bottle of the day. Then one of us takes Hartly in the other room to brush teeth and have a couple more books and cuddles. Tayo brushes his teeth and gets his bop and some snuggles as I sing him his favorite song (currently The Wheels on the Bus). Then they both get noise on (more later in static section). Last hugs and kisses and close the doors.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Obviously this may not be exact when you are traveling… Maybe you are all in one room or the kids fall asleep on the way back from dinner… <b><i><u><span style="color: #cc0000;">you will have to be flexible but it is important to try and maintain some sense of normal.</span></u></i></b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: #e69138;"><b><i>NAPS</i></b></span>:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">We have found with our children that <b><i><span style="color: #6aa84f;">nap routines are important</span></i></b> too. When Tayo misses naps, he does not sleep as well at night. The opposite is true of Hartly - if he naps, he can't get to sleep at night. This goes back to routine. I know this is particularly hard if your little still takes two naps. We are very grateful that Tayo has recently switched to one. How we handled when he took two - We would try to have at least one of the two at the hotel/place you are staying, in his nighttime area. For the other one, I would usually wear him (refer to Baby Wearing).</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: #e69138;"><b><i>FOOD</i></b></span>:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Eating can be hard when traveling (don't we know it, we are vegan!) but there are a few very important things about food when traveling (at home too). We find that (seems so obvious but worth saying) that if our boys do not get enough to eat during the day, they do not sleep as well at night. Sometimes when traveling my kids are more finicky or they are too interested in new stuff to eat. Sometimes you can't find a place to eat when you get hungry. Oftentimes their eating is off (especially if in different time zone), so <b><i><span style="color: #6aa84f;">we always have bananas, granola bars, apples and nuts and other foods readily </span>available.</i></b> It is also important to pay attention to sodium. We eat out a lot when we travel and too much salt on the food ends up in A.) them drinking so much water that diapers leak or children wake up many times during the night or B.) they wake up thirsty in the middle of the night.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: #e69138;"><b><i>ACTIVITY</i></b></span>:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">A lot of children have trouble sleeping because they do not get enough physical activity during the day. So often when traveling kids are put in a stroller and they don't get enough time to run around, crawl, play. <b><i><span style="color: #6aa84f;">On days that my boys get a lot of play, they get a lot of sleep.</span></i></b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: #e69138;"><b><i>BABY WEARING</i></b></span>:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Baby Wearing can be so, so , so helpful when traveling. I never go anywhere (traveling or here) without my Ergo. I didn't when Hart was younger and now with Tayo I feel the same. Like I mentioned earlier, more often than not, baby will get tired when out and about. I put Tayo on and cover him up, walk around a little and he is out. <b><i><span style="color: #6aa84f;">This allows for so much freedom. Hands free and baby is snuggled close and comforted and gets their rest that they need. It helps keep nap routine and helps in airplanes as well. </span></i></b> I believe in baby wearing for a million reasons but since this is about sleeping while traveling, I will stop now.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; text-align: center;">Hartly at 17 months in Spain taking a nap</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; text-align: center;">Hartly around 20 months in Puerto Rico taking a little nap</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; text-align: center;">Tayo around 15 months at airport during his nap time</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; text-align: center;">Naptime came during flight</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;">During an all day tour in st lucia, Tayo took his nap</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; text-align: center;">Tayo in Hawaii, I had forgotten our Ergo so I used my wrap to wear him for his nap</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: #e69138;"><b><i>GOCRIB</i></b></span>:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">This is a very expensive item that we have gotten our moneys worth and way more from. <span style="color: #6aa84f;"><b><i>If you travel a lot, I highly recommend the GoCrib</i></b>.</span> It is a portable crib that takes less than 2 minutes to inflate and set up and less than 2 minutes to deflate and pack up. It closes into a backpack and is pretty lightweight (13lbs). It goes on carry on with us because it is essential when we travel. It is seriously awesome and all Hartly slept in until he was about 3 and we traveled and is now Tayo's (Hartly will sleep in our bed or his own bed)… For Tayo we fill his GoCrib with his bops and blankets and stuffed animals. Hartly usually chooses two stuffed animals from home to sleep with him.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tpKtIADlwik/TxoxmwHUlrI/AAAAAAAAqgg/9RL2frgQKOI/s1600/photo+3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tpKtIADlwik/TxoxmwHUlrI/AAAAAAAAqgg/9RL2frgQKOI/s1600/photo+3.JPG" height="200" width="149" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; text-align: center;">Hartly in GoCrib</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; text-align: center;">Photo to show Hartly sleeping in crib in bathroom in Spain</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; text-align: center;">Hartly sound asleep taking a nap in crib in bathroom in Miami</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; text-align: center;">Tayo napping in crib in bathroom in St Lucia</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;">Big one now sleeps in a bed when we travel</td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: #e69138; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><i>MONITOR</i></b></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">We always travel with a baby monitor. Often our kids need us out of the room for them to initially fall asleep. This is at least true when they are under 3 years old. Now Hartly will often have me lay with him for 10-15 minutes but Tayo gets too excited or distracted if I am around. Frank and I will often step out onto the patio or go to a different area but I like to know everything is okay with my littles. <span style="color: #6aa84f;"> </span><b><i><span style="color: #6aa84f;">It is very helpful to be able to watch and see them, especially in unfamiliar surroundings.</span></i></b></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: #e69138; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><i>***********BATHROOM/CLOSET/DARK: ***********</i></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The first questions we ask when booking places to stay is - how big are the closets/is the bathroom and how dark are the bedrooms. <span style="color: #6aa84f;"><b><i><u>This may be the number one lifesaver when getting children to sleep when traveling.</u></i></b> </span>More times than not, my children have slept in their GoCrib in a bathroom or closet wherever we are staying. We put a monitor in the bathroom or closet so we can check on them whenever we need to without disturbing them. The pitch blackness is essential for sleeping through the night in our family.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: #e69138;"><b><i>STATIC</i></b></span>:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">New places have different sounds. We always travel with old iPod</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">s of ours that have an App called Sleep Light. At home Hartly goes to sleep listening to the sound of trains. Tayo listens to static and a rain storm. When we travel we turn on these same sounds for them. <b><i><span style="color: #6aa84f;">It not only blocks out new and strange and different sounds but it also goes back to the routine and normal stuff from home.</span></i></b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Whenever I figure out one of my kids, they go and change on me. Maybe 6months was a great age to travel with your first but 6months is a terrible time to travel with your second. The first two years especially are so unpredictable with teething and growth spurts and different phases of development. <span style="background-color: #f1c232;"> <b><i><u>If it is terrible once, do not give up! </u></i></b> </span>It also could be that you chose a place too noisy or too small or there was something different that you could have done. Trial and error are essential. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">For instance, we recently went, for the first time, on a cruise with our boys and sleeping was terrible for Tayo. We all four were in one room and we have discovered that, no matter what we did, he/we were not going to get good sleep. Hartly, actually, was the only one that slept well (his brothers crying did not wake him up). It was just too hard for Tayo being so close to the rest of us and he woke up every single sleep cycle. The bathroom was WAY too tiny as were the closets and he wanted in bed with me. This would have been fine but he still woke up every hour or so… It was terrible. Does this mean we will stop traveling!?! No way! Are we still glad we went? Yes! Will we go on another cruise anytime soon? No. But we have traveled before and since with him and he has always been great!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><i style="background-color: #3d85c6;">OH, ONE MORE THING….</i></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: #f1c232;"><b><i>It often takes a few nights to adjust</i></b>.</span> Just because the first couple nights are not great does not mean you should give up or drop all of the above. When we went to Hawaii with the boys this Winter they both had a rough time for the first few nights but by the end they were great! Give them a grace period! It is worth it!!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">We have been to a lot of places. Below are just a few photos of a few of our destinations.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;">Puerto Rico With Hartly</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dh_FfPf3VTc/T0nD8LMq1mI/AAAAAAAAqjk/Wk4rPa3R6Eg/s1600/IMAGE_95C8525B-5E26-41EB-80F9-4A01206FCB42.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dh_FfPf3VTc/T0nD8LMq1mI/AAAAAAAAqjk/Wk4rPa3R6Eg/s1600/IMAGE_95C8525B-5E26-41EB-80F9-4A01206FCB42.JPG" height="239" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; text-align: center;">Spain with Hartly</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; text-align: center;">Spain with Hartly</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;">OBX with boys </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; text-align: center;">Hawaii with boys </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; text-align: center;">St Lucia </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; text-align: center;">Cruise (still fun even though sleeping situation was bad)</td></tr>
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<br />Rosebellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03767920671254903880noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1620900955251022107.post-54705914156822679322014-06-17T19:57:00.001-07:002014-06-17T21:34:10.967-07:00Sad to see 3 go...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I sit here, barely able to write because the tears filling my eyes are blurring my vision. If I am this much of a wreck over you turning four, I fear how I will be on the night before you turn 10… or 13… or 16!!! Do not even get me started on the idea of you leaving home. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I understand that my job as a Mom, my whole purpose, is the honor and privledge of providing a safe and loving environment in which you are able to thrive and grow so that you may reach adulthood and be able to be physically, mentally, and emotionally independent. I get that. I also understand that the alternative, your inability to do so due to illness or mental incapacity or death, is unthinkable. The plan is working. Things are trotting along as they are supposed to.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">So, why am I so sad. I think it is nastalgia and fear that have invaded my mind and soul this evening, the last night of you being three years old.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">These past twelve months have been sunshine and delight. Oh yes, we have had our moments and there have been days where bedtime could not arrive soon enough, to be sure. But mostly you and I spent these past twelve months laughing, learning and loving. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Let me share a few snapshots from my journal into these past twelve months…</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>"<i>But Mom, do they have vegan water?"</i></b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><b>Hart: So, are they grown ups now? </b></i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><b>Me: I don't think so. My guess is they are teenagers. </b></i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><b>Hart: But Mom, do they drink coffee?</b></i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><b>Worse possible thing that could happen to Hart is not letting him be with me when I give Tayo his bottles. It is his favorite thing to cuddle with his baby and rub his tummy as he drinks his bottle.</b></i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><b>Hart: Look Mom, I'm a D-Lion</b></i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><b>Me: You mean a Sea-Lion</b></i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><b>Hart: No. I want to be a D or an F Lion, not a C-Lion.</b></i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><b>I asked Hartly what to put in my journal about him on July 7, 2013 and he said, "I did something good. I snuggled with Tayo. He was so sad because he didn't like the loud noise. I love Tayo. I want to say something else. I love my rocking horse."</b></i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><b>Hartly: So Mom, if a lady has twins, does that mean there are 2 sperms and 1 egg or 1 sperm and 2 eggs?</b></i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><b>Hart: If I am allowed 3 books in my room and 1 book in Tayo's, do I get 4 altogether? </b></i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><b>Hart: What is that? Is that a dog barking?</b></i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><b>Me; Yup</b></i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><b>Hart: Why is he there?</b></i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><b>Me: He lives there</b></i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><b>Hart: Why do we not have a dog?</b></i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><b>Me: What do you think?</b></i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><b>Hart: Because we are vegan?</b></i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><b>Me: Do you love me Stink Bug?</b></i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><b>Hart: I do, I really, really do Mommy.</b></i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><b>Me: How much?</b></i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><b>Hart: I love you from the top of the sky, all the way through my penis and out my butt to Saturn. That's a lot Mom</b></i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><b>Me: Yup. That is a lot.</b></i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><b>Hart: My underwear is upside over (instead of inside out - says often for different things)</b></i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><b>Hart: Is Mother Nature God?</b></i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><b>"please can you not"</b></i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><b>"no please" (instead of no thank you)</b></i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><b>Another common phrase, "I need to be near you Mommy… all the time"</b></i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><b>"I want to stay my blocks out… I want to stay my magna tiles out… Can I stay this shirt on..."</b></i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><b>If Hartly sees Tayo approaching hart;y's train tracks or buildings he often says, "Oh no! Here comes trouble"</b></i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><b>Hartly dropped a cup tonight and said, "shit". I looked at him and I said, "What? Did you just make up that word?" He said, "Shit Mom. You know, shit. That word you always say right after you drop something" Oops!</b></i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><b>Hartly cried at airport as we left Hawaii, "I don't want to leave Hawaii. I love it here. Why do we have to go? I feel so sad inside."</b></i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><b>Among the chaos, jealousy, push/pull… Taye in my arms drinking a bottle and Hartly walks quietly over and leans close to Tayo's face and whispers, "May you have joy forever", kisses him on the forehead and then says, "I love you Bitty" and walks away.</b></i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><b>This AM Bitty was playing in Hartly's room and swinging a toy around and it wacked Hartly on his head. Hartly started sobbing and grabbing his head in pain but through the tears said, "I still love you Tayo"</b></i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><b>Hartly informed me tonight that he is always going to be my shadow forever and that we will stay together stuck like glue.</b></i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><b>Hartly told me that he's want to hold my hand even when he's Daddy's age. How is it he is such my big boy and such my baby all at once.</b></i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><b>"once upon a time there was a baby and it loved to play in the snow but while it was playing in the snow, it went under the snow and pooped."</b></i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><b>Hart: Mommy, do you want to meet my children when I'm older?</b></i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><b>Me: Yes. Of course.</b></i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><b>Hart: Mommy, they are going to be so cute. They are going to be blue.</b></i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><b>Me: Blue!? Have you ever seen blue kids?</b></i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><b>Hart: No. But maybe my sperm will make blue kids Mom.</b></i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><b>"actually…"</b></i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><b>"and stuff like that…"</b></i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><b>"You see what I'm trying to say Mom…"</b></i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><b>"Mom, I love Tayo so much, I can't even find the words to tell you how much I love him"</b></i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><b>"Mom, you are beautiful on the inside and out"</b></i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><b>Today you got overwhelmed with quiet sadness… "Why Mommy? Why are the flowers dying? It makes me feel so sad inside"</b></i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><b>….</b></i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">There is sooo much more. These are just a handful of snapshots into everything that makes you, you. And you are so deliciously yummy that it often makes my head spin and my heart dizzy. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">You are so ridiculous and so silly and you love making people laugh. You have strange voices that you make and you have crazy languages that you've invented and recently you have taken to doing this wacky, what you refer to as, thumb dance. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Although you can be competitive or rough with your baby brother you are also fiercely protective and in love with him. Your favorite thing is to make him laugh and you almost always want him near you. You have told me, a number of times, that you love Tayo more than you love anyone else in this world. You have declared that you both are moving to Hawaii when you grow up and will be living in adjoined houses. Your questions and insights often have my jaw dropping and your tenderness, sensitivity and sweetness bring me to tears. We can not read Velveteen rabbit or Horton hears a who because they just make you so sad. " Why Mommy, why would they throw his rabbit away!? I just don't understand why someone would do that"… </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Recently your energy level has exploded and your emotions are wild and running rampant. For the first 3 years and 11 months of your life you had, maybe, 3 meltdowns. This past month alone, you have had, probably, 5. I have read that 4 year old boys double their amount of testosterone. Things may be bumpy for awhile. All the literature seems to indicate that I should not worry too much. My sweet little boy will return after a few months of crazy mood swings and crazy overloads of hormones. But even in the midst of them, I know you are there. I see you struggling and being weighed down with the yuckiness and feeling it all so much. I empathize and feel so much compassion for you my sweet boy. It is not easy being a kid. It is not easy being a boy. I am here for you, whether you are acting like a grump or acting like an angel. I am not going anywhere.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">...As I put you to bed tonight, your last night as a three year old, you held me close, my face in your hands, inches away from your own face. You whispered, "I love you so much Mommy" and then you proceeded to press your forehead against mine, then your nose against mine… saying meanwhile, "head to head, nose to nose, mouth to mouth (here you gave me a sweet kiss), chin to chin, neck to neck…" Then you sighed. "I just wanted to see if we matched up" "Do we?" I asked. "Yes Mommy. We do." Then moments later you were asleep, still cradling my face, breathing lightly on my cheek. Ah me. How I cherish you my darling 3 year old. And as much as I am sad to say goodbye to 3, I know in my heart that I will cherish you just as much tomorrow morning as my newly 4 year old!</span><br />
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Rosebellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03767920671254903880noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1620900955251022107.post-24771110723620283702014-02-19T19:37:00.001-08:002014-02-19T19:48:14.237-08:00Feeling the Love (Valentine's)<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This year I had Hartly write his own Valentine's to his dad and his little brother. Hartly and I sat down to chat and I asked him some open ended questions and I compiled his answers. I then printed them out and he glued them onto a piece of paper that he decorated for Tayo and Frank. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The result was wonderful. Hartly was so pleased with himself. He felt very proud and was super excited to hand his Valentine's Day cards out to his brother and his dad. We started with Frank. I must say, the reaction was beautiful. I do not think that Frank was prepared for such sweetness. It brought me to tears.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Frank reading it out loud</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Hartly's Valentine for Daddy</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">(For those of you whose eyesight is not super human, this is what it says):</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Valentine's Day 2014</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">To: Papi LOVE: Hartly (3 1/2)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"I love when Daddy tells me stories at anytime. I love when Daddy does with me football. I like playing with him how the Redskins play. And I like gently pulling him down or taking the ball from him. I also like to play squirty in the bathtub with Daddy. I like going to Papi's office and to work with him. And I LOVED going to a house with toys with Daddy because there was a train toy with people that I zoomed all around the house. I love looking for the monkey with Daddy at Trader Joe's.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I love Daddy as much as a carrot. And I love Daddy as much as I love honey. And I love Daddy as much as I love moons. I love Daddy as much as I love bagels. I love him 30 degrees.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I am going to love Daddy forever… (pause) even after he dies I will always love him forever.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Happy Valentine's Day Papi!!"</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Frank was bursting with love</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Needless to say, Frank loved it!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Hartly and I did the same sort of thing when writing Tayo's Valentine. I would like to note, toward the end of Tayo's Valentine, Hart was becoming fidgety and asking if he could go play. But he still managed to produce a sweet piece of writing and lovely drawing for his brother. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Tayo was not as blown away as Frank. He enjoyed it but chose to climb up on a table and play with cars while listening…</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AsX4sc3MLHw/UwPM6EtKYHI/AAAAAAAAlnI/brtimhSjB0g/s1600/IMAGE_2097.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AsX4sc3MLHw/UwPM6EtKYHI/AAAAAAAAlnI/brtimhSjB0g/s1600/IMAGE_2097.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Hartly's Valentine for his baby brother</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Valentine's Day 2014</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">To: Tayo LOVE: Hartly</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">" I love roughhousing and doing steamroller with Tayo. I love slurberting and touching his tummy. I love to make Tayo laugh. It makes me laugh when we make each other laugh. When I laugh, Bitty laughs. I love to kiss and cuddle him wile he's drinking his bottle. I like being a big brother. I miss him when he's napping because I like to do jokes with him. My favorite thing is laughing with him. He's</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">very silly. SOmetimes Bitty fakes me out. It's kinda funny, but kinda not. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I love my Bitty forever. I love him more than zerberts. I love him all the way to Hawaii (and that is far Mom!!)"</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Below is them opening my Valentine presents to them (my little super heroes)!</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LM74iIZGeNE/UwQmIE6aUaI/AAAAAAAAloA/KnnflwJGECY/s1600/IMAGE_2103.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LM74iIZGeNE/UwQmIE6aUaI/AAAAAAAAloA/KnnflwJGECY/s1600/IMAGE_2103.jpg" height="150" width="200" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">opening up their Valentine's Gifts from Mommy</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Cv_ZybdFF_s/UwQmMUYw53I/AAAAAAAAloQ/xqV-l6t5ZaM/s1600/IMAGE_2105.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Cv_ZybdFF_s/UwQmMUYw53I/AAAAAAAAloQ/xqV-l6t5ZaM/s1600/IMAGE_2105.jpg" height="153" width="200" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">checking out his Valentine gift in mirror</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-p6gtA8uQbGM/UwQmOvnt8MI/AAAAAAAAloY/1iDQLpA70tc/s1600/IMAGE_2106.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-p6gtA8uQbGM/UwQmOvnt8MI/AAAAAAAAloY/1iDQLpA70tc/s1600/IMAGE_2106.jpg" height="200" width="150" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Mommy's little Valentine super hero</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I also wrote some Valentine's to my 3 favorite boys (from littlest, to biggest):</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY 2014</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">TO: BITTY (TAYO)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: medium;">LOVE: MUM-MUH (MOMMY)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: medium;">I love when I go in your room in the morning and you reach for me. I love how you smack your lips together to sign you are hungry. I love that you love baby dolls. I love how you say, “bay-bee”. I love that you try to feed your brother all your food. I love watching you pick up and drink water all by yourself from a regular cup. I love your smile. I love that you understand how to joke and tease. I love that you are silly. I love when you reach for me and I go to pick you up and you lift your legs up and wrap them around one of my legs tight. I love how you fit perfectly on my hip and in my arms. I love how curious and adventurous you are. I love how independent you are. I love that you always come back into my arms after being away. I love how you hold onto my pant leg as I walk around the kitchen trying to be productive. I love how you use a napkin to wipe your face even though nobody taught you. I love your little voice and how you try to say so many words. I love how your little head snuggles into the crook in my neck when you are tired. I love how social you are and how you will go to complete strangers and let them cuddle you for a moment before demanding to be back in my arms. I love that you demand to be back in my arms. I love that you tolerate your big brother rolling around with you, and you often even enjoy it. I love that you don't hold a grudge when your big brother is jealous or too rough with you. I love playing ball with you. I love splashing in the tub with you. I love watching you climb up everything and watching you carefully climb down. I love watching you follow your big brother everywhere. I love watching you try and play all of the games that he plays. I love that you like to spin and that you like to dance. I love that you love music. I love how when you see the big stuffed doggy or lion you throw yourself onto them and laugh in delight. I love that you love to snuggle. I love how you sign please. I love that when you are tired or upset, I am who you want to be with. I love that even though you didn't come out of my body, I still see myself in you. I love that you made me a Mommy a second time. I love your soft skin. I love how you absentmindedly play with my necklace when I am holding you. I love when you make funny zerbert sounds with your mouth. I love when you do peekaboo with a blanket over your head. I love when you are two steps away from me and you turn your back to me completely and take two steps backward without looking and then just plop down, sometimes making it into my lap and sometimes not. I love that you do this same maneuver with Daddy and with Hartly. I love that when it is time for bed, you lean out of my arms toward Bear-Bear and your crib. I love checking in on you and watching you sleep before I go to bed every night.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: medium;">I love you to forever and beyond and then more. I love you from here to there and everywhere. I love you always and always and infinity. I love you more than every breath I have ever taken or will ever take. I love you beyond time and space. You are my world.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-v_4gHpNwZLA/UwTWf6pUU7I/AAAAAAAAlpc/ifTn7j7Qa_k/s1600/IMAGE_2113.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-v_4gHpNwZLA/UwTWf6pUU7I/AAAAAAAAlpc/ifTn7j7Qa_k/s1600/IMAGE_2113.jpg" height="200" width="150" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">First time I held my 2nd born</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ui8JuFVWLEM/UwTWhGcHORI/AAAAAAAAlps/KsAV3ZpnqkA/s1600/IMAGE_2115.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ui8JuFVWLEM/UwTWhGcHORI/AAAAAAAAlps/KsAV3ZpnqkA/s1600/IMAGE_2115.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My Bitty, My love</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NZ0KlytkZfo/UwTWgdHsJFI/AAAAAAAAlpk/Jr0QaMZTinw/s1600/IMAGE_2114.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NZ0KlytkZfo/UwTWgdHsJFI/AAAAAAAAlpk/Jr0QaMZTinw/s1600/IMAGE_2114.jpg" height="200" width="148" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We fit perfectly from the start</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-oZKlMZh0B28/UwTWcKoolhI/AAAAAAAAlpE/d-KTAIWo9Ic/s1600/IMAGE_2110.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-oZKlMZh0B28/UwTWcKoolhI/AAAAAAAAlpE/d-KTAIWo9Ic/s1600/IMAGE_2110.jpg" height="320" width="213" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My sweet boy</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DTWHbQ-TILQ/UwTWdX9sZeI/AAAAAAAAlpM/ftkAdr0deeM/s1600/IMAGE_2111.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DTWHbQ-TILQ/UwTWdX9sZeI/AAAAAAAAlpM/ftkAdr0deeM/s1600/IMAGE_2111.jpg" height="320" width="213" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My sleeping baby, feels so perfect in my arms</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3hzsLN14lB4/UwTWfGH6HqI/AAAAAAAAlpU/ExoMudU2tH8/s1600/IMAGE_2112.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3hzsLN14lB4/UwTWfGH6HqI/AAAAAAAAlpU/ExoMudU2tH8/s1600/IMAGE_2112.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">sharing with mama</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And to my Bigger one:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">TO: STINK BUG (HARTLY)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">LOVE: CHRISTMAS TREE (MOMMY)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: medium;">I love hearing your little feet running down the hallway toward my bedroom when you first wake up in the morning. I love when you tell me that you love me randomly during the day for no apparent reason. I love when you climb into my lap and lean your whole body against me. I love when you ask me questions and when we try and discover the answers together. I love your giggle. I love when I catch you whispering or talking kindly to your brother when you do not know that I am watching you. I love when you and dad play chess together and you always tell him, “but Dad, don't get my queen.” I love the ways that you remind me of me – your auburn hair, how you like all your food separate, how you do not like the cold, how you love roughhousing and cuddling... I love the ways that you are not like me – how you are interested in time and space, how you have a great number sense, how you are interested in building and putting things together. I love that we get to spend almost all day, every day together. I love watching you grow. I love seeing you problem solve. I love that you have your own ideas and an amazing imagination. I love listening to you tell stories. I love talking about faeries with you. I love that we always tell each other the truth, no matter what. I love your jokes, even when I don't understand them, they make me laugh. I love that you forgive me when I mess up or hurt your feelings. I love that we talk about everything. I love watching you play. I love seeing you with friends and cousins. I love that you love so many people. I love that you are kind. I love you even when you make mistakes or bad choices. I love you even when you are grumpy or not nice. I love that we never stay mad at each other long. I love your hugs. I love when you hold my hand. I love that you love to collect rocks everywhere we go. I love reading to you and I love that you love books. I love how you eat an apple until there is almost nothing left of it. I love that it makes you sad if animals or people are hurt or sad. I love that you are sensitive. I love that you try new things. I love your big brown eyes. I love watching you swim and play in the water. I love that you made me a Mommy. I love that I will love you forever, even when we are in different worlds and lands. I love lying in bed next to you as I listen to you fall asleep. I love checking in on you and seeing your sleeping face before I go to bed every night. I love who you are. I love everything about you.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: medium;">I love you more than all the raindrops and water droplets in the whole wide world. I love you more than this lifetime and last lifetime and next lifetime. I love you bigger than the biggest planet and further than a rocketship could blast off to. I love you more than you love trains. I love you more than any food or any thing. I love you more than sparkles and faeries and the sun. I love you 80 million degrees and 42 billion zillion pounds. I love you 8980. I love you every yesterday, every today, and every tomorrow. Forever and ever and ever always. I just really, really love you.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5ne5UuJrbFA/UwTabbUgDXI/AAAAAAAAlrE/oXnnPh6TuIc/s1600/IMAGE_2123.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5ne5UuJrbFA/UwTabbUgDXI/AAAAAAAAlrE/oXnnPh6TuIc/s1600/IMAGE_2123.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Holding my first born minutes after birth</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tJ9amzfRAvw/UwTYv_EyhkI/AAAAAAAAlqQ/UD4q01-TXRg/s1600/IMAGE_2117.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tJ9amzfRAvw/UwTYv_EyhkI/AAAAAAAAlqQ/UD4q01-TXRg/s1600/IMAGE_2117.jpg" height="142" width="200" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My little love</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-yYmIASBqGdk/UwTYxyDeGYI/AAAAAAAAlqo/SZdOpyBYFuw/s1600/IMAGE_2120.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-yYmIASBqGdk/UwTYxyDeGYI/AAAAAAAAlqo/SZdOpyBYFuw/s1600/IMAGE_2120.jpg" height="171" width="200" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">cuddle bug</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4sfUmAGeFm0/UwTYxdWalCI/AAAAAAAAlqg/DFPGshHa6xU/s1600/IMAGE_2119.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4sfUmAGeFm0/UwTYxdWalCI/AAAAAAAAlqg/DFPGshHa6xU/s1600/IMAGE_2119.jpg" height="148" width="200" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My beach baby</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mGV8steHyeM/UwTYwonm6kI/AAAAAAAAlqY/v968uwY6hl0/s1600/IMAGE_2118.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mGV8steHyeM/UwTYwonm6kI/AAAAAAAAlqY/v968uwY6hl0/s1600/IMAGE_2118.jpg" height="320" width="269" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Birthday Boy</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YSuTxVNzkHQ/UwTYzpGujxI/AAAAAAAAlq0/vgbl_-AWlYQ/s1600/IMAGE_2122.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YSuTxVNzkHQ/UwTYzpGujxI/AAAAAAAAlq0/vgbl_-AWlYQ/s1600/IMAGE_2122.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My love</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And, for my Biggest:</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3e4SNcG2g-k/UwVzwCIwSAI/AAAAAAAAlsI/OvXG6KkwIsQ/s1600/IMAGE_2129.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3e4SNcG2g-k/UwVzwCIwSAI/AAAAAAAAlsI/OvXG6KkwIsQ/s1600/IMAGE_2129.jpg" height="400" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Photo taken on our anniversary (August 16th)</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15pt;">To: MyLLosa</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15pt;">I love that in the middle of the night I will often wake up and you are snuggled into me. I love how when you hear the babies cry in the middle of the night, you almost always go to them and tell me to go back to sleep. I love hearing you, from the other room, shushing, comforting, and loving our children. I love when we all pile into bed together in the morning, recalling dreams, snuggling and discussing the day to come. I love that you periodically and randomly kiss me. I love that I get to share in the joy of so many little moments with our children throughout the day with you. I love that you make me laugh... a lot. I love how playful you are. I love how creative you are. I love that you hold my hand still. I love that you say thank you to me for little things I do that don't go unnoticed. I love pillow talk. I love that you are fiercely protective of me. I love that I know you will love me forever. I love that when we fight, our fights don't last long. I love that when we fight, I always know, no matter how bad it is, we will be okay. I love that you cook for us a lot, even when you are busy or don't really feel like it. I love that you open up to me. I love that I trust you completely. I love that you take baths with our boys. I love that I know you love our children unconditionally. I love that you trust my parenting ideas, even when they often don't, at first, appear to make sense. I love that you always feed Bitty at dinner because you know I can't eat and feed him at the same time. I love that you think of things that would never occur to me. I love that you come to me when you have issues at work or problems you are trying to solve. I love that you think I am the best Mommy. I love that you go to all my family functions with me without ever complaining. I love that you give me Reiki. I love that you still can make me blush with just a look. I love that you are my forever. I love that you will be by my side long after our babies have grown and no longer are sleeping under the same roof. I love that you believe. I love that you are so good with babies – not just ours, but all babies. I love that you are so smart. I love that you care so deeply when things are not fair. I love that you are open to continuing to grow and learn and discover. I love that you are stable but also ever changing and growing. I love that thoughts of your father bring you to tears and you don't hide them from me. I love that you are silly. I love that you are unique. I love that you look at our children in their eyes when you talk to them. I love that you would never hurt our children. I love that even though it drives me nuts, I also admire how much you research. I love that you are passionate about the things in your life that are important to you. I love that you are having a glow-in-the-dark dance party downstairs right now with our boys as I write this. I love that when I wanted to become vegan, you also became vegan. I love that you value how sensitive I am. I love that you held my hand on our first date. I love that you texted your marriage proposal to me. I love that you have four dimples when you are really happy. I love that you are often in awe of our children. I love that pretty much almost everything you do is for me and for our family. I love overhearing you speaking spanish to our children. I love that you sometimes do things that you don't want to because you know it is what I want. I love that you listen to me. I love that you work so hard so that we can do all the things we want to. I love that you drive at night because you know that I don't feel as comfortable driving in the dark. I love that you often watch (babysit) our boys so I can have some time to myself to do whatever I need to do. I love that you really, really want to be a good Daddy. I love that you really, really are a good Daddy. I love that you are very handsome. I love that both of our boys have your eye color. I love that you hug and kiss our boys all the time and always say I love you to them. I love watching them look at you with love. I love that when you mess up or make a mistake with our children, you go to them and apologize. I love that you spend so much time with us. I love that you make so many sacrifices for us but they don't feel like sacrifices to you because it is for us. I love that I am completely me with you. I love that you are more than my best friend. You are MyLLosa.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15pt;">I love you more than a hot bath. I love you more than the sound of a summer thunderstorm. I love you more than the feel of the sun on my face on a crisp Fall day. I love you more than the feel of waves swaying me gently along in the ocean. I love you more than the feel of a puppy asleep in my arms. I love you more than a glass of cool water on a hot summer day after a run. I love you more than I love the adrenaline rush from a fighting class. I love you more than the feel of soft warm sand between my toes. I love you more than a Madonna song from the '80s. I love you more than you will ever be able to realize or comprehend. I love you, at least, as much as you love me. I have loved you forever and I will love you for always.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Our very first date (and already smitten with each other)</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4ogu1Aylxt8/SPPRny-zMII/AAAAAAAAEl8/q3pW0u5aibc/s1600/love-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4ogu1Aylxt8/SPPRny-zMII/AAAAAAAAEl8/q3pW0u5aibc/s1600/love-1.jpg" height="200" width="170" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The look in my eyes says it all</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BMtNKqqAzTM/SPPRpZ8MmBI/AAAAAAAAEmk/HeEE-jKlECQ/s1600/IMG_9289.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BMtNKqqAzTM/SPPRpZ8MmBI/AAAAAAAAEmk/HeEE-jKlECQ/s1600/IMG_9289.jpg" height="200" width="170" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My rock, my stability, my comfort… My head fits perfectly on his shoulder</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2is7nYfK1xQ/SPPRrGJ5TYI/AAAAAAAAEnU/oWbcEQEJ0Kc/s1600/proposal.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2is7nYfK1xQ/SPPRrGJ5TYI/AAAAAAAAEnU/oWbcEQEJ0Kc/s1600/proposal.jpg" height="130" width="200" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Yup. He proposed via text</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-cmF6J-nEWQI/SPPRtOZpcfI/AAAAAAAAEns/F8SOzKgbA0A/s1600/dip+kiss.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-cmF6J-nEWQI/SPPRtOZpcfI/AAAAAAAAEns/F8SOzKgbA0A/s1600/dip+kiss.jpg" height="200" width="132" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The day after we were engaged</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Our wedding day</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_O5qXQyqink/UwVztacK0II/AAAAAAAAlro/iDLOzJ5y860/s1600/IMAGE_2125.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_O5qXQyqink/UwVztacK0II/AAAAAAAAlro/iDLOzJ5y860/s1600/IMAGE_2125.jpg" height="200" width="133" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I made the right choice</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KF35Yl4iNLE/UwVzs8jLd5I/AAAAAAAAlrg/NKI-Lh5faEg/s1600/IMAGE_2124.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KF35Yl4iNLE/UwVzs8jLd5I/AAAAAAAAlrg/NKI-Lh5faEg/s1600/IMAGE_2124.jpg" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Laughter and joy</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">date night</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Still my love. Always.</span></td></tr>
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Rosebellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03767920671254903880noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1620900955251022107.post-34390094033992058782014-01-04T15:41:00.005-08:002014-01-04T15:41:46.297-08:00To Tayo, on your first birthday<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">It is January 3rd, 2014. All day long I have been looking at you with wonder, thinking, "where has the time gone? How is it possible that tomorrow you turn One year old!?". You. My Bitty baby. Child of my heart. Let your Mommy take a handful (or more) of moments to reflect on the past twelve months...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Your due date changed a number of times but you were expected around January 22nd. Papi and I debated about when to get tickets to Louisiana. It was a fine balance between getting there before you were born but not too early. We had settled on January 10th as being a good date. Hartly and I had been adding stickers to our countdown-till-Baby-Tayo-arrived calendar. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Our excitement and anticipation was soon to be bubbling over as the day grew closer.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">January 3rd I received a text message late in the evening - your Birth Mom said she thought you would be arriving soon but she was not sure yet... I had been watching tv downstairs and your dad was upstairs working. I think I simultaneously squealed and lost my breath at the same time. I also believe that I reacted like a dog, chasing my own tail as I stood and circled myself trying to figure out what to do first. I tripped on the office stairs and collapsed, half laughing half crying as I tried to call out to your Papi that it appeared as though you were getting ready to make your journey. Papi madly looked at tickets as I threw clothes in a bag. There were no flights out that night and we were not even sure if you were really on your way so we left the phone on loud and tried to get sleep (truth be told, very little was had). </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">The next morning I got a text that declared your Birth Mama was on the way to the hospital. We woke up your brother </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">and we all hopped in a cab. Papi bought airplane tickets on our way to the airport. It was the longest flight of my life. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">When we landed, the boys stayed back to get our rental car. I flew out of the airport and into a taxi. We found out upon landing that you had already arrived (little stinker came fast). I was beyond ready to have you in my arms. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">When I walked into your hospital bedroom, your were wrapped up snug as a bug in your little hospital crib. My eyes met your Birth Mother's and she nodded for me to go ahead and pick you up. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Regardless of the situation, you need to know that she loved you all through her pregnancy, she loved you after you were born, and she will love you until her last breath. This I know to be true. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">I leaned over and immediately my eyes filled with tears. You were just so tiny and just so perfect. I held you to my chest and I whispered that I loved you and that I had been waiting for you... </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">When Papi and Hartly arrived a little later you were in my arms in a chair by the window. Hartly was in Papi's arms half asleep when Papi asked him if he wanted to meet his baby brother... Hartly rubbed his eyes and he turned around, straining to catch a glimpse of you. The smile that lit up his face as his eyes came to rest on you is one that I will never forget and is nearly impossible to describe. He wiggled free of Papi's arms and approached me without taking his eyes off of you. Moments later, you were in his arms. Never before and I doubt ever again, will I witness a happier two year old.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">We spent two weeks in Louisiana waiting on papers to be signed and documents completed. Grandpa and Grandma Jinky visited and fell in love instantly too. I'm convinced that it is impossible to meet you and not fall instantly in love. I suppose I am biased though.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">A year ago. This all happened a year ago. Unbelievable.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Tayo Paco</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Tayo Paco</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">You're such an Itty Bitty</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Tayo.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Paco.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">LLosa.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">That is a song that Hartly and I often sing to you. And while you will always be my Itty Bitty, you certainly have grown since I first held you in my arms.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">In a year, what have I learned about my Itty Bitty:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">I have learned that you are a snuggler. You love hugs and cuddles and affection. You love being worn and you love being held. You love kisses and slurberts and squeezes. You are affection and loving. You mostly crave this love from your Mommy and Papi and brother but you are happy to give love to mostly anyone who looks like they would enjoy a cuddle from an adorable baby. You have leaned out of my arms to go into stranger's arms at the grocery store, in the metro, in church, on an airplane and anywhere else you feel as though someone is looking in your direction. You don't stay too long in their arms before reaching back for me but you have no stranger danger at all. You are social and very loving. You love people and they love you.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">I have learned that you are ticklish just about everywhere. You squeal and giggle when I touch your toes, tummy, thighs, armpits, and neck. It is a jolly and loud squeal with loads of giggles and squirming to follow. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">I have learned that you are incredibly physically strong and capable. From day 1 your neck never wobbled. You rolled over, both ways, by week 9. At 5 months you were crawling and by 7 months you could pull yourself up to standing. It took you just 2 months to complete ISR swim classes. You were able to fall in a pool, roll over and float, all unassisted by 10 months. And you took your first bunch of solo steps before you were even 11 months old. And today, today you have mastered walking. You can walk all the way across the room and turn around and walk back, full of confidence. You can bend over, mid walking, to pick up an object without falling over. You are able to push yourself up to standing, with no assistance and you can carry things around the room as you walk. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">I have learned that you are silly and have a great sense of humor. You will often hold objects out to Hartly and when he reaches for them, you pull your arm away and giggle in delight. You make funny noises with your mouth to entertain us and you love to play peekaboo. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">I have learned that you are very bright and a quick learner. As you lay asleep on this the eve of your first birthday, you already can sign 20 words:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Fan</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">all done</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">more</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">hurrah</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">hi/bye</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">bird</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">rain</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">water</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">food</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">bath</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">blow kisses</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">peekaboo</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">chandelier</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">happy</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">flower</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">airplane</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">doggy</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">tree</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">(your made up sign for) Tayo</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">please</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">You also have a handful of spoken words:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Dada</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Mumma</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">aqua</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Taye Taye</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">baby</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Hi (occasionally, as clear as day)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">I have learned that, so far, you are not very patient. It is not easy for you to wait and you scream (really loudly) when bites of food are not fed fast enough to you. We liken it to a pterodactyl. You do not like the carseat and you are not keen on the potty... yet. You knock food out of our hands (and all over the room) if it is not to your liking. You also pinch when Mommy or Papi is close by and not paying enough attention to you and you love to knock over your brother's towers and destroy his train tracks.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">You are a few hours shy of one year and you have already completely and totally invaded our hearts and souls and you live inside of us and are a part of every breath we take. Life without you in it and in my arms is unimaginable. I've loved you since before you were born and I will love you until my last breath. Happy Birthday my Itty Bitty Tayo Paco (and Papi's Taco). We love, love, love you! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>Rosebellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03767920671254903880noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1620900955251022107.post-12186735093271037132013-09-17T12:24:00.002-07:002013-09-17T12:24:20.088-07:00Favorite Resources for first 4 months (5/5 In First 4 months Series)<br />
<b><u><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: orange;">Favorite resources </span><span style="background-color: white;">(for first 4 months):</span></span></u></b><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: #f6b26b;">Milk Donor</span><span style="background-color: #f6b26b;"> Sites:</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span><b style="background-color: #e69138; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Eats on Feets:</b><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: #e69138;"> </span>(</span><a href="http://www.eatsonfeets.org/" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">http://www.eatsonfeets.org/</a><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">) </span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">and </span><br />
<span style="background-color: #e69138; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b>Human Milk for Human Babies</b>: </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">(</span><a href="http://hm4hb.net/" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">http://hm4hb.net/</a><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">) </span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: #f6b26b; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Baby Center:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">If you are not already signed up, sign up now: <span style="background-color: #e69138;">Baby Center</span> </span><a href="http://www.babycenter.com/">http://www.babycenter.com/</a><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> This is a fun resource that sends weekly emails that tell you about the growth of your baby while pregnant and then sends weekly, short, emails after baby is born discussing what sort of things/milestones baby is likely to be doing or will be doing soon. It is not my bible by any means but more a fun, keeping me in the loop as to what a typical 5 month and 3 week old baby is doing and gives fun hints and ideas for whatever age your baby is.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Once baby gets to be about 6 months or older, I have a lot of sites I follow for play ideas and activities and for good articles on raising children... But for the first 3 months, I only really used the above.</span><br />
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Rosebellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03767920671254903880noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1620900955251022107.post-30314388408550623232013-08-16T11:59:00.000-07:002013-09-17T12:24:46.445-07:00Best Baby Products for First 4 Months (4/5 in first 4 months series)<i style="color: magenta; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b>As always, these blogs are just about me and my family and what worked for us. I'm not so naive as to believe that everything we do is right or if you do differently than us, it is wrong. All families and children are different. I do not judge you or anyone else negatively if and when you choose different routes with your children.</b></i><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I highly recommend (Or, as Frank believes - it should be required issue at the hospital and everyone that we bug enough to watch it is either pissed they didn't watch it before the baby was born or pissed their doctor didn't require them to see it in the waiting room during one of the check ups, it is THAT good): <b><span style="color: blue;">The Happiest Baby on the block dvd</span>.</b> It sells on <a href="http://www.amazon.com/The-Happiest-Baby-Block-Crying/dp/B0006J021C/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1372258828&sr=8-1&keywords=happiest+baby+on+the+block+dvd" target="_blank">Amazon for $14</a> or I think netflix has it as well and instant download on Amazon. Watch it and then buy:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">1.) a bunch of<span style="color: blue;"><b> <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Summer-Infant-SwaddleMe-3-Pack-Sports/dp/B003JHYDIQ/ref=sr_1_1?s=baby-products&ie=UTF8&qid=1372258922&sr=1-1&keywords=swaddle" target="_blank">swaddles</a>.</b></span> Amazon sells packs of three or you can buy other brands or cutesy ones from etsy or any baby story. We happened to like the above brand.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;">me with Hart at a few weeks, Hartly with Taye at few weeks</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Hartly LOVED being swaddled. He was swaddled much of his first three months and even into the fourth before he outgrew his need. It would instantly calm him down. The snugger, the better. The swaddle was a lifesaver for us with Hart.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Tayo, from really the beginning, liked to be sprawled out. He was not a curl-in-a-ball newborn baby. He was not that into swaddles. The first month or two they were helpful occasionally but after 2 months we didn't use them on him anymore because they just weren't a comfort to him the way the were to Hart.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">2.) Bops, pacis, nuky... whatever you call a <b><span style="color: blue;">pacifier,</span></b> buy them. There are a million different brands. Babies tend to like the ones they are first exposed to. Hartly liked <span style="background-color: white;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Philips-AVENT-Soothie-Pacifier-Months/dp/B0045I6IAO/ref=sr_1_3?s=baby-products&ie=UTF8&qid=1372259085&sr=1-3&keywords=pacifier." target="_blank">Philips Avent BPA Free Soothie Pacifier</a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Tayo liked <a href="http://www.amazon.com/MAM-Original-Silicone-Pacifier-Months/dp/B00352M1RA/ref=sr_1_17?s=baby-products&ie=UTF8&qid=1372259203&sr=1-17&keywords=pacifier" target="_blank">Mam</a> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Buy a bunch. Babies like to suck. They need to suck.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: #ffd966;"><i><b>Caveat: </b></i></span> I have no problem with kids who want/like/need pacifiers for years. I would have been fine with both my boys having their bops until they were done with them... except at the point where the bop became more or a burden than a help... At four months with Hartly and at 5 months with Tayo we got rid of bops. Hartly got a stuffy nose with his first tooth arriving at 4 months and after a night of him waking every 30 minutes because his bop had come out, we got rid of them all. 24 hours later and he didn't need it at all anymore to sleep. At 5 months Tayo still has yet to have his first tooth pop but a few weeks ago Tayo started having fun pulling his bop out but would get very frustrated, very fast that he couldn't always find it's way back into his mouth or he would drop it in the process, which led to a long night of crying. Next morning, bops all gone. Again, it was a rough 24 hours but he now sleeps much better. Every child is different.***</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">*** Tayo was without his bop for almost two months and he was okay without it but... he's way more oral than Hartly ever was and we decided to bring it back for him. Every child is an individual and Tayo just seems to need to suck more and that is fine by us as long as it is more helpful than a hinderance. It has been a few weeks now and it really helps soothe him. He can sleep, and often does, without it. But sometimes he wants it and that is great too. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">3.) Download the "<b><span style="color: blue;">Sleep Machine Lite" app </span></b>now. The free version is all you need because it is the white noise that you will be using. With Hartly we tried different apps, the radio and tv white noise and even sound machines. Nothing worked its magic but the perfect frequency/pitch/whatever-it-is-about-it-it-works Sleep Machine White Noise. It is a Godsend for both Hart and Taye.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;">Frank with Hartly - notice bop and static in corner</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">4.) Baby Wearing!! Baby wearing is the BEST! I highly recommend it. At the beginning, little ones want to be (and if they can be, it is what is best for them) held all the time. Here is a well recognized expert discussing the whys - <a href="http://www.askdrsears.com/topics/fussy-baby/baby-wearing/benefits-babywearing" target="_blank">Dr. Sears</a>. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Beyond that, we just know it to be true from experience. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">With Hartly, we never used a stroller. In fact, recently, when Hartly was about 2 3/4 years old,<span style="color: cyan;"><b> he saw a child in a stroller when we were out and asked me what it was! </b></span>We wore him all the time. Not only does it help with snuggles and heartbeats and bonding but it also helps to be able to go anywhere and do anything with a baby that is getting physical and emotional love at the same time. This helps a lot when it comes to skipping naps or being off of schedule. It also helped a lot with Hartly (and will with Tayo in future too) when it came to traveling. They are used to falling asleep snuggled into you. It is amazing. I wore Hartly until about a month or two before Tayo was born. And I only stopped then because he didn't ask for it or need it anymore. I still would strap him in the piggy back position if we were traveling or if we had an extra long day. With Hartly we had family friends who bought us an <a href="http://store.ergobaby.com/" target="_blank">Ergo</a>. As I've mentioned, we love/loved it! I highly recommend them...</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; text-align: center;">When little feet get tired but there is more to see (in Spain)</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;">traveling in Puerto Rico </td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">...That being said, one "problem" with the Ergo was that, unless you have an insert (and Ergo does sell them, but they are thick and terrible for Summer born babies), newborns do not fit in them (Frank put a toilet paper roll at the bottom to prop him up). In addition, while there are many ways to wear a baby in them, there is no option for babywearing in front</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b> with baby facing out.</b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> Tons of hours of babywearing is good for your little one sleeping on you... but there will come a time when you want to wear baby and they are wide awake and they want to look out at the world, but they will still be too young to be in the backpack position...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">With Tayo, we solved these problems by purchasing a <a href="http://www.becobabycarrier.com/cat-13/gemini" target="_blank">Beco Gemini</a> (ie, WE LIKE IT BETTER!) </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> It has most of the awesomeness of the Ergo, but the added benefit of fits littlier ones and is made so that baby can face out while in front. The only downside we have found so far is that the clips are a little bit more annoying (with Ergo the waist clip can be taken off with one hand, with the Beco you have to have 2 hands, one for pushing a button in and the other for squeezing it open simultaneously, so if you had a 3rd hand you could hold the baby... not ideal, but you manage) </span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; text-align: center;">who wants a big stroller at the museum! Plus Tayo wants to see too!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; text-align: center;">My party guy!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; text-align: center;">Nothing feels better than your little one snuggled up to you</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cooking dinner, finalizing a closing AND baby wearing! That is one sexy Papi!</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Buy one of these or any of the other awesome carriers out on the market. People swear by the <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Lightly-Padded-Sling-Carrier-MEDIUM/dp/B002ITDA9Y" target="_blank">Sling</a> although, Frank and I could never quite figure ours out :/ Other people love, love, love the <a href="http://www.mobywrap.com/mw/babywearing-info.htm" target="_blank">Moby Wrap</a>. This was something we pondered for just a minute because it just seemed complicated and we are pretty lazy. But try different ones out because everyone has their own preference. (Frank: Don't buy the baby bjorn that has no waist strap, it will KILL your back, we see people with that and we can feel the pain... no wonder they end up in the stroller.)</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; text-align: center;">Even Hartly has a carrier like Papi</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b><u><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Favorite <span style="background-color: #6fa8dc;">products:</span></span></u></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">What we have loved with both boys:</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">We used and loved<span style="background-color: #6fa8dc;"><a href="http://www.gdiapers.com/" target="_blank"> GDiapers</a></span> with Hartly exclusively for the first three months. We loved them. We were very happy with them. Then we discovered a wet diaper was waking him up so we did GDiapers during the day and<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005TI84J2/ref=oh_details_o03_s00_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1" target="_blank"> Pampers 12 hour overnight</a> for bedtime. (Awesome!)</span></span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nLX0lIgkpgo/Uc4UOYSMtdI/AAAAAAAAfTI/BKTkzw383Zs/s600/IMAGE_B19B38EE-31EB-4565-B01A-D0138DCAD81A.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="156" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nLX0lIgkpgo/Uc4UOYSMtdI/AAAAAAAAfTI/BKTkzw383Zs/s200/IMAGE_B19B38EE-31EB-4565-B01A-D0138DCAD81A.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="200" /></a></div>
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In newborn GDiapers </div>
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sporting turquoise Gs</div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">With Tayo we have used GDiapers some but I find myself mainly using </span><span style="background-color: #6fa8dc; font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><a href="https://www.honest.com/" target="_blank">Honest Diapers</a> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">. They are plant based, biodegradable, hypoallergenic and completely organic! They are a comparable price to other diapers and easier than cloth. You can buy the</span>m in stores or online. They have fun and unique patterns and great customer service. We still use Pampers for 12 hour nightime.</span></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hartly's & my favorite pattern - strawberries</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tayo practicing crawling in his tough guy skull pattern </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hartly & Tayo in his honest ankor diapers</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Diaper Bags:</b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">For Frank, I got a <a href="http://www.diaperdude.com/" style="background-color: #3d85c6;" target="_blank">Diaper Dude Bag</a>. He loves it. It is the only one he has needed, wanted, or used with Hartly over the last three years and, now, with Tayo.</span></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">carrying his Diaper Dude bag AND his little dude</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I have a ton of Diaper bags, most of which are just oversized purses I love. My favorite is from <a href="http://www.skiphop.com/category/diaperbags.html" style="background-color: #3d85c6;" target="_blank">Skip Hop</a> because it doesn't look like a diaper bag and I use it even if I am not with my boys.</span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KifDX2_WEeA/Ug51jikrOWI/AAAAAAAAgmc/NIAGo8Ro3X0/s1600/IMAGE_257.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KifDX2_WEeA/Ug51jikrOWI/AAAAAAAAgmc/NIAGo8Ro3X0/s320/IMAGE_257.jpeg" width="243" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is what mine looks like</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b style="background-color: #9fc5e8;">Bottles:</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">We went through a lot of different bottles before finding the right one for us. We used/use,with Hartly and now with Tayo, <span style="background-color: #6fa8dc;"><a href="http://www.playtexbaby.com/Bottles/VentAire" target="_blank">Playtext Ventaire bottles</a></span>. They seem to (and, like I said, we went through a lot of trial and error with Hartly and even tried a few new ones with Tayo but always come back to this one) cause the least amount of bubbles and gas.</span></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ts8Tg7ivd5Q/UdTnTrbfS9I/AAAAAAAAfWU/DE1L0GjSzv8/s1600/IMAGE_5F158EAF-37AD-4ED5-8BF4-FB49B77FCD94.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ts8Tg7ivd5Q/UdTnTrbfS9I/AAAAAAAAfWU/DE1L0GjSzv8/s200/IMAGE_5F158EAF-37AD-4ED5-8BF4-FB49B77FCD94.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">After a feeding Tayo was playing with his bottle when he fell fast asleep </td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /><b style="background-color: #9fc5e8;">Bathtime:</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">With both boys we don't usually give them baths, but we take baths with them. Hartly didn't have a solo bath until he was two years old. Tayo has had a few with just Hartly (which is quite cute). </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BxTQSUr4_ew/UdTpb0hH52I/AAAAAAAAfXU/OfWtxd9pQAg/s900/IMAGE_F6EDB57C-FBD7-4732-9C09-6C5539B9FAD7.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BxTQSUr4_ew/UdTpb0hH52I/AAAAAAAAfXU/OfWtxd9pQAg/s200/IMAGE_F6EDB57C-FBD7-4732-9C09-6C5539B9FAD7.JPG" width="200" /></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">It's an awesome bonding time and, for both my boys, when sick, teething or fussy, a bath almost always does the trick. We use <span style="background-color: #3d85c6;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/California-Baby-Sensitive-Shampoo-Fragrance/dp/B0014CTZSG/ref=sr_1_6?s=hpc&ie=UTF8&qid=1372269972&sr=1-6&keywords=california+baby+shampoo+and+body+wash" target="_blank">California Baby</a></span> products, specifically the unscented shampoo and body wash</span>. All of their stuff is organic, green, safe, and not tested on animals. We love them!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b style="background-color: #6fa8dc;">Baby Monitor:</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b style="background-color: #6fa8dc;"><br /></b></span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">With Hartly we used: </span><span style="background-color: #3d85c6;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001NAAU10/ref=wms_ohs_product?ie=UTF8&psc=1" target="_blank">Summer Infant monitor </a></span></span>. It was okay but it broke a few times and the temperature indicator was never right and stressed me out...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">For Tayo we are using:<span style="background-color: #3d85c6;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B008P8EZOG/ref=wms_ohs_product?ie=UTF8&psc=1" target="_blank"> Levana</a>.</span><span style="background-color: white;"> It is much better.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I HIGHLY recommend a baby monitor!! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b style="background-color: #6fa8dc;">Carseat:</b><b style="background-color: white;"> </b><span style="background-color: white;">We have a few carseats but none that I would recommend. In fact,</span><span style="background-color: white;"> I am in the middle of doing some research myself for new carseats. I am all about backward facing. So much of the time, as parents, we are so excited by milestones. We wait anxiously until we can post about our baby giggling or rolling over or standing or crawling. This is all very understandable. Watching your child grow and change and develop is a total miracle. But... there are a few milestones that I completely ignore. One is the milestone when one is allowed to change their child from rear-facing to front facing. I (believe) it is legal at age one. Hartly is 3 years old and still backwards. Do the research. A child rear facing is WAY more protected in a collision than a forward facing one. It always kinda boggles my mind when parents tell me that they turned their child around because their baby didn't like looking backward. Ummm, Hartly probably would have loved facing forward at one </span>year but his safety far outweighs his preference in this instance. Like everything else, it is a personal choice.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The <span style="background-color: #3d85c6;"><b><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lLuJ5GrEP6U&feature=share" target="_blank">Foonf</a></b></span> looks amazing to me and I am very much considering buying, at least one.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jZGs-dUs_fs/Ug5xupR4wYI/AAAAAAAAgmE/klo3nXZSi5M/s1600/IMAGE_255.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jZGs-dUs_fs/Ug5xupR4wYI/AAAAAAAAgmE/klo3nXZSi5M/s320/IMAGE_255.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Some statistics that just confirm my confidence in keeping my boys backward longer</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: #6fa8dc;"><br /></span><b style="background-color: #6fa8dc;">Playmat/Activity gym:</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">You won't start using this until baby is around 10 weeks or so but they are awesome! There are a plethora of choices and price ranges. I believe we have a Tiny Love Brand. Hart used and loved it and now it is Tayo's favorite place (aside from in our arms) to be. It seems silly but they are so fun and so good. I recommend one with cross over top part and one with a mirror for baby to see himself (most come with but they are often small, babies love looking at themselves so we added one similar to this <span style="background-color: #3d85c6;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/See-Smile-Products-Inc-Monkey/dp/B000BOKAL4/ref=sr_1_fkmr0_1?s=baby-products&ie=UTF8&qid=1372271748&sr=1-1-fkmr0&keywords=baby+monkey+velcro+mirror" target="_blank">mirror </a></span>- which is meant for car but would work on playmat too) . </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dbO3BKco0pw/UdTo0e05EUI/AAAAAAAAfW8/CsgIGReWqSc/s1600/IMAGE_438C5BFA-9CDA-409F-8958-3AB8C63A3326.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dbO3BKco0pw/UdTo0e05EUI/AAAAAAAAfW8/CsgIGReWqSc/s200/IMAGE_438C5BFA-9CDA-409F-8958-3AB8C63A3326.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">even Hartly likes to play with Tayo in it</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-arufuboo3Zw/UdTo68tP7gI/AAAAAAAAfXE/fGTmxk2w0cI/s1600/IMAGE_BDAC4CB3-C0A0-4C4C-ADCC-FEF797E1991F.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-arufuboo3Zw/UdTo68tP7gI/AAAAAAAAfXE/fGTmxk2w0cI/s200/IMAGE_BDAC4CB3-C0A0-4C4C-ADCC-FEF797E1991F.JPG" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tayo loves this playmat!</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Here are a few options:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: #3d85c6;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Tiny-Love-Deluxe-Lights-Activity/dp/B000067K0L/ref=sr_1_20?s=baby-products&ie=UTF8&qid=1372271188&sr=1-20&keywords=floor+playmats" target="_blank">Tiny Love:</a></span> or this one </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Fisher-Price-Rainforest-Melodies-Lights-Deluxe/dp/B000FFL58Q/ref=sr_1_23?s=baby-products&ie=UTF8&qid=1372271188&sr=1-23&keywords=floor+playmats" style="background-color: #3d85c6;" target="_blank">Fisher Price</a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"> or this one </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: #3d85c6;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Baby-Einstein-Neptune-Ocean-Adventure/dp/B000TFGUC8/ref=sr_1_31?s=baby-products&ie=UTF8&qid=1372271231&sr=1-31&keywords=floor+playmats" target="_blank">Baby Einstein:</a></span> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b style="background-color: #6fa8dc;">Jimmy Jumper/Baby Jumpers:</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">This is another one that the baby will be closer to 3 months before you are able to use it, but has been awesome for us for the <a href="http://upliftingfamilies.com/tips-suggestions-overcome-witching-hour/" target="_blank">"witching hour"</a> (Time period, usually in evenings with babies a few weeks old until, for us because we have 12 hour sleepers which means sometimes they have to stay up a little later, around 8 months old, when baby is fussiest ) We have two (one for upstairs, and one for downstairs... they are that awesome). Both were hand-me-downs from siblings. I do not think the brand matters. I found this one online at <span style="background-color: #3d85c6;"><a href="http://www.walmart.com/ip/22135233?wmlspartner=wlpa&adid=22222222227000000000&wl0=&wl1=g&wl2=c&wl3=21486607510&wl4=&wl5=pla&wl6=19880599990&veh=sem" target="_blank">Walmart</a> </span>and it looks very similar to ours</span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Dh2SMFjR-xM/Uc4HPIxQrQI/AAAAAAAAfPM/P6CfT_lbwR0/s1600/IMAGE_B38EFEEA-561F-4651-BA20-BBFD10A3A8D4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Dh2SMFjR-xM/Uc4HPIxQrQI/AAAAAAAAfPM/P6CfT_lbwR0/s320/IMAGE_B38EFEEA-561F-4651-BA20-BBFD10A3A8D4.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">my boys<br />
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There are soooo many amazing and fun and expensive and geewiz products out there. The above are our top of the list!<br />
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</span> Rosebellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03767920671254903880noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1620900955251022107.post-87611894320333284072013-07-05T15:11:00.000-07:002013-09-17T12:25:18.159-07:00Controversial Things We Are Grateful We Did With Our Baby (3/5 in first 4 months series) <i style="color: magenta; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b>As always, these blogs are just about me and my family and what worked for us. I'm not so naive as to believe that everything we do is right or if you do differently than us, it is wrong. All families and children are different. I do not judge you or anyone else negatively if and when you choose different routes with your children.</b></i><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><u>Things I am so <span style="background-color: #6aa84f;">grateful I did</span>: (all controversial)</u></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: #93c47d;">Unmedicated/Natural Birth:</span> Both of my boys were born with no drugs in their system. Again, no judgment on the majority who choose or need drugs to get through labor. It just wasn't for me or (luckily) for Tayo's Birth Mother. And I am grateful that it worked out that way. If I were to get pregnant again, I would still choose no medication. We are stronger than we think we are. And it is amazing to be fully present for the birth of your child. Again, no judgment on those that choose differently. I am just happy this is how I decided to go.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: #93c47d;">Limit shots at birth</span>: Hartly was a homebirth so he had no shots. Tayo was a hospital birth and an adoption so, while he had no (which is standard in hospital births but we opted out) triple dye for umbilical cord, no hep B vaccine and no circumcision. He did, however, due to it being an adoption, have a vitamin K and eye ointment. Our feelings are, the less, the better. We happen to be very fortunate in that our Pediatrician is amazing and open minded and supportive. She lets us know when she feels very strongly, but is also a firm believer in less is more.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: #93c47d;">No circumcision</span>: We feel very strongly on this and know we are in the minority so, to keep it brief, we feel there is no medical reason for cutting off a piece of the body at birth. If more interested because you are debating the issue internally and trying to make an informed decision before baby is born, we would be more than happy to discuss it. You should also Google the topic, as some liken it to binding feet or other baby m... ok I will stop. (that last bit was written by Frank). Me again - Most importantly, do the research. This is your baby. Please don't just do stuff because it was done to you or because it is what has become routine or standard (or profitable) in hospitals and in the public. Just because certain things were done to us and we ended up "okay" does not, for Frank and me at least, mean that is good enough for our children. Once you are informed, if you find you disagree, by all means, do what feels right to you.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: #93c47d;">Co-sleeping</span>: Many nay sayers, but again, no arguments that we felt were sound enough to outweigh the benefits. If you are obese or smoke or get drunk, do not co-sleep with your baby. Otherwise, there is no reason not to and a million reasons to, in our opinion. Again, this is only if you want to. Certainly, do not do it if it does not sound appealing to you. We loved it. But, we also only did it the first 4 months. Then, for us, sleep outweighed the benefits of co-sleeping (but first three months you need to be up a number of times for feeding anyway, so it works). </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">With Hartly, for nightime sleeping, we did use a <a href="http://www.blogger.com/co-sleeper%20http://www.amazon.com/Mitata-Portable-Crib-Sleeper-Pomfitis/dp/B004FOM93S/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1373059795&sr=8-3&keywords=first+years+baby+co-sleeper" target="_blank">co-sleeper bumper</a> (not in one pictured, ours was much smaller but they do not make it anymore) for a few weeks. We quickly realized that we were not going to roll over on baby and took that away too. He slept right in between us and it was awesome. For us, we were not scared of hurting him. If you are scared, my guess is don't do it or use an attachment to make you feel better (like this <a href="http://thefirstyears.com/close-secure-sleeper-cream" target="_blank">co-sleeper</a> or the earlier one). To us, the co-sleepers got in the way of snuggling and the good parts of co-sleeping. With Tayo, we were not worried at all and from first night home he was in our arms in bed. Let me tell you (and I know Frank agrees), there is <i><b>nothing</b></i> like the feel of your sleeping baby fast asleep against you. It is pure <b><u>bliss</u></b>.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">And, while we moved our boys into their own room and crib at four months, now that Hartly is older, he will occasionally sleep with us and it is awesome. I will never say no to snuggles. He only asks every once and awhile and I think it is great bonding and wonderful. He especially wanted to the first few months with the arrival of Tayo. Most nights, initially, Frank would take one of the boys and I would take the other and then we would switch. Sometimes one of us would have both. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">With Hartly, Frank, Hart, and I all shared same bed. Now, with baby number two, we slept in separate rooms, the first few months, so that one parent could get a good, uninterupted sleep (remember with number two, harder to sleep when baby sleeps during the day so nightime sleep is very important - refer to: <a href="http://rosebellesblog.blogspot.com/2013/07/things-i-wish-i-had-done-differently.html" target="_blank">Things I wish I had done differently raising our babies (2/6 in first 4 months series)</a>) </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-o6tXvAIuukk/Uc4GOFbfb5I/AAAAAAAAfJo/9CQSXHTLbTI/s1600/IMAGE_482B2E07-5253-4EC2-989D-8AC47F12B598.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-o6tXvAIuukk/Uc4GOFbfb5I/AAAAAAAAfJo/9CQSXHTLbTI/s200/IMAGE_482B2E07-5253-4EC2-989D-8AC47F12B598.JPG" width="149" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; text-align: center;">Hartly pretending to sleep with Tayo </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ke3S9wJkk58/Uc4GTsW9d8I/AAAAAAAAfKE/LsNhXxRRFdo/s1600/IMAGE_E8F72D37-A87F-4268-A0B5-A9DA1277F0C0.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ke3S9wJkk58/Uc4GTsW9d8I/AAAAAAAAfKE/LsNhXxRRFdo/s200/IMAGE_E8F72D37-A87F-4268-A0B5-A9DA1277F0C0.JPG" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; text-align: center;">Papi & Taye</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JMmV0eRnST4/Uc4RsCzht6I/AAAAAAAAfSg/DN1uU8fyio8/s1600/IMAGE_A82A9A6F-95CC-401E-828A-E2AAE9E02D5F.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JMmV0eRnST4/Uc4RsCzht6I/AAAAAAAAfSg/DN1uU8fyio8/s200/IMAGE_A82A9A6F-95CC-401E-828A-E2AAE9E02D5F.JPG" width="149" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; text-align: center;">snuggles with Bitty (so fun!)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-09KUWHK-G9k/Uc4GVQtNLwI/AAAAAAAAfKM/JIrSbjjQru0/s1600/IMAGE_28ABA563-BF9C-489E-9A93-8C015F203A17.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-09KUWHK-G9k/Uc4GVQtNLwI/AAAAAAAAfKM/JIrSbjjQru0/s200/IMAGE_28ABA563-BF9C-489E-9A93-8C015F203A17.JPG" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; text-align: center;">co-sleeping with big one</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yw5AZTUu7AI/Uc4Ruds_5-I/AAAAAAAAfS4/UVF5CPplQJs/s856/IMAGE_97526574-8EBD-4539-B519-C6DE11965B4E.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yw5AZTUu7AI/Uc4Ruds_5-I/AAAAAAAAfS4/UVF5CPplQJs/s200/IMAGE_97526574-8EBD-4539-B519-C6DE11965B4E.JPG" width="149" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; text-align: center;">crashed out on Papi</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-H3iTQOUPkJs/Uc4Gu9AcN3I/AAAAAAAAfLc/qGol-hG8lDg/s1600/IMAGE_252B5FD7-8C0E-4467-A694-90F185FF0C5B.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-H3iTQOUPkJs/Uc4Gu9AcN3I/AAAAAAAAfLc/qGol-hG8lDg/s200/IMAGE_252B5FD7-8C0E-4467-A694-90F185FF0C5B.JPG" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; text-align: center;">Mommy and her biggest</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-eaq2419ZFoU/Uc4G0p7aBBI/AAAAAAAAfLw/m1uMBf5o11o/s1136/IMAGE_673272BE-3EF9-4879-9FF9-10CDAD69E271.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-eaq2419ZFoU/Uc4G0p7aBBI/AAAAAAAAfLw/m1uMBf5o11o/s200/IMAGE_673272BE-3EF9-4879-9FF9-10CDAD69E271.JPG" width="173" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; text-align: center;">Mommy and her bitty</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fLhsqNJhikQ/Uc4G435wjwI/AAAAAAAAfME/0LN6iTJkiS0/s1600/IMAGE_2004BDDC-6B7E-4585-B49F-63AD06965339.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fLhsqNJhikQ/Uc4G435wjwI/AAAAAAAAfME/0LN6iTJkiS0/s200/IMAGE_2004BDDC-6B7E-4585-B49F-63AD06965339.JPG" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; text-align: center;">good snuggles</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ebPcYqkf_h8/Udc91O2omuI/AAAAAAAAfYM/WsK6eKzuoas/s1600/IMAGE_827DC46E-9413-40DB-9A80-BDE066CD31E8.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ebPcYqkf_h8/Udc91O2omuI/AAAAAAAAfYM/WsK6eKzuoas/s400/IMAGE_827DC46E-9413-40DB-9A80-BDE066CD31E8.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A favorite memory captured on my cell - Hart & Tayo & I were all sleeping together when Tayo woke up crying (around 4AM). Hartly rolled over, put his arm around Tayo and, Literally, shushed Tayo back to sleep. He shushed and sweetly murmered, "It's okay baby. It's okay Tayo. ssshhhh... you're okay. Sssshhhhh Go to sleep baby. Sssshh". Tayo fell back asleep and Hartly rolled over and went back to sleep. It was unbelievably sweet.</td></tr>
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<tr><td><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OSk28WpjnzI/Uc4G-IlKPvI/AAAAAAAAfMk/210a7aKdKok/s1600/IMAGE_D747AD73-DE46-4E20-9342-0A6827E3CC46.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OSk28WpjnzI/Uc4G-IlKPvI/AAAAAAAAfMk/210a7aKdKok/s320/IMAGE_D747AD73-DE46-4E20-9342-0A6827E3CC46.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;">co-sleeping with both my boys</td></tr>
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<tr><td><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-U15GYqj8LZY/Uc4G_aPpiWI/AAAAAAAAfMs/qWUjjEepwdo/s1600/IMAGE_CEA7A8FA-170D-45A0-8643-08CD9832E617.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-U15GYqj8LZY/Uc4G_aPpiWI/AAAAAAAAfMs/qWUjjEepwdo/s200/IMAGE_CEA7A8FA-170D-45A0-8643-08CD9832E617.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;">hazards of co-sleeping </td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: #93c47d;">no schedule first three months:</span> First three months our boys slept when they needed to, ate when they needed to, were held when they needed to be... Then we, slowly, did a loose schedule to help with the functioning of the family and to help baby have some consistency in his life.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: #93c47d;">Rough Schedule after 3 months</span>: As strongly as we felt about no schedule for fourth trimester, I'm just as happy I did create a schedule, for both boys, after first three months. It was much easier with Hartly because, as a stay-at-home Mama, I had nowhere to be but with him most days. I could work around him. With Tayo, we have similar schedule that Hartly had but Tayo often has to have one of his naps while being worn, rather than in his crib in his room. I like having a strong foundation so that then I can decide where I can change it up and switch it around. It is easier, I find, as strange as it may sound, to be flexible and make exceptions if you have a routine to start. <span style="background-color: #38761d;"> <i><b>CAVEAT FOR SCHEDULE</b></i></span>: Frank and I heard, all too often, before we had babies that people couldn't come to parties because of nap schedules or that they couldn't go out because of babies bedtime... we decided we didn't want having a baby to mean that we had to miss all of the fun. So, when there is a birthday party or event that we want to be a part of, we go and baby's schedule gets shooken up a little. He misses nap or it's shorter or later than normal. He often sleeps on us and not in his crib. And we might pay for it that night with a wake up that doesn't usually happen or he wakes up a smidge earlier, but we decided that was worth it to us. We do, however, try not to have consecutive days in a row of exceptions when possible.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LWEZFNPhJ_A/UddAT6MdUjI/AAAAAAAAfYc/JmWyWpuOxoc/s1600/IMAGE_C537EF31-1511-405F-B09D-24FE5E40540A.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LWEZFNPhJ_A/UddAT6MdUjI/AAAAAAAAfYc/JmWyWpuOxoc/s320/IMAGE_C537EF31-1511-405F-B09D-24FE5E40540A.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Around 9pm on our pontoon boat. See Tayo rubbing eyes? He fell asleep on me minutes after this photo and then woke up 30 minutes later, on his own, to enjoy the fireworks.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Most recent example is The 4th of July. We live on the water. Our house is on a lake and we have a boat and our neighborhood does awesome fireworks that you can see perfectly from the middle of the lake... the start time is 9pm (meaning they usually start at 9:30) and go for a good 40 minutes... and then with back up of all boats clustered together, we get back to our house around 10:45pm. Is this, normally, too late for a 3 year old and 6 month old? Absolutely. Do we skip the fireworks out on the boat? Absolutely not! This was Hartly's 4th 4th of July. We went out when he was just 16 days old, 1 year old, 2 years old and this year as a 3 year old. He has always loved them. And this was Tayo's first year, and we couldn't have been happier. Tayo fell asleep on me (Beco Gemini) for lots of little cat naps. When he was awake, he was happy and social. When he got tired, he reached for me and I tucked him inside the carrier and he happily dozed. When the fireworks started, Tayo woke up and the look of awe on his face was priceless. He tracked them from ground to air and was completely amazed and spellbound and not frightened at all. About 30 minutes in, he got tired and I tucked him away again and he slept through the remaining 10-15 minutes worth. Today he woke up a half hour later (Hartly woke 2 hours later than normal) and, while a little tired, they have been happy most of the day. I will make sure that tonight and tomorrow are fairly chill and routine. Life. Is. Awesome.</span></div>
Rosebellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03767920671254903880noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1620900955251022107.post-64633510305874012242013-07-02T17:33:00.000-07:002013-09-17T12:25:29.087-07:00Things I Wish I Had Done Differently Raising Our Babies (2/5 in First 4 Months Series)<i style="color: magenta; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">As always, these blogs are just about me and my family and what worked for us. I'm not so naive as to believe that everything we do is right or if you do differently than us, it is wrong. All families and children are different. I do not judge you or anyone else negatively if and when you choose different routes with your children.</span></b></i><br />
<i><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: magenta; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span></b></i>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b><u><span style="font-size: large;">Things I wish we would have <span style="background-color: #cc0000;">done differently</span>:</span></u></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">With Hartly, I wish I would not have been so hard on myself. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I had a traumatic birth with him that left my body broken and depleted. I wish we would have known that was not normal and I would have gotten help sooner. I wish I would have taken care of myself the first few months, after his birth, resting and healing. Hopefully this will not be an issue for most people (although, with most birth mothers, it does take a minimum of 6 weeks to heal and start feeling normal again, so go easy on yourself). </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b style="color: red; font-style: italic;">Do not worry about fitting into your old jeans the first few months. </b>Need I say more. This should be obvious, but for many woman it is not. In many ways I feel like my injury was a blessing in discuss... err... that may be going too far. Let's just say I feel like I found the silver lining in my chronic pain. I worked out 8 times a week (easily) before I got pregnant with Hartly. I continued, at much more reasonable pace, much of my pregnancy. I was a workout junky. I was fully intending and planning on being right back in the gym/running/dancing/fighting weeks after birth. At one point I went to a chiropractor a few weeks post birth because I couldn't feel my left leg and was in constant pain. He told me the <i>dreaded news</i> that it would likely be 4-6 weeks before I was healed. I nearly had a panic attack at this!... <b><i>3 years later</i></b> and I have only just began jogging again a few weeks ago. And I still do physical therapy for my injury. At the time 4-6 weeks seemed like a life sentence. Little did I know. But I got to really<i><b> be </b></i>with Hartly. I couldn't go to Krav. I couldn't go for a run. It was, literally, impossible. So a lot of the time I know I would have spent back in the gym, attempting to recapture my strength and physique, was spent enjoying my sweet baby. And, as everyone has heard (but wait until you experience it), it goes <i>really, really fast</i>. Especially the first two years. Every day brings a new miracle/trick/milestone. You blink and you miss it. I am thankful for that part of it. That is not to say anything against a new Mama catching a break for themselves to go get their sweat on. I just know my personality and I think, in many ways it was good for me. Screw the jeans! Seriously. You just made a person!!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b><i><span style="color: red;">Sleep when baby sleeps</span></i></b> is great advice with the first one (does not work quite as well with second one). In retrospect, I wish I would have done that more with Hartly. I felt guilty sleeping so much. Now I know that is nuts. If you give birth, especially (but with adoptive parents too), it is exhausting (physically, emotionally and mentally) having this new tiny person enter your world.<i> SLEEP </i>whenever you can! And, (which we, thankfully, did do) sleep <i>with</i> baby (Some say co-sleeping is dangerous, Dr. Oz Co-slept with his kids. Do not co-sleep if you are overweight or have been drinking, or are a smoker, for obvious reasons. But more about co-sleeping in future blog...) </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-gxathHSvZJk/Uc4RtoCXBXI/AAAAAAAAfSw/To2_o41SQ7s/s874/IMAGE_D6AD9651-F2E1-4DA0-9F6F-0972A5DCDFA9.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-gxathHSvZJk/Uc4RtoCXBXI/AAAAAAAAfSw/To2_o41SQ7s/s200/IMAGE_D6AD9651-F2E1-4DA0-9F6F-0972A5DCDFA9.JPG" width="146" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; text-align: center;">Nothing better</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XKAFuqY_8jg/Uc4Rs6Mh2TI/AAAAAAAAfSo/1EwWd9EXtpw/s871/IMAGE_1D176E36-3DBC-4844-80CB-A685F76A6399.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XKAFuqY_8jg/Uc4Rs6Mh2TI/AAAAAAAAfSo/1EwWd9EXtpw/s200/IMAGE_1D176E36-3DBC-4844-80CB-A685F76A6399.JPG" width="146" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; text-align: center;">Papi and baby</td></tr>
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<tr><td><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-P2Dcb07xCkM/Uc4G77qNB7I/AAAAAAAAfMU/dzhKPbcK7Kc/s1600/IMAGE_68373F6A-EBB1-4D5A-BE67-2636A07AD5D4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-P2Dcb07xCkM/Uc4G77qNB7I/AAAAAAAAfMU/dzhKPbcK7Kc/s320/IMAGE_68373F6A-EBB1-4D5A-BE67-2636A07AD5D4.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;">Not impossible, but rare with second baby (unless you pass out from exhaustion)</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">A word about <b><i><span style="color: red;">Breastfeeding</span></i></b> - oh breastfeeding. Again, someone mentioned something to me before Hart's birth that I rolled my eyes at, but later clung to like a life raft. One of my kid's (at school when I was teaching) dad's warned me about the<b> breastfeeding Nazis</b>. I had done the research. I knew breast was best and by God, come fire, come hell, I was going to breastfeed my boy. I didn't want the fear of him getting cancer at age 35 because I hadn't breastfed him. We were going to bond and nursing was going to be amazing. And it can be and is for a lot of women... just as pregnancy and birth can and often is for most women, it was not to be so with me... I believe, now, this was due to the fact that I was so injured and hurt that I had nothing, physically and nutritiously left to give Hart after he was born... but I tried, tried, tried.... 5 lactation specialists, 2 breastfeeding centers, nipple guards, ointments, special baths and compresses, boxes of teas and tonics and food changes and even light laser therapy on my breasts, <b>Thrush </b>the whole time (google it), 3 different breast pumps and one case of<b> mastitis</b> (google it) later... I finally threw in the towel. And I cried and cried and felt like a major failure. If I knew then, what I know now. I would have tried for a week or two and then I would have contacted my local branches of donor moms: <a href="http://www.eatsonfeets.org/" target="_blank"><b style="background-color: #e06666;">Eats on Feets:</b> </a>and <span style="background-color: #e06666;"><a href="http://hm4hb.net/" target="_blank"><b>Human Milk for Human Babies</b>: </a></span> These groups are awesome resources. Tayo will be 6 months in two days and, except for his first two days of life when he was in the hospital and they required him to have formula, he has been 100% breastmilk fed all due to the awesomeness and generosity of amazing mother's who donate. If I had known about this when I had Hartly, I absolutely would have stopped much sooner and gotten donated breastmilk for him. If nursing works, that is awesome, but if it doesn't, do not feel bad and understand you can still give your baby the very best without beating yourself up.</span><br />
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<tr><td><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8tWBqfYKKoU/Uc4G8z89adI/AAAAAAAAfMc/kworpsKJbig/s900/IMAGE_4E831854-F349-48D1-9B14-DF1331984BE0.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8tWBqfYKKoU/Uc4G8z89adI/AAAAAAAAfMc/kworpsKJbig/s320/IMAGE_4E831854-F349-48D1-9B14-DF1331984BE0.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;">Walk in Memory of one of Tayo's Milk Sister who passed and her Mom pumped for us for 3 months!</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="color: red;"><b>Do not underestimate how much you mean to your baby</b></span> - your voice, your touch, your eye contact, your smell, your swaying, you songs and shushes... biological or not, you are what baby needs most.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: red;">Do what feels right to you!</span></b> For every decision you make on every single thing for your baby (products, breastfeeding, diapers, co-sleeping or not, circumcision or not, hospital or not, drugs or not, sleep schedule or no schedule...) there will be a group of people that feel the complete opposite... and strongly... with evidence of why what you are doing will ruin your child forever. Please, I implore you to strike a healthy balance. It is not good to be so closed minded that you are rigid, inflexible and will never change your mind on any choice. On the flip side, when you do make a decision, and you are happy and feel that it is working for you, family and baby, be okay with that decision and do not feel guilty or like a bad parent. I love listening to what others do and what works for them. I read a ton. I research a bunch. And then I take what works and feels authentic and good to me and I leave the rest. I don't always pick right the first time. And what worked for Hartly, doesn't always work for Tayo. And I have my guilt moments for sure. But they are much fewer and further apart this second time around because I know that I love my boys and do whatever I think is best for them.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">For Tayo specifically ... it is still early so I am sure hindsight will come later. I will say this though - although I am not sure how I would handle it differently the next go around, I'm hoping I will<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;"> be less on the attack</span></b>. Adoption is a very sensitive area and there is so much unknown and incorrectly presumed about it in the general public. Once Frank and I started versing ourself on the topic and going to seminars, reading books and speaking with Birth Parents, Adoptive parents and birth children with adoptive siblings and adoptive children... our eyes were forever changed. I am, through and through a Mama. And I was (and honestly speaking I am sure I still am and always will be to some extent) just so scared of people saying things that would hurt my children. I am not scared of mean, bad people saying stuff that is nasty... it is sweet, kind people using an unintentional phrase or asking an unintentionally emotionally harmful question that scares me. I am not, by nature, a confrontational person and I hate upsetting or hurting people's feelings or making them feel bad or uncomfortable (especially when I know that what was said was an innocent mistake). I just want so badly both of my boys to always know and feel 100% loved and protected. This is just impossible. But it doesn't change my desire to protect and shield them for as long as I can. I discuss this more in depth in another <a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=1620900955251022107#editor/target=post;postID=4234620083554303219;onPublishedMenu=allposts;onClosedMenu=allposts;postNum=9;src=postname" target="_blank">blog post titled Tayo</a>. And I have edited and re-edited this post many times. I still haven't gotten that perfect balance. I worry about being too lackadaisical and not defensive enough of my children and speaking their truth... or being too aggressive and offensive in my explanations and worries. Currently it is still too Mother-Bear strong. So, I would hope next time around (and in the future with Tayo), I am able to strike a better <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;"><b>balance</b>.</span></span>Rosebellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03767920671254903880noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1620900955251022107.post-60949909549260882762013-07-01T17:29:00.001-07:002013-09-17T12:25:40.434-07:00Top Things to Prepare for When You are Expecting (1/5 in First 4 Months Series)<span style="background-color: white; color: magenta; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i><b>As always, these blogs are just about me and my family and what worked for us. I'm not so naive as to believe that everything we do is right or if you do differently than us, it is wrong. All families and children are different. I do not judge you or anyone else negatively if and when you choose different routes with your children.</b></i></span><br />
<b><u><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></u></b><b><u><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Top things to <span style="background-color: cyan;">prepare for when you are expecting:</span></span></u></b><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Every pregnancy is different. Some people thrive pregnant, others, like myself, are not good at it at all. I was in pain the whole time. I wish I would have been blissed-out the way my mother describes how she felt all four times she was pregnant. I was not. I LOVED feeling Hartly move inside of me. Other than that, I just hurt. With Tayo, pregnancy was a lot smoother for me, lol. But, I did miss feeling him grow inside of me. Preparation, for obvious reasons, was different for both.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Regardless of whether you love being pregnant or not, there are certain things you can do for you and baby while pregnant. Things that felt right to me when I was pregnant may be viewed as extreme by others. As always, do what feels right to you. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b style="background-color: #999999;">Sleep</b></span>: You are growing a baby - sleep, sleep, sleep. Not because of what (I find annoying) people say about, 'sleep now because you won't for the next 5 years (totally untrue, after first 3 months, by the way - more on that in another post), but sleep because you are growing a whole person... from scratch. You need your rest. Do not feel bad about it. In fact, feel bad if you don't rest/sleep when you are tired. The best thing for you and baby is sleep and rest.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;">Miracle in progress - Both my boys in utero</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b><span style="background-color: #38761d; font-size: large;">Food</span></b>: For me, I cut out all caffeine, alcohol and non-natural sugars. I tried to eat well, but was not super restrictive beyond cutting out the above. I was also vegetarian (now vegan) at the time. I was seeing a nutritionist to make sure that all my levels were good and baby was getting what he needed. Moderation is key. Do not restrict but do not overindulge. It is not good for the baby and certainly will be something you regret later, after baby is born. True you are eating for two but one of the two is, for most of the pregnancy, under 4 lbs. You do not need that much extra food. I found I just ate more often, but not too much more total. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="background-color: #f9cb9c;">Extracurricular</span></b>: </span> I worked out the whole time I was pregnant. I would caution against starting anything new (unless it is just walking, which, honestly, is the healthiest thing one can do for anyway) but keep doing a modified version of what you were already doing when you got pregnant. For me I was in an intense martial arts Krav Maga program at the time. This is usually a partner sport with lots of physical impact and bruising is the norm. I chose to continue but I just did the same stuff with a punching bag, instead of a partner.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Krav Maga at 5 months pregnant</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: #cc0000;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">chemicals</span></b>:</span> Again, this was what made Frank and me comfortable but everyone is different. I did not step foot into a nail salon or get my hair colored while pregnant. I avoided people who were smoking and I went out of my way to not use chemicals or cleaning products. I also took no medications (even when I got sick a couple of times - I was a school teacher when pregnant with Hartly and exposed to little kids' germs daily) but chose home remedies instead. I avoided people who were sick and I washed my hands a lot.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b><span style="background-color: #ffe599; font-size: large;">Talking to baby</span></b>: Frank and I constantly touched and spoke to my belly. We told him we loved him and we couldn't wait until he was in our arms. And we continue to talk to our children. Please, I implore you, look in your babies' eyes and talk to them - from day one. They understand WAY more than people think and they learn the value of eye contact.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: #3d85c6;">Products</span>:</span></b> We knew that we wanted to co-sleep for the first few months. We really didn't buy too many products ahead of time. We had the nursery painted (when I wasn't home) and I had a glider, a crib, and a dresser... I will get into products a little later in more detail but I would remind you, at the start, baby really does not need much the first 3-4 months, except you. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b><span style="background-color: cyan; font-size: large;">Remember</span></b>: A baby will rock and shake and turn your world upside down. It is the most indescribable and incredible miracle and life changer ever. Will it be hard, absolutely. Will it be mind blowing awesome, even more so. Keep in mind that it is also what you make of it. Frank and I did not stop traveling, we just modified our travels. We did not stop going out. We did not stop sleeping. We did not stop being intimate. We did not stop seeing our friends. Find what is important to you and you can keep all of those things, albeit it a little modified.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: #ea9999;">Fears</span>:</span></b> I was (I don't think Frank was) a little scared that Frank's and my relationship would slip through the cracks. We know people's relationships who did after baby. I believe, we fell more in love after Hartly was born (and again now with Tayo). </span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;">3 loves of my life</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: #674ea7;">With adoption</span>:</span></b> Although Tayo didn't grow in my body, once we found out about him (probably long before as an idea, but specifically when we knew about him), he definitely grew in our hearts. We told Hartly about him and kept a sticker chart count down sheet. We talked about Tayo... We talked about Hartly and Tayo and what having a little baby would be like and discussed hypotheticals (what do you think a baby does? Can you play soccer with a baby? Can you pick him up? Who is going to take care of the baby?...ad naseaum). We named Tayo and we bought little things for him. I kept a journal, just like with Hartly. </span><br />
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Every person and pregnancy will be different. This was just a snapshot of ours...</div>
Rosebellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03767920671254903880noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1620900955251022107.post-29572857961914124062013-05-15T11:58:00.005-07:002013-05-15T11:59:25.346-07:00If I had one wish...<b id="docs-internal-guid-400229fb-a47c-db2b-62ec-ebc6716614d8" style="font-weight: normal;"></b><br />
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<b id="docs-internal-guid-400229fb-a47c-db2b-62ec-ebc6716614d8" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">If I had one wish it would be to be able to freeze moments in time and gently wrap them up to be opened and re-lived later in life. I find myself, often these days, catching my breathe and being overwhelmed with emotion for my boys. Hartly is a month and a half shy of turning 3 years old. Tayo just turned 4 months. I continue to grow more and more in love with Frank with each passing year and each new addition to our family. Life right now is so vibrant and delicious. </span></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Taye lays on his back on the ground with me leaning over him, inches </span></span><br />
<a name='more'></a><span style="font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">from his face. He kicks his legs and wiggles his body and grabs for my hair and squeals with delight when he is able to catch ahold of it and move it to and fro. Tayo’s laughter and giggles are like sunshine that has been trapped in a small tiny glass bottle... it burst through it, escaping with glee and delight. Even the sound of the glass bottle, breaking into a million little pieces makes a magical shattering music and it is impossible not to dance in the joy of his happiness. His personality is already peeking through his big and beautiful dark brown eyes. He furrows his brow and complain chatters when he is not pleased. He coos and talks and gurgles when he is content. He is so alert and loves watching his big brother. Tayo continues to love pressing up so high when he is on his belly... sometimes choosing to roll onto his back (first time this happened he was just 9 weeks old!), </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> often content just to look around. He is starting to not like the carseat so much. He pressing his chest against the “constraints” and fusses. It is clear, he wants to move around. He is starting to master holding his own bottle, if layed properly when it is placed in his hands. Although he has a gorgeous smile, he is not quick to flash it at strangers. It must be earned. Luckily with Mommy, Daddy, and Hartly (and a few close others), he does not hold back. He is a pretty good sleeper... although he often wakes halfway in his second nap of the day and will only go back to sleep if he is worn. Some nights he goes 12 hours straight. More often than not, he wakes once during the night and takes 5-35 minutes to get back to sleep. He is so beautiful. He is so alive and so himself and so precious and unique at just 4 months.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Hartly continues to have a steadfast hold on my heart. He is so much more than one could ever imagine from looking at his 3Ft, 3inch, 31 lb, almost 3 year old self. He is: joy, humour, sweetness, curiosity, thoughtfulness, independence, dependence, talent, stubborness, cuddliness, social, creative, silly, hopeful and loving. He overwhelms me with his thoughts about life and death and his curiosity about human anatomy. He loves people immensely and is incredibly loyal. He doesn’t understand why children don’t answer when he addresses them, though I try to explain that maybe they are not used to talking with other kids their age or do not have the same large vocabulary as he does. He is sad when children grab from him (although he, too, has been known to grab) and is trying really hard to love all colors, although dark blue and white are the two that always call his name. Hartly loves his brother above all others. If Tayo is on his playmat when Hartly walks into a room, Hartly takes whatever toy or activity he has over to do it right next to him. The two were in a bubble bath the other night and Hartly leaned his little face right down close to Taye’s and said, “Tayo, I love you my sweet, sweet darling”. </span></span><b id="docs-internal-guid-400229fb-a47c-db2b-62ec-ebc6716614d8" style="font-weight: normal;"></b></div>
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<b id="docs-internal-guid-400229fb-a47c-db2b-62ec-ebc6716614d8" style="font-weight: normal;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-400229fb-a47c-db2b-62ec-ebc6716614d8" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Hartly wants Taye to watch him and he rushes over to him if he is crying. He shushes or pats him and tells him, “It’s ok baby”. Hartly wants so badly to pick Tayo up. He has so much trouble resolving the fact that he can’t drag or carry him around wherever he goes. Hart wants to play with Taye. Hartly is working so hard at being gentle but he is a physical kid who loves to hug and dance and roughhouse. His energy has multiplied in the last few months and he is getting so strong. Today he swam 4 lengths (walking in between each length to start again in the deep end) of the 25 meter pool he sometimes goes to with David. (I will not insert that video here because it takes him a long time - below is Hart doing some freestyle) </span></span></b></b></div>
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<b style="font-weight: normal;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">He is in ballet and is really kinda good. He enjoys the steps, although he says they are very tricky. Frank has been taking him to the track for fun occasionally and little man loves running. Hartly loves Tumbling class and he loves Soccer. He is an active little man. He loves his Mama something fierce. For this I do not hide my delight. I know I will not always be first choice and I will cherish every moment that I am. He is my sidekick, my kindred spirit, my teacher. I learn patience everyday from him. I learn empathy and compassion when I watch him struggle with his inner conflicting and confusion and powerful emotions. I learn bliss when he wraps his arms around me, lays his sweet head into the crook of my neck and whispers, “I love you my sweet mother”. I learn that, no matter what I say or do or how I react, the word poop is hysterical to him. I learn what matters and what to let go of. I learn that moments are precious, precious, precious. He woke up from nap the other day and, I swear, he had lost some of his toddlerness during that hour we were apart... he woke up a little bit older and bigger than when I had kissed him goodnight hours before.</span></span></b></b></div>
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<b style="font-weight: normal;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span></b></b></b></div>
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<b style="font-weight: normal;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Hart: Mommy, does she live in a house?</span></span></b></b></b></div>
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<b style="font-weight: normal;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Me: I don't know Hart.</span></span></b></b></b></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="display: inline !important; line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Hart: Yes, she does. And she has wipes.</span></span></b></b></b></div>
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<b style="font-weight: normal;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Me: Wipes?</span></span></b></b></b></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="display: inline !important; line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Hart: Yeah. Wipes. You know. For wiping her butt.</span></span></b></b></b></div>
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<b style="font-weight: normal;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span></b></b></b></div>
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<b style="font-weight: normal;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">(wearing a Valentine's Shirt: Most elgible bachelor and asked me what that meant)</span></span></b></b></b></div>
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<b style="font-weight: normal;"></b><br />
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<b style="font-weight: normal;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Me: It's like, 'Hey ladies, I'm available'.</span></span></b></b></b></div>
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<b style="font-weight: normal;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Hart: (running down hallway shouting) Hey ladies, I'm a vegtable!!</span></span></b></b></b></div>
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<b style="font-weight: normal;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span></b></b></b></div>
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<b style="font-weight: normal;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Hart: "Mommy!! Why is water coming out of my eyes!?!"</span></span></b></b></b></div>
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<b style="font-weight: normal;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span></b></b></b></div>
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<b style="font-weight: normal;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Hart: "Look David, I'm bobbing. I'm bobbing in the water Mommy. I'm swimming just like Bob. Bobbing."</span></span></b></b></b></div>
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<b style="font-weight: normal;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span></b></b></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 17px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Hart: Did you bring my milk for me to drink at the restaurant Mommy?</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 17px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Me: No but you can just drink water.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 17px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Hart: Did you bring my water Mommy?</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 17px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Me: No but we can get some at the restaurant.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 17px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Hart: But do they have my kind of water Mommy?</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 17px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Me: What do you mean?</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 17px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Hart: Do they have Vegan water at the restaurant Mommy?</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">One late afternoon it was very quiet outside when all of a sudden it just started pouring down buckets of rain. Hart and I ran over to the window to look outside and watch in awe. Thirty seconds later, it stopped as abruptly as it had started. There was a moment of silence before Hart slowly swiveled his head in my direction with amazement in his eyes. He said, "Will you show that to me again Mommy?"</span></div>
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<br />
Every time Frank and I go out for a date night -<br />
Hartly: Oh please don't go - I'll eat you up - I love you so!<br />
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<b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I don’t want to stop the inevitable... I’m not sure I even want to <span style="font-size: 15px;">slow it down (some days are verrrrrry long). I just want to capture some of these moments. These days are what songs are written about. When my eyes lock with Tayo’s and it is deeper than a look. When Hartly reaches back for my hand, without a glance in my direction, knowing </span></span></span></b><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 15px;">my hand</span></span></span></span><b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 15px;"> will be there for him... I have to choke back sobs of gratitude and pure, authentic bliss. I had no idea, before my boys, that my whole body would vibrate with wholeness and be full to the brim, and beyond with glory. </span></span></span></b></div>
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<b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">When I was younger, and even still, I liked saving the best for last. I liked my parents to kiss all of my other siblings for bed first, and save me for last. I liked to be the very last person to get out of my country club pool on the last day of summer. I liked to be the last person that still had a spoonful of ice cream left in my bowl. When Frank and I go out for date night, I like him to kiss Hart goodnight before I do. I want to be the last one to kiss Hart as Frank, Tayo, and I walk out the door...</span></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /><span style="font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></span><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Before I close my eyes for the last time in this dimension, I want right now to be what I remember. I want to save the best, right now, for last. I want to capture these moments to re-live 70 years from now.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /><span style="font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></span><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The only saving grace is that I remember this time last year. I remember feeling very similar to right now. Hartly was just shy of two and I could’ve sworn there was nothing better in life. And there wasn’t... until there was. That was a perfect moment. But now is too. I have to believe that next year and future years will hold just as much music, color, laughter, love, truth, and delight. Part of me really believes that is impossible. How could it possibly get any better than right now. Part of me knows it is an absolute real possibility.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /><span style="font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></span><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Just in case, if I had one wish it would to be able to freeze moments in time and gently wrap them up to be opened and re-lived later in life... </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-u-4QWKznsvY/UTlGxEy0rUI/AAAAAAAAbaM/-oh1b79C5Lk/s1600/IMAGE_A0CB4C89-592B-483B-A02F-6C011F4F8CAF.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-u-4QWKznsvY/UTlGxEy0rUI/AAAAAAAAbaM/-oh1b79C5Lk/s400/IMAGE_A0CB4C89-592B-483B-A02F-6C011F4F8CAF.JPG" width="230" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Ballet class</b></td></tr>
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</span></span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lvoeZE-q2ME/UTlHB-WvmFI/AAAAAAAAbbk/Rj-2LOX4lWw/s1600/IMAGE_7BAC94F5-7B3A-4305-8FA2-D3ED9C6AB7E7.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lvoeZE-q2ME/UTlHB-WvmFI/AAAAAAAAbbk/Rj-2LOX4lWw/s320/IMAGE_7BAC94F5-7B3A-4305-8FA2-D3ED9C6AB7E7.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Sweet Tayo</b></td></tr>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-igkVo7ExfzQ/UTlHLnPqHOI/AAAAAAAAbcg/NGZcqF1BhIY/s1600/IMAGE_5BCDD9C6-CCC9-4AE9-9CE8-6A17AAC651FC.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-igkVo7ExfzQ/UTlHLnPqHOI/AAAAAAAAbcg/NGZcqF1BhIY/s200/IMAGE_5BCDD9C6-CCC9-4AE9-9CE8-6A17AAC651FC.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>made train together</b></td></tr>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-sP_aVou2vXY/UTlINchzJkI/AAAAAAAAbe8/bl20BipdQHQ/s1600/IMAGE_41E611DB-48A2-4216-9952-9FC516888767.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-sP_aVou2vXY/UTlINchzJkI/AAAAAAAAbe8/bl20BipdQHQ/s200/IMAGE_41E611DB-48A2-4216-9952-9FC516888767.JPG" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Papi fell asleep reading</b></td></tr>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-s4F9C0KW-80/UTow-qQclOI/AAAAAAAAbm8/naEcKyIf8Xw/s1600/IMAGE_F0880674-3F56-411D-834A-0AA36ED3E93C.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-s4F9C0KW-80/UTow-qQclOI/AAAAAAAAbm8/naEcKyIf8Xw/s200/IMAGE_F0880674-3F56-411D-834A-0AA36ED3E93C.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>my 3 sweet boys</b></td></tr>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fGBGN6fHhKc/UTlIc8k3SkI/AAAAAAAAbfk/vIxzDk98hLE/s1600/IMAGE_CE0C8A06-3C22-4039-B081-54A1EE512DC8.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fGBGN6fHhKc/UTlIc8k3SkI/AAAAAAAAbfk/vIxzDk98hLE/s200/IMAGE_CE0C8A06-3C22-4039-B081-54A1EE512DC8.JPG" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Miss Anna</b></td></tr>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wopHQZXQAR0/UTzfpuHpP9I/AAAAAAAAboM/J8wFXwKzanA/s1600/IMAGE_04348C7A-5DC2-4032-85EE-EC2B86849BF9.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wopHQZXQAR0/UTzfpuHpP9I/AAAAAAAAboM/J8wFXwKzanA/s200/IMAGE_04348C7A-5DC2-4032-85EE-EC2B86849BF9.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>My fairy pushing his brother</b></td></tr>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Mi0SWFDfpbo/UUDEv9Z4BXI/AAAAAAAAbw4/4ALSNzXfo6k/s1600/IMAGE_F9B151AD-B967-4D7F-B457-4DFEE9B0700F.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Mi0SWFDfpbo/UUDEv9Z4BXI/AAAAAAAAbw4/4ALSNzXfo6k/s200/IMAGE_F9B151AD-B967-4D7F-B457-4DFEE9B0700F.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>co-sleeping</b></td></tr>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZNFxYAiqWds/UUDEugkLuDI/AAAAAAAAbww/uq01Lf12ZKw/s1600/IMAGE_6747C5A7-7E40-41C3-8C02-D32E8ECCED77.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZNFxYAiqWds/UUDEugkLuDI/AAAAAAAAbww/uq01Lf12ZKw/s200/IMAGE_6747C5A7-7E40-41C3-8C02-D32E8ECCED77.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>my boys</b></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pz-ktKQ8fP8/UUDE6fUqpvI/AAAAAAAAbxQ/Y2IcZl5x6zM/s1600/IMAGE_E9D7E2C5-435D-41E4-AA26-E384147B9459.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pz-ktKQ8fP8/UUDE6fUqpvI/AAAAAAAAbxQ/Y2IcZl5x6zM/s320/IMAGE_E9D7E2C5-435D-41E4-AA26-E384147B9459.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Hartly shushed Tayo back to sleep</b></td></tr>
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<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8U-eYLzwmv4/UUp1RfL7yaI/AAAAAAAAb9w/8QaDQ8zpl2s/s1600/IMAGE_823E01F3-6311-4E9D-A96B-FE6BB93C0E5A.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="112" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8U-eYLzwmv4/UUp1RfL7yaI/AAAAAAAAb9w/8QaDQ8zpl2s/s200/IMAGE_823E01F3-6311-4E9D-A96B-FE6BB93C0E5A.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Nathaly Spanish teacher</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Q-fg_BAudCo/UV43XWZI8pI/AAAAAAAAcOE/Kr9hHbLr8HE/s1600/IMAGE_FB0661F1-E46B-4FB3-A4AF-443E0A7C922E.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Q-fg_BAudCo/UV43XWZI8pI/AAAAAAAAcOE/Kr9hHbLr8HE/s400/IMAGE_FB0661F1-E46B-4FB3-A4AF-443E0A7C922E.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Sweet Taye</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-QpvPEl2OWUM/UV45UnSqkAI/AAAAAAAAcYM/rVhcObHttJI/s1600/IMAGE_5F60140E-46B1-4158-B631-01F99E41172D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-QpvPEl2OWUM/UV45UnSqkAI/AAAAAAAAcYM/rVhcObHttJI/s400/IMAGE_5F60140E-46B1-4158-B631-01F99E41172D.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>playing together on playmat</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zAojIyU5DcU/UWtnF2o5VnI/AAAAAAAAcpA/UgtNxMSmcSQ/s1600/IMAGE_16A069BA-4AAB-4A03-AC64-5C66B8937438.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zAojIyU5DcU/UWtnF2o5VnI/AAAAAAAAcpA/UgtNxMSmcSQ/s200/IMAGE_16A069BA-4AAB-4A03-AC64-5C66B8937438.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Bitty on the bumbo</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5H2rR9NrqW4/UWtnUOT4nzI/AAAAAAAAcpw/4atPzCQO6_k/s1600/IMAGE_89160BC2-021B-48FB-A456-059572AA8B4C.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5H2rR9NrqW4/UWtnUOT4nzI/AAAAAAAAcpw/4atPzCQO6_k/s320/IMAGE_89160BC2-021B-48FB-A456-059572AA8B4C.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>attempting to carry his brother</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-aKEAnawCHFE/UWtoN5C_jcI/AAAAAAAActs/6hV4yM5ZldI/s1600/IMAGE_CF7D73F4-5EE5-4845-BB57-2F4D30E8FC06.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="397" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-aKEAnawCHFE/UWtoN5C_jcI/AAAAAAAActs/6hV4yM5ZldI/s400/IMAGE_CF7D73F4-5EE5-4845-BB57-2F4D30E8FC06.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>1st self portrait</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JshDIHn69S0/UWtpGX37KzI/AAAAAAAAcw0/e23srKN3kyE/s1600/IMAGE_43D25EC2-AC92-4BC6-A89B-478A5C0F3EFE.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JshDIHn69S0/UWtpGX37KzI/AAAAAAAAcw0/e23srKN3kyE/s320/IMAGE_43D25EC2-AC92-4BC6-A89B-478A5C0F3EFE.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Jinky and her boys</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-oA94AXth9G8/UXKbmvfeapI/AAAAAAAAc4g/CMJPkZ2V1xY/s1600/IMAGE_2C63A8FC-5F9D-44D3-8EB0-D7AA7D9D2421.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-oA94AXth9G8/UXKbmvfeapI/AAAAAAAAc4g/CMJPkZ2V1xY/s200/IMAGE_2C63A8FC-5F9D-44D3-8EB0-D7AA7D9D2421.JPG" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>soccer</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DbB2HCQcZiI/UXKb0nALQ2I/AAAAAAAAc5g/7nMYA5aniNg/s1600/IMAGE_2277BEC2-97C0-462F-AF28-1A450E7C1C49.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DbB2HCQcZiI/UXKb0nALQ2I/AAAAAAAAc5g/7nMYA5aniNg/s320/IMAGE_2277BEC2-97C0-462F-AF28-1A450E7C1C49.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>shake shake shake</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lFZIoJgqUMM/UXKbrqYETDI/AAAAAAAAc44/_WFz7011voE/s1600/IMAGE_AB86BB92-7024-4C08-8087-0A0C77B6CF8A.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lFZIoJgqUMM/UXKbrqYETDI/AAAAAAAAc44/_WFz7011voE/s200/IMAGE_AB86BB92-7024-4C08-8087-0A0C77B6CF8A.JPG" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>running</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Wi48UF5z8pQ/UXKcx7s3ySI/AAAAAAAAc8M/9Dzh5u2mZd0/s1600/IMAGE_4785A56D-B514-465C-AAAA-CEB08BCC9133.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Wi48UF5z8pQ/UXKcx7s3ySI/AAAAAAAAc8M/9Dzh5u2mZd0/s320/IMAGE_4785A56D-B514-465C-AAAA-CEB08BCC9133.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Hartly placing himself next to Taye</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Roqu5JglIGo/UXNEpKoUcrI/AAAAAAAAdGI/Wg2kqCAdNh4/s1600/IMAGE_AF91A8E0-AD8E-4D93-A4CA-D629E3F734E3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Roqu5JglIGo/UXNEpKoUcrI/AAAAAAAAdGI/Wg2kqCAdNh4/s200/IMAGE_AF91A8E0-AD8E-4D93-A4CA-D629E3F734E3.JPG" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Bitty babe in jumper</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bE-y4Tyg8A8/UX7DWPaQumI/AAAAAAAAdHk/Z_Wsw4ypB2U/s1600/IMAGE_032279FB-F7BF-4A21-A4CD-5F74637C9C70.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bE-y4Tyg8A8/UX7DWPaQumI/AAAAAAAAdHk/Z_Wsw4ypB2U/s320/IMAGE_032279FB-F7BF-4A21-A4CD-5F74637C9C70.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>David and swimming</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-27aKPcQtc3A/UX7DULuKENI/AAAAAAAAdHc/V76wHVHTnho/s1600/IMAGE_0D7A87D7-D625-41DA-A250-B0564AF11164.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-27aKPcQtc3A/UX7DULuKENI/AAAAAAAAdHc/V76wHVHTnho/s200/IMAGE_0D7A87D7-D625-41DA-A250-B0564AF11164.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Mama and boys</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dbfWea7k8Fs/UX7D7j_IizI/AAAAAAAAdJQ/cf6K14yeFM8/s1600/IMAGE_D7777618-69E0-491A-B944-3EAA7F79B772.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dbfWea7k8Fs/UX7D7j_IizI/AAAAAAAAdJQ/cf6K14yeFM8/s320/IMAGE_D7777618-69E0-491A-B944-3EAA7F79B772.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Sweet baby in Jinky's Jumper</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ArhXJRrymRE/UX7EFOQtxmI/AAAAAAAAdJo/xOAmkXdmKfs/s1600/IMAGE_89BC029B-8A3C-4264-926B-4693133E9F32.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ArhXJRrymRE/UX7EFOQtxmI/AAAAAAAAdJo/xOAmkXdmKfs/s320/IMAGE_89BC029B-8A3C-4264-926B-4693133E9F32.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>brothers</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NdGL88i8jLw/UTlG13o4bYI/AAAAAAAAbas/5LJgNJEwCNs/s1600/IMAGE_5189BA9B-AC78-46C2-B661-702655A7E77A.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NdGL88i8jLw/UTlG13o4bYI/AAAAAAAAbas/5LJgNJEwCNs/s200/IMAGE_5189BA9B-AC78-46C2-B661-702655A7E77A.JPG" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Lexi and Hart</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DEdXuZHiBM8/UYAWHT8k0XI/AAAAAAAAdO0/8Y9HZFUFiJk/s1600/IMAGE_F9BEA6B1-1668-4EB9-8BBE-FBE60B7C7F4A.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DEdXuZHiBM8/UYAWHT8k0XI/AAAAAAAAdO0/8Y9HZFUFiJk/s320/IMAGE_F9BEA6B1-1668-4EB9-8BBE-FBE60B7C7F4A.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Jumping in for 25m swim</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4Fso0CIPtUE/UZLtNHvZsJI/AAAAAAAAdjw/qox5JVmW3_U/s1600/IMAGE_6D5BC051-85ED-40CA-835E-8D987F8E94A3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4Fso0CIPtUE/UZLtNHvZsJI/AAAAAAAAdjw/qox5JVmW3_U/s400/IMAGE_6D5BC051-85ED-40CA-835E-8D987F8E94A3.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>bedtime at our house</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-g_UBDVBZ1vE/UZLtmYC0haI/AAAAAAAAdlI/6B52tCtM3w8/s1600/IMAGE_129CCB5D-25B4-47DA-9B82-721CF4810148.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-g_UBDVBZ1vE/UZLtmYC0haI/AAAAAAAAdlI/6B52tCtM3w8/s200/IMAGE_129CCB5D-25B4-47DA-9B82-721CF4810148.JPG" width="144" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Tayo with his Milk Sister (Eleanor) Mom</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fGsKd0k9Jnc/UZLtxfruguI/AAAAAAAAdl4/UKJyAEooXAM/s1600/IMAGE_8FD296E8-B1F6-43D5-BF8B-A3A456D017DC.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fGsKd0k9Jnc/UZLtxfruguI/AAAAAAAAdl4/UKJyAEooXAM/s320/IMAGE_8FD296E8-B1F6-43D5-BF8B-A3A456D017DC.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>March for Babies in Eleanor's Memory</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-n-Mcxx6lo1Q/UZLtzlqAcNI/AAAAAAAAdmA/9S_8gvv8ABU/s1600/IMAGE_D2EB08BA-4D31-4148-8846-6D7F166674D1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-n-Mcxx6lo1Q/UZLtzlqAcNI/AAAAAAAAdmA/9S_8gvv8ABU/s400/IMAGE_D2EB08BA-4D31-4148-8846-6D7F166674D1.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>4 months!</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ctdx9OIOKtU/UZLuftiXTeI/AAAAAAAAdoQ/T0xO3CWscbs/s1600/IMAGE_442CD575-626A-4E65-92BE-3B7809A0431A.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ctdx9OIOKtU/UZLuftiXTeI/AAAAAAAAdoQ/T0xO3CWscbs/s200/IMAGE_442CD575-626A-4E65-92BE-3B7809A0431A.JPG" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Tumbling Class</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HL6LxdzcKEI/UZL7oorXaFI/AAAAAAAAdpo/r37V4-QYIPg/s1600/IMAGE_978CD7A6-9BBB-4683-84DE-FFBF8B82667F.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HL6LxdzcKEI/UZL7oorXaFI/AAAAAAAAdpo/r37V4-QYIPg/s400/IMAGE_978CD7A6-9BBB-4683-84DE-FFBF8B82667F.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Cashier</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-R4tw7zYfxt0/UZL78-DJdPI/AAAAAAAAdqY/EVCriWq_UYI/s1600/IMAGE_04D120E4-2B9E-4CB0-9F12-99ADB3414484.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-R4tw7zYfxt0/UZL78-DJdPI/AAAAAAAAdqY/EVCriWq_UYI/s200/IMAGE_04D120E4-2B9E-4CB0-9F12-99ADB3414484.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>glow in dark bath</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BbQlK7NHYm4/UZL8qiHNTyI/AAAAAAAAds4/aJjxUE8x20c/s1600/IMAGE_3F910A02-8D47-4B51-B570-0EE90DA6191A.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BbQlK7NHYm4/UZL8qiHNTyI/AAAAAAAAds4/aJjxUE8x20c/s400/IMAGE_3F910A02-8D47-4B51-B570-0EE90DA6191A.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>snuggling in sleep</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>holding his own bottle</b></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Hart and his fascination with mannequins </b></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Naptime on Papi</b></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Your Move (Chess with Papi)</b></td></tr>
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Rosebellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03767920671254903880noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1620900955251022107.post-44752539044060777142013-04-15T11:31:00.001-07:002013-04-25T19:31:38.504-07:00Power Struggles Be Gone...<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">A comment I hear quite often is, <u><b>"You are so lucky that your child is so well behaved"</b></u>. It's gotten me thinking a lot lately. I've also had a number of moms ask me what my "trick" is...</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #222222;">A. </span><u><span style="color: blue;">he isn't always</span></u><span style="color: #222222;"> but, more importantly,</span></span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #222222;">B. It has </span><u><span style="color: blue;">nothing to do with luck (or tricks)</span></u><span style="color: #222222;"> when he is.</span></span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">And, maybe even more important than the more importantly is,</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">C. What does that even mean? What does it mean to be considered well behaved? (I feel like that is a whole other Blog in and of itself)</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222;" /><br /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">As a disclaimer: <i><b>I hold no judgment on other parents and their methods.</b></i> What works for one family may not fit right with another family. All my siblings have different parenting styles. My friends have their own strategies. I do not think ill of any of them. I just know what works for me and my family.</span><br /><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: cyan; color: #222222;">Hartly and I both work really hard at our relationship and in </span></span><br />
<a name='more'></a><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: cyan; color: #222222;">navigating through this crazy world of childhood together.</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"> Every-time, since infant-hood, that we get into an awesome groove and we match each other's beats, things shift and change and we have to start from square one all over again. It's not easy but it's so worth it and nothing is more important to me.</span><br /><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #222222;">I work super hard at repeatedly reminding myself to loosen and, ultimately, to drop the "reigns" on Hart. I've learned, through much trial and error with Hartly, that </span><i><b><span style="color: red;">the tighter I hold on, the more he fights back and resists</span></b></i><span style="color: #222222;">. It creates an unnecessary power struggle. I've learned that </span></span><span style="background-color: orange; color: #222222;">counting, timeouts, threats, rewards, punishments and yelling just does not work for us. I've learned that even if and when they have, which was very rare, it was for all the wrong reasons.</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"> Do I let him just do whatever he wants? Does he make up all of the rules? Are there no consequences for his behavior? Is he a little tyrant? Is he spoiled? No. No. No. No. No. In fact, as I said, he is often extremely kind and polite and, well... well behaved.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">I've also learned that </span><span style="background-color: orange; color: #222222;">he</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"> </span><span style="color: red;"><span style="background-color: white;"><b><u>(even though it may feel like it at times)</u></b></span><span style="background-color: white;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: orange; color: #222222;">does not "misbehave" to annoy me or to be "bad". There's always a reason.</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"> It's my job/pleasure/work to figure out why and to solve that issue in order to change the behavior. Often times he's overtired or hungry or he's sad and once those human needs are met, the "bad" behavior resolves itself. Oftentimes he just, simply, does not understand or his impulses are stronger than his thoughts.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">No matter the reason, ultimately, </span><span style="background-color: cyan; color: #222222;">I want a child that thinks for himself and makes good and healthy and safe and loving choices because it's the good, healthy, safe and loving choice to make - not for fear of repercussions from me or in order to 'get' something from me</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">. I want him to make these choices whether I am in the vicinity or not. I'm looking for long term, not short term. This takes a ton of patience and work. It's not easy but, to me, it's more authentic and feels better in my skin than any of the alternatives. So, what do we do? </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: lime; color: #222222;"><b><u>We talk about everything:</u></b></span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">and its not just that I'm so lucky my child is so verbal.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">A. I know I am lucky he's so verbal and</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">B. whether he was verbal or not, I would still talk and explain as much to him as I do now. I already talk to my 3 month old a ton, all the time explaining what we are doing and why and verbalizing what's taking place around him and chatting about how he's feeling and how others around him are feeling and he, certainly, is not verbal. The point is, this process starts long before the child is speaking full sentences. This starts from day 1.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222;" /><span style="color: #222222;"><b><u style="background-color: lime;">We also role play constantly</u></b><span style="background-color: white;"> - here is a recent example:</span></span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">me: what if somebody grabs a toy right out of your hands? What are the different things that you can you do and what different results will you get with these different choices you make?</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Him: "I could scream"</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">me: yes, that is a choice you could make. i wonder how the other person would feel if you reacted this way?</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Him : They would probably be upset and maybe they would yell back.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Me: yes. Usually when someone yells at us, our first reaction is being defensive and yelling back. Why do you think they grabbed the toy in the first place? Do you think because they are mean or bad?</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Him: No Mommy. Probably because they just wanted it.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Me: I think you are right. And if they are not bring mean, thats even more if a reason not to scream at them. What do you think another thing you could do besides scream?</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Him: Grab it back.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Me: What do you think would happen if you did that?</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Him: I might hurt them or they might hurt me.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Me: Do you think grabbing it back is a good idea or a bad idea?</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Him: bad idea.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Me: Is there anything else you could do?</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Him: I don't know Mommy. Do you know?</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Me: I have an idea.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Him: Can you tell me?</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Me: Well, I think people grab because they are so excited that sometimes their bodies act before their brains think it through so maybe you could try saying something like, "don't grab. Give that back to me. I was holding that"...</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Him: I could say please too Mommy. Me: Yes you could if you wanted to. What if they still don't give it back?</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Him: I could tell you Mommy.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Me: Yes. It is perfectly fine to tell a grown up if a child grabs from you and then doesn't listen when you ask them to give it back.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Him: Or Mommy, if it was a little baby and I didn't care much, I could just let them keep it</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Me: Yes. That's a choice you could make too because you'd understand they were very little and just didn't know yet...</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222;" /><b><i><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: blue;">Rinse, wash, repeat.... And repeat... And repeat...</span></span></i></b><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">In the heat of the moment I have learned not to start having a huge intellectual and philosophical discussion with him. If, for instance, a child grabbed a toy from Hart's hand and Hart's reaction was to scream in the child's face or tried to grab the toy back, my first reaction would be to separate him from the child. I'd make eye contact with Hart and I'd reflect his emotion, "you are so upset that the child grabbed from you! That you was in your hand and he encroached in your body and space and took it from you. That feels terrible!!"... I empathize with him first. It's not me against him. That just creates a power struggle. (Plus, when he is overly emotional, he can't hear. understand or process anything I say. I need him first to calm down) "You got so upset that he grabbed from you, so you grabbed your toy back. But, even if a child grabs from us, we never grab. What can we do instead?" He often says, ask for it so I tell him to go ask for it. </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222;" /><b><span style="color: blue;"><span style="background-color: white;">Are there days it feels like I wanna pull my hair out? That I feel like a terrible Mom because he's had a meltdown when he didn't get the color blue or he's tried to pick up his baby brother for the 5th time in a row when I've told him not to or when he has been the one grabbing or when all he wants to do is talk about buying poop!!</span><br style="background-color: white;" /><br style="background-color: white;" /><span style="background-color: white;">Yes.</span></span></b><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">But when he offers a toy to another child ( which he does all the time and repeatedly without any prompting from me), when he chooses to ask for a child to return a toy that they grabbed (and its crazy how often they actually do when he addresses them kindly and respectfully), when he kisses his baby brother for the 8 millionth time that day and whispers, " ohh baby brother, I love you so, so, so, so much" with absolutely no encouragement or even feedback from me but just because his heart drives him to do it... he's doing all of this because it makes him feel good. He's doing it because he wants to. He's not doing it because he's scared of consequences or because he's going to get a reward if he's nice... This is what I care about.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: cyan; color: #222222;"><b><i><u>Long term versus short term.</u></i></b></span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">When I was a teacher I found an experiment I did occasionally very interesting. I would sometimes leave the room for a minute to go down the hall to get something and I would give certain instructions to the children. I would then, unbeknownst to the kids, turn on my phone video camera and leave. I would watch it later and it always fascinated me which kids were doing what. Many of the children, who were very used to punishment and reward systems, would totally disregard what I said as soon as I stepped foot out the door. These were the same kids who worked so hard to get rewards or worked so hard to avoid punishment when I was in the room. But, as soon as those elements(the adult who punishes/rewards them) was not there, there was no internal force driving them to make good choices. </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222;" /><b style="color: #222222;"><u style="background-color: cyan;">I, ultimately, want Hartly to not run into the street because he recognizes the very real dangers and not because he gets a time out for not holding my hand around the street.</u></b><span style="background-color: white;"><b><u><i><span style="color: blue;"> This way, I know, if I'm not there, he will be safe around a street.</span></i></u></b><span style="color: #222222;"> I want him to be kind to other people and children, not for a verbal praise from me but because that's how one feels good about themselves and makes friends and has good relations. That way I'm comfortable when he is left alone with friends.</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: cyan;">None of this is easy. But it is so awesome</span>. My heart almost bursts with love and pride when I see him being polite and I witness him being kind and making eye contact and when I watch him struggle over decisions and make the "right" (safe, kind) choice. I know he is doing it because he made an internal decision that felt right to him (all the role playing and talking does stick eventually). But, just like when he learned to roll over and walk and feed himself and become diaper-free - it is not a skill learned overnight. <b style="color: blue;">It is a process. </b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Another cool thing is that Hartly and I do not have power struggles. We disagree sometimes. Hartly will sometimes get mad or sad at choices I have made. But he knows he is free, and encouraged, to voice his feelings, frustrations and emotions. It will not change certain outcomes but I will always listen to him and explain, as best I can, why a certain choice has been made. He trusts me because of our very open communication, so <span style="background-color: cyan;"><b>we do not have power struggles</b></span>. It's pretty awesome.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">In regard to his finding poop hysterical... ah well, the thought of buying poop kinda is funny. </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">And thank you. I am lucky and he is a really awesome and nice kid. But I happen to think all kids are.</span></span>Rosebellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03767920671254903880noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1620900955251022107.post-42346200835543032192013-03-11T13:35:00.001-07:002013-07-23T12:02:00.898-07:00Tayo<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Before I even begin, If you read only one paragraph of this blog, read this one. We strongly believe that children understand far more than we give them credit for. All too often I hear very grown up conversations in the presence of tiny ears. I know with Hartly, whether he appears to be paying attention or not, he hears everything. Oftentimes days after a conversation with another adult he will inquire about something that was said. So... Please<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><i><span style="background-color: white;"> do not ask any of these questions in front of Tayo or Hartly.</span></i></span></span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> There is nothing wrong with the word adoption. It is not a bad word or a secret. I just do not need it to be the first word Tayo learns. I do not need my 3 year old to overhear things that are inappropriate for him to hear. Hartly knows Tayo grew in somebody else's body. Tayo will know he is adopted. We just don't need grown up conversations going on in front of them. And, while Tayo was adopted, I do not want that to solely define him.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">If you are a perspective Adoptive parent, there is no question that is off limits. I only ask that none be asked in front of the boys. I am happy to answer detail-oriented questions as well as emotional questions. I'd love to help in any way I can.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Also understand please that I am a Mommy above all else. I am extremely passionate about my children and family is number one. I may come off as sounding harsh in this blog but it is more my passion and my protective nature that is oozing out. I hope I am not too off-putting. I am just trying to be honest with no sugar coating. So, let's begin... :)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">I <i><b>want</b></i> people to FIRST comment on Tayo's smile or notice how it's incredible that when he hears Hartly's voice, even at 2 months, he starts looking for his big brother. I want people to comment on my baby carrier or ask if he is a good eater. I want people to comment on how amazing his head control is (little man is wicked strong - at 9 weeks old he is already rolling over!) I want people to know, automatically, with the first glance that<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: blue;"><b> we are, absolutely and completely, a family. </b></span></span> But...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Obviously when you look at our family these days, we do look a little different than most families.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">March 2013 (Hartly 2 1/2 years old Tayo 2 months)</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">I believe that 99.9% </span><br />
<a name='more'></a><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">(or more) of inquiries are said out of fascination and curiosity and none of the askers are meaning to offend and that people do not understand that some wordings of questions can sting. I am quite sure that the old me, the me before I went to pre-adoption classes and seminars, probably asked similar questions to others, and I know I have nothing but love in my heart. I also feel honored and happy to educate people on adoption and I do love that people are interested in my son. Sooo... Here it goes. I will attempt to answer the best I can questions that we have gotten the most since we started our journey to find our son.</span><br />
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<b><u><span style="background-color: cyan; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">MOST FREQUENT MISCONCEPTION:</span></u></b><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Let us start with a common phrase (or variation) that we got often when we were in the process of adopting and all the time now -</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i style="background-color: yellow;">"<b>Good for you guys! He is so lucky to have you all. That's an incredible thing you all are doing..."</b></i> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">The public has a <i><span style="font-size: large;">huge</span></i> misconception of adoption. Many people view adopted children as 'poor things' and the adoptive parents as 'saviors'. I am here to tell you that couldn't be further from the truth. In fact, it can be very dangerous to view adoption this way. Adoption is not a charity. Anyone who adopts because they think they are 'saving the world' is actually doing damage to their child.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Let me explain a few things:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: orange;"><b>There are <i><u>way more</u></i> people that want to adopt than there are <i><u>newborns</u></i> being placed for adoption. Everyone wants newborns.</b></span></span> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">There is never (rarely and would be highly special circumstances) a newborn that doesn't find a forever home. We are not saints. In fact, far from it. By being blessed with Tayo, another individual or couple that is waiting to adopt was pushed aside by us. Do not put a gold star on our chest. If anything, we are selfish.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Regarding race/gender/etc -<span style="color: orange;"><b> The majority of people who are wanting to adopt are Caucasian. The majority of babies that are being placed are mixed races or African American</b></span> (one reason is because white woman are more likely to get abortions over other races). Most people, at least initially, that want to adopt want the baby that they adopt to look like them - ie same race. You do the math.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">As I mentioned below, my vision has always been a household full of different race babies. But, again, this worked well for the selfish nature of us because of the statement above. We had less competition, which was fine by us.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">There is a<span style="color: orange;"><b> list </b></span>- ugh! A dreadful list that perspective adoptive parents must fill out at the beginning of the adoptive process. On the left hand side is a bunch of things such as - African American, Hispanic, pregnancy as a result of rape, Alcohol use during first trimester, physical deformities (cleft palate, missing limb), mental (Down Syndrome, Learning Delays).... and on the right hand side you, as a family, decide what you will check - Yes, No, or Maybe for each thing on the left hand side. This was my least favorite thing that we had to do. It felt terrible to say no to anything. This DID feel like going to a store and pointing to different babies and saying whether we wanted them or not. It made me sick to my stomach. IF we were completely selfless we would have not even read what the left hand column said. We would have just said yes to everything...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Frank always says, if we were completely selfless and saving the world we would have adopted an 11 year old blind child with one arm that has learning difficulties. These are the children that really need to be adopted.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">But, even if you do adopt a child that is 11 years old and blind with one arm and learning difficulties - that child, too, is a blessing and must not be viewed as damage goods to be saved. That is not only dangerous, it is just wrong. We learned early on in our seminars on adoption that (this is true for Hartly and non-adopted children as well) <b><i><span style="color: orange; font-size: large;">no child should feel like they owe their parents or that they were a good deed for the day.</span></i></b> A parent/child relationship at its best should be completely mutual in its benefits. It is a give/take and, if anything, we, as the parents, owe more to our children at the end of the day than they do to us. Tayo and Hartly owe me and Frank nothing. We hope that they will return our love and value the things that we do but we do not parent in order for this to occur.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><u style="background-color: cyan;">MOST FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:</u></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">* please note the quotation marks because they are directly out of other people's mouths, not ours</span><br />
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<b style="background-color: yellow;"><u><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">- "Why did you adopt?" </span></u></b><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">I personally do not mind this question at all (there is a <i>caveat</i> at the end of this). I am happy to tell my story. Since I was 10 years old I have envisioned a house full of children that didn't look like me, but that were my babies. I always have known that there would be children grown in another woman's body that was destined to live in my heart and my home.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">I raised this with Frank within the first or second date because this would have been a deal breaker for me. That is how strongly I felt. Luckily Frank was on board right away. He did not care about our children's DNA at all.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Our tentative 'plan' was to first try and conceive (just seemed smart because of age - not that we are old but younger equals higher success rate) and then to adopt. We had thought we would try and have 2 and then we would adopt 2. We got pregnant very easily. I now know, I have a lot of skeletal and core structure problems that I have always compensated for so I never knew I had them. Pregnancy was hard and painful for me almost the whole entire time. Birth was even harder. I wouldn't change a thing but I have no desire to do it all again. Especially since DNA was never that big of a deal with us to start. So, when Hartly was 6 months old we started discussing our options (that is a whole other blog - the world of adoption is a huge and complicated one) regarding adoption.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><i><u>Here is my caveat</u></i></b> - a LOT (the majority) of people who adopt, adopt because they have had difficulty conceiving. Many couples have fertility issues or health issues and have often spent a lot of time, money and heartache trying to make a baby. This is a HIGHLY sensitive area. People can feel like they are broken or wonder why. There is so much sadness, guilt, grief and emptiness associated with it (all descriptions from couples I have come across in these types of situations). So this can be a <span style="font-size: large;"><i><u>very</u></i></span> intrusive and painful question. I would <i>highly</i> recommend that you <i>never</i> ask someone why they adopted without having any background information. Instead, wait to see if it is offered to you. If you are close to the couple, they may choose to let you in. But that should be their decision.</span><br />
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<b><u style="background-color: yellow;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">- "Where did you get him?"</span></u></b><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">(Deep breath) So, a lot of questions are offensive because of the wording alone. This seems innocent enough but for most parents of adopted children this sends a chill up our spine. I did not go to the store and point to up high on a shelf and say, 'oohhh.... that one looks pretty. I will take him'. It is kind of like when people are curious about what race a person is they will say, "what are you?". I have many friends for whom this is a common occurance and one that hurts their feelings.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">I implore you to instead, if you must ask, inquire, "Was it a domestic adoption or International?" From there you can ask what country or state the child was born in or what his ethnic background is.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Tayo was born Domestically. His place of birth is Louisiana.</span><br />
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<b><u style="background-color: yellow;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">- "Why did his mother give him up?" "Was his mother young?" "What's her story?" "What's his story?"</span></u></b><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i><u>First</u></i></span> of all, times are changing with word choice. I hate to get all PC but I can't tell you what a <i><u><span style="font-size: large;">huge </span></u></i>difference there is between hearing that a Birth Mother <i><u><span style="font-size: large;">placed</span></u></i> their child for adoption versus <i><u><span style="font-size: large;">gave their child up</span></u></i>. I promise you, no Birth Mother GIVES their child up. They just don't.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i><u>Secondly</u></i></span>, please don't refer to anybody other than me as his mother. I am his mother. If you ask me if his mother is young I will smile and say, I think I am. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i><u>Third</u></i></span> of all, any questions concerning his Birth Mother's history and life and story and how Tayo came to be in our arms is their story. It is Tayo's Story. It is his Birth Mother's story. It is not for me to tell. It is extremely private and Tayo will learn about all of it before anybody else does, when it is appropriate for him to. When he is older he can choose if and whom he shares intimate details of his past with. That is not for us to share. This is my son's life. I will not do a disservice to him by gossiping about his past to people.</span><br />
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<b><u style="background-color: yellow;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">- "Are you scared his mom will want him back?" "Was his mother sad?"</span></u></b><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Refer to SECONDLY and THIRD above.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">I also want to speak on behalf of Birth Mother's for a moment here. I think it is easy to villafy or make Birth Mother's like two dimensional characters. I implore you to remember they are not. Regardless the circumstances or age or what occurred to get them to where they are now, every Birth Mother loves the child that they carried inside of them and delivered. I can't imagine a more difficult or brave or heart-wrenching decision. It is one that is never chosen easily.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">As far as asking me about how she feels, please don't. Frank and I will never speak an ill word of Tayo's Birth Mother. We love him completely and, therefore, we love his Birth Parents completely as well. And, in order for me to be the best mother I can be to Tayo (and Hartly) I have to concern my daily thoughts with them and not worrying about his Birth Parents. We wish nothing but the best for them both. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Regarding fear of a Birth Parent returning for their Birth Child - after waiting period is over and papers are signed, we are not just emotionally but legally his parents. It would be equally as hard to take Hartly from us as it would to take Tayo at this point.</span><br />
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<b><u style="background-color: yellow;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">- "Is it an open adoption?"</span></u></b><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">This is actually harder to answer than one would think. There are closed adoptions (which there are few of anymore) and then there is a huge continuum of open. Open can mean a letter and a photo once a year or it can mean weekly visits. It also, often, is quite flexible and ever evolving. Ours is not a closed adoption, so it is, therefore, open. We know the Birth Parents and how to contact them. They know us and how to contact us. Tayo will have access to all of their information as soon as we feel he is old enough to receive it. Studies have shown, and we strongly feel, the more people to love (both) of our boys, the better. As long as it is in Tayo's best interest while he is little, we are happy to have his Birth Parents in his life. And, once he is old enough, that will be his decision to make. We will support whatever he decides.</span><br />
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<b><u style="background-color: yellow;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">- "How expensive was he?"</span></u></b><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Again, semantics. It is crazy how important words can be. Especially in front of my kids. I do not want either of them to ever think there is a dollar price to their value. We did not buy Tayo. Children are not for sale. All of the costs of adoption go to lawyers and courts and people who are filing paperwork and counseling and Doctors etc. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">But in answering how expensive the adoption process is, there is a huge range. There is International versus Domestic. There is agency versus private. There is the length of waiting for a match. There are so many factors that play into it that there is a huge range. Frank said that he believes the range to be as little as $7,000 and as much as $30,000...</span><br />
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<b><u style="background-color: yellow;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">- "Do you love him as much as you love Hartly?"</span></u></b><br />
<b><u style="background-color: yellow;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></u></b>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">If you are a parent considering adoption, I do not mind this question because I know it is a real fear people have. Others, I think it is a strange and nosy question.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">The short of it - ABSOLUTELY. 100%</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">The long of it - as much as any mother/parent with multiple children loves her/their babies equally. Hartly and Tayo are individuals. They are two completely different people, not just because of their DNA but because the only thing in life that is consistent is change... Hartly is a first child and, currently, Tayo is the baby in the family. Birth order affects things. When Hartly was born it was just Hartly 24/7. Tayo is not an only child. He came into life with a big brother that demands a lot of attention so I can't just sit and stare at Tayo all day the way I did with Hartly. In addition, I had a lot of physical injuries when I had Hartly. I am, for the most part, very healthy now. Tayo gets things from me I couldn't give Hartly because of my situation. Frank and I have also done this (parenthood/newborn thing) before. We are not freaking out as easily and we don't have as many questions with Tayo as we did with Hartly. And I have known Hartly for over 3 years. I've only known Tayo for just over 6 months. And Tayo's temperament and milestones and who he is, is different from Hartly. But...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Do I love them both 100%? YES</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Do we love them both unconditionally? YES</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Do we look at them both and see our sons? YES</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1z0wvOZ7brY/UT4h5v8eqQI/AAAAAAAAbrM/EGncL5Kv6JU/s1600/IMAGE_74D24C93-8826-4337-A9B2-41F8EC940DF8.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" height="425" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1z0wvOZ7brY/UT4h5v8eqQI/AAAAAAAAbrM/EGncL5Kv6JU/s640/IMAGE_74D24C93-8826-4337-A9B2-41F8EC940DF8.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">who couldn't love these faces!?!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<b><u style="background-color: yellow;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">-"Did you choose the gender and race?" "How much were you able to say what you wanted or didn't want?"</span></u></b><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Refer above to <span style="background-color: cyan;">most frequent misconception</span> for the answer...</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: magenta; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;">MOST IMPORTANTLY:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i>Tayo is our son. Tayo is Hartly's baby brother. I am Tayo's Mommy and Frank is Tayo's Papi. We love him unconditionally and completely. I look into his eyes and Tayo is home to me. He is our forever.</i></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ugHViGjKMrQ/UT40iw2MtOI/AAAAAAAAbto/nuGIwGO01d4/s1600/IMAGE_48970613-B1A7-404E-973D-E2F07C73A196.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ugHViGjKMrQ/UT40iw2MtOI/AAAAAAAAbto/nuGIwGO01d4/s320/IMAGE_48970613-B1A7-404E-973D-E2F07C73A196.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My Baby</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">****<span style="font-size: large;"> If you have a question that didn't make the list, let me know(email me or FB message me). I would rather write about it, than chat about it (especially since I am rarely without my two little sidekicks). And no need to apologize if you have asked me any of the above before reading this... or if you forget and ask. I do it to help Frank and me and to protect, as best as I can, for as long as I can, my little ones. But understand we know everyone is well-meaning. It is just easier to explain ourselves through this blog than everytime, with everyone (especially if little ones are present). I hope that makes sense and nobody was offended.</span></span>Rosebellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03767920671254903880noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1620900955251022107.post-62860704525062325172013-01-31T16:11:00.002-08:002013-01-31T16:16:54.759-08:00BROTHERS (glimpse into first few weeks Tayo's life)<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">BROTHERS</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Hartly and I are very close. He is 2 1/2 and has spent the majority of everyday by my side. Oh we have playdates and tumbling class. Hartly has taken swimming lessons on and off since he was 6 months old. Hartly is around his cousins and my friends and his neighborhood buddies often... But, for the most part, Hartly is attached to my hip, and has been, since birth. Frank works from home and spends many afternoons going out to lunch with us. Frank and Hartly go to a Parent-and-me Language class, at least, once a week. The three of us have traveled together and spend loads of time together.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">It is because of this that I was a smidge nervous about what bringing in another person into the mix </span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">would do to our little unit. Frank and I always have known that we would have more than one child. There was never a doubt. Still, change, even desired change, can be nerve-wracking.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">When Frank and I were contacted about a "match" (adoption lingo for when a Birth Mother chooses your family to place her child), we were excited, hopeful, anxious, and nervous. We weren't sure when to tell Hartly because there are extra elements involved when one decides to adopt... a whole other person that could change their mind at any time. Plus there is that whole thing with the strangeness and relativity of time and how a toddler views it...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Did I mention Hartly and I are close? We chat a lot. We are both pretty verbal people and I am open and honest with him. It works best for us. Hartly knew, before we were matched, that he would, one day, have a younger brother or sister. He also has known for a while, that babies grow in ladies bodies. In adition, he knew that his brother or sister would be growing in someone else's body, not mine. Frank and I began our adoption process when Hartly was just 6 months old. Hartly knows he grew in my body but that his brother or sister would not. He accepted this and asked no further questions.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">When we went to meet our future baby's birth mother, Hartly was there. He saw that she was pregnant. He asked about it. I told him. Forget Frank and me coming up with a plan of how or where or when. Hartly asked, I told. The countdown began.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdksTEWics8qWpY21mNmV8Ay9GRyoXcNyq1wTZJmv0LxgXqi-5KoLpteUrZMS64aHuxroJmf4JF886cHN3KSURaD8mP8fEyjIu7oVkU3vf1PKnv_LXu9PaG-JO0NLBmATVsPGNbnT9h2ZN/s320/countdown.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="238" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A sticker a day until Hart's baby brother's Due Date</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">So we talked about it. A lot. We discussed different scenarios of his birth and discussed that he would be our love and that he would come home to live with us forever. We discussed what tiny babies do and he asked a million questions which I patiently answered. Mostly he wanted to know when the baby could play with him and would the baby talk to him and when was he coming home. He never inquired about the actual adoption part. I told him that this baby was his brother. He took that in as complete truth (which it absolutely is). Hartly saw a sonogram and asked if that was his brother. When we discussed the Birth Mother Hartly would say, "she is growing my baby brother in her belly. When he is ready to come out, we will go get him and bring him home with us.". As the day got closer I discussed more things about the baby needing me a lot and that sometimes it might be hard. Hartly listened and nodded. He then would ask if his brother could go to tumbling class with him. When I bought new mittens home for Hartly, the first thing he asked was if I had also gotten mittens for his baby brother. When we went shopping together and Hartly wanted a stuffed animal monkey and I said no because he already had one very similar to it, he immediately said, "but my baby brother does not have one. Can we buy it for him?". On Christmas morning when I walked in and asked him to guess what day it was, his response was, "the day my baby brother decided to be born?"...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">On the morning our baby was born we got a call very early. He was 3 weeks early so we were only half packed. We scrambled to get everything together and then we woke up Hartly. Finally the day had arrived. We, literally, bought our airplane tickets in the car on the way to the airport.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hartly was woken up very early and minutes later in our car</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">When we landed, I kissed Hartly and I ran out of the plane and into a taxi straight to the airport. Hartly and Frank went to get our rental car and meet me there. When they walked in, Tayo was in my arms. Just like that, 3 became 4.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Moments after Tayo and I met for 1st time</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Family of 4</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Hartly approached Tayo with a big grin on his face and wanted to hold him right away. Hartly wanted to feed him and kiss him and snuggle him and talk to him. He was fascinated with this itty bitty creature that wiggled and squirmed and was his new baby brother.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Tayo had to stay in the hospital till Sunday afternoon. Since he was so itty bitty he had borderline jaundice and low temperature (sweet little boy couldn't get warm) but all was in healthy zone by Sunday. Before Sunday I spent many hours in Tayo's Birth Mother's room - holding him and feeding and changing him. Poor Hartly and Frank spent ALL of Saturday and much of Sunday in bed at the hotel. When Tayo decided to arrive both Hart and Frank were on the tail end of being sick... I guess all of the excitement and (good) stress caused their weakened immune systems to get full blown sick. Hartly had 102 :( They had to stay far away from Taye. And, sadly, I had to stay away from them so as not to get sick myself or to pass on the germs.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">From the hospital we headed to our friend's house. She was letting us crash there (while she stayed at her boyfriend/my good friend's house) until our lawyers gave us the go ahead to travel with Tayo across state lines. The first few days were rough with, basically, just me taking care of Tayo because of my two sickies... but once the worst of it passed, Hartly became attached to Tayo. Everywhere Tayo went, Hartly followed. At first I thought this was because he wanted to be close to me... nope. If I put Tayo down and went to go sit with Hart, Hart would get up and move closer to Tayo. If Tayo was in my arms, Hartly would ask for me to put him in his arms. If Hartly was sitting next to Tayo but Tayo's head was facing other way, Hartly would move over to other side of Tayo or ask me to flip him around. Hartly wanted to feed him and sing to him if he was crying. Hartly wanted to put his face right up to Tayo's face. I would overhear him whispering, "Baby brother, I love you" (a phrase I know hear, at least, 7 xs a day). He even asked me to help him "share"/place his beloved trains all over Tayo because he thought Tayo would like them. In the first two weeks of Tayo's life, spent in Louisiana, Hartly spent the majority of his day with Tayo or talking about Tayo. He wanted Tayo to sleep in his room with him saying he would sing to him if he woke up crying. Hartly loved his brother from the first moment he laid eyes on him.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">in hospital feeding Tayo 1st time</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">feeding Taye in our Louisiana "home"</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Hartly often kisses Tayo on forehead when feeding him </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">When recovering from being sick Hartly only allowed to cuddle after showers</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Hartly showered a lot</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Nothing better than holding a baby, huh Hartly!?</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Checking out Tayo's tiny little fingers and chatting with him</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">taking a break from playing to come and pat Tayo </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaDiYKk-kc-XfNZJqoVKBP-q-w_QDipiAzLFVyPf2zMTr5drx3yJliFXU6ziZLdDFHJrBqTppBzL7RNISd2nejWDpm6G08CE5XXOHqLgw5TgOpqTtoWi-bDGVxxWnpKG1UyCa-vO_kZW4t/s1600/photo+1+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" height="149" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaDiYKk-kc-XfNZJqoVKBP-q-w_QDipiAzLFVyPf2zMTr5drx3yJliFXU6ziZLdDFHJrBqTppBzL7RNISd2nejWDpm6G08CE5XXOHqLgw5TgOpqTtoWi-bDGVxxWnpKG1UyCa-vO_kZW4t/s200/photo+1+%25282%2529.JPG" width="200" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Hartly pleased with his sharing his trains </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4WG21dJVr-3viaL-uJGaYDxRJ4x0sLFaZ1PlOs9QkBeAnuZ4wXD6jS_pNDHrxMv-N8-KEqRddgbmvB3aexOqwcIuzg7uu_6KGfkvk7dvPRzemvD941XEyZinrT3WQbzgsUfda3vDAb6YS/s1600/photo+3+%25283%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4WG21dJVr-3viaL-uJGaYDxRJ4x0sLFaZ1PlOs9QkBeAnuZ4wXD6jS_pNDHrxMv-N8-KEqRddgbmvB3aexOqwcIuzg7uu_6KGfkvk7dvPRzemvD941XEyZinrT3WQbzgsUfda3vDAb6YS/s320/photo+3+%25283%2529.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Hart asked me to put Tayo in his arms while he was playing on kindle</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Finally we were given the go ahead to come home. I thought maybe Hart's jealousy or some anger or resentment would appear once the realization that Tayo is ours forever settled in. So far, he is still smitten.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP8KsTYqlv13UUZTpGgFRblHPbS9CWGBperiSPyE0NK4Cb73hFP0n2Ly4duainIfBADgZbCe51EPqjT1qiAq_diOff1J-vmILM17yxJnRWTqA_dRoBsqhkhHd-gzVFrOuVRUuJpeCU4Mbr/s320/photo+3+(4).JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="236" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hartly drew a sunset for Tayo on our first day back </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhB9oxtfKwc5v2ULmzzONRAu3bGFQJmSlk11sbSbMekGhlNX-9ltJoSiZ3za5QAss8d8yo38sZlzIhjuTof0pl5xDT3MPRBE8qsbKO_DlEueWksT-VqJhpdxzub8PZdK8fl8mGAU0WdQqI/s200/photo+3+(5).JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="148" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">loves holding Tayo</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-vceBlgj6TOfzCp9kyZoOVV7SHhscZiD2Y5nETjH1NNeme86DpvMSKHP1l0VkjOaSKaD2DJw_MXxUnnprxRXKqRuRkhb_SfwaKNDwJPUb_FunoCqy-jBoRNuNdlEIewNHup8DtYn0kYRx/s200/photo+1+(5).JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="149" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">snuggling</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">First day back and Hartly asked if Tayo could share his bed with him</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYxmQm3vuHW-wVsYmEGhb3XWI0kB4DDZDgXhu8FRkVe1YX1uabc5JyWW1NykOiRLt9OuNnvXfSQdURErBXF355bCGKySEnan1o1mj9xAcEgZI_NaTmNYN1HRUY3eMReNe5WkdLUV24uzjS/s640/photo+5+(5).JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="476" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My sweet, sweet boys</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQnLYAnGtAEOUJoMwL7UESlaqSg1EcTilOkLk_DYmSfmjJvBaJLk0znhh8HFP2uHiEUzd-bLgWfYgdo8mZU7cpqE7v7YIRDh5nn80IoJPWDd-AqW9SsXICqzOBQmy1-iHvReAiS7wmups-/s320/photo+4+(5).JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="239" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hartly takes breaks from playing to come check on and snuggle with Tayo often</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQnLYAnGtAEOUJoMwL7UESlaqSg1EcTilOkLk_DYmSfmjJvBaJLk0znhh8HFP2uHiEUzd-bLgWfYgdo8mZU7cpqE7v7YIRDh5nn80IoJPWDd-AqW9SsXICqzOBQmy1-iHvReAiS7wmups-/s1600/photo+4+(5).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">I knew Frank and I would instantly love Tayo. I never worried about that. We fell in love with him from his first sonogram. But I never expected Hart to be in love so completely, so fast. Tayo is his baby brother and he adores him. Hartly may miss having me all to himself but he does not blame Tayo. It's still early in this game of life but no matter what is to pass, it blows my mind how deeply and unconditionally Hartly feels for his baby brother. And even when others are holding Tayo, Hartly always goes over to kiss or snuggle his brother.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAHn37Ypyq7MQEI60ixv7qEJLMB5PJKvFGcyPzGmSv_CT2CRHtxlBt0Erj1MrHynREwJblqPikW2wHkFBmXmZ5yfaJBe1_614d_mHDGvUNK-phwAtSEiKGlEJmRuUXqMewSzoPO9z_2vI7/s1600/photo+1+(1).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAHn37Ypyq7MQEI60ixv7qEJLMB5PJKvFGcyPzGmSv_CT2CRHtxlBt0Erj1MrHynREwJblqPikW2wHkFBmXmZ5yfaJBe1_614d_mHDGvUNK-phwAtSEiKGlEJmRuUXqMewSzoPO9z_2vI7/s200/photo+1+(1).JPG" width="149" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">making sure Ba-Pa is doing a good job feeding his brother</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5J6mJfbuExodud_EVYD1qBDsi9qG9Gq7zuOue2dnOEVRpt59cpypUNia7udZC5ZNM6jhPfWju_HX8Wwuszk1OcJDjs6SjudSthDwpULE_rXGQ9HDYUQP-u7rVyfvwMYGub4sm4N5LwGij/s1600/photo+2+(1).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5J6mJfbuExodud_EVYD1qBDsi9qG9Gq7zuOue2dnOEVRpt59cpypUNia7udZC5ZNM6jhPfWju_HX8Wwuszk1OcJDjs6SjudSthDwpULE_rXGQ9HDYUQP-u7rVyfvwMYGub4sm4N5LwGij/s200/photo+2+(1).JPG" width="150" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">see his arm draped over Tayo, constantly!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjvPgf32X3vGhLjULm2sl5-lYHsStbKR8Jh-bkvPHrCZbld24TjlvPCZrcE8nFJnV_Rkpy54Um2DZDnUwoUHqflmQH2d5UuD_QGG_f9DVSN-lHSrFoi2WubfSwrt3TYfbuF4YUzxjQ_qFh/s1600/photo+5.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjvPgf32X3vGhLjULm2sl5-lYHsStbKR8Jh-bkvPHrCZbld24TjlvPCZrcE8nFJnV_Rkpy54Um2DZDnUwoUHqflmQH2d5UuD_QGG_f9DVSN-lHSrFoi2WubfSwrt3TYfbuF4YUzxjQ_qFh/s320/photo+5.JPG" width="284" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">kissing Tayo's itty-bitty toes </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhezaJaznkkchDPSckHZoWpaiVMn9Je5QfbSUg6H6Junr0m4TDokj_tT9JWItyXWtvDwPhvdezfIFL36WoobmeHQ3ny75QbxeUeoUSSXsyglPOvSZLC_G2UGsUrhXSZB02_7lJcrYnlSFrZ/s1600/photo+3+(1).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhezaJaznkkchDPSckHZoWpaiVMn9Je5QfbSUg6H6Junr0m4TDokj_tT9JWItyXWtvDwPhvdezfIFL36WoobmeHQ3ny75QbxeUeoUSSXsyglPOvSZLC_G2UGsUrhXSZB02_7lJcrYnlSFrZ/s200/photo+3+(1).JPG" width="149" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">checking in with his brother while Jinky is giving cuddles</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHXGLBVw7d9Wamp4x11eEUR9F7xaEHMpfdmQcPOua0VmkEviJ1uKh7TgTD3SeWB6SkCgNqWUfTUhrqKI3I5b-L2TDbY9LBWSHyJXn8G8B5qxqE90XCIz9iKNzDvpWGOJO-USUurSr7rEfs/s1600/photo+1+%25286%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHXGLBVw7d9Wamp4x11eEUR9F7xaEHMpfdmQcPOua0VmkEviJ1uKh7TgTD3SeWB6SkCgNqWUfTUhrqKI3I5b-L2TDbY9LBWSHyJXn8G8B5qxqE90XCIz9iKNzDvpWGOJO-USUurSr7rEfs/s200/photo+1+%25286%2529.JPG" width="149" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Lexi and hartly discussing how absolutely adorable Tayo is</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0fQo2V8bdrZXPJR6AI_qEs8VrAJEZ__CAj4C6s0RlKWhGjtOdqIuniK9rNoGOszqNy6vDxnvFA7i_dGOi7Xh1U5j4nVJx6OMohEHVctOe6dMu7_8xiEmNkfjijfX1CTDVfBbz2JnB1cLt/s1600/photo+2+%25284%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0fQo2V8bdrZXPJR6AI_qEs8VrAJEZ__CAj4C6s0RlKWhGjtOdqIuniK9rNoGOszqNy6vDxnvFA7i_dGOi7Xh1U5j4nVJx6OMohEHVctOe6dMu7_8xiEmNkfjijfX1CTDVfBbz2JnB1cLt/s200/photo+2+%25284%2529.JPG" width="149" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Checking out Tayo while David holds him</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK0MMfKOB7ZzmpSTmSW_zeKG0ynz_DdU9onKL4Kz5GRANYw3-Z0GAujEDbukbohjVSf74fjjtB9-In9xl-O2W0bCi6ypyLybbF-PWABBiRLOMEInyeNA4WoZW8f2W0xIiDjrEs1hdQgqt-/s1600/aa.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" height="149" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK0MMfKOB7ZzmpSTmSW_zeKG0ynz_DdU9onKL4Kz5GRANYw3-Z0GAujEDbukbohjVSf74fjjtB9-In9xl-O2W0bCi6ypyLybbF-PWABBiRLOMEInyeNA4WoZW8f2W0xIiDjrEs1hdQgqt-/s200/aa.JPG" width="200" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Just caressing his little head while his buddy Iain gets a turn holding him</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">What is equally surprising and amazing is Tayo's love for Hartly so immediately. Tayo may be itty bitty but my boy is no bump on a log. Tayo knows Hartly's voice and will open his eyes more for Hart than for anyone else (my little man sleeps A LOT... except around 3am... but that is another blog). When Tayo is fussy and Hartly sings to him, he doesn't always calm down but, more times than not, he does. Tayo smiles more when Hartly is around and he coos for Hartly. Seriously. He literally says, "cooo" when Hartly is whispering or snuggling with him. Forget that Tayo is just shy of being one month, this little tiny soul knows who is brother is and he already adores him.</span><br />
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I know that there are disagreements, tears, and fights in their future with each other. I am realistic that everyday won't be sunshine and rainbows. I expect this. It would be strange if it were otherwise. But I also know that I have an amazing little family full of love, joy and amazing memories that will be made! It's already begun...</div>
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Rosebellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03767920671254903880noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1620900955251022107.post-61669961162217580262013-01-03T14:24:00.001-08:002013-01-26T18:52:55.261-08:00Christmas - thoughts on Jesus & Santa Claus (to fib or not to fib)<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">My thoughts on Christmas and Santa Claus: </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">First of all, we do not consider ourselves Christian. I am not sure we consider ourselves as much of anything, honestly. Frank grew up Catholic. I grew up in a Presbyterian household but, except for a few years when we went with our family friends a lot, I never grew up going to church or with much talk about the bible or Christianity from my parents. Most of my friends in my school growing up were Jewish and much of my childhood I too wanted to be Jewish. My first real look at the Bible, Old and New, was in my English class in High School. Around my Senior year of High School my mother started going to Tara Brach (<a href="http://imcw.org/" target="_blank">http://imcw.org/</a>), a well known (although not yet at the time) Buddhist teacher in the area. I really enjoyed Tara's talks/teachings, although I was not into the meditation portion at the time... Buddhism felt right to me. It wasn't an "us/them" or "right/wrong" mentality. In fact, you can be a Christian Buddhist or a Muslim Buddhist or a Jewish Buddhist. It is not a religion. It is a philosophy. It is a path or a way of life. So that is a brief look at where I stand on religion (more detail for another blog).</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">The above being said, we do celebrate Christmas, which, at first glance, can seem quite hypocritical. </span><br />
<a name='more'></a><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"> Christmas is the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ, the most prominent figure in all of Christianity. How can one not be Christian, yet celebrate Christmas? Let me explain our approach.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">I believe that there are two main elements of Christmas. Like it or not, a large majority of children have no idea that Christmas has anything to do with Jesus. Most (at least that I have come across) children (and adults for that matter) believe Christmas is mainly about Santa Claus. I have a real problem, personally with this. So, let me address Jesus first and then I will get to Santa.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Hartly has been introduced to <b><i><u>my</u></i></b> belief of Jesus. Hart was introduced to Jesus<b><i> BEFORE</i></b> Santa Claus. At 2 1/2 If you ask Hartly who Jesus is/was he will respond, "He is a really good man who lived a long time ago". Hart is just 2 1/2. This is all he needs to know right now. I believe the above statement to be true. I do believe that a man name Jesus Christ did exist. I do believe he was a very good man. Anything beyond that, I am just not sure about so we can save deeper discussions and debates on it as it becomes more appropriate to Hartly's age. I also bought a book for Hartly that I read ahead of time and I am quite comfortable with. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">This is a very sweet book about a kind old ox that has many visitors on a cold winter night, all seeking shelter. He responds thoughtfully to all of them and everyone is welcome in his "home", including pregnant Mary, Joseph, and of course, the sweet old donkey that they rode in on. It is a lovely, simple, and sweet story that I believe is appropriate as a first introduction to Jesus.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Once we had read that a few times I introduced St. Nicholas. Another real historical person. I want Hartly to understand the essence of Christmas, which easily gets lost in the glitz and gluttony of Christmas. This book is another favorite of mine because it nicely segues into how the birth of Jesus led us to the celebration, as we know it today, of Christmas.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">This story talks about a modern day boy who is in the midst of the chaos of Christmas last-minute-mall-shopping when he overhears the story of St. Nicholas and is reminded Christmas is not as much about how much we<i> want</i> and <i>get</i> as it is about <i>what we have to offer and give</i> that feels good in the long run. St. Nicholas was a real man who had very wealthy parents and he traveled all over the world as a boy. He saw kids with no winter coats and children with no toys. Nicholas learned of those that had to go without at a young age. When Nicholas grew up and inherited a lot of money, he decided to use it to give, anonymously, to those in need. Nicholas was quite religious and decided that he would do this every year on the anniversary of the birth of Jesus as a reminder of what he believed Jesus did and sacrificed for all of us. There are different versions of the life and story of St. Nicholas, but the above is quite simple and easy for a child to understand.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Hartly learned who Jesus was and what he stands for and then Hartly learned who St. Nicholas was and why we still celebrate him.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">In that same spirit, we discussed whether we<i> needed</i> or<i> wanted</i> stuff. We talked about the difference. It was a great reminder for me too. We also talked about how Mommy and Daddy get gifts for Hartly and did he want to get gifts for us. Hartly thought that was a GREAT idea and, honestly, it was a true highlight of the Season for me. First Hart and I went to the Dollar store and he chose a gift for Frank. Then Frank and Hart went to the Dollar store and Hart chose a gift for me. When I was with him he must have circled the store five full times before I had to tell him it was time to choose. He was skipping along and pointing saying, "or I could get him that or that... or that..." and was so happy about it. It was fun for him to buy stuff for us. To give to us was a new joy he discovered this year at 2 1/2 years of age.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Shopping for Papi's Christmas gift 2012</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">(Fast forward to Christmas day and gifts Hartly got me! He bought me HUGE plastic dangly earrings, 'because Mommy likes fancy jewelery'. Hart also chose a ski mask for me, 'because Mama gets cold easily' and, unbeknownst to me, Hart and Frank also went online to buy me a train necklace because Hart is obsessed with trains and I love jewelry. Hartly ended up choosing a pretty sophisticated gold necklace that he thought looked JUST like choo-choo train tracks to him and he<i> had to</i> buy it for me. All super thoughtful presents... )</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">wearing all my loot from Hart 2012</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Next I introduced two very fun books. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">The first is about a very wealthy man who buys a huge tree that is too big for his house. He chops off the top which becomes the tree for his upstairs maid... only it is too big for her so she chops off the top and that becomes the tree for the gardener... and it is too big for him so he chops off the top which goes to a bear who finds it etc, etc. It is silly and fun and about sharing and about reusing and recycling and is an enjoyable read that is make believe (do bears really have Christmas trees?) and great discussion and role playing for pretending and using our imaginations. The other fun book is Sneezy the Snowman.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Sneezy the Snowman gets even more into the discussion of silliness and make believe. I am a strong believer in pretending and using our imaginations. Hartly and I spend much of our day coming up with silly and fun pretend scenarios. Sneezy is about a snowman who hates the cold but every idea he has to warm him up ends up in his melting. There are 3 sweet children who keep rebuilding him and sharing their clothing with him and, ultimately there is a great and happy solution. Hartly and I also used this as an opportunity to discuss the different elements and how ice turns into water when different things are introduced. We did some experimenting with ice cubes on our own and it was a fun science 'lesson' as well.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">After all of the above had been introduced and played with, <i>only then</i> did I bring in, The Night Before Christmas.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">We read it just like we do all of our other stories and adventures. Hartly had certainly heard of Santa before we read it. He had seen Santas everywhere and he heard his name in a lot of songs. We had always talked about Santa Claus but here Hartly was shown how Santa came about. We read and discussed what a fun character Santa Claus is.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">What does Hartly think about Santa? Hartly knows that a lot of people dress up like Santa at Christmastime (like Halloween when we dress up). Hart knows that while St. Nickolas was a real man that lived a long time ago, Santa Claus is a pretend man that came about to honor St. Nicholas and what he did. Hartly laughs at the part of the song, "He sees you when you are sleeping...". That is ridiculous to him. Only Mommy and Papi can see Hartly when he is sleeping. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Hartly also knows that nobody is always<i> all nice</i> or always <i>all naughty</i>. He understands that we all make mistakes, grownups too. The question, 'have you been a good boy/girl all year?' drives me bananas. All children are good. All children make mistakes.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Hartly knows that just for fun we go and take pictures and talk to the people dressed up like Santa... but only if Hartly wants to... I am a <b><u>strong</u></b> believer that we should not force children to do anything they don't want to do, unless it is absolutely necessary (for their health or well being). To warn a child of strangers and then to force them into a huge man's arms who is in a wacky outfit and you can barely see any of his face and laugh when your child cries and reaches out for his parents while someone takes a photo...!?! Listen, I understand most of the parents who do this are lovely people. I know that they are not horrible, bad and mean parents. But, to me, that is just not funny. I think it is wrong and mean and sends very messed up messages to a little one. Last year Hartly really enjoyed Santas... from afar! Even mechanical ones, that he enjoyed looked at through store glass windows, would freak him out if we went in the store. We opted for a pretend one as our Santa shot.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">This year, while in Puerto Rico at the beginning of December, Hartly very badly wanted to go meet one of the dressed up Santas. He was super excited. But Hartly asked us to go up with him and be in the photo with him. I said absolutely. I asked Hart if he was ok sitting in Santa's lap and he said yes, so he sat in Santa's lap. It was great fun. Santa and Hartly conversed in Spanish. There were no tears. Hartly trusts that Frank and I value his opinions and feelings and listen to him. Hartly trusts us. That is huge to me. Hartly also knows that while he gets to make many choices, sometimes daddy or I have to make a choice or decision he may not like so much. Hart is much more agreeable when these times occur precisely because Hartly knows that we listen and trust his judgment. Therefore, Hartly listens and trusts ours. It is a mutual trust.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">visiting and chatting with Puerto Rican Santa Claus 2012</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">I do not believe in lying to children. I answer all of Hartly's questions openly and honestly and age-appropriately. Hartly knows where babies grow and how they are born because he was interested and asked me about it and I answered him. Hart knows all of his (and female) body parts. Hartly knows that we don't eat animal products but that most people that we know, and love, do. Hart knows everyone believes different things are important. And Hartly knows that Jesus is real, St. Nicholas is real, Mr. Willowby is pretend, Sneezy the snowman is pretend, and Santa Claus is pretend.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Have I stolen anything from Hart? I hope not. I don't think so. We still pretend and do make-believe and use our imagination. Hartly still had an amazing Christmas morning coming down the stairs and receiving gifts. Some of them he chose to pretend were from Santa Claus. Some he acknowledged and thanked us for. Hartly enjoyed giving gifts to us. It was beautiful. Judge for yourselves.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Night BEFORE Christmas & Night AFTER Christmas 2012 Happy sleeping baby boy!</span></td></tr>
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Rosebellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03767920671254903880noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1620900955251022107.post-24734441484784208582012-12-21T12:30:00.000-08:002013-01-26T18:52:40.223-08:0030 Days of Thanks<b style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">30 days of Thanksgiving: </b><br />
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Day # 1: I'm thankful for children, old souls & new souls, what's happened already &what is yet to pass. I'm thankful that when Hartly wants me to pick him up he says, "I need some up Mama". I'm also thankful for pistachios.</span><br />
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Day # 2: I'm thankful for husbands that let you sleep an extra 30 minutes some mornings. I'm thankful for very productive days. Mostly I'm thankful today for children NOT censoring themselves... Listening to song on radio about girl who wants guy back that was mean to her...
Me: Hart, you are always going to be nice to girls, right?
Hart: Yeah Mama. Don't touch their vaginas.
Lol! I'm thankful for laughter!!</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLOS6MJH5YzYvQVvNZCJSm0CKvyFKqTA2yJMICpVQIpsvy9GgjjhRvlBrvRMfdGHVFL2DKt_ydJkSPr-8OxJwV0WRDChsTW0sqOw0Km-WFkvAQIybsJcByqTr9tor-wsCSrtehz9wPklyq/s1600/thankful+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLOS6MJH5YzYvQVvNZCJSm0CKvyFKqTA2yJMICpVQIpsvy9GgjjhRvlBrvRMfdGHVFL2DKt_ydJkSPr-8OxJwV0WRDChsTW0sqOw0Km-WFkvAQIybsJcByqTr9tor-wsCSrtehz9wPklyq/s400/thankful+2.JPG" width="400" /></a><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Day # 3:(I'm a few hours late bc of last part in this gratitude) I'm thankful for random acts if kindness, children's hysterical fits of laughter, date night, delicious vegan food and falling asleep in my husband's arms.
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Day # 4: I'm thankful that Hartly has taught me to slow down. There's no rush. There's just now. A curb can be a balance beam and a laundry basket can be a rocket ship. And, it really doesn't matter who wins, it just matters that you enjoy the game. I'm thankful for people full of passion and cheering and for kind strangers smiling and chatting on the metro.
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Day 5: I'm thankful for heated carseats on cold mornings, my sister's laughter and her listening ear, and I'm thankful for video baby monitors, which have provided hours of free entertainment for Frank and for me!
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Day 6: I'm thankful for hope and optimism. I'm thankful for children doing the hokey-pokey and for husbands that cook dinner. I'm thankful for neighborhood friends and for grown-up fleece-footed pjs!! (I'm also thankful for the person who invented spooning!)
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Day 7: I'm thankful for my mom and Hartly chatting and playing together, for mid-afternoon naps, bedroom fireplaces, and for hard work paying off. I'm thankful for my husband who also cooks delicious and healthy meals for me and for reading in bed at the end of a long day.
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> (above Hartly at 21 months)</span><br />
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Day 8: I'm thankful for date-night with my awesome husband and I'm thankful that Hartly loves his babysitters. I'm thankful for healers (people whose jobs are to take care of others that are injured, in one way or another). I'm thankful that I don't just love my parents but I really like them... a lot. I'm thankful for friends who check in on me, just because ♥ I'm also very thankful that my siblings all live so close by! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> Day 9: I'm thankful that a day of cleaning can be fun when there is a chatty and happy 2 year old by my side. I'm thankful for my house and my view of our lake, which always puts a smile on my face and clears my head (something about water). I'm thankful for big brothers that love fierce and supportive family. And, today, I'm especially thankful for a living room full of children dancing on the couch and shaking their little bums to some good music well past their bedtimes. Nothing better than dancing AND children!! </span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF9XS9lVv7kZ3W1OgXQUvd4Z5ktxO7x_ThAd4W2Os4N5ZKfzjUOSYfIOvdyC9LArV5YKHdTfrV_NdlgoY__1xPWOZO64oYma3XN8blZ2ixr9V_IcHrvJw5ZImGDZ58GocYjkxTX9TOfgUW/s1600/thankful+lake.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="148" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF9XS9lVv7kZ3W1OgXQUvd4Z5ktxO7x_ThAd4W2Os4N5ZKfzjUOSYfIOvdyC9LArV5YKHdTfrV_NdlgoY__1xPWOZO64oYma3XN8blZ2ixr9V_IcHrvJw5ZImGDZ58GocYjkxTX9TOfgUW/s200/thankful+lake.JPG" width="200" /></a><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> Day 10: I'm thankful that I'm in a position to be able to live my dream job - being able to play and teach and learn from Hartly all day, everyday. I just really, really enjoying every minute of it. I learn so much about myself and I laugh and explode with love numerous times a day. For me, there is nothing better! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> Day 11: I'm thankful for my health. I have my own health issues I'm battling, but overall, I have more good days than bad. The bad days serve to remind me even more to appreciate the good days. I'm grateful that my husband and son are so healthy. I'm grateful for all the things we can do. I'm thankful for animals, children, music and dance - all things that make this world better. I also love shooting stars and rainbows. It makes my heart happy when strangers are extra nice or when random babies make eye contact with me and smile. I love that my son likes to choose his own clothes - today he rocked a red plaid "manly" shirt with his pink polka dotted Bowtie, jeans and his green sneakers and my Dalai Lama necklace :)
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Day 12: I'm thankful for colors that make everything bright and beautiful and for a mother who always wears colors that exude joy. I'm thankful for paintings and photography that remind me of certain incredible moments captured and frozen in time. I'm thankful for heartache, letting me feel alive and allowing me to appreciate what I have. I'm thankful for instant gratification and for things worked hard and long for. I'm thankful for husbands that build forts out of boxes and children that jump into their parents arms, completely trusting, with no hesitation. Unconditional love is the best! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> Day 13: I'm thankful I'm in my 30s, I like getting older. Not everyone gets a chance too. I'm thankful my husband loves me regardless what I look like. I'm thankful my son doesn't judge me by my appearance. I'm thankful for Facebook bc it allows me to see photos of people I care about whether we met for a few days in PR last year or I've known them since 3rd grade. I'm thankful I love to read and that I have access to so much at my fingertips. I'm thankful my son loves to cuddle with me and that if he's hurt, me singing Jingle Bells quietly in his ear makes him feel better. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> Day 14: I'm thankful for my childhood. I'm thankful I grew up dancing, laughing, always loved, without a day of fear. I'm thankful I was surrounded by amazing siblings, loving parents, a great education and good friends. I'm thankful for shooting stars and I'm thankful for The Beatles and Nat King Cole. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> Day 15: I'm thankful that, even though I've been doing this for two weeks, there are still some people who are reading my gratitude status updates. They aren't flashy but they are heartfelt and sincere. I'm overwhelmed with all of the things in my life that I have but it's the people and nature that I find gratitude in over and over again. I am also thankful that I believe that in everything there is a lesson to be learned and that we may not have chose in what happens in life but we always have a choice in how we react and in what we take away from every situation. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> Day 16: I'm thankful that while I had planned on getting a bunch of things crossed off my to-do list this afternoon, instead I played Legos with Hartly for 2 1/2 hours straight (with him talking, dancing and singing for me and Willoughby, our piglet statue, throughout). I'm thankful that I heard versions of: Here we go round the Mulberry bush, Hey Jude, the ants go marching, castle on a cloud, pop goes the weasel and Jingle Bells ALL in one song. I'm thankful Frank made kale ice cream and waffles for us for dinner. I'm thankful that when Hart and Frank are playing I never know if I will hear Spanish, French or Chinese! I'm thankful I love to paint, even though I'm not very good. I say sing, dance and create, regardless if anyone sees the beauty in it. The process itself is the beauty. Everybody should dance everyday! I'm thankful for kindred souls, and people who make me laugh. Today was a beautiful day! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> Day 17: I'm thankful for my Papa. I'm thankful that no matter what I've ever felt about myself, my dad has never faltered in his belief of my abilities, talents and capabilities. Im thankful for my mother and her listening ear and her huge heart. I'm thankful that even as a grown up, my parents still are available for love, advice and guidance. I'm thankful that while we disagree or view the world differently in a lot of areas, my parents have always been respectful of my opinion and trusted my judgement. I'm thankful that they adore my son and he is completely smitten with them. I'm thankful that I know there is nothing I could ever do or say that would lessen their love for me. It's completely, and beautifully unconditional. I'm thankful for friends, art, and red wine. I'm thankful that I believe in magic and faeries and in the unknown. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> Day 18: I'm thankful for friends. I'm thankful for friends that I have had since I was just a few years old. I'm thankful for friends I've only recently met. There are all sorts of friends. There are friends that are there for company and for laughter. There are friends who I call or text when the best things and the worst things happen to me. They are people I look forward to seeing and whom are in my life for a reason. Lessons to be learned. Memories, laughter and joy to be had. I'm thankful for friends that I am no longer friends with because I learned a lot from them too and I have fond memories of when we were there for each other. I'm thankful for people who are my kindred souls and think and view the world as I do. But I have just as many precious people in my life who are very different from me that I love and need just the same. I'm thankful for boy bands. I'm thankful for faux-hawks and for pretty tattoos and unique names and for new words. I love words. I'm thankful for poetry and for hammocks and for Papi's singing lullaby's to their son.
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<b style="color: #222222; font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="color: #333333; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Day 19: I'm <span class="il" style="color: #222222;">thankful</span> for sorrow and sadness and disappointment. It's in the cracks that light shines through. I'm <span class="il" style="color: #222222;">thankful</span> I feel deeply and that I'm sensitive and passionate. These moments of imperfection remind me of what is important and it's when there is stillness and space to learn. I have gratitude for lessons that loss and sorrow have taught me. I appreciate and value people. I'm <span class="il" style="color: #222222;">thankful</span> for Frank always being able to make me laugh. I'm <span class="il" style="color: #222222;">thankful</span> I know nothing could ever change my relationship with my sister. I'm <span class="il" style="color: #222222;">thankful</span> for animals. They are so much wiser than us. I'm <span class="il" style="color: #222222;">thankful</span> for SoDelicious Vegan ice cream.</span></span></b><br />
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<b style="color: #222222; font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></b><b style="color: #222222; font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="color: #333333; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Day 20: I'm <span class="il" style="color: #222222;">thankful</span> I was a teacher. Nothing better than being surrounded by children all day to remind you of what's important. I'm <span class="il" style="color: #222222;">thankful</span> that I learned not just about how I wanted to be as a parent but also things I knew I didn't want to do as a parent. I'm <span class="il" style="color: #222222;">thankful</span> that many of my past students still occasionally email me. I'm <span class="il" style="color: #222222;">thankful</span> for Holiday cards - something special still about getting cards in the mail. I'm <span class="il" style="color: #222222;">thankful</span> Hartly loves to sit and chat with me. Our conversations are sacred. I'm <span class="il" style="color: #222222;">thankful</span> for ladybugs and for rainbows.</span></span></b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyV1SobB_4B-zI6rfTpFm_YNgoqE0_aWKNvuurcdNXhBbIPZ6LtlMqDiFuEBDEq8T1y54H7afbX325FZdns4ridm3Yvp1pFeq7JiMq2YXCWa0TGy9dNuE7ccKSE83oUCT45emX5XrjadOA/s1600/thankful+teacher.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyV1SobB_4B-zI6rfTpFm_YNgoqE0_aWKNvuurcdNXhBbIPZ6LtlMqDiFuEBDEq8T1y54H7afbX325FZdns4ridm3Yvp1pFeq7JiMq2YXCWa0TGy9dNuE7ccKSE83oUCT45emX5XrjadOA/s320/thankful+teacher.PNG" width="320" /></a><br />
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<b style="color: #222222; font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="color: #333333; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Day 21: I'm <span class="il" style="color: #222222;">thankful</span> for beautiful souls that lessons keep giving long after they have passed on. I'm <span class="il" style="color: #222222;">thankful</span> for The Buddha and for Ghandi. Im <span class="il" style="color: #222222;">thankful</span> for Mother Teresa and I'm <span class="il" style="color: #222222;">thankful</span> for Martin Luther King Jr and for Jesus and for St. Nicholas. I'm <span class="il" style="color: #222222;">thankful</span> that I believe in my heart that most people are truly trying their best and that our true nature is that of love. I believe that all too often fear interferes but that what all of us crave and really all we want is to love and be loved. I'm <span class="il" style="color: #222222;">thankful</span> for meditation and for sangha and for constant reminders that bring me time and again out of the "story" and back to the truth. I'm <span class="il" style="color: #222222;">thankful</span> that the older I get, the more I love. And I do believe, no matter what, everything will be alright in the end. If its not alright, it's not the end. I believe that. I do. Sometimes I forget that for a spell but I always remember again.</span></span></b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4V-BKJZDdfLYqcBME2Ic9LiawgmG2ILwzeOHJBhAUpJCW6tvUKtt6OHMjRVffA_lI7iTfI5ERjtnneRHyQALFi4EvzNaeJz4nRNKtAj4xWf2KnRppSE8HoFHWghIiQiNsY0zQ4VoZylGY/s1600/thankful+others+before+me.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4V-BKJZDdfLYqcBME2Ic9LiawgmG2ILwzeOHJBhAUpJCW6tvUKtt6OHMjRVffA_lI7iTfI5ERjtnneRHyQALFi4EvzNaeJz4nRNKtAj4xWf2KnRppSE8HoFHWghIiQiNsY0zQ4VoZylGY/s640/thankful+others+before+me.JPG" width="640" /></a><br />
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<b style="color: #222222; font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="color: #333333; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Day 22: I'm <span class="il" style="color: #222222;">thankful</span> for the following - Hartly's Gratitude at 2 1/2 yrs old (over a few days and many conversations, this is what he came up with):</span></span></b><b style="color: #222222; font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="color: #333333; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I'm <span class="il" style="color: #222222;">thankful</span> for the leaves and my rocketship underwear. I'm <span class="il" style="color: #222222;">thankful</span> for my baby brother. I'm <span class="il" style="color: #222222;">thankful</span> for cars and for my prayer wheel. I'm <span class="il" style="color: #222222;">thankful</span> for my fireplace and for Willoughby. I'm <span class="il" style="color: #222222;">thankful</span> for Lexi and her home. I'm <span class="il" style="color: #222222;">thankful</span> for Jinky and Ba-Pa and their home. Im <span class="il" style="color: #222222;">thankful</span> for David and swimming class. I'm <span class="il" style="color: #222222;">thankful</span> for singing songs now. I'm <span class="il" style="color: #222222;">thankful</span> for marching. I'm <span class="il" style="color: #222222;">thankful</span> for tumbling class. I'm <span class="il" style="color: #222222;">thankful</span> for trains. I love you Mama AND Papi!! I'm happy for Jinky and Ba-Pa. My cousins with aunt abby - Maddie and Jordan. I love all my cousins... I love Linda from the rocketship. I'm <span class="il" style="color: #222222;">thankful</span> for fire. I'm <span class="il" style="color: #222222;">thankful</span> for trick or treating. I'm <span class="il" style="color: #222222;">thankful</span> for ladies. I'm <span class="il" style="color: #222222;">thankful</span> for rocketships. I'm <span class="il" style="color: #222222;">thankful</span> for Miss Anna. I'm <span class="il" style="color: #222222;">thankful</span> for Chinese classes and for Spanish and French classes and for Arabic. I'm <span class="il" style="color: #222222;">thankful</span> for animals. I'm <span class="il" style="color: #222222;">thankful</span> for these (holding up magna tiles). I'm <span class="il" style="color: #222222;">thankful</span> for my home. I'm <span class="il" style="color: #222222;">thankful</span> for trees.</span></span></b><br />
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<b style="color: #222222; font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="color: #333333; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Day 23: I'm <span class="il" style="color: #222222;">thankful</span> for reminders, all the time reminders everywhere, " The moment you doubt whether you can fly, you cease forever to be able to do it. The reason birds can fly and we can't is simply that they have perfect faith, for to have faith is to have wings." (Sir James M. Barrie)... And an all time favorite, "Why are you unhappy? Because 99.9% of what you do is for yourself... And there isn't one." (Wu Wei Wu)... I'm <span class="il" style="color: #222222;">thankful</span> for believing and growing and seeing over and through and for contemplating everything and listening to my gut and heart. I'm glad I believe in what often can't be seen, but has to be felt. I'm <span class="il" style="color: #222222;">thankful</span> for new socks, fun sneakers, my little man, Legos and for Frank's childhood friends.</span></span></b><br />
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<b style="color: #222222; font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="color: #333333; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Day 24: I'm <span class="il" style="color: #222222;">thankful</span> that I am still friends with so many people I knew as a child. Some I see just once a year, others much more frequently. Some I'm very close to and others are more of acquaintances... But I truly love seeing all of them. I love that we knew each other at our worst and at our best. I love that we are all changed and grown for the better but still hold onto our youthful core. I'm <span class="il" style="color: #222222;">thankful</span> when people tell me, out of the blue, how sweet Hartly is. At the end of the day I'm not worried or concerned with his intellect but with his soul. I'm <span class="il" style="color: #222222;">thankful</span> that Frank, Hart and I spent 40 minutes snuggling and chatting in bed this morning. I'm <span class="il" style="color: #222222;">thankful</span> I'm constantly surrounded and enveloped in pure love. I'm <span class="il" style="color: #222222;">thankful</span> for dinners out with good friends and people who ask questions because they want to know your answer. Love.</span></span></b><br />
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<b style="color: #222222; font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="color: #333333; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Day 25: I'm <span class="il" style="color: #222222;">thankful</span> I've been fortunate to travel so much. I feel blessed to have been to so many places near and far for many different reasons. I get to visit friends, I get to travel and explore the world and I get to have lots of holidays. I love seeing other cultures and people and places! I'm <span class="il" style="color: #222222;">thankful</span> my husband and son love to travel as well. I'm <span class="il" style="color: #222222;">thankful</span> Hart and I are going to visit a dear friend in Boston in a few days and I'm <span class="il" style="color: #222222;">thankful</span> we just bought our tickets to Puerto Rico!! I'm also <span class="il" style="color: #222222;">thankful</span> for Train Night!!</span></span></b><br />
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<b style="color: #222222; font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="color: #333333; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Day 26: I'm <span class="il" style="color: #222222;">thankful</span> for my little bubble - my home. I'm <span class="il" style="color: #222222;">thankful</span> that I feel safe and cozy and happy here. I'm surrounded by photos of those I love and paintings and sculptures by generations from long ago all the way up to my 2 1/2 year olds artwork. I love that everything in my home is here for a reason and makes me smile and feel joy. I'm grateful I can afford nice things and I'm <span class="il" style="color: #222222;">thankful</span> that Hartly is getting a treehouse fort bed in 2 days where I know hours of imaginary play will occur. I'm <span class="il" style="color: #222222;">thankful</span> for my meditation area that is covered and surrounded in love and memories and reminders. I'm <span class="il" style="color: #222222;">thankful</span> for rocking chairs and for made up choo choo train songs by Hart. I'm <span class="il" style="color: #222222;">thankful</span> for my Mother's Day Buddha statue and always, always I'm <span class="il" style="color: #222222;">thankful</span> for my boys.</span></span></b><br />
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<b style="color: #222222; font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="color: #333333; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Day 27: I'm <span class="il" style="color: #222222;">thankful</span> for my husband. I'm sure I've mentioned him throughout. He is all the mushy stuff you see in movies, except he's real life. He's not perfect, but he's perfect for me. I'm <span class="il" style="color: #222222;">thankful</span> that we push each other's buttons and challenge each others comfort zones. I'm <span class="il" style="color: #222222;">thankful</span> he doesn't let me get away with stuff. I'm <span class="il" style="color: #222222;">thankful</span> that 6 years later and I still could get lost in his soulful and beautiful brown eyes. I'm <span class="il" style="color: #222222;">thankful</span> we found each other. I'm <span class="il" style="color: #222222;">thankful</span> that we love hanging out together... All the time! I'm <span class="il" style="color: #222222;">thankful</span> that our fights never last long and that even at my angriest, our love for each other is never called into question. I'm <span class="il" style="color: #222222;">thankful</span> for our endless laughter. There is so much joy. I'm <span class="il" style="color: #222222;">thankful</span> for him being such an amazing caretaker and provider. I'm grateful and humbled that such a brilliant and creative man believes that I am smart and he looks to me for advice and to brainstorm. I'm forever grateful at how he and Hartly play together and what an amazing father he is. He's my very best friend and he is my forever.</span></span></b><br />
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<b style="color: #222222; font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="color: #333333; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Day 28: I'm <span class="il" style="color: #222222;">thankful</span> for every wish that didn't come true and for every life experience I've ever had. I'm <span class="il" style="color: #222222;">thankful</span> for my past leading me to my present. I'm <span class="il" style="color: #222222;">thankful</span> for finding lessons in life. I'm grateful that I truly believe that we create our realities - not meaning if we are sick or poor or have been hurt that it's our fault but, rather, it is our outlook on life that becomes the focus. I believe people are meant to be good. I believe music and art and books and make-believe are as important as clean air and water. I'm <span class="il" style="color: #222222;">thankful</span> there is still so much more for me to experience and learn. I'm grateful I learn new things, again, through the eyes of my 2 year old. I'm <span class="il" style="color: #222222;">thankful</span> that I allow him lots of freedom to be a kid. I'm <span class="il" style="color: #222222;">thankful</span> I believe and trust in him. I'm grateful that tonight we giggled for 10 min straight over a funny noise he made with his mouth repeatedly.</span></span></b><br />
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<b style="color: #222222; font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="color: #333333; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Day 29: I'm beyond <span class="il" style="color: #222222;">thankful</span> for Hartly Jose. He is my bliss, my joy, my elation, my glee, my twinkle and he makes every moment overflow with delight. I'm <span class="il" style="color: #222222;">thankful</span> that Hartly wakes up every morning happy and almost always 1st thing asks, "will you play with me Mama?" (As if there is anything else in this world I'd rather do). I'm <span class="il" style="color: #222222;">thankful</span> that he talks to everyone and he asks questions and listens to the answers. He is curious and he loves to talk (and gets extra minutes out of me every night with, "Mama, can we chat a little more before you go?"). I'm <span class="il" style="color: #222222;">thankful</span> that when he hears a baby crying, he asks me if he can go over and try and help make them happy. I'm <span class="il" style="color: #222222;">thankful</span> he loves other languages and is respectful and interested in every culture. I'm <span class="il" style="color: #222222;">thankful</span> he makes up his own songs and that, as of recently, he likes to make up funny and silly voices when he talks to me. I'm <span class="il" style="color: #222222;">thankful</span> that he loves steam roller and rough housing and squeals in delight at tickles. I'm <span class="il" style="color: #222222;">thankful</span> he trusts me completely. Im <span class="il" style="color: #222222;">thankful</span> Hartly and Frank have so much fun together and that they adore each other. I'm <span class="il" style="color: #222222;">thankful</span> he has never experienced a harsh touch or tone from any one before. I'm <span class="il" style="color: #222222;">thankful</span> beyond thankfulness that our souls have been brought together in this life. He truly is the love of my life.</span></span></b><br />
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<b style="color: #222222; font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="color: #333333; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Day 30: I'm <span class="il" style="color: #222222;">thankful</span> for a month full of reflection and gratitude. I have so much more than I lack. I'm grateful for naming my gratitude. I'm grateful for recording my gratitude. I'm <span class="il" style="color: #222222;">thankful</span> that I feel as though I could do this every night for many more months and still not run out of things to say. Love is what matters most. It's really the only thing that matters. And I'm overflowing with love, so my gratitude is bottomless.</span></span></b><br />
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<b style="color: #222222; font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="color: #333333; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">EXTRA: (what I thought about every time I sat down to write for Face Book but could not share with the world yet). I'm overflowing with love and thankfulness for my son, that is shared with another mother, whom is growing him in her body right now. I'm sad for him and for her that it does not work out in this life for them to physically be together after his birth, however, I am happy that they are both in my life. I am grateful that she chose me and my family with her most precious gift - she is placing her child in our care. I already love him more than he will ever know. I'm <span class="il" style="color: #222222;">thankful</span> Hartly and Frank already love him too. I look forward to many years of joy, laughter, love, and tears too. Every memory </span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">and every moment I will cherish with him.</span></b><br />
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<b style="color: #222222; font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br />PS Tayo Paco LLosa Born January 4th, 2013:</span></b><br />
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Rosebellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03767920671254903880noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1620900955251022107.post-18600421778498677342012-08-21T08:07:00.000-07:002012-08-26T14:01:47.155-07:00Hart in Langauge Star classes. Video practicing Chinese(Post by Frank)
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Hart (now 26 months) has been taking both Chinese and French at <a href="http://languagestars.com/" target="_blank">Language Stars</a> foreign language classes in Northern Virginia.<P> He has gone to maybe 7 classes in Chinese. He will frequently ask me to read the Chinese book. Also he picked up some words from some swim class friends that speak mainly Chinese. Nothing beats putting language in context.<br />
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I love that he can not only converse with kids that speak another language, but that he understands the concept of different languages.<br />
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I actually speak to him exclusively in Spanish at home. It isn't easy since I didn't grow up speaking much Spanish, even though my parents were both Cuban (long story).<br /> And I ask that he respond in Spanish, because I have this fear that he will be one of those "well he understands it perfectly, but can't speak it well" kids, like I was.
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So this video is a typical practice session we might do before going to bed. Minus the running around. We practice with me talking only in Spanish, asking him for the words in Chinese. <br />
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Don't be fooled, he acts differently when he knows he is on camera. Shy at times, more likely to freeze up, or run away. Trust me, Language Stars is much better at keeping him focused on the task versus daddy with a camera in his face. <br />
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<br /><iframe width="640" height="480" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/qq0Q0SX1g3A" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><P>
Written by Frank<P>
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Rosebellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03767920671254903880noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1620900955251022107.post-75800006364792781432012-05-19T19:30:00.004-07:002012-05-20T10:15:46.516-07:00Thoughts and words to my baby as he a month shy of turning 2!!<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My 23 month old naked baby playing at our beach in freezing water</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I don't want to forget. It is going by so fast. Slow down already!!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">You are a month shy of turning 2. Two! Can you believe it!?! (you say that phrase... it is so cute... I am learning a lot about certain things I say because I hear them coming straight out of your mouth). Where were you before you were here? What was I doing? I can't seem to remember. It feels like ages ago and in a different world. Oh how my heart soars with so many things you do and say. I feel as though I could bust open at the seams and all that would pour out would be millions and trillions of tiny sparkly pieces that make up joyful mommy me.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Your list of words is no longer possible to keep. You are full up to the brim with language. You even say full sentences! Almost every other phrase is, "name that Mommy" meaning you want to know what something is called. Oh how I was never aware that there were so many things that had names before you toddled into my world. And I am perplexed and embarrassed at how there are so many things which I have no idea what the proper name is. You are not satisfied knowing that it is a plane, you want to know what all of the pieces of the plane are called. Not only do you want to know the name of foods but you want to know the names of different parts of foods. You are not satisfied that the shopping cart is just a shopping cart. You have this need to know the name of the handle bar and seat and wheels and the material from which it is made. In addition, you want to then know all of the names in Spanish... Chinese, French and don't forget German! But we are not done yet. You want to know every person's name - teachers, friends, family and people in the Starbucks and even in cars that pass us on the street, "Man name car Mommy?". Once you learn their name you want to know their last name. After all, you know your first, middle, and last name. You know your family member's whole names. Why not the barista at our coffee house? </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">You still demand and request and plead that we sing to you all the time. You especially need songs for when you get an owey or when you are about to go to sleep. But you also like to be sung to when you are on the potty, when you are about to eat, and for just about any activity. And now<b><i> you sing</i></b>. Oh man it is delicious and beyond adorable how cute it is when you sing! And mostly you know the words but occasionally you get stuck and man do you say, "no mommy sing!" with an air of authority if I jump in to "save you". Some of your favorite songs to sing are, The Itsy Bitsy Spider, Ball Game, Rock uh bye baby, and your ABCs (below video Hartly is 22 months old).</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">One of Papi's and my favorite thing that happened recently is you created your 1st imaginary friend.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">We were in your playroom (the one Mommy just converted from a guestroom to a PAHM room) and there are vehicle decals all over the walls. You particularly like the red school bus sticker by your desk. You point it out a lot. Well, one day, you were pointing to it and just staring for a bit when you turned to me and said, "bus driver mommy?". Through many back and forths it became clear that you were wondering where the bus driver was. You wanted to see him. After all, in order for the bus to work, it needs a driver. And you wanted your precious red bus on the wall to work. I told you that I couldn't see him. You said, "hiding?", and I smiled and agreed he must be hiding since we couldn't see him. Then, before you knew it, you said, "Jose see him Mommy!" in an excited voice. I said, "you see him?" and you excitedly shouted with glee, "YYYAHHH!!". You then reached your plump little toddler hand out and touched the red bus making a scooping motion with your hand and said, "got him!" as you grabbed gently at "nothing" on the wall. You brought him over in your little cupped hand and showed him to me. You then looked up into my eyes and said, "name? name bus driver mommy?" I told you that I didn't know his name. I asked you what you thought. This is a hard one. But you then said, "Captain". And for the rest of the evening you carefully carried Captain, the red school bus driver, everywhere with you. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">And what so amazed me was that you made him almost come alive in your hand for me. You didn't forget about him. When you put him down on the ground, you walked around him. When you placed him to the side to get a toy or turn the page of a book, you would return to the exact spot you put him down. In fact, once you put him in the book to get a closer look at a picture and then you turned the page but remembered right away, turned back, scooped him up and then continued forward in the book. You even put him back in his school bus when it was dinnertime. Half way out the door I told you Captain could come to dinner with you if you wanted and instead of just having him materialize in your hand, you stopped, went back into the room and scooped him out of the bus you had put him away in moments before. When you went to climb onto your chair you had trouble because your hand was curled up in a half fist holding Captain. I had to tell you to put him down so that you had two hands to climb. It was so sweet and so real.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">It has been a few days since this all occurred. You have played with Captain a number of times since then. He does not go everywhere with you and he can be forgotten for many hours. But when you do decide to play with him, you continue to have that same careful and very real care of him. It is incredible to behold.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">You are still an amazing sleeper. You go to bed at 8pm and, usually, wake up a little before 9am. An "early" day means you wake at 8am. When you are super lazy, like your mom and dad, you have been known to sleep till 10am (excluding the period of about 6-8 weeks after Puerto Rico from 18months-20 months when you were sleeping 8pm till noon the following day!!!). Your naps are spotty. Sometimes you crash out and sometimes you play nicely for a couple hours in your crib. Occasionally you complain and knock or do your fake cry calling my name (always my name). I go in and say, "What are you supposed to be doing?" You reply, "sleeping". I say, " you can play with toys or sleep but this is your time to be quiet by yourself in your room". You say, "play mommy?" or something of the sort. You try to get me to sing more. Most days you talk to your animals or play hiding or humpty dumpty with them if you are not sleeping.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Mommy has made up many different types of hugs and kisses to try and coerce more snuggles from you. We not only have regular pop kisses, eskimo kisses and butterfly kisses but we also have penguin kisses, fish kisses, choo-choo train kisses (you, much to my delight, made that one up recently) and doggy kisses. In addition to regular hugs we have hand hugs, forehead hugs and cheek hugs. I take all I can get.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">You have not yet learned to jump, but that does not stop your desire or your continuing efforts. It used to be (around 16 months when you first took on this challenge) you would stand still and try to become as tall as you could with your neck stretched obscenely long and your shoulders pushed way down, which exaggerated the effect. You would strain, for many seconds, willing your head to pop right off... and that was your jump. It then progressed to the above combined with tippy toes. Now, at 23 months, you squat way low and then stand randomly and suddenly... all the while, your feet stay planted in the ground. Keep trying kid :) You will get it one of these days.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Papi and you speak Spanish to each other. You know that Mommy speaks English and Papi speaks spanish. Your English vocabulary is much bigger but you still know a lot of Spanish. You even, often, prefer daddy's Spanish nightime lullaby that he made up. I love watching the two of you together. i especially like when you all run in wide circles over and over downstairs, one of you chasing the other. papi also does hallway running with you on nights that he puts you to sleep. You all like to rough-house and tackle each other and you love being thrown up in the air and shouting in pure bliss. You always say, "Mas! Mas Papi, porfavor" before you are even safely back in his arms. It makes me so happy to watch you two together. Don't be fooled though. You often say, "no daddy. Mommy." "Mommy rock-rock" "Mommy hold Jo Jo" "Mommy do it" "No Papi." "Papi go"... you are in the middle of a Mommy obsession phase. Like everything else, I try not to be too protective of daddy or sad for him. I know it is just a phase and very normal. When I am not around you all have a blast. It is just that you often like me all to yourself. I try to remind myself these days of adoring me over all others will soon enough be in the past and I hug you a little closer and breathe you in as much as I can. There is nothing I enjoy better these days than my Hartly time.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">"Buy it!" is another phrase you have learned. I suppose it occured because you always wanted to open things in the cart before we left the store. I had explained to you, a number of times, we had to finish shopping and buy it before we were allowed to open it. One day, in annoyance and frustration, after I said, "we can't open that yet", you said exasperatedly, "BUY IT!". Duh! :) Now when we try new foods at parties or see somebody else toy, you turn to me and request, "buy it mommy". Man how it starts young.</span><br />
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<tr style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">You asked for this photo to be taken with Ba-Pa</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">You adore your Ba-Pa and Jinky. It often surprises me. Clearly, I adore my parents. I love and appreciate and cherish them. They were and are incredible parents. I have been very fortunate in life, largely because I started life in the arms of two wonderful souls who have always given me unconditional love. I expected you would love them as well. I did not know just how deep this adoration and love of them would run. I had no idea it would be so much so young. You bring them up often and in conversations that I did not know they had a place in. If a couple weeks have elapsed without you having seen them, you do your sad face and say, "play Ba-Pa-Jinky". You miss them. When you are around them you want to be in Jinky's arms and you climb into Ba-pa's lap. You request that they read to you and play with you and "rock-rock" you before bed. While you are, most of the day, attached to me and want nothing more than, "play mommy", I am all but forgotten when either of them are nearby. When you get dressed and choose your tie, you mention Ba-Pa. When you see the color orange, you mention Jinky. When you come across a yellow bracelet from a waiter at Red Lobster from February (3 months ago), you mention Ba-Pa and Jinky, because they were there. You love them! Lucky for you, I know the feeling is mutual! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Your hair is getting super long. It is auburn with ringlets and so stinkin' adorable. Many people are frustrated that I haven't cut it yet. it is getting close to time. Today you said, "Jose ponytail like Mommy, yeah". I try very hard to allow you to be you, regardless society's comfort in gender roles and separation of the sexes. But I feel like enough people already think you are a girl when you where jeans, sneakers and a blue t-shirt with a baseball cap. I don't need to add to it with having my 2 year old son sport a ponytail. Still, you like it long and that is how it shall stay for a just a little while longer. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">You are very opinionated and you have definite likes and dislikes. You lover your bow ties and your tie that is "like Ba-Pa". You like to choose your own outfits although, truth be told, you would always choose being naked over wearing clothes. Who wouldn't!? It makes me smile. Nothing cuter than your little toddler bum and your absolutely joy in being completely naked and just being. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">You are amazing at how you are so dependent and independent all at once. You want me close but you want to do it yourself. And you are a little climber. I have to remind myself, many times a day, to "spot" you but not interfere. You are extremely capable. Part of the reason why is because I try to step back and not rush to your side at every stumble, frustration or obstacle. I would never dream of putting you in harms way but I believe it can be just as dangerous to hover as it is for you to fall. I want you to trust yourself and your own judgement. I want these mistakes and steps taken now, when you are little and I am close by. How will you know how far to risk going if you don't, occasionally, go too far. I work very hard at not saying no often. When I do say no, there is a good reason for it. I find so many caretakers say no so often. It has almost become a knee-jerk reaction. All too often there is no good reason. People say no to certain things because that is what everybody does and always has. I try and stop and think of why I am about to say no before I say no. For instance, you may absolutely climb up the slide at the playground... as long as there is no child at the top. You want to be naked outside at the beach before there are lifeguards and clothing rules, yes you can. You are 23 months. Play in the lake and sand and get wet in your birthday suit. Absolutely. You want a braid in your hair like mommy, or a ponytail (contrary to earlier statements), yes you can. Who cares, when you are 23 months old, if people think you are a girl!? You want to take 2 baby dolls with you to the store, absolutely. Why not? You like to turn on light switches and push buttons and unlock doors - we bought you your own stepping stools to foster this. You are mostly diaper-free (you take long naps and sleep long nights so you will have sleeptime diapers for awhile) and if you have an accident, you have an accident...</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I have lost my focus, and so I shall end, for now, here. If ever, when you are a teenager, and you wonder how we could possibly be your parents or feel that we don't love you or understand you, read this. If, when you are an adult, and you wonder how we treated you as a little toddler, read this. If you have kids of your own and are feeling nostalgic, read this. Know that you are a shining little soul that at, not even quite yet two years of age, bring magic into your mom and dad's hearts daily... hourly. You are a true wonder, miracle and delight. We love you. Noses Hartly. We can't wait to see what this next year of wonder with you will bring!! </span></div>
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</div>Rosebellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03767920671254903880noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1620900955251022107.post-85269601619944274292012-03-26T12:33:00.097-07:002012-05-16T12:59:56.154-07:00Splish, Splash - the awesomeness of David and ISR swim classes<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Hartly & David 2012</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b style="background-color: cyan;">My Background:</b> I am the youngest of four and I come from a swimming family. By the time I was born, all of my older siblings were very good swimmers (My oldest brother, Tony, still has many national records from when he was a kid. He placed at NCAA and missed Olympic Trials by 1/100th of a second (literally - this was before inhalers were allowed and he has exercise induced asthma... but that is another blog) and had a full swimming scholarship at Auburn, a Division 1 swim university. He currently is the Aquatic Director at The Lab School of Washington, DC. My sister, Abby, was also an accomplished swimmer and received a swimming scholarship at Southern Illinois University, another Division 1 swim school. She also met her husband, Tim, there. He was the swim team captain her Freshmen year. Tim is currently a swim coach at Curl Burke, one of the leading swim clubs in the nation. And my other brother, Micheal, was also a great swimmer, although he chose to do other things once he got in High School.) It was only natural that I would be around water a lot from a young age. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoGZXaoQz5JLSWfrVEp1c8p7TBNKZUNhAfDS2laX08PwQSe9WM3blyKaa5Piq6CM6k39ENn_Hghm4UPuTLdUVKDPw0OGUONvtbVvhhqULbY10VNPNVCdGb7ES-J9BVaIYHMnAkIJHOc26R/s1600/naked+ocean.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoGZXaoQz5JLSWfrVEp1c8p7TBNKZUNhAfDS2laX08PwQSe9WM3blyKaa5Piq6CM6k39ENn_Hghm4UPuTLdUVKDPw0OGUONvtbVvhhqULbY10VNPNVCdGb7ES-J9BVaIYHMnAkIJHOc26R/s200/naked+ocean.JPG" width="150" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Having fun with Hart in ocean</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHq4TApFSOnamEMRToyZo0Q6ud7UVI0vVfTDrjuS6FBEzjsGYzbv2hHl8xNU1OGtRaBKJM8dDJ6oVr_ziryrdk42uauI1eqyILq1PYriYI1WL7M3nKbiSazpPRPVcGCg5R_0qFncrSE56e/s1600/play+water.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHq4TApFSOnamEMRToyZo0Q6ud7UVI0vVfTDrjuS6FBEzjsGYzbv2hHl8xNU1OGtRaBKJM8dDJ6oVr_ziryrdk42uauI1eqyILq1PYriYI1WL7M3nKbiSazpPRPVcGCg5R_0qFncrSE56e/s200/play+water.JPG" width="143" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Papi having fun in pool Hart</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">My mom recalls that when I was little she just played, played, played with me in the water. She never put floaties on any of us (in fact, oftentimes, floaties can do more damage than good because it gives children a false sense of security and doesn't teach them at all what their body feels like naturally in water). She said she just threw us around and delighted in our giggles and that we enjoyed the water. I was put into swimming lessons when I was 4. I don't ever remember not being able to swim.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK1Uj0zvMaatMg8xjgz98RLKua7O3vHK4N8p4lGXMvYvu8YMkLg1E6XjNXDFVfpD_rDjpfdiMLNHcNQZOukQjtvteUODLZMW0YOb2BwbT2UOGi1DFu_AmhYjtuHpTyfWTz_X8VOL4adNLj/s1600/Barnett+family+1978.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" height="161" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK1Uj0zvMaatMg8xjgz98RLKua7O3vHK4N8p4lGXMvYvu8YMkLg1E6XjNXDFVfpD_rDjpfdiMLNHcNQZOukQjtvteUODLZMW0YOb2BwbT2UOGi1DFu_AmhYjtuHpTyfWTz_X8VOL4adNLj/s200/Barnett+family+1978.jpg" width="200" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The Barnetts 1978 (L-R Mike, Abby, Baby Carrie, Mom Jinky, Tony, Cat Stella, Dog Shirley, Dad Robert)</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Frank and I live on the water. Our backyard was a creek that later was man-made into a Lake. We decided early on that Water Survival was very important to teach all of our children at a very young age. There are so many drowning deaths a year of which many can be avoided with some skills given to babies early on. These are accidents. While we never intend on Hartly being near the water when we aren't around, this is why it is called an accident. In addition, the lake is pitch black. We could be standing right next to him and see him fall in, dive in right after him and have trouble finding him and getting him to the surface in time. Scary. We decided to do some research on how to give Hartly the tools to help increase his chances of survival if an accident ever did/does occur. By, "we did research", I mean <b style="background-color: lime;">FRANK!</b> This was important to both of us and <b><i><u>both of us</u></i></b>, luckily, have been able to attend almost every lesson. <b><i><a href="http://www.infantswim.com/">ISR, Infant Survival Resource</a> (click on ISR to get redirected to their website)</i></b></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">, made sense to us. We contacted via email one of the local instructors, <b><i><a href="http://www.isrinstructors.com/home/about_me.php?id=washingtondc">David Worrell</a> (click on David's name to go to his page)</i></b></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">, and we liked him right away. We signed Hart up and January 24th, 2011, at 7 months of age, he had his 1st lesson! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><u style="background-color: red;">I can't speak as an expert for ISR</u></b>, but I can speak as an expert for our experience with Hartly and with our experience with David. I truly believe in the ISR method but I think that the instructor is equally as important. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b style="background-color: cyan;">A little bit about our experience with ISR: </b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">If you do not read about ISR or see any DVD or hear any explanations about the method it can be scary and seem quite horrible. Almost all the little babies cry during their lessons. Many of them cry the whole entire time. <i><b><u>This is not a Mommy and me class</u></b>.</i> It is not about being held and bounced around and being sung to in the water. This is a 1:1 ten minute lesson everyday, 5 days a week, to teach your child what to do in case of an emergency. <b><i><u><span style="background-color: yellow;">This is a class that could save your child's life</span></u></i></b> if, God forbid, there is ever an accident. In a matter of months (depends on child and illnesses, teething etc), a small baby can and does learn how to roll over onto their back (in the majority of accidents where children fall into the water, they land face down) and they learn how to float for a number of minutes crying out (giving them time for an adult to come to their aid). In fact <b><i>the crying in class can actually be good and helpful</i></b>. The crying helps David know when they take a breath in to help in the teaching of them rolling/flipping onto their backs. The crying is also helpful because in case of a real emergency, you are going to want your child to scream or cry out so you are alerted to them and their situation. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Another word about crying. As a new mother or parent you learn within the first few weeks or months a lot about crying. There are many different cries. The cry that most babies do during ISR class is a complaining type cry. Babies can't yet talk so crying is their way of communicating. In class they are communicating that they really would rather not work their little bodies so hard. It is a lot of hard physical and mental work to learn how to roll over in the water and to learn how to balance and float. This is not easy. But they are very capable. And almost all of the children stop crying once David picks them up and gives them breaks snuggling in his arms... But that is about David...</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu7I-FzbGHfuOYCppDr5fkmBO5Y_lnpeMEDfS-s4b7NDxABcnDiKxZc34rQi7b-Lkd11Ku1i8NrwnFKD_7Ub7YXm8ly-5i-6ELLgcnAA2agn7W6sOlTZxKbqKJKB_qEAIIaZUd8yS07YPh/s1600/swim+baby+coach+david.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu7I-FzbGHfuOYCppDr5fkmBO5Y_lnpeMEDfS-s4b7NDxABcnDiKxZc34rQi7b-Lkd11Ku1i8NrwnFKD_7Ub7YXm8ly-5i-6ELLgcnAA2agn7W6sOlTZxKbqKJKB_qEAIIaZUd8yS07YPh/s1600/swim+baby+coach+david.JPG" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">David and Baby Hartly ~ 7 months old</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b style="background-color: cyan;">A little bit about our experience with David: </b></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdC93NGaC0dpPvU5OsRDUcOFsc5BfisDHnIzBq3d7dNMHSC7XoI6Ugkq3mic8mcI1lIDll3-3EVNiL8X7Y3-gRsjo2WTkr1k8NYlUro2XCumQgLO4XyjGSNBvdyxVokEJWEk1eLRBuS_9B/s1600/david+swim+baby+hand.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdC93NGaC0dpPvU5OsRDUcOFsc5BfisDHnIzBq3d7dNMHSC7XoI6Ugkq3mic8mcI1lIDll3-3EVNiL8X7Y3-gRsjo2WTkr1k8NYlUro2XCumQgLO4XyjGSNBvdyxVokEJWEk1eLRBuS_9B/s200/david+swim+baby+hand.jpg" width="200" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">reaching for David for class</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">David is truly gifted with children. David grew up in a swimming family in St. Lucia where is family is quite well known for opening famous swim facilities and for coaching many top swimmers. He had a lot of swimming knowledge and experience before he even took ISR courses. David has a very calm and temperament. He is incredibly humble and while he is an expert at what he does, he will tell you he doesn't have a lot of background in child care. This is hard to believe when you see him with the babies and children he works with. As mentioned before, almost all the little ones cry during class. Yet almost all of them smile when they first see David. They often even reach for him when getting in the pool. When he gives them break times they lean into him and when it is over they stop crying, usually, immediately.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="background-color: lime;">David gives children a gift that many kids do not receive until they are much older, if ever. He gives them the gift of believing in them.</span> David trusts them. He knows they can do it. Babies are very needy and very dependent on adults. We do everything for them. Mothers and Fathers stand watch and are often so nervous and fearful for their baby (quite normal). Some parents get to the point where David has to ask them to leave (because the parent getting upset causes more stress on the baby). I myself decided a couple times to excuse myself because I didn't want Hart to see me getting emotional (and David will tell you, Hart rarely cried and never too hard or for too long). But it is hard to watch your child upset. And we, as parents aren't even confident in what our wee little ones can do. David is, often I would guess, the first person that lets a child know that they are separate from us grown-ups and that they have skills to take care of themselves. This is a gift that far exceeds the physical life-saving lesson of rolling or floating (because, hopefully, none of these kids will ever need to actually use what they are taught as far as in an emergency situation). </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSgh8-6fOh7N01KjJAScJiKsjpOB-Vcd4tKa_1gT2uHDBNVeqZFIbiMqqwLk718I0zpD18kwG5dqTZwsPZVnt6UQMcLdgAzibD6XX8KHu024NeMrBX_YTGezXXIGnb_hyphenhyphen3RXDqU1narpdJ/s1600/happy+swim+baby.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSgh8-6fOh7N01KjJAScJiKsjpOB-Vcd4tKa_1gT2uHDBNVeqZFIbiMqqwLk718I0zpD18kwG5dqTZwsPZVnt6UQMcLdgAzibD6XX8KHu024NeMrBX_YTGezXXIGnb_hyphenhyphen3RXDqU1narpdJ/s200/happy+swim+baby.jpg" width="200" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Happy Baby</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">This belief in the baby is something that will get hard-wired into a little ones growing brain and will stay with them indefinitely. The first few years of life are so key in everything else thereafter. <b><i>To have an experience as a baby that something is really, really hard but that with a lot of work and someone by your side that believes in you and gives you appropriate tools to succeed, no matter how long it takes you, but you can do it, is awesome. </i></b> This lesson is one that can be conjured up, subconsciously or otherwise, the rest of this child's life. The confidence that, even when things are extremely physically challenging and even when things seem terrible or hopeless, they can do it! How amazing is that!? What a truly wonderful lesson to learn when you are so little.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b style="background-color: cyan;">How it works schedule-wise:</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">A baby can begin learning the rolling and floating sequence as young as 6 months.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiciQe9cPeicGF9ZNXkxYTQowa03996FxUtjdxTZLQJtfUQZFdDJtokaQZB36hZ1yGXtJAhgFn2_h43RenjPrVfEVhpHPusExTdbZbBKf5rVl4jC0ee6GUCbXvsk9u_WDagI_VinXBvoywo/s1600/swim+baby.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiciQe9cPeicGF9ZNXkxYTQowa03996FxUtjdxTZLQJtfUQZFdDJtokaQZB36hZ1yGXtJAhgFn2_h43RenjPrVfEVhpHPusExTdbZbBKf5rVl4jC0ee6GUCbXvsk9u_WDagI_VinXBvoywo/s400/swim+baby.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">learning how to float</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">This takes anywhere from 3-5 months before they usually are ready to "graduate". This is a <b><u style="background-color: lime;">slow gradual process.</u></b> These are tiny little babies and there are often milestone interruptions (teething, crawling, standing, illnesses...) that may slow the process down. In addition, <span style="background-color: yellow;"><b>it is NOT a 'just throw the baby in the water' class. </b></span> Many of the same exact things are repeated day in and day out, over and over again. A lot of muscle memory and confidence is being built along with each new skill. David makes sure that he does not introduce anything new on Mondays or Fridays. He wants the child to start and end each week getting out of the pool feeling good and confident in the lesson that just occurred. Graduation is pretty amazing and mind blowing. The baby is in full clothes and, at this point, while the baby isn't thrown into the water, the instructor does try to reenact as realistically as possible, what could/would happen in case of an emergency. The baby falls in from off the ledge and sinks halfway down into the water before they come to the surface, flip over and float. David will somersault them in the air to disorient them (which, again, would happen in real emergency) and the child is able to get to the surface, roll over and float. He moves the water around while they are floating so that they constantly have to readjust for the motion. And the baby answers to each request and it is amazing to watch. It makes your heart swell and your eyes fill up with tears because you see this gift you have given this child in case anything ever happens. It is awesome.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Then, every few months for just a couple of weeks, there is a <b style="background-color: yellow;">refresher</b> of the rolling/floating sequence. </span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">We had a refresher lesson in our lake last summer</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Little babies grow a lot and fast and it is important to get back in the water every few months for them to adjust to the weight and body changes because they need to figure out how to adjust for balance. Around 1 1/2 is when they can move onto <b style="background-color: lime;">phase 2: swim-flip onto back-float, float, float-flip onto front-swim-grab the wall/ladder/steps sequence.</b> This is where the child learns to "swim" (it is more of a wiggle that propels them forward, form is not what is being worked on here) and then they learn after a few seconds to roll onto their back and float to catch their breath before flipping back over and continuing their swim/wiggle to the wall/steps/ladder/edge. When they reach their destination they have to reach up and grab on and hold on until help arrives... I don't know what comes after this or what "graduation" of this phase entails because we are</span><span style="font-size: small;"> currently in the middle of it...</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b style="background-color: cyan;">Hartly's experience:</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Hartly started ISR classes with David when he was 7 months old and he took about 4-5 months to graduate from phase one. I believe he was around 11 or 12 months when he graduated (I don't recall exactly). Hart was teething a lot during this time and when a baby is teething badly, swimming is halted (because ISR instructors are taught that teething takes a lot out of a child physically and that they need a lot of rest during this time and swim classes are counterproductive). Also, Hartly was a rare case in that, initially, he didn't cry at all. I think that this may have thrown David for a loop. It was hard to know when to roll him and it is also important for a child to cry some because while they can float a long time, they can't float indefinitely. The crying alerts people to a problem. Hartly never has never been a big cryer. He cries. He just doesn't cry a lot or often.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">From Hart's 1st class at 7 months old until currently (he is 21 months), he has <i><b>adored David. </b></i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Hart saw David everyday during the week from 7 months until almost a year, when he "graduated". Then Hart had 2 refresher sessions, spaced a few months apart, that lasted just a few weeks. Hart then went for almost 5 months without seeing David or being in the water at all. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">In January we went to Puerto Rico to avoid the cold. Hartly was hesitant at first with the water. He was happy to wade in the baby pool but didn't want much to do with the big pool or ocean. He was a little timid and I did not push or encourage him but let him watch and observe. And I waited. It was so hard but I just talked about what people were doing and discussed that it looked like fun. I asked him if he wanted to try and when he said no I dropped it and didn't push him. I had fun in the water and we watched other kids and people splashing around. A few days in and Hartly decided he wanted to play in the water too. I was so glad I hadn't tried to talk him into it because he came around in his own time. I think if I had pushed it (which I was tempted because I love playing in the water), it would have only made him push back and he would not have had same internal pleasure and joy.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2HZ3J1wNGsAxRmVeJjQ9nGW15VZEaog2xQ0v5pn0_m0p-zLd_tm5766SZ1uOAhGS7RZn4TvNv1jhQ6Crwbk7a4PVoHDlS0tbKiZpfJa6C5LdR1EWZMT0RJyTmYxbH5xlMTkFtnO7U1vk9/s1600/fun+water+ocean.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2HZ3J1wNGsAxRmVeJjQ9nGW15VZEaog2xQ0v5pn0_m0p-zLd_tm5766SZ1uOAhGS7RZn4TvNv1jhQ6Crwbk7a4PVoHDlS0tbKiZpfJa6C5LdR1EWZMT0RJyTmYxbH5xlMTkFtnO7U1vk9/s200/fun+water+ocean.JPG" width="200" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">pure joy</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">By the end of our trip Hartly was madly in love with anything water. He loved sitting in the sand and having the waves come up to him and pull him into the ocean - a little freaky to watch but also hysterical because he was so happy getting sucked into the waves. He would roll around and be submerged under the water and he would come up, hair full of sand and he would say "more! more!" laughing hysterically. </span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">enjoying the ocean</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">He wanted to go in the big pool and he would ask to be thrown or ask to go under. He was also very good about never going near the water unless Frank or I was right with him He was cautious but also adventurous. And David's name came up a few times. "Who taught you how to swim?", "David"... although I was not too confident he truly remembered who David was. One day I did find an old photo from the summer with Hart and David and I asked Hartly who it was. Without hesitating he said, with a huge grin, "David!". We had a great time and played a lot in the water. It was a wonderful trip!! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><i><u style="background-color: yellow;">NOTE:</u></i></b> A few days into our trip in Puerto Rico, Hart fell face first while walking around in the baby pool. I was an arms length away. Before I could even react, <b style="background-color: lime;">his little arm shot up into the air and his whole big toddler self rolled over onto his back.</b> It was the coolest thing and an amazing example of <b><i><u style="background-color: lime;">muscle memory </u></i></b>and how ingrained David's and the ISR Method truly is. A few more times throughout our 5 weeks there, Hart tripped or went in the water over his head. Each time I was there but each time he also, automatically, shot his little arm up behind him and flipped his body over onto his back. I never tested if he was able to float. I always picked him up right away because I didn't want to scare him or discourage him if he had not been able to float. At any rate, while a couple of times this frightened him and he cried a little, a few other times he went right back to playing without missing a beat. What was crazy fascinating to me was that here is a 19 month old who has not been in the water or had a lesson in over 5 months!! (one fourth his life) and his body reacted and remembered what he had been taught months before. It was just so satisfying and cool to witness.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">As soon as we returned from Puerto Rico we started right back in with the swimming. As I mentioned, it had been months and I was a little nervous because Hart could now walk and talk and I did not know how he was going to react to being forced to work hard in the water everyday. I braced myself the first day back...</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-dnLGcxb_iWHSjUBR8rnUMd_ZvwCBq_kq6SCiHAy53ILXMjsViBjlKQm9l4wLKWobucpfAqaz7npzvmy17UcKzJV9NnebQa72yVVV6RIUQ3WnACurT7C85iaQO1SEjfVW-9wtX2elKXMS/s1600/david+hart+swim+21+months.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" height="141" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-dnLGcxb_iWHSjUBR8rnUMd_ZvwCBq_kq6SCiHAy53ILXMjsViBjlKQm9l4wLKWobucpfAqaz7npzvmy17UcKzJV9NnebQa72yVVV6RIUQ3WnACurT7C85iaQO1SEjfVW-9wtX2elKXMS/s200/david+hart+swim+21+months.JPG" width="200" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Hart and David</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4fOGjbtVTPaS5d8ZV62H91VuSwYLnbCE74Tew7t6a8LG3xK7uaH1KdsPd41daSjGRlb4KlxAalE9KMZVpCRCr6Mu7JxtPj5KjPkK0eiJDW3sUfuFEw1CrA0Eb0RCHNW7TPSZzjmsGYJRS/s1600/a+high+5+david+swim.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" height="270" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4fOGjbtVTPaS5d8ZV62H91VuSwYLnbCE74Tew7t6a8LG3xK7uaH1KdsPd41daSjGRlb4KlxAalE9KMZVpCRCr6Mu7JxtPj5KjPkK0eiJDW3sUfuFEw1CrA0Eb0RCHNW7TPSZzjmsGYJRS/s320/a+high+5+david+swim.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Getting a high-five from David</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">There was no need to. Although I can't imagine how, it seemed as though Hartly remembered David and when the first lesson was over, Hart was asking for more. This is how it has been for the last 2 months. <b>Hartly wakes up in the morning and often the first word out of his mouth is, "David?". </b> Hart will randomly lie down on the ground with his arms out and legs straight and say, "floating. David.". He will be sitting and start kicking his legs and say, "Swimming. David." Frank recently bought Hartly a chin up bar that we installed low and Hartly loves to hang on it(one of our best purchases ever! Hartly is obsessed with hanging. Nothing makes him happier than this hanging bar.). He will say, "Reach up" when he grabs for it (because David says to him, reach up, for when Hart gets to the wall and has to hold on). <b style="background-color: lime;">He thinks about David and about the lessons in the water he is learning. </b></span><br />
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</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Most recently Hart wanted to make a painting for David. He wanted it blue, like "blue pool" he swims in with David. After his painting had dried and glitter and fish stickers had been added, I suggested we write something to David. Hartly said, "Yes". I wish I had recorded the following, but I remember it pretty well:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Me: "What do you want to say to David?"</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Hartly: "David."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Me: "We should put his name on the picture?"</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Hartly: "Yes."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Me: "Ok. What else? Do you want to thank him for teaching you how to swim?"</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Hartly: "Yes."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Me: "Ok. Well, tell me what words I should write."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Hartly: "Thank you."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Me: "Ok. Anything else?"</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Hartly: (thinking) Pause. Pause. Pause. "Love you!!!"</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Me: "You want me to write Love you to David?"</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Hartly: "Yes."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Me: "Anything else?"</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Hartly: "Read it."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Me: "You want me to read to you what I wrote?"</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Hartly: "Yes."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Me: "David - Thank you. Love you. Are you done or do you want to add more?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Hartly: "More Thank you."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Me: "You want me to write thank you again?"</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Hartly: "Yes."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Me: "Ok. Anything else?"</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Hartly: "Swimming."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Me: "You want me to write swimming on it?"</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Hartly: "Yes.(pause) Hartly."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Me: "I should put your name on it so he knows who it is from?"</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Hartly: "Yes. (pause) Read it."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Me: "David - Thank you. Love you. Thank you. Swimming. Hartly."</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Hartly: "All done." </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Hartly said it better than I ever could! </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJEeA6pmijDrCGNmey-D-evVPfIvOvOlxCNqCVEpA1az90F-26zSVSVZUlm0RtrK6DNpvOWzx9_lEIfSt7PBkP22VqmAtyhvXGhKRJulDWMTzTglyzO4hrVJqXOeTSWrWDH0rTJeIfi8kV/s1600/hart+david+painting+swim.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJEeA6pmijDrCGNmey-D-evVPfIvOvOlxCNqCVEpA1az90F-26zSVSVZUlm0RtrK6DNpvOWzx9_lEIfSt7PBkP22VqmAtyhvXGhKRJulDWMTzTglyzO4hrVJqXOeTSWrWDH0rTJeIfi8kV/s320/hart+david+painting+swim.JPG" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Hart with painting, David coaching background</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-large;"><b style="background-color: cyan;">DAVID. </b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-large;"><b style="background-color: white;"> </b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-large;"><b style="background-color: cyan;">THANK YOU. </b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-large;"><b style="background-color: cyan;"><br />
</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-large;"><b style="background-color: cyan;">LOVE YOU.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-large;"><b style="background-color: cyan;"><br />
</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-large;"><b style="background-color: cyan;">THANK YOU.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-large;"><b style="background-color: cyan;"><br />
</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-large;"><b style="background-color: cyan;">SWIMMING.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-large;"><b style="background-color: cyan;"><br />
</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-large;"><b style="background-color: cyan;">~HARTLY </b></span>Rosebellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03767920671254903880noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1620900955251022107.post-91982890868627819772012-03-06T12:29:00.006-08:002012-03-06T18:35:51.490-08:0020 months - Hartly Jose having fun and saying his whole nameHartly Jose is obsessed with hanging and spinning and climbing and talking. He talks a LOT! Frank and I are continuously amazed and entertained by him. He is a ton of fun to be around!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/xohcHL-6ziE?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>Rosebellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03767920671254903880noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1620900955251022107.post-10101845641651496742012-03-05T12:57:00.003-08:002012-03-14T17:13:06.551-07:00Elimination Communication update (20 months old)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: left;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBeoUfxLJ72hhzlpsuf3XLgHporeoB1aG6k4lvznx00MwaVaCGt6RW9JG2QZLqIMrRxrij6bJ8JcUMdH2H0icplx81e95hPHtwg6dSAP6atzhCh8uLlGYrEX5jB2b_bCPNwRtNDJBTjmM1/s1600/papi+potty+w+Hartly.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBeoUfxLJ72hhzlpsuf3XLgHporeoB1aG6k4lvznx00MwaVaCGt6RW9JG2QZLqIMrRxrij6bJ8JcUMdH2H0icplx81e95hPHtwg6dSAP6atzhCh8uLlGYrEX5jB2b_bCPNwRtNDJBTjmM1/s200/papi+potty+w+Hartly.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hartly a couple weeks old</td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Background: When Hartly was just a few weeks old, Frank said to me that he wanted to put Hart on the potty. I laughed and rolled my eyes. Frank brought this subject up many times. He argued that in other countries they do not use disposable diapers and that children are in underwear much earlier... I was a new mom and had a lot going on. I told Frank that I would as long as - 1.) Frank did all the research, 2.) He had to tell me exactly what to do AND, most importantly, 3.) As long as it didn't stress out the baby and it doesn't stress out me. For more details, refer to my February 9th, 2011 post. For Update, keep reading...</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hartly, 20 months, planting seeds</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TfaK-4RGSfw/T0k_mUnhH2I/AAAAAAAAK2A/UmFcXr-fgvg/s1600/IMAGE_BE4329B2-6A4C-422F-B44A-175D6C5F3608.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TfaK-4RGSfw/T0k_mUnhH2I/AAAAAAAAK2A/UmFcXr-fgvg/s200/IMAGE_BE4329B2-6A4C-422F-B44A-175D6C5F3608.JPG" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Naked in the Ocean!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Update: Hartly is now 20 months old. He is walking and running and climbing. He talks a ton, is learning to dress and undress himself. He loves airplanes, swimming and hanging. He helps around the house and is learning to feed himself independently. And Hartly pees and poos in a potty. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Is he completely Diaper-Free? No. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Does he understand when he needs to go to the bathroom? Absolutely. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Does he always make it on time? Does he always tell me when he has to go? No. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Does he often not want to stop playing to use the bathroom? Does traveling make it harder? Is it sometimes confusing (I can pee in the shower and in the ocean but not in the pool or on the floor?)? Yes.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-35g9RQaeG3s/T1OZeGRezaI/AAAAAAAAQEA/Q3YIjKtEjLY/s1600/IMAGE_1AD0089A-7BBE-4CF5-9FF5-1286F8FC460B.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-35g9RQaeG3s/T1OZeGRezaI/AAAAAAAAQEA/Q3YIjKtEjLY/s200/IMAGE_1AD0089A-7BBE-4CF5-9FF5-1286F8FC460B.JPG" width="149" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hartly hanging</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-STbrxxtponY/T1OZ0WIVGiI/AAAAAAAAQFQ/HFv49JinGA8/s1600/IMAGE_7F7B3CC1-88FA-4089-AD7B-8C616A1B8319.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="149" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-STbrxxtponY/T1OZ0WIVGiI/AAAAAAAAQFQ/HFv49JinGA8/s200/IMAGE_7F7B3CC1-88FA-4089-AD7B-8C616A1B8319.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hartly in undies in our tent with ballpit balls </td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">For the past couple of weeks Hart has been interested in wearing underwear exclusively. He wants to wear it all the time. If he wants to wear underwear and we are at home, I let him wear underwear. I have explained that he can't pee when the underwear is on or else it will mess all over him. He nods and looks at me and says, "hooollldddd it". Yes, I say. When you wear underwear, you have to hold your pee until you can get to a potty. "Ohhh Kay" he says. And, for the most part, he does. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Whenever I have to use the bathroom I tell him he needs to try too, so I am reminding him. And he, occasionally, tells me, "potty" too when he has to go. But more often than not he tells me he has to go by saying, "Hhhooollllddd it!" and that means he has to go but is holding it. I then ask if he needs the potty and he says, " Yes" and proceeds to tell me if he wants the big potty or little potty. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">But, as I mentioned, he is not completely Diaper-Free. And he has had "accidents". </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I have been feeling slightly guilty because, when we are out and about, I put him in a diaper. He will sometimes tell me when we are out, "pee pee" and if it is not convenient or easy to find or we are in the car or I am in a rush... I say, "It's okay. Just go in your diaper." UGH! Bad Mommy! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">And there have been 3 times over the past 5 days that he has been playing all day, dry, in his underwear when, toward evening, he stood right next to me and said, "peeing" and he was right. He was standing there looking down and peeing...</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZAINo_agNAg/T0lAUOHWpkI/AAAAAAAAK40/_7Qq-Vwn-qI/s1600/IMAGE_8C8FE06D-8785-4657-B4DE-2664479B5193.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZAINo_agNAg/T0lAUOHWpkI/AAAAAAAAK40/_7Qq-Vwn-qI/s200/IMAGE_8C8FE06D-8785-4657-B4DE-2664479B5193.JPG" width="149" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We brought our own potty to PR</td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">And it can be frustrating that he is not completely Diaper-Free because I know he understands... but.... I have to remind myself about the goal of EC. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The goal is: </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">1.) for the baby to have body awareness from an early age - Hart has been pooing on a potty since he was 4 months old! We have changed VERY few poopy diapers since birth. Only if he is teething, sick or if he goes during nap or sleeptime has he had BMs in his diaper and not on the potty. Hart, for many, many months has told us, when he is in a diaper, "peeing". Even when we travel he uses the potty! </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RdBtTjplGaY/TxoxmVTFTDI/AAAAAAAAISo/qZaSZ3C6V0w/s1600/photo+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RdBtTjplGaY/TxoxmVTFTDI/AAAAAAAAISo/qZaSZ3C6V0w/s200/photo+2.JPG" width="149" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">In Spain Hart used adult toilets</td></tr>
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<div style="text-align: right;"></div><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">He has signed for the potty since he was under a year. He definitely has body awareness! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">2.) for the baby to be healthy and clean - Hartly has never had a diaper rash. Never. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">3.) To use less diapers and be better to our environment - We do GDiapers AND disposable. And, on average, Hartly only uses 2-3 diapers per day (including nap and bedtime). So, we have, at least a little, lessened our carbon print on the world. AND he is still just a baby! </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XDF1JebHyNE/Twpf5lJ2QCI/AAAAAAAAILQ/_GzTHYyCbb4/s1600/photo+3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XDF1JebHyNE/Twpf5lJ2QCI/AAAAAAAAILQ/_GzTHYyCbb4/s200/photo+3.JPG" width="149" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Painting in his Baby Gs</td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">A few people have asked me what my reaction is when he has "misses" or "accidents". My reaction is very matter-of-fact. I do not get upset at him! I simply comment on what has occurred. If he is underwear and has made a little mess I say, "You went pee-pee on yourself. Oh no. Now we have to clean up. Next time tell Mama if you need the bathroom or go get a potty." Then he has to take his wet underwear off and we put it in the sink and we wash it together. He also gets wiped down and then he takes towels and goes and cleans where he left a puddle. It is not a punishment. I always help him. It is just a consequence. When Hart has an accident at the table and spills his water, he cleans it up. He doesn't get in trouble or yelled at but he knows that if he makes a mess, he has to clean it up. When he dumps out his toys, he cleans them up when he is done playing with them. He is used to cleaning up after himself and he often sings to himself, "Clean up. Clean up." while he does it. If Hart goes in his diaper, I just mention it when taking it off for him to use bathroom, "Oh look. Hartly went pee pee in his diaper. Next time, try and hold it and tell Mommy if you need the potty".</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mmV-He_vMuM/T0k7K1IGNPI/AAAAAAAAKpU/oKxqJx8iNPc/s1600/IMAGE_064788E3-71F4-45C6-9A5C-2032145F86AB.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mmV-He_vMuM/T0k7K1IGNPI/AAAAAAAAKpU/oKxqJx8iNPc/s200/IMAGE_064788E3-71F4-45C6-9A5C-2032145F86AB.JPG" width="149" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hartly helping keep hotel room tidy</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</tbody></table><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">For anyone who thinks all of this is pushing a child or asking too much, I might have thought the same thing in the past. But Hartly, actually, really likes being independent. Even when he was very little, he enjoyed sitting on the little potty (and it really helped strengthen his core and helped him with his balance). He feels pride when he uses the bathroom and he enjoys the one-to-one time he gets with me or with his dad when he is sitting on the potty. He enjoys learning how to do things. Kids are capable of so much! It's nice to give them opportunities to display their knowledge and enjoy doing things. Ask anyone who knows him. Hartly is a VERY happy baby!</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-uVYi4unDCAE/T0qfO-J9r0I/AAAAAAAAPe8/FTDK9XGrqJ8/s1600/photo+5.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-uVYi4unDCAE/T0qfO-J9r0I/AAAAAAAAPe8/FTDK9XGrqJ8/s400/photo+5.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Happy Boy in PR</td></tr>
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</span>Rosebellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03767920671254903880noreply@blogger.com1