M-I-C...K-E-Y M-O-U-S-E

A few weeks ago, Chris and I took Zeke on a special date to see the Mickey Mouse Road Show. He is a HUGE Mickey fan so it was a no brainer that we take the little Mouseketeer. A couple times he popped up out of his seat and tried to get past Chris so he could "go up there and see Mickey." I mean they're like BFF's right?

He was enthralled by all the characters, but the best was....

...when Mickey came out! His smile is emotion-FULL!

Those were FUN moments in parenthood. It makes my heart smile just thinking about it.

Shot Caller

I tried to get Hannah on video, too, she was chanting "Go Zeke Go!" and by chanting I mean, I could tell that's she was saying, but to most others it was incomprehensible. The air conditioning was buzzing so loud as you'll see below, that her faint chant was lost to the untrained ear.

Snow days

Our snow days in backwards order of the snowfall's occurrence =)

Hold on Hannah!

Our little ox-man

Half-built snowman... Zeke liked rolling the body into shape and finding the man a hat and then he was done; not to mention Hannah was done 10 min before the snowman began

Six months of Hannah Belle

Monday marked six months of Hannah Belle being at home. In some ways it's flown by, but at the same time it feels like a long time ago. She seemed liked such a petite baby girl then and now she's entering toddlerhood, though she still seems like a little thing to me. She didn't eat much at all at that point and though she smiled all the time, she just seemed a little out of sorts. Now, she eats better than her big brother, runs all over the house, talks all the time though we can't understand a word she says, has asserted her stubborness (I guess she's comfortable), and my favorite, she laughs. Hopefully, we're even on the uphill climb of all her infections with her Adenoidectomy and tubes put in four weeks ago this Friday. Zeke loves having his little sister, though I think she thinks him a nuisance as of late (I can tell by the stiff arm she gives him day in day out). Watch out big bro, she's scrappy and sassy. We love this baby girl; her charm and sunshine of a smile, she has a mind of her own, and is so sharp, especially seeing as how she sleeps a mere hour a day and to that I pray....dear Lord please make her sleep longer. Happy six months to the Mize family of four!

Mr Fix It

I feel like so many pics of Hannah are in her high chair, but what can I say, she's eating food now, thanks be to GOD, Adenoidectomies, and tubes!!

You should always wear a headlamp to excavate under the kitchen table, you just don't know

what could be under there.

Reality

Reality. Its not always what we see or perceive. I've been wanting to post about this for a few weeks now, but haven't had the chance. Sorry I haven't had any pictures lately, I will get back to that soon, promise. I just had this on my heart and wanted to get it out. Sometimes for me, I read people's blogs and get this feeling like everyone has it together and moms are at home teaching abc's and phonetics to their young while in the off time the children are engaging in imaginative play. Now, isn't that just ridiculous. I know that even for myself I tend to post the cutest pictures that just can't sum up what a true day is like. And that's ok. I will continue to do that, but lately I've been feeling like maybe I need to throw some reality in there. Maybe call it Funky Friday, Whiny Wednesday, or Sour Saturday and show the reality that, to me, being a mom is hard, it tries my patience, I feel ill-equipped, under prepared, and lots of times just plain insecure. There. I said it. I'm just trying to be real and honest. I hope I haven't come across cynical. I love my kids to pieces and they do make me smile a ton, but its not about that. Mommying has been harder on mind, body, and soul than I would ever have thought and I wanted to convey that. To quote a friend... "I think it’s important to be transparent on this journey... I think it’s only fair to share the whole story and not color it certain ways so that it looks different than what it really is."

Question of the Day

This was so funny to me. It was the most asked question of the day...

"Are they from Haiti?"

And there was a second runner up, too, believe it or not. It was just one of those days I guess!

"Are they brother and sister?"

I mean, I know what they mean, but the sass in me wants to say, "Duh." With a smile on my face of course! I truly don't mind questions, I just couldn't help but share them.

The many Emotions of Zeke

All I wanted was ONE smiling picture, but what I got was all this.

Flashback

Our long time friend Bruce had a 30th birthday party and we all got decked out in our favorite era. Of course, we picked the late 80's, early 90's. Duh. I wore a snazzy canary yellow Whitney Houston-esque one-piece while Chris managed to re-pierce his lobe that was first pierced in, yes, the early 90's. That a boy! Good thing I never threw out that hair crimper that

my sister and I used to fry our hair with!

some January pictures

Just chillin' with Princess Tiana

Hannah has been laughing for a month or so and we just LOVE it. Its so great to hear that come out of her!

Our first attempt at a little puff on Hannah's head. Its not much I know, but we'll take it!

Zeke's one hour mohawk...meaning it lasted for an hour. Chris thought it was fun, but ahhh, it just didn't look like him! Now, its WAY to short. My bad.

PTL!

Praise the LORD! Humanitarian Parole has been granted for many orphans! Many, many Haitian orphans who had been in the process of getting adopted are getting out and will be flown to safety and to their Forever Families! We praise the Lord, that He has rescued many children that have been without any housing and food and are being evacuated to safety. Please continue to pray for these children, the workers in Haiti dealing with the stress of making this Parole happen, for the nannies that have faithfully poured their lives into the children, and the countless men, women, and children that will stay behind in Haiti. Thanks for reading this and praying!

Relief for the Orphans

Many, many orphans in Haiti have solid, loving families waiting for them here in the states. We have some friends, Kim and David Rhodes (http://afamilyforfrankie.wordpress.com/) that are in the process of adopting their son Frankie (who's just a handful of months older than our Zeke) and is just one of those beautiful Haitian children waiting to be placed in the arms of their Forever Family. Please pray, as supplies are running low, safety isn't great, shelters have been great shambled, and the lives of these children, let alone all Haitians, have been turned upside down. Please pray with us that the Haitian government would allow these dear children to come home despite all the lost paperwork, Humanitarian Parole is the buzz word I hear that the particular act is called. Please pray that the mountain is moved for NOTHING is IMPOSSIBLE with our GOD.

some December pictures

This was Zeke's thing in December...it cracked us up, but it got him in trouble too. There were a few times of having to discipline him with my hand over my mouth.

Hannah happy with her Great Acey (Great Grandmother)

Mimi and all her grand-chirrun