Happy Birthday, Day 4

Tomorrow my baby will girl will turn two in an orphanage in Africa. 

And today Libby wants to talk to her about THE most important thing. 

Happy Birthday, Emily (Day 4) from McCall Aldridge on Vimeo.

Only one day left to help Libby meet her goal of raising $1000 to bring her sister home. 

If you'd like to help her reach her goal, 

simply go to www.aldridgeadoption.bigcartel.com.

Or if you'd like to pass on a bracelet and just donate a dollar or two,

there is a paypal button on my blog sidebar. 

Every dollar donated is one dollar closer to her goal. 

As of right now, she's at $533 raised with about thirty hours left to go. 

Thank you to everyone who has already purchased a bracelet. 

YOU are helping to change the world for our little girl, and we are forever grateful. 

And thanks again to my precious friend Tobi for this precious print.

 It brings joy to my heart every time I see it. 

And don't forget-- just SIX days left to place a t-shirt order!

www.aldridgeadoption.bigcartel.com 

Happy Birthday, Emily (Day 3)

Red, grey, brown, blue, pink....which one are you loving? 

Libby loves them all and is over the moon excited about her sister's second birthday. 

Have YOU ordered one of Libby's bracelets yet? 

She's on a mission to raise $1000 by February 5th to help bring her little sister home from Africa. 

And she's jumping for joy over each sale...literally. 

And today's letter? 

I cried filming it. 

I cried previewing it. 

I cried watching it. 

And I'm crying now. 

Adoption is hard. 

It comes with loads of hurt and heartache. 

But God? 

God is good. 

And He makes all things new, even families. 

libby3 from McCall Aldridge on Vimeo.

So thankful that adoption is teaching our kiddos to be thankful for the blessing of family and to realize that not everyone has one of those....and that's never ever going to be okay. 

*Reminder* 

Only seven more days to order one of our super soft adoption shirts. 

You can place your order here. 

Two more days. 

Two more letters. 

One step closer to our girl. 

Thank you thank you thank you.

High fives and bear hugs for everyone. 

Happy Birthday, Emily (Day 2)

Oh, my Libby. 

The girl is on a mission. 

She's literally checking the computer or my phone every five minutes to see if someone new has ordered a bracelet for her sister. 

SO SO SO CUTE!

And the bracelets? 

They're selling. 

In fact, the grey and white chevron sold out on the first day, so at Libby's request, we just ordered more. 

A mission, I tell you.

Emily, you are so so so loved, baby girl. 

And without further adieu, here's Libby's second letter to her sister: 

Happy Birthday, Emily (Day 2) from McCall Aldridge on Vimeo.

If you'd like to support Libby and our adoption by purchasing one of Libby's bracelets, you can find them at www.aldridgeadoption.bigcartel.com  .

They come in several colors: 

And I'm pretty sure Libby has never been more proud of anything in her whole life. 

She seriously wants her sister home....like yesterday. 

And just a reminder: 

WE ARE ONLY ORDERING ONE MORE BATCH OF T-SHIRTS, so if you'd like to order one, act quickly! The last day to order will be February 10th. 

You can also find them at www.aldridgeadoption.bigcartel.com  .

Thank you again to everyone who has ordered so far. 

You are bringing the BIGGEST smile to our faces and joy to our hearts. 

Happy Birthday Emily, Day 1

Our newest addition, Emily, turns two this week.....in Africa. 

There are so many things that run through my head when I think about this. 

It would be so easy to be sad and let this wreck me. 

BUT, I'm choosing joy....and Libby is helping me. 

First, let me say that this was her idea. 

She's a creative one, that girl of mine. 

She had a huge part in every piece of this project. 

And she wants to help bring her sister home. 

Her goal?

She wants to sell 100 bracelets in the five days that lead up to her sister's birthday. 

With the help of her cousins, she made each and every one of these. 

And she is so proud of them. 

And she hopes to sell them all.....this week. 

That's a lot of selling, folks. 

The girl is dedicated. 

Each day for the next five days, Libby will read a letter she has written to her sister, Emily. 

Melt my heart and pass the Kleenex. 

Letter one: 

Happy Birthday, Emily (Day 1) from McCall Aldridge on Vimeo.

If you'd like to help Libby reach her goal, head on over to www.aldridgeadoption.bigcartel.com. 

You can select your color or choose to be surprised. 

Each bracelet is a minimum donation of $10.00 and comes with free shipping. 

Each bracelet is one step closer to bringing our girl HOME. 

Or, if you'd prefer, you can make a donation in any amount through the paypal link on my sidebar. 

And while you're there, feel free to place a t-shirt order!

We'll only be ordering one more batch of shirts.

$1000 in five days. 

One less orphan. 

Three forever sisters. 

Thank you, thank you, thank you, and come back tomorrow to hear letter #2! 

Word to Your Mother

When you have two little girls and a certain level of natural,

 unavoidable sibling rivalry in your house 365 days of the year.....

And your girls have this one thing they both love to do....together....that puts the rivalry to rest......

You go with it. 

Even if makes your kiddos look their belong in a Vanilla Ice comeback video. 

Here's hoping your weekend was top notch and free from sibling blah blah blah. 

Splishin' and Splashin'

Not sure about where you are, but where we are, it is nothing short of H.O.T.

And you know what that means.....

a $12 pool to entertain my kiddos and keep them from melting..... cause that would be messy for sure.

Pretty sure this one thinks it's a new found heaven on Earth.

And while Hollyn wasn't too sure of it at first, she and the pool have now bonded quite nicely.

If we only could teach Libby the proper pool hair etiquette, then I'm pretty sure all would be right with the world.

But that messy hair sure did make for one cute baby......

....and some quality sister time.....

.....and one amazing photo.

Thanks, new cell phone, for capturing some precious moments of my girls this weekend.

What are YOU doing to stay cool this summer?

Here's what worked for us in 2010.

And here's hoping your weekend has been nothing short of ugh-may-zing.

The Past Twenty-Four Or So

First things first, Happy Good Friday.

Next, see this shirt?

It's my new favorite. The proceeds went to help a family in Texas fund their adoption, and I'm thinking that gives it two steps up on the cool scale. If you'd like to learn more about the McKeaiggs, you can follow their story here or here.

Moving on....

have you ever seen a bunny cuter than this?

I'm thinking probably not.

And this little bunny happens to be loved... a whole heap of a lot...and not just by the fam.

Last week, our precious friend Lenzie, who will be accompanying Kristen to Africa this summer, sent Libby flowers.

And then yesterday, the Libster got a little something in the mail:

My super thoughtful friend, Allison, sent her this little happy in the hopes of helping Libby forget about her skin for a even a wee little moment.

Can I just say that true friends are one of my favorite things about life?

I am so blessed and thankful in the friend department.

Know what else I'm thinking for?

My springtime vice:

In case there's any question, that would be a vanilla coke from Sonic and peeps, one of the greatest candies ever invented, second only to the magic that is commonly referred to as candy corn.

But yesterday, there was no vice needed.

Libby provided plenty of entertainment and distraction when she decided it was part of her role as the big sister to introduce Hollyn to playing in the mud.

Here she is prior to the incident:

And here she is after the incident:

Funny thing is, even covered in dirt, she's still so stinkin' adorable.

And this is what guilty looks like:

Here's hoping your Friday was top notch.

What's the Easter Bunny bringing to YOUR house this weekend????

You can read about what he brought to us in 2010 , and here you'll find the recipe for the empty tomb Easter cookies.

Have a wonderful Easter weekend, lovelies.

WINNER, Music to My Little Ears, and Wordless Wednesday

First, congrats to KRISTEN, comment #2, on winning the Malisay Designs Giveaway! :) Apparently random.org was in a single digit kind of mood this morning.
Don't forget the Little Bow Teek giveaway ends on Thursday, so if you're planning on entering, please do that soon. :)
Moving on now.

I could literally listen to Hollyn laugh all day, every day.

Ok, well I guess it would be ok if she should pause to sleep...and eat....and whatnot.

But seriously, I think it's my very favorite sound.

Ever.

So, you know I'm gonna ask...what is YOUR favorite sound????

What makes that little heart of your smile the way her little laugh makes mine?

Seriously...I'm curious. :)

And before I go, here's my pic. for Wordless Wednesday, which I'm hoping will make you giggle...it certainly had that effect on me.

My Many Hats

Pseudo Sisters- Part Two

*** In case you missed part one of this, you can find it here.***

Bless you, my darling, and remember you are always in the heart – oh tucked so close there is no chance of escape – of your sister. ~ Katherine Mansfield

 

This quote utterly exemplifies how I feel about this one:

 

 

Bloggers, meet my Rebecca.  She's my pseudo sister, number two, and I absolutely could not possibly adore her more. She's the little sister I never had, my greatest cheerleader (other than my mom, of course), my all-time support in the motherhood department, and my favorite sounding board. She's also my guitar hero, the most patient person I've ever met, and who I aim to be in terms of serving others.

Words cannot express how much I love this one.

She's been there during the birth (well, in the lobby, seeing as how I've had two c-sections) of both of my babies. She also happens to be Libby's godmother. To say the Libster adores her-- well, mildly put, that just doesn't do it justice.

She's the friend I know I can call any time of day, and although she's truly one of the busiest people I know, she's never too busy for me. We can go weeks (although I'd rather not) without talking and NEVER miss a beat. We have very similar parenting styles, and she loves my girls unconditionally....this was put to the test the time Libby got the stomach virus at her house. We're still talking two years later. That's true friendship, folks.

She is a true spiritual advisor for me, and I firmly believe every Christian girl needs one of these. I know I can always rely on her to give me good, Godly advice, to always listen to me, always be honest with me, and support me no matter what kind of mess I may fall into one day down the road.

We met my last year in college and took to each other like flies to honey. In fact, she's my social club little sister. (Good thing that worked out, because she threatened to quit pledging if she'd been paired with anyone but me. ;) ).  And for the past eight years come this September, a piece of my heart has had her name on it.

Should I ever have a crazy, completely random, totally off the wall idea, she's the one I call, 1.) because I know if she laughs at me it will be with love, and 2.) because I know that if she thinks my idea is total junk she'll find the perfect way to word her response that will leave me knowing I need to rethink and still feeling ok about my decision-making abilities.

In addition to loving her, I also love her little one like he is my own.....

...and sometimes I wish he was.

So, Becka- thank you.

 Thank you for loving me despite all my imperfections, bad decisions, and days when I don't call.

You are truly one of my greatest gifts.