Happy Gotcha Day - Two Years ago !

Two years ago we were handed a beautiful, sweet little baby girl. 

And the adventure began.

Maggie and I watched her Gotcha Day video today and she was a little unsure of it all. She told me baby Maggie was sick and sad.

Our little baby girl is getting so big now and the changes in her are ENORMOUS !  When we first met Maggie, she could not use her hands, walk, talk, communicate, look us in the eye, play with toys. Nothing.

 We love you so much.
You are a brave and captivating little girl with so much life and love to give.
Happy Gotcha Day Maggie !

December Catch Up.

We do daily Bible readings after dinner every night. Right now we are using M'Cheyne's Calender For Daily Readings as a guide. Generally, we clean up the dinner table and head to the living room. Maggie's job is to pass out the Bibles ( she takes her job very seriously - she loves doing this). Then we all take turns reading verses, except for Maggie of course.  She likes to sit by her brothers and pretend to read.  This night she read her Bible with a purple bucket on head. Why not ?

Colorful markers + plain paper = hours of quiet fun !

Maggie loved helping me wrap presents this year.  She really is starting to understand Christmas and she loved playing with the presents and ornaments.

The boys and Maggie made a box house with a telescope.  Such a simple toy that brought lots of smiles and fun.

 I think the fact that Maggie is half-dressed added to the fun too !

Kids Having Fun With Grandparents..

Big Milestone !

We're celebrating !

Because Maggie is potty trained !!!

For reals. 

I started potty training Maggie way back in the summer, but I was not consistent at all.  So, I kind of gave up.  Then, Maggie started a new school and her teacher is known as the "potty whisperer".  Seriously. She is known to magically transform little ones from diapers to potty in just a week. And so she did. It took about a week for her to start going potty. She is even sleeping in her big girl panties - no pull ups - and no accidents at night. We are all so proud of her !
 I think Maggie is pretty proud of herself too !  

Just Cause

Sorry for the lack of creativity. It's been crazy busy around here, but I had to share the pictures. 

 Maggie got up from her nap and was so happy.  I let her play around in the kitchen a little without her hearing aid.  I love how pretty her hair is and how long it is getting.

Maggie loves to wear her birthday girl pin her teacher gave her last month. 

She asks to wear it everyday by saying " party", which sounds exactly like "potty". 

 Everyone keeps telling her happy birthday when we go out !

She also loves glasses !

 She's figured out they won't stay on her eyes ( due to her little ear and small nose bridge) so she holds them on. I need to find her a sun glass strap.

Will thought it was fun to push Maggie around the room while she was on the potty.
 I never thought of a potty chair as a push toy !

Maggie talking at dinner.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rv2LVdt8coc&sns=em

Chuck Beams

Happenings.

I've gotten serious about potty training Maggie. There are little potty chairs scattered throughout the house,but Maggie really prefers the potty that is in front of the television. She takes forever to go to the bathroom, so I thought why fight it.  Just stick a potty in front of the tv and let her take her time. 

She also eats breakfast and lunch while she's on the potty. Whatever works is my motto !

And it is working.  Maggie is so good at holding it until she can get to a bathroom or in our case - our living room throne ! She is wearing pull-ups mostly, but she will soon go to big girl Dora Princess panties. Whoo Hoo !

For Halloween, Will was an FBI agent and Walker was supposed to be Elvis. 

 (He lacked a tacky polyester white jumper and cape.)

Of course Maggie was Minnie Mouse.  We called her Minnie all day long and she just smiled so big. I made her dress and ordered her Minnie ears off Etsy. I found some Minnie Mouse sticker earrings and she thought she was so big to have earrings on like her Momma.

Momma!!

Three !!!

Yesterday, Maggie turned three!  We celebrated at home with a little party and next week we'll celebrate with a bigger Minnie Mouse party with family. She's already had a camping birthday party and a party at her preschool. 

She was giddy about her new UGG boots and her Minnie Mouse necklace and birthday pin.

Fabulous ! 

Happy Birthday sweet girl.

You are amazing.  

We feel so blessed that you are our daughter.

You are such a big girl now.

We love you !!! 

The Great Pumpkin Patch.

Maggie's preschool class went to the pumpkin patch today. She tried to pick the pumpkins up, but they were way to heavy. She would say "pum-in - pum-in" which is totally cool that she can say pumpkin and it sounds pretty close to what it should sound like.

The John Deer Tractor was a big hit with all the kids. 

 Maggie pretty much stayed on it. 

Look how big she looks sitting all by her self with her legs straight out.  She was such a big girl and sat with her class while directions were being given.

I swear Maggie is on a "don't smile at the camera whatever you do" kick. She really did have a lot of fun !

Mostly, she just wanted to sit on all the pumpkins.

Precious.

Happy Fall Ya'll !

It was the perfect fall day yesterday and somehow I was able to take pictures of all the kids.

There's always silliness when these two are together.

Will was trying to teach Maggie the Heisman pose. Funny !

Have a great weekend ! Chuck and I are going to the LSU game and I'm a bit nervous. At least we'll get some good alone time and lots of plantation tours.  Maybe even some jambalaya ? 

October camera dump.

October is a very busy month around here. The boys have an average of six tests a week, Walker is playing soccer and Will is playing football. Maggie has speech therapy once a week and she is loving preschool. Her speech is really improving ( I'll post soon on all that).

We went camping again to Cheaha with family. The kids love to hang out with their cousins and Maggie adores her cousin Olivia. The weather was beautiful and the leaves were just starting to change colors.

Maggie found Walker's build a bear sunglasses.  So funny.  They fit her perfect. 

She wears them everywhere and gets lots of giggles from Walmart shoppers.

Pumpkins !!!

 My cute new nephew Owen.  I love babies !

We celebrated Maggie, Walker and my Sis-in-law's birthday last week at Cheaha.

What would be a camping trip without a little SEC football watching.  Chuck rigged up a satellite so we could watch Auburn play. 
 Bummer they lost though.
Have a great October !