Annie Bananie's latest acomplishment and my beautiful niece's big day!

It is no secret that Annie has the entire family enamored. It probably seems like there are 100 pictures a day of Ann but it is usually Molly or Peter who yell for me to get the camera because she is smiling or laughing or doing some other adorable thing. Today was no different as Molly just thought Annie was the cutest things ever this morning - and I do love her in this sleeper. But Annie also made great strides in the crawling department - check out the pictures!

My favorite Annie smile - I just want to eat her up!
Annie has officially discovered Elmo and she loves him! This book we found in the playroom was the one way we found to get her up on all fours!
Check out her feet - she got herself stuck in this position and could not move but she was perfectly happy!
And there she goes - finally up on all fours!
And she even moved a bit up there - look at the concentration on her face!
And then the belly flop onto her tummy - she thought it was hysterical!
Annie wanted nothing but to hang out with Molly this morning - here they are all cuddled up together watching a show while I got ready for Katie's baptism!
My girls all snuggled together!

I want Karla to see the pictures of Katie's christening before I post too many but I am giving you a peek. Here is Bob praying over his goddaughter during the christening. Bob could not have been more excited about being Katie's godfather - he got his suit cleaned, got a Red Sox tie for the big day and picked out the cross that she wore himself. Katie was perfect all day - she smiled and slept and let everyone hold her! She must know she is a catholic now!
Daddy and his baby girl - she looks so tiny with Patrick!
This is the whole Harding clan celebrating with Katie on her big day!

The day was wonderful and once I get Karla the pictures I promise a full recap.

Check out Brigid's blog for a video of Peter dancing - too cute - thanks Auntie Brigid!

GNM-ILY

Noah Webster Spring Songfest!

Today was the Noah Webster Spring Concert. Grades pre-k - through 6th grade played instruments and sang songs and I know its hard to believe but the 2 cutest kids there belonged to me (Annie was home with the babysitter). Molly got stuck in the last row behind the entire pre-k and kindergarten classes - poor Mrs. Nelson kept moving her around so I could see her better but for most of it she was blocked by the other kids. I did get a few waves and "I Love You"s in sign language. She is too cute! Both kids were slightly disappointed that I didn't bring Annie but I was trying to make it about them - that'll show me! As a special treat Auntie Meg came to see the kids in their concert - she thinks she was very subtle as she text messaged through every song but the ones our kids were singing in but she wasn't! The kids thought it was great either way so we'll forgive her her obsession with technology and appreciate her willingness to spend 2 hours at an elementary school. She was also sweet enough to bring the kids a special treat and spend ample time telling them how wonderful they each were in their performances etc. They felt very loved and appreciated - even if they didn't show it at that moment - I hope Auntie Meg realized that!

Only one month of school left - eeeeek!

My handsome son hamming it up for me as he waits for his turn to perform. He sings so enthusiastically at home but then when he gets to the concert he freezes up.
Molly - Girl waiting for her turn to perform. I stuck a big white bow in her hair so that I could find her easily - it worked and she was a very good sport about it.
Molly with one of her closest friends, Jocelyn, on her left. Jocelyn is the sweetest, most loveable little girl and she adores Molly so we LOVE her! Savannah is on the right!
My goddaugher - sitting very ladylike and playing with her lips as she waits for her turn to sing. It could be worse - she could be picking her nose or her butt!
I have no idea who this little boy is - just that he was adorable as he jumped around the gym engaging the kids during one of the songs. He was so confident and happy as he made a fool out of himself that I was amazed by him - he was a pleasure to watch!

Molly's class singing - they were very cute and again - I apologize for the poor visibility but my baby was in the back! She was still absolutely adorable and after a while I just turned off the camera and enjoyed her animated features and smile as she sang her songs.

Peter's class singing - Pete could be in the next state and we would still see him because he is so tall. He was less animated but as cute as they come none the less!

Today was also teacher appreciation day at our school. We gave the teachers a small token of our appreciation but it couldn't possibly reflect how grateful we are for their role in our kids lives. Peter especially has been divinely guided in his 2 years at Noah Webster to teachers who understand his unique personality and his need for affirmation. Mrs. Nelson recognized how special Peter was last year and made sure he knew it - she helped him succeed academically but also took special care of his fragile self esteem and most importantly made him feel safe and loved in his learning environment - laugh if you will, but I feel like all kids in kindergarten need to have a certain level of emotional comfort to be able to learn effectively. Mrs. Nelson hand picked Mrs. Greenberg for Peter and herself for Molly. (We actualy requested her for Molly) Mrs. Greenberg has been wonderful for Peter - she is strict and rigid with just enough humor and warmth to keep Pete engaged - and once again, she has taken a special interest in him - calling me weekly with updated progress reports and working with him individually as often as possible so that Peter has been able to pass his 1st grade reading tests with ease. Molly has Mrs. Nelson this year and is just in love with her. Mrs. Nelson gives Molly the confidence to show off her skills and engages Molly's intellectual side. Molly is my talker so I know everything that goes on in class and very rarely is it retold without large amounts of enthusiasm - she loves school and learning and experiencing new things! Getting the kids to Noah Webster every day and sacrificing time, work hours and money to do it is at times difficult for Bob and I - especially since Annie was born but it is something that I am incredibly proud of. This school has given Peter and Molly opporuntities that they would never have elsewhere - Peter has a clear sense of belonging after truly experiencing diversity in its truest form and both kids are getting the best education we could hope for with teachers who truly love what they do! I'm not sure if it is teacher appreciation week everywhere but if so - Thanks to all of the teachers out there who contribute in ways they will never know to the lives of our children!

That was longer than I intended - one little cute story about the kids and Mother's Day. Both kids were way too excited about what they made me in school to wait until Sunday to give it to me and everyone knows that one of my greatest weaknesses is my need for instant gratification so I opened their gifts today when they got home from school. Cute poems, cards and a potholder with her handprint from Molly (everyone knows how I LOVE handprints on anything) . They were so proud and sweet and about 5 minutes later they were upstairs playing and came running down the stairs to talk to Bob - apparently they are now concerned about what they will give me on Sunday and have convinced Bob to take them out tomorrow to get me another present. I'm not complaining! Tomorrow is Katie's christening - wait until you see those pictures tomorrow - I just saw her tonight and she is so different - so animated and smiley - she has a sweet little personality and, if I do say so myself, loves her Auntie Kasey best! Okay - I made that up but let a girl dream! I'm off to sleep late tomorrow - Hooray for Bob for believing that the most sleep possible is best for the baby in my tummy. He begs me to stay in bed and sleep so I feel better and who am I to refuse the poor man!

GNM - ILY!

Missing Marlin and Jamar!

I haven't been able to figure out why I have had such a heavy heart this month when I think of Marlin and Jamar. It finally ocurred to me today that both of their birthdays are this month. On May 7th Jamar turned 4 and on May 10th Marlin turns 8. Marlin and Jamar were with us from September 2005 through Septmeber 2006. We took them just months after Bob and I got married and only a month after moving into the house. They immediately fit in with the other kids and Bob and I fell in love with the two of them. Unfortunate circumstances led to their leaving our home and Marlin has really struggled since leaving. Both kids spent some time with their mother in New Britain but continued neglect and endangerment has forced them to be removed again. Today I went out on a limb out of frustration at not being able to get any information from their current social worker and asked a friend at DCF to look into how they were doing for me. Incidentally - this friend was the major force behind the agreement that Peter's birthmother and I came to for his adoption - she educated his birthmother and helped facilitate the entire adoption - you can imagine the important place she has in my heart!

Marlin and Jamar are not in their mom's home anymore and will most likely not be reunited with her again. Marlin is back in the residential facility after having a really difficult time in the last foster home he was placed in. Jamar has been with a family for 8 months and they may try to adopt him eventually. He has some learning disabilities identified through enrollment in headstart - he is happy, loving and affectionate according to the foster mom and he sees Marlin once a week. Marlin is doing great in school and doing as well as possible in the residential facility - he just went to a Red Sox game! I have to admit that it has been a hard day. It's hard not to imagine what we might have been able to do for them or what we should have done differently. In the end God had a plan and Marlin and Jamar are doing well for themselves - they will always be in our prayers!

Peter and Marlin were instant friends. This is a picture from the first night that Marlin and Jamar came to live with us. Peter was thrilled to have a playmate and a friend living in his own house.
Molly and Jamar - Molly was so excited to have a baby in the house. She led Jamar around the house and took care of him like a little mother. She does the same thing with Annie now and told me recently that she can't wait for the new baby to get here because when Annie gets a little bigger she is not going to want Molly to hold her anymore!

Sorry if this blog entry is a bit of a downer but it can't all be whipped cream covered babies and happy hugging kids!

I also wanted to bring up one more thing for all you Grey's Anatomy fans - on last week's episode there was a woman who was terrified of having a baby because she was HIV positive. There are alot of areas in the HIV field where little progress has been made but the area of maternal - fetal transmission is almost obsolete with one exception. Not every state has a law requiring HIV testing for pregnant mothers - this should be a federal law and I'll tell you why. In 2001 CT passed a law saying that every pregnant woman was required to have an HIV test - if she does not get one during prenatal care or does not get prenatal care than the hospital does one when she comes in to give birth. The result is that 0 babies have been born with HIV in CT since 2002. Amazing - not one baby born with HIV since the inception of this law and yet some states still have not passed it!

I'm off to work on another grant while Bob wins us some money at poker! Auntie Beth was nice enough not to berate us slackers for needing an extension on our taxes and then being procrastinators on getting all of our info in - she will be happy to know we are finally submitting electronically tomorrow - woohoo - bring on the big refund bucks!

GNM - ILY!