Fall 2009

It's wonderful that the kids are finally old enough to start to appreciate the holidays. They participated in choosing their Halloween costumes this year and were so excited in anticipation of the day they would go out in costume and get candy. We even practiced how to Trick or Treat to get it right. The girls were so excited about putting on make up and glittery dresses, as they were fairies for Halloween. Hunter had no other thing that he wanted to be more than Spiderman. I haven't any idea how he even knows of Spiderman because to my knowledge he hasn't seen any movie or cartoon with Spiderman in it. I had so much fun taking them out Trick or Treating around the neighborhoods nearby. They didn't want to go home. Allie had blisters on her feet and still wanted to walk in her costume, but we got them home somehow and they only got to have a few pieces of candy before bed. I remember being given total carte blanche when it came to Halloween candy as a kid. I guess we are a little more strict in that department. Their teeth will thank us later.

(We had some pics taken at the pumpkin patch but I haven't been able to figure out how to get them on here, so it's been delaying the blog post. I just figured I would write an update and figure out the pictures later).

Now that Christmas is approaching, they are asking us nearly every day about it. "Mommy I wanna see Christmas," Hunter tells me everyday. I tell him he will soon enough. Then he will tell me about what he wants for Christmas, which seems to evolve everyday. It's so exciting that this will be the first year they know a little about Christmas and will get to enjoy opening presents. I can't wait to start holiday traditions with them like decorating the tree, baking cookies, midnight mass, and going out to see Christmas lights. They get so tickled when they see decorations of any kind. Joy now comes from seeing the happiness of my kids. That love is amazing. I have never loved anyone more in life than these 3 precious souls. I am just sooooo very thankful for them, when they are good, when they are bad... it never waivers. Being a mother is just the best thing in the world.

Changes and loss

We have moved away to the Orlando area - living in Clermont, but in the country. We are on 3.4 acres of gorgeous conservation land with wildlife abundant. Unfortanately, didn't realize that we had gators until we moved in. However, it is paradise. It is great not having to drive 2 hours to work anymore and a relaxing setting to be in when I do arrive home. We have had a loss since we moved here. We lost my cocker spaniel of 15 years and honestly the most loyal companion I ever had. I feel a great loss, but time is making it somewhat easier to bear.

The kids have met friends here. Hunter has his first boy friend. He hasn't ever gotten to socialize with boys his age and now he is "friends" with a 4 year old Jacob who he cried about for several days, stating he didn't get his "kiss" and hug from his "new friends." He is just the cutest. What's not the cutest is his opposition to mommy. He is a dada's boy and it doesn't bother me too much until he gets really disrespectful, such as pushing me away, denying me kisses, telling me "NO mommy!" Well, it hurts my feelings, but I try to recognize it is a phase. Then, he will surprise me by crying for me or telling me out of the blue "Love you mommy." The other consolation is that I have two girls who are definite momma's girls, so long as grandma or their aunts aren't around. When that happens, you might as well chalk it up and call it a day because goose liver is more popular than me.

They keep reminding me, well at least Hunter does, that they aren't "wittle babies" anymore. Hunter will add "I big boy mommy." He definitely will always be my wittle baby but he doesn't seem to get that right now. They certainly try to act grown, copying everything we do and the girls will say they are mommy. Hunter will say he is daddy. The girls love to go shopping, dance, and sing. Hunter just loves everything about sports, particularly baseball.

Shortly after we moved into this never been lived in beautiful home with brand-new everything, the kids happened to have a "cookout" in their rooms. They gathered up all the food out of the fridge that they could find and dumped it on their carpet when daddy wasn't looking and when mommy was at work. They totally destroyed the carpet. Stanley Steamer wasn't able to get the pink pepto bismo stains out, so we have covered their stains with a white throw rug for now. I guess we have to keep it all in perspective. A few stains on the carpet aren't worth getting all upset about when we have 3 beautiful healthy babes.


I hope you enjoy the pictures. My dad took them while he was home from Afghanistan. He is returning tomorrow. I love these pics.

Jon Dorrough

I just had to add in here with a little note of pride that my Uncle Jon Dorrough (my dad's brother) and the guy who started this website for me has finally got around to publishing a book, something that has been in the work for years. He has another book on the way already too. The book sounds very interesting and one that sounds like it needed a ton of research and imagination, just from the description. I will have to buy one. I just think it is such a huge accomplishment to not only write a book, but for it to be good enough to be published and sell on Amazon and at Barnes and Noble!? That's difficult! Kudos to my uncle! That's something I have always wanted to do myself. What a dream come true! Love you Uncle Jon!!

Here's a link to his website which gives more details about the book!

http://www.jdorrough.com/

Allie Gabby and Hunter's Birthday Photos

ON DONALD'S BOAT IN TOON TOWN


GABBY AND ALLIE ON THE BOAT GETTING SQUIRTED


ALLIE ON LEFT, GABBY ON RIGHT


A MAGICAL MOMENT WITH MICKEY AND MINNIE


IT'S A SMALL WORLD


HUNTER GETS DRUMS FROM GRANDMA


HUNTER AT GRANDMAS


NATURAL TALENT


AT GRANDMAS, GIRLS GET DORA PURSES AND DOLLS


ALLIE LEFT AND GABBY RIGHT CHECKING OUT WHAT'S IN THE PURSES


ALLIE'S FACE


ALLIE


ALLIE


HUNTER



AT THE HOTEL, COMFY AND COZY


ALLIE ON LEFT, GABBY MIDDLE, HUNTER RIGHT



BED TIME



HURRAY FOR DISNEY


TAKING A BREAK ALLIE (LEFT) AND GABBY (RIGHT)


ALLIE AND GABBY



IT'S STILL US



TIME FOR THE CAROUSEL


TOON TOWN


GABBY AND DORA



GABBY AND DORA



JUDY AND ALLIE (VISITING AFTER OUR BIRTHDAY BECAUSE SHE WAS ON A CRUISE)



GABS

It's Our Birthday

April 3rd - Our birthday today (well 1 hour ago it was officially over since it is 1am now. We are 3 years old. Please leave us any birthday wishes so we can cherish your comments for many years to come. Disney here we come! We will think of you while we visit Minnie and Mickey mouse!

Almost 3, Yay for Chuck E. Cheese, Obsessed with Jeans, and Hunter's misguided haircut

In 1 month, my children will be 3 years old. It is so hard to believe that it happened this fast. Time has really just whipped on by. It seems like their vocabulary is really expanding by the day. They impress me so much with their abilities. These preemie babies are absolutely healthy and normal in every way. They have been tested by EI (Early Steps Intervention) and they don't qualify for any services - speech, occupational, or physical therapy. They are within normal limits to advanced on all cognitive, emotional, physical, and social testing. What a blessing it is that they are so healthy. Our pediatrician is also very pleased by their development.

So, we have a lot to celebrate on their birthday this year. This birthday, we are going to have their party at Chuck E. Cheese because these kids absolutely love the characters and love to dance and sing with the big mouse. I thought too, it would save us the hassle of cleaning up. I am always looking for the easy way out! Tonight I told Gabby that we are going to have a party for her and she couldn't stop saying "party party" and she understood what it meant because she insisted we have cake tonight. "Mommy, I want cake. I want cake, Mommy." Of course, she doesn't understand the concept of time so it shouldn't have been mentioned at all. I will try not to make that mistake again. Have you ever tried to explain time to kids who don't know time? It is absolutely mind-bending. I find myself in that same spot over and over again and never clearly convey the meaning. The kids want to go to bed in jeans. Actually, they pretty much want to live in jeans all the time. They have their favorite pair and they want them washed and ready to wear every day. So, I try to explain to them that they need to wait to wear the jeans and this is a little of what occurs.

Me: "You cannot wear the jeans tonite."
Them: "Mommy, I want jeans."
Me: "NO. Not tonight. You have to wear jammies."
Them: "NO jammies mommy. Jeans. Jeans. I want jeans."
Me: "No. Jammies tonite. You can wear jeans tomorrow."
Them: "Mah-rah?"
Me: "Yes, tomorrow. Not when it's dark out, but when the sun comes up tomorrow it is tomorrow."
Them: "Jeans mommy, I want jeans."
Me: "Tomorrow."
Them: "No mah-rah mommy. I want jeans."
Me: "Mommy isn't wearing jeans night night. You wear jammies night night. Mommy is wearing jammies."
Them: "NO Jammies."
Me: I concede and let them wear jeans to bed - stick with the big issues right? So, not only do my kids know they can win with me, they probably think tomorrow means right now, and they are increasingly obsessed with jeans. I am thinking of throwing them all in the trash and forcing them to wear dresses.

Another update: My son got a haircut. No, not his first haircut, but it is the most haircut he has ever had. My husband did it without telling or consulting me. I shouldn't be speaking to him. Hunter looks like a little man with a flat head. It's shaven pretty much. I'm thinking of suing my husband and the hairdresser, but I guess that won't bring back his hair. I know one thing - he will never be allowed to go get his haircut with just daddy. Heck, daddy should have a chaperone to help him get his own hair cut because he isn't doing too well by himself.

Mr. President

I realize this is a blog about my children, but every once in awhile, I do digress and speak slightly off topic. This is one of those occasions. In his first few days in office, our beloved President has seen fit to make abortion his number one pressing issue. With the state of our country's economy, he finds no better way to spend money (besides the most expensive innaugaration ever) than to give money so that the international community can perform abortion. In addition to this, he has lifted the ban on partial birth abortions and extended it to include killing children in abortion mishaps. Read more about this in the following articles since I am not a political commentator.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/04/01/AR2008040102197.html

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/first100days/2009/01/23/obama-lift-ban-overseas-abortion-funding/

He states that he wouldn't want his daughter to be punished for a crisis pregnancy. Punishment? Interesting philosophy on pregnancy and the miracle of life. This is the man we voted for? Thanks so much "We the People."