family portrait

girl power

Gloria Steinem was in town for a fundraiser and we were invited.  Through dumb luck, Ada and I ended up sitting next to Ms. Steinem while she waited to ascend the stage to make her speech.  She and Ada hit it off.

Ada had skipped her nap, so she was rolling around a bit and found herself in Ms. Steinem’s lap.  I had prepped Ada to say “Pleased to meet you” if we should be so lucky as to meet Ms. Steinem.  So, I gave Ada the nudge and she politely delivered her line.  Ms. Steinem was charmed and replied “You have no idea how glad I am to meet you.”  Ada straightened up a touch, smiled broadly and said “I do.”  PERFECT!

Then, the magic happened.

Ms. Steinem was being introduced on stage and invited Ada to join her.  Ada, in her typical fearless fashion, never looked back and climbed right on up in front of hundreds of roaring, applauding fans.  Ada began to clap and jump.  Ms. Steinem began to speak, and when she noticed that Ada had not stopped clapping, she turned to Ada and applauded her.   It was so sweet and so surreal.

Here’s the photo to prove it:

you

Mommy: Come here, you.

Ada:  I’m not you.   (points to herself) I’m Ada.  (points to me) You’re you.

Seriously, how can you argue with that?

rock star

deep breath

Here’s the conversation I had with Ada this morning as we woke up and snuggled on the sofa:

Mommy: Hey Ada! How are you doing this morning?

Ada: I’m great.  Wanna know what I do when I feel sad?

Mommy: Well, yeah.

Ada: I take a deep breath.

Ada inhales and exhales deeply.

Ada: Like that.  It makes me feel better.

She is TOO much.  Kills me.

tree farm

The day after Thanksgiving, we went to Booger Mountain Christmas Tree stand and bought our tree.  Ada adores the tree.  She tells it good morning and good night each day.  She tells us to “shhhhhhh” if the lights aren’t on because the tree is sleeping.  She called it beautiful.  And it is.

santa claus

We took Ada to see Santa again this year. Last year, her reaction was luke warm. This year, well… not so much.  Why do we do this to our children?

happy and thankful

I could never have imagined how much joy Ada would bring to my world.  We spent Thanksgiving with family and friends, surrounded by love and laughter and plenty of good food.  We are blessed, and for that I am happy and thankful… sometimes it takes my breath away.

i heart faces

ok. so when i heard about this challenge, I knew immediately the photo of Miss A that needed to be entered.  head on over to iheartfaces.com to check out the truly talented photographers capture the sun flare….

best. october. ever.

Sorry for the extended absence, but October was action-packed and full of fun!

Papa and Mimi visited us the first weekend and we had such a good time.  We went to the pumpkin patch again this year all together and had a blast!

The following weekend Nana and Poppy flew in from California! We had a great visit and can’t wait to see them again!

Next we were supposed to head to the beach with Fifi and Granddaddy to celebrate John’s birthday and to attend a special party for a friend of Fifi’s but plans were set aside for Ada to suffer through hand/foot/mouth disease. No fun, but luckily only five days of no fun.

Then, the following weekend the incredible Lettieris came to visit us! This was more fun than two families ought to be allowed to have! Mama Dip’s, UNC, Pumpkin Patch and more…

And then, to top it all off, was Halloween!We spent the morning with Fifi and Granddaddy.  In the afternoon, Ada participated in the neighborhood parade (wagon courtesy of Fifi and Granddaddy!) and then roamed the street trick or treating well past her bedtime!

Phew… Best. October. Ever.