What makes a Dad?

I can’t even count
The things you’ve done for me
I can’t begin to list
Everything you’ve helped me through
You’re the only dad I’ve ever known
Since my father can’t be a man
You stepped in when we needed you most
You picked up the pieces
And fixed two shattered lives
And through the years
Gave us two brand new lives
You stuck with me
Through my hatred
Of you, of me, of the world
You always encouraged me
And told me I could do better
I never believed you
Until it happened
I never thought a step-dad
Could become such an influence
I never knew that a step-dad
Could be such a hero
I never guessed that my step-dad
Could become my dad



Today was the final court date for our Step-Parent adoption. Bill filed for a step-parent adoption of Keira in March of 2011 and after a lot of turmoil over this summer, today (Sept 2) finalized the adoption.

Bill is legally the other parent of Keira now. It went fabulously, and we're so excited to have things official.

The above poem is a copy of the poem that Keira wrote in a card for Bill in June. Enjoy it!

I have a fourth grader!

Keira attended her first day of fourth grade yesterday. I drove her to school, and dropped her and her two neighbor friends off at the front doors. She was so excited, and so beautiful. I want to know where my little girl has gone! She rode the bus home.

This morning, she got up, showered, ate a bowl of cereal and was out the door to her friend's house to "hang out" until the bus came. When did she start saying "hang out" instead of "play"?! She was out the door so quickly that I didn't have time to snap a picture of her this morning, which makes me a little sad. I'll try to get one when she comes home but it's not the same!

James is quite sad about the fact that Sissy is gone all day. He watched her leave from the front door today and he was quite disturbed by the fact that she was leaving. Poor guy. He's so attached to his big Sis!

Sometimes, I need a reminder.

As a busy stay at home Mom - with too much to do on a daily basis and never enough time (it seems) to do it..

 Sometimes I need a reminder that my kids will only be kids for so long and that no matter if it's today, tomorrow, or 10 years from now - the dust will always be there to dust, the sweeping to be swept, and the laundry to be done.

 Sometimes the reminder comes in the form of a thought at how quickly our sweet little babies grow, or how many Mothers have empty arms and would love to have a dirty house in exchange for their little one to hold, but today I am simply reminded of this poem, and while my teething, grumpy and quite clingy little guy needs me so much today - I am blessed to have him to need me. I hope that makes sense to everyone. I'll share it now, and stop rambling.

Mother, O' Mother, come shake out your cloth,

Empty the dustpan, poison the moth.

Hang out the washing, make up the bed,

Sew on a button and butter the bread.

Where is the mother whose house is so shocking?

She's up in the nursery, blissfully rocking.

Oh, I've grown as shiftless as Little Boy Blue,

Lullaby, rockaby, lullaby loo.

Dishes are waiting and bills are past due,

Pat-a-cake, darling, and peek - peekaboo.

The shopping's not done and there's nothing for stew,

And out in the yard there's a hullabaloo.

But I'm playing Kanga and this is my Roo.

Look! Aren't his eyes the most wonderful hue?

Lullaby, rockaby, lullaby loo.

The cleaning and scrubbing can wait till tomorrow,

But children grow up, as I've learned to my sorrow.

So quiet down cobwebs; Dust go to sleep!

I'm rocking my baby and babies don't keep.

~ Ruth Hulbert Hamilton