It was a sunshiny Saturday, but my heavy heart was not singing a happy tune. The veterinarian appointment was at 11, and the aroma of salty tears mixed with black fur singed my nostrils.
That Saturday will forever be burned into my memory as a gloomy one, despite the solar insistence to the contrary. My once podgy, rotund puppy had (in the blink of an eye) gotten dreadfully timeworn and incredibly sick. The eyes that used to light up amidst his "welcome home" happy dance for me were now overcast with cataracts and glaucoma. His spine was ailing. He had not been able to walk for almost a week. His hind legs twisted up behind him like the roots of an old, broken tree. He had no control of his bowels or his bladder. He had soiled the entire downstairs that morning, trying his best to drag himself to the back door to be let out. He was in pain and it was my job to make that pain stop, the only way I could.
At 9 a.m., my daughters and I were saying our final farewells.
There was
...Read More »"Mom! She's dancing!"
Could it be true? Nah. She's probably just squirming. Or nodding. She does those things already. Yeah, it's probably -- almost definitely -- just one of those things.
I held my breath. I turned. I looked.
It was true. My baby girl was dancing -- and she was wearing a knowing smile that melted my heart. The boys started chanting, "Go Pi-ink! Go Pi-ink! Go, go, go Pi-ink!" The more they encouraged her, the bigger her smile and her bee-bopping got. And while we'd all been madly in love with her since the day she was born, that was the day she was officially initiated into our family.
We're dancers. Not good ones, mind you. But passionate ones. We love to turn the music up, sing along and throw our bodies around.
It started back when my husband and I were first dating (a long, long time ago). One of our first big nights out was my college formal. And while I was already falling for him, after spending the night on the dance floor, I knew he was the one. I co
...Read More »Prior to having children, I would have sworn that Valentines Day was a giant conspiracy contrived by florists, chocolatiers, and stationery stores. But after becoming a parent, I realized February 14th is a cherished celebration that goes beyond roses, chocolates, and cards. Just as we focus on the importance of gratitude during Thanksgiving and giving during Christmas, Valentine's is a day to focus on friendship and caring -- two monumental lessons that start with our young preschoolers as they begin to express themselves and make new friends.
The day itself doesn't have to be an expensive or elaborate affair either, as if a bottle of Pepto-Bismol exploded all over the place, but rather a simple homemade card expressing our love and a few hours spent doing the things we love, together.
Reflect on what you your family enjoys together, whether its a special meal you'd like to have, or cards you'd like share, plan ahead with reservations, ingredients, crafting materials, and
...Read More »- Having our second child in December reminded me once again that right along with the joy that a new baby brings, comes a lot of new expenses. However, the excitement of new life doesn't have to be dampened with the worry that you'll go broke in the process! In fact, with our son and now our daughter, I realized that there are many ways that you can reduce the costs of having a baby. Here are a few of my favorite ways to save.
By Lydia Beiler
1. Borrow as much as possible from friends
We live in a smaller townhouse built in the 1800′s, and while it is full of character it really lacks storage space. So when our son was born 3 years ago, and again this time around with our daughter, we took advantage of borrowing items from our friends who offered their baby things. Some of the things we borrowed were a bouncer seat, a swing, a cradle, and even some clothing. Not only did this save us from having to buy these items, it also freed us up from having to store them in our little house! ...Read More » In future years, when he's all grown up, we hope "little" Chun Chun remembers to be extra nice to his mother on her birthday, and Mother's Day, and, well, pretty much every day of the year. Weighing in at 15.5 pounds, the boy may be the heaviest baby in the country's history.
Iowa woman gives birth to 13 pound baby
Chun Chun's mother, 29-year-old Wang Yujuan, remarked that had she sensed something was going to be a little different about Chun Chun, who arrived via cesarean section in China's Henan Province, even before he was born.
"I clearly felt that my body was more clumsy than when I had been pregnant with my daughter. My belly was bigger than it was then," Wang remarked to reporters. "I guessed the baby would be between 10 and 11 pounds. I never expected to hear that he weighs 15.5 pounds." The daughter, now 6, weighed a not insignificant 8.8 pounds at birth.
Chun Chun's father told the Sun that he is thrilled to have a dragon baby, especi
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