Give Water

I really, really, really want Silas to grow up knowing the true meaning of Christmas. I also want his earliest memories to be of our family giving to those less fortunate. This isn't some public pat on the back...it's really my heart. We live in an "all about me" world and it's sick. That's not what Jesus is about.

Last year I heard about this really cool clean water campaign started by a Mom. Water for Christmas really took off and they have made a difference. Take a look at her blog when you have a minute. She just returned from a trip to Liberia to see first hand how Water for Christmas has changed lives. She's a great photographer too, so you'll enjoy it.

Anyway, tomorrow, November 13 is a one day viral campaign. Click HERE to donate JUST $10 dollars for clean water. The text below explains it all. I can spend $10 at Walgreens in about 4.5 minutes so I certainly can give 10 bucks to this. Hope you'll join me!!



Every day, 4500 mothers bury their children due to contaminated water. They are forced to sustain their families with a diabolical liquid that contains both life and death. This lack of clean water is the leading cause of death in underdeveloped nations. And it just doesn't have to be!So as we gear up to scurry through department stores and browse endless catalogs in search of new jeans, Tonka Trucks, gadgets and dolls....we are pausing. We are pausing. And today, November 13th, we are buying water. Clean, life-saving water. $10 will provide one person in Africa clean water for 10 years. It will literally change and possibly save someone's life. A mother. A child. A brother. A grandfather. We are rallying together for a cause. Clean water. One day. $10. Asking everyone to let this be their first gift. Let water, let life be their first gift of the season. Click here to be directed to the secure donation site of the highly recognized, non-profit, charity: water. Or just click the yellow buton to make a donation. All donations are tax deductible, and 100% of your donation will go to clean water solutions in West Africa.

halloween monkey bid-i-ness

I know some people don't do Halloween, but we think it's a big time. Really we just enjoy dressing up in costumes and knocking on peoples' doors and then eating a lot of candy. The beauty of having a not yet 2 year old only child? He doesn't know the candy we got was for him to eat. Next year will be different, I'm sure. This year...I'm thoroughly enjoying it.

Here is our evening in photographs...

It began with a practice walk up the street to Aunt Khaki's house. Darn it all, I forgot to put Sophie's jack-o-lantern t-shirt back on.

Knock, knock! Notice the Elmo bucket on the ground? He did that all night.

Then we stopped by Grandma and Grandy's house.

And then we went to a friend's annual Pumpkin Party. Silas enjoyed cake with a prize fighter and a bumble bee.

Then we stuffed a bunch of children in a wagon to make the trick or treat process faster. Notice the bumble bee is holding the Elmo bucket. He could have cared less.

Now we're back in the car on the way to Gaga and PawPaw's house. Monkey costume is sagging.


But we're still happy!

I did get a picture of Silas at Mom and Dad's door, but I didn't think my mom would appreciate a photo online of her in pajamas...it was late. Maybe when I finally make this thing private.

Hope you got a bucketful, or pillowcase full, of yummy candy! I'm going to go see what Elmo still has for me...

what's up with the private blog?

I still plan to go private...you haven't missed anything. Just haven't gotten around to it.

You'll get an email with an invitation to sign in. I will get around to it at some point.

Thanks for emailing me your addresses!

going private

Hi everyone! I've been thinking about taking this blog private for a while now. I wanted it open because others' blogs helped me so much in the adoption process. Now this blog is just about our daily life since our adoption is on hold.

If you would like to continue access to our updates, please send me an email at:

marshallandjill@hotmail.com

I will then send you an invitation. Thanks for taking the time to check in on us!

Ciao, bloggy friends!

pumpkin patch

We had a fun morning at the local pumpkin patch. Silas especially loved the bumpy pumpkins. Bonus: it actually feels like Fall today.

What was the most exciting part of the pumpkin patch?! The school buses driving by and bringing groups of kids on field trips. Silas was thrilled!

When we got home we tried to pose for a nice Fall photo. Will I ever learn?

I put our purchases on the hearth. Silas took them all down and then put them back the way he thinks they should go. I'm actually impressed.

Silas has battled a virus all week so it was nice to finally be out in the fresh air. We're staying close to home anyway, trying to avoid the swine flu. Since we're both in high risk groups and all.

Belly baby is kicking away. I'll be 24 weeks on Sunday...wow!

We've been in the house about two months now so yesterday was about time to rearrange some furniture. I've always been that way, but I know I'm nesting too.

That's all the news I can think of.

bye bye paci and other things

Silas Mezmur is almost 2! Gaga and Paw Paw got him an early birthday present...his very own table and chairs. He eats his snack there and today he colored a picture for Daddy.

Here I am at 22 weeks. If you'd like to sport a shirt like mine, visit this family. They're really cool and they are adopting two more children from Ethiopia.

On Wednesday night, I put Silas to bed with no pacifier. I don't know what came over me except it's time and I've been meaning to start...once we move, once Marshall leaves, once we get settled, once....you get the idea.

It's going well. That first night I even offered to him when he was fussing, but he pushed it away. He wanted me to rock him, but he was over the paci. He woke up once during the night, but was comforted and went back to sleep. Yesterday's nap time was a different story. He wouldn't take the paci. My mom was coming over so I could go to an appointment and I didn't want her to go through Operation No Paci. She hadn't signed up for that drama. After some crying and gnashing of teeth, I begged him to take it! Can you believe me? He took it and went to sleep.

Last night he went down like a champ with not even enough whining for me to go back in his room. He slept all night and was cheerful this morning. Today's nap time started with a struggle and then a nap poop. Oh I hate a nap poop. You know, the poop that comes at any time during the nap. Potential for disaster. Come to think of it, the same thing happened yesterday. Hmmm. After about 45 minutes, it's quiet in there and I hope he has a good nap, paci free.

Why get rid of the paci? He only uses it when he sleeps. I figured, for us, it should be gone by 2. Everyone is different. I didn't want it to begin effecting his teeth and there's going to be a new baby soon and one paci is all we can handle. When Silas came home to us, he was a full time paci boy. We soon got it scaled back to sleep time only. This is the next step in the life of the paci.

Well, that's about all for now. Happy Fall, ya'll!

step stool, booster, pumpkins, oh my!

All interest in the potty has been lost since we got the step stool. This is where I find him often... See the lonely frog potty in the corner?

I'm not the only one with a growing belly.

We got some punkins' for the porch. Fall is glorious. Where is that glorious Fall weather?!

Sassy britches has been over his high chair for about a year now. Yesterday he climbed up in a regular chair to eat his dinner and ate 2 pieces of pizza. First thing this morning, we ran to Target and got him a booster. He didn't eat a bite tonight. What in the world?

Baby brother is active. Last night I was laying in bed wondering to myself when I would feel his movement on the outside of my belly and not just on the inside. I placed my hand on my belly and like he knew what I was thinking, he kicked the mess out of me. And then did a back flip.

It was a sweet, intimate moment. Then I had to get up to go to the bathroom for the 15th time since I'd gotten into bed. You think I'm kidding.

I better run before my battery runs out. Ya'll be good!!