My Jackson Paul

Today, I will remember for a number of reasons...
1. Rodney worked from home! That was awesome. I so miss the era of that being the norm, but alas, it's not... Anyhoo, he did today, and not only did I totally eat it up, but so did the other smaller residents of 446 Shady Willow Lane. :) Fun times.
2. I/We got some major cleaning up done. The office and dining room of our new house has looked like we just moved in ever since we got here about 6 weeks ago. But today, things changed. Yeah, simply, we got some stuff done...arranged...put where it's supposed to be... YAY!
3. Tonight, Rodney picked out his belated birthday present from me (only about a week late, but who cares, really - not me. LOL!) It's a new game for the Nintendo Wii. It is called "Guitar Hero." Enough said. Well, not really - It's actually pretty cool, and one day, I intend to take some video to share with the rest of the world via the WWW. :)
4. The flat tire incident. UGGH. It's all taken care of now, but geez. WHY!?
5. But the very, very best part of the day was meeting Jackson's teachers for a little 15 minute Parent/Teacher conference. I went into it knowing that he's a good kid, and hoping all the good that I see in him daily is noticed by the teachers as they meet Monday through Thursday from 1:30 - 4:00. Well, it is. (And the crowd goes wild!)

The conversation was very pleasant from the moment I entered the room, and they both took a turn to tell me how much they think of Jackson. Miss Lydia is the lead teacher, and is absolutely fabulous! I had a great first impression of her at the orientation just before school started, and our conversation about her interest in the well-being of my son has confirmed my speculations. Mrs. Judie is the assistant, and reminds me of Sister. She's got a sweet twinkle in her eye as she talks, especially... about Jackson. She said that they are buddies. :) Some of the sweet things they said were what a kind little boy he is, what an obedient little boy he is, and how he is liked by all of his classmates, girls and boys alike. It felt, to me, like they were just going on and on. They let me know that he is so polite, and is always ready and willing to pick up when its time to, and sit still when its time to, and generally very well behaved. As a matter or fact, I believe the very first thing out of Miss Lydia's mouth when we sat down was, "I sure wish all conferences were as easy as this one's going to be." I got teary somewher in the midst of the compliments, but regained my composure pretty quickly, I think.

So, I have just been on cloud 15 this afternoon and evening. Jackson makes me so proud, and I am so very blessed to call him mine. I love you, Jackson. :)

Our "Just Because" pictures

And more specifically, our "just because" happens to be just because we were all showered and clean and ready to head out one morning last week. Not only that, but in the clean clothes pile in my bedroom floor lied the two shirts that Jackson and Brady wore for the pictures... I thought - "Those two shirts would look good together in a picture!" About an hour later, there we sat, somewhat smiley, somewhat cooperative, somwhat not... saying "Pumpkins" for the camera! So, without any further adieu, here's my latest proud product from The Picture People. :)

I'm Alive! I'm Alive!

This summer our family has been living at my parents' while our house has been under construction in Rolesville. It's been great - and while all good things must come to an end, there's no telling how much I'll be coming back to visit seeing how nice it is to stay here full-time. :)

There's far too much to tell tonight, so I'll try to highlight some of the memorable moments...

~Watching "High School Musical 2" 100+ times with all the grandkids. I particularly love when Jacy speaks the dialogue and does the dance moves with the tv. :)

~Zach Efron point #2 - Going to see "Hairspray" with my mom and sisters. We all had silly grins on our faces the entire time, and I truly can't wait for it to be released on DVD.

~Transformers: More than meets the eye. Try to imagine that phrase out of the mouths of several little boys, and that's the soundtrack to this happy home. They sing it, they play it, they live it. Thank you Youtube!

~My dear BFF Tiffany/Tiss/Tiffner/Love/Nifty. She's been my sweetie and most enduring confidante since the day I got down here. She's helped so much with Carter and has continually shown all the little Steelman boys so much love and affection. We all love you, girl, and you think you're going to miss me? I have a feeling (aka I KNOW) that you will be missed just as much, if not more. :)

~Rodney's frequent trips back up to Rolesville to stay with Lindsay and Steve (while he spends the workweek there, and the weekend here). God bless them for their hospitality - One day we hope to repay you for your overwhelming generosity.

~Carter growin' up too fast. When we got down here on July 8th, when he was 1 month old, and now he's about 3 1/2 months - is always smiling, cooing, and making us all realize how fast time flies when we're having fun.

There are so many more, but for now, I'll close with this: The "crowd" down here will never know how blessed I feel to call Harkers Island home. Even more, to call Joel and Susan my Ma and Pa. In addition, my dear brothers and sisters, nieces and nephews all mean so very much to me. I'll say that when we first decided that this stay at Harkers Island was our best option, I had some apprehension about how the logistics would work out - 3 families under one roof... But, alas, it's been just lovely. Even "loverly" as Eliza Doolittle would say. I've had the "warm night air" and plenty of time in their "enormous chairs." Thank you all. I love ya. Mean it. :)

(I'll come post some pics soon)

And a few new videos ...

dated may 9, 2007... my little angels...

jackson playing with playdough - making mommy a birthday cake. :)


jackson singing "happy birthday to mommy"


brady singing his "abcd's"



brady counting to 10

"In Utero"

"in utero" was my google search...

i landed on this site (www.michaelclancy.com), and saw something i'd seen before... the picture of the 21 week (in utero age) baby boy, samuel... whose hand reached out during the surgery to correct his spina bifida diagnosis...what i saw for the first time, however, were the words from the photojournalist who took the picture. these are his words:

"During a spina bifida corrective procedure at twenty-one weeks in utero, Samuel thrusts his tiny hand out of the surgical opening of his mother's uterus. As the doctor lifts his hand, Samuel reacts to the touch and squeezes the doctor's finger. As if testing for strength, the doctor shakes the tiny fist. Samuel held firm. At that moment, I took this "Fetal Hand Grasp" photo.

As a photojournalist, my job is to tell stories through pictures. The experience of taking this photograph has had a profound effect on me, and I'm proud to share this moment with you."

Michael Clancy

i'm writing this, because of the thrill that is mine, and many of ours to have housed a 21 week old baby in our bodies... is it not AMAZING!?! the grasp, the life, the spirit of a 21 week old - i love it - and i love how my love for jackson and brady and carter have grown so tremendously over the last few years...

today, a speaking in our church meeting chose to phrase it as "mother love." she pointed out that she feels that the "mother love" within us is when our qualities most like God shine through...the qualities of tenderness, mercy, long suffering, etc. become part of our being. i have to agree.

happy mother's day to me ;) and to the rest of the beautiful mothers out there (you especially, mama)...

March sure went by quickly!

Jackson & Brady were in a silly mood for this one, obviously.

Make an on-line slideshow at onetruemedia.com

Also, a few recent pictures from the last couple weeks. Not only are the plants and flowers growin' in this beautiful spring weather, so is the belly o' Leah.