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Grown in My Heart..in Pictures Carnival III

Mom_MAM_AFM For this, Grown in My Heart’s third adoption-themed blog carnival, the challenge is this–to share your favorite adoption related photo.

So this is mine.

Sure there are others–we have precious photos with their birth families, but those are not mine to share. We have photos of MAM’s first night home, and photos of grandparents, and great-grandparents meeting each of the children for the very first time.

But this photo? I remember my heart jumping out of my chest just before this photo was taken. I remember being overwhelmed with love in a way I’ve never experienced before. Holding both of my children together, for the first time, is a moment I was always remember.

Want to link up?? Join the fun at Grown In My Heart!

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In Defense of Baby Einstein

baby_einstein_logoThe other day I saw a tweet linking to how to get your $15.99 back from the Baby Einstein company if you kid hadn’t, in fact, turned into an Einstein by watching the DVDs. I was curious. We have a treasure trove of Baby Einstein products–how much were they worth?!? I clicked through and read the very easy and clear instructions. It looks like, if we really wanted to, we could turn in four Baby Einstien DVDs and net $64. We could use my parents address and get $64 more. But we won’t.

We won’t, because my kids have enjoyed those DVDs more than almost any other DVD we own. I’ve share a few moments here–a desperate moment, a ridiculous moment, and a few shameless-plug moments, sponsored by none other than the Baby Einstein Company. We have shared many more moments than this.

Baby MacDonald got us through a good portion of our road trip this summer. No matter how fussy he was, Junior stopped crying long enough to watch the pigs slide down the slide and into the mud.

Baby Wordsworth, while it didn’t teach my daughter sign language, it introduced her to the concept.

Baby Santa is just fun to watch around the holidays (or anytime, when MAM has her way).

Neighborhood Animals is a great way for Junior to practice his roar (according to him, every animal roars. except for birds. they quack)

All of those DVDs have exposed my children to music they may not have heard otherwise, music that MAM does identify now when she hears it other places.

And do you know what each and every one of those slices of digital magic has done for me? It’s bought me 30 minutes of sanity and quiet.

I never expected the DVDs to concretely teach them much–children need to engage all of their sense for the easiest learning. Parents who expect the television to replace human interaction have seriously warped expectations.

Is the marketing slick? Sure. Do you feel like you are doing a good thing when you buy one of these DVDs? Of course.  It’s Disney. Making you (and your kids feel good) is their job.  And they are good at it.

Totally worth $15.99 to me.

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It’s Been Five Years…

Since adoption became an every day word and thought in this house. Five years ago this month, we went to an informational session that would change our lives forever, and that would lead to us becoming parents less than a year later.

Here’s my post about some of those beginning thoughts and feelings at Grown In My Heart.