Giveaway: You are my baby, I am your mommy

Okay people...if you have never commented on my blog before, today is the day you are going to want to start!

I am SO thrilled and excited to be able to bring you another amazing book giveaway, and I can't wait to tell you all about it!

The book is "You are my baby, I am your mommy" by author Kimberly Leclercq.

About a year ago, I was introduced to this book through another adoptive mom's blog, the r house.  Mrs. R was having a giveaway at the time, and although I didn't win, it planted the seed that someday I would have to own this book for myself. 

Fast forward almost a year.  I contacted Kimberly about possibly doing a giveaway on my blog, and amazingly, she was all for it!  I purchased a copy for myself, and she graciously threw in an extra copy so that I could give it to one of you very lucky readers!!!

I anxiously awaited the arrival of this book, and actually squealed with delight when I got home from the store today to find it waiting on my front porch!  As luck would have it, my little man was in need of a nap, so I tore open the package, scooped him up with his blankie, and settled into a comfy chair to finally read it to him.

I couldn't make it to the end without tearing up.  

I know, I am a self-proclaimed 

B.O.O.B.!!

But this book is just beautiful, and is bound to touch the hearts of all you mothers who read it!  

At first, I must admit that I was a little shocked to find no pictures in it.  Don't get me wrong, it is beautifully vibrant and has amazing artistry, but no images of babies or children, which I thought unique for a children's book.  But then as I started reading, it made perfect sense to me.  This book takes place before this Mommy meets her baby - before she knows what he will look like or smell like, or what treasures he will hold.  

So how could she know what pictures to include??  

I just loved it!!

There is a page near the end that talks about all of the things that this child will get from his mommy, and I could barely read through my tears.  I know exactly what it feels like to wonder what characteristics your child will have, and whether or not any of them will come from you.  I also know exactly what it feels like to swell with love and pride when a complete stranger tells you, "Oh, I can see where he gets that big, beautiful smile from!" 

As mothers, I am quite certain that we have all wondered about what our child will look like and when we will get the chance to meet.  I know that my wait was VERY long, and often times, hard and painful, but more worth it in the end than I ever could have imagined!!!!  Yet all along,  I also knew, with all my heart, that he was out there, and that someday we would eventually meet.

For any of you mommy's out there who know what I am talking about, this book is for you.

Kimberly Leclercq is an adoptive Mom, and this book was written almost as a letter to the child she had yet to meet.  Although it is a definite must-have for all adoptive mommy's and their babies, it isn't exclusive to this situation, and is a great book for ALL mommy's and their babies, no matter how you met.

To enter for your chance to win this amazing book, just leave me a comment, with your email address included so I can contact you if you win.  You will have through Friday, September 17th to enter, and the winner will be randomly chosen on Saturday, September 18, 2010.  

And if, unfortunately, you aren't the lucky winner, please go to Kimberly's website and order a copy for yourself today!! 

*** For extra chances to win ***

(Please leave an additional comment for each extra entry)

1) Become a follower of my blog. (The issues with the "follower" button should be fixed, but if you run into problems with this, please let me know).

2)  Blog about this giveaway on your own blog, and leave me a comment with the link.

3)  Email friends and family about this giveaway and include me in the email (shellers@hotmail.com)

 Good luck!!

Just Out of Curiosity...

I am going to admit something here that will probably make me sound dumb, at least as far as computers go.  However, I am the first to wholeheartedly admit that I am NOT savvy in the ways of computers and I admittedly rely (probably too much) on my brilliant hubby to help me out in that arena. 

So, all humility aside, here goes...

I have recently been playing around with my blog, and have discovered that if you look at it through Mozilla Firefox, it looks completely different than if you look at it through another browser, such as Internet Explorer.  Also, my "Followers" do not show up in Firefox, but they will in I.E.

So, just out of curiosity, which system do you use when browsing my blog?  Do you have problems seeing the text because of the font or colors?  Can you see my list of followers?

Your feedback is MUCH appreciated!  THANKS!!!

Patriot's Day

There are several traits that I have been lucky enough to inherit from my Dad - such as his dark hair, and his blue eyes, our love of licorice and our dislike of heights, just to name a few.

But there is one trait, above all others, that I am proud to say came from my Papa - my patriotism.

I have never known anyone who loved their country as much as my Dad. He is the most patriotic person I have yet to meet, and I am so proud that I get this trait from him.

I was raised knowing about the brave men and women who "gave away their tomorrows so that we could have our today's". My Dad never served in the military, but he has always had such reverence and respect around our veterans and those who did. One small example of this was when we had a house warming party a few years back. Mike's cousin Jeff had just returned from his first tour in Iraq and we were seeing him again for the first time since he returned. I told my Dad this, and even though they had just met, my Dad walked up to Jeff, shook his hand, then gave him a big hug and thanked him for bravely serving our country.

How could I not be patriotic with an amazing father like this, right?=)

Well, today is Patriot's Day. I am sure you can all remember, with exact clarity, what you were doing exactly 9 years ago today. My family had just flown in from a family vacation in North Carolina a day or two before, and I was getting ready for work when I turned on the TV. I couldn't pull myself away for the next several days, and I cried helpless tears over both those who had lost their lives, and the loved ones they left behind.

Today, that sorrow has faded somewhat, but as the saying goes... 
"9/11 - we will never forget."

In honor of Patriot's Day today, Mike and I decided to take our son to the "Healing Field" in Sandy. This is a field of over 1,700 flags that are set up in remembrance of 9/11 and all those who lost their lives that day. It was the first of its kind, and now there are several all throughout the country.

I knew Ian would think that all the flags were cool and he would enjoy running among them. 

What I didn't know was how emotional I would get while teaching my son to take off his hat and put his little hand over his heart, just like my Dad taught me.

The tears were unavoidable as I took in all that was going on around me, and remembered that without those who fight for our freedoms, today would never have even been possible.

I would never have had the chance to stand in the warm sun in a field of freedom flapping in the breeze, or listened as a military officer solemnly played Taps on his trumpet as a flag was retired, and soldiers reverently placed it in a cauldron to be burned.

I would never have been able to meet my son, much less be able to pass onto him some of the beautiful things that my parents taught me.

I was so grateful today for all those who have lost their lives, not only nine years ago, but everyone who has ever given the ultimate sacrifice in order for me to be able to stand there today, holding onto my sweet husband as, together, we held our precious son and taught him a little bit about freedom.

I also want to give special thanks to my Grandfather Duane, a decorated war veteran from WWII, cousin Jeff, who honorably served two tours of duty in Iraq and remains active still, my cousin Brian, and to everyone else who loves America as much as me and my Dad!

Happy Patriot's Day!!!

Flashback Friday: Happy Hump Day

For those of you who are new to this little blog of mine, you may not know that before our son's adoption was finalized, we had a private blog set up for just friends and family.  We don't use it anymore, but I still keep it around for myself.  A couple of days ago, I was looking through some of the old post's from it and had the idea that I should re-post some of them here on this blog.  

A lot of really wonderful things happened to our little family while we had our private blog set up, so every now and then, I am going to re-post some of those wonderful memories.  I hope you will enjoy looking back at them as much as I do!

**And just a little side note here... I am going to be having another AMAZING giveaway next week, and you are most definitely going to want to check this one out!  It will be awesome, and you will want to tell all your friends about it!  So make sure you stop back next week and enter to win!!!**

Anyway, without any further ado, here is my first Flashback post - enjoy!

"Happy Hump Day" - originally posted on 
September 23, 2009

You may be thinking to yourself that today seems like an ordinary fall Wednesday morning, and you would be right - it is.  But I have a lot making me smile this morning. 

First... Poopy diapers.  I know, you are probably asking "what the heck"?  Well, let me elaborate.  Poor little Ian has had the "Pee-poops" for several days now and his little bum is raw and sore.  He had two spots that just would not heal, so I took him to see the doc yesterday.  She gave us some miracle cream that is already doing its magic, and the little man is already MUCH happier!  But the whole experience got me thinking.  I am grateful to have these poopy diapers because it means that I have that sweet little bum to take care of=)

Next... Mornings.  I never thought mornings could be so sweet, but waking up to Ian singing and smiling at me makes my entire day!  He wakes up so happy and it makes getting up early SO worth it!  I love these cool fall mornings where we can snuggle up with a blanket and a bottle and just cuddle for a bit.

A couple of days ago, I received what I considered to be a very nice compliment from our dear old friend Derk.  He was talking to his girlfriend Rhianna about the seemingly endless list of chores they have to do at her new-old house.  He told her all she needed to do to cheer up was to hold Ian.  He said, "Look how happy Shelly is. Since she got him she has never stopped smiling." 

IT IS TRUE.  Every day brings a new reason to smile.

Twilight Swap

When I read the Twilight series, I was totally Team Edward.  However, I am not so sure about Robert Pattinson filling the role of the sexy, chiseled, buff, tougher-than-nails leading man.  I know many of you are bound to disagree with me, but onscreen, he just seems kind of wimpy and cheesy to me.

Then I came across this picture the other day,  and I was 100% convinced that the producers got their vampires completely mixed up.

Isn't this more of what the Edward from the book should've looked like?  (Too bad they cast him as Emmett instead)

I'm just sayin'... =)

Just Monkeyin' Around

Yesterday, the hubby and I got out this old monkey costume and tried it on Ian.  It was the Halloween costume we bought for our first foster son, Hayden, two years ago.  He wore it then at 11 months old, and it now fits our little man at 20 months!  (He is a little bit on the small side, but we LOVE that about him!!!=)

Ian loved wearing it, and danced all around the house in it.  He even wore himself out!!

I don't know about you, but this is certainly one of THE cutest monkey's I have ever seen?!?!?

Domestic Goodness

Okay, okay...so this post is nothing new.  But a recent weekend spent with my brother-in-law referring to how "domesticated" I have become, has gotten me thinking about, and appreciating the little life in which I live.

I just love being a Mom! And the fact that I don't have to work outside of the home, and can spend my days enjoying this miraculous title, and being entirely surrounded in domestic goodness, gives my heart a joy that I can't even begin to describe!!!

I know that this is precisely what I was made for.  I feel such a sense of purpose, and more than ever before, I feel so complete and peaceful that my life is just as it should be.  Days of cleaning, cooking, baking, washing, chasing, laughing, bathing, weeding, playing, hugging, giggling... this is who I am.
And I couldn't love it more!

Yesterday I felt like a champion because I took down all of our curtains, washed, ironed and re-hung them, super-cleaned, and I mean really cleaned the kitchen, washed windows, and started getting out my fall decorations. 

I feel like superwoman when I serve my family yummy, home-cooked meals instead of something boxed, frozen, or picked up from a restaurant.  My neighbors could probably hear me cheering when I perfected homemade wheat bread - thank you Shanae! And when I can make a healthy dinner from something that came from our own garden, well, life is pretty darn good!

So when my sister-in-law recently asked me if I wanted to do a little side computer job for her, I really wanted to shout "NO!"  Instead, I quietly told her "maybe".  She is a corporate wonder and working is a HUGE part of who she is.  So when I answered her with a "maybe", she was baffled.  She looked at me in complete and utter confusion and asked, "what reason would you have for not wanting to?"  The answer is simple - at least simple to me.  My life is exactly where I want it to be, and that does NOT include deadlines and spreadsheets anymore.  THANK GOD FOR THAT!!!  I don't want to take any time away from this beautiful little family of mine, if I don't have to.  My job is them, and I don't think I could be any happier about that.   This is the sweetest, greatest, and most rewarding job I have ever had!!!

Maybe it was all of the years I spent dreaming and preparing for this life that helps me to appreciate it so much now.  I am certain that my struggles with infertility and the long journey I had to travel toward motherhood has certainly awarded me with a perspective that I know I wouldn't have otherwise.  It helps me to stop, even in the midst of a terrible-two-tantrum, and look into the beautiful brown eyes of this child, this sweet miraculous child of mine, and marvel at where my life has led me.

That is definitely NOT to say that I don't have my moments of frustration and wanting to scream really, really loud, but the sweet, tender moments more than make up for it!!!

Let me give you a small example of what I am talking about.

Today, my reward came just after breakfast.  As I was giving Ian some options for his breakfast, he spotted the popsicles in the freezer and immediately started repeating "popsicle, popsicle, popsicle" over and over.   So we made the deal that he could have one if he ate his eggs and toast first.
(This whole negotiation thing is working wonders!!=)

So we made eggs.

After breakfast, we sat down to watch the morning news and he sat down right next to me, so close that our legs were touching.  He chomped away at his treat, and as soon as he was done, he thrust the empty stick at me and loudly said, "Mama!"  I took the stick from his sticky little hand, and he looked me directly in the eye, slightly smiled and said "Gank Ooh" (Thank You).

I had to hold back the tears.

Hearing his sweet little voice telling me thank you ... Seriously!!
How could he be any cuter???