WHAT I MEANT TO SAY WAS

I feel as if I should add some clarification to my last entry....for all three of you that read this blog. Yesterday I took BB to the bakery for a cake ball (don't even ask) and then to the park. She was toddling along in front of me in her blue jeans and pink Convers sneakers. Tears came immediately. She is no longer a baby but a wee tiny little girl. And for the record, she is not a holy terror. She is a small person trying to communicate and express herself. She is developing an opinion and knows what she wants. I busted out the camera on "fit day" because she was singing so softly and sweetly to her baby. She has learned to take pictures (random of course) and wanted to do it herself, hence the angry looks below. Don't get me wrong, we have our moments and I am learning to be a better, more patient parent. But for the most part she is nothing but loving and kind. I remember thinking, a long time ago, I can never love her more than I do right now. Not true. We love her more today than ever. More than yesterday but not as much as tomorrow. I often wonder how my life has been so blessed. As I type this she is behind me, playing with my hair and saying how cute mommy. Eighteen months is a whole new ballgame.

EIGHTEEN MONTHS IS A WHOLE NEW BALLGAME

Has anyone seen this precious baby?



Or this sweet little angel?


Because someone has kidnapped her.....


And replaced her with.....

KADER BOLY

This morning The Calverts woke up to a man from Burkina Faso, South Africa drinking coffee out of a beer mug. And he is not just any man. He's a man that has shown his artwork all over the world. From Tuscon to New York to Paris with a little bit of Dumas and Spearman inbetween, Kader Boly has certainly made his rounds. How did he end up at 1308 Melinda Drive on a Tuesday night? Well, it's a long story but mostly it's because of a wonderful lady I know....my mom. I am so very blessed to have even an inkling of her creativity and talent. She has taught me to have the mindset of "Well why wouldn't Kader Boly want to come to Dumas for an artshow?". Dream and dream big and make it happen. MAKE IT HAPPEN BECAUSE YOU CAN! Do you want to write a book and publish it when you're nine? GO FOR IT! Do you want to ride an ostrich? GO FOR IT! Do you want to travel all over the US when you're 20? GO FOR IT! I look back on all of the crazy things I've experienced and know that I have learned to march to my own beat from a very special drummer.

REPUNZEL

This picture was taken a mere two years ago. DANG! That's some fast growing hair. If anyone has seen me in the past several months, they know that I am sportin' the long do these days. I have been for quite some time. DANG! That's some fast growing hair. The average person grows a maximum of six inches per year which makes me a....freak. I am almost positive my hair grows AT LEAST an inch each month. My sister and I have both chopped our hair and donated our ponytails to Locks of Love which is a really fantastic organization. Mattie called this weekend and said she had made the switch to short and cut off 10 inches. I am tempted after seeing this pic to do the same. Stay tuned....