Thing a ma Jigger

They just keep growing. Their minds and their bodies. It's not stopping anytime soon. Adam and I wonder when we're not going to go through sizes by the month and we can stop thinking "this might, just might" last us longer than 4 weeks.

I knew their growth would change rapidly once healthy nutrition hit, but I sometimes want it to slow down. I want them to slow down, but I know many parents want this. Right? With Maxwell being in Kinder this year and Anita in first, they are both excelling and learning so quickly. Their accents have faded and their vocabulary's are expanding. They did come with imaginations! HUGE imaginations and there is no stopping that. Today, as I was folding laundry, Maxwell says "Mommy, Mommy!" "yes?" "Mommy, can we play with our ice cream THING A MA JIGGER?" I lost it. I started giggling. Who says that? Especially a little one, from Africa, who barely spoke English 13 months ago! All I could think was ... Grandma! Oh the things they learn from Grandma! My mom is amazing. For those who know her, they know this. For those who don't, well, you quickly learn. But Grandma has her own special moments with the kids about four or five days out of the week. She is a lifeline. I say this more so because I LOVED my grandparents dearly! I consider them a lifeline to my life. I had amazing grandparents when I was young and I vowed I wanted my kids to have the same! So, their afternoons with Grandma and Poppie are just those moments I have prayed and hoped for. You see, they get to spend many of afternoons, after school, with Grandma and Poppie. And although these times can be tiring and overwhelming for my mom and dad, I'm not sure they realize the lasting impact they are having on my littles. Maxwell and Anita LOVE Grandma and Poppie. As I walk in the door from work, they don't say hi, they rarely run and hug but they say "Um Mommy ... Um Mommy, are we staying and eating here? Can we?" Some days I laugh and say, "well, that's for Grandma to decide." Other days, it's already written on my moms face and it's time to go home, no matter how much they want to stay. I get it and with all respect, I honor that look immensely! So, as my little ones walk around saying things I know they have ONLY learned from Grandma ... I laugh, because I know how much they love her and she loves them. I know Grandma's words will never be replaced. Her love will never feel the same from someone else. And her presence

is just that, "hers." Just like my Grandma and Grandpa will forever hold a special special place in my heart, Maxwell and Anita are blessed with a Grandma and Poppie who they adore! (A Grandma and Poppie who are teaching a vocabulary that will last a lifetime.)