1. Team Charlotte Amalie. The San Diego March of Dimes' March for Babies is this Saturday, April 28th. Team Charlotte Amalie is trying to raise $1,000. They are just over half way there, with four days left until the march. For the past two weeks, Lillian and Sydney have been collecting change and putting it in an old sippy cup. "It's money for Charlotte!" they say every time they find a quarter in the couch, a nickel in the van, or a penny on the ground. Lillian even made a necklace for Charlotte and put that in the cup, too. We have a friend whose baby girl died only hours after being born at 24 weeks- she should have been born around the time Liam was. Her older sister Bently is Lillian's friend. When I explained to Lillian why we were raising money for Charlotte and for the March of Dimes- for babies who are born too early and need lots of help from lots of doctors to get better- she reminded me that Bently's sister was born early and that she had died. Then she asked me why that happened. "I don't know," I said. "No one knows why. That's why it's important to help doctors and scientists figure out why it happens so they can find a solution to stop it from happening more. That's why we are saving money so the March of Dimes can keep working so babies like Bently's sister and Charlotte won't be born too early, and so kids like Charlotte can get the care they need." Lillian understood, and she's been an avid change-finder ever since. Sydney reminds me every day that any change we find around the house we will "put in the cup for Charlotte!" If you would like to contribute as well, you can visit Team Charlotte Amalie's official site to make a secure online donation at: http://www.marchforbabies.org/s_team_page.asp?seid=1716563
This is Charlotte Amalie when she was born:
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This is Charlotte, 2 years and 2 months later:
Two little fundraisers with their money cup:
2. Voting. Today was Pennsylvania's Primary Election. My very wonderful friend Silvia came over at 7:30 pm so I could make it to the polls to cast my vote before they closed at 8 pm (Bobby is on call- surprise, surprise). The nice ladies working the booth gave me some extra "I Voted Today!" stickers to bring home for the girls. I'm grateful to live in a country where I can vote. I'm grateful that the polling place is in the big condo building right across the street- I just walked on over and cast my votes!
3. Lillian's day off. Philadelphia schools had the day off so we went to the library in the morning and played on the computers and talked with Ms. Liz, the new children's librarian. We got some good books, too, and Lillian picked a Christmas Winnie the Pooh movie to watch (why Christmas? I have no idea). Then we went to the store where the girls rode in the car shopping cart and Liam slept in his car seat while I got milk, bread, eggs, and other staples. Sydney had fun pulling Lillian's hair in the check-out line. Then we invited our two friends Jackson (same age as Lilly) and Traegan (same age as Syd) over to play for the entire afternoon. They are moving in a few weeks, so we're trying to get in as much play time as possible. After they went home we made cheese pizza and ate a picnic dinner while we watched Lillian's Christmas Pooh movie from the library. The girls zonked out as soon as they [finally] got into bed. Laim is now snoozing away, too.
4. Our new lease!!! It isn't signed quite yet, but I just heard back from the Landlord about the new terms for the house we want. They agreed to lower the amount that rent will increase each year over the course of our lease. That's good news because I don't think we would've been able to afford it at the current rate. I'm so excited about this house and the awesome location it's in. I will be so relieved when the lease is signed and it's a done deal! And much MORE relieved when we are all moved in at the end of June! This whole house hunting process has made me realize how blessed we are and how Heavenly Father is guiding us to the right place. I was totally bummed when we were rejected on another house, but this one is much better- it's bigger, cheaper, close to an amazing park, and I have a friend who lives close by with kids the same ages as mine. It's amazing how Heavenly Father will deprive us of one thing only to bless us with something even better later down the road.
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