Love is buying some "jelly bean" eggs at the dollar store. Love is having those eggs be a full day of interesting play. Love is watching the Munchkin place those eggs, carefully, around your "baby flowers." Love is sitting next to them, counting and naming colors. Love is spending time together in your back yard.

We went to the mall for pictures with the Easter Bunny. We then made a stop in the dollar store for mylar balloons for the boys (long story) and the Munchkin wanted some Easter eggs to play with when we got... more

Nicholas and the Munchkin have really interacted during this visit. Sometimes they're pushing and hitting. But sometimes they're legitimately playing with one another. The Munchkin busted out with, "I'm playing with my brother!" shortly before or after this particular shot was taken.

Love is watching siblings play... and enjoy it. Love is laughing with them when they make silly dance moves in their underwear in the kitchen. Love is watching them hold hands for a second. Love is holding back tears when you realize that... more

Love is getting to know one another outside of your direct connection of the child. This was taken during our first visit. D's parents were watching the Munchkin while we went out to a very yummy restaurant (Chickie & Pete's). We spent time together, laughing, talking about things that weren't directly related to the Munchkin herself, and got to know each other on new levels. For us, however, the attempts at connecting on those levels has never been awkward. When we get together as just Josh and Jenna with J & D (or just D and... more

Love is paying attention when someone talks. When you pay attention, it make gift giving infinitely easier. One of my husbands (yes, there’s been more than one) never had any inkling as to what gift to buy me for Christmas or holidays. We were married for 16 years and he never did figure it or me out.

One particularly memorable birthday, I requested a negligee. Are negligees still even around? Just in case, they are not, for you youngsters, a negligee is a fancy name for a nightgown, a fluffy, chic looking one. I was in my late twenties and something... more

Sometimes I hear adoptive moms say that people wander if they can love adopted children as much as biological ones. Since I have never adopted a child, I cannot speak to that issue. However, it seems possible to me that you can love all your children as much, but maybe sometimes in different ways.

Parenting through adoption can be "as good as" parenting biological children, but in some ways it might feel different. Love is love though, right? Does it make a difference? There's no good answer. In some ways, it makes no difference at all,... more

This was another of the pictures we had taken together during our first visit. You've seen the picture of me & D with the Munchkin. You've seen the full group picture. And so, this one also has to make an appearance. Me and the Munchkin, looking at each other. My facial expression is somewhat goofy. However, the way that she is looking at me, with eyes that mirror my own, still holds a special... more

I can't look at this picture, or the pictures like it, without crying. I just can't and I don't think I will ever be able to look at them with dry eyes. This particular shot was taken at my baby shower for Nicholas in September of 2005. The Munchkin was sharing a balloon with my paternal grandmother. This picture is so beautiful to me for so many reasons.

My grandma and I have always been close. She watched me when I was younger and my Mother was finishing college. After school, when mom and dad were working, I went to her house... more

Love is doing something normal with your placed child. During our second visit, which J & D drove to Ohio to stay with us, we had a picnic in the park across the street from the apartment we lived in at the time. We took our little grill. The men, which included my Dad who was in for the day, stood around and acted manly, turning hot dogs. The women, including my Mom, sat in the grass and played with the baby.

When I look back at pictures, especially understanding day-to-day parenting now thanks to Nicholas,... more

Love takes on many forms. It is much more than hearing the words, “I love you.” Sometimes in your life you may even meet people who mouth the words, but never seem to convince you that they really do love you by their actions. Then there are people who show their love for you with gestures, but have great difficulty saying the words. Most of us crave both. One way to show someone that you care who is far away is by keeping in touch with them by e-mail, phone or regular mail. Both my sons lead busy lives. However, Chris, the son that I did not... more

Love is a big red fire truck. Ask my Husband. Fire fighting has been in his blood for as long as he can remember. His Dad was a volunteer fire fighter. When Josh was two, they lived near the fire house and while his Mother was drying her hair, little Joshy walked out the screen door and across a big field to the fire department. It's always been his calling. We're proud to be a fire fighting family.

Nick's nursery is decorated in fire trucks. The majority of his clothing features some form of a fire truck. Toy fire trucks? People... more