One of my husband's favorite lines is "waiting is the hardest part of hope", on monday we went into the doctor thinking we were going to hear the heart beat of our fourth child for the first time. 15 minutes into the appointment our hopes were dashed once again as we saw what looked like empty black pockets on the ultrasound screen. I was in shock... I had already started showing... my boobs hurt, I was moody and tired... how could there NOT be a baby in there?? I could feel the dam of emotions ready to break... I was heart broken and pissed off. I had just gone through this in November with miscarriage number three... and now it was happening again.

~Smile at them.  It reassures them and gives them confidence.  Seams simple...but do a little check today and notice how many times you smile at them ;)

~Get down on their level.  Really, bend down so they can see into your eyes and then listen to them.  

~say "YES"...when they ask you to play, when they want pop tarts for lunch, (that one makes me cringe ;) ) when they want "just one more minute of snuggling"!

~Give them your full attention.  Put down your phone, turn off your computer, ditch the T.V. and just be with them.  Listen to them without interruption...I never want to hear my daughter say to me again, "your phone is more important than me"!  Yup, she has said that.  ouch

~this one I got from watching my mom wipe my little mans face...Be gentle with them.  Her gentle touch was a sweet thing to watch, and a far cry from the rough wrestling match that our face cleanings evoke.  I was inspired!!!

~Let them take as long of a bath as they want to.  Bath time should be a time of fun, relaxation and laughs. Let them enjoy it.

~Teach them something...a word in Spanish, a Karate move (my hubbie does this) some sign language...anything to connect with them.

~Dance.  Go crazy.  Like the neighbors can't see you through your windows.  I dare you.


~do something THEY love...find bugs, dig in the sandbox, play with play dough, or race cars.  I have to admit that I don't love a lot the of activities that my kids like do,  but when I do them with them...that says love to them for sure!!!

~Check your tone.  I have decided to listen to who in our house sounds like the  child and who sounds like the adult...I am embarrassed to admit that I (more often that I want to admit) sound like a bratty 3 year old, and heaven knows we only need one of those around here!!  So I am slowing down, listening to myself and taking a deep breath before I talk.  That doesn't mean that the child in me doesn't rear its ugly head sometimes, but hey, I'm learning!

~Say "I adore you!   I love you!   I am proud of you"!  
This may seam obvious, but for real our kids can never hear this too much!

What can you add to the list???  How do you show your kids love???  Comment below and remember to share us with you r friends ;)!!
{GENA}...bye now, I'm going to go love on my babies! ;)

I often find myself  in a place of total inadequacy  in trying to find the words for my children's birth mothers to thank them enough. (and I think my daughters birth mom would wish I would stop trying ;) )

Ahhh love... such a simple word... so many ways to show it and screw it up. Have you ever thought about how you receive it or how you give it? I remember skimming Gary Chapman's 5 Love Languages book about 12 years ago when I was getting ready to get married. But as a self absorbed 20 year old bride to be I have to admit, I really just skipped forward to the quiz to find out what my love language was... I think back then it was shoes:) Anyway, a few weeks ago Gena told me about an online quiz you can take at their website to find out your love language... I went home and took it...and made asked my husband to take it too. I was sure after 12 years I knew what his was... but his top two were the ones I would have put at the bottom of the list... yikes, not getting the WOTY (wife of the year) award this year. 12 years together and I was just realizing I have not been communicating my love for him in the way he most wants to receive it... It was eye opening to say the least.