ONE, TWO, THREE!

Happy third birthday Sweet Vara James!

You had about 30 people at your party, and you were really a delight.

Dora Sophia was in a great dress, Tinker bell was everywhere.

ALL of the manning kids, and Archer had her first bday cake too.

You are the best present I was ever given. I love you.

Quote of the day:

Jenny:" emily we are having a tough day today"
Emily: "why?"
Jenny: "Vara just peed on our dog griffen and balmed it on the him"

TINKER BELL!

Mama turned 35! and you are on your way to working with teacher number 2... MRS. JENNY... you are doing well and making lots of things. You were tinkerbell for halloween. The second tink movie is now out and you are loving all the things that go with that. You will be 3 .... i am so excited.

i just think about trying to wait for you this time of year and I was so worried, tired, and ready to meet you. I never knew how much you would change my life. I never knew you were the one thing in the world make me always want to be better.

I love you!

just wanted to write that there are days I want just write things down, or video because you are so cute or say something funny, but I do not always get it done.

Hope you are always aware that MOST days you do something funny. Yesterday you used your purple sequined dress up shirt and acted like Tina Turner! so funny.

You have a stuffed Bull dog names CRUNCHY and sometimes you call him ARCHIE. You like church and you LOVE ms. cynsee. Sometimes Jewel (judine) comes early in the AM to watch you while mom goes to work.

You like your bike but would rather climb trees...

And you are excited for my birthday party... and CAAAAAKKKKE

Pinky Moves to Charlotte, NC

You are indeed POTTY trained. We hope! You wore you tutu on the potty, and I have a photo that I have to get up that shows you on the thrown as the princess.

You have a cold, but are not happy at all that you have "boohbers" in your nose.

We had fun at the Matthews Festival. TUTU and potty training, do not mix!

Spending time at Gran's on Labor Day Weekend

Here are some shots from the summer... we had a good time.

Lets see.... a month later and SO much has changed. Mom is working full time, and a lot. Pinky is still here, but has to go home soon, unless God blesses us with a job here for her.

You dad is coming to see you most every other day, and you and he have a great time. Actually his birthday is today. So you are so excited because there is a party and CAKE and uncle stephen is coming over and "DAWALKERBOYS"

Lots of things change, but the consistent thing is that you are the saving grace in my life, the thing that blesses me and allows me to be calm when things around me don't make a lot of sense.

Sofia is not coming to our house anymore for "school" so we are hoping a new kid will come our way. We are excited about your desire to pick up a book and read, and your wantingness to be more each day. You are a gift from God, and I love you.

You are 36 lbs... cuter than ever, and I am so grateful you are happy and healthy.

MAMA

First week back to work for Mommy and by wednesday you wanted to know why I had to go to the office so long. Pinky and Cynsee are here to help with the adjustment, and I am so grateful.

I am excited that everyone we meet seems so impressed with your smarts and your vibrant personality. You are truly the best motivation a mom could have.

I love you.

Today you gave up your PACI.... i know, hard to believe. But we decided after you kept sneaking away to have a few moments alone with the Paci upstairs where it was to stay, you just needed to get rid of it all together. So mommy, cynsee and pinky talked to you about giving your pacifiers to someone that needed them more in exchange for a toy or two. You and I went to Target and you didn't want to go in. But with a baggie of pacifiers in hand... we left with a blanket called SOFTY and a back pack from the DORA line. Thank you to the poor cashier named Q that got us in his line and swept away the bag of Pacifiers as payment without missing a beat.

I love you , got teary when we did it, but I am so proud of you big girl. I know the next few days will be hard, but you and I can do this!!!

love you.

Mommy and Vara... and SUMMER TIME! swimming like a fish. You got in the pool and swam by yourself for ten minutes. Two mommies sat in awe while we thought you would be scared and we would have to come in and rescue you.... NO WAY. That is one of those lessons I didn't guess right.

You love tinker bell, said tinker BALE and you love the music. I really think you will sing or dance or do art... lots and lots of imagination. Potty time increasing, and of course you and your vocabulary are both growing by leaps and bounds. You like to put on my bra and call it WINGS and it makes me laugh even when I am so embarrassed. Birthday time is still a top on your list, and this weekend you took a bite out of gran's big mac while she was not looking at the pool.... you like the pickle and sauce better than a silly cheeseburger.... SHEBURRGER from DONALDS!!!

I love you baby doll. Happy SUMMER TIME.

Almost June 7th... Pinky's birthday. We went to Pinky's house for 9 days and spent time with Bob Dole her cat and sometimes Poppy. We drove up since you were sick, and we stayed since Pinky was sick. We have so many pictures to post, and you are growing leaps and bounds. You are speaking in FULL sentences.. 5+ words and you are even starting to be a "dyno-reader" with ms. Cynsee. You are really getting so big. You have grown, and you eat anything. REALLY anything. Sushi, rice, Fries, nuggets ANYTHING as long as there is... DIP. Ketchup, honey, syrup, yogurt, DIP... gotta have it.

I love you so much, and this week we have a lot coming up. Court dates, and job interviews. Next week Pinky has surgery on her shoulder and will come to stay with us for a few weeks. I am excited to try to get her to stay!

You are swimming with a life jacket and mommy rigth by your side. You love the water. You have made some many cool crafts for me, and you love your Cynsee.

I am most honored as today you told me I was the best mommy in the whole world! I couldn't have smiled more. I am sure Cynsee put you up to it, but I take what I can get.

Paci, only in your bed.. OUT OF THE CRIB for good.

You have gone potty a few times in the last few weeks, but would rather it just be necessary when you want to get out of something else!

You stand in the corner if you are bad, and often whine.... but we are working on it.

Straws are some of your favorite things!

You are my joy, love and light. Thank GOD for you.

Angel, i love you. Mommy

What a week we are having! we have moved out of the crib and into the big girl bed! Mom, she even took it down herself! Hair cut, paci only at night for over a month now... and wow, just think a new HAIR DO to go with it all. Tomorrow we fly to Michigan to see that place, learn where mommy grew up for a time, and meet some old and new friends!

Vara, Mommy loves you so much and has really gotten to see this week just how fast all this is going to go. Some day when you ask me why I sat and did this, or what is so cool about that lock of hair in the jewelry box... you should know, today you made me smile, laugh, cry and rejoice. you made today worth fighting for, and you put a smile on a face that had forgotten just how great the simple things can be.

The best thing, your following is HUGE.. ok, maybe not that big, but you have a facebook following that cares about your life. A group of people that waited for you to get her, have waited to meet you, and have kept up with your BUSY LIFE on line.

This week, you made me a mother's day gift of a vase with glass beads with ms. cynsee... she is your best friend! We made her something cool too. a shadow box with your handprint and some other neat things.

Mommy is still working on a good job, and you pray with me each night to make it happen! i can't wait for all this stuff to streamline itself, but in the meantime you are my magic!

I love you. Happy first haircut! and thanks for being the "best girl in the whole wide world"

mommy

We tried to keep such a cute girl still for a picture, but here is what we got! you are such a joy. You were even sick this day and still had a smile. You wore this dress that Pinky sent you, and you were even running around in it in the yard. You found the golden egg, and you were even happy to play with the boys there.

Then the fire department came, and mommy and DD tried to give them a reason to stay! so we really set the oven up in smoke! you were happy to see the truck, and mommy was so embarrassed... BUT we made it through our first holiday!

You also yelled "I HATE YOU" in church after a skit said it... it was dead quiet and WHAMMO out it came... keepin it real vara james. AHHHH the seat wouldn't get low enough to the floor.

I love you, and am glad you are the cutest girl in the world!

Mommy

This was a busy weekend. You played with Cousins, and colored eggs with Gran and Auntie. You jumped on a trampoline with your friend Josh and played with Josh and Seth. You wore a "BIG DRESS MOMMY" to church that pinky got for you, and you even went to another friends house on a long car ride. You talked the WHOLE way there with "tra ne and jewel" and you were just talking it up until 11 pm. you had a good weekend, and we had a great time making memories.

I love you.

You are getting so big. The days of the week have nothing on you! You are a large fan of the "hip check" so we are working on saying "no thank you and excuse me" You are the biggest joy of my life and I adore you. You sang GOD IS SO GOOD.. all of it perfectly in church the other day and at the end WAHOOOOO.... everyone was smiling.

Still in your crib, and Paci at night. I guess somethings we just hold onto. I am happy to report you are jumping and running and love to swing. You got a princess bed and love that for the living room to watch Mermaid or Curious George.

You go to bed at 8:30 and we have tub time, read about Jesus or dogs or whatever you pick and then lights out!

Things are a little hectic for Mommy, but you keep me fighting for the best for you sweet Vara James.

Rub noses with me! I love you. Mommy

You are now talking in full sentences. Things have been a little crazy at home and for now it is just you and Mommy. You play with "you cynsee" most days while "mommy works".

We spend our evenings playing with friends, TUB TIME, prayers and bed. We sings songs, we eat dinner and really for now we just are starting to get outside since it is light when Mommy gets home.

Terry and Gran came to visit and took this great picture of you. I think it really captures where you are. Tall, pretty, confident and charming... oh and did I mention SASSY.

Mommy loves you so much.

We are going to see TAUNTIE, AUNTIE and your cousins tomorrow, and I am sure that you will be happy to see them.

You are truly the love of my life. My greatest gift from God, and the thing that keeps me going.

I love you sweet vara james.

things are a little crazy right now. But you are doing so well. You sing the rainbow song... know all your colors. Know all the numbers to 15 and your ABC's. You are a true joy. You and Mommy spend a lot of time together, and take a lot of trips on air planes. You ask most days if we are going to see pop pop or pinky to go to the airport.
You are so happy, and you enjoy SNACKS and JUICE. You also are in love with pinecorns.... aka. Popcorn.

I love you.