Rolling on....'Progress is Beautiful!'

Our little girl, there is hope for America's children! We will not look back, and from now on we will keep rolling forward!

The 'whole' view of little Danielle's precious face!

Our First Family, 2009!

Today is 'a defining moment in history' for ourselves and most importantly our children.

We don't get to riled about politics at our house, but recently have been talking as parents about what political views and policies would help make America a better place for our children. As we awoke this morning we had been thinking and talking the past few weeks what today would mean for our children, today is the beginning of the future for our children and our children's children. Danielle is dressed in red and white today in her patriotic attire. The Inauguration of the Nations 44Th President, what a moment in history as this president is the first African American President of the United States. It truly brings tears to my eyes to even think about what this means for the future of our children. I think it can be best stated by a piece of the Inauguration speech by our new president Barack Obama ": the God-given promise that all are created equal, all are free, and all deserve a chance to pursue their full measure of happiness."

There is no question in our minds that God has something special in store for Danielle. She is such a miracle in itself and if you take a few moments to watch her and what a happy baby she is and how you can look at her precious. little face and just smile. She warms our hearts daily, what a wonderful surprise God gave our family, our precious daughter. As every parent thinks and wants the best for their children, no matter your political views, you as well as us, have to be so excited as parents, to think about what this new Presidency means for the future of our children. The world will hopefully be on the way to a better, peaceful, more whole world. It brings tears to my eyes when I look at the first daughters and think about how their father is literally going to do everything in his power to ensure that during his presidency he will begin to form the future and help it be a better place for his children and our children as well. "Starting today we must pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off, and begin again the work of remaking America." If you read the letter that Barack Obama wrote to his girls, it will melt your heart probably the same it did mine and Brads. The publication, Parade, published this last week. Amazing and so meaningful!

Danielle is doing so many wonderful things these days. The most exciting milestone for Danielle came last weekend. Saturday night Brad and I were eating dinner and all of a sudden Danielle rolled over, we were THRILLED! She.....was not so thrilled, I think it scared her because she started screaming! (as you can see in the picture above) But after the first shock she did it again a 2nd and 3rd time! We are SO proud of her. She is now rolling and rolling! As we reported on our last post the poor little girl is battling her 4Th ear infection. We were really wondering because her cough kept getting junkier and her buggery nose was not going away, then she developed a wheeze. Lo and behold, another ear infection. So we are praying this is on the mend, we still have a few days of antibiotics left and a re-check next week.

As I tucked the kids into bed tonight I gave them an extra squeeze, a tear ran down my cheek as I whispered to them that this world will be a better place, we believe it can. We can truly see through our children's eyes the importance of family and togetherness. It is our love that helps them thrive and grow and succeed. And as we go forward with a new President we really feel that Barack Obama wants nothing more, than for everyone in America, to feel this togetherness as a country as well. As I watched the Inauguration today, I could not help but have my eyes well up with tears and think about the hope that we have for our children that they will continue to feel this kind of love and togetherness from our family and their country for the rest of their lives. We are SO blessed to be their parents and have them as our children. And that they will be able to achieve their hopes and dreams and see the good in others and themselves as they grow and succeed. Life for our children will be different than our childhood once was. Technology and the world around us is ever changing, but with our help as parents, and a President who promotes and tries to instill core family values, we can instill wonderful values into the hearts of our children, help them to feel equal and they can carry that on with them to future generations as well.

During the Benediction at the Inauguration today, Rev. Joseph E Lowery prayed, "we ask you to help us work for that day when black will not be asked to give back, when brown can stick around, when yellow will be mellow, when the red man can get ahead, man, and when white will embrace what is right."

Congratulations to our children and fellow friends and family members, we made history! Thank you lord for blessing our family and allowing us to embrace this momentous day for the future of our children!~