One time Daddy told me that our last name is French, and it means French Fry. Then I told all my friends at school and everybody laughed at me! 

- Bethie

Mom, did Jesus die on Black Friday?
- bethie 

"Bethie. Go away. I'm pooping. I like to poop all by myself."

"But the door is closed. I'm not looking at you."

"I don't want to be spoken to either. I like to poop ALONE."

"That's weird."

Yeah. I'm the weird one.

Bethie: I want to have a quiet day. No music, no TV, no talking. Just you and me. Quiet.
Me: You're in the wrong house, girl.
Bethie: Then I think I should move to Rubi's house. It's quiet there.

(Working on family calendar)
Bethie! November 30 is your Dollahonaversary! (The day we passed court)
Bee: really! So I can do anything I want that day!
Me: um, ok
Bee: yea! So I can get a tattoo!

Upon further questioning, she wants My Little Pony tattooed on her eyelids.

Bethie: Mom, leggings are not pants.

Me: These aren't leggings, they're YOGA pants. They're okay.

Bethie (scrutinizes, then shakes head): No Mom. Those are leggings. And leggings are not pants.

Me: Where's the motna?

Bee: In your butt? (tries to lift up my bottom)

Me: "How did this beautiful Ethiopian girl end up here in my arms?"
Bee: "Jesus."

Bethie is talking more and more. Two of her favorite new sentences:

"I wan Momma buy me dat!"
and
"{insert sibling name} bein mean-a-me!"

You'd think by my fifth 3 year old it wouldn't make every nerve in my spine stand on end and smoke come out my ears when they stare straight in my face and scream NO!!!!

But it still does.

Maybe the 6th kid's the charm?

Ike: I love you Bethie.
Bethie: No!
Ike: YES I DO LOVE YOU, YOU BIG DUMB STUPID HEAD!!

Bethie just came down, unasked, with jammies on, teeth brushed, pull-up on, holding out a hair band for me. Who IS this kid?

 Bethie just came down, unasked, with jammies on, teeth brushed, pull-up on, holding out a hair band for me. Who IS this kid?

Bethie just said her first definite 3 word sentence. 'I wanna eat.' (It's always about food, isn't it?) confirms my suspicion the other day that she said 'I need soup'. SO EXCITED. This little girl is gonna be so hysterical once she starts talking!!

At swim. Bethie really loved her teacher, then had a sub for 2 weeks. First week, we just had to leave. Skipped last week. Now we are here and teacher is back and she is freaking out. Sobbing. The move has messed her up so much. Change has always meant loss to her. Hurting my heart. :(

Walker's mom has been staying with us a couple of days, helping to watch Bethie while I pack. The concensus: "She seems better adjusted than, you know, most of the other grandkids" and "I think she is upping the Dollahon IQ pool." #Bethieforthewin

Every day this little girl blossoms before my eyes. Every single day she's funnier, sweeter, smarter, sillier than the day before. I knew she would change but - wow. It's simply overwhelming.

Merry Lynn Guy How do you feel you have blossomed and changed in the same amount of time Missy?

May 3, 2013 at 8:27pm · Like

Missy Hooks Dollahon Merry Lynn Guy Hm. I dunno. I'll have to think on that one. I think the most amazing thing to me is what a privilege it is to witness how powerful love is. All we're doing is LOVING her. That's all. There is zero magic to it. It's just awe-inspiring how much it has enabled her to become her full, brilliant self. It makes me understand how much we change and grow and blossom and transform thru the love of Christ. And how much more I am enabled to continue to transform, because the love and power of Christ is so much more than the love that we have for Bethie.

I want to glow like Bethie is glowing. I want that love to shine through me like it is shining through her.

May 3, 2013 at 8:44pm · Like · 5

Joy Primm Love this pic! First time I've seen her face lit up like that. So beautiful and wonderful to hear.

May 3, 2013 at 8:52pm · Unlike · 1

Missy Hooks Dollahon She just giggled all day long today. One twelve hour long giggle.

Bethie riding the Zilker Park choo choo. She is an official Austinite now!

Getting Maggie's hair cut and the hairdresser asked (nicely) if Bethie was adopted. Maggie answered, 'Of course she's adopted! Do you think a brown baby came out of my mommy's tummy? What are you, kwazy?'