Love and Joy with Gracyn

I started this post back in December. I was going through a really painful period of bonding with Gracyn. I felt that our growing love was starting to slow, and I knew we still had a relationship that we needed to work on. My love for her still continues to grow and change with the seasons. She is a three year old girl, but she is still my 15 month old baby. In many ways, developmentally, she is about a year and a half to two years of age. As I sit here and type, I realize that she was 15 months old at referral, and two years old when we met.

I have been watching Addi grow so fast over the past 4 months, and it reminds me how much of Gracyn's life I wasn't there for. Seven more months and she'll have spent half her life with me and half without. I was heartbroken that I missed Gracyn's 2nd birthday by less than a week. But she had a happy second birthday with people she loved and with people who loved her. She had a cake! That was my hope for her. To have spent her 2nd birthday with us would have made for sad memories. Here's my girlfriend turning 2. . .

 

 

Gracyn is growing by leaps and bounds. She now asks to "baby" which means I cradle her in my arms like a baby and we just stare into each other's eyes and I love on her soft cheeks. She still loves for me to hold her face in the palms of my hands. She has the most generous heart. She shares with everyone. She might ask for "two" of something but that's a bad habit she learned from her big brother. If she's by herself, even if it's just pretzels, she will only take one. Well, this might not hold true with M&M's, but for everything else it does!

She will wear anything if I put the same thing on Addi or Peyt. She's finally learning to want what she wants, not just want what Peyt wants. She's a great eater, her muscle tone is improving, and she loves to pray. She knows the letters T, D, G, P, A, J, V, and S. Being the sweetheart that she is, she knows these letters because they are the first letters of the names of those she spends the most time with!

She's riding a tricycle and she's potty training! (Want a potty training tip? Put a sanitary pad in big girl panties and the dribble accidents are captured without clean up!) She would still rather clean house than play. Hope that's something that stays with her in her teenage years! And her eyes are still the most expressive part of her. She tells all with those big ole beautiful eyes. If someone gave me photos of just her eyes, I could name the emotion. There's her "surprise, uh-oh" eyes, her "guilty" eyes, her "scared" eyes, her "sad" eyes, and her "joyful" eyes. The joyful eyes that I waited so long to see with my own two eyes. . .

 

She's talking up a storm! Praise God. I never thought we'd have to tell her "shhhh". Since Gracyn started talking more I've heard more "no's", a lot more fighting with her brother, but I've also heard some special words. It wasn't until tonight that some of those special words were so clear and so real. . .not just her repeating words. After reading her a book and praying with her I tucked her into bed. She would rather sleep with a hard book over a soft cuddly animal, so at her request, in went the book beside her. I left on the big bedroom light because she said the small night light hurts her eyes. I covered her up and said, "love you." And in her sweet voice I hear, "love you, mom." I walked out of the room with my heart smiling and overflowing with joy. She loves me. . .she finally loves me.

We've come a long way in a year girlfriend. Sweet dreams. . .love you.

 

Lame excuse for being so MIA. . .

I can't believe how long it's been since I last posted. So, here's the reason. . .I can often be found caught pretending to show Addi her reflection when well, in reality. . .ughhh. . .I'll just stop right there.

Here's the truth, from my almost five-year old kid's perspective:
"Uh, yeah Mom, she doesn't look like you. . ."

What I wanted to say, "Yeah, yeah. . . shut up be quiet, a Mom can dream."


Are you sure Addi? Not even a teeny tiny little bit of Mommy in ya????



The real reason why I haven't blogged? I'm simplifying my life. I'm purging and it feels so good! The house is empty. I sold it, gave it away, or it's stored in the bedrooms in order to put new floors in! WOO HOO!!! Now how in the heck is putting in new floors simple? I have no idea, but at least it will feel great when it's done!

10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1. . .

Happy New Year! (I have just about an hour 30 mintues to spare before the first day of the new year comes to a close!)

Kiddos were up past midnight, and we didn't even do the count down! We were getting ready for bed. But, they did enjoy sparkly juice and had a blast with horns and hats! Addi didn't get to wear her hat until this morning - and isn't she a cutie?

 

Our Christmas. . .
For the past two years we have challenged ourselves to spend less and to give more. We participate in Advent Conspiracy and this year the money raised was used towards Project Keep it Flowing. Keep it Flowing Ministry is committed to keeping life’s basic necessities flowing to the people who live on the streets of the “North B” area. It was formed to respond to the needs of our homeless community by serving and sharing for the Kingdom of God. This effort is supported by members of our church and our network of family and friends. This year we were able to share with 60 people who call the streets their home, duffel bags filled with brand new 30 degree sleeping bags, tarps, water bottles, socks, gloves, scarves, hats, water, snacks, toothbruses, tooth paste and hand santizer. As Peyton would say in his prayers, "God, please keep the people who don't have homes warm and comfy."

Christmas Eve we do a fun exchange at DH's Grandma's house.

 

Gifts hand made with love from each child for us!

 

 

I can't believe how much Gracyn has changed since last Christmas. Actually, I can't believe how much our family has changed, or better yet, grown.

 

Gracyn really got the hang of Christmas this year, and couldn't stop talking about Santa. Actually, she's still talking about it! G: "Santa, treat??" Me: "No sweet girl, Santa went home."

 

The weather was beautiful on Christmas day. Peyton enjoyed his new scooter from Gong-Gong, and of course my little girlfriend had to ride along too!

 

My littlest Sweet Pea's very first Christmas, and she slept through almost every bit of it!

 

 

Gracyn is like that doll, "little Mommy". She's a girl after her Mommy's heart. Work that camera girlfriend! She recently started talking up a storm. Peyton has actually had to tell her to be quiet, and all I hear 24/7 is "Mommy, Mommy, Mommy" in her sweet little voice! Not Mom, not Mama, but Mommy. I typically hate the "junk" cluttering up the background of photos. However, I love how the cutter you see includes our engagement photo and the camera that Grandma allowed Gracyn to take pictures with.

 

Thank you God for my family. You certainly must have been thinking about me when you made each and every single member of our household.

 

Every holiday we go to the cemetery as a family and hang out. With each passing Christmas we stay longer and there's a lot more joy! This year it was great to see smiles and laughter.

 

Mom - we know you were smiling down on us watching the boys be silly. And yes, Mom, Darryl is riding a Dora scooter.

 

Isn't my Dad handsome?

 

My Dad makes won ton every Christmas. This year he made about three or four hundred! All by hand, and all by himself!

 

The last ride of 2009. . .It is such a blessing to see the two big kids enjoying each other. They have always seemed close, even from day one, but now they are two peas in a pod. Gracyn copies everything Peyton does! Then again, when I ask, "Who did that?" she's quick to say, "buh-buh". . .always ratting her brother out!

 

Wishing each of you a year filled with an abundance of blessings! Thank you for sharing in our our journey through life. We are looking forward to what 2010 holds.