Dear Bloggy Pals, I'm so sorry. . .

Dear Bloggy Pals, I'm so sorry. You have become such a wonderful part of my life. I enjoy reading about your children, and especially enjoy all of the different phases our kiddos are in. . .whether that be Mamas waiting for babies or kidlets to come home. . .or Mamas who have seven year olds that prepare me for the years ahead. I'm sorry that I haven't had a chance to ready your blogs. When I started blogging, I was really a blog lurker. . .and then I started blogging, and enjoyed the interaction and would post every spare moment. . .and then I slowed down on the posting and went back to lurking, or living vicariously through your beautiful posts. . .and well now, I haven't been able to "lurk" or "post". . .

I've come to the conclusion that I just don't have the free time that I wish I had to follow, comment, and write. Know that I am following along when time permits, and I do get caught up on your posts. I may not have as much time to comment, but know that I wish I could. But like all of you, I blog to document our family's journey through life, and well, I need to get back in the saddle and POST. So, bloggy pals, I'm so sorry if you think I've disappeared and I'm not following along. I am. . .and if you know where I'm from, and you track it, well, some times my lunch break is spent with you, and I won't show up from "home", in fact it's no where close to home. . .

I'm not going anywhere. . .just taking some time to get caught up on life, and to journal. . .I love to write, and it's an outlet I need. I'm also loving this photography thing, so something's gotta give, right??? I have a post in the making dedicated to all of you, with some questions I find thought provoking. I really will get to it. . .I promise!

BTW, did you know it's been over four years since we were LID for Morgan? I can't believe it. . .I've known some of you for over four years. . .how wonderful is that? Now that is not something I'm sorry about. That's something I'm celebrating. Thank you for allowing me to know you, and thank you for wanting to get to know me.

Yours Truly,
Mom With Faith and Hope

My Budding Ballerina

Gracyn LOVES dance lessons. Every Thursday I ask her about dance and ask her to show me what she's learned. She's did a great job of telling me what she had been learning. Parents were welcome to come observe for the last summer session, and I took advantage of it. Everything she showed me was spot on. I used to love when my mom would sit behind the glass window and watch me. Gracyn has repeatedly asked me to come watch her dance. They teach them more than just ballet and tap basics. It's more of a coordination, stretching, balancing class than a structured studio dance class, which is perfect for her. She's still working on her "pizza feet", aka first position and that turnout, and we've been working on "plies" and "releves" at home, as well as first, second, third, fourth and fifth position ARMS only. . .but here's what she really loves about dance.

Here's her "fish". . .

 

And here's her, "Mom can't remember because she was being too cute pose". . .

 

Here's her "Mommy thinks if I can master this clapping and side step thing I might have cheerleading in my future". . .

 

Here's her "rabbit" hop - isn't she cute?!

 

Trying to do the "Chicken". . .mastering isolation is no easy task.

 

In fact, it was more fun zoning out and watching the TV from afar while the other kiddos enjoyed movie time.

 

Now, here is a patient child. She was last for everything, and threw not ONE single fit. "You Git Whatcha Git, and Don't throw a Fit!" (They teach them this at school! I LOVE IT.)

 

Great stuff for working on her balance. My Gracyn, is not yet, well, graceful

 

Her sweet teacher giving her a hand. . .

 

Shuffle Step. . .

 

And My ABSOLUTE FAVORITE - "Put on a Happy Face!"

 

And there you have it. . .my budding ballerina. A girl after my own heart. Now, let's just hope that I take after my mom instead of those other crazy stage moms. My friend got up and left so she wouldn't be a distraction to her daughter. Me, well, you can tell from above that I, uhh, stayed put and kept clickin' away. . .shame on me, huh??? I may be a lost cause. . .

Happy 4th Birthday Gracyn!

My Little Sunshine. . .

 

So, I had this post all ready to go, and then on Gracyn's real birthday, we celebrate a major milestone. . .You won't believe it?! Our first "fight" with words. . .I know - you're thinking, you consider this a milestone to celebrate? Well, I do. I've been working with Gracyn on using words to express her emotions, and on her birthday after a rough day of having to wear her birthday crown at school, (she HATED it, and HATES the attention, or so I thought) she got in trouble and had to go to her room. When I went in to check on on her, she wouldn't look at me and said, "I MAD YOU!" - I almost smiled. . .Then she proceeded to tell me, "Daddy shut door." - WOW? Read the last paragraph if you want to know why I think she was really mad.

Gracyn, I can't believe it's been almost two years since you became a part of our family, and that you're 4, and every so sassy! You're way too quick to say, "No," you catch yourself if it's in response to anything chocolate, and well, you're sort of in that fibbing-stage. Did you wash your hands? Yes. Let me smell. NO - go back and WASH YOUR HANDS! You adore your sister, can beat up keep up with your brother, and can almost count to 10! You are talking up a storm. So much so, that sometimes, well, we have to tell you to be quiet. . .You will suck down juice and chocolate milk, but drinking regular milk is on your list of "dislikes". You love new clothes now, and getting toys! I've created a monster! Your favorite color is purple, you love milkshakes, and french fries, all veggies, and chips. You like nuts, and your favorite ice cream flavor is mint chocolate chip! You get your taste buds from me, of course. You have less teeth, but a growing appetite. You like your hair in "ponies", and you love to dance and sing. You will put on sunglasses, hats, and cute frilly skirts. A far, far cry from a year ago! You still love to play with water, you're learning how to wash your hair, you help Mommy with Addi, and with cleaning, but you are by far the messiest child in our house (not messiest eater - that would be your brother), but you love to take things with you and drop them wherever you feel like it!

Your eyes are as expressive as ever, and I now recognize you today from your baby photos. I can see similar expressions, both contemplative ones and silly ones. You love to go to church, you love school, and share day, and you're still as quirky as ever. You laugh at things that aren't funny, but that makes you, you. You love to go out to eat, you hate for people to watch you eat. You can't stop talking about getting toys and presents for your birthday, and I can't wait to see how you react when everyone is singing Happy Birthday to you. Will Peyton blow out the candles again????

You know how to swing, put on your clothes, albeit backwards every now and then, and you can eat a cob of corn without any front top teeth. How is that possible?

Well, you know why this post didn't get posted on the 25th, and then we had her party on Saturday with her adorable little classmates. Of course, the one day that it was NOT dry and HOT. . .more to come on that, but for now, I've figured out why she was "mad me" - I don't think she understood that her birth DAY and her birthday PARTY were on different days. Well, well, well. Miss Girlfriend who used to hate attention, opening gifts, and blowing out candles went to town. . .and relished every moment. Stay tuned for all the party fun. . .hopefully I'll actually get to it before her front teeth come in!

Happy 11 Months Addi-boo! (belated AGAIN!)

Okay, here's the deal. . .tomorrow is a very special day for a very special little girl so I'm not going to steal her thunder, and I'm just going to post this without the other several pictures I wanted to include, and with a short update.

See what she's up to now? That's why this Mama isn't bloggin'. Enough said.

 

Anything AND Everything. And these shots below, SOOC one after another. I kid you not. Gotta love a faker.

 

Oh, and out of curiosity, do any of you have almost one-year old babies who understand how to use an i-phone? This little one was trying to "slide" it open, and then she held it to her ear. Don't the bald head fool ya! She's got 8 teeth, can down 3 won tons, apple bits, and cheese puffs in one sitting. AND has laryngitis. . .perhaps from exercising her vocal chords a bit too much??? She's already fallen off the bed (I know - she should be in a crib, but I don't care!) and she is almost ready to walk! Slow down Addi-boo!!!

Addi - I promise I'll get to posting your pictures soon. . .I promise. I love you so much!

Check out my girlfriend!

We leave for a mini-vaca tomorrow and I'll have minimal access to my computer. Ugghh. . .I'm so behind. I have no idea when I'll be able to, or how I'll be able to catch up.

Before I go back to finish writing some other important posts and have more fun with Gracyn's photos, thought I'd share that Gracyn is on the Adopvitve Families website, as the "AF Daily Pic" - I had no idea, and not sure how long it will be up there, but if you get a chance, go check out my parasol princess HERE!