eight.

Sometimes I wonder how it's possible that I could pick out your voice among a sea of a million - yet some days I can look across the kitchen and hardly recognize you.

I know I heard that little old lady who passed us by-  me a proud new mama, you a newborn babe swaddled in my arms - tell me that "it goes by way too fast." 

Surely, I thought- not too fast.

Surely, I thought- I'll remember every first, every last, every giggle, every tear...

Every moment.

And then the moments turned into milestones.

And the milestones into months.

And the months into years.

 

And then one day- eight years later - I thought of that little old lady and realized she must have been a grandmother.
And once a new mother.
With a newborn babe swaddled in her arms.

But I will not lose myself in a mess of tears over the moments that have passed, for those moments have weaved a beautiful tapestry of memories.

This year, especially, you have grown so much. What you've acquired in maturity, helpfulness, generosity, intelligence and loveliness-  my beautiful daughter-  is so much more than inches or feet could ever measure.

You are my helper.

My friend.

Eight years ago today - when they placed you in my arms- I thought I could never love anything or anyone more than I did right there in that very moment.

Last night as I tucked you into bed, (your long grown-up self nearly reaching from one end to the other), I told you- again- about the beautiful day you were born.
The day you made me a Mama.

And you asked me, "what did you say when I was born?"

The question brought me straight back to the hospital bed where I held you, all through the night,  snuggling you close to my chest- stroking your soft silky hair and feeling a brand new emotion I couldn't quite name, but that I knew I'd never felt before...

What did I say to you? Besides saying "I love you" - a million and one times- I also remember saying "I'm so proud of you!"

Oh, my precious Gracie girl- my first born- there has not been a day that's gone by in 8 years where I haven't thought those very same thoughts.

And if I haven't told you enough- please forgive me.
Because I want you to know today, and every single day,
how much "I love you" - and that "I'm proud of you!"

Happy Birthday, baby girl!
 

My girls...

... they may be 4 years apart, but they have so much fun. They are constantly together.



And they love each other so very much.



I'm a proud Mama of my little girls!!

And, just because I thought my 'littlest' girl looked so cute while she was concentrating on drawing her picture- I had to snap this picture and throw it on here, too.

... my little "artist."

Happy Birthday, Baby!

And for those of you wondering, I'm not referring to the baby I'm (still) currently carrying!

My first born- my daughter, Grace- turns 7 years old today! Seven years ago, my life was completely changed for the better. These have truly been the best years of my life.
I will never forget the moment she was born...

I was so shocked and excited that God had given me a baby GIRL!

My little Grace... funny, charming, strong-willed!

... the light of my life.

And almost 2 years - exactly- after she was born, we welcomed her baby brother...

Grace has always been the BEST big sister. Helpful, loving, attentive...

Here she is, at 2 years old, already "reading" to her baby brother- a habit that would continue indefinitely. As a matter of fact, as I type out this post, she sits on the couch reading to her brother and sister.

Here's my beauty at 3 years old...

And at 4...

And 5...

Six...

And (almost) seven...

It has been a wonderful, amazing journey thus far. My oldest child has changed me like nothing else. Has grown me up, opened my heart and my eyes and helped me to grow in countless ways.

My love for you, daughter, is high as the sky and deep as the ocean.

Thank you for being the beautiful gift that you are... each day.

I love you!

-Mommy

Recitals

I realize that lately my posts have been few and far between. And when I do post, my posts have been just boring pictures of my kids... maybe it's because I am too tired lately to post, or my "pregnant brain" has caused a loss of words and creative thought, or- perhaps, because all along I started this blog for the sole purpose of turning it into a hard copy printed book for my kids someday (by using Blurb).

Regardless, someday I'll get back on the ball- but, for now, you are stuck with recital pictures and photos of family vacations. Sorry! Speaking of recitals, Grace had 2 of them in the last month! Ballet and piano. Both of them were wonderful and totally worth sitting through 90 minutes of watching other boring routines to get to that precious 2 minutes where your little one is on stage, shining like the star that she is ;)

Not everyone shares my "patience" of waiting through the other routines to get to Grace. Anyone have any idea what this is, below?

Answer: It's Ariana laying underneath the church pew (where Grace's recital was held) and putting her toesies up on the bench in front of her! Frankly, it rather surprised me! All of a sudden I looked down and saw 10 little painted piggies peeking up from underneath me!

It dawned on me that I'm not sure I have many grandparent pictures on this blog! Here are Mike's parents with Grace...



And my Mom with her...

Grace before her ballet recital...

And what would a post be without a picture of all the troops ;)

she gets it...

My heart could not have been more full of joy than when my daughter - all on her own- said her bedtime prayers tonight and said this...

"Thank you, Jesus, for dying on the cross for us.
Thank you for saving our lives.
Thank you for forgiving my sins.
Thank you, Jesus, that you rose from the dead.

Amen."

I absolutely couldn't have said it better myself. And I couldn't be more thankful that her heart is where it is and that she knows the truth.

little girls and being the baby...

A few nights ago, I was sitting in the living room and was absolutely started by a blood-curdling scream from the bathroom. It was a shocking and terrifying sound and I knew immediately it was Grace.... "Mommy!! Mommy!!!!" I bolted up the stairs and tried to open the door- which I found to be locked. "Open the door! Open the door!!" She unlocked it, still screaming. As I opened the door, expecting to find her in a pool of blood- or something horrifying, or even worse- I instead discovered her clutching her bottom lip, crying her head off, jumping up and down with her eyes fixated in the mirror. "My tooth is loose! My tooth is loose!!"

Oh- heavens to Betsy- you would've truly thought the sky was falling!!

But, being that this was her very first loose tooth- I just held her close, chuckled and told her how exciting it was. After she calmed down, and let me convince her that it wasn't going to hurt- she really felt like she had conquered the earth. "I'm a big girl now, Mom!"

And I have to admit... my heart sank a bit- though I continued to smile and assure her that yes, she was, indeed- a big girl.

For some reason- this milestone affected me more than others. I'm not sure why. After all, it's just a tooth! But it seemed to signify so much more than that. Like the very last straw that tied her to her baby/toddler and preschool years. Now, just one tooth loose... but I know it won't be long- it will barely seem like I blinked an eye and she'll have a mouth full of permanent ("adult" gasp!) teeth that will seem much too old for my "little girls" mouth. But, after all, I will then be forced to finally admit that she really is no longer my little girl.

Oh, my... what the lose of one little baby tooth can do to a mother!!

So- fast forward 2 days. While brushing her teeth, out popped the tooth. As uneventful and painless as I had promised her. And, just as I had assured her- she did NOT swallow her tooth- which seemed to be her greatest fear.

Last night, she reminded me, yet again- "Mom! I'm a big girl, now! See?!?" And she struck a pose and I grabbed my camera. Forever immortalizing her very first "toothless smile."



Excuse me while I wipe a few tears... sniffle sniffle.

Well, in other news. At least I have this other little munchkin that I like to call my baby girl. My friend, Jena, reminded me the other day that I referred to her as "the baby" in my blog- which didn't strike me as the least bit out of place until I remembered that she is, after all, 2 years and 3 months old... a far cry from a real baby- but the closest thing I've got. So- she will remain, "the baby"- and considering her miniature stature- it might be for several years to come ;)

Speaking of "the baby" I found a pair of big blue eyes peeking at me from across the couch. It was a bit surprising- a tad bit creepy- and then mostly just funny. I laughed my head off (and, of course, grabbed my camera) to capture "the baby" in all her humor and glory... tucked in a laundry basket, of course. There is nothing this girl cannot make fun....

rewind 2 weeks...

Looking back, I'm a bit disappointed in myself that I did not post more entries (ANY entries) over the last 2 weeks of December. I mean, what was I thinking? I do, after all, intend to make my blog into annual books (using Blurb) for the kids... that is the whole reason I started this project. And, here in the last 2 weeks of December we had all these big events that I never even posted!... for the kids.

I would be totally reminisce to leave out Grace's very first piano recital. From the moment I learned I was 1st pregnant 7 years ago, part of my 'plans' (you know how us Mom's love to make those for our kids!) included that child learning to play piano. Well, "that child" is now 6 and started piano lessons this summer. I was beyond proud to see her up there- she relished the opportunity and her only disappointment was that she didn't get to go back up and play more songs.

So, Gracie girl... here's for you... and here's for the Blurb book.



Cute little curtsy...



Proud as can be!



posing for the student picture (53 students in all!)

And one last picture, that actually includes my SON- in case you forgot I had one- I know he gets totally jipped with face time on this blog. I swear, it's not intentional.

All right- off to go fishing. Or, I should say- to watch my Dad and nephew fish.... this oughta be interesting!

we are family...

... all my brothers, sisters and me

i got you babe...

I got you to hold my hand...
















I got you to understand...








I got you to walk with me...

















I got you to talk with me...

I got you to kiss goodnight...

I got you to hold me tight,

I won't let go.

I got you to love me so...

I got you, babe

I got you, babe

I got you, babe.