My Growing Girls

Wow. Time flies. It truly does. Here are some recent pics of the girls- Gabi is 6 years and Ellie is 18 mos. So hard for me to believe.

18 Months Ago Today and First Grade Tomorrow

18 months ago today was March 7, 2008. Our precious Elliana was entered the world and captured our hearts. How is it possible that she is already 1.5 years old? Sigh. She continues to be SUPER SUPER busy and um, curious. She is into EVERYTHING, particularly that which she KNOWS she shouldn't be. Which is all the more reason to LOVE her.

Yesterday, we were at Brown's for ice cream, etc. and I leaned on my Mom as I was holding Ellie and said "My Mommy". Ellie, literally took both her hands and used them to pull my head off my Mom's shoulder. She kept patting my chest saying "My Mom, My Mom, My Mom". It was soooo cute!

Words she can say:

Mommy/Mama/Mom/My Mom
Daddy
Gah-Gah (aka Gabi)
Daisy
Good
Uh-huh (aka Why, YES I agree completely with that lovely idea)
Ease (aka Please)
Atch (aka Watch- pointing to the DVD player in van)
Ellie
Jes (aka Yes)
Side (aka outside)
Hot
Dis (aka this)
Das (aka that)
Eat
Baby Signs "more"

She knows what she wants, and how she wants it. She communicates clearly by shaking her head "no" when she doesn't want something, and pointing and saying "dis" when she does.

In other news, Gabi starts FIRST grade tomorrow!! I can't believe it! Again, another example of how quickly time flies. Sigh. She is more than ready, and I'm thrilled for her. It's just hard to let her go.

Make & Take and a Sledding Date!

This morning, Lisa, Sue and I made our way to Make & Take where we prepared 6+ meals for later consumption. If you haven't tried it, I highly recommend it!! I felt like Rachel Ray!! :)

Afterwards, Howie and I took the girls sledding and for some outside play in the yard. It was SO MUCH FUN!!! :)

Crib Time

Gabi, Allie, and Mackenzy 1994


Cullen and Ellie Jan 1, 2009

I couldn't resist getting this shot of the twins when they were in Ellie's crib yesterday. Took me back to thier big sisters hanging out in there.

What a difference a YEAR makes......

One year ago today "A" called our 800 number for the very first time!!

I'll never forget it. It was a Thursday. I had called STAR earlier that morning and talked to our social worker about the sadness that engulfed me. We had just been told that we hadn't been selected for a case.

I was sitting in my office talking to the Athletic Director. My cell phone rang. I didn't recognize the number so I took a deep breath and answered, as one must always be alert when monitoring an 800 adoption line. It was "A". She said that she had seen our ad and wasn't even sure why she called it. I remember saying "So you are currently pregnant?" At this point, Keith, the AD excused himself from my office.

"A" explained to me that she really thought that she was going to work with an agency (to ensure that we weren't "crazies") but felt compelled to call when she read our ad. I explained that we actually were working in conjunction with an agency and that if she was interested, she could call them to learn more about us.



We spoke for a few more minutes. It felt SO natural talking with her. I was instantly at ease. She laughed a lot and talked really fast, likely due to her nerves. When we hung up she said that she would call STAR. I encouraged her to call me at anytime.

As soon as we hung up I dialed STAR. (Well, after doing the happy dance all around my office). Amanda answered the phone, and "A" had already called!! She was already on the other line with another STAR worker! My heart SOARED at the possibility that THIS-JUST-MIGHT-BE-IT!!!!


Fast forward to the next morning- Friday December 7, 2007- 11:30am. I was driving in my car down Main St. (not sure why I wasn't at work...some things never change, wink wink). My phone rang. I instantly recognized the number with anticipation. A number that only 24 hours before had meant nothing to me.


It was "A". She indicated that she had talked to the people at our agency, viewed our profile online and said "I'm gonna choose you guys, I want you to adopt my baby". I started SCREAMING and CRYING at the same time. She seemed almost surprised at how much this meant to me. She kept saying "Aw, now your gonna make me cry".


Exactly 3 months to the day later, on March 7, 2008 our beautiful Elliana was born.


I still look at her with awe. Heck, five years later, I still look at Gabi the same way. It's amazing. Someone entrusted us to raise their baby girl. To be her everything. To love and cherish and adore her for always. Twice. We are humbled and honored to be called Mommy and Daddy by these amazing little girls. Thank you "N". Thank you "A". Thank you.


Our first look at our baby girl.....




What a difference a YEAR makes.....

.

"You'll Shoot Your Eye Out"

Last night Howie, Gabi, and I went out on a date. First we went to our favorite restaurant- Carrabba's YUM! Then we went to GEVA to see "A Christmas Story". It was AMAZING! Oh how I remember the days when I thought that the perfect Christmas present would make the world right. For me, it was a Cabbage Patch Kid.

We had front row seats, which was really cool. I LOVED watching Gabi as she took in every bit of it. She was mesmerized. At the end she declared that she "really liked it, especially that bully".

So Much to be THANKFUL for

Thanksgiving. THANKSgiving. ThanksGIVING. I have sooooo much to be thankful for. I am aware of this every day. I am blessed. I wish all of YOU, my readers, lurkers, and stalkers a very BLESSED Thanksgiving as well.

In other news......

Ellie has a new look.....

isn't that hysterical? She does it all the time.

She also has a new trick.........

"You just wait...."

Oh how I remember hearing those words which were usually followed by something like "God is going to give you a child JUST LIKE YOU."

Fast forward several years.

(Clearly, I lived with a fortune teller.)

It seems that Miss Gabi is having an extremely hard time learning when it's appropriate to talk and when she needs to zip it. Did I mention that EVERY year my report card comments would read something like this...."Teri is a bright student however, she talks too much." Each semester, each year throughout Elementary school, my report cards would have some type of variation of that comment.

Enter September 2008. My sweet daughter is having a very hard time controlling her "Gab"bing at school. Her teacher uses a visual warning system. The children start on green everyday and then are asked to move their cards to yellow, orange, and red (in that order) throughout the day if the behavior continues. They can also work their way back up to green.

We take it very seriously when she comes home on any color other than green. Lately, she has had too many yellow days- and even an orange here and there. She always reports that it's because she has been talking.

I called my Mom for some advice. Asked her what she did to help me. You know what she did? She LAUGHED. Yup. That's right. Laughed a satisfying hearty bellow.

Gabi is also way too smart for me. Here is how tonight's conversation went.

Mommy: Gabi, I'm really disappointed that you are on yellow for the second day in a row.

Gabi: Mommy, I just don't know what I would ever do without you. You are so beautiful and I just love you so much.

Mommy: Thank you Gabi, I love you too that's why I want you to be responsible and make good choices.

Gabi: Mommy, I really can't imagine what I would ever do without you. I would never even kiss anybody ever again.

Mommy: (Quietly smiled to myself as I thought....You just wait....)

Throw Back Pic of the Week......

Recognize these little sweeties?
Gabi and YaYa (aka Allie) circa 2005 :)

Four Eyes

Today, I picked up my new glasses. I only need them when I drive so I went with something a little funky knowing I don't need them to match outfits. ;) While we were there Gabi tried on some glasses too. HOLY COW did she look cute! Does anybody remember the time I nearly cried when she passed her eye exam? Darn it. No glasses in her future.

BLSM

Blossom. My baby spelled (or tried to) her FIRST word phonetically today! She came to Howie and I with a beautiful picture of a flower and the word Blsm written by it. She asked "Is this how you spell Blossom?" HOLY COW! A month ago the girl could barely write all of her letters. My heart is swelling with pride!

Flower Girl

She was AMAZING!! That's right, she walked down the aisle like such a PRINCESS! We are so proud of her. :) What an honor for her to be chosen to serve as flower girl on Carrie's special day. We are so happy to have shared it with her and Don.

"Going to the Chapel...."

The whirlwind weekend has begun! Gabi is a flower girl in our friends Carrie and Don's wedding tomorrow. She has been counting down the days for a year now!! Tonight was the rehearsal dinner. I was afraid that she wouldn't want to walk down the aisle- which in itself would stink-but my fear was more about the way she would express herself! She tends to be er, LOUD when she is adamant that she DOESN'T want to do something. Thankfully, my sweet little girl did just fine! Her Daddy was at one end of the aisle, Mommy coaxing her from the other. Once she saw me, she nearly ran into my arms, but SHE DID IT! SHE WALKED DOWN THE AISLE ALONE!! OMG!! I'm not going to lie, I handed her a dollar bill when she reached the end. :)

Pray that tomorrow is the same. :)

Here's a sweet picture of her in the car on our way to the dinner.

My Baby No More....

Gulp. Sniff, sniff. I think someone has played a very mean joke on me by turning forward the hands of time. How did my baby become a full-fledged KINDERGARTENER?? Our district has a full-day program, so she is in school from about 9:30 to 3:30. MY BABY!!!!

I do have a small confession to make- I followed the bus to school (sobbing all the way). I secretly watched my baby get off the bus with her little friend, and walk hand in hand- pointing in awe at the new sights- into school and out of my reach.

so proud after her day!

Savoring Summer's Final Moments

We have been blessed with beautiful weather this weekend. Yesterday, we spent the afternoon at Sea Breeze after both girls had Dr's appointments. Ellie had her GI appointment- not much new there- just increased her meds to reflect her growth- she weighed in at 16 pounds 14 ounces and is 26 inches long. Gabi had her 5 year visit where she braved four shots. I was almost crying with her.

Tonight, we had another fire in our backyard fire pit. We also got out a blanket and admired the beauty of a clear summer night. The stars were so visible. Howie, Gabi and I were just laying on our backs looking up. There was something magical about that one simple moment. I love it when we take the time to pay attention to the here and now. Sadly, Ellie was in bed so she missed it.

Happy 5th Birthday to my Big Girl!!!

Birth

One
Two






Three

Four

Five

Wow, how is it possible that my baby is FIVE? Time sure does FLY when

your babies are growing!! I thought I'd take this time to update some of my new favorite "Gabisms"

• A few weeks ago Gabi told Sue "I think I'm having an allergic reaction to your dog". What?? Where did she hear that?!?



• My friend Jody and her daughter, Janay were watching the girls last week when Gabi proudly announces "I have two husbands, one to cook and one to clean". Now, I KNOW this is a joke that's out there somewhere, I just CANNOT figure out where she heard it!!



• Saturday, after her birthday party she says to me "Mommy, I feel very grown up". When I asked her why she responded matter-of-factly "I am 5 you know". Lol



• Yesterday morning, Gabi wanted to open one of her new toys. I was still sleeping. Howie said to her, "Let's wait til Mommy gets up and ask her" to which she replies "Daddy, you are a very smart man, you can decide this".



• This morning in the car Gabi says "Mommy, I believe my personality is changing". So I ask her "why"? to which she responds "I don't know, but people won't be liking my new personality".
  
  
• Later today, again in the car, she says to me "I'm sad, because I want to marry Nicki, but I can't because she's bigger, and she's a girl. Why can't girls marry girls, and boys marry boys?" I try to explain in the simplest of ways about babies and God. I'm not really sure where I went with that answer. I should have just told her "They can".... but no, I just have to stutter and stumble over my words. Yikes.

Words could never do justice the love I have in my heart for my beautiful, witty, charming blond haired, blue eyed beauty. She changed my world. She changed our world. She is a miracle. Today, I send out extra prayers and love to her birthmom, for choosing us to parent this amazing little girl.

"Excuse me please, God"

Oh my dear Gabi is at it again. This time her Gabism brought me to tears. Tonight, during our prayers, Gabi says "Excuse me please, God, I'm very sorry but I need to cut in here". After she apologizes to me, she says "Dear God, I'm very sorry I cut in, but this is very important, can you please watch over my friend Tyler until he comes home". I just lost it. I didn't even tell her he was back in the hospital, she must have just heard me talking about it.

Also, one other quick thing- tonight after she called me into her room for the 50th time, I told her she was just stalling. She asked what that meant, so I told her it was when she tried to keep me in her room as long as possible. I kissed her and walked out. She must have been processing that, because she yells out to me down the hall; "Yah, well that's just cause I love you"! Little stinker~ how could I argue that? :)

My Big Girl

Wordless Wednesday

Dance Recital Time Again

Along with Mother's Day weekend comes the annual dance recital for Lisa's Dance Boutique. Nicki has been dancing at Lisa's for 10 years, and this is Gabi's second. There are two performances at 7pm Friday and Saturday evenings. This year is bittersweet, as it is Nicki's last year. So many endings. So many beginnings. Sigh. The two adorable girls in the bottom collage are Mackenzy and Kayla Nenni, also STAR babies. Aren't they too sweet???