6 Years!

Good times, bad times, peaks and valleys, I would do the past 6 years all over again. Infertility, insecurities, 1st baby and our first house, the loss of an aunt...an uncle, many things we did not have in "our" plan, but He did. We know His plan is far greater than anything we can imagine. We look forward to what the path may bring and always will rest in knowing that He knows what is best for us and that we will get through it all, together.

















We are excited to see what happens next. Another baby? A new house? A move? Who knows... its an adventure. We have the most amazing friends, parents and siblings. Whatever may be, we have them behind us. We are blessed. Simply put.

Dance Debut... FLEA RING CIRCUS

I was not able to take any pictures or video while Gracie danced, but I was able to get some fun pictures of our little dancer as her big debut was made. We are SO PROUD of her. Both Bobby and I had tears in our eyes as she danced and I even cried after. I actually had to leave the auditorium as I was so overcome with emotion. The fact that she is not a baby anymore, that she is so cute, she is growing WAY TOO FAST and more importantly, she is the most wanted child who is our biggest miracle. This little girl is straight from heaven and couldnt be more loved. We wanted and needed her so. :)

The rehearsal

Gracie did absolutely awesome at her dress rehearsal. She was a little ham. I do not know why I was nervous that she wouldnt go on stage. She was actually begging to go back on the stage and was not happy she only got to dance on the "big stage" once. She is so excited for todays show and I think we will have one very sad 3 year old when she doesnt get to do this again tomorrow. So, here are some photos from the "practice" recital and there will be more from todays performance.

Flea Ring Circus- Dress Rehearsal

Just keep swimming, Just keep swimming!

Here are some pictures from this weeks swimming lesson. Gracie continues to do great. She does keep saying that she can swim "all by herself", but mommy begs to differ.

And some fun videos of our little fishy in action;

New Family Pictures!

Above you will see our brand new family picture. I LOVE it. :) There were so many to choose from! I hope to show more as I can!

*** The main pictures shown on this blog (ie. header photo and side bar photo are copyright Maggie Holmes Photography ***

Swim, Dance, Recital, Anniversary... Oh My!

We have quite the week ahead of us! Gracie's swim lessons start back up after a week off today, she has her final dance class on Wednesday, dance rehearsal on Friday, Recital Saturday and Mommy and Daddy's 6 year anniversary Sunday... Phew! There are sure to be plenty of updates and pictures, so keep coming back for them!

Hope everyone is having a great Summer so far!

On a quick side note, please pray with all of your might for a very sick little boy and his family. Dylan is only 2 months old and was diagnosed with Leukemia last week. His mommy went to NCS and she is super special. Please pray that mommy and daddy remain strong and keep their faith with the Lord but most of all that God holds Dylan in the palm of his hand right now. You can keep up on their vigil here; http://prayfordylan.blogspot.com/

Daddys Day!

Bobby and Gracie have such a fun and unique relationship. It is really fun to watch it grow as the months go. They have the same sense of humor, sometimes too good. She loves her Daddy MAYBE as much as he loves her. :) She is now walking through the front door when her and I get home and shouts, "Yo! Yo! Daddy!". I can only imagine how their relationship will grow as the years go by. They have something special.

Gracie and Daddy and one of their very first heart to hearts. :)

What has Gracie been doing?

Gracie has had an eventful start to summer. We have just completed session 1 of her swiming lessons this year and she came out swimming in session 1! I am so blessed to have met such a wonderful person like Sarah at the gym, who is a pre-school teacher during the school year and teaches swim lessons during the summer and is absolutely, positively one of the most amazing people I have ever met. She is so patient with Gracie and Gracie, in return, adores her. With 2 more sessions to go, by the end of July, I am certain Miss G will be a pro! :)

Gracie also has her first ever dance recital on June 27th. We just had a practice with costumes, hair and makeup (mommy put VERY little on her baby. She is a BABY after all!). Gracie is one of the youngest and tiniest dancers in the number titled, "Flea Ring Circus". After recital, the studio closes until August and Gracie wants to dance some more when it re-opens. As long as she is having fun, we will dance for fun. Both Bobby and myself would like her to try some new sports once she turns 4, like tennis, t-ball or soccer.

Come back to see pictures from Gracies recital and more swimming photos too!

Speechless

Some of you may or may not remember that last October, one of our friends twin daughters had an accident, an accident every parent fears for their baby. Cici choked on a piece of fruit and as a result of even the quickest mommy CPR and determined firefighters, Cici suffered from lack of oxygen to the brain. The technical term is an Anoxic brain injury. Her mommy and daddy are so very determined to help their little girl. They have been doing hyperbaric treatments in CO. Cici just finished her 10th with 30 more to go. When I woke up Saturday morning, I received this picture;

















Cici is smiling. God is so good.

Went to the Zoo... Came home with an asthma attack...

We went to the Wildlife Zoo over Memorial Day weekend. We had so much fun! They have a whole new aquarium, a log ride (Gracie put her arms up during the 3 story drop... once again, LORD HELP ME!) and they have a new restaurant. We of course had fun on the train, but Gracie would have spent all day looking at the fish.

We came home that evening and Gracie, after being around blowing dirt all day, was coughing like crazy. I started breathing treatments but by Sunday she was full blown attacking. After a visit to Urgent Care early Monday morning and a shot of prednisone, she started to act like herself again. We are still taking breathing treatments and, for the time being, I am keeping her inside for the most part... with the exception of the gym, swimming lessons and dance class. :)

She is growing taller by the day and has some serious spunk. The other day I told her she was "playing with fire" because she wasnt listening to me. Bobby said, I bet she has no clue as to what you are saying, but oh no... out of her playroom is a little voice, "Mommy? Are YOU the fire?"... And to end, here are a few, new "Gracie-isms":

~ "Gracie, show daddy how you count to three in chinese!".... "One, two, three in chinese!"

~"Mommy! I need my beauty treatment!" (breathing treatment)

~ "This little piggy went to the market, this little piggy stayed home, this little piggy had roast beef, THIS LITTLE PIGGY HAD A SON....