adventures by gracie

NEW BLOG SITE FOR GRACIE

2010-02-23T13:59:00.002-06:00

For now on please refer to the following site to follow Gracie. It will combine Gracie and Meag, making things easier to me:

McCann Adventures

My sites will stay the same:

Emma's Site

Weight Loss Journey

Only Gracie lol

2010-02-15T18:04:00.001-06:00

After a particularly crazy day I finally have reached the end of my patience and I stop Gracie and say "What part of quiet do you not understand?"

Her answer: "The middle and the end"

And you respond to that how???? lol

2010-02-13T14:09:00.002-06:00

My poor little baby girl....she still doesn't feel good today....although she's at that point where she's tired of laying around resting and yet doesn't want to do anything. I noticed she'd been quiet for awhile...so I went to check on her and this is what I found, poor girl!

Valentine's Party at school Feb 12 10

2010-02-13T13:48:00.003-06:00

Gracie is sick with strep and scarlet fever, poor girl...and yesterday was the Valentine's Day party at her school. So Meag (on her crutches) went over to the school, took a few pics, got Gracie a plate of some food from the party and brought her Valentine's home to her! Here are the pics:

That is her teacher, Mrs. Long, whom we LOVE LOVE LOVE:

Briana...Gracie adores Briana....and Briana wanted Meag to take her pic for Gracie, too cute:
Which would you pick....chocolate or candy?
Gracie made this....front view
back view:
Everyone's Valentine's boxes....aren't the adorable.
Another pic of the class..

no celebrating for us today :-(

2009-05-09T18:36:00.003-05:00

So, this week Gracie's birthmother contacts me by IM (the only way we ever talk and not that much) and asks me if I know of any birthmother celebrations (today is Birth Mother's Day if you didn't know). I do some research, find one in our area and give her the info as soon as I get it...she asked on Wed and I got the info on Thurs. She never said she wanted to know for her or 'us', I wasn't sure. Then Thurs night she IMs that she would like for us to go, but she 'understands'. I replied understands what? Did she want to go? What?

I hear nothing until about noon on Friday when she says she can't go because she doesn't have a babysitter or a car. I knew in my heart all along that she wouldn't go so I wasn't surprised. This is our 5th Birth Mother's Day and we've not 'celebrated' one of them...three of them because of huge things going on such as when I had to get an order of protection to keep her away from Gracie and I or last year when she had me arrested under completely false charges.

Despite all that had happened, I would have went. Since she couldn't go to the BM celebration she wanted to get together with us today for BM's day and see us...go to lunch, something. I absolutely did not want to go. I told her that a formal event was one thing, this was another and that she had just got to see Gracie the week before. She put the guilt on me about how much she wanted this, etc etc. I finally talked to Dave and a close friend about the whole thing. We decided that we would ask her to join us at the mall for the kids zone fun and then to go to lunch afterwards. Sometime to get together, but keep it short and simple. She had assured me by IM that she had a car available to use. Gracie said she wanted to see her and wanted to do this. I finally made the decision for Gracie and for myself (so that it could not be held over me that I wouldn't let her see Gracie on BM Day).

I texted her (at the number she gave me), no word back. I sent her an IM (no word back). I wrote her a mesage (no word back). Then after a little bit I saw that she had read the message...STILL no word back...nothing. I sent another that she needed to let me know if she was coming or not. We were changing plans to do this with her and we had to know what to tell Gracie...no word back. I got up 3 times during the night...no word back. At 7:30 this morning I IM'd and messaged her that if we didn't hear from her by 9:30 about whether she was coming or not we'd make alternative plans.....9:30 came and went and no word back. I wrote that we would go on with other plans.

THEN I had to go have a discussion with Gracie about how she wasn't going to get to see her BM on BM's Day after all. She was quite upset. It wasn't much fun and I was extremely upset...especially since she couldn't even let me know she wasn't coming. I told Gracie that I would not let her keep getting hurt. She told me that I needed to tell her BM that and I explained that I have over and over for almost 5 years. There was much more discussion but she finally accepted that not only wasn't she coming but that we weren't even going to hear from her. She was really upset and I was very angry.

So off we went to have some family time today and thankfully Gracie just moved on and had a great day. However we got back home and as of this time we still haven't heard a word from her. So I went out on a limb that I wasn't real comfortable going out on and once again no follow up and Gracie got hurt again. Not going to happen again at all. I promised Gracie that.

I'm just not happy. At the very least we should have heard something to say she couldn't come today or why she didn't...but nothing. Why am I not surprised? But I am tired of my daughter getting hurt and it's not going to happen any more. She's been through enough and so have all of us.

question of adoptive parents

2009-05-09T18:36:00.001-05:00

Well, I have some questions of any adoptive parents out there....

As most of you know we adopted our youngest daughter at birth almost 5 years ago. I really need some other adoptive moms to talk to...ones that have experienced problems or issues in open adoption; closed an open adoption; is still in an open adoption, etc. If you know of anyone at all, please have them contact me either on here or email me at: emmastormy08@gmail.com.

For those of you that are adoptive parents....

How do you feel about Birth Mother's Day?

Do you 'celebrate' it? Even if you do not have an open adoption does your child know what today is, do you recognize the day?

What term do you use to refer to your child's birthmother?

How do you feel about the term 'real mother' being used to refer to your child's birthmother? Do you know anyone that uses that term? What is your definition of 'real mother'?

Does your child see his/her birthmother? How about other birth relatives?

If you have any issues in an open adoption, how do you explain them to your child?

Ok, that's it for now. Please have anyone contact me that I might possibly be able to talk to; I really need someone that 'understands' the unique situation we are in.

Thanks!!

An interview with Gracie

2009-05-06T09:56:00.002-05:00

These are Gracie's complete answers, word for word....5/6/09 4 1/2 years old

1. What is something mom always says to you?
sometimes she wakes me up

2. What makes mom happy?
when i do my chores

3. What makes mom sad?
when you get hurt

4. How does your mom make you laugh?
when we are watching funny videos

5. What was your mom like as a child?
I don't know

6. How old is your mom?
12

7. How tall is your mom?
this tall

8. What is her favorite thing to do?
work on her computer

9. What does your mom do when you're not around?
she waits for me to come back home

10. If your mom becomes famous, what will it be for?
for a date

11. What is your mom really good at?
really good at lighting up the candles

12. What is your mom not very good at?
putting a picture up

13. What does your mom do for a job?
take Sissy to work

14.What is your mom's favorite food?
shrimp

15.What makes you proud of your mom?
by getting to bed

16. If your mom were a cartoon character, who would she be?
Cinderella

17. What do you and your mom do together?
play

18. How are you and your mom the same?
we aren't the same, Mama

19. How are you and your mom different?
we just are different

20. How do you know your mom loves you?
because I do

21. What does your mom like most about your dad?
loving each other

22. Where is your mom's favorite place to go?
at a restaurant

23. tell me something special about mommy?
when I'm with you

how well will you do on this quiz?

2009-04-15T09:37:00.000-05:00

Do you know Gracie?

adoption conversations with gracie

2009-04-03T09:35:00.001-05:00

Gracie is just growing up and I love having conversations with her about serious things. We've had a few lately, especially about her birth family. She knows who Jeff and Erin are, who Carrisa and Mackenzie and Jacob are and who Mimi is. Her big thing right now is talking about her 'birth sisters Carrisa and Mackenzie' to everyone. Especially if she has a shirt on that Carrisa gave her she will tell everyone that her birth sister gave it to her. Yesterday we talked about who Mimi is and how Mimi is part of her birth family. She keeps asking for a baby brother, lol. She says she knows that Jacob is her birth brother but he doesn't live with her, lol. She's too funny.

Our conversation went even deeper yesterday when she brought up a couple of people that haven't been very nice to us, especially to me. She's smart enough to know that while they are nice to her, if they aren't nice to her Mommy then it doesn't matter that they are nice to her. I was amazed by her perception. She even brought up Nana yesterday and said she wished she could see him, but that he wasn't being very nice to even her if he didn't wat to see her because he was being mean to me. Wow, smart girl. That wasn't the only one we discussed. There are ones that I won't bring up any longer and refuse to call by their birth 'name' because they havne't done anything at all to deserve it. She will always know that they are 'related' by this means or that, but she won't call them by that name, nor will she see them or spend time with them because they have chosen to either be so hateful to me or to do nothing at all to be in her life. It amazes me how anyone could not want to do everything they can to be a part of this child's life when they are given the opportunity, but it is definitely their loss. Evidently they have enough other relatives that they don't 'need' her and she has a loving family and doesn't need them. Because I know they do things with their other family members but Gracie is like non-existent.

I'm really glad that we made the decision to bring her up knowing that she is adopted and at least knowing the names of her birth relatives. She is handling it like it is nothing. So far she only wants to use the term 'birth' with her sisters and no one else. We don't push anything on her especially since she rarely sees anyone except Mimi. We let her talk about what or who she wants and we don't push the rest. But other than Mimi, her birth sisters, Jeff and her birth brother Jacob the only other things she talks about or brings up is her new siblings and how excited she is...she wants a boy and a girl<>

a conversation with Gracie

2009-03-06T15:01:00.002-06:00

Gracie:
Mom, I have a life.

Mom:
You have a life?

Gracie:
No, I have a date.

Mom:
Oh you do? Who with?

Gracie:
Christian.

Mom:
Oh, what are you going to do?

Gracie:
Well, when we get bigger we are going to go on a date.

Mom:
Ok.

Gracie:
Because that is what boy and girl friends do when they are about to get married.

Mom's thoughts:
(Well....Ok, then.....

Happy Gracie Day 2009

2009-03-04T12:51:00.005-06:00

4 years ago today, our beautiful Gracie became our little girl forever. Today is the day that our adoption was final and so on every March 4th we celebrate "Gracie Day". We are so so blessed.

Enjoy these pictures and please join us in celebrating Happy Gracie Day 2009!

Gracie...about an hour old 8/6/04
Our first family picture 8/7/04...Gracie is less than one day old:
Our first official picture as a forever family after the adoption was final 3/4/05:
Finalizing our adoption with our attorney and our Judge 3/4/05:
The following pics were all taken today, Gracie Day 3/4/09:

serious discussion with Gracie

2009-02-22T16:15:00.002-06:00

We have been telling Gracie since before she could really understand that she came from Erin's tummy and that Erin and Jeff gave her to us to be our daughter. She hasn't had a problem at all understanding.

Week before last she went to school with Meag one day and to her social work class where they were talking about adoption and Gracie told the class that she came from Erin's tummy but that Emma is her mommy.

I was gone Friday night and when I got home Dave said that they had had a serious discussion which Gracie brought up. She asked him who her first mommy and daddy were. Now we had not used either that terminology or birth mom or birth dad yet until we were sure she could understand...but she brought this up on her own. So Dave explained to her that Erin and Jeff were her first mommy and daddy and that Erin could not take care of her at that time, so they gave her to us so that we could be her mommy and daddy now. She said ok and gave him a big hug and kiss and said "I love you, Daddy".

How cool is that?

My sick baby

2009-02-15T20:26:00.003-06:00

It is awful when your little one is sick and there isn't anything you can do about it.

Poor Gracie has been throwing up off and on since yesterday after having a tummy ache for a couple of days. She has slept a lot and is running a slight fever. Poor thing feels awful.

But Sissy just brought her a super-gigantic stuffed puppy that put a big smile on her face!

christmas pics

2009-02-06T18:02:00.003-06:00

Look, it's Snow White...
Isn't she precious...
Beautiful sisters...
Our family...
The McCann girls...
Squeezing in a family pic in the car...
Christmas morning, playing in the jeep Santa brought her...
She really loves her new bean bag chair from Santa...
She asked for a robe and pjs...here they are...
Snuggling with Princess...
Playing with Biscuit the puppy that Sissy got her...
Gracie and Biscuit...

more from Gracie's visit with her birth family

2008-12-16T20:27:00.005-06:00

Gracie and Nanny (Beverly, Jeff's Mom):

Gracie and Jacob:

Meag took some pics of Jeff with the kids and then of Jacob and Gracie together. Here they are...

Jeff, Gracie, Beverly and Jacob:

seeing Jeff and Jacob

2008-12-16T20:03:00.002-06:00

Gracie getting to see Jeff (her birth father) for the first time in almost 2 years:

Jacob (Gracie's birth brother):

Gracie was so excited to see them:

Jacob and Gracie:

christmas parade

2008-12-16T18:18:00.001-06:00

Gracie and Sissy

2008-12-16T17:25:00.003-06:00

Snuggling with Bailey (Sissy's new dog)

Gracie and Sissy

Gracie

taking a walk

the girls again

sisters holding hands

Gracie

gracie and friends

2008-12-16T16:26:00.002-06:00

Gavin and Gracie

Gavin and Gracie

Gavin, Ethan, Gracie and Solomon

the faces of gracie

2008-12-16T16:17:00.001-06:00

changes

2008-12-10T12:33:00.002-06:00

Well, there are some major changes in our lives right now; ones that specifically affect Gracie. Effective now there will be no contact between us and Gracie's birth mom and her family. They have hurt us, especially Gracie for the very last time. It's over and we can move on now. Also, I went back to court this past Monday and the Judge dismissed the false charges against me and ended my probation. The charges will be soon expunged from the records totally so that is a great thing. So finally this nightmare is OVER. Our family can heal and move on once and for all. How exciting is that??!! We are certainly celebrating.

My discussion with Gracie yesterday

2008-12-05T17:12:00.002-06:00

I absolutely love the way that children handle things sometimes and how they pick up on things and the way that their minds work, etc. This was my discussion with Gracie yesterday after I stopped all the nonsense that was going on by blocking individuals on my myspace, IM, etc.

Gracie: Mommy, whose tummy did you come out of?

Me: I came out of my mommy's tummy, like you came out of E's tummy.

Gracie: Yes, but E is not my Mama.

Me: You are right. E is not your Mama; You came out of her tummy and she gave you to me and I will always be your Mommy.

Gracie: And I will always be your Gracie. I love you Mommy.

Me: I love you too Gracie.

Me: Gracie, we won't be seeing E any more or talking to her or anything. She was really mean and nasty to Mommy again just now and we aren't going to see her any more.

Gracie: Ok.

Me: Is that ok with you?

Gracie: Yep

And with that she was on to something else. She understands and she doesn't care. She knows who her Mommy is and who it isn't. And all this precious child cares about right now is her Mommy, Daddy and Sissy....and we will never go anywhere.

playtime with Mama

2008-12-01T20:38:00.004-06:00

This afternoon Gracie runs over to my desk where I am and tells me that she wants to sit up with me because "she loves me". It was so cute. Then she decided that we had to sit in the rocking chair and take some pictures together....and so we did...complete with the faces that Gracie wanted us to make. It was sweet and fun. We also had to play the 'Who's the Mama' game...where I ask 'who's the Mama' and she yells 'you the Mama'.

Hope you enjoy the pictures....

smiley faces...

No smiles...

Sad faces...

mad faces...

scared faces...

just lots of grins...

loving Mama...

This is my baby...

Giving Mama some love...

One last smiley picture...

How I love my sweet baby girl....

gracie gets to see Santa!!

2008-11-30T10:42:00.002-06:00

During Black Friday shopping...we stopped at Chic-fil-A and there was Santa! Gracie ran across the room to him and threw her arms right around him. She was so excited and so happy to see him.

Santa gave Gracie two stuffed animals...a beanie baby koala bear and a baby bugs bunny. She has barely let go of them.
Gracie and Mama
Isn't this cute? She just was so happy to see Santa that she kept beaming
And another one
One more

bike ride

2008-11-30T10:27:00.002-06:00

Gracie's "boyfriend"

2008-11-19T10:25:00.003-06:00

Meag captured these pictures of Gracie and Christian. Gracie will tell you that she is going to marry Christian. His Dad and Mom run the TaeKwonDo studio where Meag takes TKD and Gracie used to...aren't they adorable???

Gracie and Mama

2008-11-19T10:17:00.002-06:00

Gracie was hiding under the bed from Daddy...he got the camera and got this great shot of her being silly and showing that beautiful smile of hers

How I love those big Gracie hugs

Being silly while Daddy takes pictures

And another of those wonderful hugs...she lights up my day!

Halloween pics (finally)

2008-11-19T09:15:00.006-06:00

My beautiful girls!!

This is what a screaming crying Gracie looks like when she doesn't want to leave the Harvest Hoedown at church..see above pic and the one below...boy was she ever upset!

She loves doing down the bouncy slide

My Princess

Posing at The Avenue during trick or treating

Gracie and Blake...aren't they cute together?

Stuck in a bubble

Taking a moment to have some popcorn and ride a little ride

Her favorite thing to do at the Hoedown is to ride the ponies...it is the first thing that we do every year

Gracie with Mimi and Papa

Arriving in style...on Daddy's shoulders

Our playdate at Bounce U

2008-11-17T21:06:00.005-06:00

Today our MOPS group went to Bounce U. It was our first time there and we had a great time.

Ethan found friends to play with and he had such a good time as well. He is such a sweet baby that everyone just loves him....
My beautiful girl...this one was in the bigger kids room and she couldn't make it all the way up (which would have allowed her to go down this HUGE slide; she was really upset)...but I caught a picture before the tears fell...
Ethan again...just sitting and taking it all in...
Okay...so I'm the Mom who thought this was cool....I even encouraged Gracie to do it again so I could get another picture....and she got in trouble by the lady there...oops...they can only go down the 'right' way....
She sees a camera and she has to pose....
Picture number 2 of the head dive...
Can you tell that she loved this slide? She kept flying down it...
When we first got there, poor Ethan was tired out and took a little nap...

And a great time was had by all...

only gracie

2008-11-16T21:49:00.002-06:00

Every morning I make Gracie a pile of toilet paper to use during the day...all the "right" size because if you leave it up to her she will pull off tons each time. So night she was going potty and I just happened to be in the bathroom with her and I handed her some TP. She grinned at me and said "when my butt gets big I will be able to get my own toilet paper, won't I Mommy?"...and she motions how she needs both hands to hang on so she doesn't fall in since her butt is so tiny. She points to the back of the toilet seat and said 'when my butt reaches here.'

Only my Gracie would be waiting on her butt to get bigger and say something like that!

The healing words of a child

2008-11-06T22:00:00.000-06:00

Wednesday night after I was hurt so badly by someone and had spent most of the day crying, I was sitting on the bed talking to Dave and yes, crying some more.

Here comes Gracie into the bedroom and climbs up onto my lap. She wipes my tears off my face and she says as solomenly as can be "Mommy, I love you. I love you because we are together always. We are going to be together forever, so I love you."

WOW, how does that not bring a smile, although with hugs and kisses to you??

I sure love that baby girl of mine!!

Pictures of the proof

2008-11-06T19:25:00.003-06:00

Wow...so when Dave first gets home from work we all go and change clothes together and then spend a little bit of time together talking. Usually Gracie joined us, but yesterday she decided that it was more important to feed (and I do mean FEED) the dogs....nevermind that they had already been fed and didn't need any more food til morning. She took care of them and did quite a job of it. Here's the proof.....

What do you do except get out the camera and laugh???

Mommy!

2008-10-22T08:45:00.002-05:00

"I got magic in my fingers. In my dream. And then I had on a beautiful long gown. And it was so beautiful. I wish I had magic in my fingers when I'm like this"

Gee...you think she likes Cinderella a lot or what?

A trip to the ER

2008-10-21T18:38:00.002-05:00

Poor Gracie...

Yesterday just before noon Gracie was playing outside with a little boy that I was watching. All of a sudden she comes screaming (and I do mean screaming) and limping into the house. I bet the neighbors in the next subdivision thought she was dying.

She got on the couch and was holding her foot. I took her shoe off and she had blood on the bottom of her sock. Then she told me that she stepped on a nail...a very rusty nail actually. She had tennis shoes on (thank goodness) and it went all the way through the bottom of her shoe and into her foot, breaking the skin and bleeding a little. It wasn't a huge spot but you would have thought she cut her foot off. Poor thing.

I called Dave to ask if we were going to have to take her to get a tetanus shot and she was crying so loud (which in turn started the little baby I watch crying) that when he answered the phone he couldn't hear me, but his coworker could hear Gracie across their room. He left work and called the Dr on the way home...while I tended to bandaging the foot and calming the baby, then getting lunch for Gracie and Gavin and a bottle for the baby and then getting Gavin and Ethan to sleep...whew. It was stressful. Gracie laid in bed and cried. The Dr told Dave that we needed to take her to the ER.

So as soon as the baby was gone we took her to the ER. Thankfully we were seen pretty quickly. They cleaned up her foot some more and bandaged it again. The Dr said she didn't need a tetanus shot since her shots were up to date, but that she would need to be on antibiotics for 5 days because bacteria from her shoe could cause an infection. They gave us a prescription for her and gave her a popsicle...which made everything better....well, that and the fact that she didn't have to have a shot. The poor thing sat in the bed in the ER and cried so pitifully that she didn't want a shot...they heard her everywhere.

So today she is doing great. Says her foot is just a "little bit" sore. The ER said it was such a good thing that she had her shoes on...or else it would have been way worse.

It was a very traumatic day for Gracie yesterday and today she got up early and has been a HUGE handful...miss attitude, whew. Hopefully tomorrow is much better!

how do you NOT smile at this?

2008-10-15T15:28:00.003-05:00

oh really?

2008-10-15T14:29:00.002-05:00

So it seems that Gracie is playing outside in our backyard at the carnival that is there. And along with her is her Grandma, whose house burnt down.

Interesting.....she has such an imagination

the things she tries

2008-09-30T18:56:00.002-05:00

Last night we told Gracie that starting then she could only watch one movie when she went to bed (instead of ten) and after the one movie was over we would put music on (the music channels on the tv). She wasn't so happy and we knew that there would be an adjustment period.

Her movie got over and she chose the kids music channel to listen to...Dave got it all set up for her and we went to bed. I was reading and Gracie kept fnding a million reasons to come in our room and 'have to tell us just one more thing'.

On one of her trips she evidently decided that the reason she only got one movie and then music was because she had done something wrong and was being punished. So I look up to see her kneeling beside the bed, with her hands clasped together, saying "OH MOMMY, will you EVER forgive me". This was one time that I couldn't help myself and I just burst out laughing. Thankfully she didn't get upset because I laughed as I told her that I would always forgive her....but that she still couldn't watch a new movie.

The things this child comes up with.....life is never dull at our house!

Mommy, how does that baby get out of her tummy?

2008-09-24T11:47:00.002-05:00

Today was the first of the "hard" questions...

I was watching a Lifetime Movie and Gracie comes into the living room and see the lady on the screen. Well, Gracie asked what was wrong with her and what she was doing. I replied that she was having a baby. Ok...so when you say that to a 4 year old...be ready for the next questions, lol. Here they come....'Mommy, how does that baby get out of her tummy'. I need to keep this simple because she's only 4 and I quietly say ' it comes out of her privates, down there; when you get ready to have a baby it gets bigger and that's where the baby comes out.'

Oh boy! Gracie looks at me, horrified and says...."But I don't want to have a baby"....well, thank goodness for that, she's a little young at the moment to have a baby. I assure her that she doesn't have to for a long time. She tells me she doesn't EVER want one. As I'm trying not to laugh at the look on her face, I say 'ok, you don't have to'....

And finally that hard moment was over....whew!

"just like taekwondo"

2008-09-24T11:38:00.003-05:00

So...I have to start writing down all the funny things that Gracie says because she is just hilarious! So here's the first one for you....

This weekend the dogs were playing up a storm with each other. Gracie takes one look at them and says "Hey, it's just like taekwondo". She decided that the dogs were "sparring" with each other just like her and Sissy do when they are at TKD...only this was Doggy TKD!!

She always amazed us at her memory and her ability to see like things...even when we don't see them!

Gracie the Model, Sept 12, 2008

2008-09-12T23:11:00.003-05:00

Today Gracie put on a new swimsuit that she had not worn before and every little bit she was wanting to pose for the camera. Have a look.....

She is such a little ham. She alternates between being a cheerleader and a princess and talking about being a mermaid all the time. And don't forget that she is a big girl now that she is FOUR!

saying goodbye to gracie's paci

2008-07-07T19:44:00.008-05:00

Saturday, July 5, 2008...Celebration Paci Day at the McCann house

We finally got Gracie to agree to let the "Paci Fairy" have her paci to take to a new baby that needs one. Boy it has taken us almost 4 years to get to this point. I've never seen a child so attached to a paci. We ran to town and got pink balloons and white balloons (her fav two colors) and to get some ideas for what the paci fairy might bring her as a present for giving up her paci. Daddy tied the paci to the balloon strings and we were ready to go outside.

Now tell me that this isn't the cutest smile ever!! She was all smiles and ready to let go. What a great picture this is of her sending her paci off to the paci fairy:

Bye paci....what a great thing Gracie is doing. They are heading way up in the sky....

Then the smiles turned to sadness when she all of a sudden realized what she had done...her beloved paci was gone...

The tears soon turned back to smiles though when she found her presents from the paci fairy (new dress up shoes, lip gloss and a new movie) then a great cake to celebrate paci day.

Now bedtime was a nightmare for sure Saturday night...but since then she has done wonderful! She has only mentioned wanting her paci once (today) and she is telling everyone that she sent it to the paci fairy and that she is now.....a BIG GIRL!

We are so proud of you, Gracie!!! We love you...Mommy, Daddy and Sissy

It is swimming pool time

2008-07-07T19:16:00.005-05:00

The end of last week Daddy bought Gracie a new swimming pool and told her that he would blow it up and put water in Friday. She was so excited that she couldn't hard wait. She woke us up early Friday wanting to swim. Dave went out and got it going....she didn't even wait on the sun to warm up the water either. Sissy went out and played with her a little bit later that day. Saturday even Daddy and Mommy got in the pool with her!

Enjoy some pictures from her swim time this weekend:

weekend pictures

2008-06-30T10:49:00.002-05:00

On the way home from Clarksville Saturday we were stuck in traffic for almost 2 hours because of an accident..but that didn't bother Gracie too much because she just slept through it all!

Sunday was Daddy's day to mow the yard...Gracie always wants to help him 'mower' it...he even lets her drive and she has such a great time!

2008-06-25T22:04:00.001-05:00

Aug 6-7, 2004

We never knew you in the womb,
But we knew you in our hearts;
Although we didn't give you life,
God planned this from the start.

He knew in the great design of life,
We'd have a family;
So He grafted there a precious branch,
Into our family.

The sweetest little angel,
So full of love and life;
The greatest gift that God can give,
To a husband and a wife.

You are our greatest blessing,
And we thank our Father above;
For making us your parents,
And giving us you to love.
(unknown)

2008-06-23T09:59:00.002-05:00

When Gracie was born we began to buy these $5 babies from Walmart for her (see the blue one on the right in the picture). They came in several colors: blue, pink, yellow and white. She ended up with probably 12-15 of these babies (except we never bought any white ones). Now if you know anything at all about Gracie you know that she loves these babies so much (we have 9 of them left) and she takes at least one everywhere we go. They are worn out and stained but she loves them. Walmart stopped carrying them quite awhile ago and we were all upset.

Well we were in Walmart one day last week and there was a new baby almost like her old ones...only bigger and without fur (as Gracie put it)...meaning the body of it is a big different, but the faces and hands are the same. We held it up for Gracie and I wish I would have had a camera to take a picture of her face when she seen it. The first thing she did was take the baby by the hand and feel the hand. She loves to hold and touch the baby's hand when she is tired.

So her she is with one of her old babies and her new baby. She's been treating it like a queen, wrapping it up in a blanket, etc.

Sisters

2008-06-17T19:23:00.001-05:00

imikimi - Customize Your World

Sisters...none closer than these two...and none fight more than these two. You would think that they were 2 years apart instead of 14. Aren't they just the most beautiful girls ever?

It is.....Cheerleader Gracie

2008-06-15T22:49:00.003-05:00

Gracie LOVES dressing up and playing cheerleader!! Today she cheered for the neighbors. All she talks about it going to school and being a cheerleader. I think she is a pretty cute cheerleader!!!

2008-06-13T12:35:00.000-05:00

*adventures by gracie*