Easter with my Joy-Baby

(A little late, but...)  Happy Easter!

And a little video.  Lest you be overcome by the glamour and dazzle of our fancy Easter ensemble, allow us to keep it real, people.

 

Forever Day--Two Years

Happy Forever Day!

I'm usually pretty wordy, but I can't even put into words what a joy you are to me, Lucy!  You make your mama SO happy.  Being your mama is my favorite job.  It's fun and I laugh a lot.  It's important, and I try my best.  It's amazing--seeing how much you learn and grow and try each day.  You're a little miracle! 

Being your mama has taught me so much about myself, and so very much about God.  The fierce, protective, saturated, forever love I feel for you is only a glimpse of what the God of the universe feels for ... me.  And you, of course.  

      Do you know what makes being your mama so great?  YOU.

Some of the wonderful things I've learned about you:

You are kind-- You speak and act so sweetly with babies and with me and with your family.
You are loving--You check on me and comfort me when I'm upset and give me band-aids.  You're always finding something fun we can do "a-gather".
You are funny--You crack me up (and yourself, too!).  I love that you enjoy making others laugh!
You are smart--You pick up on so many things!  You say or do something new and amazing every day.
You are brave--You tend to be shy, but you push yourself to try new things.
You are beautiful--I think you're so lovely and your hair is awesome!  People tell me all the time what a pretty daughter I have, and I agree!  *But remember Grandma Viv's adage:  Pretty is as pretty does.
You are special--God tells us in Psalms 139 that he made you special, from your first moments of being, and I know it's true because I've never met a more special, wonderful girl.
You are chosen--You're chosen by God to be his daughter and by me to be my daughter and my all a'time" buddy.
You are LOVED--Oh, how you're loved!  I love you SO VERY MUCH, and so do Uncle John, Nana, Pap, and a whole host of other friends and family.  I'm so happy to see how much they love you (and that you know it)!
 

I think back on the day I met you and the day (two years ago, today) that I picked you up from the transition house to keep you forever, and I remember how happy I was.   I was so thankful to God for bringing us together and I wanted you SO much.   I didn't even know, then, how very much could love you and what a delight you would be.  Happy Forever Day, Lucy Joy!

(see our forever day video again here)

(visit the amazing Louise at five16 photography here)
 

today...

I always have a backlog of cute anecdotes that I want to share here, so I smush several day's worth (okay, weeks/months worth) of cuteness and pics into one post.  Today was so full of cute that I'll just post about ONE day with my bright, inquisitive, sweet girl.

TODAY...

I heard, through the baby monitor (which is new--she hasn't tried to "chat" with me from her crib before):  "Mama!  I got a booger!  I got a booger on my finger a' show you."  Ha!

She pulled our her round, disc sled and curled up in it with a book.

She ran into where I was at my parent's to ask permission to do a few things with Nana.  "Mama, I ride wagon?  I ride wagon?"  Apparently Nana offered, and she said, "I go check a' Mama."  So then she ran in and checked with me, and ran back out to hit the road.

She really wanted to fix my hair several times throughout the day.  The way my latest haircut is going, it couldn't hurt much.  I'm just saying.

She got all friendly with strangers today (which I should probably address).  People in line behind us, waitresses, random people walking past--they all got a perky, "Hi!  I'm Lucy!  Look a' my shoes!"  followed by some foot twisting so they could admire them.  The funny thing is that she's had them for months.  But the last few days they've been big news.

She called several people on her hand phone, and had the following type of conversation:  "Hi!  Uh-huh.  Yeah.  Huh.  Hmmm.  Yes, I do!  Okay, okay.  Any-an-anywAAAAy, okay.  (insert big knee-slapping fake laugh.) Um-hmm. Bye-bye!"

(Okay, this may be over-sharing.  Sorry!)  Lucy did something today that she's done several times.  I'll be, ahem, on the potty, and she'll squeeze in right beside me, put her arm around me, and say reassuringly, "I hold you, mama."  Then she'll give me a few encouraging pats on the knee.  This CRACKS ME UP!  I guess I've "held her" on the potty, so she's just returning the favor.  I assure you, I'm in no danger of falling in, but I really get tickled that she's concerned.

She asked for about 100 books.  She told me I was pretty.  She made John, Nana, and Pap happy by visiting and being a little Joy-baby.  She made me happy just in general.  She sang loudly.  She laughed and laughed.  She got "hot" the minute a ray of sunshine touched her through the car window.  She made me lunch in the microwave.  She fussed about me fixing her hair but absolutely pranced in front of the mirror.  She announced, "I'm peed.  I peeding."  (Just in time for potty-training, take 3 on spring break next week).  She was just a little extra-snuggly, and I loved it.  She kissed her bible story book when she thought she saw Uncle John in there.

 And tonight, after Bible story, prayers, songs, and snuggles (and the new part of the routine, calling me back in from the doorway to "kiss her milk", which she does.  Just kisses the cup.  And then I usually get another one, too.), I hear through the monitor:  "Mama?  Mama?  (so quietly)  I miss you.  Mama.  I miss you."  I went in and patted her, and then before long, I heard, "Mama?  I need a hug.  I need a HUG, please!"  I probably should have let her sleep, but I needed a good snuggle, too, so we snuggled and hugged and rocked a bit.  Good stuff!









 

Chit chat--this and that

Oh Lucy.  This girl is so funny!  Here are some things I'm enjoying about my daughter:

• We're working on sharing.  She got some cookies from her nana and, when asked to share, replied, "I share-a myself."  Smart cookie.
• When mama says anything in a remotely stressed tone, she assumes that it's "not nice."  I get this driving a lot.  I might say, "Careful, mister." and I get a furrowed brow and a "Don't say that, mama.  Thas not nice."  If I'm a repeat offender, I get, "I TOLE you, mama, don't say that!"
• She likes to talk to nana on the phone, and they sometimes get disconnected.  One morning when this happened, she said sadly, "Nana hang me."
• We were talking about going to see Nana, Pap and John.  We listed off who would be there, and then she wrapped her little arms around herself in a hug and said, "And everybody love me."  She's so right!
• I'm seeing a little attitude sometimes.  She wants to assert that independence.  (And she isn't allowed to get away with this without consequences, but it just sounds so prim and funny).  Sometimes when I ask her to do something, she calmly and clearly says, "I won't."  It's like she's so sure that that's the end of the issue. Just, "I won't."
• She loves babies.  We stop to ooh and aah over them, and she usually is convinced that "that baby smiled at me."  I hadn't realized how loose she was with this statement, until she saw a squirrel on the back porch, and said, "Aaaw, he smiled at me!"
• I'd noticed that I was calling her quite a few pumpkin-themed nicknames.  Sweet pumpkin, pretty pumpkin, funny pumpkin.  The other day when I left, she said to me, "Bye, pumpkin pie!"  I'm so glad she sees pumpkin as a term of endearment, too!
• I snuggled her before bed one night, and said, "I have a secret for you!"  I whispered in her ear, "I love you so very much!"  She leaned in to excitedly whisper back to me, "I love John."  Just the facts, ma'am.
• We crack ourselves up.  Tonight, the shoulder-shaking belly-laugh was about me singing so loudly that she said, "Too loud, mama!"  So I got quieter, but it was still "too loud!"  Finally I was whispering, and then just mouthing the words, and every time, she could barely squeeze the words, "too loud!" out between giggles.  I LOVE to hear that girl laugh.

More pics are coming.  I've had a few little computer snags.  Well, just ask Lucy.  In her words, "Mama computer broke.  Fall down.  Boom!"  So, um, when we get that little issue resolved you'll see more of her sweet face.  One thankful mama, signing out!

happy Valentine's day

Some unmarried people dread Valentine's day.  It's never been a big deal to me, one way or another.  I've always felt very loved, so one special day to celebrate that wasn't make or break for me.

This year, however, I think I had the best Valentine's day I've ever had.

I got a beautiful, hand-made card from a third grader, thanking me for "showing her reading."  Inside she had taped a coupon for free apple slices at McDonalds.  I thanked her and made over the coupon.  She shyly told me that someone had given her mom some.  "I had six," she said, "and I gave one to you."  Wow.  Pearl necklace?  No, thank you.  I'm as pleased as could be with my apple slices and the kind words of a sweet girl.

I went to a dinner with a lot of people I didn't know, and I was kind of dreading that.  But it was lovely.  A man shared about how the love of Jesus changed his life, and asked that we all share our love stories as we shared our meal.  I was at a table with 6 strangers and I was moved to tears several times as they shared what God is doing in their lives and how they know his love for them.

I had a beautiful conversation with a beautiful girl about foster care, and about her experiences in foster care and about my thoughts about fostering.  I talked parenting with the family on the other side who have 3 children, are fostering their 4 nieces (and are visibly pregnant with #8!).  (And this wasn't a foster/adoption dinner.  Just a dinner where I "happened" to be surrounded by people who were talking about what my heart is thirsty to hear.)

I  headed out early, sure that my sweet baby would be soooo tired since it was past her bedtime.  She hugged me tight and I revealed the chocolate-covered strawberry I'd snuck out for her in a napkin.  She requested (as she had on our way in) that we dance (I'm not sure why dancing was on her mind!).  So we ducked into the coat hallway and did some happy dancing in the dim quiet, exchanging "look what we're doing" grins and sticky, chocolate-y hugs.  "I wanna go to MY home, Mama." she said, grinning at me with that little chin up-turned.

No, I'm not married at 32, and no (exasperated sigh), I have absolutely no use for pretty underwear, but the happiness that I have sinks in deep. 

My heart is full.  I'm so thankful for this life He's given me. 

feeling pretty

We are so blessed!  Uncle John spoils us with love, delicious meals, and sometimes, pretty dresses.  We love you Uncle John!

 

big talk for a little lady

I'm keeping very busy trying to document what Lucy is saying... She's saying a-LOT, people!

I have some LOVELY new pics, but my blog is acting crazy and I can't upload them.  So... you get another post about what Lucy is saying these days.  This girl is putting together some phrases and sentences.

First of all, as a waiter came by our table at a Mexican restaurant, she demanded, "GUACAMOLE!"  Now we do lots of guacamole talk.  And all Spanish she overhears is "guacamole."   Her new fave is Pimmy-Pim (a language-learning DVD her awesome uncle got her for Christmas) and when you ask what he says, you get "Guacamole!"  (She also says "leche" and "agua" now ;)  She also told me that something was, "De-li-cious!"  She surprises me with something she's picked up every day.

All-a-time.  I sing Family Ties in my bed.  ALL-a-time.  Laney-Jo mama says Merry Christmas.  All-a-time.  Mama sing ALL-a-time.  (All the time.)  She just kind of rolls into it... so precious.

Neh-mine.  Mo'?  A bite? No, neh-mine. (Nevermind.)

Ah-na-one.  Mama, I wa' ah-na-one.  (Another one.)

As a language nerd, I was happy to notice that she's started using the gerund verb form (-ing).  But she's been a bit creative.  Along with I singing.  I playing. (usually very enthusiastically) I POOPing!, and I dancing, we have one she uses a lot that cracks me up.   I hear a worried baby frantically calling, Mama, I STUCKing! several times a day.  She is, right now, at this time, in the process of being stuck.  Stucking.  It's SO cute, and I started to use it for fun, and now it seems like a real word.  So you may hear it out of either one of us!

She's also using a Socratic method of investigation.  (Or maybe not at all, I just thought that sounded good).  She questions everything to figure out what's okay and what's not.

For example, if Uncle John says not to touch his wheelchair control, she will:

1. Touch another part of the wheelchair and ask, "I touch this?"
2.  Touch a little closer and ask, "I touch this?
3.  Touch something right next to the control and ask, "I touch this?"
4.  Point to the control and ask, "I touch this?"
5.  Repeat steps 1-4.

What really cracked us up is when she started doing this to figure out who the rules apply to.  She was trying to grab silverware out of the dishwasher (including knives) and I said, "No baby, this is for grown-ups."

She immediately asked:  Mama?  Yes, Mama can touch it.
Laney-Jo?  No, Laney Jo is a baby, so she can't touch it.
John?  Yes, John can touch this.
Laney-Jo-Mama?  Yes, Laney Jo's mama can touch this.
ME?!?  No, you can't touch this.

Then she was fine.  Just needed to clarify those boundaries.

Two is lots of fun :)