WATCHING RACHEL GROW: 2007

Sunday, December 30, 2007

Our Intimate Lil Family Christmas

Home for the Holidays

Well,

Sorry it has been so long since this Mom last blogged. I have had MANY ask what has happened. Going back to work has taken a big chunk out of my day and when I/we are at home - all we want to do is spend what little time we have left of the evening with Rachel. She is adjusting so well and as a family we are all bonding quite well and getting into a routine. Life throws curve balls at times - but staying close to God or letting him in can also straighten out those bumps & curves. We are so very blessed by all of our family and friends and hope that everyone had a great Christmas and Happy Hanukkah.

We're back in CA all snuggled in and getting some R&R. Not that we worked hard in Arkansas - but EVERYONE wanted of course to see Princess Rachel. We were welcomed with open arms and full hearts and enjoyed MOST of it. Why do the ones who travel the farthest then seem to have to travel even more when they get to their destination? But, we tried hard to keep Princess on her schedule and she's been quite the trouper. We're quite sure that Rachel did not understand the concept of Christmas - but she sure got the opening of the gifts down quickly :) We actually shipped our gifts from AR to CA by freight and on a separate palate. THANKS DAD!! We didn't get to see everyone that we had wanted to see - but maybe next time. Rachel has learned to really laugh now and throws her head back and grins so big that all you see are teeth and slits for eyes.

It will be very hard for this family to top the year of 2007. We are so very happy and blessed and hope that all have a very Happy New Year.

Last Day at home in AR and then it's back on the plane to CA

Chillin........literally out on NaiNai and YeYe's front porch of their new house. Rachel loves the front porch swing and esp. with her Baba since he can make it really rock.

Out on the back porch with Baba. Rachel wants down and isn't too happy with having to be held - but there is no railing and it is a long drop down.

In LR's airport terminal waiting on a delayed flight into DFW on our way to CA. But with her toy that her cousin Weston gave her and a cup with cheerios in it - she's juuuuust fine.

Princes loooves to read the paper with Baba. Of course she just looks at the pictures and finishes way before Baba does and wants the pages turned constantly.

This is NaiNai & YeYe's new house that YeYe built himself.....literally. It sits on 20 acres of land and has 3 ponds, lots of deer, squirrels, rabits, owls and even a bobcat on it. The inside is almost finished - but not yet. Behind where I'm standing is the cabin that YeYe built in 1993? It is like an apartment - but works just fine and is very cozy. They plan to keep it as a guesthouse.

Just kickin it at Auntie Tina's with fun cousins Anna and Weston

Anna and Weston got a new air hockey table/game from Santa and of course Rachel likes the premium view she gets from Anna or Weston holding her while they play.

Rachel has discovered Anna's ipod and Weston's Mp3 player and the ear buds.......she loves music and what you can't see in this pic is her shaking her head back and forth while listening to something on this player.

Christmas morning...............and all those toys!

If you remember way back in this blog when Nana & Peepaw were visiting and we went to Pasadena for the day? Well, there is a photo of all of us in Right Start where Rachel was fascinated by this particular toy/play station. Of course Nana and Peepaw had to buy it for her. She loves it. It is quite cool with its detachable keyboard and very busy top of lots of motor skill toys & games. Then you can flip the top over and it has a Lego-like top that you can build upon. It also stored pieces underneath. It is of course in the mail.

Then there's this cool pink & purple car/buggy. It has it's own phone and the seat lifts for storage. Rachel has already put her snacks in the storage area. Smart girl.

Honk! Honk!

A simple but tender moment with Mom and Baby

Christmas Eve Morning at Auntie Tina's after Santa has made his BIG DROP!

We got up early. Mom was already up.........BIG day ahead of us. Auntie had Rachel a stocking that had but what of course but "Princess" across it and it was full from Santa.

Latest Rachel Update

April 6, 2010

Lullaby music playing in background and very much a Mommy's lil girl asleep in her bed while I sit in her rocking chair on my laptop. Every night we do this same routine. "Mommy, get you compooter and stay wit me for a loooong loooong time - okay?" To which I of course tell her that I absolutely will IF she goes to sleep.

What a journey it has been for this couple of almost 24 married years now and a total of 26 in all. We are now a Mommy & a Baba to the most precious gift that God has ever given to us. Yes, we sometimes miss the quiet & the romance - but NOTHING compares to the sound of Rachel's giggle or her singing just because she is so very happy. The daily routine is like clockwork now - with no room for slacking in the attention department - but the evenings when we are alone are filled with our re-accounting of the day's events and some stunningly smart, silly or sassy thing that Rachel said or did. I can truly say that I've never loved ANYTHING as much as I do my Rachel.

She is a definitely a princess through and through with endless acting and conversation of anything that is Princess-like, pink, glittery or sparkly from her tennies to her toys. And oh the hoops we've jumped through to dare I say 'pick our battles' with. High maintenance was named after our Rachel. She is getting more and more aware of the soon to arrive new lil brother OR sister and has already firmly stated that she thinks his or her room should be UGLY and hers should be BEAUTIFUL. My oh my! Well, lets give her points for her honesty :)

She give me moochies all day and asks me if I know who she loves and for me to close my eyes. When she asks me to open them - her lil arm is stretched out with her index finger pointing directly at me. She loves movie night and making popcorn with her Baba. Baba got her a big red bowl for Christmas that says Popcorn on it and she runs to get it out of the pantry as he places the bag into the microwave. She loves anything that has to do with all three of us being together. We love this too and always strive to be comfortable in our family skins.

Rachel turned 4 years old this past Feb 10, 2010!!! I think that when you spend years of your life on the infertility hampster wheel - that those parents deserve bonus years added on. Say for every 1.5 years your child gets another year older. But, this is not the case - so we cherish every second with her. Her teachers say that Rachel could go to Kindergarten early as in a few months - but we've decided to keep her in PreK to mature more and be with the majority of her friends. We want her to be defined by love and grow in this environment and not feel so challenged to be above and smarter than her peers - even though we think that she is >:) We are her proud parents of course :)

Her latest phrases are:

"WHAT EVVVVER!"
"CHILL MOM - CHILL!"
"DUDE..........WATER?!"
"DUH & HOLY COW"
"GET WITH THE PROGRAM!"

We blame Preschool...................well, maybe not for ALL of the aformentioned :)

We wouldn't trade one second of any of it! We tell her that when people ask why she doesn't look like her Mommy or Baba to tell them that this is because she was/is special delivery from God.

True............so true!!

Mommy

HELP ME!!!

I can't quit staring at her picture. NOTHING is getting done either in my house or in my head right now. I could just sit her for hours. Double click on the photos of Rachel and WHALLAH they get even bigger so that you can see those plump cheeks and peircing eyes up close.............................................
must stop staring ........but can't............

7/10/07 6:02 am

Now, I'm at home from work......still can't stop staring.......

6:22 pm
Mom

Just can't look long or hard enough and I still tear up everytime I go to this site.................
It was easier before the picture. I wan't to hold and kiss those adorable cheeks yesterday!!

7/11/07 6:10 am

Mom

4-6 weeks of doing this is going to kill me..........just starring......

7/12/07 5:07 am

Mom

ARGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This wait to travel is KILLING Mom & Dad!!! We're almost at 2 1/2 years of waiting for Rachel. God Grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change..........
Mom

8/6/07 8:15 pm

WATCHING RACHEL GROW