The Tales of a Teething Toddler

Well it is about time I had a chance to tell you a story.  Mom started getting all sappy with Mother's day junk but you people don't want to read all this mushy stuff... you want the professional writer who will tell you the real dirt about our adoption journey, here you go....

so the other day I woke up... I wanted to stretch my voice a little... so I did.... well mom stumbled into my room with her hair all a mess and her eyes half open and in a quiet and soothing voice said " it's not morning yet, shhh my girl go back to sleep" as she tucked the blankets around me.  Well I was quick to correct her " Mom I checked, its morning... I promise... if you would buy me a rooster we could solve this debate right now...." then I thought I would get my point across best if I produced some tears and wailed a little.  I am sure she said ok ok... but I haven't seen the rooster yet.

so I called my Nana up and said " Yo Nana, Mom just said No to me... could you do something about this"

The snow finally melted around here ( did you know that winter lasts 3000 years in Canada?) but the glorious thing about the snow going away is it produces this wonderful substance called mud.  Mud is every kids dream... we don't want toys for christmas...we want mud... dirty, gooey, wet, brown mud. Mom and Dad bought me a fancy new pair of boots so I could play in the mud and stay clean.  They are a lot of fun, but the real fun is dipping into that big, wet mud puddle with my clean white shoes on.  I set a goal for myself 5 mud puddles in 5 days with the white shoes.  Mom and Dad have been teaching me to aim high and work hard to achieve my goals so I planned it all out.  Mom got me out of the car and put me down on the drive way to play with the rocks, like I always do, while she cleaned up the car.  When she turned away I ran and jumped in the puddle.  Day 1 was a success! However the next day the clean white shoes were still drying so I had to adapt the plan a little.  Mom bought me this really nice new outfit and put me in it, while she was getting us ready to go out the door I had a little conference with the dog.  I promised him all of my afternoon snack, if he would distract mom as we walked to the car to go to town for the day.  The plan went off without a hitch, as we walked to the car the dog made mom look away for a second and I found the closest mud puddle to jump in.  Yellow pants turned brown! Success! I didn't get to all 5 mud puddles in the week, but there is always another time!

the life of a teething toddler is hard.  I get up each day and work as hard as I can to make as big of a mess as possible, poop in the bathtub, go for a swim in the dogs water bowl, lick the floor, sing some songs, tell some stories, get mom to agree to buy me some things ( don't worry as soon as I figure out how to write I will show her the list of things she agreed to in the last few months) giggle really cute, and give mom a high five and a sweet little smile before bed ( you always need to end the day on a good note). Its a hard job, but someone has to do it!

Ah Ha! Bet you didn't expect to find me here!

i'll be back soon... The teething toddler ( just incase you didn't get it... its me... Grace)

A Mother's Day letter part 3.....

Here is the final letter in my Mother's day weekend blog post marathon... I hope you enjoyed the posts!

A letter to my daughter,
    All week I have been looking forward to a day all about me, I dreamed of the special things that could happen, sleeping in, special breakfast, gifts, words of encouragement, special meals, afternoon naps... you name it and thats how I imagined my day.  But today I got an even better gift, I just got to be your mom.  See today wouldn't be possible without you.  Because of you I get to celebrate the most wonderful role I have.. mom.
    From the moment I knew you were born, I loved you.  I loved everything about you, from your tiny wrinkled feet to your perfect little nose.  I never knew that love until that day your picture showed up in my inbox.  I love your story and that I get to be apart of it.  I love that you call me "Mom" and that you hold my hand when we are relaxing together or when you are sleepy.  I love that you can climb the walls by just your sheer will and love to roll in mud and sand.  Your laugh is the best sound in the world and nothing makes me smile more than knowing you laugh every day.  You are not afraid to express your emotions wether that be anger, frustration, excitement or amazement. You my girl teach me new things every day.
   I know I mess this mom thing up, but little girl I love you more than I can tell you.  Today when I woke up at the crack of dawn to your voice I knew I had the best gift for this special occasion, I got to spend the whole day with you.  Thanks for making this Mother's day the best a mom could ask for!
Love you always,

Mother's Day 2013

A Mother's day letter part 2

Check out yesterday's post for the first letter in this three part series for Mother's Day weekend ( thats right... I stretched out this special occasion )

To my Mom,

      This is the 26th Mother's Day that I have had the privilege of celebrating with you.  This Mother's Day is one of my favourites as I have a new appreciation for your love for me, as I have now entered the exciting world of motherhood.  

      I always knew you loved me, you showed me in so many different ways each day.  They way you made me a special Christmas dress each year, teaching me so many new things I don't have time to list them, encouraging me to work harder, letting me explore my creative side, and always being there to support me no matter how long of a drive or inconvenience to you.  You showed me love each day by making me feel safe, and happy, and pushing me to do more than I thought I could.  This last year as I became a mom I got a glimpse into your world and I started to understand just how deep your love for me was.  I get it now.  I get the decisions you made that frustrated me, I get your willingness to show up to my water polo games, and coach the swim team just to spend time with me, I get the rare trip you took away from us, it was never about you, it was about being a better mom to us after a little time away to refresh.  I get it now.  

   I am a better mom because of you.  I know I do things that you don't always understand, and have made choices for my family that is different than the way you would have done it, but I am thankful that your taught me to stand on my own two feet.  You have been an excellent example of all the qualities of a wonderful mom.  But to be honest that only thing that matters, and the thing that I am most thankful for is that you taught me about God, you encouraged me to get to know Him, and you lead by example.  

    You were not a perfect mom ( none of us are) but I never wanted a perfect mom, I always just wanted you.  Thank you for being an example of God's love in my life.  Thank you for being such an encouragement to me.  Thank you for being such an awesome Nana to my little girl.  Your love for her is such a gift to me,

Happy Mother's Day my sweet Mom! We Love you!

A Mothers day letter part 1....

I am blessed to be in the midst of Mothers Day weekend ( yes thats right, I have extended it from one day to a whole weekend) I have enjoyed reading other posts and watching videos about what a blessing moms are.  I have laughed and cried, I enjoyed special posts that talk specifically about being an adoptive parent, and felt the pain of those still waiting to be united with their child. The more I thought about what I wanted to say on a special mothers day blog post, the more the ideas morphed into a three part post.  So in the next three days I will share three letters that I hope will celebrate this very special weekend :)

A letter to my Mother-in-Law,

     There are no words to say how grateful I am for you.  I know I do not take the time to express it, but I think you are a wonderful Mom.  Each day I wake up and look into my Husband's eyes (your baby boy) and I see years of your love, tears, worry, joy, and wisdom poured into his life.  I am blessed to be able to spend my life with your son, and I am thankful for all the time you spent encouraging him to be the man he is today.  I know you led by example, and encouraged strongly for him to be a kind, responsible human being.  You taught him hard lessons, and encouraged him with a hug.  You spoiled him with the best chocolate chip cookies ( a recipe I wont attempt because I know I will never be able to replicate them).  

    This year I have the joy to celebrate Mothers Day with my little girl, and I thankful to know that you have helped shape me into the mom I am today.  Thank you for your love and support of my family.  But most importantly thank you for being my Husbands Mom.  Celebrating you each year is a joy and a privilege.  Thank you for all the love, encouragement and discipline you gave your son.  Thank you for letting me be apart of your family.  Thank you for loving my little girl so much, and spoiling her.

   Happy Mothers day! 

We love you!