My Dearest Gracie...

In this moment it was exactly at 6:29 p.m. you were talking to Gramma Deb on the phone and I think you were thinking it was going to hurt to turn officially 7... but it didn't. xoxo

Today you turn the superb age of seven... in your seven years you have gone through so many developmental milestones! In this last year you have began reading fluently, become a SUPER SPELLER, and learned to ride your two wheeler all by yourself! You went on your first adult roller coaster at Cedar Point, you got see your Uncle Lou twice, you went to your first funeral and learned about life and death. You are always curious, always happy, you still love your "wanky" and you do suck your thumb (which mommy secretly loves... when I first glance at you I see my baby girl that lay next me in the hospital bed again... that first night you were born you had that thumb in your mouth. It is who you are my love.) You are confident, ready to take on anything presented to you, and smile all the time.

We all have our grumpy days but yours are very rare! You come home skipping every day, you are always excited to tell me about your day at school and even more thrilled to share what you and your friends do! You have your first real friend who is a boy, you have always has lots of them but you never have spoke about them like you do Jimmy. He is a nice boy, who you say is your BFF. He admires you as well, he says that you are super fun and will play fun games with him.

This summer you loved playing in the pool that Santa brought. You would go in the pool if it was 66 degrees outside and would swim for hours. You LOVE LOVE LOVE swimming! You have gotten really good at it too this summer! You go under water and can swim almost the length of the pool. Daddy and I are trying to get you into swimming lessons. I hope we can!

You are whiz in school - phenomenal at math. When I ask what you're favorite part of your day is, if you don't say one of the specials (Art, Music, or Gym) you say, math! You are writing stories (many stories) all the time. We have notebooks full of stories that you have written. Your writing is particularly important because you understand that stories have a beginning, middle, end and they have morals. I love the stories where you put the moral at the end (they are my favorites). You have been so helpful to mommy. You are always concerned about what mommy needs for her leg. You look at me with such sympathy and express empathy (another favorite). You always try and make me feel better, often telling me that my "leggy is lookin good."

You love wearing dresses (finally) and you have started to love anything and everything teal/turquoise. You have a lot of compassion for your sister too which is nice to see. We were going to take you to the movies as a surprise on your birthday but Kailee had a bit of meltdown because we did not prepare her for this surprise. You didn't get upset that we couldn't go to see Wreck It Ralph, you said, "It's okay mom, she made it better actually, now we can go to Walmart and look at toys. How about I buy Kailee something with my $10 from Auntie Angela." You are an amazingly compassionate child. I love that especially about Gg. We have come to terms with not being able to call you Gus-Gus anymore and daddy has sworn he is going to pick you up and rock you every day for the next year singing, "lullaby and goodnight." **A little background -- when you were only 2 1/2 months old, when daddy would sing lullaby and goodnight to you, you would cry and sob because you knew that meant bedtime... (Amazing KID - at 2 1/2 months was able to associate a song with bedtime.) this could also be why you are a mommy's girl. When you were 9 months old, when daddy would sing the song you would cry and push his hands away and so "no,no". Precious... we're giving you just enough disfunction Gg to make you funny... we promise. xoxo

For your birthday you woke up to a decorated doorway and dining room (like you do every birthday). Daddy made you cherry pancakes with whip cream and a cherry smiley face. You wanted to open Kk's presents, so you opened up the Lego Friends and Polly Pocket boy that you had been asking for. Then we got ready and went to Grandma Deb & Grandpa Lou's house to celebrate because Grandma Sandee wanted to go to a baby shower for one of daddy's cousins that was down state today. So they decided it would be easiest to just celebrate with daddy's family next weekend.  So, we went to Grandma Deb & Grandpa Lou's - where there was a large "turkey"-ish bird in the front yard with a Happy Birthday sign! When you walked in the house it was decorated beautifully just for you!! You requested hot dogs, mac n cheese, chips and pop for lunch so that is what we had. Great Grandma Ruthie came to watch you open your gifts from everyone.

Once I get the pictures from Gramma Deb I will update your "loot list" but I cannot remember everything... and we forgot to put the battery in my camera so mommy didn't get to take any pictures. boo hoo... but Auntie Angela did with Gramma's camera so I just have to get over there and email them to myself. Which I will do soon! 


Thank you for being the sweet Gg that you are... daddy, Kailee and I are so blessed to have you... even more blessed to be able to love you this much. Love you baby girl...