Just the mention of her name, the sight of her or a quick thought about her brings a smile to my face. That's my girl! Before I became a mom, I could never have imagined what joy it would bring my life. Saturday we celebrated Emily's 8th birthday and I have to say I am so proud of her...the little lady she's becoming. She has such a sweet spirit, genuine love for all and compassion like I've never seen.
As an only child, she has not wanted for much...in fact she's been quite spoiled. At times I think she competes with Geoffrey the Giraffe as far as how many toys she has! During a sorting/organizing session one day in her room, the idea came that for her birthday she wanted a puppy party and that instead of gifts for her she wanted the guests to bring toys and treats to donate to the local animal shelter.
This past weekend, we hosted the 8th birthday Puppies & Pjs sleepover party and the girls brought all kinds of goodies for the animals. So today, after I picked her up from school, we headed to the local SPCA to deliver the gifts. (We took Nana along to be sure that we kept our promise to Ben not to bring anyone home no matter how cute or snuggly they were!) What an awesome afternoon watching my daughter go from cage to cage handing out toys to the cats & dogs. How I wish it could be different for them...how I wish when we had gotten there the cages were all empty...everyone had found a forever home. That isn't the case and most likely will never be. Unfortunately, there will always be a need. A sad fact that brings a tear to my eye...but knowing that my girl brought a ray of light to an otherwise dark and gloomy place brings tears of joy and pride.
P.S. We did not adopt anyone...although there was a kitten that I could've easily made mine and a puppy that Emily thought should join the family. And if it couldn't be hers, well...we could bring it home to Poppy! Nice try, sweetie!
Monday, February 2, 2009
Friday, January 30, 2009
January 30
As I recall this date eight years ago...it's hard to tell which was bigger...my belly or my excitement! I was busy making preparations and pretty much beside myself with anticipation of the little girl who would soon join our life and family. Little did I know on that 30th day of January exactly how soon she'd join us. Her "Poppy" kept saying she was coming the end of January, but with a due date of February 11th I was convinced that she was going to be a "Valentine's baby"! Oh how different the plan for us was!
I had gone to work that day...made dinner...went to an evening checkup with the dr. (who said that I would most likely go past my due date and that my little princess would be approximately 7-8 pounds. I stopped by my parents for a short time, went home, had a bowl of ice cream (my favorite food at the time and ever since) and snuggled into bed for as much sleep as you can get when you're that far along in pregnancy and oh so huge!
While up for a routine trip to down the hall to the bathroom about 2:30am (you know what I mean about routine middle of the night bathroom trips if you've ever been pregnant) and it soon became clear that Emily's grand appearance was not scheduled for February!
Being that I was still had some time before my due date, I hadn't yet packed my bag for the hospital. So I called Ben who was working overnights and then began to scramble to get ready to go.
Once at the hospital, the Lil Miss decided that she was in no rush to make her appearance. After the longest day of my life, Emily Claire was born at 11:29pm on January 31st. She was incredibly beautiful and oh so tiny...a mere 5lbs 4oz. And that was the beginning of the amazing journey we've been on since.
As we prepare to celebrate her 8th birthday tomorrow I can hardly believe how fast time has gone. She has brought more joy into my life than I could ever have imagined. I am so proud to have her and to be her momma.
I had gone to work that day...made dinner...went to an evening checkup with the dr. (who said that I would most likely go past my due date and that my little princess would be approximately 7-8 pounds. I stopped by my parents for a short time, went home, had a bowl of ice cream (my favorite food at the time and ever since) and snuggled into bed for as much sleep as you can get when you're that far along in pregnancy and oh so huge!
While up for a routine trip to down the hall to the bathroom about 2:30am (you know what I mean about routine middle of the night bathroom trips if you've ever been pregnant) and it soon became clear that Emily's grand appearance was not scheduled for February!
Being that I was still had some time before my due date, I hadn't yet packed my bag for the hospital. So I called Ben who was working overnights and then began to scramble to get ready to go.
Once at the hospital, the Lil Miss decided that she was in no rush to make her appearance. After the longest day of my life, Emily Claire was born at 11:29pm on January 31st. She was incredibly beautiful and oh so tiny...a mere 5lbs 4oz. And that was the beginning of the amazing journey we've been on since.
As we prepare to celebrate her 8th birthday tomorrow I can hardly believe how fast time has gone. She has brought more joy into my life than I could ever have imagined. I am so proud to have her and to be her momma.
Thursday, January 22, 2009
Busy....Busy...Busy
So much has happened since I last posted here. We've been so busy having fun and living life I just haven't written. (That and facebook has been taking me away a bit, too.)
We had an amazing holiday season with lots of family fun. Christmas was wonderful as usual (with Aunt Barb here from Orlando again this year) and New Year's was real nice...especially with a visit from Steph & Marty.
On a sad note, shortly after the new year began we had to let our old furry friend, Gromit go. He was showing his age and then some and had developed some medical issues. Though it was one of the most difficult and painful decisions we've had to make, we said our goodbyes and let him go. He will be forever in our hearts and part of the family.
Emily's 8th birthday is fast approaching and she will be playing hostess to some friends for her first ever sleepover. There's an exciting birthday surprise in the works that I'm sure will warrant a photo opportunity...possibly a video clip. Stay tuned...
Hope you all survived the holidays and getting back into the swing of things this new year.
Blessings!
Gabrielle
We had an amazing holiday season with lots of family fun. Christmas was wonderful as usual (with Aunt Barb here from Orlando again this year) and New Year's was real nice...especially with a visit from Steph & Marty.
On a sad note, shortly after the new year began we had to let our old furry friend, Gromit go. He was showing his age and then some and had developed some medical issues. Though it was one of the most difficult and painful decisions we've had to make, we said our goodbyes and let him go. He will be forever in our hearts and part of the family.
Emily's 8th birthday is fast approaching and she will be playing hostess to some friends for her first ever sleepover. There's an exciting birthday surprise in the works that I'm sure will warrant a photo opportunity...possibly a video clip. Stay tuned...
Hope you all survived the holidays and getting back into the swing of things this new year.
Blessings!
Gabrielle
Monday, December 1, 2008
12-1
I've seen on other blogs where people "tag" each other to go to a certain photo folder in your computer and then post a certain photo (for example the 1st folder, 1st photo). I decided since I have SO MANY photos in my computer that I haven't seen in a while, I would try it for fun...being that it's December 1st I went to My Pictures and to the 12th folder 1st picture and here's what I found...
Christmas Eve 2005...Beautiful!
Christmas Eve 2005...Beautiful!
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
Through These Eyes
This is my "mentor moment" that I wrote for a recent MOPS meeting.
As I came through the living room doorway, I heard, “Hi, mom! What’d ya think?” Standing there was my 7-year old wearing my glasses.
“Nice!” I said…glad that she doesn’t need corrective eyewear but secretly thinking how cute she looks with them.
Later, as I thought about the afternoon’s events, it hit me. What if by placing those glasses on her face, she had really seen things from my point of view? Would she have had my sometimes negative, critical and pessimistic outlook?
Then, it REALLY hit me. What if things were turned around and instead I viewed life through her eyes…the eyes of a child? How different things might be if seen from her big, innocent, hazel eyes that radiate life and see the wonder and beauty of the world around her.
Glasses, contacts or 20/20 vision…blue, green, or brown eyes…no matter what the physical factors of our sight, we can make the choice daily of how we view life, our circumstances and the situations we face.
I desire to take the time to notice the beauty and recognize my blessings.
As I came through the living room doorway, I heard, “Hi, mom! What’d ya think?” Standing there was my 7-year old wearing my glasses.
“Nice!” I said…glad that she doesn’t need corrective eyewear but secretly thinking how cute she looks with them.
Later, as I thought about the afternoon’s events, it hit me. What if by placing those glasses on her face, she had really seen things from my point of view? Would she have had my sometimes negative, critical and pessimistic outlook?
Then, it REALLY hit me. What if things were turned around and instead I viewed life through her eyes…the eyes of a child? How different things might be if seen from her big, innocent, hazel eyes that radiate life and see the wonder and beauty of the world around her.
Glasses, contacts or 20/20 vision…blue, green, or brown eyes…no matter what the physical factors of our sight, we can make the choice daily of how we view life, our circumstances and the situations we face.
I desire to take the time to notice the beauty and recognize my blessings.
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