November/December 2010

Wow!  Guess it has been almost 2 months since I posted anything here.  Let's see, where to start.  Her hair has grown out quite a bit and if possible, she is even more adorable.  She is trying new words every day.  The first consonants, like J, T, B.. are hard for her but she can say most vowels.  She even said "Ap-ple" the other day when that's what she wanted!  She has recently started to say "Oshw" (Josh) Daddy, which sounds a lot like it should be hard to write the difference.  She is very inquisitive and active.  She's strong-willed and likes a lot of attention.  She loves baths and showers and runs around telling everyone "Baaa" when she is going to take one.  When she looks at books she points out things and once you say them, like "bird" or something then everyone in the house has to say that word.  It's pretty funny.  The boys adore her. They do get a bit tired of her fussing at times & she runs around following everyone and taking in every little activity.  Boy, it was tough to sneak Christmas candy w/o her little hawk-eyes observing!! Her eating has really slowed down to the point that "war" breaks out at some meals to get her to eat.  It's actually a nice change from the early days when she was so undernourished.  Measured her today and she grew an inch in about a month!!  She's adorable and people constantly remark at how beautiful she is and how "spirited"!  My prayer for near-future is that she'll take a bit more interest in playing by herself w/ toys.

Gracie had a very nice first Thanksgiving at the Logan's.  Her mouth was still healing so she couldn't eat just anything. She actually had some granola fruit bars, fruit salad, and rolls (which were here favorite).  She isn't big on mashed potatoes or just about anything else that was on the Thanksgiving table. 

Her mouth healed pretty well overall.  It was a very painful couple weeks for her.  She was extremely cranky for several days and didn't like sleeping in the arm bands at all.  The stitches in the very back and the very front did not hold.  However, we were thrilled to hear that fixing the back part is just an office visit because the tissue is so soft, I guess.  They will lightly sedate her and she will NOT have to wear arm restraints. I think we'll have this done mid-March or so. The front part, just behind her teeth was not closed all the way & opened even further.  This part will be fixed when they put bone in the gum when she is 5 or 6 years.  We will be working with an orthodontist very soon, probably having the first consult in the spring but don't know how soon she would need to start with the apparatuses to keep her upper jaw as wide as possible as she grows.  Because of the closing of the palate, the upper jaw doesn't grow as large as it should so the orthodontics will help that.  Anyway, we know that there are probably several surgeries ahead for her but we'll take it as it comes!

Christmas was pretty wild with her. I thought the Christmas tree would be a huge problem but the main issue was the candy canes, which she desperately wanted.  I let her try one thinking that she wouldn't like them but of course, she loved it!  They were too crunchy for her to eat though so we eventually just got them out of sight.  She rode the snowmachine with Josh and I to get the Christmas tree and she did not appear frightened at all!  She was just wide-eyed and observant.  When we brought the tree in the house she ran around screaming and laughing/dancing.  I don't know what she thought or related it to but she could tell it was an exciting, happy time. Snow isn't scary to her anymore and we really should get her out in it more but it has been a REALLY cold winter so far.  We have lots of snow and the driveway is tunneled in. Christmas Day was kind of stressful for her.  You could see that it was kind of overwhelming to her & she was kind of a little stinker.  She played some with her new toys but mostly wanted the boys' Nerf guns!

Seems like we bond more each day and week.  She definitely knows that I'm "mama" now and keeps tabs on my whereabouts.  Anyway, so much to write but have to run.