Dear Grace,
While I started this blog to keep friends and family updated about your growth, it has turned into something that I hope you get the chance to look at when you get older. Thus, I am starting our Annual Fair Family Recap. Now you may be asking yourself, “What is the Annual Fair Family Recap?” well it is a short list of everything we have to be thankful for this year, and believe me it’s A LOT. 2009 was great for us as family….here are the top 10 reasons why:
1. We watched you grow from a little baby to a little girl. In one short word: Amazing. You’ve grown into this vibrant, loving, and funny little girl. I am so proud to be your mom.
2. Your Dad was blessed with great advances in his career. He is a true example of what hard work gets you. We’re lucky to call him ours.
3. You have fabulous grandparents. You have four grandparents who would do anything for you and think that you walk on water. Having such great people to love and be role models is a true gift.
4. You have two great grandmas. Not many little girls have Great Grandma’s and I don’t know any little girls that have 2 Great Grandma’s that are truly GREAT. Through every action they make they demonstrate what matters most in this world FAMILY. See picure above…both there because they LOVE you.
5. You have three aunts that all taught you valuable lessons. 1) Jessica continues to teach you that perseverance and determination can get you through anything. 2) Meridith taught you that independence and taking care of yourself is an absolute must. You don’t marry someone to be “completed” you marry someone because you love them and they make you a better person. That’s very important Grace. 3) Adrienne taught you that you can have it all. You can be smart, beautiful, funny, and still be kind to others.
6. You have great caregiver’s besides your family. Miss Dana who watches you three days a week and loves you like her own and your teachers at Calvary constantly tell me how great you are.
7. You had a great first birthday!! We had so much fun at your birthday party and your dad and I were so happy we made it through a year. You got many great gifts that day, but you gave me and your dad the best one. You gave us the gift of showing us that we could be good parents.
8. You went on your first visit to Cape Cod. This trip was so fun, albeit a little bittersweet. I wished so badly we that Grandma and Grandpa Deckel could have seen you, but I think they were there (especially at sunset at Bass Hole).
9. You finally started to play with your cousin Gavin. At Christmas you had so much fun following him around and he made you laugh so hard. My hope is that this continues for many years to come.
10. You learned to WALK!! While we waited 15 long months for this to happen, when it finally did we were ecstatic for a few short moments then quickly realized why the doctor said we would wish that you would sit still a little longer.
It is my wish that 2010 will bring us as many blessings as 2009 did. Already it is starting to look good…you’re getting your first UNCLE!!! This will be so fun.
I hope you look at this list Grace and realize how lucky you are. Never forget this.
Here’s to more blogging of our many blessings!!
Love Always,
Your Mommy
(Forever and Ever)
