Giselle is TWO!

Giselle Laine,

Oh my love.. How very deeply I love you. You and I have such a deep connected bond. You and I were always meant to be. I pray that for the rest of my days, our bond never tarnishes but always grows deeper. I pray you always need me in whatever small but meaningful way (to me) that may be. I just can't imagine my world without you in it every day. 

Well Giselle, the day has come and ‘you be 2’ now. You are the most loving 2 year old I have ever seen. You love deeply and care for others deeply even though you are shy. You have such a kind soul. A pure heart of gold. If someone is crying you are the first to say, ‘You okay?'. The first to give someone a hug or even a kiss if they are hurt. You kindly give other children a toy and share without my prompting. You are so silly in your own way. I adore your cheese face. Your dance moves. Your love of shoes – my shoes! For the rest of my life I will never forget the sound of you clicking around in plastic princess heals or even my shoes. I’ll never forget the sight of you having my bracelets on up to your elbow and that proud smile on your face. Every day, we pull out your shoe drawer and you stand there for what feels like 2 minutes choosing your shoes for the day. Sometimes I can’t pry them off of you and you even sleep in them for nap. You love all things pink, frilly and girly. But, what’s so awesome about you, is that you also love to get down and dirty. You love to feel and explore. You get your hands dirty and aren’t phased by it. You’ve taught me how to ‘let you be little’ more so than I ever let your sister. You are good for me. More than good for me – you are one of the best things that ever happened to me and you always will be. Your smile makes me smile. Your laugh is infectious. You, my sweetheart are completely irresistible in every way. This next year of your life, you are going to get big – too big, so pardon me if I squeeze you just a little tighter, hold you just a little bit longer. I hope you’ll continue to squeeze me just as tight and put your little arms up asking to ‘hold you’.

Throughout celebrating your 2nd birthday, this chorus was a constant in my thoughts - “I don’t know about tomorrow / But right now the whole world feels right / And the memory of a day like today / Can get you through the rest of your life.” Those words feel so true for our life and the joy you have brought to our everyday. 

Happy 2nd Birthday my little love.

All our love,

Mommy, Daddy and Emeline (Oskar and George, too!)

Emeline is FOUR!

Emeline,

I can’t believe 4 years ago I was blessed with becoming a mother – your mother. It’s been the greatest journey I’ve experienced yet and I firmly believe these are the best years of my life. I could never, ever thank your birth mom enough for this amazing gift. I’ve never been happier or more fulfilled in my life and it’s because of her loving choice. You and your birth mom helped me find my place in this world. Motherhood was my calling - it’s been my greatest adventure. I’ve grown more and loved deeper in these last four years. You and your sister have been and will always be our absolute biggest blessings.

You, my little girl, are so amazing in every way. You are just a little bit different than all the rest. Just a little bit more special. You are full of life and energy, you exude love, wisdom and sometimes maturity far beyond your four short years on this earth. Your teachers, admins and founder of your school have all pulled me aside to tell me how much they love you, the conversations you have shared with them, and how you have touched them. Actually, you touch someone new every day. Even your dance teacher teared up telling me of a conversation you shared with her about your life aspirations while she took you to the bathroom. She told me, “Emeline wants to “get big”, become an adult, get married, have a baby in her belly, grow old and one-day (a very long time from now) die so that she can go to heaven.”. I teared up and beamed with pride as Miss Jessica told me this story and I had to document it for you.

You love learning. Sometimes when you get overwhelmed in social situations with too many people around, you sit back, watch, play alone and/or help someone in need of help. I find in these moments you are learning and growing in ways I could never teach you.  You love writing your letters, reading and learning any fun facts we are willing to teach you. You know some really funny tidbits like how a chicken lays an egg and where on an animal’s body your dinner that night has come from. You recognize your letters, knows theirs sounds and say you are teaching yourself how to read. Ha! I asked you if I could help and you said, “no thanks Mommy, I’ve got this”. You actually say that a lot. You have become so incredibly independent these day. And for that, I’m proud (and thankful!).

At almost four, you understand the circle of life, the difference between heaven and earth, and you have Jesus in your heart. Your school has really been an incredible resource for you in growing your faith. You have grown so much in this last year, it’s hard to truly comprehend. One minute your thoughts, conversations and wisdoms are so profound at such a young age and the very next you are running, barefoot and wild, oftentimes squealing, while playing with your sister.

You love deeply. Already kissing boys and telling friends you love them. Your love for me when you were born was something that felt so surreal I almost didn’t believe it, but as the years go by, your love runs deeper and our love for one another is something I’m proudest of in my life. I think, hope and pray we are forming an unbreakable bond that will surpass any hardship we may face together as you grow. You tell me you love me 100 times a day and when I least expect it, you kiss me and hug me often, and you still love to be held and cuddled. 

You look up to your Daddy and admire him in all the ways a little girl should. You love waking up early with him for your special alone time making breakfast before he heads off to work. And you love helping Daddy ‘work’ around the house. You really just love to help others. And that quality of yours makes you the sweetest big sister. 

Giselle admires and adores you and that adoration is mutual. At first I thought that was just how all sibling relationships looked like, but again, your love seems to run a little bit deeper. You two are thrilled to see each other first thing in the morning, give each other kisses on the lips before bed and as for during the day, you never part whether by my side helping me or playing. Somedays I feel like I’m raising the same child. If you love something, so does Giselle and if Giselle is interested in something so are you. I suppose that makes my job easier! You have made us proud with how loving and doting you continue to be with Giselle. You have become Giselle’s protector, always looking out for her safety (Giselle is clumsy!) and best interest. You two are truly best friends.

At four years old, you still love to make people laugh, you enjoy singing and dancing, playing with your friends, dressing yourself in your own style, princesses, PJ Masks (superhero show), picnics, park trips, ballet and tap, gymnastics, swimming, crafting, baking with mommy, reading and playing anything under the sun with your sister.

In my opinion, you are the best of everything good in this world and I love everything about your fiercely. I’m forever blessed to be able to share life’s ups and downs with you, show you the world and impart any and every wisdom I know onto your heart. I’m doing my very best and always will, in your birth mother's honor.

We love you more than you will ever know. And we couldn’t be more proud to be your parents.

Love you more,

Mommy, Daddy and Giselle

(Oskar and George, too!)

Giselle is 18 Months Old!

Giselle,

I wrote this letter to your birthmom and I think it's the perfect letter to save for your 18 month update. A dedication to your birthmom; the one who chose me to be your mommy. You and I wouldn't have this incredible bond if it weren't for her. Every day, for the rest of my life, in good days and bad, I will be forever grateful to her. I love you way, way more than you know, baby girl. But, you already know that. 

Love,

Mommy, Daddy and Emeline

(Oskar and George, too!)

Shelby,

I can’t believe 18 months ago you blessed me with becoming a mother of two. I’m an only child and because of your loving choice, my dearest dream became my reality.  Motherhood has been the greatest journey I’ve experienced yet and I firmly believe these are the best years of my life. I could never ever thank you enough for this amazing gift. I’ve never been happier or more fulfilled in my life and it’s because of your decision. Thank you for helping me find my place in this world. Motherhood was my calling - it’s been my greatest adventure and hardest challenge all at the same time. I’ve grown more and loved deeper in these last few years. Your loving choice has been and will always be our absolute biggest blessing.

Giselle has been such a gift, such a rare treasure. She radiates joy with everything she does and everything she is. This attribute of hers reminds me of you. We met once. And it was brief. But the sparkle in your eyes that I saw on that day, is the same sparkle I see in Giselle’s eyes every day. We know in our heart of hearts that she will grow to be a perpetually happy, joyful and positive person. Just like you.

She brightens every day with her mischievous grins and deep belly giggles. Everything is funny to our sweet girl. Tickles (really only slight touches) and her sister give her the deepest, uncontrollable giggles you can imagine. That sound is heaven on earth to me.

Giselle is still her Mommy’s girl and you will find her most often on my hip with those chunky thighs clinging on for dear life. I actually still wear our 27 LB baby in a baby carrier. She loves it and gives me the sweetest hugs while doing so. I may just carry her until she’s three if she keeps that up!

Giselle has a very timid side, but also a very silly side if you are lucky enough to witness it.  She only has a handful of people who she is truly is at ease around and will let look, talk and touch her comfortably. This number is growing quickly now, but we aren’t forcing her to interact in situations that make her uncomfortable. When she is shy, she hides that sweet face in my chest and we walk away if we can. If she’s feeling silly, she makes the cutest smashed faces on the other side of my washing machine door, she’s a mean dancer, the messiest eater I’ve been blessed to clean and a total klutz from the moment she started walking.

Giselle is one verbal baby. She’s only 18 months, but she can say up to four-word sentences already and has been for 2 months now. She has great communication skills and she’s a girl who knows what she wants! Oftentimes you will hear her yelling her requests, but with the sweetest ‘peas’ (please) at the end. And upon receipt, she always says, ‘tank you, mommy’. I remember her first four-word sentence was, ‘I wan caakie (cookie), mommy.’. You just can’t say no to that! She may be able to say four-word sentences, but our sweet girls still can’t say ‘yes’. Everything you ask her, she replies with a nod and a ‘no’. She’s a mess!

She has a fierce determination to learn. She repeats after me her ABC’s pronouncing every letter but W correctly. Repeats after me 1-10 saying every word correctly. She pretend plays already, has mastered her shape sorter, stacks all kinds of things around the house and loves to color and paint. I’m hoping soon we can start color sorting together. She knows all her main body parts now and absolutely loves to read. It’s one of our favorite things to do together as a family.

She wants to desperately be ‘big’ like her sister. Giselle admires and adores Emeline and that adoration is mutual. At first I thought that was just how all sibling relationships looked like, but their love seems to run a little bit deeper. They are thrilled to see each other first thing in the morning, give each other kisses on the lips before bed and during the day, they never part whether by my side helping me or playing. You’ll often find them holding hands while walking or riding in the stroller. Somedays I feel like I’m raising the same child. If Emeline loves something so does Giselle and if Giselle is interested in something so is Emeline. I suppose that makes my job easier! They are truly best friends.

Giselle is loving – so incredibly loving. She will stop what she is doing, run over to us and give us the biggest hugs that just melt you into a puddle. She gives kisses on command and keeps on kissing even when you ask for 5 in a row – guilty! Our laps and our arms never seem to be empty because our sweet girl loves to cuddle and we wouldn’t have her any other way.

Giselle loves playing babies; she the sweetest little mommy to all her dolls always kissing and cuddling them just as we do her. She enjoys swinging and sliding at the park, going on long walks/runs, loving on our dogs Oskar and George, reading, playing with musical toys, dancing, singing, playing dress-up and Barbie’s with her sister, Minnie Mouse, Elmo and eating – that might be her favorite pastime of all.

Giselle has such a kind heart and loving disposition – two characteristic of which remind us of you. We met you briefly, but those moments and those memories are imprinted on our hearts forever.  In my opinion, she’s the best of everything good in this world and I love everything about her fiercely. Mother-to-mother, I thank you immensely for choosing me to be her mother. Because of you, I can share life’s ups and downs with her, show her the world and impart any and every wisdom I know onto her. I’m doing my very best and always will, in your honor.

We love you more than you will ever know.

Happy Birthmother’s Day to you! I hope you feel loved, honored and celebrated, because you are. Everyday.

Love,

Ashley, Kris, Emeline and Giselle