January was such a crazy month for both us – transitioning into our new life with the love and support of so many amazing friends. I’ll try to work to get caught up on some of the pictures over the next week or so, but let me see if I can remember some of the highlights:

New Year’s Eve Party with Hannah and her family – Thanks!!

* Uncle David flew out to spend the first week of January with us. Our treasured friend, he was such an incredible support to Mommi and you and he had a great time playing together.

* We went to Strong Museum with Rachel and her mommy, Laura. We had a blast – and Rachel wanted to use some of her gift money from her Grandma to buy you a toy, so you came home with a “Princess” ball – what a special gift.

It’s crazy how life can change in a blink of an eye.

And it certainly has for our little family. It’s now going to be primarily you and me kid…

And we are going to be GREAT!! Daddy has decided that he no longer wants to be married to me or live with us, so our wonderful little family is experiencing some great sadness. But, as you will learn, God works His most amazing miracles at times we might perceive to be hopeless. As Aunti Judi said, we will just redefine “family” to be much more inclusive. You will have many Aunti’s and Uncles – fascinating, grounded loving people who will expose you to the beauty and challenges of life…. Want some examples? Aunti Liz, Uncle Michael, Aunti Kankana (all three doc students of mine), Uncle Jim from Gospel Choir, Aunti Brenda from Gospel Choir, Aunti Susan (Hannah’s Mommy), and so many more. We will open our homes and hearts to those who need our love and those who want to love us.

Your Daddy promises to always love you and be a very important part of your life. (I’m sure you know that by now.) Don’t you worry for even a minute about that. I know you’re going to have many questions, and we’ll try to figure out those answers together as we grow – at this point I understand neither the questions nor the answers… But that is what faith is all about. We’re gonna go with that. Before you were born Jonathon from Gospel Choir said, “You can’t stop trustin’ Him now, Sister. You can’t stop trustin’ Him now.” This is just one more time when that advice could not be more important.

Just imagine all the amazing adventures in store for us!! Want to take dancing together? And maybe French? Want to row a gondola in Italy? Want to snorkel in Belize? River raft in Brazil? Whatever it is – it will be amazing – because it will be with you. I love you Peanut Butter. Thank you for bringing so much JOY to my life…. EVERY SINGLE DAY!!

“Wait and Hope”

You absolutely LOVE SNOW!! You love to eat it, make balls of it and throw them at me, make snow angels, and go for rides on your sled! Sunday night, we all went to our favorite park for some wonderful snow frolicking! How fun!

The reason this next picture got cut off is because you were RUNNING to me to give me a huge hug!! What a great picture!!

And, afterward, we chill out and have some snacks and “PT:”

A couple stories to make you smile:

* Yesterday we were in the grocery store, and your Daddy was about 15 feet away. After you asked where he was, we both spotted him. You said, “Mama! Look at all those people! Daddy is going to have to say ‘Scuse me!!'” : )

* On the way home from gymnastics, we bought you a chicken finger appetizer because you’re always starving after class. When we told you what it was called, you could tell that you pondered its name. The whole way home you talked to me about your “chicken hands.”

Last Saturday night after church we headed out to the YMCA for a Halloween Party. It was quite an adventure…

It was a little hard to watch you at this party – my heart ached for a few reasons. First, you were kind of tired (we had a BUSY day), so I think you might have been feeling a little off. Second, I think you really wanted to be a princess. You looked SO beautiful and adorable in your little nurses outfit, but that is what I thought you should be – clearly not what you wished you were.

Finally, you walked away from Daddy and me to go over by the kids who were dancing. You stood on the sideline watching the two little girls dressed up like princesses. It was clear you wanted to be included, but they didn’t notice at first. One of the girl’s Mommys walked over and introduced you to the girls. It was such a crazy look to what I imagine the future will hold… a time where you will find your own way. I don’t doubt that you will be absolutely amazing at everything that is important to you… it’s just sometimes hard to be on the sidelines and unable to help. Does that babble make any sense?

Anyway – check out these amazing dancing moves!!

You are such a special little girl… I love you to pieces!

Hey there Baby Girl –

You and I had a rocky start to our Friday, but it turned out to be an AWESOME day thanks to some great friends.

When I dropped you off this morning, you REALLY did not want me to leave. People say this is a stage that all kids your age go through, but it really threw me. You were crying so hard, and we couldn’t do anything to distract you. And Maritza really tried. After she pulled you away from me, I stood around the corner in the hallway waiting for you to stop crying so I knew you were okay, and I could go to work. Sadly, you cried and cried and cried… which made me cry and cry and cry. I love my job… I really do, but I really DON’T like how, at times, everything gets off balance. I don’t mind it for me because I understand it’s only temporary and life will soon return to normal. But you are only 2 and a half – when Mommy doesn’t come home before you go to bed twice in one week, it’s hard for you to understand.

Anyway, I called to check on you at noon, and Maritza came to the phone to reassure me that you were fine… a little sad to start, but soon playing and laughing like normal. I guess my sadness was a combination of wondering if you were okay and my own missing you. It will be better on Monday. Daddy and I are also going to do our best to pull you out at least 1 day a week for some fun adventure. We really do love spending time with you!! You are such a joy!

Speaking of joy – check out these flowers!!!

(Believe it or not, they SMELL just as good as they LOOK!! You love them too!)

My student Liz gave them to me to thank me for working with her and because she noticed that I was tired and a little sad last night when I was still at work at 9:15pm. How awesome is that?!?!?!

Another one of my doctoral students Kankana also shared some wonderful things today with our research group about how much she enjoys working with me and for me – how grateful she is – words that were just as beautiful and touching and important to me as the flowers.

And THEN…. tonight you and I decided to try out a different “oce cream store” (as you call it) and postpone the bath until tomorrow. We headed over to the Corn Hill Creamery for our Friday night ice cream and stopped in to see my friends Abe and Vera. They joined us for ice cream, and we had a FABULOUS time – walking by the river and then playing with Snowball, their cat.

I think we’re going to have ice cream with them again soon!

Can you say “blessed” Baby Girl?!? We sure are!

Love you to pieces! *Mommi