Saturday, March 16, 2013

Miracles Happen

This morning I ventured out of the house alone to run a few errands. Yes this is rare, however I am trying to make it more of a priority to do a few times a week as I think it is going to help me to become a more calm mommy to my very high energy child.
Now usually I go through the drive thru at Starbucks because frankly it just feels like a hassle to get out of the car. Laziness at its finest I know. However, today I needed to return a redbox movie so I decided to walk in since it was only one door over.
As I walked in I noticed it was pretty empty for a Saturday morning, for this I was thankful, but as I waited in line a little girl at the table next to the line kept smiling at me and trying to hand me her bag. I smiled back and said Hi. I proceeded to order my drink and wait for it to come out. While I waited I chatted with the little girl (who I later learned was 18 months old) so in reality I did most of the chatting but that's just a technicality ;) I told the, who I assumed were the grandparents at the time due to their age, that I had a 3 year old and 12 week old at home. Then they shared with me one of the most beautiful stories I'd ever been told....
This little girl was born 2.5 months pre mature, 3lbs, and on drugs. She was abandoned at the hospital by her mother. It is a miracle that she even survived. As the man told me this story I could see the tears start to well up in his eyes. This little girl is their 82nd foster child. 82nd!!! They have been in the process of trying to adopt her since she was an infant and they were just told this morning that they got her!
This little girl certainly had an angel looking down on her...she is incredibly lucky to have those two loving people. Bless you mystery starbucks customers...you proved to me that miracles do happen.

Friday, March 1, 2013

Dear Jackson

Dear Jackson,

On your last day of being 2 we sit and reflect on all the amazing things that have happened this past year!
1. We started off your 2-year old year by living in Colorado.  In Colorado is where you met one of your "Best Friends" , Ashton.
2. You learned that you were going to be a Big Brother to your baby sister Lucy and you were over the moon with excitement!
3. You stopped wearing diapers and fully embraced being a "Big Boy", peeing on the potty and wearing underwear!
4. We found out we were moving to Washington for Daddy's work! Yay!
5. Your sister Lucy was born!
6. You communicate in full and complete sentences now and constantly amaze us with the silly things that come out of your mouth!

But the most amazing thing that has happened this past year is mommy and daddy's ability to love you even more than we did every single yesterday. You are our spirited, brilliant, silly, beautifully exhausting, one of a kind son.
There may be days that we struggle to be the mommy & daddy that you need us to be for you. But please always remember that we love you more than anything. We are new at this parent thing just like you are new at this kid thing :)
Parenting you has helped us to be stronger than we ever thought we could be, love deeper than we thought possible and see the beauty in the small things in life.

You are an incredible person Jackson, never stop being you!

We love you forever
We love you for always,

Mommy & Daddy