After almost three years, close to 300 posts, over 60 doctors appointments, and three surgeries, I am going to stop posting here. Mary's escapades can join her brothers' over at Homemade Mama. Mary really was praying when I snapped the above photograph. I should have been praying, too, but I had one eye open and couldn't resist taking a picture (thank God for His grace). I love that she already knows in her little heart that God wants to hear from her, and that He will always answer her prayers. She is an answer to my prayers. My prayer for her is that she always turns to Jesus first. That she strives to lead a life that is pleasing to Him. And that she never forgets that God is steadfast in His love. God is Good. All the time.
I lift up my eyes to the mountains where does my help come from? My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth. Psalm 121:1-2
We celebrated Mary's birthday with family today. She was so excited about her "parents" (what she calls grandparents) coming~ She wanted a pink birthday cake~ We sang Happy Birthday to Aunt Donna, too. She let Mary blow out her candles~
This is a typical stance for Little Miss Bossy (hands on hips, although I don't think she was actually bossing anyone here) ~ Mary got tons of baby dolls and accessories~ She loved them all, my little attachment parenting mama~ And with Pam~ In three words I can sum up everything I've learned about life: it goes on. ~ Robert Frost
Yes it is. It's a magic number. Our baby is a little girl (except when she's sleeping, then she's all baby). I can't believe how quickly time is flying by. I knew it was going to go fast, but I didn't realize it was going to be incomprehensibly fast. Mary was really excited about her birthday. She's been talking about it for the last several weeks. She loved her birthday pancakes (with M & M's) ~ And lunch at McDonald's (her favorite thing is "burger fries") ~ And tonight the Pesek's came to help celebrate (Jacqueline is one of Mary's best friends) ~ Look at the beautiful cakes Jacqueline made~ BFFs~ Goofy~ We're having family over this coming weekend. Mary is doing great. She is so brave every time we go to the endocrinologist (and to the lab for blood draws every three months, now). She sees her cardiologist every 9 -12 months. And since she had the tubes put in her ears, she hasn't had another ear infection. She loves to sing, and read and count and "do math". She spends way too much time playing on PBSkids.com, and loves to boss pretty much everyone around. Her favorite people in the whole world are her brothers. She usually dresses herself, but prefers to run around naked at home. She brushes her teeth every morning and every night and loves to help me in the kitchen. I love her so much (we all do). And thank God she is here, every day.
I can hear her heart beat, for a thousand miles. And the heavens open every time she smiles. ~Van Morrison
While the boys are away, the girls will play~ Mary saw the life jacket in the garage on our way in. She had blood work today, so I'm feeling especially indulgent.
Somehow Mary got a sliver in her hand. We tried to get it out last night, but we would have really had to dig. Here is it 24 hours later - her body is trying to heal thyself~ The sliver didn't stop her from having fun at the birthday party today~ Tonight after her bath, the sliver came right out with just a tiny bit of pressure. No crying, either!
I took this picture of Mary while she was waiting outside of Sam's cello class. She's eating her new favorite salad - romaine with blue cheese and balsamic vinaigrette. I'm ashamed by how many "burgers fries" she's eaten, but I need to remember that her palate is pretty sophisticated~
Now that Mary and I will have Thursdays to ourselves, I was looking for something special to do with her (and also something to keep her mind off the fact that both her playmates are gone for the day). How perfect that there is a parent and child gymnastics class on Thursday mornings! Mary is a natural~ She was a little shy around the instructors at first, but she loved the equipment~ She walked right across the beam, with no hands, the very first time she tried~ I think we're going to have a lot of fun! We've even been riding our bike over :)
Daddy and the boys took a road trip to Memphis this past weekend, so Mary and I flew out to Colorado to visit Jennifer and Tom. Grandma drove us to the airport. We knew we'd miss our boys~ Mary settled right in to our upgraded seats (thanks, Grandma!) ~ We were so happy to finally arrive. Jen met us at the gate (did I mention before I was nervous?). Mary received a lot of comments walking through the airport with her rolling suitcase~ After such a long day of travel, Mary fell asleep on the way to lunch~ We had some delicious mexican food at Cantina Laredo, and then walked a bit on the 29th Street Mall in boulder~ Saturday we headed over to the Boulder Farmers Market. The selection of produce and cheeses (including some raw milk) was wonderful. Mary really enjoyed the Noosa yogurt Jennifer turned us on to, and the popcorn (and ice cream)~ We then went over to Pearl Street, where we enjoyed the street performers, checked out the funky shops, and people watched. Mary had a blast playing in the fountains~ At one point, Mary ended up naked because she didn't want to wear her wet clothes. I was a little worried about what the crowd might think, but Jennifer reminded me we were in Boulder, after all~ We had a great lunch at Dish. We sat outside and near the end of our meal a cat hacked up what looked like a placenta. Yum :)
Boulder is really kid-friendly~ One cool thing is everywhere we went, the disposable cutlery was compostable. Boulder has really embraced sustainability. My little bear cub~ Before we left downtown we stopped at Tee and Cakes, where Jen had a coconut cupcake, Mary had strawberry milkshake, and I had something I'd only previously dreamed of - a chocolate bacon cupcake (it tasted better than it photographed) ~ Jennifer and Tom have a pick-up truck (comfortable and easy to get in and out of) and a Jeep (embarrassing to get in, but fun once we're settled - except when we're on the highway - Mary did not like the wind). "Nothing to see here, folks" became my mantra every time I climbed into the Jeep. On Sunday we drove over to Eldorado Springs~ It's a really cool artists community at the base of the Rocky Mountains (the original is in Jamestown, NY) ~ Mary loved hiking, and checking out all the information kiosks. I love her "reading" here~
Mary trying to get a look at the people climbing the rock across from us~ Jennifer was very worried about Mary being near the edge - Tom was happy to keep a close eye on her~ Mary was pretty funny - every time I called Jen "Jen", she would say "her not Jen, her Jennifer". Eventually I would catch myself and say Jen, and then quickly add the "ifer" just to keep Mary from correcting me. She's kind of bossy, but she wraps everyone around her little finger~ We hiked a good distance, only giving up and turning back after the path narrowed too much for the stroller. It was really beautiful~ Monday Mary and I walked to the park in the morning, while Jennifer worked~ Mary loved "taking my order" ~
For my birthday, Jen took me to a really lovely restaurant, "Colterra" in nearby Niwot. The food was divine~ Then we walked over to Jennifer's favorite consignment shop, "Rockin Robin's", where Jen channeled Helen Roper~
Monday night we were supposed to head back to Chautauqua for a music festival. But that afternoon, when Mary felt warm, I started thinking about how clinging/whiny she had been all day, and the fact that she didn't eat anything for lunch, and began to worry that maybe she had an ear infection. Concerned that we would be flying the next day, I wanted to be sure her ears were okay. So, we headed over to urgent care, where we found out she "just" had a virus. About 10 minutes after we left urgent care, Mary coughed a little and then puked all over herself, and the car seat :( We were just about to stop at Whole Foods to pick up something for dinner, so we ran in with Mary and cleaned her up as best we could. Jen (ifer) was so gracious about the whole thing. And when we got back to their house, Tom cleaned up the carseat and the car. Thankfully, Mary seemed okay the next day, and actually ate a "burger fries" (as she calls the Golden Arches) at the airport. Jen (ifer) was able to get a gate pass, and help me get through the airport. We had so much fun, and it was sad to say good-bye. My little seasoned traveler, before she fell asleep~ Monica and Chandler at 30,000 feet~
Mary Ruth was born November 1, 2007. She was diagnosed with Tetralogy of Fallot in utero. Mary had her first heart surgery at 6 days old. She had her complete repair surgery April 11, 2008.
"Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a steadfast spirit within me." Psalm 51:10
Mary really was praying when I snapped the above photograph. I should have been praying, too, but I had one eye open and couldn't resist taking a picture (thank God for His grace). I love that she already knows in her little heart that God wants to hear from her, and that He will always answer her prayers. She is an answer to my prayers. My prayer for her is that she always turns to Jesus first. That she strives to lead a life that is pleasing to Him. And that she never forgets that God is steadfast in His love. God is Good. All the time.
