Pray

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

She is Three

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

Three Is A Magic Number

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

Personal Flotation Device

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.

Ouch!

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!

Fast Food

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~

Beaming