BEST FRIENDS...

I had a blast watching Asha and Gracie play together today.  If any of you truly know Asha, then you know just how special her blanket is to her.  She takes it every where with her, rarely shares with with Daddy and Mama and can't sleep without it! 

A few weeks ago I had washed Asha's blanket and for some reason it wasn't drying properly.  Scott tried to trick her in to thinking that another blanket was her special white one, but she knew better.  She wouldn't fall asleep until her blanket was in her arms.  By this time it was close to 10 pm and rather than wait any longer, we took out her blanket early from the dryer and gave it back.  She was so happy that she said thank you a dozen times (it didn't matter to her that the blanket was not entirely dry either)!

 For her to lay it on the floor and share it with Gracie today, was HUGE!  It was so awesome to watch them play with her special blanket.  Asha's gotta really love Gracie in order to allow that to happen.  They have really become the best of friends and in such a short time.  I am excited to see how their bond continues to grow.

MY SWEET ASHA...

I look at my beautiful, bright and talented little girl and I think, where has the time gone?  She brings so much joy to my life and although some days and moments I am saddened by what a big girl she is becoming, I am also excited anticipating what she will be like as she grows into the beautiful young woman that I know God has created for our family.

WELCOME GRACIE TO OUR FAMILY...

Nope, don't you dare get ahead of yourself.  We DID NOT adopt a second baby like you may be thinking - well sorta - but not the usual type of baby.  But rather a furry, cuddly, soft one; a three month old Labrador/Collie puppy who I named Gracie.

She is still too young, but the plan is to train her to be my service dog.  Not a full time service dog, but one that helps me pick up Asha's toys off the floor so they don't all get stuck and caught up under my tires.

Gracie is such a good little girl too.  She is ALMOST potty trained!  You can tell just how smart she is because she seems to absorb almost anything and everything you tell her.  I think she is a wonderful addition to our family and it's so nice for Asha to now have a "little sister" in the house. 

COOKIE MONSTER...

Mama and Asha made chocolate chip oatmeal cookies.  YUM!

Our little Vincy girl is so smart, but boy oh boy does she ever love cookies.  She knows that the stove is hot though, so she thought out each and every move before reaching for a cookie.

• She knew she was too short to reach the plate of cookies on the stove, so first she got her Tinkerbell chair and set it in front of the oven.
• Then after stepping on the chair, remembered that the stove can be hot at times, so she went and got out a pot holder from the kitchen drawer.
• Then she got back on her chair, mitt on hand and on her tippy toes was able to carefully reach the plate and pull it towards her.  

When Miss Asha Mikaela sets her mind to something, nothing stops her!  LOVE, LOVE, LOVE our little cookie monster!

CHRISTMAS...

Okay, okay.  I know.  It's already January and I'm talking about Christmas.  But I did agree to post on our blog so here it goes...

Asha and Gilbert

Christmas was really nice this year, although it was a little busier than I would have liked.  Tough though when you have a child and everyone wants to spend some part of the holidays with her. 

Christmas Eve in the day we went to the Western Development Museum with friends of ours.  They have twins who are just about the same age as Asha.  The kids always have fun lots of fun together.  

Asha, Bronwen and Gilbert having candy sticks

In the late afternoon we went to Scott's brothers home.  Asha absolutely loves their four kids and they are so sweet to her.  They are all much older than her already but they still manage to spend the time with her and go right down to her level.  It makes me so happy!  I remember years ago when we were trying for a family, how excited I was at the thought of our children playing together.  It was such a surreal experience to actually see that occurring first hand.  Our sweet niece Kassidy even went shopping just for Asha and bought her gifts out of her own allowance!

Asha in her Christmas dress

Giving Kassidy a hug

Giving high five to Uncle Darren

 

On Christmas morning Asha awoke to the sound of Santa's reindeer making jingling noises with their bells.   She jumped right out of bed shouting, "Santa's here, Santa's here".  The look on her face was literally priceless.  Once up stairs, we began opening presents.  Asha was the thoughtful girl she always is, saying thank you to Santa or Mommy and Daddy after each and every gift.  And then after she had opened up a few gifts, she started handing her presents out to us saying, "You can have this Mama" or "Open this one Daddy".  

Getting ready to open presents

 

We then made our way out to my parents place.  Asha loves it out there so much and has so much fun.  Nana and Papa explained to Asha that Santa had come to their home as well.  Their was a huge gift wrapped from Santa to Asha; it was a play kitchen and she was so ecstatic to see it.  My parents got her matching pots and pans as well - too cute!  

Asha with Bella Balaberda

The kitchen Santa brought her

Singing Happy Birthday to Jesus with 

Uncle Josh

Scott and I do not believe in going all out for Asha at Christmas.  Of course she will have a few gifts under the tree, but we are teaching her early on that the true meaning of Christmas is not how many gifts you get or what you get for Christmas, but that it is the love of your family and friends and the birth of Jesus Christ.  My mom knew how important this was to us, so baked a birthday cake for baby Jesus.  Singing happy birthday to Him was the perfect end to the day.

Asha with her cousin Jordan

We went to Scott's mom's for Boxing Day.  His sister and our nephew Jordan were in from Yorkton and were staying at her home.  Asha absolutely loves Jordan.  She is literally inseparable from him and wouldn't leave his side.  Any time she needed something she would call for Jordan, not Mommy and Daddy.  You could tell that Asha was trying so hard to be a big kid like Jordan, copying everything he did.  It was sad to have had to say good bye to them at then end of our visit.  It was wonderful to be able to spend so much time with family and friends this holiday season.

Pillow fight on Grandma's bed

 

Although I love spending the holidays with everyone in our lives who is near and dear to us, next year I hope will be a little bit different.  I want to have a day just for our family of three.  A day filled with fun, laughter, love and new traditions.

Thank you to everyone who has followed our blog and has continually been following our journey this far.  Hope you all have a blessed New Year!!!

GETTING READY FOR CHRISTMAS...

We got Asha all ready and excited to go see Santa and sit on his knee, but as soon as she saw him, she wouldn't have it!  As soon as we got close to Santa she got upset and started to cry.  Needless to say, no Santa Clause this year.  Maybe next year will be better.  At least at the mall they had a real reindeer named Cupid who Asha absolutely loved.  So pictures this year were with a reindeer and not jolly old St. Nick.

HALLOWEEN 2010...

This year we actually were able to ask Asha what she wanted to be for Halloween and without a second thought she said, "A bunny rabbit".  And that is what she was - and a cute bunny at that!

Asha with her friend Olivia who lives across the street

Getting her make-up applied by Daddy

Getting ready to go!