18 Months...

Wow! How time flies! So much has happened since my last post. So many wonderful things. Maybe that's why I've neglected my "journal" here on my blog. When I come here I am reminded of our life as it is, you know-reality. It makes me deal with things I don't want to. Gracelyn is doing so well right now and I am comfortable living in an ignorant bliss, just feeling blessed and grateful for one more "normal" day. I am grateful for all of those that continue pray for our sweet girl and continually check on how she is doing. Thank you!

Like I said, a lot has happened since our last post. Our biggest news is that Gracelyn is now a big sister. On June 17, we were given a perfect baby girl with a perfect heart! She truly is perfect and Heavenly Father knew exactly what we needed. Gracelyn is a great big sister.I was a little worried at first. Gracelyn wanted to treat her the only way she knew how...just like she treated her baby doll. From the first time she held her she knew exactly what to do. She immediately began to rock her back and forth, it was a violent rock, but we've managed to calm it some. :)On June 5, Gracelyn celebrated her one year anniversary of having her Glenn surgery. It was an emotional day, filled with gratitude. I'm so grateful for the last year that we have had. It has been so much better than I ever imagined it could be. Coincidentally, the American Heart Association held their annual "Heart Ball" on the 4th and Jeff and I were GIVEN tickets...very expensive tickets. :) This year the association focused on congenital heart disease...what a year to go. Celebrating her one year anniversary and being already be emotional, it made it difficult to sit through. Grandpa and Grandma Hales kept the kids and when we came we found Grace with a new toy in celebration of such a great year. It was the perfect gift, a stroller for her baby. Every great celebration needs treats, so we finished off with heart cupcakes. I can't believe our baby girl is 18 months. What a ride it has been. She is so wonderful to have in our home. She is such a testimony of God's love, grace and existence. It has been so hard dealing with what we have gone through with her, but I would go through it over and over again just to have her in our lives. She has forever changed who I am, what I believe and what I KNOW.

Grace at 18 months:
-She is very girly. She loves her hair and nails done and will sit perfectly still while I do them
-She is the feistiest, sweetest little ball of happiness you will ever see
-She still has a binky problem and it's worse than EVER...we're going to have to start working on that.
-She started nursery and she loves it...she better enjoy the next few weeks while she can still go. :(
-There isn't anything she doesn't say. She is so fun to talk to and has the cutest voice.
-She mimics everything her brother says and does.
-She wants to do and go everywhere her brother does.
-She loves to be outside
-She thinks SHE is the mom. Poor Mr. C gets put out on time out often by her...not that he listens or cares.
-She has a slight shoe addiction
-It's taken a while, but she has finally began to bond with people. She loves her grandpa and grandma and has even chosen to stay with them over me.
-She has to dress herself
-She has set her own bed time of 8:30 and is begging to be in bed if we haven't put her in by then
-She can eat as much as her brother
-She loves the color pink and can always identify it when picking things out
-Her life has become a musical, as she sings about everything we do
-She is finally making friends with her doctors and doesn't scream and cry at their presence
-She does this weird thing where she takes her two fingers and feels under her neck (we think she is feeling her pulse) Jeff's mom will always tell her "You're still alive Gracelyn!" :)