Gotcha Day Anniversary - Three years ago !

 

Today we celebrate Maggie's Gotcha Day. Three years ago we met Maggie for the first time. She was tired and cranky and we were overwhelmed with how much we loved her. 


Maggie has blossomed into such a beautiful, sweet and silly little girl.

 

But, she is quick to say that she is a big girl !
 

Four years old !
 

Happy Gotcha Day Maggie !!!!!!

Ballet.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

S'more Please !

 Maggie and I love to make sweet treats and our favorite one to make is very simple and yummy.

 I always have S'more  ingredients on hand:
Graham Crackers
Milk Chocolate chips
 Marshmallows

Thank you, Maggie, for being such a great model !

We seriously make these everyday in the oven on broil.
 I think I need an intervention.

Yum Yum !!!

Going on A Bear Hunt.

 

Who would have ever thought that Maggie's all time favorite thing to do would be to sit on my lap and read..  Books are magical to our little girl. She begs for them "Read book, read book momma !!" The other day I read so many books to her my throat was hurting and so I suggested we go watch Doc McStuffins or Minnie Mouse ( her favorite shows) and she just cried to " Read more books".  Oh, how can a mom say no to that ? 


 

I have organized most of her books in a little book shelf in her room.  She happily hand selects each book and runs back to my lap.  We put up the old rocker and replaced it with a comfy white slip-covered IKEA chair that looks so cute in her room.  Now we both can sit side by side or Maggie will snuggle on my lap.  I always make sure I am talking close to her BAHA hearing aid so she can get the best auditory response.



We're Going on A Bear Hunt has become one of her cherished books. I love this edition too.  The pictures are so pretty and interesting. We end up talking a lot about what's going on in each picture and I think Maggie has this one memorized.

 

Ferdinand  is another favorite. 
 My boys loved this book when they were little too.
The pictures and story are very simple, but I think that is part of the charm of the book. 

 

I have always loved books and started collecting Caldecott Award books a long time ago. So, we have quite a lot of children's books around the house.
 I try to edit Maggie's books and switch them around once a month so we don't get tired of them.  
  I am amazed at the big words she can say now like " immunization, patient, and alligator " to name a few. 
Maggie's language is exploding and no doubt books have a lot to do with that.  I remember when we were in China a lady from our travel group let Maggie play with a small board book. I thought "oh she won't know what to do with that", but I was wrong.  Her eyes looked intently at each page, almost like she was waiting her whole life to finally get to look at a book. It was love at first site for her and it's been love ever since.

Around Here.

 

Chuck took Maggie on a ride on the four wheeler and she loved it.  

She also loves to ride in her red Coupe.

 

It's finally spring here and we've been busy watering the flowers, trees and steps.

 

We just got back from our spring break trip and I'm exhausted ! 
It was so much fun and Maggie certainly must have some Hawaiian in her. She loves the beach ! 

Happy Gotcha Day - Two Years ago !

Two years ago we were handed a beautiful, sweet little baby girl. 

And the adventure began.

Maggie and I watched her Gotcha Day video today and she was a little unsure of it all. She told me baby Maggie was sick and sad.

Our little baby girl is getting so big now and the changes in her are ENORMOUS !  When we first met Maggie, she could not use her hands, walk, talk, communicate, look us in the eye, play with toys. Nothing.

 We love you so much.
You are a brave and captivating little girl with so much life and love to give.
Happy Gotcha Day Maggie !

December Catch Up.

We do daily Bible readings after dinner every night. Right now we are using M'Cheyne's Calender For Daily Readings as a guide. Generally, we clean up the dinner table and head to the living room. Maggie's job is to pass out the Bibles ( she takes her job very seriously - she loves doing this). Then we all take turns reading verses, except for Maggie of course.  She likes to sit by her brothers and pretend to read.  This night she read her Bible with a purple bucket on head. Why not ?

Colorful markers + plain paper = hours of quiet fun !

Maggie loved helping me wrap presents this year.  She really is starting to understand Christmas and she loved playing with the presents and ornaments.

The boys and Maggie made a box house with a telescope.  Such a simple toy that brought lots of smiles and fun.

 I think the fact that Maggie is half-dressed added to the fun too !

Big Milestone !

We're celebrating !

Because Maggie is potty trained !!!

For reals. 

I started potty training Maggie way back in the summer, but I was not consistent at all.  So, I kind of gave up.  Then, Maggie started a new school and her teacher is known as the "potty whisperer".  Seriously. She is known to magically transform little ones from diapers to potty in just a week. And so she did. It took about a week for her to start going potty. She is even sleeping in her big girl panties - no pull ups - and no accidents at night. We are all so proud of her !
 I think Maggie is pretty proud of herself too !  

Just Cause

Sorry for the lack of creativity. It's been crazy busy around here, but I had to share the pictures. 

 Maggie got up from her nap and was so happy.  I let her play around in the kitchen a little without her hearing aid.  I love how pretty her hair is and how long it is getting.

Maggie loves to wear her birthday girl pin her teacher gave her last month. 

She asks to wear it everyday by saying " party", which sounds exactly like "potty". 

 Everyone keeps telling her happy birthday when we go out !

She also loves glasses !

 She's figured out they won't stay on her eyes ( due to her little ear and small nose bridge) so she holds them on. I need to find her a sun glass strap.

Will thought it was fun to push Maggie around the room while she was on the potty.
 I never thought of a potty chair as a push toy !