Sunday, June 21, 2009

Happy Father's Day

Dallan is in Texas on this, his first father's day. Luckily we figured out how to get skype going on his computer so he could see Gracie and vice versa. She was so excited to see him finally after just hearing his voice for the last week.

Since Dallan was gone, Grace and I trekked up to Roseville to celebrate my father; a man unlike any other. He is seriously the best man I've ever known. When Morgan and I asked him what he wanted to do today, he told us he wanted to take Grace to the zoo, so that's what we did! She was great all afternoon. I'm not sure that she noticed the animals but loved all the other kids and the wooden posts that Grandpa helped her stand on (she did notice the monkeys and really liked them). Her favorite part of the day was when Grandpa shared his ice cream cone! Here are some pics from the day:







Special note to my husband: It's been worth waiting the five years to see you with Gracie; you are an AMAZING daddy. I can't imagine doing this with anyone else.

Tuesday, June 16, 2009

Not just surviving but totally thriving...

It seems hard to believe that a month ago we were just arriving in Ghana. That six months ago we felt as if we'd never meet our daughter. That eight months ago adoption was on our minds, just not at the forefront of reality. That a year ago Dallan was just coming home from Iraq. A LOT has changed!

Grace has been amazing! I could seriously brag about her all day! I'm so grateful for such a wonderful little girl who lets mommy sleep through the night and be as social as ever! She is everything and so much more than we could've ever hoped for.

Dallan left on Sunday (June 14) for six weeks in San Antonio with the Air Force. He switched from the Marine Corps in January and maintained his rank but has no experience in his new job so they sent him off for some tech school. He had a rough start getting out there but seems to be okay now a few days in. There is another gentleman that was prior service and is older than Dallan and then the rest of the class are new guys, straight out of boot camp. Gracie and I are hoping we'll be able to visit Dallan while he is there but we'll see how things shape up. Before he left, Dallan went to Build a Bear to make Gracie a bear (it's actually a bunny...) that had his voice in it so that she could here and remember his voice while he is gone. She's very cute with the bunny; she totally lights up and knows it's here Daddy. Last night he called and when I put him on speaker phone she lit up and was kissing my phone; she's such a daddy's girl - we wouldn't have it any other way.

I'm sure the next six weeks will pass before us in the blink of an eye; I will try to update but it's so much more fun to hang with my girl than be on the computer!