30 Days of Rachael: Day 2

Can't believe it's ALMOST here! I'm like a kid waiting for Christmas!
Our next wish for you, darling Rachael, is that you will be happy, courageous and confident in your life's work and in relationships with others. We understand that you will grow and define "happy" for yourself and it may not match our definition. However, as long as you are satisfied and content with who you become, that will make your mommy and daddy very proud.

30 Days of Rachael: Day 3

Another wish for you, dear Rachael: to be resourceful. You've already demonstrated pretty solid problem solving skills. We hope it is with this same concentration and dedication that you will know how to ask for help when you need it and to be able to identify and use the resources available to you as you go through life.

30 Days of Rachael: Days 5 & 4 (wishes & a milestone!)

Some more of our wishes for Rachael:
Day 5: that she knows love and gives love in her life...throughout her life. From her family, her friends, and eventually (when we let her out of the house at 40 :) ) from a romantic partner! We hope to show her the love we feel for her and for each other. We also hope to model the love we feel for our families and friends, so that she can learn from our example. It's no small task, but, we're up to the challenge.

Day 4: that she can learn to trust her own intuition. That it might guide her to make both the right decision and the best decision for her life's path.

And...because this countdown doesn't preclude life from happening around it: we have our first WORD! Any guesses?????


SHOES!
Mommy and Daddy both heard it and she has now said it several times! It sounds most like "zoos", but, we know what she means! Is she a girl, through and through, or what? As a matter of fact, she doesn't have a pair like the ones pictured here, but, maybe she needs something like them? :)

The countdown is on, baby girl, to the big #1! We're thankful beyond measure for this first year and are looking forward with excitement to see what the next year brings for you!

30 Days of Rachael: Day 6

As it's now inside of one week until "the diva" turns ONE...rather than looking to Rachael for wisdom, I'd like to spend the next days recording my (our) wishes for Rachael. There are more than six, for sure, but, I'll try to get the biggest ones written here.
We wish for her to be kind and generous without being a pushover or self-sabotaging. How we'll teach her this, I have no idea, but, we'll start with teaching her to be kind and generous and help her guard against being taken advantage of.

30 Days of Rachael: Day 7

When you get bored with all of the fancy toys Mommy and Daddy have bought, just play with the tupperware. It's more fun anyway!

30 Days of Rachael: Day 8

The new definition of the best kind of Friday night...dinner around our own kitchen table, followed by an hour of playing with all kinds of toys, topped off with a big bottle, warm pjs and a cozy family hug.
Absolutely the best way to end the week!

30 Days of Rachael: Day 9

Lesson of the day from Rachael: When you're happy and you know it, clap your hands. :)

30 Days of Rachael: Day 10

Rachael lesson of the day: childproof locks are made to be tampered with. Keep trying, even after Mommy adn Daddy tell you no. When they aren't looking, go back to it. Eventually, it *might* open.

30 Days of Rachael: Day 11

Yet another thing to learn from Rachael....fight like hell for what you want! She struggled and rose to the top in the NICU...gaining 2.5 pounds and 3 inches in a 7 week stay.

30 Days of Rachael: Days 13 and 12

Happy 2011! I can only blame a great holiday weekend for the delay in posting on our "30 days" series.
As 2010 drew to a close and 2011 started with much family fun, I can only think that one of the biggest lessons we've learned from Rachael is this: take the time to enjoy the moment and be present in life -- or you'll miss the magic. She takes each day with wild abandon and unabashed enthusiasm. Her parents need to work each day to do the same.
We hope and pray for health and happiness for our family and friends, today and all year long.