we'll see...

so, this is my first post to this blog i created over a year and a half ago. i had then intention it would be a great way for me to keep our families updated on miss m's constant growth, and to help chronicle our crazy lives while i'm in school. best laid plans, but then life took over and i kept thinking, "tomorrow i'll post something". i've written so many posts in my head, trying to describe everything that is going on: how m's doing with it all (wonderful!), how d and i are handling it, the stress, the excitement, the happiness, the sadness, the heartache and the determination that is getting us through living apart for 16 months. i remember d making an excellent point when the 28 month program started. he reminded us both that as much as we wanted to wish away the lengthy program, we'd also be wishing away 28 precious months of our amazing baby girl's life, and we didn't want to do that. we've tried to truly treasure each day and phase, and count our blessings for the time we have together, because we know how truly blessed we are, even with the crazy stress my program is putting on us. i hope to commit to posting on here and capturing m's latests regularly. she's changing so quickly, and i keep thinking each age and phase is my favorite. i remember my sister becky telling me something very similar! :) right now m seems to be growing and changing daily. she's seeming very much like a toddler and not a baby, except for when i read stories and rock her at night, which i will definitely do until she doesn't want me to---i love that special time of snuggling. she's speaking clearly more than half the time and sometimes in sentences. it's so funny, and challenging sometimes, to have a true conversation with this adorable little girl we created. simply amazing! her currents: she's loving elmo, abby and any babydoll still, and now loves pooh and eyeore too. she loves pockets, pink, hairbows (most days) and shoes. she's still a great eater, but is also experiencing the toddler grazing habits. she definitely inherited our sweet tooth, and is always up for some chocolate. she gravitates towards other kids, and is super excited about molly's baby lyla. we're starting to get excited to imagine what she'll be like as a big sister (not yet--promise!). there's so much more to write, but not tonight. i'm tired. :)