You get what you ask for. . .

I have been so excited to sit down and blog about this past weekend, but it was all overshadowed by one simple question this evening after bath time. Before I get to my story, a few highlights from this weekend. First, the Ladies Brunch at church was a definite success! Great food, great speaker, fun craft with tons of people! I am so glad to have done it but more glad to be done with it:) I am really grateful for the help from my family and friends ~ thank you! Mother's Day was perfect! We all cuddled in bed together, which Gracie NEVER allows, then got dressed and headed out to church. She had on a beautiful dress from Meme, so I let her wear her pearl bracelet. After enamoring it for many minutes she said in her sweet little voice "Mommy, do you like my beads?" Of course I replied "yes, sweetheart". Trying to prolong the moment I asked her what else was on her bracelet and she said "a cross". I wasn't sure if she knew what that meant so I asked her and she said "For Jesus in my heart!". I thought I would die right there in the car. All of my wonderful Mother's Day gifts were put to shame by that one precious phrase. Thank you baby! After church we enjoyed a wonderful brunch with four generations, then came home and crashed. Today we evacuated to my mom's house for the demo phase of the renovations. It was a very long day (after a sleepless night) so we started the bath process early. She loves to show off for Amma (Gramma) so I asked her to count and she did ~ 1 to 13, exactly what I expected. Being silly I said "now do your letters" and then it happened. . . my precious baby, at 2 years, 3 months and 17 days sang the entire alphabet song, start to finish! I think we scared her when we started screaming! I don't know who was more proud ~ Mommy, Amma and Poppy watching it happen, Gracie seeing our response or Daddy when we called him to tell him goodnight and that is what he heard. I love that precious child and am so thrilled to watch her learn and grow, yet each time she steps forward my heartstrings are pulled so tight I think they will bust. My baby is starting to look more and more like a "big girl" and I am having to try harder and harder to remember exactly what it felt like to hold her for the first time. It scares me when I think about how fast the time has gone. . .