The Valentine package

Dear Brit,

We got an email from your dad last night telling us what you are up to these days.  Sounds like you have finally mastered the big girl pants. Hooray for no more diapers!

I chuckled as I read about you and your little brother emptying out the dresser and putting all the clothes in the crib.  Sounds like the kind of thing that would happen in a house full of toddlers.

Your dad also said that you are quite the chatty girl now.  And your response to everything is "really".

But by far our favorite line in the entire email was when he told us you have an imaginary chicken that you chase through the house.  I laughed and laughed when I heard that.

I looked up at BF and I said "I wonder who she gets THAT from!"

He immediately looked back and me and said "She gets her curly hair from me, and her eyes from me, but there is absolutely no question that she gets chasing imaginary chickens through the house from YOU!"

He's probably right.

I hope you got your Valentine's Day package that we sent to you.  We just love picking out special things for you and we delight in imagining you playing with them, reading them, wearing them or eating them.

The entire package of Valentine fun

The chocolates taped to a Valentine plate

 This time I included chocolates, which I hope brought you great joy.  It is funny to me because I don't like chocolate at all so I don't even think about sending it to you, but from what I have heard, you seem to love chocolate enough to make up for chocolate that I don't eat!

Our card to you

Your hair clips

We also included hair clips and piggy tail holders, not that you like to wear them, but we felt like we should at least send them to try to help you tame that crazy mass of curls that we love so much!

Only one more month until your third birthday.  It is amazing how you are growing up.  We anxiously await being able to have a visit with you again.  And more than anything we long for the day that we can have an ongoing relationship with you.  We keep telling ourselves that each day that passes is another day closer to that relationship we long for.  We want you to be able to know first hand the love we have for you.

Thinking about and loving you from a distance.

My Valentine's Day

Just a couple of cute pictures from Valentine's Day.

First is the gift we received from the boys.  Nana (BF's mom) helped all 4 of them make these sugarful delights for us.  

The cookie on the left was for me from my boys, the one on the right for BF from his boys.  

As a side note about Nana, she also made cookies for my ex and BF's ex so the kids could give them a Valentine treat too.  To add even more admiration that I have for her kind spirit, she drove my two boys to the fire station to give their dad his cookie.  Not even kidding.  BF's mother, took MY boys, to THEIR dad's work to give him a gift.  AMAZING!  She has such an inclusive heart.

And now for the typical brotherly interaction.  When stopping by to pick up their video game system that they left at their dad's house, the boys found what little snow we had left in a drift in his front yard.  As you can gauge from their attire (sweatshirts only), the snow was well on its way to melting.  It was only on the ground for about two days.  This could possibly be the only snow picture we will have for the entire winter.  (I LOVE KANSAS WEATHER!)

Disclaimer:  Neither child was harmed during this snow massacre.  This is how they show affection, I'm convinced.

Incoming!

Take this!

A snow facial

Back at you!

Valentine package sent

I put together a Valentine package for Brit and mailed it yesterday with the hope that she would get it today, right on Valentine's Day.  Since we are only one town away, generally mail gets to them the day after I send it, so I tried to time it right.

Here is a peek at what we sent.

I hope it makes Brit happy.  Even though she has no idea who we are, I want to bring her joy, even if it is anonymous.

And what little girl wouldn't love a conversation hearts necklace and bracelet?  Or mini jelly beans?  And a new Elmo book?

The boys and I continue to pray that someday we will be giving these small gifts to her in person.  But until then...

We love you Brit.