Happy New Year!

Our content Christmas bird

2014 felt like the year Jules and I were finally able take a breath with our Lu.  It's hard to explain but I believe we both have come to terms with who our Little Lu is.   It has become much easier to answer the, "How are things going with Lucia" question.   For the first few years, we'd both answer something like, "Great, she loves horse back riding therapy" or "I think she's getting better at sitting" even though not much ever changes with Lu.   Today, it's more like, "You know, she's happy, and that's the goal".   It took a few years to reset the normal expectations we had for our first born little girl but our goals and expectations are as important as ever.  In many ways, they are more important.   The questions I ask myself today are more like: How many smiles will I see from Lu today?  How many people has Lu made smile today (usually, it feels like a lot)?  How much do Lu and Scout love each other, I know it s a lot!  What in the world is Lu singing about in her room, it's midnight?!?! I wonder if Lu's sister and cousins will always remember the lessons she is teaching them?   Are Lu's PKS friends and their families all doing and well today?  Is Lu going to get a letter from her awesome penpal, Rose, today?

Scout, Lu, Kayla and Taylor

Charley, Marco, Hudson, Scout and Lu

Rose and Lu at the Denver Art Museum last week

While Juliet and I will never give up on her learning to speak, sign, sit, stand, or walk, we are happy with who she is.  When we sit at a restaurant or a park and notice people staring at our girl, we are proud of her, we are proud to be her parents, and we almost always smile.  As she gets bigger and as things seem to stay the same for our Little Lu, in a way, things get easier.  One of my favorite parts of my week is taking Lucia to my Crossfit gym every Saturday morning.  She loves listening to the loud music, loves the attention her friends give her, and she usually chats all the way home.  Honestly, it's the simple things in life that make us happy and Lu no doubt understands that.

Lu reminds me to smile every day before I leave for work.  Usually, sitting with her legs crossed and hands tightly clasped, she will offer a quick glance and let me kiss her goodbye (Scout is usually running around like a nut but will at least wave good bye).  Almost always, I have a feeling she is smiling on the inside, and to us, that is what counts.