The Big E-i-g-h-t

Has it really been 8 years since that little curly, dark-haired newborn baby girl was placed in my arms. I couldn't believe she was mine. No - I mean I really couldn't believe it! Surely this chubby-cheeked, olive-skinned, furrowed-brow, short, chubby baby girl with more hair than I had ever seen on a newborn belonged to the hispanic family down the hall.


But there were enough eye-witnesses to attest that she was indeed mine, and oh how I loved this little baby girl. I remember feeling blessed to have 3 beautiful daughters. Life. felt. perfect.

I thought it would be hard to have a newborn at Christmastime, but truly, it was one of the most beloved and cherished times of my life. I remember laying on my bed for the first few days of her life, just holding her while she gently slept on my chest. We had some quiet mommy-baby time while daddy took Madi and Katie for a little trip to visit Grandma Judy and Granddaddy Ken right before Christmas. That Christmas, more than ever, I thought about the mother of another baby - and how she must have felt after giving birth to the Savior of the World. Amy Grant's song "Breath of Heaven" became my favorite Christmas song that year. For truly Heaven visited our earthly home that Christmas in 2001, and oh how I loved that baby girl.


And now - Heaven is replaced with mostly chaos, interspersed with an occasional quiet moment, but life is still as perfect as can be with this beautiful 8-year-old daughter.


Lacey at 8 is fiesty, smart, independent (when she chooses), the baby girl (when she chooses), a great speller, lover of math, interested in playing a musical instrument, Nintendo DS player, Sponge Bob addict, soccer playing, mother to her dolls. She is a watchful big sister to Ben and pesky little sister to Katie and Madi, and oh how I love this 8-year-old girl.

She finds the kitchen table to be an ideal napkin and she cleans her room by stuffing everything (& I mean everything) under her bed. Her fingernails are frequently dirty and she doesn't like braids or fancy little-girl dresses. She likes her shirts to be tight-fitting, and she loves when mom reads her a story. She begs dad to take her to 7-11 and buy her powdered donuts and a slurpee. She's rather bossy and extremely persistent. She's a debater, always ready to negotiate her point, and oh how love my 8-year-old girl.

Rather than do it herself, she prefers to have mom or dad make her toast, get her a drink, pour milk on her cereal, or dish up her dinner plate. She likes to be tucked in at night, although she is starting to resist hugs and "I love you's" - unless she initiates such behavior. She is loving and sweet, yet capable of being naughty. And occasionally, she gets really, really mad. But always, she is a bright and shining light in our home. She is our Lacey Grace and oh how we love her!

Lacey's 8th birthday ended up being a 3-day celebration. Here are a few highlights -

The Big E-I-G-H-T Part One

The day before her actual birthday, Grandma Judy and Granddaddy were in town and we had Sunday dinner with them, Mammy and Poppy, and Aunt Kimmy and Uncle Russ's family. Lacey opened presents from the family that evening. She also had a pretty, pink birthday cake. (For some reason I forgot to pull out the camera until cake time so I missed getting pictures of the family - bummer!)



The Big E-I-G-H-T Part Two

Lacey's birthday was on a Monday, so bright and early that morning, we headed to the school for Lacey's annual birthday circle. During her birthday circle we show pictures and share highlights from each year of her life. She carries a globe with her, and each time she walks around the circle, it represents the passage of another year of her life. It was a special treat to have grandma and granddad there.

Lacey shows photos to her classmates from the 5th & 6th year of her life

Everyone oohed & ahhed as Lacey showed her class the beautiful, warm and cozy handmade quilt that Grandma Judy made for her.

Lacey blowing out the traditional candle in the center of the birthday circle.

Grandma and granddad left to go home right after the birthday circle. That evening we celebrated as a family by going to see some amazing Christmas lights. Our first stop was the garden atrium at the Bellagio Hotel, where they decorate with fresh flowers and plants. This polar bear is made completely of flowers.

My favorite part of the display this year was this gingerbread house - again made from flowers.

Ben's favorite part of the display were the 2 trains that went around and around at the entrance. We could hardly tear him away.

Our next stop was the M Hotel where they had the world's largest living Christmas tree on display.

I had to take this up-close picture to show that the tree is definitely REAL.

You could see the tree from miles away!

Our final stop of the night was the Ethel M Cactus Garden where we met up with Uncle Jared and Aunt Katie and their kids. The gardens were as beautiful and bright as ever. This is one of my favorite stops every Christmas season.




The Big E-I-G-H-T Part Three

The final chapter of Lacey's 8th birthday was her big movie party that Friday afternoon. It was the Friday school got out for winter break, so there was double reason to celebrate! Mammy and Poppy were gracious enough to let Lacey invite a few friends and use their movie theater for her party.

Friends from school and church, along with cousin Kara all helped celebrate this grand occasion.

Getting ready to watch "The Grinch"

Presents and cupcakes in the shape of an "8" ended the night