Adoption Day on the horizon

It's so close, we almost have a date! So far the tentative date is February 4th. I'm so excited and anxious! I've been trying so hard to find something special for Ashley to give to Mark on their special day. I have found a few poems, but I'm not sure what to do with them. I will put a bug in Ashley's ear to make daddy something as well. I think this poem is the one, now I need to figure out what to do with it. I thought maybe I could frame it and have Ash decorate the mat. I was hoping to think of something smaller, that he could carry with him always.

You did not give me the gift of life,
but in my heart I know
the love I feel is so deep and real
as if it had been so.
You did not give me the gift of life,
but rather the chance to live...
to love; to learn; to laugh;
to cry; but most importantly, to give.
You did not give me the gift of life,
and that's ok with me.
For no matter what, you're my daddy
for all eternity!
For us to have each other
is like a dream come true.
No, you did not give me the gift of life;
Life gave me the gift of you!
Credits: Jaime Frodyma

Growin Up

Good news and bad news. Bad news...my baby girl has a crush. Ok, so it's not really bad news, but still, close enough. Lastnight while we were doing the nightime brush teeth go potty ritual, I noticed that Ashley looke a little sad. I asked her what was wrong and she said that she had been feeling like her heart was hurting. " src="http://www3.nb.sympatico.ca/crempel/Smilies/sad.gif"> I had no idea what was going to come out of her mouth next, but I must say, I was a bit nervous. She closed the bathroom door, made me promise not to tell daddy, and told me that she liked a 5th grader. As it turns out, this is the same boy that has liked her since she was in the 1st grade (so I hear). My baby is in 3rd grade!!! Anyway, she was upset because he doesn't know that she likes him and she's afraid to tell him because her friends think he's gross. She's asking me what she should do. First thought...OMG, this is my 3rd grade baby girl, second thought, and good news...she's TALKING TO ME!!!! This is a good thing! I gave her my advice which was to be his friend and don't worry about what her friends say. I told her that it was normal to like boys, and that I remember liking a new boy every few months or so. It was a good talk, but I'm still in shock! This is only the beginning.