Twelve years ago today Dave and I checked into the hospital in the early morning and welcomed our third child into the world. A second daughter who we named Grace Anne.
And who thought her name was Grace “And” until she was five. (I love that.) She entered the world calm and peaceful as could be.
Little could we know the spunk and sparkle that she would bring into our lives…first with continual colic:
And reflux:
(Yes, I think I deserve to show that picture each and every year because I’m her mother, and I survived it. 🙂 From the get-go she had a little sass.
And boy are we grateful for it and the dynamics it brings to this family. As I looked through old pictures I couldn’t help but post some of her growing up.
Nanny McPhee stage:
Twelve of the top reasons I adore her: 1) She is genuinely kind as can be. 2) She is a good friend. She is especially good on birthdays. She ALWAYS makes sure she does something great for her friends: heart-attacks, candy-bar posters, a couple weeks ago she even threw a little surprise party for one friend. 3) She is a great cook. She always seems to gravitate to help me in the kitchen. Flat bread (back here) is her specialty, (she makes it for dinner every Sunday) but she’s pretty good at everything she tries. 4) She’s a passionate dancer. I love to watch her move her body and feel the emotion. 5) She looks out for her siblings. And has those little sisters of hers under her wing. 6) I covet her hair (ok not really), but boy howdy I sure do love it. 7) Her eyes sparkle. And they make me smile. 8) She knows how to get what she wants. It’s enough to drive me crazy sometimes but it’s going to get her places in life! 9) She does her own laundry. And I don’t like laundry-at all- so that makes me happy. 10) She is a gatherer. She’s not afraid to invite everyone over and always has all kinds of ideas of how to entertain up her sleeve. 11) She’s the best party planner I know. 12) She knows she’s a child of God. And she lets that show in her actions and how she cares for those around her. Love you with all my heart Grace Jam! Hope today is the very best! 
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Happy 12th Birthday to Grace. Hope she has a brill day:)
In the 1st picture I thought it was Lucy. I know I always say this but Lucy is the image of Grace.
I love the list of 12 reasons why you adore Grace, especially no 12:)
Have a great day Grace & especially Young Women's etc.
Love from Julie, UK
Oh wow is she one cute baby and toddler. And of course now-almost teenager! 🙂 She has had that sparkle in her eye since day one!
Happy Birthday, Grace! Love those pictures! I love the list your Mom made. You are a loving, lovely young woman! Thanks for sharing with us, Mom.
Happy Birthday Grace! We get to share the same birthday! Hope you have fun celebrating with your family and friends!
She is such a beautiful girl! I think she looks like you Shawni. I'm with you on the hair, enviable!
What a beauty!
What beautiful pictures and sentiments about Grace. Happy birthday!
Yes, keep sharing the crazy reflux picture. I didn't realize spitting up to that extent wasn't normal from our first baby until I saw the picture and we had our second baby. Good job smiling!
Happy birthday Grace! Congratulations on being done with primary!!! (that is the second best part about turning 12…the best is YW!) And thanks for the throw up picture. My oldest projectile vomited for 7 months and it was nice to show him what I looked like every day!
I can't get over how much Lucy looks like Grace. I'd never really realized it before, but I can really see the resemblance between the two of them when I see the pictures of Grace when she was younger (especially in the first picture in the post). I know I don't know your kids personally, but they just seem like the nicest kids! (I covet Grace's hair, too, by the way!) 🙂
Your paralyzed friend,
Heather
Hi Heather – Have a brill day:)
Cheers
Julie
Oh man I can't believe our adorable little baby girl is TWELVE! I loved our first sleepover which was when she was 4 days old in the downstairs room at Henny Penny so you could get some sleep. Thank goodness for pacifiers AND that she hadn't hit the reflux stage yet!
Love you Grace!
I have always thought Grace looks just like an American Girl doll – I just want to pinch her cheeks!
My name is Raquel and my mom always called me Kelly for short so I thought my middle name was Kelly until I was in Jr. High – at least it didn't take Grace as long to figure out her middle name wasn't 'and'.
She is beautiful! Happy Birthday, and my goodness looking at those past pictures makes me want to go squeeze my babies and ask them to please please please not grow up so fast!
i love that grace so so so so so so so so so so so so much!
in one of these pics she looks like elle and in another she looks like claire!
happy birthday grace! love the little pic of her in the beach chair
She is such a beautiful girl, both inside and out. Comes from gorgeous parents no doubt!
Lucy's twin is amazing and so incredibly cute!
I love how you've called Grace Lucy's twin:)
I think Elle & Claire look like twins too:)
Max looks like all of them – or vica versa:)
happy birthday GRACE JAM! love that:) so Shawni- I just saw that Grace had colic and reflux? totally experienced that with my last baby- until 9 months! puke and screaming and crying for nine months!! i cant believe i survived- and i thought one was enough to have with reflux and colic…well just had our third- our first baby girl and she is just barely a month old and well here we go again!!! COLIC!!!! arghhh…on top of raising my out of control- rambunctious 2 and 4 year old boys- who want to destroy the house and ME for that matter every day, I have this poor baby girl who is so COLICY! if you ever, and im sure you dont;), cuz your a busy mama yourself- do you have any advice how you survived those days?? how is it, you have that big, beautiful smile on your face with all the throw up?? either email me at julianna_nolte@yahoo.com or maybe on your friday question and answer days? if you don't get around to it- i totally understand!:) thanks once again for your uplifting posts everyday! i look forward to them all the time! now to my crying girl…here we go…wish me luck!! i cant even think!!!!!
julianna:)
I think out of all of your children she looks the most like you. 🙂 She's a lovely girl. Happy Birthday, Grace!
How crazy, my little girl is named Grace Anne as well! Happy birthday Grace!
I was going to say how much she looks like Lucy, too… though in that Dr. Pepper t-shirt photo she looks so much like Claire.
I love the blogosphere. Your photos and your gift of writing make me feel like your family is part of my own… kind of like third cousins we haven't met yet. 🙂
Lucy looks a LOT LOT LOT like grace! but then in the latest photos, Grace looks a LOT like Elle! so fun how genetics change and they look different from year to year. At any rate, Grace is BEAUTIFUL and I LOVE her spunk~My girls turns 12 in July, love this age!~
tara
What cute little pictures! All your kids are adorable!
I am new to your blog, but so far I love reading your post. Happy Birthday to your beautiful daughter. I loved your 12 reason why you adore Grace as well and I'm sure Grace will love reading this as well.
With love Amanda from
http://ourcrazybeautifulparadise.blogspot.com/