June-ish, 2012

Adessa turned five years old on June 12th. We celebrated by dining out at Betty Burger, a family favorite, with Auntie Lolo and Grandpa Charles. Burgers and milkshakes were enjoyed by all!

Adessa is five years old. It begs some reflection, people. Five years of being a parent. Five years of Adessa Faye Lewis. In some ways she is so grown up, telling stories like a newscaster, relaying messages from Eliana, drawing and dancing and creating stories, giggling like crazy and making us laugh, asking questions and remembering the answers, wanting to discuss new information. And in some ways, she still reminds me of the little ditty: "There once was a girl, who had a little curl, right in the middle of her forehead. When she was good, she was very very good, and when she was bad she was horrid." Adessa's curls are down her back, so her rhyme would have to be different. Her horrid times are getting somewhat... more evolved? She is more capable of getting herself under control, but her first impulse is to do what we refer to around here as: "freak out". We talk all the time about how to handle problems (she can't find the headband she wants), by using words to find solutions (Please, can you help me find the headband?) instead of freaking out. This is starting to work more and more.

She is beautiful, so beautiful, and so joyful and bright. She has a marvelous laugh, and loves to be silly with Eliana. She has a strong feeling about right and wrong, especially if she perceives a wrong being done to her. She loves to share with people, and always wants us to taste whatever food she's enjoying. She isn't physically affectionate very often, which is heartbreaking to me sometimes. Often trying to kiss her goodnight is the epicenter of her persnickety-ness displayed, and it frustrates me. I have to turn my cheek just so for her to kiss it, I can't try to kiss her first, and she has to make just the right smooch sound or we have to start the ritual all over. Arg! I think about my relationship with my mom, how I pushed her away while hoping she would pull me close, and resolve to keep trying with Adessa. I also think about how strong and wonderful Adessa is, and how hard I am on her. I know there's a fine line (for me, whose fundamental issue is a desire to be perfect) between raising up my kids to be their best selves for the glory of God, and raising them to be perfect, or to appear perfect. She is perfectly Adessa!

Her space picture: a rocket, a planet (with the ring around it), the moon, stars, and earth: "Earth looks like an easter egg." Yep!


Trying to make Annea smile. (We're getting more smiles these days!)


Reading with Daddy. (He sent me to get the camera because he loves how Eliana holds his face while he reads. She does it every night, making Calvin much more excited about reading before bed.)



At Betty Burger's!




Downtown.




Sweet Annea.