David's Hope

08/24/2023

Many times I refer to David as “The Keeper of Traditions.” If there is something I’m forgetting, something we typically do that I’ve overlooked, Dave will certainly remind me. Last weekend I told him it was almost time to go to Kohl’s to get him sneakers for the new school year. His matter-of-fact response was, “Daddy go for the shoes.”

We’ve never made a thing of Robert taking him shoe shopping for school, but it just happened to be Dad who took him the last few years. David remembered and made it very clear that I was to have nothing to do with the procurement of the new shoes. So Dad and Dave made a plan together for after work yesterday - shoe shopping and supper on the way home. David sprinted for the door to meet his Dad in the driveway. It’s a tradition. And David keeps them all tucked away in his mind and heart. 🥰

08/10/2023

David got his teeth cleaned today! The dentist and hygienist were very impressed with how well he did sitting in the chair, keeping his “hands to self”, asking appropriately when he needed a quick break and just generally having a great visit. Dad used to have to straddle him in the chair just for a cleaning, and the dentist had to do the cleaning, not the hygienist. He now gets his teeth cleaned by the hygienist! I’ve worked very hard to get him more comfortable in this setting, and it has paid off. And no cavities! Great job, David! 🦷 🪥

07/03/2023

David’s SLP that he’s had at Eastconn since he got there in 2016 left at the end of the school year and she gave me this book that she found while cleaning out her cupboards! He just read through it and studied the pictures so intently, then said “Welcome to Griswold Elementary School!” Needless to say, his speech and language have come a long way! 🥹

04/08/2023

We typically color eggs the day before Easter but I’ve been so busy lately that I hadn’t mentioned it to David. One thing about our boy, he is the family manager when it comes to holidays. The keeper of traditions. The maker of memories. He will not let a single holiday go by without marking it with something special, whether big or small.

Last night I was headed upstairs to put him to bed and out of the blue he said, “Tomorrow is Saturday home day. Sunday is Easter Day. Saturday is the colors.” So I asked him what he meant about the colors and he said, “Saturday is the colors. Color the eggs.” I completely forgot because I’ve been so busy and preoccupied. So late last night I quickly added the supplies to today’s grocery order so we could keep our tradition.

David, thank you for keeping your momma in line. 🥰

01/06/2023

There’s a Proverb in the Bible that says “In their hearts humans plan their course, but the Lord orders their steps.” David and Micah Hamel are proof of that. In the reel I made for their birthday, I made reference to the fact that I got pregnant with them while “taking measures” to not have more babies because Robert and I had big plans. I was going to go back to school, he also had some things up his sleeve and we were settling into a good rhythm with AJ and Jacob who were 4 and 2 at the time. I had also just suffered a miscarriage three months before becoming pregnant with the twins, and had also lost Jacob’s twin early in the pregnancy. We took these things as “signs” that God wanted us to be “two and through” and began to make plans for the future. So to go from “We’re not having anymore children” to “We’re going to have four boys ages five and under” was a wild prospect! But I cannot imagine this world without these two boys! That God decided this world needed a David and a Micah, and all they bring to us and so many others is humbling. I’m humbled that I get to mother these two incredible humans.

They don’t even look like brothers, let alone twins and they couldn’t be less alike, but their bond is strong. I know they can’t replace the two babies we lost to miscarriage, but thank you Lord for giving us back what we lost. They’re our rainbow babies!

Happy 14 trips around the sun, boys! 🌈☀️🥳🎉🎁🎈🎂

12/23/2022

David: Where’s cookies?!
Me: Sorry Dave, we don’t have any cookies.
David: Santa cookies??
Me: Ohhhhh, you want me to make cookies for Santa.

Good thing I was planning on it anyway. Clearly I wasn’t making them on King David’s timetable. Message received. 😂🎄

11/08/2022

How is this “baby” of mine almost 14? His STA van driver, who happens to also be his beloved Auntie Heidi is sick so I transported David to school this morning. His choice of music was of course the Christmas Music Channel on SiriusXM and we had a great time jamming out to Frank Sinatra, Nat King Cole and Rosemary Clooney on the 45 minute drive to school. He’s looking so grown up and it makes me miss having little ones, but I’m excited to see all the growth and progress he’s making. 🥹

10/07/2022

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