Wednesday, February 4, 2009

Lullaby

I happened to have my video camera in my purse yesterday. Here she is, with her occupational therapist, Rachel, showing what is done with a life sized baby doll. How sweet that this comes so naturally to her even with only a year's worth of knowing what a mommy is....

I was torn when Ava first came home with us. On the one hand I wanted to take advantage of the fact that she went to sleep by herself so easily. On the other hand, I really felt like I wanted to make up to her all those lost years of never having been rocked to sleep in a mother's arms. I have tried to keep a pretty good balance of both. Can you hear her singing my made up lyrics to Brahm's Lullaby? Listen to how many times she says "baby". And look how she strokes her baby's eyebrows just like I stroke hers. (Come to think of it, maybe that's what happened to all the eyebrows!)

16 comments:

Bethany said...

Holy cow, that is precious!!!

Mandy said...

That just made me cry because it was too precious :) Sometimes God just gives us beautiful subtle gifts back to reaffirm that we are on the right path...... you are an awesome mom!

Marlita said...

I like it when she rocks and sings to her sippy cup.

Amy...who wanted 4. said...

Thanks for making me smile this afternoon! What a joy!

Michelle said...

Awww, she is precious! That is so sweet, Charissa!

Robin said...

so, so sweet.
I love it.

junglemama said...

Too cute! Funny how she chucked that bottle!

Susan said...

Ava's gentle tenderness is so touching...she does love her baby, doesn't she??

But I, too, had to laugh at the bottle-flinging! More fun to cuddle the baby than to mess with that bottle, obviously!

Susan in Ky

Tilly Cat & Pip-Squeak said...

That is the sweetest thing ever. What a precious girl she is!

Anna

Mamapierce said...

It's easy to see what a delightful and precious child she is. Great video.

alicia said...

oh adorable!!!! =)

Anonymous said...

How sweet. You have obviously made a huge impression on her over this past year. A mother's arms are truly powerful.

Anonymous said...

I am blessed to see your Ava every week. So many changes that we can document on paper and submit to the insurance company to prove that they should keep paying for therapy....but what I like most of all is what we see in the video...to know love, to express love - now that is a skill that the insurance companies don't care about, but it is what her new life is filled abundantly with.
Rachel

Zack, Jenn and William said...

I'm glad no one else in the office yet, because they'd be wondering why I'm crying at my desk. What a precious, precious girl! Praise God for the progress she's made since coming home to be with her forever family.

Jenn

Anonymous said...

Oh Charissa, that is just beautiful!

Meredith said...

Oh my, she is simply adorable! Wow, what a year it's been... she's come so far, you all are doing so wonderful with her!

ps:emma takes the bottle and sticks it in HER mouth then throws it and then gets mad and throws the baby too :) But she somehow doesn't mind spoon feeding baby's ear?? LOL

Love it, thanks for sharing!