Grace Nicole Conklin - December 24, 2002

I'd like to introduce you to my first born, Grace. We named her Grace because I wanted a classic name for her. Nothing trendy or weird. A name that has an elegance to it. The name we agreed on the moment she was born was Grace. She was name Nicole for her aunt Nikki. The other name we had picked out was Rachel Shannon. Again the middle name was for an aunt. And that would be how Grace got her name. What a Christmas that was!
I have to say that, without question Grace was the greatest Christmas present I've ever gotten and ever will get. She was due to arrive December 25, 2002 and was only 3 1/2 early and arrived December 24, 2002. All I can remember of Grace when she was a baby was those huge, beautiful blue eyes and her cute, bald, perfectly round head. She was such a doll. It's amazing how something so small can make daddies heart melt in an instant. She, like her sisters, still has that ability.
Grace was always very independent and wanted to do everything. She wasn't a snuggler at all. She was to busy to snuggle. Once she started crawling it was game over. She didn't even do that long. I remember being at a Christmas Eve church service visiting with friends in the lobby and Grace decided that it was time to start walking. She was playing on the floor beside me, stood up and proceeded to start doing laps around the group of us talking. I was so stunned that it took me a good 5 seconds to get it the words to come out of my mouth that Grace was walking. I was so proud of my little girl. She started walking on her first birthday. Yet another pretty cool Christmas.
As Grace got a little older her hair grew into little blond ringlets. Blond ringlets and big blue eyes and rosy cheeks. She was hardly cute at all! I would be having a bad day and that little smile would cure me of that right quick. She was more than just cute though.
Grace loved and still loves to learn. She really liked her Baby Einstein movies and picked up on letters and numbers quite quickly. What she really enjoys the most and I think is part of her is the arts.
When I would be rehearsing before church, Grace would sit on the top step on the front of the stage and just watch daddy sing. It wasn't long before she was singing and dancing herself. After we moved to Mission, BC we put Grace in ballet at her request. She was in ballet for a year. She stopped not long after her mom and I separated. I sure do miss watching her practice in the living room. She was so awkward, but so cute. She was so into her dancing and that was amazing. I miss seeing her grow everyday. Oh how I miss it.

All you parents out there who have your children under your roof, cherish it. It is such an amazing gift. Don't take it for granted. My two oldest babies change so much between visits an I miss it. If you are a single parent and have an ex who wants to be part of their child's life then you do ALL you can to make that happen. Those that don't are the worst thieves in existence. They are stealing from their children and the other parent and that, is criminal. (Rant over)

-I didn't think I'd be so emotional writing this. Tears, joy, anger, more tears...... -

Grace was four when her mom and I separated for good. She seemed to just accept it intellectually. Her eyes were different though. Something she had always known, daddy and mommy, was done. I can't tell you how many nights I spent and still spend weeping for my girls. Grace found strength from somewhere and made the best of things. She was always so happy to see me when I showed up on my bike to take the girls for a walk to the playground or out for dinner. The picture above is of Grace on the front step of the house meeting me at the door for just such a visit. To this day, when I'm coming to get them there are 2 beautiful little girls looking out the front window for their daddy.
Grace also has, well, a certain grace about her. She is usually very proper, and thoughtful. I swear I can see her little brain going a million miles a second sometimes. She instinctively analyzes everything and tries to figure it out (a trait from daddy). She is a great big sister as well and takes it quite seriously. She enjoys teaching her sisters, even when they don't really want to be taught! I think it is pretty cool though that she wants to share what she has learned. She gets so excited and wants to share. It's pretty cool. I sure love my princess.

Right now Grace, Isabel and Olivia are all asleep under the same roof as me and that is so sweet. I can't tell you how amazing that is. I'm going to enjoy my sleepover with my Princess (Grace), my Monkey (Isabel) and my Bean (Olivia). Next time you will get introduce to Isabel.

-C-