Adilyn Grace

I hope that my daughter grows up empowered and doesn't define herself by the way she looks but by qualities that make her a intelligent, strong and responsible woman. -Isaiah Mustafa

Adilyn is my firstborn and my contestant worry because of her tenderheartedness and sensitivity. This little would be in the dictionary under the word empathy because it just oozes out of her so abundantly. She also can throw one really decent temper tantrum and can act super entitled which both go to remind me of my mom because she was the same way. I remember being scared to death of Adilyn for about the first year because I had never really held or took care of a newborn before her and never really thought I would be a parent after living the life I did. The day she was born she had that first poopy diaper all newborns have and it took me literally thirty plus minutes to change her because I was terrified of hurting her and was shaking too bad. Cooper and his wife was visiting at the time and in pure Cooper fashion laughed so hard at me that he almost passed out.

Adilyn being who she is means I have to play verbal chess with her and choose my words very carefully because she can easily shut down if confronted with harshness if in trouble or duress of any sort. I’ve noticed the tactic of using “I” instead of “you” can apply just as much and be as successful in my relationship with her as it does for couples trying to communicate with each other. Adilyn is also my cuddler and inquisitor in that she communicates her love through actions ranging from coloring pictures to snuggling up to you while asking you a million questions when you are doing something. She’s amazing in so many little ways I am unsure I could fit it into writing.