First Haircut

It was time. The poor thing had quite a mop going so I called Meghan and asked if she would give Grace her first haircut.
The pictures tell the story...

Before

During

Not a happy camper

Until Nana distracted her with a picture of a puppy and Hunter

And After

We are having a much easier time taming her curls in the morning. My only complaint is that she somehow looks older!

ABC's, 1,2,3's

This was several weeks ago but it is too cute not to post. She is much better at numbers and will count on her own but still skips six. And the ABC's are a work in progress. If I could get her to stop saying "yaaayyyy!" after any letter that sounds like a Z we might get somewhere.... But then again, that wouldn't be near as cute!

21 months

Sweet Grace, you are 21 months. If you could stop growing for a bit and let mommy and daddy catch a breath, that would be fantastic.
Here is what you are up to:

You love to take our hand, say "c'mere" and show us what you want to clarify your own special alien baby language.

We are about to wean you from your pacifier. I am not looking forward to it.

You have started throwing full on fits. This week I went to get you out of your crib and when I took your pacifier away you had a complete meltdown and threw your head back so hard you hit the side of the bed. That made you more mad. I gave you your choices to stay in the crib and throw a fit or come to the kitchen with me and make breakfast and you turned your head to the side and made your choice. I waited in the rocker for TEN almost silent minutes (watching as you would kick your legs in the air) and finally caved in and took you (kicking and screaming) out of the crib. You proceeded to have a complete meltdown and threw yourself on the ground in the living room while I left and when to the kitchen. I guess me leaving the room and not paying attention to your fit made you more mad so you got up off the floor very quietly and proceeded to assume your previous position and have a meltdown in front me. Traveling fits. If I wasn't so horrified that the terrible two's seem to have struck our house early I might be impressed by your dedication to the cause.

Your new words and phrases: all better, I helping, I do it, mere (for come here) and moc (for come on), awesome, you're funny, hurt, ouch, melcome (welcome), napkin, bwate (plate), boons (spoon), kick it, over there, back there, in there, got it, almost, tee-tar (guitar) close it, back-et-ball, beg-ta-bal (vegetable), it's ready, ere you are, airpane, messy, shoo fly, big step, what doin?, and gotcha baby.

Animal names and sounds: dolphin, lion, hippo, bear, tiger, puppy, cat, e-fant, and bunny (yes, I told you that the bunny goes, "hop, hop" when in fact, it does not speak. But you still say it and I love it!)

Colors: blue, red, yellow, pink, purple, and green (you don't assign the correct color to things but you think you are right, so what the hey?)

When you take something to the trash for me you shut the door, wipe your hands, and say "yucky."

My favorite group of words you use: a minute, hang on, right back, second, patient, hold on. I wonder what you hear us say all the time!

You use "s" in place of "f's" so you say "kasha" for coffee and "sone" for phone.

You say, "I hold it, I help-in, and I do it" at least 20 times a day.

You have also started stringing together your favorite words to make what you think are sentences.
"Mama-puppy-more-quiche-better-do-it-car-my-daddy-work."
You will even say them with a question in your voice like you are actually making sense!

If we see a Sinclair truck out on the road you start screaming "Daddy!" It seems silly to explain to you the concept of employees and a truck fleet so I just agree and wave with you. And I'm so stinking impressed that you relate the Sinclair logo with your daddy!

You have said "Ebyn, Carner, and my Hunner" over and over (and over and over....) I have to remind you that Evyn, Carter, and your Hunter are at their house several times a day. It is sweet to watch you start attaching yourself to your little friends.

We read approximately 30 books a day. Every day. Any book. At least five times. Every day.

You love to go with us to check the mail. Last night we went outside to get it and you looked up and said, "my moon!" Sure, Grace, it's your moon.

Favorite foods: toast, spaghetti, my fruit smoothies (moon-ie), bananas, and cereal straight out of the box.

You have this little walk you do that we call the old man shuffle. You bend your knees and tuck your arms in and take little shuffle steps. We are not sure why or what triggers it, but it is comical.




Our little cereal thief. You love to go in the pantry and grab daddy's cereal

You love to cook with me in the kitchen.
(Does anyone else pick up the contents of their tupperware drawer off the floor at least twice a day? I have nearly broken my leg at least three times sliding on those lids!)
Happy 21 months, pumpkin! We love you so much!

The day my daughter looked 13

Maybe it's the fact that she looks like she has on lipstick and mascara in this picture, but I can't help but think we have a picture of what our pumpkin is going to look like at 13.

We are in for trouble.

4th of July, a little late

Happy Late 4th of July! We had a great weekend with friends and family. We hung out with Mike, Tina, Wendy, Brooke and Archer on Sunday and went over to Tom and Beth's on Monday for a cookout and a UFC fight. To be honest, the main reason I have to post is to show the first time Grace wore two pigtails. It melted my heart and she looked like such a little girl. These were at the end of the night when they were starting to fall but you get the gist. 21 month update to follow!

20 months

My, oh my, little pumpkin. 20 months! You are the best little girl and your daddy and I are so proud of you and all that you are doing these days. You keep us laughing on a regular basis and we are constantly wondering what we did to deserve such a sweetie. Here is what you are up to:

You have become a talking toddler overnight it seems. You answer questions with a shoulder shrug and nonchalant responses like, "okay," and "sure." WHAT? It is hilarious.
"Grace do you want yogurt with your breakfast?"
(shrug) "Sure."

You love to play with the $2 ball plastic ball we bought you from United.

You are trying so hard with your ABC's. You say "X, Y, Z, Yaaaayyyy!" alot, as well as X, Y, six. You still aren't fond of seven.

You love to draw on any piece of paper with any kind of pen. It's been neat. Ahem.

You go "shopping" almost every day and walk around the house with a United bag picking up whatever you can find, putting it in your bag, dumping it out on the floor, and starting the whole process over again.

You won't finish the last syllable on a lot of your words. You say "pe" for pen, "ba" for bag, and "bih" for bib. You know how, it's almost as if you're just being lazy or using shorthand with your words. It cracks me up.

You have learned your name! It took us awhile, but you will finally say Grace. It actually sounds more like Greece, but whatever works. I will point to my chest and say "mama," then point to you and say "Grace," and you will smile and usually say "daddy."

You have started saying my mama and my daddy. Melts my heart, but I'm not ready for the possessive to be used with words like toys...

You are as stubborn as you are sweet. You tell us "no" when you don't like or want something and when your mind is made up there is no changing it.

You have started pushing the little cart at United. We can only do this when daddy is with us and can supervise, but it is so fun to watch you put things in your basket. The other day you cleared an entire shelf of snoring aid and put in the basket. A stockboy's dream, I'm sure.

Your nana bought you this backpack. You look like you are about to start kindergarten in this picture! Look how cute you are.
You love whole bananas now.

They say the heart of rock and roll is in Cleveland...

and from what I see I believe it!

We had a blast visiting Dan's family last week in Cleveland! His cousin is having a baby in August so we flew up for the baby shower and a family visit. I have lots to share but it will be easiest to show you in pictures!

Grace did AMAZING on the plane. I mean seriously, amazing. She didn't nap much on the way up there, which had us worried, but she still did great. We had a little DVD player that we took so she could watch Sesame Street and she loved it. We even practiced with it before we left so she could get used to the headphones.
Waiting in the Cleveland airport
She was absolutely IN LOVE with her cousins. She wanted Dominic to carry her around and wanted to chase Aidan and Connor around wherever they went.



We had a few footraces and some ice cream,

The old mare ain't what she used to be... but I almost beat him!
Uncle Dan finished the job though! Victory is sweet!!
Aunt Cheri and Beth visited Connor and the twins on Friday afternoon. Aren't they sweet?


Grace loved Aunt Cheri's water fountain out front and had to visit it every time we got home.

The night before we left we packed up a pizza picnic and hung out at the pool. We had such a blast!


I LOVE this picture of Aunt Cheri and Grace! They were having such a good time!




On our way to Pizza Hut after Dominic's baseball game. Dominic's team dominated, of course.
Normal parents dress their kids in outfits like this for a little league baseball game, don't they? Bethie gave me a hard time, but I say there is no time like the present to be fabulous. : )
Making her stank face at the game

We had such a blast and miss all of our Cleveland family so much! Love you guys!