22 months

*I'm a bit behind. Grace is actually 23 months as of Monday but life has been a bit hectic!
 
Happy 22 months, Grace! Here is what you are up to these days:

You are officially weaned from the paci. We cut the end off one day and handed it back to you right before naptime. You said, "Paci? Bwoken?" a few times but kept sleeping with it until one day we told you broken paci's go in the trash and you threw it in there. I am so glad it went easier than I expected!

You love to run and go "running" around the living room every day.

My favorite thing you say right now: "You kiddin me? That's di-gust-ing."  And the other morning you said, "Mama, coffee, yummy, daddy, sleepin', work, kay?" in one long sentence.

I can't keep up with your words and phrases so I'm not going to try. You are talking constantly and think you can speak in full sentences. Since you don't know any "filler" words you say things like, "Mama-going-d-d-d-d-d-d-d-in-da-car-d-d-d-d-d-daddy-work-d-d-d-d-d-d-play-outside-d-d-d-d-d-morrow-okay?" I will have to get a video up here because I can't do justice to how cute it is on a keyboard.

We are trying to potty train and not stress about it. It's neat.

Our first and only successful attempt thus far on the potty. You were so proud; we aren't sure what has happened since!

You lay on a napmat at PDO and like to spread your "bwankets" out in the living room at home for us to lay on.

We have a new schedule for the fall that I am getting used to. You are at PDO Mon-Thursday from 9-2:30. As much as it bothered me to do four days a week, I have found myself loving that the afternoons are ours and I soak in every minute I can. I have had to be so much more disciplined at work to get it done and not bring any home, and so far it's going well.

You will go to your room and bring us a diaper and wipes when you are wet. You also lay down by yourself so we can change you.

You LOVE bath time and would take a bath three times a day if we let you.

You are singing "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star." It melts my heart. Again, I need a video.

You say okay? after everything. You also do this funny head bob with each word that is hilarious.

You like for me to sit on the floor in the kitchen and spin around with you.

You are giving lots of hugs and say "A tiss? And a hug?" all the time.

Anytime we give you food you immediately sit on the floor. You learned this at PDO and it cracks me up. 

Every night since we have weaned you from the paci, you have to sleep with at least three blankets and seven animals in the bed. We can hear you on the monitor after we lay you down counting and naming all of your animals. You don't even have a nightlight so I'm not sure how you can see anything!

Excuse and enjoy the poor mobile phone quality of all the pictures!

Giving us a daily dose of sass

I love this face- you did not care for this outfit and would not smile for the camera.

You still love riding in your wagon- even if it is inside!

Reading a book and trying to go potty. At least you are adorable when you sit up there!

you love to play drums with your daddy

this is what 90% of our pictures look like. I can't get a non-cheese smile out of you to save my life

"baking" with mama in the kitchen

you refuse to ride in the baby part of the grocery basket. it's either underneath, in the actual basket, or pushing your own little kid basket. (that only happens when daddy is with us)

Labor Day Fun

We had an amazing weekend with our friends Ryan and Traci and their sweet girls, Addison and Kamryn. They moved to the Tyler area before Kamryn was born and we have only seen them one time since. So needless to say we had a lot of catching up to do. We had a perfect plan: do as little as possible! We hung out and laughed and grilled burgers and watched Elmo at least five times and did as little as possible for the two days they stayed with us. We had so much fun you guys- we love and miss you!

Grace had no trouble smiling for Traci and her camera

Playing in the backyard with the pool and slide. They did not want to come in to eat!

My sweet friend!

Ryan, master chef of grilled asparagus and awesome burgers!

Best buds for a long time.

These girls had so much fun playing together. Kamryn is insanely sweet and encouraging and Miss Addi is so smart and thoughtful. Ryan and Traci have done an amazing job with these two!

Bath time fun

The girls would watch a movie after bath time before they would go to bed. It was very important to Addi that all the girls be laying down on their mats having a good time!

I played a third of mine and Aaron's set on Saturday night and enjoyed the rest with our friends. Alison and Stuart met us up there and Traci and Alison finally got to meet and catch up on their love of running. Alison is running the Tyler marathon and Ryan and Traci are running the half.  I love when my friends love each other, too!

Girls playing dress up. Grace was content in her pj's; the poor thing plays dress up every day with me so she was not into it. Kamryn loved to tell Addi and Grace how "boo-ti-ful" they looked. So cute.

Ryan and Traci, we love and miss you guys so much. We never laugh harder than when we are with you guys! You are a reminder to not take for granted the people you love. Thanks for staying with us and sharing your sweet girls!

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.