Dear Gracie,
You have mastered the art of sharing your meals with your partner in crime, Daisy. When you've finished eating whatever is on your tray, you peek down to see where she is and with one sweep of your arm, the scraps are on the floor and quickly eaten. The only problem is that sometimes Daisy is not in the best position to receive your leftovers. Like this morning, she was standing up and your mushed banana landed square on her back instead of in her drooling mouth. Of course, she couldn't reach the mush, and you and I laughed at her while she ran in circles trying to get it off. Silly puppy. But, seriously, she requested that we work on your aim.
xoxo
Momma
p.s. Next year at Daisy's vet appointment when they tell us for the third year in a row that she is overweight, I'm just going to silently point at you.
Friday, January 11, 2013
Sunday, December 30, 2012
Nine Months
Dear Gracie,
It's hard to believe that nine months ago you were still just a crazy alien baby in my tummy. You make me laugh and smile more than anything on this earth. Some days when we just sit and play together, my cheeks hurt from all the smiling!
You are such a little lover! This month you started kissing things. Yes, things, not just people. You love kissing Daddy and I, and even Daisy, but you also love kissing the mirror (vain, much?), your dolls, and pretty much anything that you hold in your hands. Of course, that has nothing to do with us constantly saying, "awww, give it a kiss!" Isn't that why people have kids? So they can tell them to do funny things?
The first few weeks of this month, I was busy finishing up my student teaching, and you were busy causing havoc at our apartment while Daddy was trying to work. So, to help us out, we brought in the Grandmas. Each Grandma stayed with you during the day for a week so that we could wrap this crazy chapter of our life up and remain sane. During one of these weeks, while I was at school, you decided to pull yourself up for the first time on our footstool. Again, I missed a milestone, but again, I was so happy and excited that you had Daddy and Grandma there to cheer you on, I didn't mind much. Besides, I was the one who walked into your room a few days later to find a smiling baby standing up inside her crib begging for me to pick her up. That might've been one of my favorite moments with you ever. You were soooo proud of yourself standing there all wobbly and slobbery. You were all like, look out world - here I come....once Mommy gets me out of here. Now, you pull yourself up on everything, but it's more like look out Daisy - here I come. Poor Daisy.
Not only did you start pulling yourself up, but you started walking behind push toys without any help from us old people. While visiting the farm for Thanksgiving, you even created your own push toy by standing behind an overturned laundry basket and pushing it across the floor. Who needs fancy toys when you're got an old household item and a big imagination. It's so fun watching your brain work. Sometimes it looks like maybe you are sitting there solving quadratic equations or finding the square root of pi before you make a move. While visiting your little buddy Austin, somehow between the two of you, you unscrewed two door stoppers and were having a little sword fight with them. While crawling at the speed of light across the wood floors of our apartment, you will stop suddenly and become lost in the pattern or irregularities of our old wood floors. I'm just waiting for the day for you to sit up and tell me it's time that I do a little better job dusting.
Thanksgiving was probably the favorite day of your life so far. You got dressed in a lovely fall ensemble, played with other kids, and ate a lot of yummy food. Those are probably your three favorite things to do. You are just in absolute awe when you see other kids. Maybe it's because you're not around them often, or maybe you're just going to be a social butterfly like me. Whatever the reason, you just totally light up when you see other human beings close to your size. You even love the creepy toddler sized doll, Crystal, that lives on the farm. You guys have some sort of connection because whenever she's in the room you just can't keep your eyes off her. After playing for an hour in a toy tugboat, you sat down to eat a Thanksgiving feast of sweet potatoes, mashed potatoes, turkey, and rolls. You were in heaven. Somehow a piece of watermelon made it onto your plate which led to a complete meltdown midbite (so dramatic), but other than that, it was a good day. It was so strange for me to sit at the adult table with you and Daddy after sitting at the "kids" table for so many years. I guess you finally made me grow up...a little.
Not every meal this month was so pleasant though. You're started to recognize food by color or smell or some other keen baby sense and have learned to intercept any spoon carrying unpleasing bites on it. Your put your hands out and grunt like "no way - no how, mister!" You mean serious business. Your eyebrows get all frowny and you scrunch your nose up. I know I sometimes throw you curve balls by serving up strange things like kiwi and whole grain pasta, but why after three months of loving green beans are you suddenly denying them entrance to your mouth? I wish you could just tell me that you're in the mood for Mexican and that's why you tossed the green beans to Daisy. I would be on board with that because 99.9% of the time I'm also in the mood for Mexican. Also, you were with me at the animal clinic when the vet told Daisy she had to lose some lbs. Quit feeding her so much or you will have to get up and take her on those extra long morning exercise walks in the nice cold January mornings. I don't think you were really paying attention to anything other than how much the other dogs perked up when you squeaked Sophie the Giraffe in the waiting room. Remind me to never bring that toy within twenty feet of an animal clinic again.
Sometimes I watch you sleeping and search your face for the tiny infant we brought home from the hospital so many weeks ago. You may not need me every 20 minutes like back then to feed you or change you or swaddle you tightly, but I realize now that I need you every minute of every day. I love you, sweetie.
xoxo,
Momma
p.s. Obviously, I am not a world class photographer, but these outtakes from your photo session make my heart happy. So much sunshine - so many smiles. You are my sunshine, Gracie!
It's hard to believe that nine months ago you were still just a crazy alien baby in my tummy. You make me laugh and smile more than anything on this earth. Some days when we just sit and play together, my cheeks hurt from all the smiling!
You are such a little lover! This month you started kissing things. Yes, things, not just people. You love kissing Daddy and I, and even Daisy, but you also love kissing the mirror (vain, much?), your dolls, and pretty much anything that you hold in your hands. Of course, that has nothing to do with us constantly saying, "awww, give it a kiss!" Isn't that why people have kids? So they can tell them to do funny things?
The first few weeks of this month, I was busy finishing up my student teaching, and you were busy causing havoc at our apartment while Daddy was trying to work. So, to help us out, we brought in the Grandmas. Each Grandma stayed with you during the day for a week so that we could wrap this crazy chapter of our life up and remain sane. During one of these weeks, while I was at school, you decided to pull yourself up for the first time on our footstool. Again, I missed a milestone, but again, I was so happy and excited that you had Daddy and Grandma there to cheer you on, I didn't mind much. Besides, I was the one who walked into your room a few days later to find a smiling baby standing up inside her crib begging for me to pick her up. That might've been one of my favorite moments with you ever. You were soooo proud of yourself standing there all wobbly and slobbery. You were all like, look out world - here I come....once Mommy gets me out of here. Now, you pull yourself up on everything, but it's more like look out Daisy - here I come. Poor Daisy.
Not only did you start pulling yourself up, but you started walking behind push toys without any help from us old people. While visiting the farm for Thanksgiving, you even created your own push toy by standing behind an overturned laundry basket and pushing it across the floor. Who needs fancy toys when you're got an old household item and a big imagination. It's so fun watching your brain work. Sometimes it looks like maybe you are sitting there solving quadratic equations or finding the square root of pi before you make a move. While visiting your little buddy Austin, somehow between the two of you, you unscrewed two door stoppers and were having a little sword fight with them. While crawling at the speed of light across the wood floors of our apartment, you will stop suddenly and become lost in the pattern or irregularities of our old wood floors. I'm just waiting for the day for you to sit up and tell me it's time that I do a little better job dusting.
Thanksgiving was probably the favorite day of your life so far. You got dressed in a lovely fall ensemble, played with other kids, and ate a lot of yummy food. Those are probably your three favorite things to do. You are just in absolute awe when you see other kids. Maybe it's because you're not around them often, or maybe you're just going to be a social butterfly like me. Whatever the reason, you just totally light up when you see other human beings close to your size. You even love the creepy toddler sized doll, Crystal, that lives on the farm. You guys have some sort of connection because whenever she's in the room you just can't keep your eyes off her. After playing for an hour in a toy tugboat, you sat down to eat a Thanksgiving feast of sweet potatoes, mashed potatoes, turkey, and rolls. You were in heaven. Somehow a piece of watermelon made it onto your plate which led to a complete meltdown midbite (so dramatic), but other than that, it was a good day. It was so strange for me to sit at the adult table with you and Daddy after sitting at the "kids" table for so many years. I guess you finally made me grow up...a little.
Not every meal this month was so pleasant though. You're started to recognize food by color or smell or some other keen baby sense and have learned to intercept any spoon carrying unpleasing bites on it. Your put your hands out and grunt like "no way - no how, mister!" You mean serious business. Your eyebrows get all frowny and you scrunch your nose up. I know I sometimes throw you curve balls by serving up strange things like kiwi and whole grain pasta, but why after three months of loving green beans are you suddenly denying them entrance to your mouth? I wish you could just tell me that you're in the mood for Mexican and that's why you tossed the green beans to Daisy. I would be on board with that because 99.9% of the time I'm also in the mood for Mexican. Also, you were with me at the animal clinic when the vet told Daisy she had to lose some lbs. Quit feeding her so much or you will have to get up and take her on those extra long morning exercise walks in the nice cold January mornings. I don't think you were really paying attention to anything other than how much the other dogs perked up when you squeaked Sophie the Giraffe in the waiting room. Remind me to never bring that toy within twenty feet of an animal clinic again.
Sometimes I watch you sleeping and search your face for the tiny infant we brought home from the hospital so many weeks ago. You may not need me every 20 minutes like back then to feed you or change you or swaddle you tightly, but I realize now that I need you every minute of every day. I love you, sweetie.
xoxo,
Momma
p.s. Obviously, I am not a world class photographer, but these outtakes from your photo session make my heart happy. So much sunshine - so many smiles. You are my sunshine, Gracie!
Sunday, November 18, 2012
Eight Months
Dear Gracie,
You are eight months old! I feel like one night this month I put a little baby to sleep, and in the morning, I walked into your room to find a little girl. You are growing so fast!
This month you perfected your army crawl, and girl, you are fast! Before we realized we can't leave you alone (even for a few minutes) in a room anymore, you got into a few funny places. You washed your hands in Daisy's water bowl, played in the fireplace, and crawled up on the bottom shelf of our tv stand. No matter how many toys we place in front of you, you would rather crawl over to the edge of the living room and play with the crown molding. Living in an apartment with all hardwood floors and a dog, you are often covered with dog hair and dustbunnies that escaped our daily swiffer runs. We need to attach a mop to your stomach and knees and let you do the cleaning! Your favorite thing to do is crawl through the tiny space between the couch and the footstool in the living room. You think it is hilarious crawling through that little tunnel, and probably make the trip twenty times a day. If someone's feet happen to be in the space, you just keep pushing through until they move. Get outta Gracie's way!
This was a month full of traditions. Daddy grew up going to apple orchards every Fall in Michigan, and this is a tradition we are going to pass on to you. On a warm sunny Fall day in October, we made the hour and a half trip outside of the city to an apple orchard. With you snugly strapped to Daddy's chest in your Baby Bjorn, we walked through the orchard, selecting several apples from their bins (the trees were empty due to a bad growing season). You loved the apples! We would takes bites and let you suck on the juice that ran out and gnaw a little bit on the inside. You looked like a little vampire with apple juice dripping out of your mouth. We also visited all of the animals at the orchard. Your favorite was a little goat that stuck its' head through the fence and begged to be petted. You were more than happy to help him out! We took a small break for coffee and apple cider doughnuts (milk and mum mums for you!), and finished the day at the pumpkin patch. You picked out a little pumpkin which Daddy helped you paint your name and handprints on that night. I can't wait to go back next year and watch you toddle around by yourself!
The last weekend in October, our family all gathered in Chicago to celebrate your baptism. It was a wonderful weekend, and you loved all of the attention. You started off the weekend by dressing up in your first Halloween costume, a cute little elephant, and showing off your favorite neighborhood park for Boopalooza! There was bobbing for apples, corn mazes, and a costume parade for kids and dogs. You mainly smiled for a million pictures and checked out the other kids' costumes - we even saw another little girl elephant (you looked cuter!). The next day was the main event, your baptism. We dressed you in a beautiful long white dress and met all of your proud relatives at the church. This was only your second time ever attending church, and the experience really moved you. It moved you so much, that you had the biggest diaper blowout EVER two seconds before you were called to the altar for your starring role. I was absolutely frozen in horror and quickly wrapped your lower body in a blanket hoping nothing would leak through. The next ten minutes were the longest of my life as we handed you over to the pastor. I don't think I heard a word of the blessing because I was just praying that you wouldn't leave anything on the pastor's all white robe. Luckily, he was all clean when he handed you back to us, and I rushed to the bathroom to clean you up. If anyone would've have walked in on us, they probably would have had a big laugh. I had you stripped down and soaking in one sink and your dress in another. We finally got out of there in time to hear the last song of the service and take some pictures which strategically hid the large brown stain on the back of your dress and your bare feet. I can't wait to embarrass you with this story for the rest of your life!
You finally said mama, and in typical Gracie fashion, with a smile on your face, it came out in a devil voice. You are just the most silly amazing little girl, and you make my cheeks hurt from laughing at you so much! We've started having dance parties in your room everynight when it time for pajamas, and you love to be dipped and thrown up in the air to "You'll Accompany Me" by Bob Seger. You always want to turn the lightswitch off, but haven't mastered turning it back on yet. You get so absolutely excited at times that your arms and legs move at the speed of light and you just giggle and smile (and occasionally growl). After a month of sleepless teething nights, you are back to your usual sleepy self and nap twice a day for two hours. I'm so jealous of your life!
You've been extremely lucky to spend lots of time with your grandparents, aunts and uncles, and cousins. We've had lots of visitors, and we even made the trip to Michigan for Auntie Ses' baby shower. You're going to be a big cousin in about a month! I can't wait to see you show their little one the ropes, and I can only imagine the trouble you two are going to get into. You have so much love in that little heart to share. We love you, Gracie girl!
xoxo
Momma
p.s. I couldn't resist posting these outtakes from your photo shoot. I just love to sit back and watch you get into trouble!
You are eight months old! I feel like one night this month I put a little baby to sleep, and in the morning, I walked into your room to find a little girl. You are growing so fast!
This month you perfected your army crawl, and girl, you are fast! Before we realized we can't leave you alone (even for a few minutes) in a room anymore, you got into a few funny places. You washed your hands in Daisy's water bowl, played in the fireplace, and crawled up on the bottom shelf of our tv stand. No matter how many toys we place in front of you, you would rather crawl over to the edge of the living room and play with the crown molding. Living in an apartment with all hardwood floors and a dog, you are often covered with dog hair and dustbunnies that escaped our daily swiffer runs. We need to attach a mop to your stomach and knees and let you do the cleaning! Your favorite thing to do is crawl through the tiny space between the couch and the footstool in the living room. You think it is hilarious crawling through that little tunnel, and probably make the trip twenty times a day. If someone's feet happen to be in the space, you just keep pushing through until they move. Get outta Gracie's way!
This was a month full of traditions. Daddy grew up going to apple orchards every Fall in Michigan, and this is a tradition we are going to pass on to you. On a warm sunny Fall day in October, we made the hour and a half trip outside of the city to an apple orchard. With you snugly strapped to Daddy's chest in your Baby Bjorn, we walked through the orchard, selecting several apples from their bins (the trees were empty due to a bad growing season). You loved the apples! We would takes bites and let you suck on the juice that ran out and gnaw a little bit on the inside. You looked like a little vampire with apple juice dripping out of your mouth. We also visited all of the animals at the orchard. Your favorite was a little goat that stuck its' head through the fence and begged to be petted. You were more than happy to help him out! We took a small break for coffee and apple cider doughnuts (milk and mum mums for you!), and finished the day at the pumpkin patch. You picked out a little pumpkin which Daddy helped you paint your name and handprints on that night. I can't wait to go back next year and watch you toddle around by yourself!
The last weekend in October, our family all gathered in Chicago to celebrate your baptism. It was a wonderful weekend, and you loved all of the attention. You started off the weekend by dressing up in your first Halloween costume, a cute little elephant, and showing off your favorite neighborhood park for Boopalooza! There was bobbing for apples, corn mazes, and a costume parade for kids and dogs. You mainly smiled for a million pictures and checked out the other kids' costumes - we even saw another little girl elephant (you looked cuter!). The next day was the main event, your baptism. We dressed you in a beautiful long white dress and met all of your proud relatives at the church. This was only your second time ever attending church, and the experience really moved you. It moved you so much, that you had the biggest diaper blowout EVER two seconds before you were called to the altar for your starring role. I was absolutely frozen in horror and quickly wrapped your lower body in a blanket hoping nothing would leak through. The next ten minutes were the longest of my life as we handed you over to the pastor. I don't think I heard a word of the blessing because I was just praying that you wouldn't leave anything on the pastor's all white robe. Luckily, he was all clean when he handed you back to us, and I rushed to the bathroom to clean you up. If anyone would've have walked in on us, they probably would have had a big laugh. I had you stripped down and soaking in one sink and your dress in another. We finally got out of there in time to hear the last song of the service and take some pictures which strategically hid the large brown stain on the back of your dress and your bare feet. I can't wait to embarrass you with this story for the rest of your life!
You finally said mama, and in typical Gracie fashion, with a smile on your face, it came out in a devil voice. You are just the most silly amazing little girl, and you make my cheeks hurt from laughing at you so much! We've started having dance parties in your room everynight when it time for pajamas, and you love to be dipped and thrown up in the air to "You'll Accompany Me" by Bob Seger. You always want to turn the lightswitch off, but haven't mastered turning it back on yet. You get so absolutely excited at times that your arms and legs move at the speed of light and you just giggle and smile (and occasionally growl). After a month of sleepless teething nights, you are back to your usual sleepy self and nap twice a day for two hours. I'm so jealous of your life!
You've been extremely lucky to spend lots of time with your grandparents, aunts and uncles, and cousins. We've had lots of visitors, and we even made the trip to Michigan for Auntie Ses' baby shower. You're going to be a big cousin in about a month! I can't wait to see you show their little one the ropes, and I can only imagine the trouble you two are going to get into. You have so much love in that little heart to share. We love you, Gracie girl!
xoxo
Momma
p.s. I couldn't resist posting these outtakes from your photo shoot. I just love to sit back and watch you get into trouble!
Wednesday, October 24, 2012
Seven Months
Dear Gracie,
You are seven months old! So, you probably noticed that this month's letter is late again. Remind me to tell you someday about how this time in our young family's lives is the omghardesttimeever. Spoiler alert, we make it through ok!
You are seven months old! So, you probably noticed that this month's letter is late again. Remind me to tell you someday about how this time in our young family's lives is the omghardesttimeever. Spoiler alert, we make it through ok!
Look at those chubby little legs! At your doctor's appointment around the beginning of this month, we found out that you were not gaining weight as quickly as doctor would like, so we put you on a milkshake diet. No, really we just started you on formula, and cut back on my breastfeeding. This was tough on me, but you seem to love the formula even though it is gross looking and foul smelling (not to mention what it has done to the presents you leave for us in your diaper!) After just a week on formula and all of the solids we could get down your throat, you gained an entire pound and were right back on track. Whew. In Daddy and I's defense, you weren't complaining when you weren't gaining weight. We weren't trying to starve you on purpose or anything. Promise.
In month seven, the growling took a backseat to your new favorite pasttime....screaming. You weren't screaming because something was wrong or because you needed something, you screamed just for fun with a huge smile on your face. Just like growling, you started screaming everywhere. You screamed in your highchair when I was feeding you breakfast, you screamed in your jumparoo when Daddy was on a conference call, you screamed in restaurants and coffee shops. Your grandparents all refered to this high pitched noise as "singing". If that is the extent of your singing talent, then we don't need to worry about having to sit through choir concerts or school musicals. You favorite thing to do while screaming is bang your feet on the ground as hard as you can. We've already established how much of a morning person you are, so I'm sure that the twenty something guys that live below us really love your 5:30 AM vocal and percussion performances.
Screaming is not the only thing you were doing with your mouth this month, you also started constantly babbling things like dadadadadada or blablablablabla and you sprouted two teeth! So many new and exciting things coming out of that tiny little mouth! I have to say that I thought I would be sad when you inevitably (like a majority of kids) said dada before mama. I was completely wrong though. Watching you say that over and over again with a huge drooly smile on your face makes my heart so happy. You are Daddy's mini-me (we've nicknamed you Brace), so it's only fair that you uttered his name first. I'm sure mama is not far behind.
The two teeth that made themselves at home in your mouth were not as happy of an occasion. It took several long weeks for the little guys to make their appearance through your gums, and you were not a happy camper. You started waking up several times a night, and there was nothing we could really do to help you other than feed your Tylenot every four hours and provide lots of cold chew toys. I've never felt so helpless in my life....oh wait, yes I have...just a week later, you got your first cold. Not only were your teeth hurting, you also couldn't breathe. You learned really quickly that you hates having your nose wiped and that the bulb syringe was the worst thing in the world. Now, if you would just learn to blow your own nose already things would be fine! The first night of your cold was the worst. I sat with you in the bathroom with the shower running for a long time rocking you back and forth praying that it would help your congestion. You just kept looking up at me like "help me, please!" Luckily, we all made it through the teething and the cold, although I'm pretty sure there are like twenty more teeth to go. Is it too much to ask that they all magically come in at the same time?
Your have started to overcome your awful stranger danger anxiety and let people other than myself and Daddy hold you for extended periods of time. You even let Uncle Bri Bri look at you for a few minutes. Last month the sight of his face sent you into a total meltdown. It's nice for people to finally meet the sweet and smily girl that I post all of the pictures of. We spent a weekend at Grandma and Pop-Pop H's house and you finally met the last of your cousins and Aunts and Uncles. As usual, you were the main attraction, and you defintely put on a show. Your Great Grandma loved holding you, and I've never seen her smile so big before. While we were there, you took your first bath in a big tub sitting up all by yourself. You loved splashing the water with your hands and giggling. You looked so grown up in there!
You started waving goodbye, and Daddy has been working so hard on getting you to do the signal for touchdown. You are a pretty good student even though Daddy tickles you a lot during your lessons. You and Daddy are getting along pretty good at home during the day. I love walking in the door each night to see what you are wearing. If I forget to lay out clothes for you, Daddy dresses you himself, and he makes some bold choices. That man is not afraid of color and does not shy away from mixing prints! He is such a good daddy! He took a week off from work, and you two did so many things together. You went for long walks, rode in a taxi for your first time, and did some home improvement tasks around the apartment. You're a pretty good team. Being away from you during the day is still hard, but that huge smile you greet me with when I walk in the door every single night is pretty much the most awesome thing ever.
I'm sitting here writing this letter with your monitor propped up next to my computer. You just rolled over halfway and snuggled up to your favorite stuffed animal, Ducky. I wonder what you are dreaming about. I hope it's something wonderful!
xoxo
Momma
p.s. You love shoes and feet. Here you are in action after setting your sights on my Chucks. Pretty much nothing gets in your way!
Monday, September 17, 2012
Six Months
Dear Gracie,
Kitten, you were six months old last week! Due to my computer catching a virus, your letter is a little bit late this month. Sorry about that, but if you're old enough to read this, you already know that things in our house always get done....just not always exactly on time. You being born the day before your due date was one of the only times I've ever been early for anything!
Kitten, you were six months old last week! Due to my computer catching a virus, your letter is a little bit late this month. Sorry about that, but if you're old enough to read this, you already know that things in our house always get done....just not always exactly on time. You being born the day before your due date was one of the only times I've ever been early for anything!
There you are, already bored with the task at hand and looking towards your next adventure. You started out your sixth month with a growl. One day while happily jumping up and down in your jumparoo trying out new sounds, a low "grrrrrrrrrrrrr" came out of your mouth amidst the usual squeals and shrieks. It sounded just like a dog, and I couldn't believe that noise came out of you. You smiled that adorable toothless grin at me and did it again, "grrrrrrrrrr." I couldn't stop laughing. Then, later that night, you kept doing it for Daddy and I, and we were on the floor cracking up. The more we laughed, the more you growled. Then, you started growling while nursing, and in the bathtub, and in bed at night, and in your highchair, and so on and so on, and it was no longer that cute. In fact, in Target an older woman stopped in the aisle to say hello to you, and you growled at her, quite loudly. She took a step back as if she'd been bitten. I think you were offended that she didn't find you amusing, and the growling (thank goodness) came to an end some days later.
You want to be a big girl helper. During the same trip to Target that you acted like a possessed child towards an old lady, you also decided you wanted to start pushing the cart for me. Strapped onto my chest in your Baby Bjorn, you clamped your hands down on the shopping cart. I can take my hands off, keep walking, and you do all the work! I knew I'd be putting you to work someday making me hot dogs and filing my nails, but you're already pulling your own weight around here! Other things you enjoy helping me do include: holding (and chewing on) the grocery list at the store, holding my keys or Daisy's leash during morning walks, taking off my glasses and pulling my hair out of my ponytail (ok, that one is not exactly helpful and actually hurts a little), and taking your own socks off any chance you get. Hopefully this doesn't mean you're going to start asking for an allowance soon.
Not only do you help Momma out, but without even knowing it, you help Daisy too. Something about being around you just makes Daisy feel safe. Anytime there is a storm or fireworks or any other loud noises at night, she wants in your room with you. She will sit outside of your door and whine until we let her in there. Then, she trots right over to your crib to make sure you're ok, and then curls up next to you. One night we let her in there and then forgot all about her until we went to bed and checked the monitor and saw her blinking eyes in the dark. Your face lights up when she runs into the room, and she loves covering your face and toes with wet kisses. It just warms my heart to see you two laying together on the floor. My two girls!
Just like I predicted last month, you are the valedictorian of eating solids! You have mastered whole grain cereal, bananas, sweet potatoes, avocados, pears, and green beans. Once you decided you were ready to eat, girl, were you ever ready to eat! If Daddy and I don't shovel the food into your mouth fast enough, you grunt and get red in the face. So impatient, but I understand. Daddy gets like that when he's hungry too. The snacks in the diaper bag are for him - not you.
You tried so many new things this month. You went to the park for the first time and Daddy pushed you in the swing and went down the slide with you. It was a sunny day, and your wide brimmed hat was about the only thing peeking up over the edge of the swing, and Daddy kissed your toes every time you swung towards him. It must have been exhausting for you because it wasn't long before you were falling asleep on my shoulder, all tuckered out. You took your first trip to Wrigley Field to watch a baseball game. You started sleeping in child's pose with your booty up in the air, and I love seeing you like that in the morning. You look so peaceful and warm cuddled up to your blanket, that I want to climb into that crib with you and curl up. You started scootching across the floor like an inchworm using your head. I can't even explain this - it sort of looks like break dancing. I'm sure we'll embarrass you with a video of it someday - probably in front of your boyfriend right before you go to Prom. You are sitting up on your own and like to stand up holding on to the coffee table by yourself. You play peekaboo, grab your feet and put them in your mouth, and love to be tickled under the chin. You want to do it all, and you giggle the entire time.
In the midst of all of these changes, I went back to work. For ten weeks I will be student teaching at a nearby elementary school, and you will be staying home with Daddy. I'm sure someday the topic of whether your Mom stays home with you or not will come up with you and your friends. When it does, I want you to know that I am doing this so that you will be proud of me. I want you to know that you should never settle for something in your life that makes you unhappy. There is always another option, and when it doesn't feel like there is, I will be there to help you find it. What felt like an earth shattering change to me was barely a tiny blip on your radar. You were still the same beautiful, adventurous, happy girl when I got home at night. I smothered you with one million kisses, and you were like "moooooooommmmmmm".
You have changed all of our lives - mine, Daddy's and Daisy's, and I'm not sure what we would do without you now. Daisy in particular is looking forward to you starting to drop some food on the floor. Daddy is looking forward to having someone else to have political debates with, and I am looking forward to long walks through the fall leaves. I predict that month seven will be the best yet!
xoxo
Momma
p.s. Here are a few outtakes from your photo session with your best friend. The last one is my favorite. I love you and your big heart!
Tuesday, August 14, 2012
Five Months
Dear Gracie,
My little girl, you are a beautiful and joyous five months old! You've become so curious in the past few weeks. That little grin on your face says, "uh, huh, sure, mom - turn your back so I can roll over into that fireplace now."
Yes, you have mastered rolling over. Stomach to back, back to stomach, up over your shoulder, some mysterious way that has you waking up in really weird positions in bed - girl, you are on the go. I was in line at a movie theatre to see "The Hunger Games" when Daddy called to tell me you'd done it. I burst out in tears I was so proud of you. You'd been determined for weeks (never crying when you'd get stuck halfway over), and you'd finally done it. I hung up the phone and turned to the woman behind me and said, "My kid rolled over - awesome!" She sort of rolled her eyes at me and took another puff of her cigarette. I wanted to stick my tongue out at her.
Everything you do now has a purpose. You never just do something to do it, there is some end result you are reaching for. You roll over to grab that toy you'd been eyeing all morning. You jump in your jumperoo to hear it play the sound effect "boooiiinnngg" over and over (and over and over) again. You do pilates v-ups to see what's going on when you're lying on your back. You're working out more than me! The world is just so interesting to you. Your hands are constantly working. Grabbing and feeling the carpet, your blanket, the couch, some one's shirt, my face - you want to know what everything is and what it feels like (and usually if it will fit in your mouth). Sometimes I just sit back and watch you think. Entire hours go by where the sounds of your squeels and some background music of either "Call Me Maybe" or "What Makes Your Beautiful" (c'mon those are our summer jams!) are the only sounds in the room, and I watch you like my favorite reality show ever.
There have been so many firsts this month - some successful and some not so successful. Hey, that's life, honey! You successfully made it through your first 5K in the jogging stroller. You and I did great - your Dad, finished without dying, so that was good. You giggled and babbled the whole time, and technically, you beat us both by crossing the finish line before us. You also had your first taste of solids. This started out pretty well, but quickly took a bad turn, and you are currently back on a liquid diet. Don't worry, you wanted to eat the multi-grain rice cereal, but your tongue and stomach had other ideas. I'm sure that in your six month letter that I will be praising your love of solids, and how you had learned to love sitting in your highchair again without screaming and grunting.
For a few extremely warm days, we spent some time with your Grandma and Grandpa H on their farm. Your Grandpa H and Daddy swung a baby swing for you in the tree that I used to climb as a little girl. Grandpa pushed you, and the look on your face was pure joy. With the wind in your hair and the sun on your face, I have never seen you look more beautiful and content. I wonder what was going through your mind. You went on plenty of nature walks during those few days, and each time you came inside from looking at the hummingbirds or from touching the leaves on the trees, you smelled like the outdoors, and I just couldn't smell your head and kiss your cheeks enough. I know, totally embarrassing, but totally necessary.
This was a month that I wish I could have froze in time for just a little bit longer. Except for that whole fake coughing thing you started. Like you need more attention.
xoxo
Momma
p.s. Here are a few outtakes from your photo session this month. Gracie on the go.
My little girl, you are a beautiful and joyous five months old! You've become so curious in the past few weeks. That little grin on your face says, "uh, huh, sure, mom - turn your back so I can roll over into that fireplace now."
Yes, you have mastered rolling over. Stomach to back, back to stomach, up over your shoulder, some mysterious way that has you waking up in really weird positions in bed - girl, you are on the go. I was in line at a movie theatre to see "The Hunger Games" when Daddy called to tell me you'd done it. I burst out in tears I was so proud of you. You'd been determined for weeks (never crying when you'd get stuck halfway over), and you'd finally done it. I hung up the phone and turned to the woman behind me and said, "My kid rolled over - awesome!" She sort of rolled her eyes at me and took another puff of her cigarette. I wanted to stick my tongue out at her.
Everything you do now has a purpose. You never just do something to do it, there is some end result you are reaching for. You roll over to grab that toy you'd been eyeing all morning. You jump in your jumperoo to hear it play the sound effect "boooiiinnngg" over and over (and over and over) again. You do pilates v-ups to see what's going on when you're lying on your back. You're working out more than me! The world is just so interesting to you. Your hands are constantly working. Grabbing and feeling the carpet, your blanket, the couch, some one's shirt, my face - you want to know what everything is and what it feels like (and usually if it will fit in your mouth). Sometimes I just sit back and watch you think. Entire hours go by where the sounds of your squeels and some background music of either "Call Me Maybe" or "What Makes Your Beautiful" (c'mon those are our summer jams!) are the only sounds in the room, and I watch you like my favorite reality show ever.
There have been so many firsts this month - some successful and some not so successful. Hey, that's life, honey! You successfully made it through your first 5K in the jogging stroller. You and I did great - your Dad, finished without dying, so that was good. You giggled and babbled the whole time, and technically, you beat us both by crossing the finish line before us. You also had your first taste of solids. This started out pretty well, but quickly took a bad turn, and you are currently back on a liquid diet. Don't worry, you wanted to eat the multi-grain rice cereal, but your tongue and stomach had other ideas. I'm sure that in your six month letter that I will be praising your love of solids, and how you had learned to love sitting in your highchair again without screaming and grunting.
For a few extremely warm days, we spent some time with your Grandma and Grandpa H on their farm. Your Grandpa H and Daddy swung a baby swing for you in the tree that I used to climb as a little girl. Grandpa pushed you, and the look on your face was pure joy. With the wind in your hair and the sun on your face, I have never seen you look more beautiful and content. I wonder what was going through your mind. You went on plenty of nature walks during those few days, and each time you came inside from looking at the hummingbirds or from touching the leaves on the trees, you smelled like the outdoors, and I just couldn't smell your head and kiss your cheeks enough. I know, totally embarrassing, but totally necessary.
This was a month that I wish I could have froze in time for just a little bit longer. Except for that whole fake coughing thing you started. Like you need more attention.
xoxo
Momma
p.s. Here are a few outtakes from your photo session this month. Gracie on the go.
Sunday, July 15, 2012
Four Months
Dear Gracie,
Last week, you turned four months old. With the way you took a hold of your schedule and life and said, "this is how it's gonna be, Momma", I felt like you turned 18 years old.
Soon after you started napping, other big milestones started happening. You no longer wanted to be swaddled, you would start the night in one place in your crib and end up in a completely different position by morning, and then you started rolling over on your side from you back. Suddenly, you were a baby on the move. You kick your feet in the bathtub now, and throw your head back and laugh, like really LAUGH, when you think something is funny. Sometimes this thing is Daisy, and she is licking your feet while you gurgle your appreciation. You're learning to pet her gently, and she is extremely patient and loving with you, even when you pulled out an entire handful of her hair.
You ended your fourth month with your very first vacation at Grandma and Grandpa F's lake cottage. I was a wreck leading up to the trip worrying about the car ride and how well you would sleep at night and other various things. I should have spent all that time worrying doing something else because you were just perfect. I'll never forget the look on your face when the water rushed up over your toes for the first time on the beach, or how sweet you looked napping in just your diaper after a long morning of playing. One night, as Daddy and I were toweling you off after taking a bath, you looked up at us and touched my face with your hand. It was the absolute perfect moment.
You are keeping us on our toes, Gracie, and we love it. I think it's safe to say that you have us in the palm of your tiny little dimpled hand.
xoxo
Momma
Last week, you turned four months old. With the way you took a hold of your schedule and life and said, "this is how it's gonna be, Momma", I felt like you turned 18 years old.
I know, you're crying in this picture, but I don't want you to get the idea that you are rainbows and sunshine all of the time. So, yeah, sometimes you cry. This picture is pure four month old Gracie. You did not want to wear those silly sandals, and you let me know it. You did not want to lay down on the floor and smile, and you let me know it. In the fourth month of your life, you have marched to the top of the mountain and shouted out "I'm Grace, and I'll do what I want!" I love it. I don't want you to be a kid who just lays back and lets Daddy and I make all the decisions without your input. I want to have discussions and debates with you and find our common and uncommon ground. Well, we definitely found our uncommon ground the day of this photo, and it was those sandals.
Suddenly, in the middle of this month, you decided to start taking naps. I'm not talking 15 minute naps in the swing that give me time to catch my breath. These are 45 minute - 1 1/2 hour naps, twice a day! Suddenly, I have time to drink my cup of coffee without reheating it three times, and I read most of the front page of the Chicago Tribune. I can take showers without taking you into the bathroom in your bouncer with me and showering with the curtain halfway open. I actually did a whole 20 minute yoga video the other morning. You know what though? I miss you during that time. I find myself checking the monitor a ridiculous amount of times, and popping my head in your nursery just to watch you sleep. I'm just a little jealous of your blanket you snuggle up to and wish it was my shoulder. I'm also jealous that you made this little nap schedule up on your own. You didn't want or need my help. You did it on your own time. You're already so grown up.Soon after you started napping, other big milestones started happening. You no longer wanted to be swaddled, you would start the night in one place in your crib and end up in a completely different position by morning, and then you started rolling over on your side from you back. Suddenly, you were a baby on the move. You kick your feet in the bathtub now, and throw your head back and laugh, like really LAUGH, when you think something is funny. Sometimes this thing is Daisy, and she is licking your feet while you gurgle your appreciation. You're learning to pet her gently, and she is extremely patient and loving with you, even when you pulled out an entire handful of her hair.
You ended your fourth month with your very first vacation at Grandma and Grandpa F's lake cottage. I was a wreck leading up to the trip worrying about the car ride and how well you would sleep at night and other various things. I should have spent all that time worrying doing something else because you were just perfect. I'll never forget the look on your face when the water rushed up over your toes for the first time on the beach, or how sweet you looked napping in just your diaper after a long morning of playing. One night, as Daddy and I were toweling you off after taking a bath, you looked up at us and touched my face with your hand. It was the absolute perfect moment.
You are keeping us on our toes, Gracie, and we love it. I think it's safe to say that you have us in the palm of your tiny little dimpled hand.
xoxo
Momma
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