Sunday, December 11, 2011

SOoo Busy..


I haven't really blogged is a loooooong time. Work has been so busy, Mike has been traveling with work (too much if you ask me), and Grace is an extremely active, mommy addicted, 2 year old, who rarely sits still. SOO I am blogging watching HBO as Grace is asleep and Mike is in Austin, yet again.

Let me catch you up on Gracie Goo.. She is 28 months old :) and changing so much everyday. I know that sounds cliche but my goodness, she is changing. It's crazy how you look back and think I just THOUGHT she was talking, or I just THOUGHT she had personality. She such a young lady now.. I'll explain.

She has started to really love to pretend play. He favorite game is "nap time" this is where she pulls out all of her baby blankets, lays them on the floor, turns on her night light and fan, and puts all of her babies to sleep. She explains to whoever is playing with her that, "We have to be still, ok?" "We are soo tired" then she pops up and says "Ok we are awake now, its sunny outside"

She is coloring and drawing for longer amounts of time now. We finally got the "grip" down on the pen/crayon/marker, and this kid CAN WRITE a LETTER G!! it is CRAZY! She also loves to draw rainbows, clouds, and smileys. When you ask her what she wants you to draw, 9 times out of 10 it's a fireman... I have no idea where this came from.. She also LOVES to draw with a pen, and she is showing some "daddy" personality and making sure she "clicks" the lids closed on all of her markers after she uses each one.

She is such a lady. She loves to look pretty, sparkle-y, clean, and matching. She insists on the style of her hair in the morning telling me " just one pony today... over here... I need 2 bows," She prefers sparkle-y shoes over tennis shoes (I mean who doesn't?) and we are having a few arguments in the morning over "not those pants MOMMA!" When she eats she insists on a wet rag with her plate to wipe her hands and face, (Sorry folks no funny spaghetti sauce faced pictures of this kid), and she says "Oh no, sorry momma I spilled" even with the smallest drop of food or liquid.

She is still our picky picky picky eater. I could go out on a limb and say this is the worst it has been yet. No veggies on their own, I am still hiding them. and THANK the LORD for those organic/fruit/veggie squeeze pouches. She eats very simply, she likes real cheese, crackers, turkey and chicken, yogurt, fresh fruit (not canned), applesauce, fruit leather, dried fruit, cereal, tortillas, toast, and pasta, and tomato sauce, and that is about it. We give her a multi-vitamin and a TUMS (for calcium) everyday. Eating is not enjoyable for her, she doesn't understand why we have to sit and eat... and then eat again. My theory is that she is a super taster!! HA. She was ALMOST 25 lbs at last weeks doctors appointment. ;)

She is in LOVE with the Cinderella movie, she likes to talk you through each part, especially when the step sisters tear apart Cinderella's dress. :) She says " Oh my gosh...They are soo mean to her dress, She's NOT in trouble! poor Cinderella"

She is counting well and can count up to 6 objects like " I have 5 cookies!"

She loves to have her fingernails and toenails painted, to wear jewelry, and hairbows.

And my goodness she is talking and singing non stop. There is no use me telling you all of the things this kid says. I could go on for days... hopefully you have had the pleasure of a conversation with her. She also is following directions really well from adults, like she is really concentrating on what she is supposed to do.

As tired as she makes me, she also makes us laugh soo hard. And she is really starting to be a daddy's girl... though she is stuck to momma most of the time :/

We are looking forward to more firsts and laughs this year with our sweet girl!

Wednesday, November 23, 2011

Wednesday, October 5, 2011

"Let's just pretend she's three.."

So last week I posted about Grace being the "mean girl" at school. When I talked to her about being mean to her friends she would say things like " I can't like her.." or "She cries.." or " He takes my toy." When you ask her what she did she says " I push (name of small child)" or "I bite ____". This situation was really pushing me to my stress limits for MULTIPLE reasons.

Reason #1: my child is MUCH too cute to be mean :).

Reason # 2: Biting is an EARLY toddler issue that starts because of teething or language frustration... both of which do not pertain to my child. (she has all of her teeth and says things like "You know better than that..")

Reason #3: I can not stand the thought of my child not being "liked" by her teachers or causing frustration among other kids.

Soooo I went a little "mommy psycho" and set up a meeting with the director and her teachers. Her teacher wanted me to pretty much "get over it" that she was 2 years old and kids act out and Grace was only acting out when she was frustrated with another child not responding to her previous words of warning. If you know me, which most of you do, I am not one to sit back and be "cool" with someone else's advice when it completely goes against what I want. I will not ever be "ok" with Grace being mean. So we started brainstorming. They hooked a teether to her and told her to use it to bite instead of her friends.... I hate this technique, it's confusing.. it sends the message don't bite your friends, but hey.. bite this thing. so we scratched that. THEN we started punishing. Talking about what we did and not doing some of her favorite daily things.. getting a popsicle, watching tangled, riding her scooter... you get the picture. EPIC FAIL. THEN we started rewarding good behavior and building her up for a prize (bribe) .... this worked for 2 days. Day one: "GRACE!! Today.. if you are sweet to all of your friends we will go get a SLUSHY!!!" success. She talked all day at school about a slushy, told all of her teachers and made a CHOICE not to be mean, "smart little stinker" The next day, we used chocolate as the bribe, when we picked her up she had a good day but asked for a popsicle instead so we went with that reward. Day three was paint our fingernails. She did good until 4:45pm then attempted to bite, she was caught without any injuries.
So here is the consensus.. Grace is too verbal to be in the 2 year old room. She is getting frustrated with kids not wanting to "play" with her. She wants to pretend, and play house, and sing songs, and dance, read books, and color. She does not enjoy fighting over a toy, she doesn't put toys in her mouth, and she wants to use objects for their specific purpose. SO after the director observed Grace in her classroom for a while she also did a little pre-school readiness test with Grace. Grace was able to verbally describe 3 pictures one happy, one sad, and was able to tell the director what was happening in another. She had book orientation, she knew which way to turn the pages and could find the front and back. This last meeting with director was really optimistic. She told me " Lets just pretend she's three, she may be two but she sure doesn't act like it." They moved her to to three year old room and she LOVES it. She is talking about all of her friends, she told me that they learned the "pokey turn around" dance, and today she said " I don't bite my friends". Relief. I am so hopeful that this is going to work! She is adjusting well and seems to really be worn out when we get home from all of the activity. SO glad she is happy!

Monday, September 26, 2011

"that's so mean..."

I am in need of some serious seasoned advice OR pitty :). My sweet 23 lb 2 year old, who says things like "how you doing today?, you good?" Or "ummm I would lie a blue popsicle please.." Is terrorizing the kids at school. All of the sudden she is pushing, fit throwing, and worst of all BITING. She is by far the smallest, but is doing some damage. I have no idea what to do. She is so good in public, follows instuctions easily, and really enjoys to play. I'm concerned that there isn't enough structure in her room or that she is frustrated. I'm really stressing about this. We've talked to her... Got on to her... You name it. Tomorrow we are going to try rewards for increments of time with good behavior, who knows. I'm trying to stay positive!

I've repeated the same phrase to her about biting, now when you ask her about it she says "thats soo mean, I won't do it ever again" yet tada! I pick her up and she did it again...

Cheerweeder

Grace is an honorary cheerleader this year! She had a little uniform made, and she loves to stand on the line with the girls! She thinks she is something else, kicking, jumping and cheering. Go lobos!


Thursday, September 1, 2011

2 year check up

Today Grace went to the doctor for her two year check, she's right at 25 months today :)

first question:
does she know at least 10 words?

Me: with a laugh.."yes"

Right as grace says: "mommy I need to go potty.. Get up mommy :)

Haha! She pointed our every color for dr. parr, and was overall really good

We graduated to a few inhalers instead if the nebulizer meds, thank goodness! I know grace will be thrilled about that!

She grew an inch and a half since her last well check. She is 34 inches tall, which is about 50th percentile. She had lost about a half a pound also, and weighed 24lbs on the dot. But she looks great. We are taking her off milk and soft dairy to see if it helps with tummy troubles and asthma :)

She is happy and healthy :)



Thursday, August 25, 2011

Its official!

Grace has completely graduated to panties! I had been holding off and keeping her in pull ups at school because of inconsistent teacher schedules and mommy schedule. But now that we are back to school we decided to just go for it! 7 days in panties and only 1 accident! Way to go Grace! She is so cute about it too!

Sunday, August 21, 2011

Thursday, August 11, 2011

Grace got a "chicken" for her birthday

Graces G and Cha cha bought her a cute little vintage style pink wooden kitchen for her birthday.... But if you ask Grace they bought her a "chicken" haha we have laughed soooo hard at her mispronounciation... And can't correct her it is too darn cute. She says... "let's go play in my chicken! Or "my chicken is like mommys!" Haha.. I love all this talking from our sweet girl.

Totally unrelated.. This morning I turned on tv to dora.. Which I don't usually because I can't stand dora.. After about 5 minutes, grace says "moommmmmaaaa! Wanna watch Tangled movie.. I CANT LIKE DORA!" HAHA thank goodness!

Friday, August 5, 2011

Talking

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KSW4VwmkODg&feature=youtube_gdata_player

Thursday, August 4, 2011

Happy 2nd birthday sweet Grace!



What a blessing we have been given with this sweet girl. She is sassy, spunky, dramatic, outgoing, inquisitive, and oh so loving. She loves to pretend, dance, play outside, and watch her favorite movies.

We have been working hard this summer on a couple of things with her that she has done soooo well with. She can count to ten.. She can sing her abc's all the way through.. She can name these colors, red, blue, green, orange, purple, pink, black, and yellow. She can draw a circle and a straight line (working on those prewriting skills) she can point out her name.. Say her full name, my name, and her daddies name.

She is sleeping in a big bed, mee mee's addiction is kicked :).. And most importantly POTTy TraINEd!

What a big girl! I can not believe this is the same sweet baby who kept me in the hospital for weeks.. Out of work for months.. And at birth too fragile to hold. She keeps us laughing!




Friday, July 1, 2011

Thursday, June 30, 2011

the potty..florida..the big bed.. and more!

Wow.. we have had so much happen in the last month or so :) I'll blog in chunks tonight!

Potty Time!!
I am going to say that Grace is 90% potty trained. We have been working on the potty for the last 6 months or so, and she has gone when we placed her on the potty or randomly asking, but this last 2 week she has flipped the switch from potty training to potty trained! We have WAY more hits than misses. She stayed dry DAY and NIGHT from friday to monday while we were on vacation :) She is such a big girl :) We stayed in panties all day today and she was able to run in the restroom, undress herself, and pull her panties back up :) THOUGH one time she came out inside out and backwards.. but I'm not complaining :). She says "Gracie do it HERSELF!!" I can't believe my baby isn't a baby anymore.. :(

FLORIDA!
We took Grace to Florida to visit my dad's side of the family in St. Augustine. We left on Friday and drove to Houston where we flew straight shot to Jacksonville Florida. Grace did pretty good on the way there. She definitely knew we were in the air. She sat sooo still when we first took off and told me to "Closa window momma." She didn't like to see us "up high". She kept asking to "Put it down". She only panicked when we were landing and experiencing a little turbulance :) Daddy calmed us down and held on tight.

She was the most well behaved kid EVER in florida.. She listened, stayed close, was flexible, napped in the car, LOVED the beach and the sand and the water and the sun and ALL of the family. She fed the turtles, rode in a horse drawn carriage, dug in the sand, collected shells, ate pizza, danced to a band, and slept in between Mommy and Daddy at the hotel. We got so many complements on how "good" she was, and of course how cute or little goober is.

It was SOOOO great to see all of our Florida family and for Grace to spend time with her G and Cha-Cha.

"NO MORE BABY BED"
So we get home from Flordia and Grace sleeps perfect in her crib that night. The next day, I put her in her crib for nap and she starts fighting immediately. She is fussing and whining and then all of the sudden I hear blood curdling scream.. I RUN in there and my sweet baby has her leg stuck in the top and is hanging by her leg! I pulled her out and checked her out.. no limping, just and ugly bruise on her knee and thigh. She napped on the couch, while I called Mike to prep him for us having to move Grace to the bed that night. We had a rough first night. I take all of the blame for that.... I underestimated her and completely changed her routine and patted her to sleep. Big mommy no-no. She woke up PANICKED about 12:45 that I wasn't in there. I quickly switched to my nanny mode and just sat at the end of her bed until she was quiet... then I stood in the doorway... then in the hall, until I saw her flip on her tummy (3:35am) then I went to bed. She slept till 8 the next morning. The next night we went back to the original night time plan, which is GRACE puts GRACE to sleep.. no rocking, no patting, no holding, no laying down with her. Harsh huh? Don't judge, I'm growing a self soother with great sleep habits and no bedtime fears :) Mommy and Daddy read her a story, we gave our kisses and hugged all necks, we turned off the light, turned on the music and I sat at the end of the bed facing away from her. after 2 minutes I got up and stood in the doorway, after 2 more minutes I left. DONE. No crying, no whining.... she slept all night long. Tonight, so far so good. We did the same routine, and she was asleep before I even left the doorway :) Praying it stays this smooth :)

MORE
We are planning our little Goobies 2nd birthday party :) she is getting TOOOO big!!

Saturday, June 18, 2011

So grown!

Grace has started using a "big girl cup" This week and is doing really well! They are moving her to 2 year old room July first and they only drink from a regular cup soo we are practicing! She did sooo good with it last night drinking her "lemmyaid" hah.
Ok soo little miss sassy is becoming more and more independent. She wants to do everything by herself. She tells us "Gracie do it HERSELF!" From holding her cup, wanting to mop, button her pants, you name it! Though, mike did ask her to throw something away this morning for him and she told him "Daddy do it himself" HAHAHA. When she plays with her blocks we hear non stop "ooo watch this! look at this! watch mommy!" Our little chatterbox is doing really well with talking in full sentences. She is struggling with the "f" sound.. using "tsss" insead. But that will come in no time. She is using the potty really well, even waking up to tell us in the middle of the night (uhhgg for mommy).

She wants to be a BIG GIRL soo bad!! Haha, our neighbor Madison is her all time favorite person. When we go outside she immediately asks "Where did Mad-ni-son go?" :) We will celebrate her 2nd birthday too soon!!

Thursday, June 16, 2011

How could you resist that sweet face?




We are thoroughly enjoying our nightly evenings outside in our little pool. Just look at the joy on that angels face!

Saturday, June 11, 2011

The many faces of Grace







The kissy, the sweet smiler, and the ticklish giggle. Enjoy.

A year ago....



Look at that sweet face last year in june :)... My sweet baby girl.

Thursday, June 9, 2011

Summer time!








posted from Bloggeroid

Monday, May 23, 2011

Sweet girl.. Rough day




Sweet baby had a hard day at school today... Started of the afternoon with a phone call that she was crying, they were thinking teething pain because she had 6 teeth coming in :). Jill brought her tylenol and she did better. Then at 4 they called to say her eyes were swollen and she had sensitivity to light.... Off to upa where we found out she had a laceration on her corneas, from what? who knows? So we have an eye patch for a little while. I swear this child knows how to stir my nerves everytime we get ready to go on a trip! Praying for a quiet,uneventful, tylenol induced sleep for miss priss. :)

posted from Bloggeroid

Tuesday, May 10, 2011

We went out!



Did I tell you we went out?! We had fun!

posted from Bloggeroid

Monday, May 2, 2011

Cheese!!......litterally.




posted from Bloggeroid

Tuesday, April 26, 2011

Stories of a toddler

My child is developing an amazing sense of humor! Tonight she had a while conversation with me about a dead spider in a high pitched squeel!

"Momma! SPIDA! You kill it? Pick it up! Kill it? It dead?! Pick it up! Spida!!" When we flushed it she said "bye bye spida! He dead"

Then her and mike were rolling the ball and it went under the tv cabinet she said " daddy! You get it!?" Mike told her to reach under herself and she said "NO! I hit me head!, Daddy do it!" Haha

posted from Bloggeroid

Monday, April 25, 2011

Easter
















posted from Bloggeroid

Tuesday, April 19, 2011

Powersports





Happy birthday Noah!

posted from Bloggeroid

Friday, April 15, 2011

Little bitty pretty

I am kicking myself for giving away all of graces summer clothes from last year. She its all of 3lbs bigger than she was last summer and I would bet money her legs and arms are thinner.... She's just taller! Went shorts shopping for grace this week and we had to buy 6 to 12 month sizes to fit her little butt without that diaper to keep it up! I'm going to have to alter her panties to keep them on her :)


Its alright to be little bitty :)


posted from Bloggeroid

Wednesday, April 13, 2011

Hi



posted from Bloggeroid

She is officially talking!

Our child has been "talking" for a while now. Repeating words, naming items and people, and saying animal noises was pretty much the norm for the last couple of weeks. But all of the sudden, she has gone from limited verbal skills to flat out talking. She is saying anything and everything, repeating anything you ask her. She is speaking in sentences, using phrases like "Come on, lets go, Get in the car, Put on shoes, Where's my daddy?, Wanna go outside?, throw the ball, turn on light, watch me, you see me?, You hear me?...." She is also telling us that she needs certain things. "Need a snack, Need to potty, Need my toys, Need some juice". I love that she is asking us to share with her. If she is eating she'll say " Mamma want some?" "Wanna bite?" She is also using the "Me" and "Mine" alot especially at the dogs. If she is eating she gets super mad at Jack and Willie for intruding on her food "ME food". She also gets mad at the dogs if she is on the potty and they come into the bathroom. HA. She'll tell them "NO SIR, GET OUT, STAY, or WAIT" Today at Target we were walking up and she got so excited to see the big red balls out infront of the store she said "Please balls?,TOUCH IT!! Please touch it!!" We also picked out big girl panties to start potty training. Mike was in another section of the store, the called out the whole time we went to find him "look daddy! See? PANITES!" so cute!! haha. She is getting so big!

Tuesday, April 5, 2011

What is that?

Grace came home from daycare today with the left size of her face swollen and raw...... We have no idea what it is and we are open to suggestions. Allergy? Poison ivy? Rug burn? Sun burn? Pink eye? Slapped? Fell? Rubbed raw? Daycare didn't have an answer, so she got benadryl, ibprophen, pink eye antibiotics, and some vaseline to coat. Who knows, pray its fine tomorrow. I'm flat out tired and completly drained.




posted from Bloggeroid

Sunday, April 3, 2011

My kid is nutty... :)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=youtube_gdata_player&v=zrgUIuyXXR8

posted from Bloggeroid

Thursday, March 31, 2011

Hi!




posted from Bloggeroid

Sunday, March 27, 2011