Seriously, I know Gracie has only been three for two weeks, but I really love three. It's like she has totally come into her own and we're having these great little conversations. Here are a few snippets:
This morning while I was using a screwdriver to open the vacuum to replace the broken belt she said "hey, Mom! You have screwderer driver?" Yes, I do. "Oh, man. I gonna have a screwderer driver too but mine is gonna be a PRINCESS screwderer driver!"
Tonight we went out to dinner at an Italian place and while we were driving to the restaurant she announced "Mom, I gonna eat all the bread myself for you can eat any!" and then giggled like crazy.
While at dinner tonight she looked at me and said "Mom, I really love my best friends." Who are your best friends Gracie? "oh, they are Ermiyas, Enatu, Enatu's mom, Ermiyas' mom, and my cousins." Who are your cousins Gracie? "Oh, Nate, Sarah, Meggie, Jakey and BINGO(my sister's dog).!" "Mom, Bingo is my cousin and he is a dog! That's so funny mom!"
Her new favorite book is Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No good, Very bad day. Or as she says "Alex and the orrible tebbile bad day". This makes me especially happy because it was my favorite book as a kid. We have read that book twice a night for the last 8 nights. And every night I remind her that I love this book and it was my favorite when I was little. Tonight she said "mom, dis was you favorite when you were Baseball's little girl?" Yes, Gracie. (Baseball is what the grandkids call my dad. "Oh mom, dat's so cuuuutteee!"
On Sunday my niece made her first communion and I had a terrible sinus headache. I left the party a little early to try to lie down and Grace was upset that I left her there with the rest of the family. I told her what was happening but she wanted to be with me. Later that night I asked her if she was angry because I had to go lie down for a little bit and she said "Yes, I was angry". I said, was it because you didn't think I would come back? She said "no, I know you gonna come back." Then why were you so upset? "Well, because I just really missed you a lot mom!" This is a big deal for her. She can often have a lot of anxiety when I leave and it's not just for work or something she is used to. It took a while for her to learn that when I leave I will come back. For her to know that now, and be able to express that is really huge. Not to mention that it melts my heart to know she misses me!
Don't get me wrong, it's not all fluffy clouds and rainbows but overall it's been pretty fun. And in many ways, she's like me. Especially when I ask her to do something and let her know if she doesn't do it what the consequence will be. She'll look at me with her hands on her hips and say "fine mom, FINE!!" Anyone that really, really knows me, knows that's my choice of words when I get mad and has been since I was a kid. In fact, every time Grace says that to me I am sure I hear my mother cackling from heaven. When I would pull that line on her she would often say, "One day, I pray you will have a little girl that's just like you so you will understand what it's like." I'm guessing she is pleased beyond belief because man, did that prayer get answered. The first time Grace said "FINE" I thought, no wonder that drove my mother nuts! Sorry mom!
