The Beginning of Summer

Nothing like starting a Sunday with church and breakfast with the grandparents and  then getting new sunglasses.

I'm ready for my closeup

Auditioning for the US Synchronized swim team

waiting to go to the pool

Two peas in a pod trying to be patient

Happy!

Bubbles!

Running

I'm gonna wash that kite right out of my hair

Things have been busy with us but good.  We had a couple of weeks where the tantrums reared their ugly head again but we seem to be back on smooth grounds again.  After a week of rain we were happy to get outside for bubble blowing and kite flying. I think it was more a glider than a kite, but unfortunately, the maiden voyage of the Cinderella princess kite was the last.  She was playing with it inside after we were done and she popped it.  Very sad, but she handled it well.  She said "I think I made a bad choice to sit on it". We live and learn.  

Sunday Sillies

We have been blessed with incredible weather this weekend.  This morning Gracie and I went for breakfast and then spent some time at a local playground.  What a great way to start the day!  When we left the playground Gracie said "Mom, I really love this day!" She is off with her cousins this afternoon to a local carnival which gives me a couple hours to clean, with a little blogging thrown in for good measure.

Yesterday I had an opportunity to attend a tea at a good friend of mine's home to raise awareness and funds for the Fistula Foundation.  Hope for our Sisters is a non-profit that is partnering with the fistula foundation to provide surgery for women afflicted with this condition.   A fistula is a medical condition brought about by obstructed labor and/or trauma leaving a woman with incontinence, resulting in isolation from family, friends and society, a lack of dignity, and a loss of hope. There is a powerful documentary called A Walk to Beautiful that follows five women on their journey to seek treatment and healing for fistula.So far, Hope for our sisters has raised enough to fund 48 surgeries but their goal is to fund 100.  Fistula has been eradicated in much of the world but many women in Africa and some poorer Asian countries are still suffering from it.  I was amazed to learn that the surgery and hospital stay, plus a new dress is only $450.  That seems like nothing here but is a massive amount of money for many of these women.  If you're interested in learning more I would highly encourage you to visit their website.

While I was out for the afternoon yesterday, Gracie spent the afternoon at my parent house.  Gracie sees them all the time and adores them but she still anxiety being at other people's houses without me.  She's generally fine a little while after I leave but the lead up is always hard for her.  She was anxious in the car on the way up and I thought we were in for a full throttle tantrum.  But once we got in the house, she relaxed and 5 minutes later I said I was going outside to put her car seat in Baseball and Grandma Judi's car and she said "Oh wait, Mom! First I need a kiss!" I gave her a kiss and that was it.  No crying, no sadness, just excited to go on an adventure with the grandparents to get their hair cut.  They said she was fantastic and they really enjoyed having the one on one time and so did she.  So much so that when it was time to leave after we had dinner with them she was in tears and begged to stay. It was a really good feeling for all of us.

Next weekend should be extra fun for us.  Gracie's Auntie Andrea and Uncle Rob are coming to town and we'll spend Friday afternoon together and then Uncle Rob will go meet up with the guys and Auntie Andrea will have a sleepover with Gracie and I.  Gracie was so excited and said "Auntie Andrea want to sleep in my bed?" I said I was sure she would appreciate the offer but she would likely take the couch over the toddler bed.  On Sunday Gracie and I are going to Maine for the day.  My parents are up there for the weekend and have invited us to come up and spend the day with them at their hotel pool.  So it should be a great weekend!

Pierced Ears

Today Gracie and I went and had her ears pierced.  I had thought a couple of times over the last year that I might have them done but just figured she was too young.  Yesterday we were at the mall and we walked by a Clarie's and she saw two little girls sitting in the window on big stools.  She asked what they were doing and I said they were having their ears pierced.  She said "ooooohhhhhhh, I like to have earrings too!  I like to do that!" We watched for another couple of minutes and then continued walking but we spent most of the rest of the day talking about pierced ears.  When we got home I sat her down and explained what happens.  They put you on the big stool and then they clean your ears really well.  Then they take a pen and make a mark on each of your ears so they know where to put the earrings.  Then they take a tool and put in on your ear and they press down and it makes a hard pinch on your ears.  I thought that would scare her off but she said "oh, a pinch doesn't hurt right mom?" I said that it would sting for a minute but then it would go away.  I asked if she still wanted to do it and she said yes.  This morning she woke up and asked me when she could have her ears pierced.  I said how about when you are five? she said "oh no mom, I think today!"  I mulled it over for a couple of hours.  I know there is no age for when you should do it but I always imagined I would be one of those moms who said wait until your 11 or 12 because I had a mom who made me wait until I was 12.  In the end, I figured we'd give a shot and if we got there and she wanted to run we could do that. We went to the counter to ask about having her ears pierced and they directed us to the stools.  She walked right over and said "Mom, you have to lift me up." I put her on the stool and while we waited she looked at her earring choices.  She was immediately drawn to the Hello Kitty One's so that's what we ended up with.  Then the sales person came over and I had to show my license and sign my name and initial in about 30 places.  I think there is probably less signing for an organ transplant than there was for this ear piercing.  She explained all the aftercare, asked what earrings we picked out and then asked if I wanted both ears done at the same time and I said yes.  She started to clean off her ear and Grace said "oh yes, my mom telled me you going to wash my ear." Then she put the mark on her ear and called the other salesperson over.  They counted to three and then they each pierced an ear.  She had a momentary look of surprise on her face and then said "can I see my Hello Kitty earrings please?" No crying, no remorse, just a big happy smile.

In other news, the potty training is going really well.  She is only in diapers for napping and sleeping.  She has had one small accident in the last 10 days so I'm thrilled.  No success with number 2 on the potty but we'll get there.  She also refuses to use her princess potty seat "because I am a big and tall girl and big and tall girls use the big potty." I can't really argue with that.

Well, we've been busy around these parts lately.  Last week we got a new car.  Well, new for us.  My 2001 Camry had served us well, but it was tired.  About a year ago I was having a lot of trouble with it stalling and the engine light had to be checked 5 separate times.  Whatever they did the last time fixed it for close to a year and I was hoping to get another year at least out of it but two weeks ago it started stalling again and then the oil light decided to make an appearance.  I figured that if I waited much longer I would run the risk of getting next to nothing for it in a trade.  So last week I bit the bullet and did my research, figured out what we could afford and pulled the trigger.  We got a dark gray 2009 corolla with far less miles and a warranty which makes me feel better. We love it so far.  Every time we go to the car Gracie asks me if we're going in our new car.  And every time she tells me how much she loves our new car.  It's such a relief not be worried about the car and I hope we'll be able to do some road trips at some point.

Yesterday we had Gracie's 3 year appointment and she is doing great.  The best part is that she did not cry one bit.  She got weighed without an issue.  She let the doctor do the check up and she even gave her a high five.  There were no shots but we had to do a finger prick for the lead test. When we went to the lab the technician recognized us and whispered to her co-worker "we need to close the door because this little one is a screamer". Clearly our reputation proceeds us.  However, there was not a single cry or scream or an ounce of unpleasantness.  She was pleased to pick out a Dora band aid and admired it the whole way home.  What a difference from last year.  She is super healthy and they are pleased with her progress.

We started potty training again.  I initially started it about 6 months ago but she wasn't ready and truthfully, neither was I.  She is ready now in the sense that she can go for long periods without wetting her diaper and she knows when she's about to go in her diaper.  But she has been resistant to going on the potty.  In fact, I put her in underwear on Monday morning and she held it until 3:30 in the afternoon.  No Joke.  My sister kept trying to get her to sit on the potty and she flat out refused.  By 3:30 she could barely stand up she had to go so bad so she picked her up and put her on the potty.  She tried to fight her for a second but as soon as she sat on the potty she went.  Her potty sings a little song when she goes which startled her and then she said "I go potty! I did it! My mom be soo happy!!  I not gonna do it again! Tuesday she decided she would just prefer to wet her pants all day but by yesterday she started to come around and today was much better with less of a fight.  So while I think we're still a ways away, we're starting to get on the right track.

I am sad to report that in order to make the car payment fit into the budget, I had to give up the house cleaners.   It was really sad to make that call to cancel but let's face it.  It was a luxury but it was worth every penny.  It really allowed Gracie and I to have the extra time we needed.  I have tried to break down the cleaning into smaller chunks and just do a little bit every other night and so far it's been manageable, but yup, I miss it.  There's nothing like coming home to a clean house that you didn't have to clean.

I Love Three

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!

Princess Gracie

I may have mentioned a time or two, or seven, that Gracie is obsessed with Princess Tianna from the Princess and the Frog.  In fact, the day after her second birthday party she announced that her next birthday party would be Princess Tianna.  I figured she would change her mind a million times in between but she never wavered.  So of course, we had a Princess Tianna Party. Yesterday in the mail she received her birthday present from Auntie Amy, Uncle Kevin, Sarah and Nate.  Auntie Amy has a friend who makes these children's aprons that look like Princess dresses.  So she had a Princess Tianna one made for Grace and for her doll.  This apron is gorgeous.  It's really a work of art and Gracie was beside herself.  She put it on the minute she opened it and was not happy when I made her take it off for bed.  She put it on first thing this morning too.  She absolutely loves it. So now my princess looks like her favorite princess.

Easter

Some days are just fantastic  Not because you did anything extraordinary, but because you spent it with people you love.  Today was one of those days.  We started off the morning at 6:15a.m. looking to see if the Easter Bunny had come.  Gracie was terrified to go in the living room as she was convinced the bunny was still there.  Once I carried her in and convinced her that he left her basket and went home, she started looking to see where her basket might be hidden.

The first thing she said was "Is this Ducky for me?" She named him Quack Quack

After the basket viewing and chocolate nibbling we headed to church in her "beautiful dress". She was fidgety but overall, she was really great.  No crying, no fits and we didn't have to walk to the back of the church.  After church we went home for a few hours and she had an Easter egg hunt with her cousins.  Then we laid low and she played and we giggled and had tickle fights.  Then we headed out for an Easter brunch with my parents, some family friends and my sister and her family.  They had someone in an Easter bunny costume which freaked her out for a minute but overall, she was fantastic.  She had a great time and she behaved so well and we were there for a long time.  At one point she announced that "this is a really beautiful day for all of us!" Then we went back to my parents for a few Easter gifts.  She spent much time spinning in her dress, playing and just being super cute.  Then we came home, played, had a snack and went to bed.  When I asked her what her favorite part of the day was she said everything.  I cherish days like this when you can just forget about everything else happening in the world and concentrate on family and faith.