A Good Weekend

Gracie had a good weekend with mom and dad. On Friday night I went to pick her up at daycare and she just wasn't ready to go home. She was having too much fun. I finally convinced her we needed to go. She was very happy all the way home. Daddy had a magic show that night, so Gracie and I ate a light supper and headed outdoors to play. It was a nice evening, but the mosquitos were not nice and Gracie ended up with a bite just under her eye and a couple on her forehead that have been driving her crazy all weekend. Dad got home a little later and he joined us outside too.

Gracie slept in until 8:00 a.m. on Saturday - what a treat for all of us. We stayed home most of Saturday and just played. We did run to the mall on Saturday evening for a short time and also to Toys R Us to pick up some sand for our Sunday project. Our walk on Saturday night was much later than usual, so it was starting to get dark. As we were walking there was a house with a big screen TV that you could see plain as day through the window and they were watching the Vikings game. Gracie didn't want to leave her viewing spot on the sidewalk. Gracie also loves to walk up driveways that aren't ours on our walks and wants us to chase her. On our Saturday night walk, she started to go up our neighbor Nancy's driveway, she stopped, looked at us and signed "game". I verbalized "game", she smiled and said "chase". She definitely gets her point across.

On Sunday we all went to my church and Gracie almost (the key word here is ALMOST) made it through the whole service without having to be taken out.

You may remember we put up a playset in our backyard for Gracie this summer. It had a spot for a sandpile and so we set that up while she was napping. When we showed it her she made this really cute sound like she was super excited. She loved getting in the sand and playing with some of the sand toys she recently got at our early Christmas with Jeff's family. Gracie has a sensory integration disorder, she can't feel things like you and I can and she is constantly seeking sensory input. This sandbox will be great in helping her with her sensory input needs.

Gracie slept through a short visit by Aunt Arlene and then later, Aunt Cheryl and Uncle Russ stopped by for a bit. Gracie showed them her playset and took them for walks in the backyard and down the sidewalk. After they left, she played in her swimming pool to cool off. She had great fun splashing.

Gracie was in a good mood, was feeling fine, but didn't have much of an appetite yesterday. She nibbled at things here and there. The croutons in my salad at lunch were a big hit - they always are. She plops herself on my lap and proceeds to help herself to ALL of my croutons soaked in raspberry walnut vinagrette. She also ate a little chicken at supper and of course her ice cream with meds went down fine. We took an after supper walk and then came back in the house for birthday cake (I turned 29 again) with candles. Cake is one of Gracie's favorite thing in the world. She loves to say the word, she loves to eat cake, and if you happen to light candles on it, it is even more fun. So she was in her glory. She was cake from head to toe. I took her right from the table to the tub. Cake and frosting squished between fingers is another great sensory treat.

Gracie's schedule was off kilter enough, that it wasn't but minutes after she fell asleep, she reappeared in the living room. So I went to lay down with her and she got her second wind. She was full of kisses and she was hugging all of her babies and stuffed animals, and I was treated to lots of kisses and hugs too. She talked up a storm too, pointing out the "feet" on her babies and the "teeth". I think this little happy time before she fell back to sleep was her birthday present to mom (even though her and Jeff had spoiled me earlier).

Gracie had a pretty good night and was a happy girl this morning. She also had a very full bladder that size 7 diapers wasn't able to hold. She was wet, her bed was wet, so I had to change her sheets already this morning. I think she was ready to get back to her routine and daycare. Jeff took her this morning and as he walked out the door with her, there was no sad face or fussing for mom, it was a big smile, a hand wave, and a loud "bye".

Love,
Lisa, Jeff, and Gracie