The Weekend - Some Fun Firsts

We had a good weekend. Gracie was happy and healthy throughout. On Friday, Gracie was at back-up daycare again and she had alot of fun. The staff there are so awesome. Jeff worked late that night, so it was just us girls. She gobbled up her supper and then we just played.

On Saturday, Jeff had to work all day, so Gracie and I got up early and did some shopping. We got caught in the rain and got very wet. I actually think Gracie enjoyed that. She was a very good girl while shopping and then we headed home to make lunch. I recently found some non-dairy, non-soy cheese that is quite good and I used that to make Gracie's favorite lunch...macaroni and cheese. She also had two other favorites...peas and pears. She ate and ate and ate. Then she took a 2-1/2 hour nap. I snuck in and took a nap for part of that time too. When she woke up, we filled her pool and water table with water and she played and played and played. Daddy came home just before supper and she was thrilled to see him. We took a walk to the park after supper and Gracie is getting really good with balance and climbing up the stairs on the play equipment. On the way home, we stopped to let Jeff tie Gracie's shoe. As he was doing this she leaned over and was resting across his back as he was kneeling down, and totally unsolicited, she said to her daddy for the very first time "I LOVE YOU". That was a major heartmelter for both of us.

Her extra long nap made bedtime later than usual, but she was a happy girl and we were fine with that, although she was extra tired this morning. We had her favorite cinnamon rolls for breakfast this morning and she gobbled them right up. We went to Jeff's church today and as always she enjoyed the music, but was too restless to sit during the message. At the end song, Gracie went to the aisle and danced her little heart out.

Then it was home, lunch, and naptime. Gracie took a 1 hour 45 minute nap today, which was much needed. After nap, Gracie and Jeff were playing downstairs for a bit while I was doing laundry. Gracie informed Jeff she wanted to sit on the toilet. For the first time ever, Gracie went potty in the toilet. I think this child may potty train herself. She only went a little bit, but enough to know what happened. She did empty her bladder into her diaper a little bit later, so we still need to work on this a bit.

After this Gracie and I went shopping. She noticed a bandaid on my finger. She leaned over and kissed it. That's what mommy does for her owies! We are really see a huge cognitive burst with Gracie the last few days. She is talking, telling us what animals are and what they say. She is singing a lot of songs and hitting key words. She is telling us exactly what she wants. Sometimes it takes a little bit to totally figure out what she is saying, but we eventually get it.

For those of you wondering how the biting is going - we are making great progress. We still get bit occasionally, but many times when she goes to do it, we say, "Gracie, I hope you are not biting because you will get a time out." Miraculously many of these intended bites turn into kisses.

Later this afternoon, we played out in her swimming pool and with her water table again. She had a great time splashing. Then to the swing and slide. Later after supper and bath we took a walk but the mosquitoes were so bad, we didn't stay out too long.

Gracie is now fast asleep, rejuvenating for a fun week ahead.

Love,
Lisa, Jeff, and Gracie