Gracie is Two!!

As I was winding down from the big birthday weekend, looking through the pictures of my big girl I was reminded of how fast these past two years have gone. It seems like just yesterday I was pregnant with Grace and yet now I am having our second little girl, Bella. Are we crazy!! 

Here are some of the pictures and details of Grace's Birthday weekend. On Friday the 19th we started the day off with a #2 pancake made by Eddie eaten to the familiar sounds of "The Wizard of Oz" (One of Grace's favorite movies). She was then able to open the present she had been waiting months for. Her Baby doll!! 

We decided on the name Ariel and she has been at Grace's side ever since. It definitely trumped all other presents. Then I had the brilliant idea putting curlers in her hair.

        

I learned the hard way that these curlers were a nightmare to get out and made her hair look like a lion's mane. Regardless she still looked cute and we headed off to an indoor park and a free meal at McDonalds. That night I made a meal of homemade macaroni and cheese with broccoli, maple pork chops with brown sugar apples on top. A meal that both Eddie and Grace devour every time I make it. Followed by a banana cupcake with chocolate frosting. It was then, having cake, that Grace finally realized it was her birthday. In between bites she would say "birthday, yay, fun!"

On Saturday was the big party. Both Grandparents and Aunts and Uncles came over for a "little" birthday party. It was a monkey theme. I made the banana cupcakes with monkey faces on top.

 She then proceeded to open up all her presents from the rest of the family wanting to stop after each one and play with her new treasure. After everyone had left and dishes were put away we all lain down for a much needed nap. In a few days it will happen all over again Christmas day!

Things I have learned from my almost two year old!

 I truly cannot believe that I will be the mother of a two year old in 9 days (yes we are counting down to cake, as Gracie says).  As a first time mom, I wanted to do everything perfectly and teach my little girl all that I know is good and true, although throughout these past two years I have learned much more from my little Gracie girl than I could have ever imagined.  Here are just a few of the very long list. I have learned that it is OK when things do not go as planned, as they rarely do with kids, and you know what sometimes it ends up being more fun anyway! Always plan to leave 10 minutes earlier than you think if you want to be on time. A hug can cure most anything; an owie, heartbreak, just feeling blue, replacing a smile back on someone's cute little face, or letting your little one know just how proud you are of her for saying sorry without any prompting. An "Uv you" said in return to your thousandth "I love you" of the day melts your heart more than anything else in the world. 

This past weekend Gracie and I were wrapping Christmas presents. We had wrapped Eddie's and put it under the tree. As soon as Daddy came in the door, Gracie rushed with joy to show him the present she had wrapped for him. Eddie picked it up and shook it a little and said, "Wow, this must be a book!" Gracie, very confused said, "No book, movie." I definitely learned that if I want to keep a present a secret I can't let a two year old help me wrap the present. 

In our house I have learned that Santa is not only called Santa, but "Santa Baby." One day recently we were in a store and the song "Santa Baby" came on and Grace just loved it. She was dancing up and down the isles and trying to sing along. As soon as we got home I added it to the itunes Gracie play list, (which consists of Annie, Somewhere over the rainbow,etc..) Ever since then anytime that Grace will see Santa it is always Santa Baby.

I am so thankful to have this wonderful little girl in my life and thank God every morning for the privilege of spending another day with her. In two short months I will have another little girl, and I can't even imagine what I will learn then.

Gracie is a lucky girl!

So, this past Saturday I was lucky enough to get to run some errands all by myself. While I was out enjoying getting in and out of the car in less than the 5 minutes it usually takes, I was missing Grace and Eddie and wondering what they were up to on this cold, snowy day. As I walked into our apartment with anticipating excitement to see both of them again ( I had only been gone a few hours) I was handed a warm cup of tea and asked to join their tea party.  Eddie and Grace were eating all kinds of sweet treats and sipping tea while watching the Jungle book. I was soo touched! I don't think there are many fathers who would do this with their almost two year old daughter. But wait, there is more. Just as I was beaming from the sight of both of them (wish I had a picture) Grace began telling me very proudly that she and Dada built a snowman outside in the snow.

 

The Snowman fell down after a little while, so they went out and fixed him and I was able to get pictures of their snowman building.

Grace and the great Pumpkun

 To open the fall season, we went to the pumpkin patch where we were able to pick put a pumpkin right from the patch. We also saw baby animals. The piglets were Gracie's favorite. We then proceeded through a hay bale maze only to end in the search of a homemade pumpkin cookie.

Tink or Treat

It is soo amazing seeing everything through your child's eyes. I felt like a little girl all over again as we celebrated Halloween this year. Grace is now old enough to enjoy the costumes and candy and fun. Grace was Tinkerbell this year. She is one of her favorites and once we put on the costume she did not want to take it off. We came home late, or rather past Grace's bedtime so she fell asleep in the car. As I was trying to put on her jammies without waking her up I started with her shoes and socks, Grace's eyes were still shut and not a peep from her. Feeling very confident with my mission so far I then proceeded to carefully slip the tinkerbell costume off and suddenly I heard a half sleepy, but demanding voice saying, "No off."

On Friday we went to the children's museum for some trick or treating, games, and of course the beloved park. 

Pregnancy Etiquette

Being pregnant again I realize how awkward some people are around pregnant women. I will have to say that most bend over backwards, but some people just do not think about what they say or do. Women seem to feel differently about the canvas your growing belly becomes. Some women don't mind anyone touching their belly, while others don't want anyone. I am somewhat in the middle. I don't mind if friends and family want to feel the baby, but I do think it is very strange when someone I barely know or don't even know at all will linger at my belly with their hands all over it. ( I have had that happen, even with men) One woman I knew as an acquaintance came up to congratulate me and said, "oh don't worry I don't touch bellies, I just. . ." she then proceeded to get eye level with my belly and talk baby talk to it. Yeah, that was much less uncomfortable. I would have rather her just touched my belly. I have talked about writing a book about pregnancy etiquette, just as a funny read. Although, some things people say are not so funny at the time. I have talked to many women about how people say the most awful things, like: "If you keep eating like that your whole pregnancy you'll gain 80 pounds," or "Are you going to stay fat like that after you have the baby?"  Again, I will have to say that most people are very complimentary and as Eddie, says, you can pretty much get whatever you want be it stopped traffic on a crosswalk, free food, or a special request. All you have to do is preface it with "I'm pregnant and. . ."