Monkeying Around!

There's just one word to describe Grace these days: ON-THE-GO! Okay, three words :) From the time she wakes up until it's time for bed, it's go, go, go. Keeping up with her is definitely a workout.

One of her favorite games is hide and seek. She goes "1-2-3-4-5 GO! Here I come!!" whether it's her time to hide or to go seek :) So cute!

Hmmm...wonder where I should hide??? Here, I found a spot! Ha, ha, ha, you found me!
20 month updates:
Likes to sing: Twinkle, Twinkle, ABC's, Itsy Bitsy Spider, and "Los Pollitos" (spanish lullaby - The Little Chickens)
Numbers: counts to 17, skips 18 and 19, and goes for the grand finale, TWENTY!!
Favorite Phrases: "I do it. I do it.", "Grace do it.", "I love you.", "Good job.", "Uh-oh, what happened?", "Fell and went boom. Got ouchie. Mama kiss it."
Family: when asked what mama's name is says "Jessica", daddy's name says "Lance", and what her full name is says first and last name, then cheers for herself :)
Shapes: recognizes circle, square, triangle, star, heart
Characters: Dora, Curious George, Little Einsteins, Super Why, and Elmo (yes, still :)
Choices: likes to pick out her own bows and hair clippies
School: knows both of her teachers' names and calls Miss Bree (gymboree teacher) "the boss of gymboree".
Funny #1: told her first lie last week. Noonie, Grace, and I were in the car and Grace dropped something she was playing with. When I looked back to see what it was, she looked at me and said "Noonie dropped it." =O
Funny #2: picture it - while waiting for mama to fix her breakfast / mama goes, "Grace, today I have a treat for you, something you really like." / Grace: "boys?" (uh-oh, we're in trouble!!!)
Toddlerhood: first full-blown toddler tantrum the other day / cried, screamed, kicked, threw herself on the ground, etc. for like five straight minutes - all over a food choice. FUN, FUN, FUN.

And last, but not least, HAPPY 2ND BIRTHDAY, EMERSON!!!! HAPPY 5TH BIRTHDAY, JOSE ANTONIO!!!! Hope you both had wonderful birthdays! Aunt Jessica loves you!! XOXO

On the subject of baby bumps...

How is it possible to go from this (4 wks) to this (9 wks) in just 5 weeks time????

I know they say the second time around your belly pops much sooner, but geeeeeeez!!! I was looking through Grace's scrapbooks and I wasn't that big with Grace until like 20+ weeks. I'm scared to think what I will look like come next Spring!?!?!

Christmas Card Outtakes

Whew, it's been one busy week! I'm so glad it's Friday!!! We've been out of town for most of the week, but right before we left I attempted (key word) to take some pics of Grace for our Christmas cards. Normally, I'm much better about this, but since I haven't been feeling great, everything is sort of delayed this year. I waited too late to try to schedule a photo shoot with one of our local talents, so off we trodded Noonie, Grace, and I, along with a gazillion props to try to get that one perfect shot that would grace our cards this year.

Here are some of the outtakes, unedited and just for fun:

You want me to do what? But mama, I'd rather do the hokey-pokey! You put your right foot in... You put your right foot out... (Sometimes, WAYYYYYY out!) You put your right foot in... And you shake it all about! You do the hokey pokey and you shake it all about. That's what it's all about! Now, wasn't that so much more fun than just smiling and saying "cheese"! Kids, gotta love 'em!

B is for....................

BABY!!!

Yup, that's right! Grace is going to be a
BIG SISTER!!!

See, I told you I had a good reason for being a blog slacker :) The morning sickness - make that all-day sickness - has been kicking my behind. Same way it was with Grace for like 14-15 wks. except this time I'm running around trying to keep up with a toddler! Hopefully in another month that 2nd trimester sudden burst of energy will kick in. Fingers crossed. Toes crossed.

One particularly queasy afternoon last month led me to the drugstore for one of these In what seemed like ten seconds those two pink lines popped up and so the whirlwind of emotions began. Excitement, joy, pure exhiliration, and a tiny bit of angst thinking about sharing my mama love with anyone other than my little pumpkin. Needing additional confirmation (what is it about us that makes us take more than one pregnancy test even when the lines are dark as can be???) I grabbed the digital and BAM! the word PREGNANT popped up almost immediately. At least this time there were only two tests - with Grace, I think I took a test a day for like a week...just to be sure :)

Needing to put some of that creative energy to work I quickly thought of how to tell Lance about our newest blessing. He was due home in about an hour. I quickly got Grace in the car and off we headed to a local boutique to see if we could find a "big sis" t-shirt. Shirt in hand we headed home where I began bribing...I mean rewarding...Grace with goldfish to pull her shirt out in front and say "big sister". Little Miss Smarty Pants picked up right away (now, why does it not work the same way with potty training???) and we sat by the front door and waited, and waited, and then waited some more. Of course, this would be the day Lance would be late from being stuck at the office. I think we went through an entire bag of our "training supplies".

Finally, we heard the car in the driveway, got into position, me with the camera rolling and Grace with her mouthful of goldfish and then as soon as Lance walked in the door, right on cue Grace yelled BIG SISTER!!!!! I don't know if it was the goldfish or what, but he didn't understand what she said, nor did he notice her shirt, so it took a couple of times and then he said, WHAT???!!! Hugs, smiles, and a few tears all around and the rest is history. So glad I caught it all on tape :) When my hormone levels tripled instead of doubled during the 48 hr. check, the word TWINS (big gulp) popped up in the conversation. But since then we've had our first ultrasound and there's just one little bean in there, heartbeat 152. Such a sweet sight and sound! I don't think it matters how many kids you've had, hearing the heartbeat for the first time is just an amazing moment.

The big question remains, BOY or GIRL??? We keep asking Grace just for fun and so far it's been "sister" every time. Does she know something we don't?? Either way, we're thrilled, just praying for a strong, healthy baby...and yes, we'll be finding out :)

Two months down, seven (or less) to go. After all my little spring chicken Grace decided to make her debut a whole month early! God willing, come next June our little Family of Three will become a Family of Four! We can't wait!

I've been a bad blogger...

but I have good reasons! More to come soon!!!

Peanut Butter Play Dough

So we finally made the PB play dough earlier this week and I must say it was really, really sticky so I ended up adding some flour and that made it just right. It must have smelled really good as every so often I caught Grace sneaking a little lick and taste.

Helping me spread the flour This is interesting I do it! I do it! (new phrase around our house :) Peanut Butter Love Mama: Grace, what do you think about the PB play dough?
Grace: Yeaaaaay!!! So if you're looking for a fun little project, try the PB play dough - just remember to add a little flour to help with the gooeyness!

A Twinkle in Her Eye

Princess Grace and I had a magical picnic yesterday...right in the middle of her bedroom floor. For two hours chores were ignored, phones turned off, and mother and daughter reveled in the company of each other and a few lucky "guests". It was magical. All the eskimo kisses, twirling, tickles, smooches...I soaked it all in and held tight. I'm a sentimental person by nature, but truth is my heart literally burst at the seams with love and joy for those 120+ precious minutes. And ever since. You see when I was pregnant with Grace I secretly wished for a little girl. Not that I would have loved a son any less, I just longed for that special mother-daughter bond I have with my mother that she has with her mother, my sweet grandma, to pass down one more generation. My wish was granted and I was gifted with a beautiful child full of energy and love for life. My charge: to nurture her soul and teach her His ways. Every day I pray for God to guide me in raising her, in leading her according to the path He's laid out for her. Sweet Twinkle Toes (the two stamps are from doing great in gymnastics earlier that morning :) All that dancing is hard work! Taking a little break with her beloved lovie and "moo moo" - pink giraffe (check out that adorable belly poking out!) So when we can freeze time, even for just a couple of hours, and just cherish the gifts that are our children, for that time, everything that is right with the world seems to come flowing in with a magnitude to be reckoned with. In that moment, I am humbled by His Grace for me, for my daughter, for all of humanity.

My beautiful Grace, I hope you forever keep that sparkle in your eyes. I hope you forever dance like no one is watching, love like you've never been hurt, and live like its heaven on earth. I love you to the moon and back AND AGAIN, AND AGAIN!
~Mama

Halloween Part II

Meet the cutest little Strawberry Shortcake ever! Check out the bribe...I mean treat! Guess the lessons on sharing are paying off :) On the way to Mimi & Pop's, we stopped by Noonie & Papa A.J.'s. Noonie was ready to go on a date with Papa A.J. to see a play. Doesn't she look pretty?!! This is what "ants in your pants" looks like :) Hanging out with Mimi and Pop, waiting to go trick-or-treating. You mean we have to eat dinner first? Bummer. Grace with cousin Jade, as Ashley Tisdale from HS Musical II First experience trick-or-treating. She wasn't too sure at first, but once the neighbors opened the door and handed her THREE lollipops she decided Halloween WAS fun and then quickly proceeded to try to go inside their house! Little stinker! Checking out all the loot! Deciding what to try first with Mimi and Pop Hanging out with Aunt Lexi Enjoying yet another lollie (I hope Mama's not keeping count!) WHO is getting near my stash?!?! No, no, no, no, no! All that hard work wore me out! Check out the two little strawberries I got as a bonus (my knees - ouch!) All in all, a very fun night and a great 1st trick or treating experience!!

HOPE YOU ALL HAD A BOO-TI-FUL NIGHT!

Halloween Part I

Thursday was Grace's Halloween party at school. All the kiddos brought treats and they trick-or-treated each other. These are the treat bags Grace took to school They were filled with sugar cookies, the chocolate ghost cakes we worked so hard on, homemade jack-o-lantern lollipops, goldfish, and stickers - you know, for all the moms who don't let their kiddos eat candy...on Halloween...???

When Grace got home, she was excited to dig into her stash. Hmmm, what's all this? BUBBLES!! Look, Mama!!! You want me to stop enjoying this lollie, to try on my Halloween costume? Are you crazy?!! Okay, but you're going to have to catch me first!!
And later that night, Grace opened a special treat from cousin Carson - a magnetic dress-up doll! Ooooh, I love it!!! Thanks so much, Carson!! BOO to you too, Carson! XOXO, Grace