Ramsey is 4 months old

Another month is here and it's time! Ramsey is 4 months old!!

Do you see his weight? THAT is why my back hurts :) Holy Moly- he's a big guy. Healthy! So thankful for that.

Right now he's in a size 2 diaper and eats 6 oz about every 3 hours. New studies now are saying that they recommend you wait until 6 months to try food. I don't think I can wait that long. His Dr said if he starts waking up in the middle of the night it's a sign he's not getting enough and to start food. I'm not sure what' well do but I guess he's okay right now :) They nurses couldn't believe he'll sleep from 10ish to 7-7:30 am. They said we were very lucky!

He's really started making fun baby noises and bubbles in his mouth. He is in love with his hands and feet. He loves being in his stroller so he can snatch a foot and bring it to his mouth. It's too funny. He hardly has any crying fits anymore. If he does he's overly tired or really hungry and we can solve the problem pretty easily now.

I hate that we are here at 4 months. I love him being older but hate that it means my full time with him is over. I hate it more than anything. Some moms love to work but not me. I work because I have to. I don't have a choice. I am so thankful for my 1/2 day (I promise) but if I were able to pick I'd stay home in a heart beat. So sad. I have a pit in my throat about leaving him. It hurts.

Ramsey- I love to pieces. I can't wait to see what you're 4th month brings :)

3.5

Our little Gracie Girl is 3.5 today, April 2nd, 2011!! THREE AND A HALF already! Time flies

You are our sunshine on a rainy day. We love you more than anything!

Life Lately with Gracie: Lately, you are so independent. I can hardly believe how much you do on your own. You get on your stool, turn the water on, wash your hands, and brush your teeth all by yourself! You amaze me with the things you say like this (in the car, while playing with a wipe) “Mommy, look, I made it into a square!” or this (while watching tv) “I’m gunna hit the yellow button (to pause her show) cuz I need to go potty.” You are too funny. I love how you say things like ‘free’ for 3, and ‘melk’ for milk. And you are so honest and aware of things, saying “It sure is a nice day today” and “look at that car, it sure is pretty.” or “Look Mommy, there’s a car just like GG’s” (she finds my car and GG’s car everywhere!) You have come out of your shell at school and you are a little testy sometimes as Ms. Sydney says. But you are also sweet as sugar too.

Favorites:

Show: Scooby Doo

Color: Blue

Book: Hiccupotomas, Charlie Brown Pumpkin, What Do you Say When a Monkey Acts this Way?

Clothes: shorts and Husker shirt or Gopher shirt

Food: raspberries, Trix cereal, Ham sandwiches

Dessert: ice cream sandwiches, or cupcakes

And you love your Jackie to pieces!

Welcome to “Free and a Half” Gracie!! We LOVE YOU.

Half Way Through the 2’s…

Dear Gracie,

Somehow you are already half way through your 2’s. How did that happen? You’re not a baby anymore at all. You’re 2 AND 1/2. It makes my heart hurt just saying this. Even though I love, love, love this stage for you. So many things have changed for you and I feel like you are just blossoming into a ‘little’ person now.  Here are some facts all about you!

You are getting really good at your colors. Most of the time you can identify red, yellow, orange, green, white, purple, and blue. I say most of the time because sometimes if you are in one of your ‘moods’ you don’t do anything you don’t want to!  But sometimes you are so cute and smart about it. I had on a purple shirt and just randomly you said “Mommy, you got purple shirt on.” I had to look down because I didn’t even know what color shirt  I had on!

You are very sensitive about things and that’s okay. Sometimes Daddy and I are trying to actually have a conversation and you get louder and louder. One of us say’s “Shh, Gracie” and you pout or even cry. You do like things done your way. Most times its your way or the highway. What can I say? It is hard to say no to you so we’re learning. Sometimes fruit snacks at 7 am or playing in the water table while we’re having dinner are just not appropriate!

You like to look at books. You still like Ladybug’s Lesson and this Sign Language Book for babies. I actually sometimes hide the Sign Language Book because I get sick of it, but not you. You study the signs and repeat them over and over. It is really neat that you like sign language.  You favorite song/dance is Ring Around the Rosies. You LOVE this. You really love it when Mommy and Daddy do it with you and we all fall down!

You are very in-tune with people’s feelings. ANYTIME we hear a baby crying you say “Zat baby? What’s wrong with him? Why is she crying?” Sometimes I’ll hurt myself or stub my toe, or Jack steps on my food and all it takes is one little “ouch” from me and you say ‘What happened, Mommy?” “You hurt? I’ll kiss it!”

Such a sweet girl you are! You take care of all the other kiddos at Lisa’s house. She tells me every day what a helper you are. You help put on shoes, take off shoes, open doors and everything. I really wonder where that came from! You’re a little mother already!!

We’re still working on potty training. I never thought it would take this long but you just move at your own pace, I guess. You potty every day, all day #1. At Lisa’s house and on weekends you don’t wear diapers or pull ups. It’s the #2 that’s the problem. Even though you’ve done it in the potty you just don’t like to. I was in the bathroom with you last weekend as you were ‘trying’ and you got a big pouty lip out and said “zit not working for me, Mommy!” We’re sure working on it, hard!! I’m so ready for this to be OVER!!!

Your talking cracks us up. Some of your expressions/sayings are:

Gay-cie  (Gracie)

nook and orange juice

Why Not? (this is said over and over and over!)

Wha doin’ Mommy? Wha doin’ Daddy?

Where da cows? They hiding?

My Turn

No, I don’t want to!

Here are some words to describe YOU:

smart, funny, loud, quiet, peaceful, imaginative, loving, sweet, spicy, mischievous, spirited, inquisitive, artistic, and FUNNY!

 

Facts about you at 2 and 1/2

Shoe size: 6 1/2

Weight: 31 pounds

Gracie Girl, We LOVE YOU!!

Life with a 28 Month Old

Gracie, you are 28 months old this February, 2010. (At first I thought you were 27 months old but after I double checked, I was wrong. You are 28 months old after all!) And now with as long as it’s taken me to write this post you will be 29 months very soon! 

All we can say is that there is never a dull moment with you. You have us laughing so hard sometimes we’re crying.

Here are some things you are up to this month:

You have been sick pretty much the entire month. Sinus infection that is never ending, horrible ear infection. You’ve been to the Dr. 3 times this month for 2 different antibiotics, RSV test, and a antibiotic shot for your bad ear infection. My medical flex spending card is getting a big workout this month. We’re hoping this is it for awhile!

You absolutely LOVE Lisa’s house. It doesn’t help living so close to her sometimes. We see her house at least 3-4 times a day. EVERY time we drive or walk by “There’s Lisa’s house!” A recent conversation we had in the car on a Friday afternoon went something like this:

You: “Mommy? I go to Lisa’s house tomorrow?”

Me: “No, baby. It’s Friday, You will go on Monday.”

You: “Mommy, I go to Lisa’s house tomorrow?”

Me: “No, Gracie’s tomorrow is Saturday. You get to stay home with me tomorrow and play.”

You: “Why?” “Why, Mommy, Why?”

(You see the pattern here, it went on for over 5 minutes of her asking “Why” to everything!)

Speaking of talking, you say the funniest things lately. There is too many to write down and tell. I think it’s funny that you pick up on stuff Daddy and I say, GG says, Lisa’s says, and Miss Pam/Miss Mary say. You’ve got a lot of people to listen to! Like you just said to me “Alrighty baby, let’s go. Good job baby!” I was drinking my Dt. Dr. Pepper with a screw top and you said “Mommy, you need the lid on. Here go, I do it. (while screwing the lid back on) There you go, I did it!”  Jack walked by and give you a big lick and you said “Ewww. Jackie just got me in my mouth!” You’ve told me on several occasions that my hair is a mess. You did it just today :)

You still heart babies. All babies, big babies, little babies, naked babies, black babies, white babies, ugly babies. You just love them. You put band-aids on their boo-boo’s, feed them, dress them, diaper them, give them pacies, take them for walks, sing to them. You just do it all. You are such a good Little Momma!

We are still working on potty training but it has taken a back seat to all of the sicknesses you’ve had this month. You use the potty every day just not every time. It’s hard potty training in the winter time too! It’s too cold to run around with few clothes on!

You have been much better about being sweet to your friends at school but we’ve seen this bossy side of you come out. Boy, are you BOSSY! You are always telling me what to do and if you don’t want or like something you are sure to tell me. Must be that only child syndrome :)

Here are some of your favorites this month:

Songs: Wheels on the Bus, Happy Birthday, Twinkle, Twinkle, I’m a Little Teacup

Books: The Potty Book, Ladybug’s Friends

Foods: grapes, cereal with milk, chocolate milk, velvetta sliced cheese, fruit snacks

TV Shows: Barney, Caillou, Little Bear

Past Time: Play dough, Ela-fun, Gone-Fishin, anything with babies

I love how you can give us the most serious looks like this:

Then you can turn around and just crack up:

So here’s to you Gracie! Happy 28 months Little Lady!

2 Years, 1 Month

 

1 Month Old

 

1 Year, 1 Month

 

2 Years, 1 Month

 

I saw this on another blog and thought it was so cute. Look how much our little sweet pea has changed! In her 1 month picture I still remember the little fuzz she had on her arms on back. (I did wonder if she’d have that forever!) I also love the picture from last year. She was not walking yet, but so close. Look at the mess of toys she made behind her! And now she’s all big and so independent. I think I say this all the time but this really was the fastest month ever. With birthday parties and pumpkins, and corny dogs. It was a FULL month of fun!

Gracie’s latest accomplishments: She no longer skip counts :(   She counts from 1-10 and then claps. She loves to play Ring Around the Roses (loves the “all fall down”!)  If you ask her where Mommy and Daddy work she says “At sku” and Where does Pop (my dad) work? “boat store” It’s so funny! I have a ribbon on the door of her playroom to show off her art work. Yesterday and ran up to it and said “I made that! Yea!!!” She was so proud.

When she smiles and laughs it seems like the whole world smiles and laughs with us :) We love you sweet, sweet Gracie. Happy 2 years, 1 month!

Life at 23 Months

Sweet Gracie,

You are 23 months old and just weeks away from being two. So many new changes have taken place this last month and you are being such a trooper! After our fun filled beach vacation we came home and Mommy and Daddy had to start work. You are going to Miss Lisa’s house and she just lives a few houses down. We are able to walk you there and walk you home. You were upset at first with everything being so new but now you are thriving there. You are a “little mother” to the other kiddos and help feed them and show them their cups and chairs. You have really impressed Miss Lisa and she says you are such a doll!

You just started school last week and I know you are going to learn so much. You go there on Fridays and I can’t wait to see how much you grow from this. I know Miss Pam and Miss Mary will just love you.

Here are some of your more recent funnies…

You skip count, literally you say “2, 4, 6, 8…” We just think this is so funny. (The teachers in us think that you are just too smart!!) Momma has had some school kids before that can’t even skip count!

You love to say “I hold you” but really you mean, hold me! I think it’s so sweet though. You love to sit in my lap and just love on me. You love brushing Momma’s hair and putting on pretend make-up.

You are such a lover. You will come up out of know where and give me a kiss or hug, melts my heart.

You love to watch Jack go outside and ‘do his business’, then when he comes in you announce it to everyone!

You have just started using the potty. You’ve only gone a few times but you love to sit on it and I think that’s great. I am not pushing the potty thing at all, just waiting for you to decide when you are ready. You really like the potty so I think that’s a great start!

You are Momma’s little helper. You just love to help put the dishes away. You are super fast and even started putting the forks in the right drawer (that’s more than Daddy :) )

You are SLOWLY coming to just 1 nap a day. Miss Lisa let’s you take just one nap with her now and you’re doing okay… we’ve had some rough afternoons/evenings but you’ll get it. You only get one nap on Friday’s so it’s time for just one nap (even though we love, love, love you for still taking 2 naps- it’s sure has been nice on us!)

Your favorite activity, play-dough (no surprise) You love getting them ALL out, you won’t settle for me just getting out the orange or yellow. I swear the other day you said “open the orange, Momma” and you did hand me the orange. (I would love to say that she keeps it all on the tray, but not so much!)

Our FAVORITE picture from this month

Daddy and I both have this one framed at school. I could just stare at this sweet face all day!

I have been getting ready for your little birthday party. It will be here before we know it!

So- here’s to 23 months little girl. You are our dream come true.

Love,

Momma

23 Months Old TODAY

My sweet baby girl is 23 months old today-

Last night I had parent orientation for her school. Let me just tell you how much fun that 2 hour meeting was, Ha! She met her sweet teachers today and has her 1st day of school on Friday. GG took her of coarse, so pictures will come later! It’s a big, big week! I am glad I signed her up now for school- I can’t wait to see all that she learns….

I couldn’t resist a sweet bath time picture. And she even gave a cute smile. I can’t even begin to tell you how much shampoo and bubbles we go through with all her hair!

This afternoon I took her outside to snap a few pictures and she was really performing for me. (And how big does she look in these??? I think it’s the shoes!)

Waving to our neighbor and saying “morning, hi-eee” (she doesn’t get that it’s only the morning at the beginning of the day!)

I know I took a lot but she was just being so darn cute and I miss, miss, miss her sweet face all day!

Found a dried up worm, ewwww!

And when we came in I turned around for 2 seconds and a mess she had made…

The count down is on, she’s almost TWO!!!

Life with a 22 Month Old

Dear Gracie,

You are 22 months old. This month marks a bitter sweet month for us. I am so happy you are growing older, but it means the end of summer and the start of school. Boo, hoo.

Things are changing so fast for you and you are growing, growing. At your last Dr. appointment 1 week ago you weighed 24 pounds. I just had your foot measured for new shoes and your left foot was at a 5 and your right foot a 5 and 1/2!

It seems you have all the sudden opened your eyes because you see and talk about so many things now! (especially when we are in the car!) Your absolute favorite, favorite thing to see are cows. You go wild when we see a cow. We have a field right by our house that is home to about 20 or so cows and when they are out you just can’t stand it. When they are not out you say “Where da’ mo? Where da’ mo?” You’ll say it over and over and over until finally we tell you the cows went night-night. Sometimes you’ll say “Oh, there he is!” even when there isn’t a cow out. I have spoiled you too because in the car now you always ask for a snack “sack” and your juice. Most of the time you are neat but sometimes you’ll turn the baggie upside down and dump every last bit of food on the floor and say “mess, mess.”

You do so many funny things you will have your Daddy and I just laughing at you! We have been getting ready for our beach trip and I know you will have so much fun. I can’t wait for you to see the sand and water.

Your favorite question to ask is “What’s this?”. You ask this about everything.

Your eating has picked back up again since your virus you had. Fruits you love: strawberries, blueberries, grapes, apples, and bananas. You’ll eat occasional green beans but that’s it for the veggies. I make sure you get v8 fusion drink every day because it’s a serving of veggies and you love it! I can always count on you to eat a hot dog and or pizza. You like cheese most of the time and will occasionally eat bacon and a waffle or a pancake. You like to sorta “graze” with food. You like to eat some, get down walk around, eat some more….

Your opinions have really come out lately. You’ll say a definite ‘yes’ or ‘no’ but mostly just say “yeah”. You just started saying the word “please”. You have only been signing the word before now. It sounds like ‘peas’ and is so cute to hear!

You can be quite the talker and go on and on with random words just like we’re supposed to know what you are saying. You can also still be quiet and shy.

With all that you do, I know I’m forgetting some of your funnies. One thing you did recently could have been very bad. You were playing with your make up bag that I made for you and you pulled out the mascara bottle and undid it and actually put mascara up to your eye. You came over to me and said “Hieeee.” and I freaked out. So, bye-bye mascara! Also we were in the car going to a friends house for lunch and you kept saying “bug, bug” over and over. I couldn’t see a bug so I thought you were just saying it until I was coming to get you out of the car and there was a bug attached to your window! You have a new found love for airplanes. You find them in the sky and point up and say ‘oppie’ for airplane.

You are growing so fast and I can’t believe in just 8 short weeks you are going to be the big t-w-o!

You are NOT easy to get pictures of anymore. You will stop (for maybe a split second), say “cheese” and then your off. I’m usually just getting my camera turned on by then.

We love you so much!!

Love,

Momma

22 Months Old

My Gracie is 22 Months old TODAY!

We have had fun all day long to celebrate. We started off the celebrating by getting donuts for breakfast. Yummy. Gracie is a fan of donut holes, they are just perfect for her. After donuts, can you say sugar rush?

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This girl was out of control. But every sugar rush must come crashing down and hers did too. She took an 90 minute nap this morning!!

As soon as she woke up we all got ready to head to the Splash pad park in Allen. Allen has a great playground/park that has water park area. We brought a picnic lunch and ate at the park.

I think she has about 2 bites- too much to look at- then we were off to the water!

Guess what she was running for? Dogs! “wolf-wolfs!”

Checking out the place, looks fun!

Why am I getting all wet?

Daddy always makes things fun!

Water in the face

She had so much more fun than I expected! She was running around like crazy. It was so funny to watch her. She was in heaven getting wet! I couldn’t get her to be still for even a second so I mostly got action shots!

I just love when she stands like this with her belly hanging out, no shame!

Here’s a little video of her playing…

Aww, shucks, time to go home. Look at our drowned rat!

It was a very fun day to spend with a 22 month old!

Coming soon: Life with a 22 Month old

It’s on my list with the other 1,000 things I need to get done before Friday (we’re heading to the beach !!)