Catch Phrases

Last night as I was reading from a book about teaching I realized that one thing I should be doing for my girls is recording some of the funny things they say as they learn to talk. I think the reason it never occurred to me to recrod their words is because we work so hard to get Emma to speak.  We documented the words and when, but when she started to string words together we just celebrated.  With Grace I was in such a state of shock of how easily she learned to speak that I didn't really record it. So tonight I would like to record a few conversations or catch phrases of my girls

Miss E--she loves to introduce herself. In fact, she does so reduntly.  She still introduces herself to me, her nana, her papa, etc. 
--for the longest time Emma called herself "Memma."
--she loves to pretend to read the alphabet wrong even though she has known every letter and every sound for over a year.
--loves to ask "what doing?"

Miss G--I don't even know where to start. When you ask G, "Are you hungry?" Her reply, "No, I 'Racie."
--the night I got a King-sized bed. I tuck her in and she comes quietly to my room and says, "You need me mommy, right?"
--When I got a new tv, "Hey, mommy the big one! Thank you mommy!"
--"I love the big bed!"
--As she trys to take her princess play dress of she says, "Take it on, Mommy!"  When she actually means take it off.
--"I sick." Gracie says to her dr. when really she has only swimmer's ear. We leave with our Rx. "I all better now. I saw dr and fish (he has salt water fish...think nemo and dory). So now I swim!! Yea!!!"

Pretty Prancing Princess

Mommy Musings-SOLC

Today Gracie and I are going to try it again. Today she is going to make it the entire time in dance. Today she will participate in her age group community. I am a teacher this is what I do. We can do this together.

As Gracie rushes to my bed I realize that my alarm clocks slept in this morning, "Mommy, I princess dance today?"

"Yes, today is dance, but it's later not now," I reply as I gaze at the clock. 7:00AM. And yes that is sleeping in.

Gracie gets things together pretty easily and we make it to dance a little early to buy our princess outfit.  We go put on the pink leotard, pink tights, pink skirt, and pink ballet shoes.  Gracie twirls and says, "I'm a princess now!"  I smile and take a picture.  Then we go and wait.

"I'm ready for all my prancing princesses," calls the instructor.  A sea of pink flows to her. The youngsters look around at each other and follow the instructor in.

10:15 no sign of Gracie needing me, so I open my book and begin to relax and read.

10:32  Crying. Loud crying. I've known that cry from moment she was born.

10:45 "Is her mother still here?" I see my darling  escorted out by another instructor.  I choke up.  But I go to her and pick her up.

"I just can't do it," she cries.

So  we go home. I don't know what else to do. ""Well, Gracie  let's change your clothes."

"NO!!! I'M A PRETTY PRINCESS!!" She says as she spins around the living room. I realize she won't be taking off her princess outfit.  But, maybe there's hope...perhaps they have dance lessons on DVD.

The problem is I want to cry with her. What is it that makes her feel she can't do it? Neither can the other girls; they are three too.  What have I done that prevents her from being able to participate?  The instructors were so sweet and understanding and gentle.  I just don't understand and maybe that is what motherhood is all about...never understanding--just surviving.

Perhaps the problem doesn't lie with Grace, but with me.  I thought I had motherhood all figured out. I mean how much more difficult could parenthood be? I covered all that with her sister. I lived through a genetic diagnosis, NICU, early intervention, physical therapies, speech therapies, IEPS...the list goes on,so how hard could a "typical" really be?  Well, I think I've found out.

As a teacher I know there is no typical or normal, but I just wish I could figure out how to parent my child who is so full of exuberant life that I want to shout it to the roof tops. I think the real thing for me is fear. I fear what the world will do to this child because LIFE happens. So this isn't really about Gracie...it's about me and my fears.Except, I don't know how to overcome the fear of my child being hurt so greatly it never heals in her heart.



Slice of Life Challenge

I encourage you to participate in the slice of life challenge at Two Writing Teachers.

Big Girl Room

Gracie has been in a big girl bed for almost two years now, so it's probably time I started changing the decor in her room.  I came across this quote and I think perhaps it should be my mantra for the Gracie Goose. I know Grace is going to do great things...she is a mover and a shaker.  I wanted someone who would be able to be a voice for Emma once I'm gone and Grace will be able to do that, but sometimes adults tend to forget she is just three. So I made her a little plaque for her room. It's not framed yet, but I really like how it turned out...hopefully she will come to like it too.

Bribery Works

I don't claim to be the best mommy. I just know that sometimes I learn more from my kids than I ever expected to. My three year old Gracie would be a prime example. Her flat out refusal to potty training has made me believe that I don't' know what I'm doing as a mommy. Being a teacher I believed extrinsic motivation was negative for children, but now I am a firm believer...forget intrinsic because my daughter is teaching me that bribes work. She informed me a few weeks ago she would never wear big girl panties...but I thought of the ultimate bribe...dance/tumbling lessons!!! So for three days I told Gracie that babies couldn't go to dance and that meant being a big girl and going potty well on the potty. Would you believe it if I said the child quit using pull ups? She has successful DECIDED she is going to be a big girl...I didn't' do anything but sign her up and pay the fees...best money I ever spent!!!

Don't let it eat me alive!!!

Okay, granted my little brother is 3o and not so little...way taller than me, but he is good to my kids and I. He bought us a pool and we have been in it everyday since he put it up.

Today Gracie was getting out of the pool and Nana was helping her. My mom swatted a mosquito and Gracie said, "Hey, stop it!" My mom replied with, "Well, Gracie the bug was going to eat you alive!" The funniest thing happened Gracie had a complete freak out screaming, "No, no! Don't let it eat me alive!!" I was laughing so hard I couldn't even begin to calm her down. I finally regained composure and told her it was okay, but it took 25 minutes for her to stop her hysterics. She kept telling us the bugs were eating her alive.

I know in mommy-dom it was probably the wrong thing to do, but I seriously couldn't stop the laughing. These are the moments that I know I will have a therapy bill when Grace is 13...and right now it is worth it.

A Year In Review

As I look at the past year I am amazed by so many things. My little family has managed to survive a divorce and we are all in safe, happy homes. My girls what can I say they are the best. Let's start with Emma.

Emma is currently in Kindergarten. She knows all her ABC's and can count to 20. She is starting to read some. Last week, she read the word "shapes." There was no picture for a clue. She sounded it out. I was totally shocked. Please know I don't doubt Emma's ability one bit, but sometimes surprises are happier to acknowledge than disappointments. Emma LOVES school. She has many friends. When I pick her up every afternoon and we walk back to the car and she is begging for fries, her fan club waiting to be picked up by their parents begins to chant her name, "Emmie, Emma, Good-Bye!" How my heart flies when I realize that 5 year olds don't see Down syndrome. They see their friend.

Emma is still disappearing now and again at school. So far she has not left the building. The UK company that makes the GPS watch will have it available Jan. 6. We don't want to have to actually use it, but at this point we don't know what else to do.

Emma received many clothes from Santa. She has really grown the last 6 months. She is now in a size 5. :-) I think her favorite gifts this season were the dr. kit, her Lightening McQueen couch, and the wiggle racer (gravity propelled) so that she can experience what it's like to ride a bike.

Emma is talking like crazy. And get this...she writes every day at school. Her topics are about kites, robots, Nana, Gracie, a friend at school-J, and her love of popcorn. When I read her first story I cried. Now that she feels she has a voice she has begun to "write" at home too. Thank you JPS for a job well done, once again.

Now onto the Tink-lovin' Gracie. Where to even begin...She will be three in 2 months. She can say her ABC's and count to 25. She has a spirit that is passionate about EVERYTHING. She loves hard, she plays hard. She has a mind of her own and I hope no one every squelches her spirit. Right now her favorite things are SHOES. Her favorite toy is anything that sparkles and her favorite book is My Pink Purse (Need I say more).

We are looking forward to 2010 and we know that only blessings will come. Here are a few pics from the last few months.

Oh, wow!

This Easter both girls were very excited, but for different reasons. Emma was excited to hunt for the eggs, and her partner in crime, Gracie opened them to find "chalk-lot." "Oh, Wow!" She kept saying. It was so adorable. When Gracie is truly amazed her reponse is always, "Oh, wow!" Oh, to be a child and still be astounded that plastic eggs have "chalk-lot" in them. Perhaps God gives us these moments to remind us to sometimes stop and say "oh wow."

Gracie Birthday Pics

Happy Birthday, Gracie

Dear Gracie,

I hope you know how much you are loved. You are my little mini-me and I have so much to teach you as you grow. I would love for you to give yourself a break and learn that you don't have to do it right the first time. To stop and realize you are a toddler not an adult.

I love your vivacious personality. You love hard and play hard. Your spirit will take you places in this world and you are going to move mountains with your determination.

Love,

Mommy

New Pics

During Fall Break, I took the girls to get their pictures made. We had a great time! We were there for 30 minutes...they weren't very cooperative. Enjoy!

Make a Smilebox postcard

Gracie's B-Day Digital Scrapbook

Make a Smilebox scrapbook

One week old

Well, Grace is a week hold and doing fabulous! She has gained 5 ounces and only needs to gain 4 more to reach her birth weight. Her pediatrician says she is perfect and that he is so jealous. He says Craig and I make great kids together. She will go back in a month for shots and another check up.

Emma is doing well. She kisses on her baby sister all day and "helps" us too. She is so much fun to watch with Grace. I am so impressed that she has adjusted so well. Today we took Grace and my mom and I got a hair cut. Emma was so upset that Grace left...not that we left. Also, you have to love getting your hair done....it just makes you feel like a new person...now if I could only get more than an hour and 15 minutes of sleep at a time.

Grace LeEva

Grace LeEva arrived Monday, Feb. 19th at 7:38 AM. She weighed 7 lbs 2o oz and is 2o 1/2 inches long. She arrived screaming and then wanting to eat!! We came home Thursday afternoon. We are doing well, but Grace prefers the night time to "talk" to us rather than day time, so last night was a little long. Hoepfully, we will get this worked out soon.

I love this little girl so much!!! I just can't believe that she will be grown up sooner than I realize!

Emma is LOVING the new addition!! I know that the newness of it all will wear off soon for Emma, but it is so fun to see her face when she looks at Grace.

Click on the title of the post to see baby pics!!

'Twas the night before....

Gracie was born and all through the house...no one was sleeping...not even....okay...so I think you get the idea. We are all anxiously waiting the arrival of Princess Grace. We have to be at the hospital at 5 am and the c-section is scheduled for 7 am. Emma will be spending the day with her friends Lexi and Joey. Then she will visit in the evening. I just can't believe we will be a family of four very soon.

Emma will be a great big sister. She has such a big heart...she loves her baby cousin so much..I can only imagine how much she will love her sister. I won't be able to update for a couple of days, but as soon as I get home from the hospital I promise lots of pictures!!!

Labor Vibes for a C-section?

Who knew I would be wishing for LOTS of labor vibes while waiting for my c-section Monday. Wed. evening I went into the beginning stages of labor. I am only dialated to a one as of Wed. night, so they won't move up the date. My contractions have been 10-15 minutes apart all day on Thursday, but every couple of hours will increase to 5-7, but then slow. So send LABOR vibes so Gracie will get here soon!!!

9 Days

Well, no baby yet. I was having quite a few contractions, but they weren't doing any good evidently...which I guess is a good thing since we have a c-section scheduled on the 19th.

We are getting everything ready for Miss Grace and we have purchased "Emma's Big Sister Stash" of goodies. Now we just wait...I have a feeling this week will be a long one.

36 Week Update

I can't believe that we have made it full term!!! Baby Grace was doing great at our last appointment. She is getting ready to met everyone!! We still have the c-section scheduled on the 19th of Feb, but my OB says it might change. It just depends on how my blood pressures are. Gracie has been very active, and I think she is ready to arrive!!!! Or maybe I am just excited for her to arrive. We will keep everyone updated!!!

Quick Update

We are still iced in...and by iced in I mean our driveway is a solid piece of ice. Today we decided to get out for a little bit. It was nice to venture out of the house however when it was time to come home....we had a little trouble. The Honda couldn't make it up the driveway. So Craig parked it on the side of the street and tried to go up the lawn..well it was complete ice also and finally he was able to do it. Emma was a basket case. When he finally got her in the garage safe and sound, he had to come back and help me....well an 8 1/2 month pregnant woman who is nervous on the ice was a BIGGER deal. It was okay at first until we slid, but didn't fall. Then Emma could tell I was scared and she started to CRY and then stepped out of the garage on the ice crying and fell on her bottom. She was fine..just scared. Finally with the help of rock salt we made it up the hill of a front lawn. Who knew a slight incline would be so difficult to get up? It is quite comical now, but not funny at the time. So, I guess we will let Craig leave, but Emma and I will stay.

I went to my knew Primary Care Physician today. He is very nice and I like him. He was able to refer me to an obstetric chiropractor to help with my back pain. My blood pressure was slightly elevated, but by the time I left it was lowering. The doctor checked for protein, but it was just a trace. I have an OB appt. Monday. I only have 4 1/2 weeks until the baby is here. I am hoping that the blood pressure and everything just stay normal. I have been monitoring kick counts and she has been doing great!!

Please pray for all the people who are still without power in the Mid-West. Many of them have been out of power since Friday or Saturday. God Bless!!

34 Weeks

I know this may seem insignificant, but we have made it to 34 weeks....yea!! Emma was born at 34 weeks. I have no signs of pre-eclampsia..we had a scare last week, but everything was fine!! Gracie has been so active today as if she was telling all was okay. We only have 5 weeks left until we see our new baby girl!!!