And we have pigtails

One of the many joys of having a little girl is the ability to accessorize them. This can be done through charming clothes, shoes, and the one I’m having oodles of fun with now, hair! Gracie’s hair is getting longer and thicker and the hair possibilities are endless. We’ve been using barrettes on her for some time now but she easily pulls them out during her “fits of divaness”. The elastics, not so easy for her to ruin. Enjoy the pictures of Gracie with her pigtails, her Mom Mom, and her Pop Pop.

Gracie's first boo-boo

Poor baby. I was making our traditional Saturday big breakfast and David was helping me in the kitchen. Gracie was safely "corralled" in the living room when we heard a thud followed by, our course, her wailing. David and I ran into the living room and saw her laying on her back, crying and looking especially pitiful. David picked her up and there was a small speck of blood on her chin. Her first blood spill. I, of course, checked her face, inside her mouth, and all over her body to make sure she was ok. David held her while she cried and we cleaned up her chin without a problem. 5 minutes after it happened, Gracie was playing again.

Now that she is so mobile, these kinds of accidents are inevitable. She toddles around ALL DAY, no longer happy with sitting or being held. It’s especially hysterical when she’s tired and takes two steps, falls sideways(she does this very gracefully), and then tries to get back up. A riot. So today I will make another stop at Target, for band-aides, Neosporin, and perhaps the baby leash!

Rings and things

Gracie has a fascination with her ring toys. She will walk around with them on her wrist for hours.



In other news, Dave and I have decided to return to the world of the hip and adventurous! Hmm, returning denotes that we were once there…not sure if we could classified as hip or in any way adventurous but I digress… we have decided that it’s time to HIRE A REAL LIFE BABYSITTER! Sure we have left Gracie for an evening or two but it has always been in the care of my parents or my sister; never with anyone unrelated. As we fall into a constant routine, Dave and I find that, while there is comfort in the routine, it also leads to extreme boredom and monotony. We find ourselves longing to go to dinner, visit a friend, or just have some time to ourselves. Although Jen and Mom and Dad are great, we decided that we need to have a babysitter who lives close by that we can call on when we need to get out. I searched on Criagslist and even went to babysitters.com (who, by the way, wanted $119 to join to view their sitters) but I wasn’t happy with what I found. I mean, this person is going to be alone in my house with my child, this is a huge responsibility not to be trusted to just anyone, right?!?! Then, it hit me.
About 10 years ago, my sister started to babysat a little girl, Lilly. Jen and I took turns watching her and then, while I was in college, I was a nanny for her all summer. I ran into her and her mother at Giant Food a couple of months back and Lilly is, (gasp!) 14!!! I couldn’t believe it, she is taller than me. So this morning I emailed her mother and asked if Lilly babysat. She was thrilled that I sent the email and Lilly and Grace are going to finally meet! The kicker? Lilly lives one block away!! Yippee!!! Salvation!!! Dinner and drinks with my husband, playdates for Mommy and Daddy. I’m thrilled!

Lazy Summer Days...

Gracie has been enjoying her relaxed summer schedule. Although Mommy is still working, our morning don’t seem nearly as hectic. Traffic is so much lighter in the morning and we don’t have to be out of the house until 7. I get off work around 1, run errands (aka shop!) and then pick Gracie up after her nap. We then try to do some fun mother daughter bonding, like our trip to Aunt Sissy’s pool on Monday. Grace loves the water, unlike her mother at that age. My dad still teases me about my nail marks being embedded on the side of Vienna Woods Swim Club’s baby pool, my parents coaxing me to just come out of the safety of my little corner in the 2 feet! But I digress…Grace loves the water. She splashes and kicks and even just chills in her inter tube while Mommy sunbathes (in the pool with her of course).

Grace is walking faster than ever. I can’t believe that in just two weeks she’s gone from barely being able to stand to full out hauling ass across the family room! It definitely makes our job as parents more challenge but it is so rewarding to see her run to me when I pick her up from school. She is so proud of herself.

All the advances, however, aren’t good ones. Whenever Dave or I tell Grace no (no you can’t smack the dog, no you can’t stomp on Daddy’s DVD’s, no you cannot throw your food on the ground) she laughs. I’m talkin’ stares at you and exudes this full on belly laugh. At first I thought it was just when I told her no. Certainly she would listen to Dave’s deep bellowing voice. No, she doesn’t. I think she even laughs and little louder! Oh, and last night she bite Dave, twice. Great. I believe we’re going to start allocating the high chair for time outs. We have to do something.

Despite these two “challenges”, we’ve decided to keep her. I’m taking her “baby free to a good home” ad off CraigsList.


She loves splashing in the water!

I know my face is a bit creepy in this one but she looks so cute...excuse my creepiness

Poll: The baby leash

Now that Grace is becoming mobile, a whole new scary world is opening up to us. When we're out shopping, Grace willingly stays in her stroller/cart and we are able to go about our shopping and actually really enjoy the experience. But now, Grace is going to want to walk around...OMG. Am I going to be one of those frazzled mom's running after their screaming baby in the Target?!?!? We've all seen those mom's and perhaps chuckled a bit at their misfortunes but is this my destiny? Will Target never be the same? Ok, so that's a bit dramatic. But, their is a very real safety question here.

Yesterday David and I were at Babies R Us finally buying baby proofing devices when I came across THE BABY LEASH! At first I laughed but then I began to think about all the benefits of owning such a device. I will admit that I used to laugh at people who put their baby on a (uh-hum) leash but I have to not judge a parent...we do what we can to make easier. So readers, what do you think? Should I purchase the baby leash? Here's a pic for those of you who do not have children and have no flippin' clue what I'm talking about:

Grace is gaining her own independence

by walking! Yesterday Grace took her first unassisted steps! I'll write more later but I wanted everyone to know. Go Gracie!

Signs, signs everywhere are signs...

But poor Gracie has two very dense parents. When I went to pick her up today, she was having her snack. I decided to pop a squat right next to her and partake in a couple of animals crackers. As I was eating the head off an unsuspecting bear, the caregiver walked around asking the babies if they wanted any more. When Ms. Stephanie got to Grace with the jar of crackers, Grace made the sign for more accompanied by a "mah, mah" noise! WHAT?!?!? Grace knows the sign for more? Why were we not informed of this. For the last month or so Grace has gotten frusterated at the dinner table waving her hands and grunting. Well, idiot mom, that wasn't random waving and grunting, she was trying to communicate!!!! When we got home tonight and I prepared her a special grilled chicken pasta with homemade pea/carrott/spinach tomato sauce, I gave her a small piece. She ate it quickly and then I asked her if she wanted more, accompanied with the sign. Grace's eyes lite up: "Ah ha, she finally got it!" Grace then made the sign for more!

I wonder what else they're teaching my daughter. One day I'll get to school and she'll be twirling a batton on one leg. Rather unlikely.

I of course grabbed the camera and captured my daughter's sign. I also ran upstair and dug out my book on baby signs. Why didn't I start this months ago?

Oh, please excuse my overly annoying voice.