All I Want for Christmas

...is my two front teeth, my two front teeth, yeah my two front teeth...

Oh wait! I GOT my two front teeth! The two front bottom teeth, but hey, it's a start. And boy, did I work for those babies! Now I love to show them off every chance I get. The first one finally made its big breakthrough about a week before Christmas, and the second one popped up this weekend. You can see them really well when I'm talking, laughing, and eating.

Ah, yes, eating. Who knew that pureed carrots could be so gloriously delicious? So far, I have gobbled up anything that is spooned into my eager little mouth. I'm up to an entire two-ounce jar of baby food per day, plus four scoops of rice cereal, and about 24 ounces of formula. And to think, I used to get so excited about boring ol' milk. This week, I'll explore a new fruit - maybe bananas or apricots. Bon appetit!

So, back to Christmas... I hope everyone reading this had a wonderful holiday. Most people won't believe it, but we actually had a white Christmas! Mom and Dad said it was in honor of my first Christmas. The snow only lasted for a few hours, but it was so cool! We spent the weekend leading up to Christmas at the beach with Grandma Jan, Auntie Nina, Uncle Chris, Auntie Noelle, Uncle Jeremy, Rubie, and Great-Grandma Z. Aunt Nina made a yummy dinner and everyone opened presents. Rubie and I had a slumber party at Grandma Jan's, and we played nicely together with all our new toys. Then, on Christmas itself, Mommy, Daddy, and I spent a quiet day at home listening to Christmas music, opening more presents, and enjoying the snow.

I've been trying to crawl for awhile now, but on Christmas Eve, I finally did it! It turns out it's a bit over-rated, though. In fact, I can't really get anywhere faster than before when I was scooting and squirming. So, I've moved on to bigger and better things, like pulling myself to a standing position and inching along furniture to get where I need to go. My parents are flabbergasted because they thought they'd have awhile to prepare for this HUGE developmental leap. But... I'm a determined baby, what can I say?

So, this will be my final post for 2007. It has been an excellent year, what with my birth and all, but I have a feeling more good things are in store for 2008. See you then!

I Met Santa!

It was last Sunday - only the second day into December - and The Holidays were in full force. Our whole family was bitten by the Christmas bug, so where better to experience the season than at The Mall. The whole place was decked out in sparkling tinsel, garland, and lights (OK, it's been that way since October), and at the center of it all was Santa! Mommy sat me on his great big, cushy lap, I looked straight into his jolly eyes, and I grabbed a whole fistful of his soft, white beard. It was magical! Daddy explained that he isn't the real Santa, but it was sure neat to meet his likeness.

Today, I'm helping Benji and his moms pick out a Christmas tree for their house. We're going to a u-pick tree farm, and I get to ride on a tractor and everything! It's a pretty day with blue skies and sunshine, so I'm excited to get out there in the fresh, brisk air. Afterwards, Mommy has to do some Christmas shopping, so we'll brave the crowds for awhile.

Since my last post, we got a new camera. We're still mourning the loss of the missing memory cards, which contained pictures of many firsts. For example, my first messy bites of solid food; my first Thanksgiving; my first time sitting up in the big bathtub; the first time I knealed in my crib and peeked out through the slabs while Mommy laughed at how funny I was. Not to mention, there were just lots of great shots of me being 5, 6, 7-months old. Sob. Sniffle. Booooo hoooooooo. :-(

But, I've still got a lot of firsts ahead of me; we're constantly making new memories, and my parents are capturing as much as they can on film. Have I mentioned that I am absolutely itching to crawl? I can bring myself to the crawling position, and I kind of rock back and forth, but I'm just not quite able to move forward yet. It's only a matter of time, though. In the meantime, I scoot and roll all over the place. If I need to get to something, I'll figure out a way.

I'm still talking up a storm. I've increased my vocabulary quite a bit in the last couple of weeks. For example, every time I see Norman the kitty, I delightfully squeal "keeeeeeeeeee!" Mom thinks that's my word for "kitty" but I use it for anything that makes me happy. I am fond of saying "yayayaya" as well as "yiyiyiyiyi" (long i sound, like eye). When I first wake up in the morning, I lay in my crib chattering away.

That's about all I have to report for today. We finally have a few new pictures to share. Aren't I getting big? My hair is almost long enough to put into a barrette. It sticks straight up, all fluffy and chicky-ish. Oh, I'm such a lovable baby girl!

Gobble Gobble

Things I’m thankful for on this, my very first Thanksgiving: Strong tummy muscles and balance (YAY! I can sit up by myself!); Norman the kitty; Grandma Jan’s big bathtub; tummy gummers; my pink and white fluffalump; rides on Daddy’s shoulders; Baby Orajel; and, of course, all of my family and friends who love me so very much.

I’ve been on rice cereal now for about two weeks, but on Thanksgiving, I got to try pureed apple for the very first time. Initially, I didn’t know what to think about the sweet-tart taste and strange texture, but I’m gradually getting the hang of this whole eating-from-a-spoon thing. Next, I get to try smooshed-up green beans. Mmmmm.

To commemorate my first Thanksgiving, my day care teachers made me my very own place mat. It’s a small rectangle of laminated paper printed with Thanksgiving-y pictures, and in the center of the mat is my pretty face superimposed on the image of a girl pilgrim. It’s very festive.

Since my last report, I’ve learned how to clap! Mommy heard that most babies don’t clap until they’re at least ten months old, so she’s pretty proud of me. At first, I tentatively brought my fists together during the song, If You’re Happy and You Know It. Now that I’m a more advanced clapper, I applaud with wild abandon while gleefully bouncing and squealing at whatever delights me (Daddy's kisses, squirrels, my feet, Normie...).

I’ve also established quite the repertoire of consonant-infused gibberish. My favorite sounds are, lalala, dadadada, bababa, and the combo, ladabadalala. When I talk, I move my toothless jaw up and down and wiggle my tongue all around. Since we’re on the topic of adorableness, you should see my hair. It’s growing in quite nicely, especially on top, and is reminiscent of baby duck feathers. It’s sooooo fluffy and soft.

So, I went for my last well-baby exam a couple weeks ago and learned that my weight and height are leveling out a bit. Daddy was right on about my weight (15.5 pounds), but I grew only half an inch taller in the last three months (27 inches). Dr. Jan told my parents how healthy and bright I am. What a perfect assessment! Everything about me is sunshiny bright.

For the record, Mom feels very bad about poking fun at Daddy for losing one of our photo memory cards a few weeks ago. It wasn’t nice. After all, it was just a thing. It’s not like he lost the entire camera, case, both batteries, and the other memory card. That would’ve been tragic, which is precisely why Mom feels so bad.

You see, the camera and afore-mentioned accoutrements just happened to be in Mom’s possession this weekend when they mysteriously disappeared. We completely retraced our steps, plus we scoured the house, vehicle, bags, purses, and everything else that could’ve possibly been harboring the missing camera. But it is tragically, heart-breakingly, eternally gone.

Despite this dramatic set-back to our photo-sharing regime, we will persevere. In fact, we were just thinking how great it would be to have a combo camcorder/camera to capture all of my upcoming “firsts.” After all, I’m much more mobile now, so we clearly need to incorporate action-filled videos into our photo library. I’m pretty sure that Santa will be coming to our house a few weeks early this year…

In the interim, if my parents can figure it out, they’ll try to add a few pictures to this site via their camera phones. Until then, Happy Holidays!

My Day In Court and Other News

Here I am! Did you miss me? I know I've been MIA lately, but hopefully I haven't lost the interest of any of my regular blog visitors. I have lots of fascinating tidbits to report and we finally accumulated enough blog-worthy photos to share with everyone. There was an unfortunate photo incident, but more about that later.

First of all, how cool is Halloween? It's one of Dad's favorite holidays and now I know why. I was quite taken with the pumpkins, costumes, and excitement. I wore a cozy green sweet pea costume. How appropriate, right? I had a great time trick-or-treating with Benji and his pups, and I even got about six treats in my tiny pumpkin pail!

Something quite significant for our family took place yesterday: My adoption was finalized! Our case was assigned to a very nice judge who conducted a lovely ceremony as she signed the official paperwork. I was in such a happy, giggly mood during the entire proceeding. The judge even let me sit on her bench and play with her gavel while she marveled at what a sweet baby girl I am. It was a joyous day for our little family.

Since the last time I checked in, I've mastered the fine art of squirming. I roll and wiggle and worm my way across any flat surface. What can I say? I have places to go, people to see. I'm very close to sitting up on my own. In fact, I can keep my balance for quite a long time before I eventually tip over.

Some recent discoveries: I have a belly button. I love balloons. Peek-a-boo is the best game ever. Norman is fun to lick. I love to be hoisted up in the air over Daddy's head and flown around the house like an airplane. Vrooooom!

Mom is delighted with the fact that I am completely fearless around animals. I haven't met an animal I don't love. Dogs, cats, pot-bellied pigs, chickens, you name it.

So, about the photos. Someone (we won't say who, we'll just call him Shmaddy) accidentally left one of our camera's memory cards at the Costco photo counter. Unfortunately, it hasn't resurfaced despite Da -- I mean Shmaddy's -- attempts to find it. He even left our phone number with Costco in case someone returns it. But, we've been making up for lost time with daily photo shoots so we should have more photos to share in the coming weeks.

That's about it for now. I'm still showing signs of teething, but I haven't actually cut a tooth yet. I'm going for my next well-baby check up on 11/13, so we should have good news to report next week. We haven't taken bets for my weight/length in awhile. Any guesses? Mommy is guessing I'm about 16 pounds and 29 inches long; Daddy thinks I'm 15.5 pounds and 28.25 inches long. We'll see...

Pump It Up, Pumpy

As you can imagine, I get to play with all sorts of toys at day care, even some that I already have at home. Take, for example, the swing. It was one of my very first big toys at home, and I used to play in it quite a bit. That is, until I got my bouncer; then my tummy-time mat; then my exersaucer. For the most part, the lowly swing now sits unused in a remote corner of our living room.

However, at day care, I am what some might call a frequent swinger. In fact, I am such a prolific swinger that I have figured out how to pump my little legs and torso so hard that I can make the swing go faster and faster. And, I know how to reach for the bar to stop the swing when I’ve had enough. Mommy learned all of this about me just the other day when she decided to let me revisit my old swing at home. Oh, you should’ve seen the look of amazement on her face when she saw me in action!

Then… just this morning, while I was playing on my birdie mat (that’s my tummy-time mat with an electronic bluebird that chirps and flies overhead), I showcased another of my impressive moves. While on my belly, I pull my legs all the way under my body so my little bottom goes in the air, then I propel myself forward. I can only go a few inches at a time, but my parents think this is definitely the precursor to crawling.

Other than these exciting advancements in my development, I’ve just been growing and learning at my usual pace. Is it just me, or do my eyes get bigger and brighter by the day? One of my day care teachers told Daddy that I am everyone’s favorite baby in my group because of how sweet and happy I am all the time. No joke. See, my parents aren’t just being partial when they say how great I am. I really am quite extraordinary.

We just came back from a wonderful weekend of merriment with my birth family. It has been nearly four months since we’ve seen each other! I got to see my birth parents, FIVE generations of grandparents, aunties, cousins, and lots of other lovely people who have been eager to meet me. As my wise Auntie Noellie once said (this isn’t an exact quote), A child can’t have enough love. The more love a child receives, the more she is able to give in return. Well, if that’s truly the case, then ya’ll are in for a big love fest because I am, quite possibly, the most adored child on Earth.

Back to my weekend: We all went out to breakfast, then to an old-fashioned pumpkin patch on Saturday. It was such a perfect fall day! Mama Ashley took me inside the petting zoo and I got to pet (and drool all over) a pot-bellied pig, and I even got to “ride” a goat while Mama Ashley held me. It turns out that I really love animals. I’m completely enamored with our cat, Norman. And I’m quite fond of Benji’s dogs, Ruby and Murphy.

Anyway, it was a very exciting and fulfilling couple of days. I’ve been a bit crabby since the weekend ended because I went completely off my schedule the whole time we were gone (hey, you’d be cranky if you didn’t nap for two straight days, too). But, I’m easing back into my usual routine and feeling a lot better because of it. Babies love structure, right? Unfortunately, my parents learned that the hard way.

Tonight, Grandma Jan is coming to spend a couple days with us. Tomorrow, I get to play hooky from day care and spend the entire day with her, all by myself! I’m looking very forward to the ensuing spoilage. Until next time… adios amigos.

Achoo!

I'm just checking in for a minute because I don't feel very good. Our whole family came down with colds this week, but I was hit the hardest. The worst part is that the snot sucker is in full force, once again. I've become very strong lately, though. I figure that Mom and Dad will give up on using that thing if I flail my arms and legs, whip my head back and forth, and scream with all my might. My dramatic fits shake them up quite a bit, but they still manage to get that thing up my nose. Although I hate to admit it, I always end up breathing a lot more freely after they use it.

Anyway, my big news for this post is that last week, Daddy took me to get my ears pierced! It hurt a little, but not as bad as those shots I keep getting at my doctor visits. It was worth it, though, because I look so pretty! I have to wear my starter earrings for two months -- they're in the shape of tiny, pink daisies -- then I can switch to another pair. Mommy and Daddy clean my ears a few times per day and move the earrings around; otherwise, I don't even know they're there.

My Uncle Chris is staying with us this weekend. He cracks me up with all the funny noises he makes for my benefit (for example, ajugabugaboobooo). I laugh and laugh whenever he's around.

Well, that's it for today. I have a few new pictures to post, but I haven't been in the mood for full-blown photo shoots lately. If you take a close look at the new photos, you might see my pretty earrings. Oh! I recently learned how to give excellent, slobbery baby kisses to unsuspecting cheeks. So, I'm sending everyone a wet, drooly smooch right now!

Here Comes the Rain Again

Oh, isn't it glorious! Almost overnight, it went from summer to fall. The leaves are all changing colors; the Canadian geese have arrived and are honking wildly; and each morning feels a bit brisker. Soon, I'll be dressing up for my first Halloween!

That reminds me of a cute story: Mom, her friend, and I were having lunch at a restaurant when a cute little girl (maybe 3 years old) came over and asked what my name is. When Mom replied, "Grace," the little girl goes, "Grapes?" Mom said yep, and the little girl turned around and said, "Mommy, that baby's name is 'Grapes'." Hahahahahahaha!

I promised to report my vital stats after my last doctor's appointment, so here I am. You're never going to believe it, but I have more than doubled my birth weight (I weigh 13 pounds, 6.5 ounces) and have stretched over seven inches since I was born (I measure an enormous 26.5 inches). Aren't I incredible? My ever-shrinking pajamas are a sure sign that I'm thriving, but who knew? And, you may remember that I was previously in the 15th percentile for head circumference. Well, I'm proud to report that I am now in the 40th percentile. No wonder all my hats and bonnets are fitting a big snugly these days...

I have recently mastered the fine art of squealing. A couple weeks ago, I came home from day care with a new sound: It was kind of a combo snort/squawk/scream. Then, it evolved into a shrill screech, and now it is a magnificent squeal. I giggle and squeal when Daddy kisses my tummy or Mommy tickles my toes, or if either of them does/says anything particularly hilarious. I'm quite the talker, too. I discovered that I can make different noises if I roll my tongue or make various shapes with my mouth/lips. And you wouldn't believe all the facial expressions I can make!

One of my favorite games is to grab at my fluttering dragonfly mobile while Mommy blows on it. A month ago, I learned how to clap at it with both hands; now, I can actually reach for it with one hand (and sometimes get it).

In my last post, I reported the move from my parents' bedroom to my own nursery. Since then, I've made yet another momentous transition. I have now moved from my cradle to my crib. It's great! I can fully stretch my arms and legs in every direction, plus, the bug mobile above my crib is much more entertaining than the one above my cradle. Mom and Dad don't let me sleep with stuffed animals (due to safety concerns), but there are all kinds of cool things hanging from the crib rails for me to look at and play with when I'm first waking up. Next stop: king-sized bed!

We have a few new pictures to post, when we have time. My hair still isn't growing in, but my eyelashes are more than making up for it. People have inquired about my upcoming teeth, but as of now, there's nothing to report. I drool a lot, but otherwise, there are no signs of pearly whites. That's just as well. They'd get in the way of "chewing" on my toes.

Until next time, tootle-oo.

Birthday Wishes

Happy pre-birthday, Daddy Mike! I know it’s not for a couple more days, but I might not get another chance to update my blog before then. I hope you have a wonderful day doing all of your favorite things!

In honor of your special day, I have compiled some hilarious birthday jokes just for you.

Joke #1: Why is the price of Turtle Wax so high?
Because turtles have really small ears

Joke #2: What kind of shoes do mice wear?
Squeakers

Joke #3: Where did Napoleon keep his army?
In his sleeve-y

Technically, I can’t take any credit for these comical tidbits (I’m just repeating some of the ones I remember). Maybe you have some funny jokes to tell me, too!

Well, it looks like the goal of posting a weekly update to my blog is a bit lofty. It seems that there is a direct correlation between the frequency of posts and our level of busy-ness. The month of August was eventful, to say the least (thus the infrequent posts).

Two weekends ago, Pee Paw and Gma Bee (a.k.a. Mom’s dad and Barbara) came all the way from SoCal to meet me for the very first time. PP got to see me sleep in the wooden cradle he hand-made for my mom when she was born over 31 years ago! We had a very nice visit. The highlight of the entire weekend was the dahlia festival we went to. The weather was divine and the flowers were spectacular! We meandered through rows of dahlias in every variety, color, and texture you could imagine. The pièce de résistance was the cut-flower exhibit, which showcased each specimen in glorious detail. Then, on the drive home from the festival, we stopped at a road-side produce stand and got peaches as big as my head (well, my head is rather small but you get the gist).

Last weekend, I stayed at Grandma Jan’s for my very first sleepover without my parents. Mom and Dad went to a no-kids-allowed wedding, so I got to have some 1:1 time with Gma Jan and Gpa Ron. To take advantage of their first date night since I was born, my parents went to a movie, stayed up past midnight, and slept in until 9:30 the next morning. I also got to see Auntie Nina’s classroom. She has it decorated so nicely, with lots of plants and personal touches. Her kids are sure lucky to have her for their English teacher!

It turns out that we never got the chance to visit the butterfly gardens when Rubie was here a few weeks ago because it rained that day. Daddy is afraid that all the butterflies will fly away unless we visit them soon, so hopefully we’ll get to see them this weekend.

As for developmental news, I have mastered the toes-in-the-mouth feat that I’ve been working on (pun intended – hardy har har). I have mad rolling skills, although it is much easier for me to roll from my back to my tummy than the other way around. I have discovered how to splash in my bathtub, and I think it’s funny to put my big toe in the faucet while the water is running so it sprays everywhere! It turns out that I HATE the snot-sucker-outer (a.k.a. bulb syringe), and I scream bloody murder whenever Mom tries to get boogers out of my nose.

Finally, and maybe most significantly, I have moved out of my parents’ room and am now sleeping in my own room. It was a tougher transition for my parents than it was for me, but at least they don’t have to drag my cradle from room to room any longer (and I get to gaze at my bug mobile when I wake up in the morning).

Well, that’s all I have to report for today. I am going for my next well-baby check-up next Tuesday (9/11/07), so I’ll fill everyone in on my stats next week. We have tons of new pictures to upload, so keep an eye out for those, too!

Glad Fredag!

That's Happy Friday in Norwegian. Of course, that got me thinking: What's my Norwegian name? It turns out that it's Ynde. Naturally, that fascinating discovery led to further exploration, so here's my name in other languages:

• Gnade (German)
• Graça (Portugese)
• Gracia (Spanish)
• Gunst (Dutch)
• Tolleranza (Italian)

And my favorite:

• Kalake/Kalakie (Hawaiian)

I wonder what my many nicknames translate into. Hmm…

So, I am officially a roller now. Last Saturday, I rolled from my back to my tummy for the very first time. (Well, that’s what my parents think. What happens at day-care, stays at day-care, right?) Because I love all the attention, I do lots of encore performances. Plus, at day-care, they have this cool exer-saucer thingie that I absolutely LOVE! I can “stand” up in it and everything! I’m doing all sorts of fun things to build my core strength and develop gross motor skills. It’s really just a matter of time before I’ll be climbing Mt. Everest.

We’ve totally been spoiled by all the visitors lately! Grandma Jan came last weekend. We went to a new farmer’s market on Saturday, then to the zoo for Mom’s company picnic. I saw an elephant, tiger, warty hog, and mountain goat. I also got to go on the Zoo Train. Most of the animals were hiding and/or sleeping because the picnic didn’t start until after the zoo closed to the public. Oh well. Dad said we’ll go to the zoo many, many more times as I get older.

This weekend, Rubie and her parents are coming to see me. We are finally going to the butterfly garden at the park by our house. We have wanted to go for weeks, but haven’t prioritized it. So get ready butterflies because here we come!

Other things to report:

• I recently learned how to clasp my hands.
• I sleep for at least eight consecutive hours through the night.
• I can easily grasp small toys, stuffed animals, and books (plus noses, beards, long hair...).
• I received my second pedicure. This time, Grandma Jan chose a light pink shade to compliment my rosy complexion.

Although we finally have faster Internet access, it is a general lack of time that prevents my parents from updating this blog more frequently. Their goal is to post something at least once per week, so please check back regularly. See you soon!

I'm Baaaaack...

Top five highlights of the past two weeks (in no particular order):

• I giggled my first giggle (it turns out I’m quite ticklish).
• We went to Rubie’s first birthday party and saw many family members, including my cousin Brenden. (He was in Utah visiting his mom for six long weeks.)
• I had my first solid BM in over a week.
• I got to see Grandma T at my third cousin, Hannah’s, ninth birthday party. (I haven’t seen her since the day I was born!) I also got to meet several family members for the first time.
• I can grab my own foot with my hand!
  

Yes, it has been an eventful couple of weeks. I am on a pretty structured routine, which I seem to be responding to very well. Babies love consistency, right? I get up at 5:30 a.m. every morning, even on the weekend. Daddy gets up to change, feed, burp, hold, clothe, and play with me. Sometimes I take a little snooze while he showers and gets ready for work, then he takes me to day-care. I have even settled into a feeding/sleeping schedule at day-care. Mom visits me during the day and picks me up when she gets off of work. When we get home, she showers me with kisses and tells me how much she loves and misses me. We play together for awhile before bath time, then it’s dinnertime followed by story time. I’m pretty much wiped out by the end of the first story, so I typically sleep from about 7:00 p.m. until 5:30 a.m.

So, after I had been sick with that nasty stomach flu for over a week, my parents took me to see my favorite Dr. Jan. She weighed me to ensure I wasn’t losing too many ounces, and it turns out I’ve gained quite a few since my last checkup. I’m now a whopping 11 pounds, 7 ounces! I knew I was growing at a nice pace because all of my three-month sized clothes fit perfectly, but I had no idea I had gained nearly five pounds since birth.

Well, it looks like August will be a very busy month for me. Auntie Nina is staying with us this weekend; Grandma Jan is coming next weekend (we’re going to the zoo); Auntie Noelle and the gang are coming the following weekend; and I get to meet my Pee Paw and Gma Bee for the very first time the weekend after that! It will be an eventful month, for sure.

We just got Verizon Fios installed this week, so that means we can download pictures much, much faster. Check back soon to view recent photos of me – you’ll be amazed at how much I’ve changed/grown!

Gastroenteritis Is the Pits

I'm sick. Everyone warned me that I'd be surrounded by germs at daycare, but who would've guessed that I'd come down with a nasty stomach bug the very first week?! My symptoms started Thursday night, were full-fledged on Friday, and are subsiding today. I'm still pretty sleepy and not in the mood to smile or play, but at least I'm on the upswing. Mom and Dad were pretty freaked out about me becoming dehydrated, so they called my doctor who prescribed these icky little suppositories that help to ease my nausea so I can keep fluids down. You don't even want to know where these suppositories go, but they do the job.

As for my first week at daycare, it was great! I love my teachers and they love me. I spent the first couple of days just looking around and taking everything in. Some of the older, almost-walking babies demand a lot more attention than I do, so I just hang back with my easy-going, immobile friends. By the end of the day, I'm beat. I'm so busy at daycare that by the time I get home, I just want to sleep!

Going back to work on Monday wasn't as tragic for my mom as she had anticipated. It helps that Daddy is the one who drops me off at daycare each morning. Mommy visits me during her lunch hour to make sure I haven't forgotten who she is (duh, Mom), and she can't wait to pick me up every afternoon so she can hear all about my day. On Friday, Mom and Dad each took half a day off from work to care for me while I was sick. Now next week, the goal is to get through the entire week without being ill.

You may have noticed that I didn't post any new pictures this week. That's because our computer crashed due to the thousands of photos we had stored on our hard drive. Dad is in the process of correcting the situation, so I should have new pictures to share in a few days. Stay tuned for irresistibly cute shots of me on my first day of daycare and other exciting occasions throughout the week...

Cry Baby, Cry

Mommy says I have the most beautiful face and voice, even when I cry. Many babies make a "waaaaaa" noise when they're wailing; I say "maaaaaa" or "baaaaaa" and curl my bottom lip all the way up. I also scrunch up my nose and snort a lot. As far as babies go, I don't really cry that often. I whine and fuss sometimes, which gets my parents' attention easily enough. But when I really need to pull out all the stops, all I have to do is turn on the crocodile tears to completely melt their hearts. Mommy and Daddy don't stand a chance against my sad eyes and long, wet eyelashes.

I haven't checked in for awhile because I've been a busy little bee. Since early June, I've been the guest of honor at three -- yes, THREE -- separate baby showers. Our church friends threw one in early June; Mommy's work friends did one in mid-June; and my aunties (Nina and Noelle) hosted yet another on July 1. Each shower was very special in its own way, and I got to meet lots of new people at each one. As if I weren't already, now I'm especially spoiled after all of those nice shower gifts I received! If only I had a bigger nursery...

Last week, I experienced many significant firsts. For my first Fourth of July, I went on my first overnight stay to Grandma's house (Gma Jan, that is). While I was at Grandma's, she gave me my first pedicure. Plus, Mom and Dad took me to the beach and dipped my feet in the mighty Pacific for the very first time. I was a little freaked out by the wind, so we didn't stay long, but my parents reassured me that we will return to the beach many times throughout my childhood.

I have hit a lot of developmental milestones lately. For instance, I have started to correlate cause and effect when an object moves or makes noise as a result of me hitting or kicking it. Additionally, while sitting unsupported, I can hold up my head and torso for several seconds without wobbling. Also, when I am lying on my back, I have figured out how to simultaneously lift both of my legs above my abdomen and grab my toes with my hands. It's really just a matter of time before I get those little piggies in my mouth. Speaking of that, I have started to explore nearly everything with my mouth and tongue. It often makes for a drooly mess, but hey, that's what bibs are for. The other day, Mom said she watched me almost turn onto my back from a prone position. I've agreed to save my first rollover and all other developmental firsts for when I'm home and can perform for my parents, not my daycare providers.

Ah, daycare. Yes, the time has come. Mommy will return to work this Monday, July 16, after 12 short, albeit unforgettable, weeks at home with me. Although she is looking forward to getting reacquainted with the job she loves, coworkers she enjoys, and routine she thrives on, it is going to be excruciating for her to be away from me while she's at work. Thankfully, Mom's office is just a few blocks away from the daycare center, and her boss fully supports her need to visit me often.

In preparation for Monday, I got to visit the daycare center this week to familiarize myself with the new sounds, smells, and sights while Mom and Dad were there to hold me and introduce me to the teachers and fellow babies. I will be in the infant group until I'm an experienced walker, then I'll move to the toddler group. There are currently eight other babies in the infant group for me to make friends with. I'm the youngest at 12 weeks; the next closest in age is a four-month old little boy. Some of the really great things about my daycare is that all of the teachers are certified in early childhood development; I'll get to learn some basic infant sign-language once I'm old enough to control my hand movements; the curriculum emphasizes the importance of reading to me as an infant and beyond; and the teachers spend a lot of time holding, singing to, playing with, and providing personalized attention to all of the babies (we know this because we've seen it first-hand every time we've dropped in, plus, Mom has spoken to several references from her work who have attested to all of the positive attributes of the center).

Still. Mom says she's a little sad about the transition. We were just getting to know each other so well! I look for her from across a room. I smile at her every time we meet. I calm down when she talks to me. She is able to interpret all of my distinctive cries, coos, and chortles. We have a routine, for crying out loud! Now she fully understands how hard it was for Daddy to go back to work after several weeks at home with me. I don't think I'll have any trouble adjusting, though. I've already connected with one of the babies from daycare. Her name is Genevieve, she's five-months old, and we stared and smiled at each other a lot. Plus, I have lots of experience with other babies (like Rubie, for example). And because I have been well socialized since birth, I am quite content with anyone who wants to hold me, feed me, play with me, love me.

Well, if my mom wants to post any new pictures of me before my first birthday, I better get going (yup, we're stuck with dial-up until after August 20). I'll be back next weekend to report about my first week at daycare. Ciao for now!

Who Is the Healthiest Girl in the World?

I am! Oh yeah, Doctor Jan told me that not only am I one of the most beautiful babies she's ever seen (she actually said that!), but I'm also exceptionally smart, strong, and developmentally perfect. True to my nature, I was very calm throughout the entire appointment, just looking around the office, "talking" to everyone, and smiling away. Because I had to go diaper-less for awhile, I peed all over the exam table. (That teaches them to leave me uncovered -- ha!) It was fine though. I don't mind taking an extra bath.

My parents had a relatively short list of questions, as far as new parents go (that's what Dr. Jan said). All in all, I am the picture of health. Here are my stats, but first I just have to say, BOOYAH! I was right on about my weight/length (give or take a few ounces/centimeters).

Weight: 10 pounds, 11 ounces (50th percentile)

Length: 22 and 3/4 inches (60th percentile)

Head circumference: I don't remember the measurement, but I'm in the 15th percentile. Dr. Jan said that's just fine. It means I made it easier on Mama Ashley to deliver a small-headed baby.

The shots weren't as bad as I had anticipated. The heel stick at my two-week checkup was much more traumatic. This time, I had to get four shots (two in each thigh). Luckily, Daddy was right there to hold and comfort me through the worst of it. Plus, I got to have two sparkly band-aids when I was done. Dr. Jan said I might be fussy the rest of the day, but I wasn't. I was my usual sweet little self all day long. In fact, I slept ALL the way through the night. I've been sleeping about six hours at a stretch, but last night I slept for over eight hours in a row! I'm not sure what my parents ever did to deserve me, but they are definitely the luckiest two people around.

I don't need to see Dr. Jan again until my four-month checkup in August, so until then, I'll just keep growing.

My Special Day

I was going to hold off on writing another post until after my well-baby doctor's appointment tomorrow. But, my scribe is taking advantage of this rare opportunity to write a little something while I'm kicking back in my car seat for awhile. You see, I love to be held -- all the time. Even though I am a joy to hold and cuddle, it makes it a little tough for my parents to get anything else done. I am finicky about being in my sling, so Mom and Dad have just had to adapt to doing things one-handed. Anyway, I might need a bottle pretty soon, so I better just give everyone my updates while I'm still content.

This past Sunday was my Dedication day. Oh what a blessed day it was! I looked so angelic in my white eyelet Dedication gown and bonnet that Grandma Jan made for me. It was adorned with eyelet ruffles, tiny lavender roses, and long streams of lavender ribbons. Many of my family members came from long distances to celebrate the occasion. It was so good to see my Mama Ashley and Daddy Mike, and several members of my extended birth family. My grandma on Daddy Mike's side came to see me, plus I got to meet my great-GREAT grandma on Mama Ash's side, which was a treat for all of us. I even got to be in a five-generation photo!

Uncle Chris and Auntie Nina stayed with us for the whole weekend. On Saturday, we spent the day wandering through a couple of outdoor street markets, then met all of my visiting birth family for dinner. That night, after my bath, Aunt Nini read stories to me and sang me to sleep. On Sunday, Auntie Noellie, Rubie, and Grandma Jan all drove up to be at my Dedication. Afterwards, they came to our house for awhile to play with me. It was a wonderful day. I've said it before, but I'll say it again: I am one lucky little girl to have soooo many people to love me.

As for some developmental news, I have discovered that my fists are just as good for sucking as my pacifier. I dribble, drool, snortle, and grunt when I'm sucking on them, but hey, who ever said that self-soothing is a lady-like instinct? As I'm trying to develop some fine motor skills (like opening and closing my fists), I've taken to wrapping my fore-finger around my thumb. Just think, "baby's got your nose!" It's very cute, and very Gracie-esque. Also, when I'm just about asleep, but not quite, all it takes is a light kiss between my eyes to send me into dreamland. It works nearly every time. Although it is obvious that I'm growing at an alarming rate, both physically and developmentally, nothing has grown more noticeably than my eyelashes! Almost overnight, they went from baby-fine to dark, long, thick, and lustrous. I'm a beauty, what can I say?

If Mom has time later this week, she'll try to report about my doctor's appointment. I'm having the usual check-up to be sure I'm doing all the things a baby my age should be doing, and I'm also having my first vaccinations. I think Mom is more anxious about that than I am right now. Is anyone taking any guesses about my current weight and length? I'm guessing 10 pounds and 22 inches. We'll find out tomorrow, so stay tuned!

Born in the Year of the Pig NOT the Guinea Pig!

These are the reasons I will never have a Guinea pig as a pet:
5. They shed
4. They stink
3. Their cage is a pain to clean
2. They stink
1. In some South American cultures the Guinea pig was used as meat (ew!).

I had such a great day today. I went downtown to visit Daddy at work. When I arrived , he was so excited to see me and show me off to all of his employees. Mommy and Daddy then took me in my stroller to an outdoor Thai food cart for lunch. I got to enjoy another delicious bottle of Enfamil, while Mom and Dad shared Phad Thai (it smelled so good it made me drool). The weather was beautiful: It was 74 degrees, sunny, and slightly breezy. After lunch, Dad and I helped Mom pick out a snazzy new pair of eyeglasses and made an eye exam appointment for her. I can't wait to grab them off her face with my pooger paws!
This past weekend I was so thrilled to have more visitors. My Uncle Jeremy, Aunt Noelle and cousins Brenden and Rubie came to stay with me. On Saturday, we hung around the house and visited until Brenden had to go to the airport. He will be spending the next six weeks in Utah with his mom. I'm sure going to miss him, but he promised to teach me his sweet new karate moves when he gets home. That boy has some mad skills for an eight year old!
Sunday was Father's Day and Daddy and I had a leisurely morning together. We went for coffee and scones, and then gazed at each other and smiled and "talked" for a while. Mommy dressed me in an adorable green dress with ladybugs and a matching hat. We went to church and I was quiet the whole time and mostly slept. This was my first time to make it through the whole service without murping or mousing. I was able to catch up on my beauty sleep while Dad and Mom got to enjoy the sermon without having to take me in the hallway or nursery.
When we got home we met up with Uncle Jeremy, Aunt Noelle, and Rubie. The six of us went out to lunch at Sweet Tomatoes and I got stuck with another bottle, while Rubie ate small bites of cheese, garbanzo beans, tomatoes and tapioca pudding. I can't wait until I'm on solids, but I have to remember that Rubie has 9 months on me.
After lunch, Daddy and Uncle Jeremy went to see a gross, scary movie. Us 4 girls went shopping at Baby's R Us. Auntie Noelle bought me a cute new outfit and Mommy bought me some "crappy" Baby's R Us brand diapers, but more about that later. The outfit is a stylish pink capri set that I will definitely look darling wearing. I love Baby's R Us. It's kind of becoming my second home. I especially love "meeting" all the other cute little munchkins like me. After everyone said their goodbye's, the evening wrapped up with some quiet cuddling at home.
Back to the Baby's R Us diapers. What a fiasco! Yesterday, as Daddy was holding and feeding me, I pooped right through the side of them. I managed to get my outfit, my blankie, and Daddy. Luckily it was right before bath time, so Mommy and Daddy just laughed at me and told me how funny I am. Well that's all I've got for now.

Please Keep the Comments Coming

Happy Monday everyone! I saw that a few new people added comments to this blog over the weekend. I LOVE to get comments; however, some blog visitors have reported that the Comments feature is not very user-friendly. Grandma Jan has fielded a lot of questions about it, so she asked me to provide this tip of the day: Be sure to respond to the letter scramble security thingie both before and after you enter your comment; otherwise, the comment won't go through. That seems to be the part that trips the most people up. Anyway, I love hearing from everyone who visits my blog, so please drop me a quick "hi" after you've admired all of my super cute photos.

In addition to being gorgeous (I can say that without being conceited because I look exactly like my stunningly beautiful birthparents, especially Mama Ashley), I am also very smart. Ever since I was about two weeks old, I have been able to mimic facial expressions. Only a small percentage of babies are able to do that at such a young age, ya know. For example, my favorite facial expression game is to stick my tongue out in response to someone sticking his/her tongue out at me. It's very cute. And sometimes, because I'm such a clever baby, I even initiate the game.

I'm having a pretty laid-back day after a busy weekend. Just a minute ago, Mom and I got back from the park. She likes to get me out of the house at least once per day to get fresh air, sunshine (ha!), and a change of scenery. I love to ride in the car and my stroller, so I look forward to the outings, too.

Auntie Nina and Uncle Chris came to visit me this weekend. Uncle Chris likes to think he's all tough and macho, but I completely melt his heart. He spent lots of time holding, rocking, and playing with me while he was here. On Saturday, Aunt Nini, Mom, and I all went to a baby shower that several wonderful ladies from church threw for me. One of the nice ladies, Becky, made this really cool guest/scrap book for me containing a lovely poem, prayer, and list of all the attendees and gifts they brought. Another one of our friends, Kim, shared a beautiful devotional she had written about how adoption has touched her life. We are very blessed to have such warm, loving people in our lives.

Yesterday, my Great Aunt Kathy, and her sister, Becky, came all the way from Idaho to visit me. We had a nice time visiting and lunching. Becky gave me the coolest thing for my car seat: It's a cozy, comfy insert called a "Snuggie Sac" that has holes in the back for the safety harnesses to go through, and wraps around me in the front like a blanket, so I'm completely enveloped in fleecy goodness. I love it!

I'm still a little sad about Dad going back to work last week, but I love it when he comes home and showers me with all the hugs and kisses he's been saving up all day. Dad usually feeds and reads to me after my bath in the evening. He is the BEST story-teller. He uses funny voices and makes silly sounds, so I'm usually pretty alert during story-time.

I've been wearing lots of really cute outfits and shoes. The shoes are the best part of my outfits! My birth mommy and daddy gave me these super cute booties that look like black Mary Janes with white socks (you can see them in the photo entitled Sweetly Sleeping). Plus, when we were in Southern Oregon, I got some booties that look like pink sneakers with white socks (they have shoe laces and everything). My Grandma Jan has given me tons of cute outfits built entirely around the coordinating shoes and/or hats. A girl needs to accessorize, you know.

Well, it's time for another delicious and nutritious bottle. Until next time, have a great week!

Back To the Grind

I'm sorry if I don't sound like my usual, cheerful self as I write this post today. I'm feeling a little low because, after six weeks of staying home with Mommy and me, my daddy had to return to work this week. He says it hurts him more than it hurts me, but I'm not so sure about that. I was really enjoying the way Mom and Dad took turns caring for me during the day. They each have their own special ways of feeding, changing, loving, and playing with me, but I kind of liked how they mixed it up. Mom does a good job and all, but I sure miss my dad when he's gone. Mom says we'll go downtown to visit Daddy for lunch each week, so I'm really looking forward to that. In the meantime, I eagerly await Daddy's return home each night so we can cuddle, play, and talk about our day.

So, that reminds me, I've been talking a whole lot lately. Most people think I'm just babbling and cooing, but according to my parents' books, I definitely have my own baby language. I am especially vocal when I want to play. I love to look at faces, including that of my new, singing Leap Frog toy. In addition to talking, I am smiling up a storm. Some people might think it's gas, but I'm definitely smiling (with my eyes and mouth wide open)!

I smile the most when Grandma Jan talks to me. She came to visit me last week. We went shopping ALL day and I was so good. I'm a born shopper. It's a good thing because almost everyone I know likes to shop 'til they drop. I'm also an excellent traveler. Mom, Dad, and I took a trip to Southern Oregon at the end of last week. It was really fun (and hot). My parents were a little worried that the trip would be hard on me, but it was actually harder on them. They sure have to pack a lot now that I'm in tow! On the way there and back, I got to see my cousins Rubie and Brenden. Rubie and I were wearing the exact same watermelon outfit, so our parents took loads of pictures of us. The pictures are pretty funny because I'm still a little wobbly and Rubie thinks I'm a toy.

Later this week, I'm going out to lunch with my mommy and her friend. Then, this weekend, Uncle Chris and Aunt Nini are coming to visit. On Sunday, my Great Aunt Kathy from Idaho is coming to see me. Wow, I am a very lucky girl to have so many people to love me!

I'm Such a Busy Girl

Although I've checked in a couple of times recently (and endured the endless process of uploading a few new photos via dial-up), I haven't really had a chance to report on all of my goings-on for awhile. I've had a very eventful couple of weeks. Here is a brief time line:

Saturday, May 19
Last Saturday was my Auntie Nini's graduation from grad school. My parents and I are sooooo proud of her for accomplishing her very lofty and long sought-after goals. Now we're all just crossing our fingers that she gets that teaching job at the high school near her house. My Auntie Noellie and cousin Rubie drove up to see me before we went to the graduation. Since Rubie and I are only nine months apart, I can't wait to play with her as I get older; we will be best friends. We were sad that my Uncle Jeremy and cousin Brenden couldn't make it to the graduation, but we'll see them in a few weeks at my Dedication ceremony.

I finally got to meet my Uncle Chris for the first time. I had heard all kinds of great things about him and seen photos throughout our house, but it was nice to finally meet him in the flesh. He makes funny baby noises when he holds me (such as coochie, coochie coo and other silly sounds). He's a character, that Uncle Christoph.

After the graduation (for which we were late), we all went to linner/dunch with my Grandma Jan, Grandpa Dave, and Grandma Debbie. After Auntie Nina opened her presents and everybody took turns holding me, I went home and rested. It was a very joyful, exciting day.

Sunday and Monday, May 20 and 21
My Grandpa Dave and Grandma Debbie came to stay with us on their way out of town after the graduation. They got here Sunday afternoon and had to leave Monday morning. Although it was a short trip, I had a great time hanging out while the adults played with Gma and Gpa's Wii game. It's the coolest thing! Wii is an interactive sports video game that operates by the player performing certain movements (for example, the bowling game works by the player literally throwing the virtual bowling ball down the virtual alley just as you would if you were actually bowling). Dad bowled so much that he was sore the next day! It was worth it though, because he earned the coveted Pro status (as opposed to a certain Uncle Chris, who was reported to have bowled for several days without making it to Pro. Better luck next time!). I had a great time with my Gma and Gpa, who spoiled me silly. I'm always sad to see them go, but they'll be back to see me at the end of July for Rubie's first birthday party.

Saturday, May 26
Although my parents and I had planned to go to my first farmers' market on Mother's Day a couple of weeks ago, we got too late of a start and did other things instead. So we went to one of the best markets this week instead. It was such a gorgeous, sunny day and there were tons of people out shopping for fresh fruits and vegetables, garden plants, and other local goods. I wore the darling sun dress with cherries all over it that my Great Uncle Mel and Aunt Marilyn sent me, a pink sun hat, and my favorite white sandals. I got lots of attention from other market goers who said I am so tiny and sweet. The best part of the market was the baby pony we saw! I mean, ponies are cute enough, but this baby pony was almost as cute as me. Almost.

Sunday and Monday, May 27 and 28
After a busy day of sleeping, eating, playing, and more sleeping, my wonderful birth parents came to visit me last night. They got to our house just in time for my bath! Then we all ate dinner together, kind of. I don't like to be left out, so I usually get to eat when everyone else does (which means that Mom and Dad take turns feeding me). After dinner, my birthmom read me a story while my birthdad held me. Before we all turned in for the night, Mom and Dad visited with my birthparents and shared some recent photos of me.

This morning, Dad and I got up early to get coffee and go diaper shopping while everyone else slept in. Then we all visited some more, watched a movie, took a tour of the house and yard, and went out to lunch together. It was a wonderful time. I am so lucky to have such strong, loving, beautiful birthparents. I look a lot like my birthmom, but I have my birthdad's chin dimple. It makes perfect sense why I'm such a beauty considering how gorgeous my birthparents are (inside and out)! Their visit was much too short, but I'll get to see them and most of the rest of my family at the end of June when everyone comes to celebrate my Dedication.

After my birthparents left town this afternoon, my Mom and Dad took me on a nice, long walk in my stroller. It was another spectacular spring day. We walked to the duck pond by our house to look at the flowers, trees, and birds, and took lots of photos by the water. It was a perfect end to a perfect day.

In a couple of days, my Grandma Jan is coming for a visit, then my parents are taking me on my first overnight road trip! I'm sure I'll have lots to report about at the end of this week. Stay tuned for more!

My Birthday's Famous!

This morning I checked to see what famous people are lucky enough to share their birthday with me.
I found Robert Smith (Lead singer of "The Cure" 1959), Sarah Michelle Gellar (Actress 1987), Nicole Sullivan ("Mad TV", "King of Queens" actress 1970), Mr. T ("A-Team" star 1952), Andie MacDowell (Etta the Hen in the movie "Barnyard", 1958), Judge Reinhold ("Fast Times at Ridgemont High" actor 1957), Tony Danza ("Who's the Boss?" actor 1951), Iggy Pop (Lead singer of "The Stooges"1947), Raymond Burr ("Perry Mason " actor 1917), Queen Elizabeth II (England's "First Lady" 1926), John Muir (Naturalist and conservationist 1838), Catherine the Great (Empress of Russia 1729), and Plato (Greek philosopher 427 BC) all share my birthday!
Aren't they all blessed to have the same birthday as me! I think it's very fitting that there's a queen and an empress. Someday maybe I'll be famous and wind up on someone else's Blog!
Today Mommy and Daddy and I are going to go to my first farmer's market. I can't wait to see all the pretty flowers, vegetables, fruit, handmade goods, and excitement. I need to pick out an outfit (maybe one of my cute sundresses) and get slathered up in baby sunscreen, so goodbye for now! :)

I'm 32 Days Old Today

As I approached my one-month birthday on Monday, my mom and dad finally began to understand why so many parents insist on measuring their child's age in days for as long as possible. It used to seem so silly to them, but not anymore. Now they get it. To them, I am not a little over a month old; I am merely 32 days old. They say the time is going so fast and this is one small way for them to think they're slowing the clocks somehow.

Tomorrow, I'm going to have my 33-day old photos taken (not to be mistaken with one-month photos). I've been going on short excursions several times per week, so tomorrow will be a big day for me. I feel pretty cozy in my infant carrier. I like to look up at my bug mirror with all the brightly colored ribbons (legs and antennae). In fact, I like to look at a lot of things lately. I can focus my eyes for long periods of time, and I'm discovering cool new things to look at every day.

We're having a friend over for dinner tonight, so I need to help my parents get ready. I need to take a bath so I smell baby fresh for our guest. I'll talk to you again soon!

Shout Out to Grandpa Ron!

Good afternoon everyone! I'm realizing what these appendages at my side are for. I like to use them to grab my bottles during feedings and to try to touch my parents' faces. Yesterday, my mommy sat with me on the living room floor while I had some tummy time. She played with my new musical toys until I turned my head to look at her over and over again. I think this is a fun way to work out my neck muscles. This week I also went to the mall for the first time and shopped with mommy and daddy in many stores, ate in the food court, and was admired by all.
My parents have taken so many pictures of me in these 3 1/2 short weeks. I wish they had high-speed Internet so they could upload more pictures of me. It's so slow with dial-up that it makes me want to cry.
I want to wish my Grandpa Ron a Happy Birthday today! Have some cake for me, but not too much. I'm wearing the outfit you sent me. It's pink and has a matching sun hat with flowers, a lady bug, and a dragonfly. How I do love my bug friends.
My scribe is leaving now to go mow the lawn and do yard work, so goodbye to everyone for now. I'm sending lots of love and slobbery baby kisses to all!!!

Oh Three, It's the Magic Number

(For best results, read the title to the tune of the School House Rocks song.)

So today marks my three-week birthday. To celebrate, I went out to lunch with some friends. My favorite friend, Benji (age 2.5), was enamored by how tiny my hands are. He calls me Baby Grace and is very gentle with me. Luckily, I am a very socialized baby so I don't mind people passing me around and fawning over my every gurgle and coo. Speaking of, I have quite the repertoire of sounds now. When I am waking up, I make noises that sound like air coming out of a balloon. Sometimes, I sound like an elephant blowing air out of its trunk. My parents think I'm hilarious. I also do a lot of grunting and snorting.

It turns out I like my bath more than I thought. The trick is to run the water just a little warmer than you think it should be for a baby. I like it when Mom covers my tummy with a warm washcloth while she washes my hair, and when Dad squirts me with warm water from the kitchen sink sprayer. I don't even mind it that much when they gather me up in a clean towel and whisk me away to my nursery to get dressed in PJs for the night. It's all part of my routine. I'm almost on a feeding/sleeping schedule, give or take an hour. If I've had an especially eventful day, I have a harder time sleeping through the night. But if I'm just chillin' at home without a lot of people coming and going, I only wake up about once during the night.

I've received a lot of really nice gifts from people since I was born. There sure are a lot of people who love me! My parents are trying to stay on top of the thank you notes between feedings and diaper-changes, but in the meantime, thank you for thinking of me!

We have fun things planned for Mom's first Mother's Day. First, we're going to church; then we're going to a really nice farmer's market (this is the first weekend of market season); then Dad is going to clean the house while Mom gets to spend some one-on-one time with me. Despite all the goings-on around here, we will ALL be thinking of my birthmom throughout the day because she is the reason we get to celebrate Mother's Day at all. We love you!!

Gracie's First Two Weeks

After a very joyous birth weekend, I took a nice, long road trip to my new home. (I love taking rides in the car, but I'm not very fond of being strapped into my car seat.) Mom gave me the grand tour of our house while Dad took pictures. My nursery is the best room in the house. The walls are bright yellow and the sun shines warmly through the big window. I have lots of toys, stuffed animals, and books. Every time I go in my room, I like to look around and make happy little noises. I especially like my dragonfly mobile that hangs over the changing table.

My first week at home was very relaxing. I slept a lot, even through most of the night. I had many, many visitors. My Grandma Elaine and Grandpa Allen came all the way from the Midwest to stay with me. Then my Grandma Jan came for a few days after that. Everyone is spoiling me with tons of cute outfits, blankets, and attention!

I like most things about being a baby, except for bath time. I cry and cry every time. My dried-up umbillical cord fell out just four days after I was born, so I've been having a nightly bath almost every day since. I got a new swing and love to be in it. My favorite activities besides sleeping and eating are taking walks in my stroller, listening to my lullaby CDs, and practicing my neck-muscle exercises during tummy time. I especially love it when Mom and Dad read stories to me. I look at the pictures and make cute little facial expressions.

On my one-week birthday, I went to the beach for the first time. It was so fun to visit my aunties, cousins, Great-Grandma Cookie, and Grandma Jan. The rest of that week, I just chilled out at home while more visitors came to meet me. On my two-week birthday, I went for my very first professional photography session. I was so good (and exceptionally cute)! I was wide awake and did not even cry until the very end. I wore a darling yellow and pink dress and the tiniest white sandals. It was a beautiful, sunny day -- perfect sandals weather.

A few days later, I had my first doctor's appointment. I have grown an entire pound heavier and about an inch longer since I was born. My doctor said I am the picture of health. I liked going to see the doctor up until the very end when they did another PKU (ouch!). I cried my first actual tears when they did that.

Although I have a lovely name as it is, I have already acquired a few nicknames. Dad calls me "Littles" and Mom calls me "Sweetums." Grandma Jan calls me "Miss Grace Lemon Cakes."I guess when you're a sweet little munchkin like me, you're bound to pick up a few extra names.

My parents are finally sending my birth announcements this week. They'll continue to add to this blog with new pictures and updates, so check back periodically for all the latest. See you next time!

Me and My Gracie Tree

It's been an eventful 2 and a half weeks since my birth. I've met so many people from my birth family (BF), and adoptive family (AF) and it is obvious how much everyone adores me. In the hospital where I was born I got to spend time alone with both my BF and AF and there were times when we were all together. My adoption is open and loving and that is the way everybody involved wanted it, especially me. I had many visitors in the hospital. After placement, I spent my first night in a hotel room with my adoptive parents (APs). I slept in an armchair next to my daddy's side of the bed. The following day as my APs left town they went to my birth great-grandma Mickey's house and planted a crab apple tree in my honor. My daddy said a few words about how I will always have roots there and how the trunk represented the strength I have inherited from my birthparents. He said the branches represent the many people who make up my family tree on both sides of my family. The blossoms that will bloom every year on my birthday will show how much I am loved by all. As I grow, so will the Gracie tree. It was a wonderfull ceremony and a happy coincidence that it was near Earth Day.