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.