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!