The Gift of Grace

Hi, this is Gracie's mom. GG is in bed, fast asleep, so I'm posting this blog entry for her tonight. I just finished reading her one of my favorite books, On the Night You Were Born by Nancy Tillman. It's a sweet story about how precious and special Gracie is, and what a miraculous gift her birth was to the world. The last page sums it up perfectly:

Heaven blew every trumpet
and played every horn
on the wonderful, marvelous
night you were born.

I've read the book to her dozens of times, and I always get choked up on that last page!

Since our last post, Gracie has started walking! It wasn't really out of the blue like it sounds. In fact, she took her first official steps over a month ago when Mike and Ashley were visiting. Mike and Chad witnessed the momentous event, but I have been in denial about the whole thing. Well, there's no denying it now! Grace walks all over the place. She falls on her bottom over and over again, then gets right back up like nothing ever happened. She has taken a few nasty spills resulting in big, purple goose eggs on her forehead, but that certainly hasn't stopped her. She's an intrepid little girl, ever curious about the world around her.

We had a very blessed Easter weekend. We stayed with my mom at the beach, and Gracie got to have a sleepover with her cousin Rubie. They are so adorable together! Rubie is fascinated by "baby" and Grace clearly emulates her elder cousin. Due to some seasonal liquid sunshine, we had to do an indoor Easter egg hunt, but that did not hinder either baby's unbridled joy of finding the "balls" (that's what Rubie called the eggs).

As Gracie's first birthday quickly approaches, we have been busy planning one of several birthday parties for her. We are having her first party at PB & Ellie's, a family-friendly cafe that caters to small children and their adults. My mom has been sewing the most beautiful party dress for Grace. It is lavender and white with violets all over it. It has white lace and a fancy white sash. Grace will certainly look like the belle of the ball when she wears it (lavender is truly one of her best colors) -- and how incredibly special that her grandma made it for her!

After Grace's birthday party, we are going on a week-long vacation to visit Mike, Ashley, and all of Gracie's birth family; then on to see my dad and Debbie, Chad's dad and Merrilee, and one of my oldest, dearest friends. Mike and Ashley are planning a second 1st birthday party for Gracie while we're visiting. Then, because Grace, Chad, and I all have birthdays within a few days of each other, our dads are planning joint birthday celebrations during the rest of the week. Now that's a lot of celebrating!

I cannot believe it has been over 11 months since Gracie joined our family. Everyone warned us how quickly the first year flies by, but I had no idea! Grace is truly a gift for which we are eternally grateful. Can't wait to see what's in store next!

Saving Daylight Is Cool!

Here are the top three reasons why I like to spring forward (in no particular order):

1. I get to watch the sun rise on my way to school in the morning, and watch it set at night while I'm in the tub.
2. The kids on my street play outside until it gets dark, which is very entertaining for me (someday I, too, will ride my scooter around the cul-de-sac and play basketball with the big kids).
3. My circadian rhythm helps me stay up later at night and sleep later in the morning, which is great for my whole family!

We've had a fun-filled month so far. Grandma Elaine and Grandpa Allen were here last week. When they first got here, we went to a beautiful botanical garden, then to an open-air crafts market. Unfortunately, Grandma was sick with a nasty sinus infection for much of the week, but Grandpa and I had a grand time together. We took walks and went to the playground and really got to know one another.

This past weekend, Mommy, Daddy, and I went to a petting zoo, and I got to pet baby pygmy goats, mini long-horned sheep, llamas, donkeys, baby cows, and a pot-bellied pig. At the same place, I got to touch a six-foot long albino python. It was bright yellow with pink eyes and a slithery tongue. Dad had to pull me away because I grabbed onto its body and wouldn't let go. I also saw a giant tortoise, two tarantulas, and a humongous toad!

In developmental news, I am still cruising all over the place and have even taken a few wobbly steps. We're not counting those as my first official steps, though, because they were kind of accidental. At the rate I'm going, the real thing will happen any day now...

Some of my favorite words/sounds lately are:

• Gunk gunk
• Mamamamamaaaaaaa (while crying)
• Quack quack
• Dadada-deeeee!
• Babababa

Since my last post, I have started to wave hello (but not bye bye) to people, things, Norman, etc. I wave with my hand turned inward, toward myself. I love to play "high five" and "peek" with anyone who will participate. What I don't care for, however, is being locked behind the baby gate when Norman is just out of reach. Those pesky baby-proofing measures are really cramping my style!

That's about all I can think of for tonight. We will add some new photos this week, so check back soon!