GG the Monkey

Create your own FACEinHOLE

Hap-a-ween!

That's a Rubie quote. According to my sister, Rubie couldn't quite say "trick or treat" or "Happy Halloween," so "Hap-a-ween" was the next best thing. I love it! Grace, on the other hand, was happy to just run up to our neighbors' front doors & say "Hi!" while holding her little trick-or-treat bag wide open.

Grace was a fantastic giraffe for Halloween with her great big eyes and long body. She did not know what to think of the whole trick-or-treating thing at first, but after she got the hang of it she did not want to stop! Grace puts everything in her mouth, so she immediately tried to chew each little treat she received, wrapper and all. It was only after she discovered the sweet candy beneath that she began to understand what all the Halloween hubbub was about.

The weekend following Halloween, my mom came and stayed with us for a few days. She and Ron had just returned from a vacation to Colorado, and they brought Gracie back some authentic Durango cowboy boots. They are red leather with little silver kick plates on the toe and fancy stitching up the leg. Grace loved them from the minute she saw them! We got some hilarious pics of Gracie and Grandma Jan doing the "boot-scootin' boogie." Grace knows they're something special because she even does this funny little swagger when she walks in them. These boots were made for walking, dontcha know...

Gracie is talking more than ever these days. She has her own special sounds for words such as socks, shoes, boots (hmmm, I wonder why), car, milk, done, gone, kitty, down, thank you, and please -- and most of the sounds are very similar to the actual words! It is very clear that Gracie knows EXACTLY what we are saying to her much of the time; she can even repeat some things (albeit not word for word). She follows directions beautifully and is very eager to please. In fact, Grace has earned special recognition at school two times for helping her teacher pick up books/toys in the classroom. We are so proud of what a little helper bee she is!

During the past month or so, and with the influence of my mom and Rubie, Gracie has really started to enjoy playing with her baby dolls. She wraps them with blankies (which are actually washcloths), carries them around, pats them on the back, feeds them milk from a toy bottle, and pushes them in her baby buggy. The other day, she even tried to cover Norman with a "blankie" and feed him with the bottle. Norm just lays there, completely helpless. He knows it's no use to object. Besides, it'll be no time before she can lift him and carry him around!

I know I sound like a broken record, but Grace is just a great kid. She's sooooo full of spunk! Every day, her little personality reveals itself more and more. GG is truly a treasure, and Chad and I are soooo lucky to have found her.