The final countdown!

Hello everyone. No big events to report. I've been enjoying the Spring weather, my walking skills, and my gogs. But a couple of big events are coming soon! We're on the final countdown for my Dad finally coming home. It's going to be wonderful. Dad and I are going to have a lot of fun together, and I've got an awful lot to show and tell him. Not too long after that, I will finally get to travel to Vermont to meet my cousins, aunts & uncles, and of course, see Gram.

Raven the patient dog and I are getting along well. I've been practicing my walking with her. I grab two fist-fulls of fur, and when she walks, I hang on and try to walk with her. Sometimes she is a little too fast for me. It's almost like she is trying to get away or something.

Guess what I like?? Peas. In fact, I like them a lot. I didn't like them mushed at all, but I love them whole. I also LOVE orange juice. I stole my mom's juice at a restaurant the other day, and held onto it for dear life when she tried to take it back. I guzzled it down. Also, spaghetti is very good.

That's all for now. Hopefully the next time you look here, I will be telling you all about my Dad coming home!

The Gracie Walk

I don't need no stinking buggy!!

Baby Rhythm Band

My friend Kendel and I decided to start a baby rhythm band. (Equipment courtesy of Grammy Pammy). Today was our very first rehearsal, and you can have the privilege of viewing it here! It's very experimental, and we're still deciding who will play what instruments. As you will see, what's a band without a little discord between bandmates??



p.s. My word of the week is "bye." Bye!

I'm a stringbean.

I checked in with the pediatrician this week. Only 2 shots, and I'm a smart, healthy string bean:

* I weigh 19.8 pounds. This is the 25% for people my age.

* I am 30 inches tall. This is the 80% for people my age.

* My head is 46.5 cm around. This is the 87% for people my age.

So, I'm tall and thin and have a rapidly growing brain. The doctor said this is all within normal ranges and that he had no concerns about my size or my health. I get to start drinking real milk now, and will be getting rid of baby bottles in the next few months.

Other general status updates:

* I still have only 4 teeth. I've been trying to get some more for weeks now, but they're slow. I use the 4 that I've got really well.

* I still don't have much hair. What I do have in back is a little curly.

* I get around mostly by "cruising." I walk while holding onto furniture, my buggy, or Raven the patient dog. I can walk a few steps without holding on, and I can stand up without holding on for a few seconds.

* I sleep through the night beautifully. I take 1 or 2 naps per day.

* I like to talk, but mostly in my own language. My words are "gog" (dog), "uh-oh," "ma ma ma ma," and sometimes "hi." Some people claim they've heard me say other words, but those are the ones I say consistently.

* I like to look at books, pass the ball back and forth with my mom, and empty and fill-up containers with whatever I can find. I point to everything that I find interesting.
* I'm a very picky eater. I am learning to use my little fork, but mostly use my fingers. My favorites are macaroni & cheese, scrambled eggs, and tapioca pudding.

* I'm very sociable. I play with my friends (instead of playing near them), wave at some people selectively, and talk to some people in public places--mostly other children.

One!!!

I have successfully completed my first year of life, and it was an absolutely fabulous year. Last week, I partied like a rockstar. I've just now begun to recover from my wild time in order to tell you all about it.

I celebrated my first birthday in Texas. The best things I got for my birthday were constant love and attention. I had a faithful audience to watch all my tricks and antics, including pushing my wagon, walking a couple steps by myself, putting things on my head, playing with my toys, and giving numerous speeches.

My birthday party was a lot of fun. It included my very own cake, balloons, a cook-out, and lots of nice presents. I got a dog (aka "gog"), a monkey, a horse, games with rings and balls, a xylophone, and lots of books and clothes.


My dad even got to come (live via satellite) for a few minutes of the party, and he sent me a present! He sent me a Tapout shirt that matches his exactly so we can be twins. That made my birthday really special. I'm so glad he could stop by. I can't wait for him to get home. One more month!

The celebrating has carried on for a couple more days since we got back to Colorado. More presents arrived in the mail from Gram, and I got a purple gog that says my name from Kendel & Heather. I've decided I'd like to have birthdays more often. My birthday was the most fun week ever, and I don't want to wait another year to do it again!

The Buggy Walk

Look what I learned today. I'm moving fast with the buggy my mom gave me as an early birthday present. Check it out:

What else?

What else have I been up to, aside from the social events that I recently shared with you? I have been getting into all kinds of trouble. I can hardly wait until I can walk, and even better, RUN! I think I'm having fun now, just wait...

If you pull on this soft paper, it just keeps coming and coming. It tastes delicious too. My mom said it's only cute once. She keeps the paper somewhere else now.
My friend, Heather, hooked me up with my first lollipop. Sometimes, she's a little more fun than my mom is. It was the most delicious thing I've ever eaten, and more importantly, I didn't need anyone's help with it.

Kendel and I had a grand scheme to runaway together, but we got caught trying to open the door. We just wanted to go to the playground. We convinced our mothers to take us later.

We had a great time at the playground. My mom says I'll enjoy it more when I learn not to eat woodchips and grass, and when I am big enough to play on the slides and teeter totter. But I LOVE swinging.


I got some nice snacks and toys in an Easter package from my Grandma Ford. The best part was this lovely "hat". I'll grow into it.
And last, an update to the list:

THINGS THAT GRACIE SHOULD NOT HAVE EATEN
1. band-aid (01/25/10)
2. a considerable chunk out of a foam rubber ball (03/28/10)

I am eggsperienced.

My friend Kendel and I went to an Easter celebration at Fort Carson last weekend. (Boys in bunny-ears are my type. Isn't he cute?) Don't worry, we were chaperoned. The party was called the "Eggsperience." It was pretty fun. There were a lot of interesting things going on that I enjoyed watching. I especially liked the giant moving animals. I sat on the lap of this huge yellow bunny. I don't know why he was yellow. None of the bunnies in my books are yellow. And he smelled funny. But, the candy in that basket sure looked good. My mom let me take a piece, and then she proceeded to eat it herself. Just like on Halloween! I really think that I am big enough for jawbreakers now. Kendel got some loot... I tried to negotiate for a share of it, but he insisted that I had my own. He was right, but you can't blame a girl for trying!

It's a G thing.

March had been a pretty calm month. I've been helping my mom around the house a lot. I like to unfold laundry so she can fold it, and I like to take the silverware out of the dishwasher for her. I've been perfecting my standing-up skills, and I crawl like a speeding bullet. And I've been teaching my mother a thing or two about culinary arts. I will eat no more baby food mush, and I will not be fooled! I want to eat what she's got. I've also learned a very useful phrase: "Uh-oh."

March got a lot more exciting when Aunt Gretchen came to town! Uh-oh. Aunt G and I have a lot of fun together. We are two of a kind--very smart, a little mischievous, stylish, and the life of the party. We spent a day in Boulder, shopping and seeing the sites. We saw a street performer contortionist, and I tried to steal the show.

The next day, we had a St. Patrick's Day party, complete with an array of green foods. That was interesting... I stuck with the non-green macaroni and cheese.

We ate out a couple of times, where I got to try lots of new foods, and we went shopping. We also made a trip to Garden of the Gods for some photos.

The best part was having enter- tainment in the backseat with me. Everywhere we went, Aunt G sat in back with me and we talked and played games. I miss her so much!

Mom and I are counting down to my 1st birthday, and anxiously waiting for my Dad to get home in May. Hopefully the next couple of months will speed by!

It's a girl!

Believe it or not, strangers often mistake me for a boy. I've been told it's because I have no hair. That is really beyond my control. Even when I'm wearing pink flowery outfits, people have approached and asked, "how old is he?" WHO ME!? I've noticed that my mother's tone has changed over time. She used to simply answer their question, or politely correct them. These days, she sets them straight, asking how the pink didn't tip them off? or if they would put this outfit on a boy? Heheh.

My first attempt to remedy this error was big bows on headbands. At first it seemed like a pretty good idea, but when I saw myself in the mirror, I was absolutely horrified! Now I remove these ridiculous bows as quickly as my mother puts them on my head.

Next, my friend helped me try some hair, in the form of a wig. I personally kind of liked it, but everyone laughed at me. I understand that this photo is now circulating among friends and family... are you laughing with me, or at me??

So, I decided to get earrings. Aren't they beautiful? They sparkle like a rainbow. I only cried for a minute, and have been perfectly pleased ever since. Miss G has got some bling!




What else has been going on with me? I graduated from Water Waddles 1. I completed all the requirements, including putting my face under water one time. My favorite part was definitely the back float. Over the weekend, I went to a really fun 1st birthday party for one of my baby friends. Here we are playing with a parachute, and I jumped off this big thing with a little help from my assistants. It was a really exciting day.