Riding High

Grace has never been all that great about riding in her stroller, and I'd actually given up taken her in it to the park as I'd often end up carrying her on one hip and pushing the empty stroller with my other hand. But with Baby #2 on the way now, I've realized it'll make my life a lot easier if I get her used to riding in it now. And as of yesterday anyways, she suddenly loves it! We went for a walk to the park in the morning, and I told her we were going for a "ride", which seemed to make all the difference to her little mind. She talked about "riding" all day - so much so that we walked to the grocery store in the afternoon, and she managed to get Caleb to take her out for a "ride" after dinner when Mama left to watch a friend's sleeping baby.

I'm totally excited, and hoping this lasts!

Little Helper

Also, we worked in the Children's Ministry at church this morning, and at the end, when all of the rest of the kids had been collected and we were sanitizing the toys, Grace came over and pulled a Clorox wipe out of the container. I told her not to eat it and followed her to make sure that she didn't, but she just wanted to wipe the toys off like Mama and Daddy. :) She's been practicing at home by using the baby wipes to wipe up her dollies. :)

- Caleb

First three-word sentence!

Grace said her first three word "sentence" tonight - while we were finishing dinner, Caleb had given her the rest of his soup in a little teacup, and she was busily spooning her applesauce from her bowl to daddy's bowl and pouring it back. At one point, she very emphatically informed us "daddy bowl empty!"

Stickers & bow-ties?

Grace loves wearing her headbands, though her usage is a little un-ordinary. And she's recently discovered the joy of stickers; Mama got her a pack last time we were at Michael's, and we stick them everywhere!

Airplanes, farms and ping pong balls....

Just a few more of Grace's favorite things! She's been fascinated with airplanes of late, and every time she hears one fly by, it's "ei-bee! ei-bee!" Which of course, means airplane. Most mornings (when Mama's feeling up to it) we take her little ride-on airplane for a walk around the complex and watch for airplanes. Unfortunately, it's been pretty cloudy of late, but we usually see at least one low enough to be visible. It's such fun entering into the joys of such a little person! Last week we went to the library and found a couple children's books on airplanes. They were both a bit disappointing - lots more pictures of kids than actual planes - but we've still enjoyed "reading" them.

Last Saturday we took Grace to a local community park and farm, and ever since she's been talking about the "fahm!" with all the oink's and quack's and cock-a-doodle-doo's that go along with it. I'm gonna have to take her back pretty soon. :-)

And during my last Target run, I picked up a pack of ping pong balls for her, and that might be the most fun $1.40 I've spent in a long time! She's had such a blast filling up her pail and dumping them out into various containers or chasing them around the hallway. And she's so determined to pick up two in each chubby little hand - it takes her awhile, but she can do it!

Our little lady

Grace came around the corner a few minutes ago wearing her tutu (which mama had helped her put on) with her red dress strewn over her head (which she put on herself) and carrying our bathroom scale. I love her enjoyment of life. :-)