The Joys of Motherhood

I've been sick all week, and haven't been able to read or sing to Grace as talking very much sets off my cough, but this morning I woke up from a nap to hear Grace knocking at our door. I'd opened the door and squatted down to talk to her, and she ran in and started to sit in my lap, but then changed her mind and ran off again. About twenty seconds later she was back with a rather large alphabet picture book and plopped down to read with Mama. It's nice to know you're missed!

Gracie and her Babies

This is how she's gone to sleep every night since we got back from Christmas. Until this past week... but you'll have to wait for a new photo of that one. :-)

And it can never be just one baby. It's "bay-beee bay-bee" over and over till she has her armful.

Thank you Aunt Sarah-Jean!

Ah-mi!

While we were at a friend's this week, Grace started clasping her hands together and emphatically saying, "ah-mi!". I was at a total loss as to what this meant until yesterday - I was talking on the phone with Caleb, and at the end of the call we prayed together. Right after I said "amen", Grace clasped her hands together and affirmed "ah-mi!"

Our first tree!

Since we've never been home for Christmas, Caleb and I haven't bought a tree since we've been married. But now that Grace is getting older, decorating sounded much more exciting this year. So on Black Friday, I picked up a "collapsible" tree from Fred Meyer for half price. We don't have much storage space, so we liked the small box, but it is a kinda funny looking tree. The entire thing is a big spiral, so when Grace tocuhes the bottom of the tree, the entire tree wiggles. We thought it made an appropriate young married's Christmas tree though, and with the lights and a smattering of ornaments, it looks just about perfect.

I also found Grace a little Christmas dress, and couldn't resist trying it on her a bit early. :-D

Thanksgiving

Last week was a bit of a rough week - we all three got sick the weekend before Thanksgiving, but Caleb was so busy at work, he couldn't take much time off and put in some really late nights. Grace was waking up coughing several times a night, and we were all running pretty short on sleep for awhile. But it's past now, and we're all happy and healthy again! Well, Grace is still waking up several times a night with the remnants of her cough, but usually a long hug and a drink of water does the trick. Ok, and 20 minutes of rocking.Thanksgiving was a lot of fun though - we had several friends over for a potluck again, and it was just a really good time. Our dining table is kind of on the small side, so we made do in the living room floor, but it worked. :-) We did have some fun ventures with a turkey that leaked juice all over the fridge and my first attempt at pumpkin pie - (who knew you had to add sugar!?!), but it all worked out. We've developed a wonderful tradition (in my mind, at least!) of Caleb taking care of the turkey Thanksgiving morning, and he was wonderful about getting that huge bird in the oven, and cleaning up my messes. He's gotten pretty good at carving it, too! I do think I have the best husband in the world. :-D

Grace and the Laundry Basket

So Caleb and I were working around the house one day last week, and Grace must have gotten bored and decided to stick the laundry basket over her head. I poked my head out of the kitchen to see what she was up to, and she was toddling about like this. She had a stuffed bunny in there with her, and it was pretty funny watching her try to pick up various objects around the room. So of course we had to run get our cameras before helping her out.