All Hallows Eve...

Grace has had a big day! Today her Grampa and Memaw came to see her and to spend a few days with us before Nonie arrives. Her daddy picked her up a few pumpkins ('punkins' to Grace) for her to carve into Jack o' lanterns and her Memaw did just that with her while Grampa took me to the doctor. When we go home Grampa and Memaw Gave her a new baby with all the accessories to play Mommy just like me; so that she can mimic me with the new baby in a few days. You would think no one had ever given this child anything the way she was clinging to the baby and the baby's things. So sweet... Then time to get into costume and head out to the driveway to greet the trick or treaters before bed. Here are a few pics from her day...

Silver lining

Okay so my post earlier this afternoon was all "Gloom and Doom"; Negative Nancy and what not. I am sorry. I got a cat nap in and am ready with a fresh prospective.

Grace and I are feeling better. That's good news. My father and step mother will be here tomorrow morning to keep me company and spend some time with Grace while Brian is on the road. That's good news. The empty living room became a great source of entertainment for Grace today. And that's also good news. My daughter entertained her self by turning the big empty room into a race track where she and her stroller did laps chasing invisible competition. So sweet. She ran wind sprints back and forth between the back wall the the tile floor. And we found a great and safe place in the house to play ball for a while.

But the best part of the day. Before her bath and after a nice visit with our next door neighbors, thanks again for your help Kelli and Brian. Grace sat on the kitchen floor surrounded by her books and stuffed animals and let her imagination run wild for almost an hour. Making the appropriate animal sounds for each stuffed animal. Having them kiss each other, Hugging them tightly. Pushing them around on the floor as if they were alive. Telling them stories and thoroughly enjoying her toys. That was the best part of this entire week. I have a happy healthy imaginative child. Life really is good.

What a day... and it's not even over!

This morning Grace and I woke in better spirits than the last several days, though not completely better a definite improvement on the week! So, feet on the floor, faces washed, real clothes on (no pajamas) we headed down stairs for a weak breakfast and a few minutes with Daddy before his day began... Opps... I forgot that the carpet was being replaced today. How could I forget?? I helped pick up all Grace's toys while Brian and Brian from next door moved all the furniture into my kitchen and dining room. Okay... so not the peaceful day I had hoped for, but I am getting my new carpet! The 16 month long battle is over!! Maybe...

Grace has a bottle and asks for yogurt. "Oh happy day!!.." Yes, I nearly break into song. So Brian sets her up and feeds her some yogurt while I sit and try to shake out the cobwebs and get motivated for the day of new carpeting and healing. The doorbell rings and the installers are here. YIPEE! These two very nice gentlemen, father and son, walk in all smiles and happy and I am feeling better by the minute. They effortlessly and almost in a choreographed manner break our their box cutters and with a swish and a few rolls the carpet is in two pieces and rolled up on my living room floor. Okay Okay too much detail right? Get to the point? Well long story short these two very nice gentlemen get the carpet hauled out to their truck only to discover that Shea has not ordered enough carpet to fit our extended living room. "WHAT?!?!" How is this possible?? How could this happen? This has been one issue after another... one bumble after another... it was a mistake... a mistake 16 months ago that required a simple fix... 16 months ago. You lay two pieces of carpet in a room that are two different colors. You say... "Oops, my bad." and replace it. How difficult is that??? So the installers get our Customer Service rep to come over (Dumb Blond!! ~ and that is the nicest thing I can think of to say...) And low and behold, it's not her fault (never is) and well... she will have to 'see' if she can get a rush on it and maybe it can be here and done on the 11th.... The 11th?? The day the baby is born... I give up! "Let it go Shelbi, at least the carpet is being replaced..."

So this is all over and done with by 10 am and Grace has not take a nap.. okay let's run out get my car washed really quick and maybe the car ride will put her to sleep... no such luck. The child who has slept for the last three days straight is have no part of any nap. No way, shape or form! Back at home, 90 minutes before her speech therapist arrives... "Think Shelbi, Think!" Okay... watered down bottle so she will still be hungry, pull the shades and turn on her bed time music, close the door and walk away... she will - fall - asleep - ... 75 minutes later she is still upstairs yelling "Mommy! Mommy! Mommy!" Alright, so it will be only 1 nap today... an afternoon nap... After her speech therapist leaves (and she did eat for her today) she will have a bottle and nap! I am determined. Well... I have been at my computer for 55 minutes now and she is still in her crib yelling for me to come and get her... It's 3:20 and I could pull the covers over my head until tomorrow... It's going to be a long day!

The family bed...

Poor Grace has been sleeping in the pack n play next to me in the master bedroom the last few nights. Partly because she was so violently ill on Sunday night and the thought of her having to be sick and alone killed me and partly because it is so much easier to put my feet on the floor and be next to her than to walk all the way down the hall if she needs me.

(The above was written before I got violently ill with the stomach virus as well)

So, the family bed... I was going to tell of how Grace has not been allowed to sleep in our bed because, well, because Brian and I decided from the get go it wasn't for us and we did not want to start a habit that we could not break later... Well yesterday, before I got so ill, Grace woke up had 1/2 a bottle (in bed with us... we never do that) and I hoped and prayed that she would fall asleep... she did! She snuggled right up next to me (Heaven!!) and fell asleep. Before I knew it, it was 8am and she had slept an extra 2 hours and we were going to be late to my doctors appointment! There might be something to this "family bed" thing!

Upon my return from the doctor (where a sick Grace did not terrorize the office, but instead sat in the easy chair with me and laid her head on my belly the entire time) I discovered that it was not hunger making me feel ill, I was also sick. So Grace and I crawled into Mommy and Daddy's bed together and hunkered down for a 3 hour nap. Again, Heaven!! Aside from the vomiting and my usual need for space when I sleep, the was something so nice about having her little hand pat my face as she fell asleep and her little body snuggled up next to me while we slept. She was however a bit traumatized by my getting sick. She will be a good mother though. As I sat on the edge of the bed with my face in a pail, Grace pat my back and head and said "Okay, Okay Mommy" through a few wimpers and tears and gave me a big bear hug and said "I got you" when I was finished... My heart melted...

So the family bed is where Grace and I have lived out the last two days. With any luck I will feel well enough to drive her to the doctor tomorrow... Poor kid is still so sick. It breaks my heart!

Projectile

yup... that's the only word to describe it... About an hour ago, post bath, pre-bedtime bottle, Grace vomited on me. I mean all over me... yes, I know... gross!! I share this because that is about all I can say about this weekend. My poor husband came home from the road Friday, sick with what he thought was food poisoning and 3 days later... I'm guessing stomach flu.... which I am now terrified my poor daughter has.... So although Grace and I had a wonderful dinner with Dottie and Chuck Saturday to celebrate my birthday.... and while Grace did some good eating this weekend, I will leave you with just this, the weekend ended on a 'sour' note...

Good night, sleep tight, and let's hope for a happy and healthy Monday morning.

Flu shot and a Glazed Donut

This morning Grace went to the pediatrician to get her first of 2 flu shots. I was hesitant to subject her to this vaccination as I almost always have an adverse reaction to it myself, but... I was told it would be irresponsible to bring a baby into our home this fall with out first having all received our flu shots... So to the pediatrician we went. Grace... poor Grace... was very aware when the nurse came in with the needle that she was holding a needle. She did not take her eyes off of that needle the whole time. Despite my efforts to distract her Grace watched in horror as the nurse pinched as much fat and muscle as she could from Grace's left arm and gave her the shot. Grace was SO BRAVE she cried for less than 30 seconds. As soon as the band aid was on and she was back in my arms, she stopped crying and said through leftover giant tears, "Bye Bye" to the nurse... or in Grace talk, the nurse's cue to leave ;) We were in and out of the office in less than 20 minutes and Grace has not spoken of the shot or doctor since. Some exciting news from this visit however... Grace, though fully clothed and in shoes weighs 20lbs 1oz. My little girl has FINALLY hit the 20pound mark!

Because Grace was so very, very brave and because I was desperate for a coffee, I made a detour on our way home to Dunkin' Donuts. ( I have been thrilled to have a little piece of home here in AZ, but have only stopped for coffee once ) So I got myself an iced coffee and a glazed donut for Grace. To be honest, part of me wanted her to eat the donut and part of me secretly wanted to eat the thing myself... Grace was such a big girl. She sat at the table and ate almost 1/2 of the dount. No spitting, no gagging, no throwing food. Ate the donut and asked for more!! So the mother who was never going to give her child french fries, sugar, or anything that was not 100% healthy is now the mother who celebrates her daughter eating a glazed donut and promises to give her one everyday if she will just eat.... It was a very, very good morning.

The only thing that could have been better would be if we had had coffee and an Apple Cider Donut at Atkins Farm... It must be beautiful back home right now. I am always homesick in the fall...

Doo, doo, doo, Lookin out my back door

Just got home from illinois, lock the front door, oh boy!

Got to sit down, take a rest on the porch.

Imagination sets in, pretty soon Im singin,

Doo, doo, doo, lookin out my back door.

Theres a giant doing cartwheels,

a statue wearin high heels.

Look at all the happy creatures dancing on the lawn.

A dinosaur victrola listning to buck owens.

Doo, doo, doo, lookin out my back door.

Tambourines and elephants are playing in the band.

Wont you take a ride on the flyin spoon?

Doo, doo doo.

Wondrous apparition provided by magician.

Doo, doo, doo, lookin out my back door.

Bother me tomorrow, today, Ill buy no sorrows.

Doo, doo, doo, lookin out my back door.

Forward troubles illinois, lock the front door, oh boy!

Look at all the happy creatures dancing on the lawn.

Bother me tomorrow, today, Ill buy no sorrows.

Doo, doo, doo, lookin out my back door.



~CCR

It's all fun and games until...

...someone gets hit in the eye with a grasshopper! Yes, you read right, a grasshopper! This afternoon after all the appointments and lessons and such I though Grace deserved some playtime. She has been asking to go to the playground and there is quite a breeze today (a strong wind actually) so I thought it might be cool enough to endure. She brought her monkey this time and had an absolute blast throwing him down the slide then following. She walked him up and down the steps, showed him the rocking motorcycle and all the neat stuff to play with and on. When Grace had played with everything she was able at the jungle gym, she turned her attention to the myriad of flying grasshoppers on and around the play structure. The new game became, chase and try to catch a " 'hopper". This was actually quite hysterical. The grasshoppers let Grace get just close enough to almost touch then they would hop/fly away. This lead to many squeals of delight and a fun game of chase. That is until... Until one flew up right into Grace's face. The corner of her eye actually. This lead to crying and yelling... "Bad Gas-Hopper!! Bad!!" and " 'Hopper hurt!! 'Hopper hurt eye!!" To be quite honest... She is fine, it startled her and did not hurt her, and it was kind of funny... I know...I know...

"Bad Mommy!" ;)

Olympic Swimmer

We had a make up swim lesson today... Poor Grace has not been to swim lessons in three weeks! But maybe, just maybe, that was the break she needed. Grace did not cry or fuss once! She NEVER clung to me or my swim suit and she actually laughed throughout most of it... Yes, I said it...laughed! She kicked and blew bubbles and showed off her scoops; most of which without even being asked. When dunked under water she came up smiling and even asked to go "Again!" Grace boldly jumped from the wall to Mommy (going under water each time) and allowed her instructor to pass her under water to me. This meant that Grace was pushed under and let go of with the intention being that she kick to Mommy. She did! Not only did she do it, she asked to do it "Again! Again!" I am so proud of her!

I must admit, while we had such great success this summer, her fall in August back in Mass. has had me worried. I know that her anxiety had more to do with the reaction of her father and Great Aunt when she fell in then the actual fall itself, but I have been afraid that she would not regain her confidence. Crisis averted!! She was as happy as a clam in the water today and we are going back again tomorrow for yet another make up.

If nothing else goes right today... It will still have been a fantastic day!

Princess Grace

Here are some of Grace's Halloween options from Nonie.

Thanks Nonie!!

Both still a bit big... they might just have to go into the dress up drawer for play.

But too cute none the less!

Little imp! ;)

This was one of those times that you are sure you must be on candid camera... In the moment, I thought that there is no way this is really happening. I am laughing heartily about it now, because honestly, I wish that I had it all on video... it was and is funny!

This morning while chained once again to the fetal monitor at my doctors office. Grace decided that though she had a bag full of toys, a bottle, her sippy cup and my undivided yet trapped attention; that she needed to have a tantrum about being strapped to her stroller. I thought... "What's the harm in letting her play with her toys on the floor?" Really?? Have I learned nothing about my daughter in these past few months?

Now, let me stop and preface this story by saying... I do not think that I have unrealistic expectations of what a 17 month old child is and is not capable of. I have learned a lot from Dr. Sear's 'Discipline Book' and have been implementing his tactics with success. Not 100% success, but that would be an unrealistic expectation. Unfortunately most of how to get a child of Grace's age to do what is asked and expected means getting down to her level, touching her, getting her full attention and then telling her what she needs to do or not do... Not possible when you are strapped to a fetal monitor. ;) And while Brian and I have essentially been playing 'fetch' with Grace to work on her listening skills and direction following skills, she knows when she will be able to get away with murder and that is just what she did today...

So once free from her stroller Grace immediately walked behind the chair I was in and out of my sight. This she thought was funny, because every time I called her name and asked her to come do or get something she giggled... Finally she came around to the side of the chair and began to dismantle the diaper bags filled with samples that are stored in this room. She kept looking up to see if I was watching and defiantly continued what she was doing. Well maybe defiantly is not the right word, but she was aware that this was a "No Touch" situation. When I was finally able to get a hand on her and get her attention, the nurse came in and Grace promptly retreated to her stroller as if she were a perfect angel. The moment the nurse left (after telling Grace her what a good and pretty girl she was) Grace walked straight over to the fetal monitor and pulled the cords out. So now, I am no longer attached to the monitor, but I am almost 9 months pregnant and reclined in this over sized over stuffed easy chair... and like a turtle on my back, I need help getting up. So while I am rocking... trying to gain enough velocity to propel myself from the chair, Grace tears the monitor strip from the printer and heads for the door... Now I hear her greeting the nurses, patients and doctors as she trots down the hall.. "Hi! Hi! Hi!" I am mortified! (And still barely out of the chair) With that my doctor walks in to check on me, sees me unhooked with no paperwork and looks puzzled... that is until a nurse comes in with Grace in her arms and the monitor strip being waved about like a flag in Grace's hand... "Oy Vey!"

I apologized like there was no tomorrow to an EXTREMELY understanding and frankly amused doctor and nursing staff. Grace spent the remainder of the appointment tucked into the chair with me with a book and her bottle and my firm grip around her. I left the office completely embarrassed when I realized, Grace is only 17 months old... the poor kid had to trek an hour in traffic to Scottsdale with me and then I expected her to sit quietly in her stroller for more than an hour and then drive patiently back home... And I began to laugh... It really is funny looking back on it.

Beaver

Uugh! When did my child become the child that eats her bed??? That's not my Grace!! My Grace doesn't eat books, or toys or chew on furniture like a dog! So I was shocked and dismayed today to see teeth marks on the head board of her crib. When did this start? Why did this start? Why is my child gnawing on her bed??? On the headboard, where she should barely be able to reach are 4 perfect little grooves where 4 front teeth rubbed the varnish and some of the wood off! I'll say it again... Uugh!!

Brian thinks it's funny, I find it horrifying, but I suppose in the grand scheme of things that my child could be doing... a small amount of chewing on her bed... Aw who am I kidding... My child is eating the furniture :(

On a lighter note, and at least this story brings a smile to both my face and heart... Today at the doctors Grace found great amusement in the sound of the baby's heart beat. She kept calling it "noise" and repeatedly imitated the "whoosh whoosh whoosh" of the heart beat. When told that was the baby, she looked at her doll and then looked up confused, since she was pretty sure that the "noise" was coming from the machine that Mommy was hooked up to and not her baby doll... But still, she was thrilled at the "noise" and imitated it all the way home in the car.

For love of the game

As we speak my husband and daughter are pacing the living room floor bouncing balls and high fiveing each other after each pitch. All this in an attempt to will the Red Sox to rally and come back from their current 2-1 deficit. While I must admit that Grace's shadowing her father and joining in the family tradition of agonizing Red Sox Post Season baseball... I am writing this and not giving my undivided attention to the game because I simply cannot take the heartache, heartbreak and what not... not in my condition.

Ask and ye shall receive...

My Neighbor asked for some photos of Grace with her finger paints in the tub... so here they are.

Bath Tub Painting

Sunday morning in the park

Grace and her Teddy (one of) enjoy the morning at the playground.

Bananas and Finger Paints

Grace, despite illness has had a good week. On Thursday her Speech Therapist had tremendous success. I was terrified that with the way Grace has been feeling she would start a food fight or have some great temper tantrum at the table but she surprised us all. Jamie and Grace both ate yogurt and bananas. The yogurt is no big deal, we have been getting Grace to eat yogurt for a while but anything that is not puree smooth is immediately spit out or gagged on... Not Thursday, Grace chewed and swallowed the bananas with no issue and proudly opened her mouth and announced "All Gone!" All told she had about 1/2 of a banana and 4oz of yogurt (with strawberry pieces in it!) I am so very proud! Progress is being made. I had hoped that Grace would be eating like any other 18 month old by the time the baby arrives, but it looks like I will have to take what I can get and be happy about it... and I am.

We have been working on our colors lately. Grace can sing most of the alphabet but does not recognize the letters yet. And while I have both the alpha puzzle mat and the bath tub foam alphabet pieces to teach her, I though maybe we should start with something a bit more simple. So we have been using these tools to learn our colors instead. Grace has become less and less interested with coloring with crayons so I thought it was time for something new. To reinforce the colors we are learning in the tub I bought her bath tub finger paints. She LOVES them. He initial reaction was no surprise to me. Since her father is not a big fan of getting or being dirty she had some issue with diving in and getting the finger paint all over her hands. Now... well now they paint the tub, her body and mommy's face if I lean in too close. She has to ask for more paint when she needs it and has been correctly identifying Yellow, Purple and Blue. Red is not one she quite understands yet, but hey... 3 colors makes me pretty happy! Two of her feeding therapy tools are yellow and purple so she has started to ask for them by color. And will point to the purple pieces or letters on her puzzle mat and telling me "purple". Her rubber duckies are yellow so she has also been announcing to me that they are "yellow!" I hope with all of the jack-o-lanterns around our house she will soon learn orange, but we shall see...

Grace discovered today during a failed morning nap that she can work the zipper on her sleeper. After an hour of listening to her laughing; kissing her Teddy's; making her Teddy's kiss each other; talking to the walls; and telling someone or something "No barking!" Brian and I finally gave in and went to get her. We were surprised and amused to discover that the child who must go to bed with clothes on or will remove her diaper, has figured out how to unzip her sleeper. I am just thrilled that she has not figured out how to escape her crib or open doors yet... well that is not true. She knows how to open a door, she is not tall enough to reach the door handle just yet... all a matter of time I guess.

unBELIEVEable!

Well thanks to the power of prayer the Sox pulled one out of their a** last night! Sometimes I really love the Baseball Gods. They are rarely kind or merciful and maybe they are simply prolonging our pain, but what a game!

As usual, my pessimist husband sided with the announcers in the 7th inning. I was frosted that the announcers were already talking about a Rays v. Phillies world series in the top of the 7th. Granted the score was 7-0 Rays, but there were still 2 and a half innings left. When I voiced my frustration at being counted out before the last out was recorded, Brian said... "This game is over." Uugh!! Have we learned nothing in the last 4 years??? It's the post season... anything can happen! And.... anything did! I banished myself to the bedroom so as to avoid my husbands negativity and before I knew it he was running upstairs shouting.... "It's a 1 run game!!!" Thanks to a late game rally we scored in the 7th inning then tied the game in the 8th.... We held the Rays off in the 9th then scored the winning run... The Sox live to fight another day!

The Baseball Gods may have granted the Sox a stay of execution for now, but they are fickle...we shall see what happens on Saturday in Tampa. As for me... "I Believe!"

And as for the rest of Red Sox Nation... KEEP THE FAITH!

P.S. Boston... This song's for you!

(And so are the two after that!)

To quote a neighbor... "A blue dot in a red state"

My blog is so not a political platform. I know that for my neighborhood my political and religious beliefs are different. I am okay with that. I have no issues with being different or with my neighbors views and values. In fact I deeply respect them for their convictions. My earlier post really had nothing to do with politics, but rather a funny story about my excitement and or heart rate influencing the baby's. It so happened that what got me ramped up was somewhat political... I in no way intended to offend or impugn anyone... again, simply a story about how my excitement got the baby wound up... Heck, this same post could take place hours from now while watching the Red Sox Game... I know one way or another I'll be all riled up then...

"If we shadows have offended, think but this; and all is mended that you have but slumbered here while these visions did appear and this weak and idle theme no more yielding but a dream. Gentles--do not reprehend if you pardon, we will mend. And, as I am an honest Puck if we have unearned luck. Now to scape the serpents tongue. We will make amends ere long else the Puck a liar call. So--goodnight unto you all. Give me your hands if we be friends. And Robin shall restore amends."

kicking and screaming... well maybe not screaming...

My poor Grace appears to be sick. I know that she is teething and from that she has had such a runny nose for a few weeks. Her poor face is chapped raw from trying to clean up her nose and face... It's heart breaking. But this morning she woke with a terrible cough, so while it may be teething it seems it might also be a cold. So taking it easy today appears to be the plan; Not that we do a whole lot of running around lately anyhow. But no swim lessons, no Gymboree, no play dates, just rest and drug induced quiet time. Since Grace is not napping all that well lately... Still sleeping 11+ hours at night, but not napping well, I gave her some Tylenol this morning to ease the cold symptoms and help her sleep.... No I am not a drug abuser, in fact I hate having to give her anything, especially Tylenol. The last thing I want is to hurt her poor little liver, but without rest, how can she get better? So Tylenol, the humidifier up high with a fresh Vick's Vapor pad and the hope for at least 2 good hours of sleep.

With Grace asleep I thought instead of napping myself (in case she doesn't really sleep) I'd sit down and do something I never do... watch some sort of daytime television... So I sit down amongst the clutter of a million different things I've started and not finished in my quest to be ready for baby... It's 10am and 'The View' is on... I thought, "Okay, lets see what the ladies thought of the debate last night. I am sure there will be plenty of Joe the plumber jokes." Now I remember why I don't watch 'The View'... Elizabeth Hasselbeck makes me crazy... My blood pressure shoots sky high and I want to jump through the TV and shake her like a rag doll and shout "Idiot! You have no idea what you are talking about!!! Shut Up! Shut Up! Shut Up!" Oh, I respect her right to her opinions. Close~minded as they may be, but never the less, She is wrong... wrong... wrong ....wrong... and must be stopped. So while I am pleading with Whoopie to jump across the table and slap some sense into that blond brain of hers, the baby starts kicking me... I don't mean a thump here or there, I mean real kicking, fist pounding, temper tantrum kicking. I smile and laugh and hope that the baby is kicking and screaming that Elizabeth is an idiot too... I will of course be devastated if my children grow up to share Elizabeth's views of the world and politics, but I will love them with all my heart anyway... And silently scream into my pillow at night and wonder where I went wrong. ;)

(This post inspired the change in song on my playlist)

So enough high blood pressure, I am sure it is not good for me or the baby. Instead, I will take it as a sign. I will use this quiet time while Grace sleeps to complete one thing I have started... Now if I could only decide which project that would be, we'd really be rocking and rolling...

Aargh!

Katie and Grace had a blast playing this morning! Grace was so excited to see Katie that she couldn't get words out right away and just jumped around gasping! She gave Katie the biggest hug and held he hand on their way to the breakfast table. Grace played such a sweet hostess, showing Katie her toys and play area as if Katie had never been here before. What a treat to wake up and have your best friend in the room across the hall.

The weather this morning was again glorious, so Katie, Grace and I donned sweaters and headed out for an early walk. We had only reached the end of the street when we saw Eric (Katie's dad) pulling into his driveway, so we met up with him, Katie gave him a hug good morning, I got the scoop on the new baby and I brought both girls back to the house to give Eric some time to rest and refresh. The girls spent about an hour playing in and around Grace's tunnel from Gymboree before settling in for a bit of milk and some snacks. It was a great morning!

The "aargh" comes from this afternoon... Grace and I, after her nap, headed to Target to pick up a few things to get my closet organized. I am feeling the urge to nest, but I am so not the clean, neat, organized, Donna Reed wife/mother that I should be. I know that I will not be able to feel as if I am completely set up for baby until baby is actually here. So I am trying to keep up on the laundry and get rid of the excess and be the mom Grace needs and deserves; But instead of going out to play and spending "quality" one on one time with Grace before the baby gets here, I am cleaning my closet... And I really do want to be outside, in fact I would much rather be outside, but I am HUGE and I am tired and badly sleep deprived these days, and somehow, sitting on the floor of my closet, trying to get it organized while Grace pulls out every pair of shoes I own and tries them on is all I can manage these days.... "Aargh!"

"Grace, I hope you know just how much your mommy loves you and I am sorry that you have to be entertained in a stuffy old closet when you should be running around in the fresh air... I will make it up to you!! But thanks for the million laughs today... You, in mommy's big ole high heels was a sight to see... I love you to the moon and back!"

Sleepover....

For a few weeks now I have been going to bed at night with the phone next to me on the night stand. My dear friend and neighbor Bonnie had asked me to be her middle of the night go to gal should she go into labor before her mother got here to help. I happily accepted and I must admit secretly hoped to get the call... Well last night it came. It was a few minutes before 10pm and Bonnie and Eric called to say that Bonnie's water broke and Katie needed a place to stay while they headed off to the hospital. Eric brought a poor confused, half awake Katie across the street and set her up in our guest room. Katie has been sleeping in a big girl bed in preparation for her little sisters arrival. She was not the happiest of campers when she saw that she would be in the pack n play, especially since there is a big queen sized bed in the room... But Daddy sang her a song got her blankie and stuffed animal and tucked her in. She was asleep again in minutes.

As of now... 6:30 in the morning Grace is unaware that her buddy is upstairs asleep and has been all night, but I cannot wait to see their faces when they realize that they had a sleepover last night! (I am also anxiously awaiting the news from the hospital... So exciting!!!!)

Daddy's Little Helper

Fall is here!!! The last few days have been absolutely gorgeous! low to mid 70's... the windows are open a crisp breeze blows through the house, a few baked apples and some fall foliage and I am almost home.

Today the projects continued. Who knew getting ready for baby and keeping up a house and yard could be so time consuming! (wink) The yard project today was fixing the trees that our landscaper did not stake. The monsoon season was hard on these saplings and they have been blow crooked. Brian finally had some time to get the stakes a wire to properly secure the trees and bring them back to upright. While he did that I though Grace and I could get some fresh air and take a break from baby clothes, toys furniture and laundry to play in the yard. Despite breaking out the bubbles and balls and baby dolls, Grace found more entertainment in holding on to the pliers for Dad-dee and handing them to him as if she were his scrub nurse... I have uploaded photos...

Black lights and pool chemicals

After finding and killing yet another scorpion in our garage today, Brian finally caved in and admitted that maybe we should consider taking some preemptive measures. He went out and bought the pool chemicals recommended and spread it around the perimeter of the house. As we speak he is in the yard with a black light and a hammer. (Yes, we are both taking a break from the Sox game... we thought a change of pace and energy might do us and the Sox a world of good) Brian has not found any scorpion in the yard and found none in the house earlier this evening... He is walking around frustrated (partly the Sox fault) and feeling as if I am getting work up over nothing. But after poor Taylor had to be air vacced to Phoenix Children's Hospital this week, I am taking no chances. Who knows, maybe Sami eats them before I even know they are in the house. Maybe the pool chemicals are a miracle and they have been driven from our yard, or maybe we are, for some unknown reason, more fortunate than all the other neighbors who have them in their homes and we have none... At any rate I will sleep better tonight knowing that we have done our part to protect our child and home from these disgusting venomous little creatures...

Back to the baseball game. Go Red Sox!!!

The first days of October

Here are a few new photos of Grace...

She had the best visit with her Nonie

and is anxiously awaiting her return!

Fired up... and not in a good way!

I can't help it... I know that I started this blog so that my family all the way on the opposite coast could keep up with Grace, but I have to get something off my chest. I warn you, it has nothing to do with Grace or the new baby... I try at all costs to avoid religious and political discussions, but.... I can no longer stand silent.

I could get on a soap box and shout at the top of my lungs. I could go on forever about how WRONG this is/these people are... but all I will say is:

If I receive one more phone call, piece of literature or hear one more radio ad from the 'Yes' on Prop 102 people, my head is going to explode!!! This is a horrible, HATEFUL proposition that has no business being on the ballot and
I cannot take it anymore!

"Booing"

No, not the kind you do when the Yankees are in town or the Jets play the Pats, but the Halloween kind... Our neighborhood has a tradition (2 years now) of Booing each other during the month of October. A few evenings ago our doorbell rang at supper time and on our front stoop was a bag filled with Halloween goodies and a note that informed us we had been "Booed" and to pass the holiday cheer on. We copied the note, posted a ghost on our door and created 2 similar treat filled bags and snuck up on 2 unsuspecting neighbors. I had Brian go out under cover of darkness and drop bags, ring doorbells and run. ( I would not be able to get out of the door way fast enough in my current condition) He did so with pleasure and said he was not caught. He did however witness some other neighbors "Booing" the other evening... What a fantastic neighborhood we live in.

Grace has really gotten into the Halloween spirit. She is fascinated with all of the Halloween decorations around the neighborhood and has taken to trespassing to get a closer look at the ghosts, ghouls, goblins, witches and such on front lawns, doors and driveways. She say "Boo!" to every ghost she passes and is in love with Jack-o-lanterns. She is trying very hard to say "Jack-o-lantern" but after the "Jack-0" it sound like lannen. She is however able to say Trick or Treat and we practice every night. Hopefully come Halloween she will be able to say it at stranger's doors.

In my first pregnancy my Mother-in-Law started sending Beanie Babies to me for her Grandchild. So that October, for my birthday, attached to my gift was a ghost Beanie Baby. Last Halloween in Grace's care package was another Beanie Baby ghost. Grace never paid much attention to them. They were not African animals or cute kittens, or teddy bears, so they sort of just sat; Now however, they are prised possessions. She carries them around and is proud as a peacock that she has ghosts just like the neighbors have on their front lawns. She can say "Ghost" but prefers to call them "Boo!" We are still unsure what Grace will be for Halloween this year, but if she had a say, I think she'd say ghost...

P.S.
Nonie, we miss you!! When we got home from the airport Grace went around the house calling your name. And when we went out in the back yard this afternoon for a dip in the pool she looked everywhere for you. Hurry back!

Fall...

I cannot tell you how happy I am that Fall is beginning to show her face around the valley. I am loving the open windows at night and breakfast in my back yard on the beautiful new patio my husband created for Grace and me. I feel like surviving the next five weeks of pregnancy is possible now.

I realized today that I have been so caught up in all that my mother is doing to help and with the doctors appointments and my Birthday... That I have not blogged a whole lot about Grace. Yes she is enjoying her time with Nonie and will be so sad to see her leave tomorrow, but big things have been happening... On a side note and before I return to Grace; Neighbors, if you see Grace and my mother (Patti) walking around the neighborhood, stop and say hello. She wanted to put faces to all the myriad of names I am always talking about, but I kept her locked away this visit...

So on to Grace... In addition to the walks, and great fun watching the neighborhood boys on bikes, on top of the swimming in both pool and bucket in my back yard, Grace is surprising me every day. She learned a few weeks back to put her shoes on all by herself. First it was her crocks now it is all shoes all the time on and off and on the correct feet I might add... I am still not sure I always put my own shoes on the right feet at 32 and she does it at less than a year and a half. She is a huge fan of... and I do not know the appropriate name, but the buckles or clips that are on high chairs and car seats... whatever they are called, Grace is fully capable of connecting them and does so proficiently time and again. This has become a game both of distraction when I need a minute. "Grace, stand at your booster seat and click the buckle for me." and reward, "Grace take two bites and I will open the buckle so you can click it."

Then... out of nowhere... well not really nowhere, but sort of, Grace decided that she knows how to sing her A, B, C's... She can do "A, B, C, D, .....H, I, .....L, M, N, O, P, ...... T, U, V, W, X, Y and Z" Okay... now maybe I am biased, no... truly I am biased, but I think that is impressive! She still only sings the "Row Row Row" part of Row Row Row your Boat, and the "Ashes Ashes" part of Ring around the Rosie. If you start "Twinkle, Twinkle...", she waits until the appropriate time and then sings (at the top of her lungs) "Up above!"

What else has she learned??? She still says "Yellow" for every color and I cannot keep up with her words. She is beginning to put words together, but it is mostly sentences like "No Touch!" or "No, No Glasses." "Out please." "I see you!" "I got you" and "I Sorry" but that is, I guess a start... She has been simply adorable with her baby and I hope that translates with the new little one on the way... we shall see.

Mission Accomplished

Well the baby clothes and toys and stuff are finally sorted and organized and ready to go. I feel like I know where the baby and his/her things will go and my bedroom is ready to play nursery for a few months. Nonie had simply been a God Send!


Grace has been a bit under the weather this whole week. While she has happily played with Nonie and lead her on many great explorations around the neighborhood and through the house, she simply has not been herself. I chalk this up partly to teething and partly to what might be a cold. Though I am not sure where she would have gotten a cold, but who knows... Still due to her not feeling quite herself today was a pretty mellow day.


She played in her pool and with the hose in the backyard for a good bit late this morning. I am told while I took an afternoon nap she entertained herself for an hour in the yard with toys and clothes, and the drying rack while Nonie read and observed. Not much to report just another beautiful day and quality time spent with Nonie.

Biker Boys

Nonie and Grace are inseparable. It is so sweet to watch and a bit bittersweet too. It was not long ago that I was the best buddy and life long companion to this little girl. But my mother once told me that Grandparents and Grandchildren share a special bond and a common enemy. I suppose it's true!

Today we enjoyed the cooler weather in the morning with the house wide open and the breeze airing out my stale, closed up for too many months, house. It was such a treat... It has been so nice in fact that we have slept with the windows open instead of the a/c on. I cannot wait until the windows can remain open all day and night.

This afternoon we spent a few hours at the neighborhood pool. The water was brisk, but still not nearly as cold as Cape Cod in mid-summer. We were the only ones at the pool the entire time, which is sometimes a great treat. Grace and Nonie did their own thing and made it clear that my help and participation was not needed. They are of course very nice about it, but seem to be happiest when sharing things just the two of them. Plus, it means I get a break and that is a rare treat. So I enjoyed an hour on a raft in the middle of the pool with the sun on my face and a fall breeze at my back.

This evening after dinner and kicking the ball around the backyard we opened up the house and went for a walk. About 4 doors down we ran into our neighbors Brendan (8) and Blake (4) on their bikes doing tricks in the street. They were thrilled to have an audience and Grace was equally thrilled to have the entertainment. So, we postponed the walk and instead sat on the curb and watched the boys ride. The tried to out do each other with their tricks and pandered to Grace it was adorable to say the least. I have attached video...

Don't forget...

Scroll to bottom of page and pause the music

Not much to hear on video but still...

Maggianos

Oh how I love my husband! Well... I do, but what I really mean is "Oh How I love Maggianos!!". This tradition of my birthday dinner at Maggianos started on my 25th birthday back in Southern California. Back then and for the next several years we always went with my girlfriend Julie, her husband and occasionally various other friends to dinner and out for way too many drinks. This year after a 2 year hiatus from my tradition Brian took me to Maggianos and it was heaven! It was so nice to have a date with the father of my child and husband of just about 4 years and life partner for the last 12. (Dating seemed to have flown out the window years ago) We had a quiet table and time to catch up and the food was as it always is, predictable and fantastic! No matter where you go, Maggianos tastes the same. I do not go for chain restaurants, in fact as almost a rule, I hate them, but.... anyway.

So Brian and I were able to have some alone time, adult conversation a glass of wine (again, heaven!) and discuss not only how his life and work have been going these past several weeks and months; but also what needs to be done, what we would like done and such in preparation for the baby. Having my mother here this week has shown us just how lucky we are that she is able to come spend a month with us when the baby is born and how big a help it will be. Thanks Mom!

As for Grace, she would rather be with her Nonie than her Mommy these days. They have been taking walks around the neighborhood, exploring the playground and swimming both at the neighborhood pool and in the backyard. This last month of pregnancy with out my mother is going to be hard on Grace and me. But we will manage. It's only about 5 weeks between the end of this visit and the return of Nonie. Hurry Back!

October 3, 1976

I have now been here 3 decades and two years. When I said that this morning, my mother's jaw dropped as did her face. She said that was a mean thing to say. I am her eldest child and she was just a kid... well 23 when I was born and thinks herself young still. And, she is! At 55 she is more active and athletic than I am at 32... so she should not be concerned about age...


Grace is having a blast with her Nonie. She has fallen into step with her from the moment we picked Nonie up at the airport. Despite the fact that Grace told me at the end of our street, on the way to the airport "Home Please!" She laughed all the way home with Nonie giggling right along with her. I have no idea what was so funny in that back seat, but I am pretty sure that I was the butt of the joke!

Grace, Nonie and I have been busy with both play and work. We've been to the playground and the pool and on walks and running thought the sprinklers. We have chased grasshoppers, of which there are thousands these days and cleaned off the patio furniture. We've also thinned out Grace's closet a long, long, long, over due project. There were so many things that Grace had out grown or worn out and I simply could not bring myself to dive in... Thank God for Nonie!! Onto sorting through baby clothes and getting the master bedroom ready to house a baby in the next few weeks.

As it is Friday, I of course had a doctors appointment this afternoon. My mother and Grace joined me which was a nice treat. Grace had entertainment and I had company. These Friday appointments can be long ones. My mother and OB ganged up on me, and on my birthday no less. I never get the flu shot. I always get sick after having it and have found that the risk has been worth it for years now. I somehow escaped the shot when I was pregnant with Grace, but the forces of mother and doctor proved to strong to resist. So... I got stabbed with a needle... At least when Grace's doctor gives her shots Grace gets a pretty band aid, all I got was a boring beige one and a sore arm... Happy Birthday to me...

Nonie

I am sitting here at 6:30 in the morning with the windows wide open and the most heavenly breeze blowing in. I know it won't last and as soon as the sun is up it will be scorching hot again, but this... this moment right here is going to get me through today.

Grace was up at 5:45 thanks to the lovely construction going on outside her/our bedroom window. I just don't get it... they roll in at 5:30 and they are done by 2pm.... couldn't they start a bit later and end a bit later?? Anyway she is back to sleep for the moment and I am running a load of laundry and... Hold onto your seats... cleaning my house! Nonie (my mom) comes in today for my birthday and to help me get organized and ready for the new baby.

So her bathroom needs to be scrubbed and her bedroom aired out and freshened up. I have floors to mop and carpets to sweep and swim lessons this morning. I am not sure when I will post again, but I will try to get pictures, video and snippets of our next 9 days up as soon as possible.

If only the day could remain this cool and beautiful, I feel like I could conquer the world right now!