Okay so I know - Grace is TOTALLY my daughter...

I know I was there when she was born, but it's just shocking when they do something that is TOTALLY you! And especially when its something you're not rushing out there to claim - like all of the brilliant things she does, I mean of course she gets that from me:-)

This afternoon I was taking some pics of her in her new dress... she was sitting on a rock out front, a very small rock... when she turned and fell off! I would have thought that was nearly impossible, she wasn't more than 6" off the ground. But go figure, if she's my daughter she's probably about as coordinated and graceful as I am:-)

As Poppy would say, "she comes by it naturally!" Got to love her!

Here are some pics from right before the fall:

CRAZY day...

Whew! Today was CRAZY to say the least... the morning started off w/ Grace in my room at the crack of DAWN! My one day to sleep in - and Eva was sleeping but it was Grace who was up wanting donuts. Of course I had told Matt lets start cutting back on donuts, I don't want to end up the size of a house! So I was wishing I had a donut to give her in exchange for a few zzzzzz's. But instead I begged her to watch cartoons while I tried to focus enough to get up. She helped me wake up by randomly kicking me - unintentionally but kicking me none-the-less. So off we went for some breakfast.

Mid morning Grace was dancing around in Poppy's sitting area when she comes out crying saying she hurt her foot... I asked her how & she said, "on Poppy's cutter...". Poppy said she was dancing, swinging & kicking, when she kicked her foot out, clipping the coffee table - OUCH! Grace on the other hand is CERTAIN it wasn't the coffee table, but instead one of Poppy's decorative swords that he had out cleaning. I'm sort of thinking if it was the sword she might be missing a foot - but hey perception is huge! So like 50 Band-Aids later & a ton of tears she settled down.

Then apparently Eva took that has her cue to take center stage... Every time I got Eva to sleep & laid her down, littery 5 minutes later she would wake up SCREAMING. I even tried to let her just cry some thinking, she's so tired she HAS to go to sleep soon - but no, she didn't. So in I would go to get her, at that point Grace has crashed & is sleeping through Eva screaming. Eva sees me, stops screaming - hands me her blankie & then raises her arms to say "lets go!" Every time, same routine - hands me the blankie then looks for a lift out of the crib. I think she's got my number - errr! Its hard to b/c she's so da-gon cute!

When she doesn't like something, she either starts screeching, or if she's debating things - she'll scrunch her face up giving you "her look" - very similar to what Uncle Rick calls the "bunny face".

Oh & I guess I should note in the mist of all of this, Eva did take a few steps - VERY small steps, but still steps... she was hoping to get the phone. I'm certain she could start walking if she would just quit being so stubborn. Although when she does start walking we're going to have to look out she's going to be EVERYWHERE!

Donkey Basketball....

The schools were sponsoring a Donkey Basketball game to raise money for Scuffy & although last night didn't run entirely smoothly after dinner the girls & I RUSHED to get ready to make it to the high school to watch Donkey Basketball. When we first got there, I thought, "oh know - what did I get myself into..." I don't do well in large crowds w/ my glasses on & the crowd was HUGE, plus we were supposed to find Jess & Ella there... luckily Jess was down front - whew! We finally made it to our seats w/out the Golden Bear mascot ATTACKING Grace - yes, she's afraid that mascot's attack:-) I tried telling her he's just like a large stuffed animal, but she wasn't convinced... in fact she noticed a "great big scary lion too!"

Once we sat down she seemed to settle down, having fun playing w/ Ella (I guess she wasn't too worried about her biting her again b/c she set right next to her & shared a snack!).

At half time Grace & Ella rode a donkey together - Brianna Couden took a picture, hope to post it later - Grace loved riding the donkey & wanted to do it again:-) Eva even had fun watching, I think she might have ridden to if given the chance:-)

After donkey riding we headed home for a BATH;-)

Ella bit me..

I don't know whether to laugh or panic.... Brenda e-mailed & said... Ella bit Grace! Luckily it didn't leave any teeth marks or anything so it wasn't bad. It really scared Gracie. She started crying saying "Ella bit me, Ella bit me". I asked her where at & she said on my back. Her shirt was wet in that spot I raised up her shirt & there was a red circle but no teeth marks. I asked Ella & she said, "No I didn't bite Grace". Brenda said, "Yes you did look at the red mark". Then Ella started crying. I said that is not nice you tell her you are sorry, and she did.

I guess they were all sitting on the floor playing with some new princesses that Riley had brought & Ella wanted the one that Grace had. She tried to take it from her & Grace told her no & pulled it away and kinda turned to the other side. Ella reached across her & tried grabbing it & bit her. I looked at her back before her nap & she has no marks at all. I think it scared her more than anything. Grace kept saying "Ella looks mean, look at her Brenda, she bit me." She said "I'm telling my mom Ella, you're mean."

Guess I should be glad that my kids not the only one w/ a random mean streak:-)

Still makes me laugh - I can TOTALLY see Grace saying, "Ella looks mean" - she often tells me "I look hungry... or I look tired". She's so cute - I just love her to pieces!!!!

My little cow girl...

Look out... what is that floating in the water...

Eva has started learning how to roll her tongue - it's so cute, she watches you do it & then works really hard at duplicating it. Its so cute! She was taking a bath by herself (Grace was "exercising" in the media room by herself b/c I was just too tired), she started making a concentrated face... I just thought it was b/c she was working on rolling her tongue, but then I saw peas & corn in the bath water! Eva was apparently concentrating b/c she was pooping!

Guess we're lucky this is her first time pooping in the bath -- Grace was ALWAYS pooping in the tube (well maybe not ALWAYS, but several times). Good thing Eva was bathing solo!

Push up my leaves...

It was so cute tonight Eva was asleep early enough that I had a chance to take a bath (rare!) & I'm hoping she doesn't wake up here soon.... but Grace came in & said she was going to "help wash me", then she said she was going to have to "push up her leaves so they didn't get wet" - I thought it was so cute I kept saying, "what did you say? huh?" and she would say, "push up my LEAVES". I loved it! The little things in life:-)

We also went to the park w/ Ella & Jess... I think one of the high points of my day was pushing Grace in her swing, higher & higher - while she just giggled! Giggles are what I live for;-)

Eva's newest face...

Eva's newest face... she likes to scrunch her nose up & squint her eyes at the same time... its SOOO cute! Hard to describe, & actually hard to catch her doing it b/c every time the camera goes up she stops... but below is close. She's such a CUTIE!

A day at Louisville tile...

The girls, Poppy & I met Matt at Louisville Tile Distributors to start picking out tiling for the house. We had initially planned to just go & get a good idea of what we wanted so we would know better what the pricing might be.... but we pretty much determined everything in the one visit!

Which is great b/c the girls did as well as can be expected but it wasn't easy. While there I think Grace peed three times & pooped twice - yes at least twice! Their poor potty, but since it was a tile store, it was a nice bathroom:-) Eva did pretty well, but since she's hit this phase where when she doesn't like something, or wants something else, pretty much when ever things aren't going "her way" she starts yelling... she did that a lot... frequently being passed from one person to another until she quit yelling. But in the mist of all that chaos I made the tile decision - and Matt was sooooo happy! Which in turn makes me happy.

Here is a pic of Grace, Eva & Poppy -- near the end of the morning, just barely hanging in there! I don't blame them though... we got there at 10:30 a.m. and didn't leave till almost 1:00 p.m.! I was ready to go & I'm not under 4:-)

An evening at the park...

Tonight we walked to the park - Grace & Ella had sooooo much fun playing! It was so cute watching them, Eva even had a good time hanging out watching them. I just LOVE this weather, makes you want to spend all evening outside. Below you can see Grace being "super-brave!" hanging from the uneven bars - she's growing up too fast!!!!

Whew - Eva was up EARLY this morning...

Whew - Eva was up EARLY this morning! I managed to get up the first time the alarm went off (4:20 a.m.) & it's a good thing b/c shortly after I got out of the shower I heard Eva up. I went in to get her, expecting her to want to eat & then go back to sleep - but when I first saw her she was sitting up in her crib watching the fish mobile Gram's got her (that should have been my 1st clue!) Generally she is on her belly, feet tucked under her, fussing - I get her, she eats & goes right back to sleep. Not this morning, I did feed her but as soon as I tried laying her back down she started crying... of course b/c I didn't want her to wake the entire house up I picked her up & took her w/ me. I'm suprised but she seemed to do well while I got ready - I took her diaper off (let her behind air off) & she played w/ the tooth brushes & Tylenol bottle. She did pee on the tile, but that wasn't too hard to clean off. I just wish her rash would look better - I think I'll have to call the doctors office today.

Eva's first steps...

Well I wouldn't classify it as "walking" but Eva officially took her first steps last night! We had gone for a walk w/ Jess & Ella and were working on getting dinner ready, Eva was being very clingy, so when I set her down she put her feet down, just standing there crying reaching for me (poor baby!) I stood one grown-up step away w/ my arms out - apparently she wanted me to hold her so badly she took three stumbling steps into my arms!

While I want her to stay little forever, always loving me & wanting to spend time w/ me - snuggled up like a bug... or playing peek-a-boo w/ her satin blanket, I'm just so proud of her! A mixed emotional response, since this means she's growing up:-(

Owwww... she needs a lot of ban-bans...

Poor little Eva has a diaper rash - she got it after the last round of antibiotics, & it seems like it has only gotten worse! We've put everything on it - butt paste, desitine, A&D, you name it! Matt thought maybe she needed some time to just "air out" so we were outside - hoping Eva didn't pee on me b/c she didn't want to sit down... so I'm holding her, when Grace saw Eva's rash. It was so cute & sweet all at the same time, she made her best "ouchie face" & said, "Owww... Mom, she needs a lot of ban-bans (aka: band-aids). Gracie is such a sweetie! She's looking out for you Eva:-)

The last 6 months...

So cute - last night we finished recording on one of the 30 minute DVDs (I keep one loaded & record 2-5 minutes of time here & there... that way I capture a lot of the little things in life w/out having long videos that no one - except Grace, wants to watch!) So Matt, Grace, Eva & I are in the media room watching Gracie's DVD... it had clips from the end of summer @ Graham Drive... Matt & I couldn't believe how much she's grown up!

It's funny b/c you wouldn't think that in 6 months she would look that different, but she does... almost wiser:-) Her speech had improved, I was quite shocked... but it was so fun watching (w/ Grace retelling EVERYTHING!), it makes you realize how quickly things change & how much you should appreciate the time you have:-)

During the showing Eva was cute, when Grace was on the screen she would yell, "Ga-Ga" she's never been into watching TV (nothing like Grace) but this seemed to capture her attention!

More info on Zella...

Okay, Grace has had an imaginary friend now for a while - the one who seems to hang around the most is "Zella", she's always talking about her... "When I was at Zella's house", "Zella was at Brenda's" etc... so today between searching for cows & horses I asked her, "what does Zella look like?" She said, "she has BLUE hair & red eyes!" I guess when she turns up I won't have a hard time recognizing her:-)

I'll find horses, you find cows...

Grace's latest car game -- while we're on road trips she likes to have a contest to see who can find "x" animal first. It usually goes something like this, "Mom I'll find horses - you find cows... there are horses - I WIN!" I was holding my own until she said, "I'll find cows - and you find PENGUINS" Yeah, right... where does she think I'm going to find a penguin? But she loves this game so we play, the entire time we are in the car:-)

Cinderella dress....

Today I got Gracie a "Cinderella" dress & one of the best things is it came w/ a dress for her doll -- or for most little girls dolls, but for Grace she's letting her doggie Daisy wear it. Hey to each their own, right:-)

Here are some pics of Gracie & her dog dancing in the back yard... she can't wait to get dressed tomorrow & wear it again!

Pop-pop's a "bad boy"...

Today Grace told me, "Pop-pop is a bad boy! He gave me too much candy:-) He should sit in time out..." Made me laugh! She's right, but I've NEVER known Grace to turn down candy!

The girls 1st earthquake...

Early this morning around 5:39 a.m. the girls had their first earthquake (okay I know not real news worthy!). Eva was already starting to wake up, so she woke up to eat & did go back to sleep - guess it didn't phase her. Grace on the other hand stirred slightly in her sleep but never woke up - which didn't surprise me, when she's truly asleep she could sleep through anything!

Breanna's tennis match...

Last night we went over to watch Breanna play tennis. It was funny b/c Grace was so excited to go see Breanna w/ her "yellow ball" but then when we got there Grace asked a few times, "where is Breanna?" It probably was hard for her to know which one she was since they dress alike. After her brief question, she was off running around giggling the whole time playing w/ Jayden! So much for watching the tennis match:-)

Eva on the other hand enjoyed watching everyone while snacking - she's so cute I just want to put her in my pocket & take her everywhere w/ me!

Apparently Eva doesn't like grass either...

I wanted to take pics of BOTH girls together in the grass - but apparently not only does Eva not like sand, but she doesn't like GRASS either! When I tried to set her down on the grass she started crying immediately.

It was actually kind of funny b/c anytime after that when I would try & put her down on the grass (any where else was okay) she would hold her legs up "Indian style" and cry! So I was only able to get good pics of Grace posing on the grass - I had to get Eva's elsewhere:-)

Finally nice weather...

It seems like we've been waiting forever for nice weather - I realize its only the 15th of April, but when you've spent the winter in Indiana it seems like forever, so I was sooooo happy to have a nice early spring day. It was sunny, nearly 60 degrees & no work tomorrow, doesn't get much better than that!

We loaded the girls up & headed out for a walk w/ Jess & Ella... Eva fell asleep on the ride (she's so cute!) Grace & Ella spent the rest of the time running around playing... Grace would have played outside w/ Ella until the sunset if we let her; makes me really look forward to true summer days!

Where is Eva?

4/15/08: Gracie & I were working on setting the table for dinner & Eva was playing in the middle of the kitchen floor, when she DISAPPEARED!

I immediately ran around the corner to the stairs - Eva has an obsession w/ the stairs, but she wasn't there! I ran around the island thinking she'd be on the other side & she wasn't... I was starting to freak out, I mean all I did is look down to put the plates on the table, how fast could she disappear?

Then I saw her - standing UNDER the kitchen table grinning:-) I'm sure she was watching me freak out, enjoying it. Whew! That was a close one. It won't be much longer though before she won't be able to stand under the table w/out hitting her head.

Eva's A-T-T-I-T-U-D-E...

Not sure what is up w/ Eva... sick or just has an A-T-T-I-T-U-D-E, but Eva has started SCREECHING when she doesn't get her way... even Brenda noticed it!

Tonight she did not want to be in the bathtub so she screeched the entire time (see below - Grace happy as a clam & Eva screaming). I don't know what to make of it... does she not feel well, or is she used to getting her way after being sick? Wish I knew!

Pilates...

Daddy caught Mommy & Gracie exercising together... we were working out our abs using Jess's DVD - Grace loved it... although I'm not sure she actually "held it" when the instructor told her. But hey it was fun anyway!

Another doctors visit....

Okay so Friday (4/11/08) we took Eva back to the doctor - AGAIN! If we have to go again soon, we might as well start paying rent on office space, it would probably be cheaper! But Matt was concerned not sure if Eva was getting better or not (can't fault him for that, right?)... my preference was to wait & see how she was doing after the weekend, if no improvement then go back - but we went to make him feel better. AND.... drum roll please:-) Her left ear was nearly 100% better & her right ear while still infected was improving. That is TERRIFIC news! I was sooooo worried that if since we were there in the office, if there wasn't a noticeable improvement they would say we need to start the Rocefin shots (2 shots a day for 3 days!) - not something I wanted to have to put her through.... not something Matt wanted to have to do either (he was thinking more in the line of a specialist if she wasn't improving). But going still made me nervous, especially since she'd not been on the new antibiotic for even 48 hours. But since we went we now know she's improving - which by the weekend, you could totally tell she felt better... she was into Grace's things, acting like she normally does:-) I love having her back to her normal self... trying to make a break for it & make it up the stairs, getting into Grace's "homework" tearing out pages & eating the crayons! Much better than having her crying all the time:-)

Eva's birthday card shots....

Here is a recent pic of Eva, shot while I was taking pics for her 1st birthday invite.... she's just sooooo CUTE! I had several little dresses that I was having her wear, but somehow in the middle of everything she put the hat on w/ out a dress. I figured I'd better get shots while she was actually wearing it - and I think they turned out GREAT! I just hope she doesn't look back at her pics some day and say "Mom did you ever put me in clothing???"

A snake in my bed...

Not sure what is prompting it but this morning Grace woke up & came running into our room saying there was "a snake in her bed - she touched it!" I went to her room & looked in her bed, not exactly sure why, since I didn't expect to find a snake there, but I couldn't convince her of that... I asked Matt what he wanted me to do, & he must have been too sleepy b/c he said "was there one?" I thought, "duh, no...." but it was 4:00 a.m.

I think her imagination works over time b/c she also has two friends that she talks about ALL the time "Zeda & Kyda" - we don't know anyone by this name & as far as I know they aren't cartoon characters. Matt hates it when she talks about imaginary friends... I remember having imaginary friends, but when she starts talking about them I can tell he's wondering if we should do an exorcism!

Eva's still sick...

Eva's still sick... I just can't believe she's not better yet! Ugh! Its getting to be sooooo frustrating, I feel so bad for her. Tuesday evening I had to get my nails done & Nanni was going to watch Eva while Grace went w/ me. Well Grace said, "Hey Mommy I got a good idea... will you do me a favor?" so I was like, "What is it sweetie?" Grace said, "You'll pick me and drop me at Gram's house while you get your nails done". So even though it wasn't super convenient to drive all the way out there I couldn't say no.... Grace had a great time. But poor Eva was dying for her Mommy to get home. Just very fussy - which isn't her at all.... makes me sad.

Then Wednesday morning I asked Poppy if she could play in his room while I dried my hair (if not Eva's opening cabinets & making me worried that she's going to smash her finger) - she cried & clung to me, which is crazy she's generally dying to go see Poppy! Knowing this just wasn't her norm & she still has the cough... I called the doctors office - we went for a 4:00 p.m. apt w/ Celia. She said her ears are still bad - the chest is better, but still congested... she changed the antibiotics, gave us a script for more breathing treatments & some samples of Zyrtec for allergies. Poor Eva has had so many meds over the last few weeks that her good nature about taking them has come to an end - she now hates taking medicine, & this antibiotic is 6 mL twice a day - YUCK! But if this doesn't help her ears, the next step is a series of shots - 2 shots a day for 3 days - that will BREAK my heart! So I'm hoping & praying this helps her.... poor baby.

A modeling gig....

4/6/08: Grace is doing some hat modeling for Stana - the owner of Lovely Knits, based out of California (http://www.lovelyknits.com/eshop/) she has the cutest hats! I'd actually ordered a hat for both Grace & Eva before Christmas, the girls loved them so much I sent her a pic - which then brought about Gracie modeling for her (don't feel left out Eva, she's making hats for you too!). Grace loved doing it & she's such a HAM & so beautiful behind the camera I figured why not. Plus Grace gets some great hats out of the gig.

Eva's lingering cough...

Eva started having a bark like cough on the 18/19th of March, so on the 20th she was in at the doctors... they gave her a steriod shot w/ an antibiotic & a steriod to take at home for the cough & her ears. Mid way through she seemd to be getting better but then it was like she peaked & started regressing - so by Sunday the 30th when she was taking her last dose of the antibiotic we were wondering, "why is she not better???"

I called the doctors office & they put her on another dose of the antibiotic - which she took all week, but its Friday & still no improvement - in fact she might be a little worse. So I again called the doctors office, & took her in for an appointment today at 2:00 p.m. Dr. Paula didn't have an opening so we saw Celia - we had to wait forever, but I guess when they work you in that's what happens... which worked out okay b/c Celia was GREAT!

Eva had to go for a chest x-ray - which she did not like, surprise surprise, right? We left the appointment w/ two antibiotics - 1) for her ears and 2) for her chest... Celia said she heard a crackle, the x-ray didn't show anything but often walking pneumonia doesn't so she is to take both antibiotics plus do the breathing treatments as needed. By Monday we should see an improvement - we hope! I'm hoping that tonight she sleeps better b/c bless her heart the last week - or even longer b/c she's been fighting this cough stuff for about 2 weeks she just hasn't slept well (and neither have I!) - so needless to say I hope this helps. AND we're crossing our fingers that she's not going to follow in Rob's footsteps w/ asthma - yuck! Even w/ the cough, she's just so darn cute...

OH and she HATED doing the breathing treatments, screamed nearly the entire time, but like Jess said, screaming just means she's really breathing it in deeply. But boy does it break my heart. Well off for now;-)

A day at Ella's...

Today Grace & Eva went to Jess's & spent the day playing w/ Ella, while Mommy was at work & Brenda was on vacation. I was soooooo worried that Eva would give Jess a hard time - not taking a bottle, etc... but then I hear that my girls weren't the problem (hint - there was a problem!), it was little bitty angelic Ella! Go figure!

Cracked me up hearing Jess recount the day - apparently anything Grace had Ella wanted, even when Grace would figure out oh Ella wants what I have & willingly give it to her - Ella then didn't want it. For me the comical high point, was when Grace had one chair & Ella had the other. Apparently (even though the chairs are identical) Ella wanted the chair Grace had & got so mad she threw her chair across the living room! Grace (not knowing Ella wanted her chair, or understanding why she was so mad) looked at Ella & said w/ a serious face, "what, you didn't like that chair?" CRACKS ME UP!!! I have a hard time typing it w/out feeling sarcasm, but there apparently wasn't a hint of sarcasm there, which makes it even funnier:-) Apparently, Jess told Ella she'd better be nice to Grace or Grace wouldn't want to come back - which might have worked, except Grace interrupted her & said, "I'll come back :-)" - way to play hard ball, huh?

When I asked Grace how her day was she said, "Ella was grumpy" but it must not have affected her day b/c when it was time to go home she cried not wanting to leave. So maybe we'll have another play date in the near future - we'll just have to ensure the chairs are light weight!

A day at the zoo

Whew! I thought I would have more time to blog - but every free moment seems to almost evaporate! But I really want to work hard at trying to document some of those extra special moments w/ the girls:-) Yesterday (3/31/08) we went to the zoo w/ Jess & Ella - the girls had a blast! The weather wasn't great, warm for March - almost 60 degrees and we managed to go between rain showers, luckily we never got wet! Grace & Ella had fun running freely all over the place & I didn't feel like I had to worry b/c there weren't many people there.

Eva spent the whole time riding in the sling w/ me - this was the first time she'd been where she really took an interest in the animals, she loved the dolphin show, and loved following the fish in the big aquariums. When we left we went through the gift shop, Grace handed Eva a stuffed elephant... I thought she might just look at it, etc... but apparently she quickly became attached! I went to put him back & Eva squealed at me, there was no way she was letting me put it back... not to mention his entire trunk was all wet:-) So Eva got her first toy from the zoo. Grace was cute - she said, "but what about Gracie? what is she getting?" I explained that Grace got a stuffed animal on her first trip to the zoo when she was Eva's age PLUS she just had a birthday! She seemed to accept this w/ out being upset - I was proud of her.

When Daddy got home from work, he asked how the zoo was & Grace told him all about it. I told Grace, "tell Daddy how the pigs go" and she would say "oink oink", how the horse goes, "nay, nay", we continued until I said, "how does the penguin go?" She looked at me briefly and then stiffened her arms and legs & waddle walked! It was so FUNNY! Matt thought she was so cute, he'd start asking her how animals that I don't even know what noise they make go... like "how does the giraffe go?", Grace would quietly STRETCH her neck! Makes me laugh right now typing it!

Its just crazy how fast they grow-up, I'm trying to make a real effort to document these special moments. When the girls are grown up, I want them to be able to look back & laugh at how silly they were! To always know how much I LOVE them, and hopefully when they have children of their own, read my stories & tell their little ones, "you were just like me!"