Domesticated Grace

Grace has been busy learning domestic skills lately.

She helped Daddy put Claire's crib together:


(notice the ever-so popular bathing suit she has on. Lately, she either wants to be naked or wear this suit. I need to hide it!)

And when I picked her up from school on Friday, her teacher told me she loves cooking. She'd made these biscuits in class. In a couple of bites, you could tell she hadn't thoroughly mixed the baking soda in, but overall they were good!

Claire's World - 34 weeks

I think I'm definitely going to end up with an October baby. I went for my 34 week appointment today and my ob thought I looked big. She implied that I won't go the full 40 weeks. We both agreed that a Halloween baby is a no-go. I'm thinking if I don't suddenly go into labor, that she'll probably induce the week of October 25. Again, all speculation on my part. Grace was 7 lbs 8 oz at 38 weeks.

She asked if I felt bigger than I did with Grace and I don't really. It could be because I felt so big at the time with Grace because I'd never been that big before.

I've been feeling great other than trying to carry Grace around with the big belly. That's the toughest part of being pregnant with a little one.

Claire's furniture arrived today and is all put together. I just ordered her mattress so once that is in, I'll take some pictures of her nursery. It has turned out so, so cute. It's amazing how the ideas we came up with have all worked so well together. Especially since I have to do everything online with terrible shopping here in Corpus.

Steve and I both agree our favorite part of her nursery, hands down, is the mural.
This design on the children's stationary I found:

became this:


Side Note:
After Steve put Claire's crib together, Grace ran off and got all her crib-mates (her dolls, stuffed animals and blankets that she sleeps with) and put them in Claire's crib. Then she wanted in. I wouldn't let her since there is no mattress, just the springs for the frame. It took a trip outside to look for turtles to get her to stop crying. It's the crib today and soon enough, it'll be the swing, exersaucer, you name it.

What Happened to Miss DEpendent?

Grace truly knows what she wants and what she doesn't want. Sometimes I think she'll decide she doesn't want something just to spite me.

The power struggle really boiled up this weekend when Grace wouldn't let me put her pajamas on. She would fight and squirm or pull off whatever pajamas I put on her. Finally, I got the idea to let her choose between two pairs of pajamas so that maybe I could coerce her into putting them on. She chose the pajamas with the "wuh wuh" (her word for dog...trying to say "woof woof") and easily put them on.

These days, she has to choose or it's World War III.

Today she chose to wear her white Keds instead of the brown shoes that would have matched better and been cuter. I went along with it for the peace.

I just worry about the day she chooses to wear something like this to school.

An outfit she got out of her drawers and brought to me to put on her. White tights, bathing suit, socks and shoes, hat, backpack and blanket.

It's A Bird, It's A Plane....

A big decision on my mind right now is what Grace is going to be for Halloween. I'd about decided on something involving a tutu, but her school is having a parade and the theme is Circus.

If I had trouble getting leotards and tights on her for ballet, I know I can eliminate anything with a headpiece. There is no way she'll go for that. And most of the cute animals have headpieces.


I've also got to factor in the heat. Most likely it'll be mid 80s and humid. This also eliminates a bunch of costumes.


So I was thinking about a clown. Not a weird, scary one but a cute, girly one. Like this.

Add a little clown makeup and I think I've got a winner.

Remember my cute, baby duck from last Halloween?


I'm wondering if Claire will be here by Halloween? I had Grace at 38 weeks which would be October 24. I go to the doctor next Thursday for my 34 week appointment so may get an idea at that time.

In John Deere Green

I'm taking this as a sign we've been out of Dallas too long.

Will Grace live up to her name?

Will Grace be as graceful as this ballerina?

First, we need to sign up for lessons.

• Done, I found a 6 week Saturday class for Mommy and Me at Tippi Toes Dance Company. Perfect for us to have time together before Claire comes.



Second, we need ballet clothes.

• Done, it was a little hard to find leotards, tights and slippers small enough, but we finally found some with a little room to grow. Grace had to give the mannequin a hug during our visit to the store.



Third, we had to encourage Grace to put on the ballet clothes.

• Done, but at first this was easier said than done. Grace did not like the tights at all and would not let me get them past her foot. My mom suggested me putting them on Bitty Baby - no luck. My friend Lindsay suggested her daughter Kylie come over and put hers on. That way, Grace would want to be like Kylie. Worked like a charm!! Thanks Lindsay and Kylie!



Finally, go to our first ballet class.

• Done, Grace was a little timid this class, but will love it after a few classes. It is right up her alley - lots of songs with cute hand and body moves. I knew she was sold when they had a song and dance to Itsy, Bitsy Spider.


Before class picture:

The pink tape on the floor is where she is supposed to stand:

She got a sticker on her nose for doing so good in class:

With 2 girls, I figured I better get on the ballet train! Here we go!!

Snacktime at Grace's

Grace has been doing really well at school and not crying at all. I had a recent converstion with her teacher that went like this:

Teacher: "Grace prepared the snacks for the class today."

Me: "Really? What did she make?"

Teacher: "She sliced eggs and put them on crackers."

Me: "How did she slice the eggs?" (wondering how they'd get an 18 mo old to use a knife)

Teacher: "Oh, she used an egg slicer."

Me: "Oh, good!" (thinking they probably gave her that snack to prepare since she doesn't eat eggs and wouldn't eat as she worked.)

The next day she told me she'd spread cream cheese on crackers for the class. So I guess Grace has become the class cook.

I was finally able to get a hold of the girl that did Grace's cherry tree mural in her room to work on Claire's room. She also painted Grace's table and chairs that she got from her grandparents for her 1st birthday. We've moved Grace's glider out and replaced it with the table and chairs. I let her have a snack yesterday at the table with Teddy. She loved it! I hope I didn't start something because I typically don't like her to eat outside of the kitchen.