Twirling, waving, and clapping

Dear Gracie,

Here is a video I took of you today twirling in your jumper and waving and clapping your hands. I LOVE it when you stop to watch your hand as you wave to yourself:). You're also saying your favorite "word" gah. You say "Gaaaaahhhhhhh! Ah gah gah gah gaaaaah!"  all the time. I think you just like the way it feels to say the G sound:). I love you sweetie, you are my precious girl!

Grace the waving clapping twirler!

(please excuse the messy house, we're busy having fun:))

Taken 1/12/2012

Love,
Mama

Fun at the mall playground.

Dear Gracie,

We had been cooped up in the house recently, so today your daddy and I decided to take you and Noah to the mall playground so that Noah could run around, let some energy out, and play with kids his age. It's chilly outside so we figured indoors would be the best place to go. There were lots of kids running around and climbing all over the squishy play equipment, Noah was a little timid about joining in at first, but soon worked up enough courage to join the other kids. I held you in my lap while we watched Noah play, you were looking with such eagerness at the colorful play equipment and the kids running around, so I put you down and you immediately crawled over to a slide in the shape of a boat and tried to climb up the wrong way! You had socks on you feet so you couldn't get a good grip at first, but as soon as I took your socks off, you made it half way up the small slide before sliding back down. Your favorite thing was a short green tunnel, you thought it was super fun and exciting to crawl inside, back and forth peeking out at me and Noah. Another little boy, about two years old I'd say, wanted to play in the tunnel too, and since you were in his way, he started growling at you hoping you'd move! He growled and growled and growled, you pretty much ignored him until he got in your face and growled really loud which made you cry, it was so hilarious though I couldn't be upset at him! After you calmed down a little, I set you back down and you crawled over to a squishy "wooden" post, used it to pull yourself up and held on with one hand while trying to walk away, Your dad and I thought you were going to take your first steps by yourself right there in the mall! But you quickly realized that taking a step would mean letting go, and that was no bueno to you, so you plopped back down on your bottom. Your attention was soon caught by a nice lady sitting a few yards away, she waved at you, and you reached up at her and waved at her with both hands! It was SOOO cute, everyone around was laughing and your daddy and I were beaming with pride at how adorable and friendly you are.

After about an hour, I could tell you were getting hungry, so we made our way up to the food court to get some lunch, Daddy, Noah and I ate pizza and you had some meatballs with marinara which you thought was very yummy. You munched on pieces of meatball, Noah hate his pizza "like a lion", both of you danced in your chairs to LMFAO Rock Anthem which was playing rather loudly, and Daddy and I had the best time watching you two.

You and Noah are napping right now while I have some Mommy alone time. I hope you had as much fun playing today as I did watching you! I love you my sweet girl!

Love,
Mama

Dear Gracie

Dear Gracie,

I will be writing to you every few days so that we can look back and remember little daily cute things and more memorable milestones about you. I hope that one day when you read these, you'll know just how much your daddy and I love you.

Right now you are a little over 11 months old, I cannot believe that almost a year has gone by since the day you were born, this year has been incredibly wonderful and hard since you and your big brother are so close in age. Noah was not even 18 months old when you were born. It took him three days to warm up to you, but ever since then, you have been the first thing he asks for when he wakes up in the morning. He loves you so much!

You have four teeth so far, the top two have just recently come in, they're a little gapped so your smile looks absolutely adorable (your daddy always says, "there's just something about her smile, it's soooo pretty!")! You are big for your age, ever since you were about 3 months old, you have been in the 75%-95% for weight and height, just like your brother.

You have just started clapping and waving (you wave backwards to your self:)), you crawl all over the place, pull to standing, and "cruise" along the furniture. Noah waited until 15 months old to walk, I'm wondering if you'll take after him.

Your favorite foods are beans, "taco rice" (taco meat, rice, beans, guacamole, lettuce, and tomato all mixed together), crackers, cheerios, and breast milk. You are still nursing any chance you can get, I thought you were trying to wean yourself about a month ago, but it turns out you were just teething.

When I first found out I was pregnant with you, I was so afraid that I couldn't love any baby as much as I love your brother, but the moment you were born, when I held you for the first time and first heard your sweet soft cry, I knew that my fears were unfounded. It felt like my heart actually grew more capacity to love, it suddenly grew bigger and you filled that extra space. I love you SO much, Every. Single. Bit. as much as I love Noah. There will be times when I need to spend a little extra time with your brother, or show him a little extra attention and affection, but I pray that you know in your heart it's not because I love him more, but it's because at that moment, he needs me. I will do the same for you too, I promise.

I love you my sweet baby girl!

Love,
Mama