Grace's Kisses & Hugs

So, around Christmas, Grace started giving us "my Kipmas Kisses!" and anytime she thought you needed them, she would be so happy to come put her arms out and give you lots of "Kipmas Kisses!". It was so cute and it's still happening. I tried to get her to change the name to Valentines Kisses, but she just keeps calling them "Kipmas Kisses". She is also into the funny routine when we get dressed. First, I still put her on the changing table to put her clothes on. So, she sits there and we pick out clothes and then do her hair and she picks out bows (which this week she has been wanting TWO bows and many times wants them "spocky" (sparkly). Anyways, at the end, she insists on looking at herself in the mirror above the changing table and she is so proud of how pretty she looks. Of course, I encourage it and tell her how pretty she looks. Then, she wraps her arms around my neck and we smile and look at ourselves in the mirror. She is the cutest thing and at the cutest age. And I love that moment each day!

A couple of nights ago, Vic gets home and takes the kids outside to play in the sandbox and she was all about giving Vic her "Kipmas Kisses" and hugs. Sometimes she is stingy with Vic and will not give kisses or hugs as soon as he gets home. It depends on the day. The funny thing is that sometimes I will say "Grace! Don't give away all my kisses!" to tease her and get her to give them to Vic. Then she will sometimes finish with Vic and then come over and give me her imaginary kisses in her hands back to me. Silly girl.

 Kisses for Daddy!

 A big hug around the neck!

 That big toothy grin is the best!

 Another hug!

 "Here's your kisses back Mom!"

 Right after this, they decided to wear mittens and gloves outside. It was not cold at all, but when Atticus went to his drawer to find socks, he saw his mittens and gloves. And well....the decision was made.

Sharing a Room: New Bedtime Routine

So, two weeks ago, we decided to put both kids beds in Atticus's room and see if they could share a room and sleep there at night. Although they have had separate rooms until now, it's just because of their sleep routines and schedules. We have the playroom and most toys are in that room, so they do not play in their rooms nearly as much. We've been debating giving each kid a room of their own when the baby arrives or keeping our guest room/scrapbook room/home decor closet as it is. Grace and Atticus are both good sleepers, but Grace still has a hard time going to sleep at night by herself and almost always wakes up once a night to cry because nobody is with her. Plus, she just doesn't always need as much sleep so she will wake up earlier in the morning (before 7:05 which is when we tell Atticus he can come out). Atticus, on the other hand, is a great sleeper and needs and likes his sleep. So, the only way to know if it would even work was to try it. If it just doesn't work, we know we have the option to put them all in different rooms and maybe we can get some of that organized before the baby arrives in April.

So, on Saturday, two weeks ago, Vic moved Grace's full sized bed into Atticus's room. Atticus also has a full-sized bed, and we are glad that his room is big enough to fit both. Eventually, we will probably go to twin beds, but for now, this works. The kids were excited to sleep in the same room, sot hat was helpful too! It took about 3 nights for us to get them to have one full night of sleep. We have laid in bed until Grace falls asleep each night - which usually only takes 5-10 minutes and then we leave. We need to break that habit too, but for now it works. Anyways, the first night was kind of rough. Grace woke up around 1 or so, as usual, crying. She woke Atticus and he came into our room crying and upset because he didn't know what to do to make Grace stop crying. Well, the truth is that Grace just wants someone to sleep with her and my hope all along, has been that Atticus would just sleep in her bed with her. But, he likes to start out each night in his own bed. However, that night, I went in, calmed them both, turned on her bedtime music that plays for about 25 minutes, and left them. I also convinced Atticus to lay in bed with her to comfort her. He was hesitant because he didn't like for her to cry and I think, since he was just woken abruptly himself, he was just emotional too. So, that first night, when I left, I stood outside the door to listen. Grace was crying for about 30 seconds, but here was their conversation: (note, Atticus was in a pleading, sweet mood and really just wanted to help make Grace feel better. It was the CUTEST, sweetest, thing I'd ever listened to.)

Atticus: "Gwace, don't cry, I'm here for you."
Grace: "I want Mommy."
Atticus: "Gwace, Mommy has to sleep."
Grace: "Why?"
Atticus: "Gwace, Mommy and Daddy need their sleep."
Grace: "Why?"
Atticus: "Because they are tired Gwace. Just go to sleep Gwace. I'm here for you."
Grace: "Okay Cass." and a little while later they were both asleep.

I cannot tell you how sweet Atticus was. This has now turned into a routine of every night, when Grace wakes up, he will leave his bed, drag his blanket and stuffed animals to hers, and crawl in to sleep with her. He always tells her to go to sleep and they do. He no longer comes to our room in the middle of the night. Sometimes, Grace, being the talkative girl she is, just wants to talk. And Atticus will typically answer her questions, but will keep telling her to "just go to sleep Gwace". He is the sweetest to her and I'm so glad because it is really helpful that he just takes this as his role and does it. And I know Grace is so happy and that's why she goes back to sleep.

I will say that Atticus gets a little less sleep, because Grace wakes up closer to 6 and wakes him to talk right away. We have had a rule now for 6 or 8 months that Atticus cannot come out until 7:05 and when his clock turns green. He has always followed this rule with no problem. But, he also usually sleeps until almost 7:05. Now that Grace is up and waking him earlier, they have a much harder time waiting until 7:05. Part of me wants to put them back in their room each time and the other part just knows I should get up at 6 when they do and start our day earlier. When school starts this fall, we will have to be up by then anyways. I just cherish that sleep so much now....

Also, I remember after the second night of them sharing a room, Grace comes into our room one morning at 6:45. Atticus told me a little later that he sent her out "because he needed to get some sleep". That Grace is a talker!

So, overall it is going well. I think they could both use another hour of sleep each night due to waking up in the middle to move around in beds and then getting up earlier to start their day. But, we will just see how it goes. Naps still don't work on a regular basis, and Vic and I like this 7:30 to 8:00 bedtime routine, so we will keep going for now. But, I think this will work and we can keep a guest room a little longer.

Also, I want to mention the last thing we do each night, after books, is prayers, and then say goodnight. Sometimes they will lay in bed together to read books and sometimes I'll read to Grace and Vic to Atticus at the same time. And then we do our prayers. Grace has started adding to her prayers of "Mommy, Daddy, Cass, Grace, and Baby Mommy Tummy" other things during the day. She might say something about "I cwy" and explain when she cried or talk about something she did. I think it's funny because we will have Atticus talk about things he would like help from God with or things he should do better. So, I think she just picks up on that. Also, for a long time now, every night, Atticus will say "I hope you dream about dinosaurs doing...." and say something. And we will reciprocate and tell him what we hope he dreams about dinosaurs doing. So, he has continued that. Just a couple of nights ago, Grace says "I dweam bout my dollhouse, my pinc-wess (princesses), my titties, my minnie, etc." and just names stuff. It's cute because she just acts serious and like that she totally understands and is just doing what Atticus does. Atticus also always says to us "Sleep tight! Don't let the bed bugs bite!" as Vic has taught him. Bedtime routines, at any age, are just my favorite!

Pregnancy Update

When I think of this pregnancy right now, one word comes to mind: exhausted. My body is just tired from the second I wake up in the mornings. I'm better than around Christmas when I was actually very concerned that I was so tired at only 24 weeks and after some bloodwork, self diagnosed myself as anemic (because the numbers were low on the results and I hadn't seen the doctor). Then, after seeing the doctor, she said they were a little low, but I was not anemic and to probably just chalk it up to pregnancy, getting older, chasing 2 kids around instead of sitting in an office all day, etc.

So, while I do not feel that true fatigue like around Christmas, I am just tired. My back has started to hurt; if I move too quickly, my muscles around my uterus hurt; i can't seem to get comfortable; I can't bend over easily or get off the ground easily. It's all of those normal 3rd trimester things, but I think it's just harder this time around. If we do get out and about for a busy, physical day of park, errands, etc. I can feel the tiredness of my body that evening and sometimes a long time the next day. What is funny to me is that I'm only 32 (almost 33!) and do not think of myself as old, but so many of my girlfriends or random people will say "it's because you are older" and while I always laugh and say yes, I didn't really think I was getting that much older! But, I guess I am. :)

Otherwise, I think all is going well. I've gained 5 lbs, but that is about normal for my pregnancies by this time. The doctor says all looks good. I was 115 at my gestational diabetes test, so that is good. I'm always anemic in pregnancy, but not this time. I have had two extra ultrasounds already, with one being this morning, to measure baby's size and as of yesterday morning, the baby is weighing 4 lbs. 2 oz (give or take of course) and measuring 2 weeks ahead of schedule. Atticus and Grace were not tiny for their births, but that still seems like a big baby for only 30 weeks. I have to keep eating snacks throughout the day, or at least the morning, until my body feels ok. I am still on nausea medicine, because if I skip one day of it, I am immediately throwing up the next morning. I am about to go on 3 week and then weekly appointments - all booked until baby arrives! That is hard to believe!

I have lots of to do's for baby - get out all the boy and girl clothes and set them aside for at least a few outfits in the beginning. I need to buy diapers, ointment, and a few little things that I just want and haven't had with the last two babies. One would be a Nose Frieda - those things have great reviews! And I want a new diaper bag for carrying all the time because while I have a church or smaller bag, my bigger one is pretty worn out. I also need to check my stock of pumping supplies and make sure my pump still works, in case I need it, and get some nursing shirts. I need to do a few kid things - like shop some spring/summer clothes so we have them already for Atticus and Grace. We probably need to put the crib back up, now that Atticus and Grace are in one room. But, if nothing else, I just need to get the pack and play up and the bassinet ready and a few of those other newborn things down and ready to go. I need to get a baby book and make some administrative plans - like who is wanting to come down when and what help I need those first two weeks. So, lots to do, but all easy and exciting!

We have names, we think, but really just down to two sets for each girl and boy. So, that is exciting! And at the end of March, we will actually schedule a delivery date for around 39 weeks, at which point, we can really make some serious plans. Also, the kids are really fun with the baby these days. They want to kiss the baby (my stomach) all the time and Atticus will come up and touch my stomach to tell me "I can feel the baby move!!!" in about 2 seconds while of course, he didn't actually feel any movement. Grace wants to pull up my shirt to tell me my tummy is "double squishy" and "that baby is adorable!". They are so funny. I still ask what they think it is and Atticus still says girl and Grace will say either from time to time. Atticus thinks good names are Skip or Alex if it's a boy and Walinda or Lucy if it's a girl. Grace thinks Grace is a good name. haha! Also, yesterday at my ultrasound, they printed a profile picture and yesterday when I showed Atticus, he said "Do you have a fox in your tummy? That looks like a fox face!"

So, that is the update on baby and the pregnancy!

Potty Training Grace

Well, Vic gets all the credit for finally convincing Grace that "panties are for big girls and diapers are for babies". When GG and I spent the weekend scrapbooking in Corsicana this past weekend, Vic had two days in a row of nothing going on that he could help Grace concentrate on potty training. That tends to be the hardest part of potty training during the week. We might get one day to do it, but otherwise, we have two days of school and many times Wednesdays are a playdate and then other errands, etc. that keep us from spending a day on potty training. And Grace has gotten upset and not into wanting to tell us when she goes or even wanting panties on, that to do it for a couple hours at a time has just not been in my game plan. So, on Saturday, she wore pull ups and on Sunday she wore panties and only had one accident on Sunday. Yesterday, we were at home all day and she didn't have any accidents! Of course, we spend a lot of time asking her if she needs to potty and watching her body language to just put her on the potty. But, yesterday, for me, she told me twice when she needed to go. For Atticus, that is what it took - once he told me he needed to potty, then we were on track to be trained. If they won't tell you, I just don't think there is much need in pushing too hard because it's way harder on the parent cleaning up messes than it is on the kid making the messes. But, we are so proud of the progress in the last 3 days. Of course, today, she is back in diapers for preschool, but she has very specific, repeated, thoughts as mentioned below:

Grace: "I a big girl and I wear panties. Diapers are for babies."
Me: "What about pull-ups? Do you want to wear a pull-up?"
Grace: "No, I poop in my Minnie pull-up." (her accident on Saturday was in a Minnie Mouse pull-up.)

Atticus, being a normal big brother: "Grace, you are a baby."
Grace: "I not a baby! I wear panties! Big girls wear panties! Babies wear diapers!"

I find the above conversation funny because 1) she is SO proud to be a big girl these days (even though she will tell you she is still tiny) and she takes great offense to Atticus calling her a baby at all; but, now that she has decided as well that babies wear diapers and she does not wear diapers, she takes greater offense and gets her feelings hurt over being called a baby. 2) Atticus actually gets into trouble right now if he calls her a baby because we are encouraging him to encourage her on the potty as well.

Also, there is nothing cuter (and I realize this is only cute because we are her parents) than watching her run to the potty and then light up and smile so big as she potties because she is waiting for you to respond with such praise! We do happy dances and she LOVES those and we praise her over and over. Atticus is also good at that when he wants to be encouraging. He is just so excited when she potties too. And when she pooped on the potty yesterday (TMI, I know), she was so thrilled (and so was I for so many reasons) and told us all day that she pooped on the potty.

She does not want to wear diapers, but she accepts that she has to wear them at nighttime right now and for school. She has to have two full weeks at home of no accidents before they let her wear panties at school, and of course we are probably a ways from that. But, this morning, when I explained to her that she had to wear a diaper and it was ok for school, she told me she would wear a diaper and then "I wear panties and poop on the potty like my fiends." So, maybe peer pressure will also help her along.

So, that is our current 3 day potty training update that Vic gets all the credit for. I don't know that we will actually have a break from diapers 100% between this new baby and Grace, but we will be close!

A Grace Update: Conversations, Imagination

I feel like Grace has changed the most lately, so I'll do a little update on her today. Here are some things I hear out of her mouth all the time:

In regards to potty training, which is going, but I'm not working too hard at it yet. Some days I do, but some days we are out and about too much to really get a start. I need to work harder...

Grace: "Babies wear panties; Big Girls wear diapers!"
Me: "No Grace, that's not right. Big Girls wear...
Grace: "Stop talking, mom." (with her little hand up like she thinks she is the boss)

Grace: "I poop in my panties; I get to wear my diaper!!!" (thrilled)
But, no Grace, wearing your diaper is NOT a reward for pooping in your panties. 

Just in general conversations:

Atticus: "Grace is a little baby!" (being sweet, but comparing himself to her)
Grace: (feelings hurt) "I not a baby! I a big girl! I tiny." (she loves being tiny, but does not want to be a baby)

Other Phrases we hear all the time:

When looking for something, "I use my owelette eyes!" (from the show PJ masks)
"Oh boy!"
"Thanks guys!"
"Nahhhh!" (with an "are you kidding me look on her face")
She calls the grocery store "supah-mahket"
"scuse me"
"Follow me, mom" 
"Yay with me" every single night at bedtime.
"Shoo Cass Shoo!"
"I miss daddy" every day Vic goes to work.
"I hope so" is a new phrase she started about a month ago and she is so serious when she says it.

Her latest phrase is how she describes anything using the word "Double". She is always "double hungry, double happy, double sad, double grumpy, double fast". I don't know where she got this from, but everything is "double".

"Shhh....my titty seeping" is what she says when she wants us to be quiet. Every single time.

She brings me two things and says "pick one" but keeps saying it until I pick the one she doesn't want.

"Daddy Poopoo" or "Mommy PooPoop" - I get that these are gross terms and she only adds PooPoo because we tell her we do not use potty words unless we are in the potty, but she does it so endearingly and smiles and thinks she is so cute. She doesn't do it in an ugly way, but while it is so gross, it is strangely funny....and that's only because she is my daughter! I wouldn't expect anyone else to think it is cute!
 
She is really into the stop lights and every single time we stop in the car, she will first tell me to "go!" and then we go through what light we are on and which one is go, stop or slow down. She always tells me what each means and is right, but it sure takes up a lot of our driving conversation.

As I've said, she is just a happy girl. She will tell me, after something that's made her happy, "You a best, Cass!" or Mommy or Daddy or whatever. She will also say "U amazing!"

Vic caught her in our closet the other day pulling clothes around her saying "I yook fabulous!"

The way she says her name right now is really cute. If you ask her what it is, she will say "Cah Sida Gwace". (Caroline Seidel Grace). She will not rearrange it at all and will rarely just say her name is Grace.

When Vic had the kids while I went to a meeting one night, Vic said Atticus was in trouble over something and Grace picked up her hand, put it to her hear and called me and said "Cass made big mess; in big trouble, okay, bye!" and hung up.

When she gets up in the morning, she will point out the window and say "double sunny mommy!"

I'm sure there is more that I may add to this post later, but those are Grace's daily words for the moment.

Otherwise, Grace is really stinking cute right now. She is generally happy and when she does get made about something, I am learning to just kind of ignore it and she will get happy a few minutes later. So, that is a nice change on one end of the spectrum. The other end is the terrible fits, but honestly, we have not had many of those yet. I know age 3 is coming, but they usually revolve around her wanting me to pick her up (which is less and less comfortable to do these days) and when I tell her no, she goes into full on stubborn mode and fit throwing mode. Eventually, she might have to have a spanking and be sent to her room and that's when she knows I'm serious. But, even yesterday, when she came out, she wanted something and I told her she needed to apologize first and of course she wouldn't. Even Atticus was really trying to help both me and her and kept telling her he would help her say she was sorry, but she would not budge. A little while later, we all loaded up to take a meal to a friends house and she got in her carseat and told me "I sorry I cry!" and all was well. She was happy as could be. That girl!

She has also recently opened up her imagination! She will happily take any two toys and start pretending in her own little world and play by herself for an hour or more at a time. Mostly, she is loving her dollhouse right now and all of her princesses and Paw Patrol and tiny kitties. I will see her just talking away and making them talk to each other and go to bed and play and drive places and anything else you can imagine. I love, love, love, this stage. It's so cute to see what she makes them say. Things like "follow me!" or "no, no kitty!" or singing to them is just so cute. I try to just let her be because 1) I like to watch her when she thinks nobody is watching and 2) If I interrupt, then she requests I join her and sometimes if I have a minute without kids needing something, I take that minute! She will play with non-girly things too like Atticus's dinosaurs or trucks or airplane or the little knights for the castle. She will usually pick a few items and slowly, they join her collection of dollhouse toys. She and Atticus are different because Atticus has always been into setups since about age 2 1/2 or so, but would rather set them up or organize them than spend lots of time pretending with them.

Also, Grace has really not taken any interest in baby dolls or stuffed animals until around Christmas time. She has them and we will play with them and occasionally, she will have a day of carrying something around, but as far as pretending with them or loving on them, she hasn't been interested. But, at Christmas, she got even more stuffed kitties and now she loves them so much. She puts them to sleep, carries them around, feeds them cat food, covers them up, and just loves them. As for babies, she has recently started bringing them to me to tell me they are "adorable" and giving them bottles and rocking them. This makes me excited since we have another baby coming and she can be my big helper and love this new little sister or brother! At church, she immediately walks into the nursery and goes straight for the baby in the crib to hold and love. So, this makes me excited to see how she is with babies when our 3rd baby arrives!

Grace loves to swing outside and will for as long as she can. She loves to be pushed "higher and higher and faster, mommy or daddy!" And she really loves playing with "Cass", unless she is into her imaginative play or has me all to herself to start with. But, Atticus is such a good big brother to her (I'll tell you more reasons why when I post their new bedtime routine) and I really enjoy listening to them play and talk and do things together. Such a fun age!

I have been so behind in these kinds of updates with the kids, so I'll do a quick bullet list so I remember for myself:

Just shy of age 3, Grace...

• being potty trained 
• says "ew" and "yucky" to most things we give her, but does like toaster strudels, cereal without milk, bananas, apples, cheesesticks, cheese toast, homemade breads and muffins (like banana bread, raisin bran muffins, etc.), porkchops, uncooked baby carrots, grapes, graham crackers/teddy grahams (which she calls gummy bears)/goldfish, chocolate (of course!), suckers, peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, chicken strips, rice, beans, and ONLY water to drink; sometimes she will randomly eat a plateful of roasted cauliflower or lettuce or my taco soup - she is just funny with her food these days
• she is barely fitting into 2T these days and I'll only buy 3T from here on
• her hair is still soft and getting longer, but still fine and wispy all around her face where new growth is; I like ponytails right now, but look forward to braiding it one day
• she hates baths; well she hates to get into them but sometimes gets happier if she and Atticus start laughing and giggling and playing; but generally she does NOT want to take a bath
• she still doesn't take naps regularly and while the kids have a 7:30 bedtime but she still wakes once a night and is up around 6 most days
• she still loves to dance and sing
• she loves preschool and talking about what she painted or the artwork she did, her "fiends Emmy, Tay, Cwosby, and Hawwie), and her teacher "Miss Thuh-Thuh"

That's it for now!