Texas Independence Relay 2016

Because I have to finish the last couple of remaining posts for 2016 so I can take advantage of my 25% off blog book coupon, I am finally blogging TIR 2016 and I'm backdating it to April as well (even though it's actually March of 2017). I don't know why I never did but I think it had something to do with having a baby a couple weeks later and just never going back. So, I'll give the details I know and then post all the pictures! TIR was held April 2 & 3, 2016. For 2016, year #2 for Don't Stop, Give 'em Hell!, the members were Vic, Charley, Matt, Lucas, Wei, Mike, Ryan, Aric, Geoff, Dave, Geoff and Austin. They had a great race, without any problems or injuries and while their time was better than the year before, all the teams were better too! Also, this year, not only Stucky, but also Dad were drivers for the race. I know it helped the team to have two drivers to give all the guys who are running as much rest as possible and I know Dad really enjoyed it! This is right up Dad's alley...times, paces, statistics, geography! So, for all of the numbers...There were 173 teams total and they placed 20th. In the men's division, there were 30 teams, and they placed 5th. They started at 11:29 am on Saturday and finished at 1:17 pm on Sunday for a total of 25 hours, 48 minutes, and 24 seconds. Their team pace was 7:46! Vic ran 4 legs:

Leg #2: 5.15 miles in 36:29 giving him a pace of 7:05
Leg #14: 6.67 miles in 46:34 giving him a pace of 6:58
Leg #26: 5.16 miles in
Leg #38: 2.82 miles in 18:30 giving him a pace of 6:33
Amazing!

 Pep talk?

 It was a beautiful weekend for running!

 The entire team ran the first mile together before the first guy took off for leg 1.

 Vic says they get lots of downtime to rest in the "rest van".

 Exchanges happening on the side of country roads, main highways, in the middle of the country and in downtown Houston.

 Vic really loves the beginning of the race because the countryside is so beautiful!

 He also has lots of memories in Weimar where his extended family on the Seidel side lived and where he visited many summers. 

 Go Charley, Go!

 Vic was running so fast!

 The San Jacinto Monument is where the race ends.

 They also run the last mile together!

 Vic is being awarded a medal and then he passes them out to everyone else.

So so proud of this team!! Don't Stop, Give 'em Hell!
And here's both this year's and last year's medals!

Atticus & Parenting...sometimes a tough combination

I thought I'd do a quick update on Atticus. This is not the usual happy update, but I think since this is my blog and I like to look back on all the memories, that it is ok to be honest. And, I like to see progress, so hopefully soon,

Atticus is almost 5!! And I don't know if 4, almost 5 year olds, can be as up and down to parent as Atticus has been these last 4 or 5 months, but it's not been easy. The thing is that he is such a good kid. He has the sweetest heart and doesn't think twice about being helpful to me if he sees a need. This has been great in these last few weeks of pregnancy when I don't bend well or do things as fast. He is quick to tell me he will do something "because you can't since you have the baby in your tummy". And that's ok with me. He is quick to want to help Grace do something when she needs help and asks me for it. He will jump in and just do things for her. Sometimes this is great and sometimes, I think this is spoiling her! But, I love that he wants to help. He knows right from wrong and we talk a lot about "thinking about it" so he will think before he acts or speaks sometimes. And when he is really trying hard, he will stop something he is doing and be so proud to tell me "I thought about it!" right before he might have made a wrong decision. Also, if he is in that trying hard mood, he will truly do everything kindly and right and not get upset for no reason. And while I do not expect perfection from him, I do want him to try. I know he is going to mess up, make mistakes, have bad moods, etc. And it is not easy to be the Big Brother who has to be a good example and cannot go back to acting like a 3 year old in situations where Grace might get away with something. I think that is the hardest part for me sometimes because I expect more out of him because he is older and has already learned how to behave in situations, but sometimes I am impatient and compare too quickly. And that is not always fair or easy for him or I to understand.

I think he thrives best on one-on-one attention and will ask for "Mommy Atticus time". But, mostly, we can't do that much during the day. I am going to try to make more time for that special time. I love it because he is so smart and funny and I love to be with him, but part of having siblings and family is that one-on-one time is not always readily available. And, sometimes I think he just has to learn that is part of life and sometimes, I think that I need to really work hard to give it to him as much as I can because one day he won't want "Mommy Atticus time". And honestly, once he's had some special time, he generally behaves better overall.

So, the part that is tough right now is that he gets so upset so quickly. If told no to something, he will throw himself on his knees or immediately whine and complain. And sometimes, it is something that is not a big deal. It's just a normal, "no, we are not going to do that right now". If he only did this with major things, I might understand his frustration more. But, it's with the smallest stuff that tomorrow he might not get upset about at all. And he gets this horrible glare on his face that just hurts my feelings, to be honest. And of course, as most toddlers/almost 5 year olds, he is relentless. So, saying no once doesn't always work. So, then we have to go to time out or eventually a spanking. And as a parent, I have to determine what is truly deserving of a spanking, because I want that to be the ultimate punishment. I have to figure out what to ignore and move on with and what to focus on. Ugh. I think when you are with them on your own 10 hours a day, it is different than if they are in school or doing other things for a few of those hours. There are days I feel like I am on him with everything he does. That doesn't help either of us have a good day. I don't mind the hard days and seeing progress, but goodness I hate to see him be miserable. I don't want him to think he can't do anything right or that I am just mad all day at him. I am not, but I am trying to figure out that balance. So, the rough days are rough, but the great days tend to be great! So, I know it's a phase and part of growing up, but as much as I am not a "worrier", I do get concerned about those daily decisions I make and how they are affecting him. I feel like he is my guinea pig sometimes, being the first child. And I don't know if that is ok or not!

Also, the only other thing I have to be frustrated with is that I cannot tell if he is listening or me or ignoring me. He is not a naturally disrespectful kid who wants to be a toot. I see those kids in his class or at the park; it's not that they are bad but I can tell some of them are just toots and could care less about pleasing anyone or hurting anyone's feelings. And thankfully, that is not Atticus. But, also in the last few months, I feel like he hears me less. I cannot decide if he just gets pre-occupied in his own mind or hears my voice so much all day, every day, that he tunes me out without really meaning to. And I might tell him "go get your shoes" 3 times in a row so quickly that he doesn't have enough time to do it before I am frustrated that he still hasn't done it. And that leads to seeming like he is being disobedient but maybe he's not really meaning to. And sometimes, I think he is actually ignoring me, but I can't tell. I try to ask him to repeat what I say or focus on me, but this is where I actually think he doesn't pay attention and hear the words I'm saying, because sometimes he has no idea what I just said and can't repeat it to me. So, clearly he wasn't listening. But, why? I'm not sure. And other times, we have just the opposite. He is focused. So, this is where I struggle because I expect immediate response or action or even when I'm being super extra duper patient, I still slowly lose it when over and over and over I feel like I'm being ignored. So, some of this is on me because I need to be calmer and more patient and figure out how to react better.

So, parenting is hard. Everyone says it is. And I am such a go with the flow person, that I think things will work out. But, also, I am with him more than anyone else and essentially am his biggest influence in terms of "number of hours spent with him" although of course he has Vic who is such a wonderful influence, thank goodness. So, I want to be consistent with parenting, even though that is hard too because I am just trying to figure it out and every kid is different! And, I am not perfect either so I have bad days and moments when I react the wrong way. So, it's hard to be a great example in those moments.

On the other hand, I want to say that he is the sweetest. I don't know another word for it. We talk about "thinking of others before ourself" lately because he's also in that "all about me" phase. He just thinks of himself first - totally natural for this age. He is becoming his own little person with his own opinions and it is easy to first think of yourself when you are doing that. But, in the evenings, he is so sweet when we are getting ready for bed and getting them to sleep and taking care of Grace by crawling into bed with her at night. And, if he thinks he is helping you or being an important part of something, he is just sweet and thoughtful. That's why I am so glad he is a big brother to Grace. She is so lucky because he loves her. So. Much. Even when she is a toot and doesn't want to play with him (she is such an independent player), he still loves her. His feelings get hurt, but he will try to find ways to play with her by telling her he will play "her way" or finding a toy to offer her to add to her playing.

I also think he is such a perfectionist in some ways and that makes things harder for him. He doesn't always want to try something new unless he knows he can be good at it. And he tells me all the time that he doesn't have as good of an imagination as Grace so he needs me to tell him new ways to play with his toys or he just needs me to play with him. Of course, if I can sneak to play with just him and Grace catches us, then she wants to play. And we should include her, but he gets mad because he wants the one-on-one time (that he might have gotten 5 minutes of before Grace joined). And then we have to talk about sharing and not being ugly and then he gets mad and then they fight and you can see how these situations get. Then, the next thing you know, he is in trouble because he is not making the right decisions. And from his point of view, I can see how that is really hard to understand.

It won't get easier with a new baby, as far as time, but I'm hoping I can show him how important his role will be with a new baby as well. I want him to know that he is so important and loved. And there are definitely days where I hope he does know that, even though he and I have not had the best day together.

Oh and there are days I see progress! Church is a constant work in progress for us. He is comfortable there and while that is good, it is easy for him to not realize that this is Church. We have to be respectful of God's house and not run around like we would at the park. And in general, church is public and we are always working on behaving in public the right way. So, at church this past Easter Sunday, we attended the early service which does not have Kingdom Time. Kingdom Time is where he usually goes for about 30-40 minutes for a snack and lesson. But, they only do it at the late service. So, while Grace was in the nursery, he was having to sit and color and read his book for the entire time. And sitting quietly and still for an hour and 15 minutes is not easy for anyone. But, he did great! On his own, he would stand during songs and prayer (although I'm perfectly fine with him sitting down to just look at his book or color). He would look up at me as if to say "i'm trying to be grown up" and I was so proud. And he would constantly take my hand or lean over to hug me. He really reacts to praise of "I'm proud of you" and it makes him so happy that he tries harder. So, he was being so sweet and I was truly proud that he was thinking about how to act in the service and working hard to do a good job.


Oh my little Atticus. I love you so much and I know these little daily things are nothing compared to what some families face. And we will get through it and both be better!!!

Side note: I am reading this book called "Raising Boys" by James Dobson. And I can't wait to have time to read it all. It is so good and James Dobson and I think alike. And it has lots of reasons that the things above are so normal for boys. I've just gotten into that chapter. I'm ready for him to tell me how to "raise them" now that he is telling me some of these things are not uncommon....

Okay until next time!

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!