It's working!

The Jumperoo is making for one happy mommy...I mean baby!


It also makes for one SLEEPY baby! Moohoohahhaahhah

BIG DAY!

On Tuesday, I loaded up the 'Burban and headed to Boise.

[Side note: Remember when I told you that we needed a bigger car to haul stuff....well, I wasn't lying. Making the trek with me to Boise was Grace, (Grandma needed her fix!), Lindey and Lucky (my loyal subjects), Kiwi (the parrot) and Mia Kitty (Molly's cat). Honorary mentions go to the running stroller, the regular stroller, Grace's travel swing, her play mat, her suitcase, my suitcase, and our dirty clothes. Packing light truly is a gift...that I don't possess! Thus, the 'Burban!]

As it is the end of April, I figured the only weather we could possibly encounter was heavy rain. WRONG! It was snowing in the Blue Mountains and only 28 degrees. I persevered through the weather pulling off at an exit to tend to Grace's needs. But after I had taken care of Grace and tried to get back on the highway, I discovered that there was no on-ramp to east bound I-84. The exit turned into a two lane, back country road that if followed for over 30 miles would take you to to the unibomber's bunker...I mean, La Grande. If I turned around, I would have to get back on the highway and head West towards Pendleton - 45 minutes in the opposite direction! Are you kidding me?! What kind of an off-ramp doesn't have an on-ramp right next to it?!?! Has anyone in their ENTIRE lives seen an off-ramp not accompanied by an on-ramp right next to it?? It is like the Gods all align on the days I decide to drive to Boise and are out to get me! I ended up backtracking (one of my biggest pet peeves) almost all the way to Pendleton...in the snow! (Lesson learned. When driving to Boise, don't pull off at the Meacham exit! In fact, just don't pull over. Grace be warned!) Needless to say, it was a LONG drive made even longer by having to pull the car over several times for a feeding, a diaper change and some good old fashioned jumping.

That leads me to part I of our Big Day! Grace loves to jump. She can do it by the hour...and in fact, has, much to my dismay. I keep reading about how babies sleep 12-17 hours a day...but not this baby. She probably jumps 12-17 hours a day. Now when I say jump, I obviously don't mean she is standing on her own two feet and launching herself in the air. No. She needs someone to hold her upright...but the launching, she does all on her own.

At Grace's four month appointment, much to my surprise, the doctor ok'd the usage of a jumperoo. I had heard from many a mom, that much like letting your kid run with scissors while his shoes are untied all while eating candy in front of the television, a jumperoo was pure evil, stunting your child's growth and development. According to our pediatrician, that is not the case. I didn't need to hear more! Wanting and needing the use of two hands for more than 15 minutes throughout the day, the second I got to Boise, I purchased what I now consider the Secret to Mommy's Sanity. Best money I've spent in years. This video was shot seconds after putting her into the jumperoo.

WARNING: If you don't have children...or for that matter, a relative named Grace Elizabeth, this could be as entertaining as watching grass grow. I apologize.

As if the Jumperoo wasn't enough to tip the scales from average day to BEST DAY EVER, we decided to get crazy and introduce rice cereal. With my mom at my side showing me what to do, we have now ventured into the world of solid foods. After just a few spoonfuls, she looked like she'd been eating from a spoon her whole life. (Good to see she does have some of my genes after all!) WARNING: Again, this video is probably boring for most but I promise the dialogue is captivating.

With all the jumping and eating, I was SURE this kid would sleep through the night. Let's just say it was Big Day...but not THE Big Day!

So this is how it all started...

Not sure who this kid belongs to...

but he sure has caused a lot of trouble!

I Love Daddy!

Dear Daddy,

Mommy told me that you are traveling a lot in the next few weeks so we may not get to see each other as often as we'd like. She says that when you are far away we should post lots of pictures on the blog so you won't miss a thing. (She also told me to tell you that she is doing a GREAT job as a Mommy...I think her exact words were "Mommy is awesome!...make sure you tell Daddy that...a lot...particularly when in close proximity to a jewelry store!!")

Mommy also says that because I can't speak for myself yet, my clothes should do the talking. So just in case you forget...



I just want you to know that you are the BEST daddy in the whole world! I miss you!

Love,
Grace

Bean Pole

She doesn't get it from me or my side of the family...but Grace is a bonified bean pole! Yesterday, she had her 4 month well baby check-up. Weighing in at 13 lbs. 8 oz. (42%) and measuring 24 1/4 inches long (81%) she is "perfect for her"! She is happy and healthy which was evident from her non-stop dance moves at the doctor's office. (I think she gets that from Daddy's side as well...she'll probably be able to do the "coat dance" before she can walk!)

We did learn that we can start rice formula, as the doctor put it, "anytime Mom is ready" and that an exersaucer is perfectly fine for Grace to spend some time in! This is VERY good news as it will allow Grace to burn off some energy and give me back two hands for a short period of time during the day. Two hands!! Two hands to prep the rice cereal and two hands to clean it all up. Hmmmm...when you put it that way, maybe I'm not ready to have "two hands" just yet!

Foot in Mouth

Yesterday, being Friday and all, I didn't feel like cooking an elaborate dinner...which is what I normally do. (Just call me Giada!) So I went to our local (when I say local, I mean the next town over - 20 minutes down the highway) take-n-bake pizza place to get all the essentials. While I was waiting for my pizza to be made, a mother of two young children entered the store. Both children wore blue jeans and a t-shirt and both children had long, scraggly, blonde hair. Had one not been screaming it's head off I wouldn't have given them another thought...until I went to grab my order.

One of the scraggly haired kids (might I add "snotty nosed") tried to touch Grace. Of course, I freaked out and gasped REALLY loud. I am not normally apprehensive of germs, but these kids looked like walking petri dishes. The mother, picking up on my sheer panic, told her child to get away from the baby. Not respecting the mother's wishes, the kid came at Grace again! Not wanting to be rude, I told the mother "Your girls are adorable!" and swiftly moved Grace's carrier out of the toddler's line of fire. The mother looked at me like I was from Mars so I quickly picked up Grace's carrier and began balancing everything in one hand so I could make a quick escape. As I was doing all this, the other toddler, yelled "He's a boy!"

The kid that had tried to touch Grace was a little boy and I had told his mother that she had two darling little girls! Woopsy!

(If that's not a sign that it is time to cut your kid's hair, I don't know what is!)

Our Easter Celebration!

Easter is a holiday best celebrated with children and now that we have the requisite child, I got to go all out! (Well, as all out as you can with a four month old.) I am already making mental preparations for the festivities next year!

Grace woke up Easter morning sporting her bunny jammies.




She was in awe at what the Easter Bunny left her! Lots of goodies! The good ole Easter Bunny even remembered to bring Mommy and Daddy at little something as well!


Although we didn't dye any eggs this year, we still managed to have an Easter egg hunt. The Easter Bunny knew dying Easter eggs with a four month old was a lot of work so he hid plastic eggs filled with money! A tradition we hope the Easter Bunny continues!! (Although if the Easter bunny wants to upgrade from quarters to say...twenties, there would be no complaints here!)



We invited Court's parents and grandmother over for dinner that night. Grace wore her new Easter dress...
entertained us by making lots of funny faces...


and even channeled Elvis Presley.


Grandma and Grandpa couldn't put her down.

Can't wait for next year!!