Monday, April 26, 2010

Birthday Girl

Look at this happy little 2 year old!! Gray has been highly anticipating her birthday for weeks now. She's been singing the birthday song to herself everyday for weeks - so needless to say she was very happy when the day actually arrived. This little girl is spoiled rotten. She had four - yes four birthday celebrations. She's been pumped full of junk food and sugar for almost an entire week. Birthdays are big around here so celebrating for a week is just our style!!
I must admit this birthday was a little tough for me - I couldn't get through the happy birthday song without tearing up. Each day with Gray is so special but there is just something monumental about 2. The baby days are over and I find that each day our little girl is becoming so much more independent. She's getting herself dressed, brushing her own teeth, she will not hold my hand going up or down the stairs and the list goes on and on. Paul and I fall more and more in love with each new day. She is the light of our life!! Here are a few "gray updates" and stay tuned for birthday pictures later this week.

  • Loves to sing!! She sings Happy Birthday, Twinkle Twinkle Little Star, Jesus Loves Me, Open Shut Them. Her little singing voice is just precious!!
  • Knows all of her shapes, numbers, and colors. Her favorite shape is the trapezoid (yes, I had to look this one up online because he asks me to draw it daily). Her favorite color is pink and her favorite number is 2.
  • Sleeping great - but we have a rough time every morning getting her up and dressed. I swear the child would prefer to stay in her pj's with a soaking wet diaper all day.
  • Says her prayers everynight and will not going to bed without saying the names of all of her friends and family members.
  • Her favorite book is Goodnight Moon and she waves goodnight with each page we read
  • When she has a poopy diaper she yells "MOMMY, I didn't poop... I didn't"
  • She has full conversations with our dog Jake. And everytime she looks at me and says "Mommy, Jake's not listening to me."
  • She loves to tell Paul he is cute and just started telling me that I am pretty.

One quick story for you. There is a little girl named Kallie in the neighborhood that goes to school with Gray 2 days a week. We have decided to start carpooling and last week Gray got into Kallies car and off to school they went. About half way to school this was the conversation.

Gray: Where's my mommy

Kristin (Kalli's Mom) You're mommy went to work.

Gray: Where's my daddy

Kristin: Your daddy is at work too

Gray: Why???

Kristin: Because they went to make money.

There was a long moment of silence...

Gray: Well I don't have to work because I have lots of money in my pocketbook.

She is our sweet and simple girl - and now I want to stop the clock. 2 is old enough :)

Sunday, April 11, 2010

Love Thy Neighbor

I've written before about the special love Gray has for her friends - well our neighbor friends are right at the top of her "special friends" list. Laura, Andrew and Caroline live just down the street from us and little Caroline is just 2 weeks older than Gray. They are the sweetest of friends and they can't get enough "huggies" from each other. Caroline is the cute little one without clothes in the picture below!! Gray just adores her and honestly Paul and I love the wonderful new friends that we have made... and they live just a few houses down!

Friday night we went out to dinner with Laura, Andrew and Caroline. We enjoyed a little mexican and then a walk down to our favorite ice cream shop. The girls had a wonderful night and we realized how much easier it is to go out to dinner when there is another "little person." They kept each other entertained the entire time. Saturday night we had a last minute cookout with Laura, Andrew and Caroline... and other neighbors, Kristin, James and 3 year old Cali joined in on the fun. The girls had a blast playing in the pool and running in the yard. We enjoyed the adult time and we started a cornhole tournament that looks like it will last all summer long. Andrew and Paul got lucky with 2 wins in a row - but watch out boys, we are planning mid-afternoon practice sessions. Oh the joys of working from home!!
And yes, Gray did manage to jump in the pool AGAIN - but this was right after I changed her into dry clothes. This child loves the pool!!

This weekend was just perfect... lots of yard work, lots of flower planting, lots of time outside. We just love it when we have a weekend at home with no kind of agenda or set schedule- it's time that we all value so much!!