Spider Girl

On the night before Grace's first day of school, I had to run to Publix to get a couple of things and I asked her to come along with me. She didn't want to go at first, but after I told her that there might be a little back-to-school surprise involved she was out the door and in her car seat before I could even tell her what sort of surprise I had in mind.

When we got to the store I said that she could either pick out a new "big girl" sippy cup or a new toothbrush. She opted for the toothbrush. A Spiderman one at that. I couldn't believe that my little girly-girl picked out a Marvel action hero toothbrush. I kept asking if she was sure she didn't want the cute, pink Barbie toothbrush. Nope. She wanted Spiderman.

I'll just say that Spiderman is her new obsession. In fact, she loves Spidey so much that we now have a Spiderman cartoon season pass set on our DVR. We watched it after school today. Then, she proceeded to run around the house (calling herself Spider Girl) and "stick" to anything and everything in her sight. Including Bonnie. And Bonnie loved every minute of it.

I took video of the whole episode and I'll post it as soon as I figure out how to get it to export to YouTube in less than 6 hours. For now, here are a few pictures...

Spraying Bonnie with her web

Sticking to the wall

Sticking to the fridge

Sticking to the art on the pantry

Sticking to Bonnie

A low key day

I think we're the last family on the planet, or at least in Atlanta, to get a flatscreen television set. It's sort of like how my brother and I didn't get a Nintendo until I was in the 4th grade, which was in 1988. Everybody who was anybody had one. And they had had one for at least 5 years by the time we got ours. My parents were, and still are to a lesser extent, very pragmatic and practical people, and clearly had no idea the damage they were doing by depriving us our video games.

It seems, however, that their good spending habits have rubbed off. Corey and I finally broke down and joined the 21st century with everyone else. Much to Corey's dismay, we didn't get a top of the line, 50 inch Sony or anything, but our 37 incher fits nicely in my armoire in the den. I insisted that if we were going to upgrade, it had to fit in a piece of furniture and not over my mantel. I don't like to strain my neck :) And after all, if mama ain't happy ain't nobody happy, right?

All that said, Mr. Derek, the very nice man from DirecTV who let Grace wear his bluetooth and talk to his supervisor, was at our house for 2 1/2 hours today and now...voila! We can watch all of her beloved Disney and Nickelodeon friends in high def. Which is exactly what we did for the rest of the day.

Grace finally got bored (and evidently hot as you can see from her nudity) and decided that she was "going on a mission to scout for ladybugs and butterflies." Her words exactly. Then, she proceeded to run around the house singing, "I'm secret spy, Gracie!"

I can't wait until Bonnie can walk so they can both run around like crazies together. It won't be long!

Bonnie's 1 year check-up

I've never been to a well check-up with a sick kid before, so today was a first. Grace started preschool this week and Bonnie is the one who caught a cold. Go figure.

I was a little reluctant to let them give her vaccines, but ultimately went ahead with it after 2 nurses and her doctor assured me that she would be fine. Bonnie was not so appreciative of that.

I do, however, have some stats to report:

Length - 30 1/2 inches - 89th percentile

Weight - 20.64 pounds - 38th percentile

Head Circumference - 18 1/4 inches - 83rd percentile

Her weight has essentially stayed the same since her 9 month (she was actually closer to 9 1/2 months) check-up, so I was a little concerned, then just confused. This baby eats plenty. Although she doesn't like cheese, which is another story for another day. Dr. Jeff wasn't worried and pointed out that she has, in fact, gotten 2 1/4 inches longer since June. Her body seems to be catching up to her head a little, too!

It was also confirmed that we do, indeed, have another little chatterbox on our hands. Bonnie can say all sorts of things like Gracie, happy birthday, Mimi, and George, to name a few. Granted, she doesn't say all of these words in perfect or even coherent English, but we get her drift.

Caught mid-sneeze!

A visit with Aunt Ellie and Baby Colt

Grace loves babies, so she was extra excited when she learned that Aunt Ellie and Cousin Coltrane were coming over to play today.

Coltrane has gotten so big since the last time I saw him. He has the cutest chubby cheeks and lower lip that pokes out and makes you just want to kiss it. In fact, Grace tried to a couple of times. I barely even got a chance to hold him because both girls wanted him all to themselves!

Back to school

Corey and I have really been talking up school the last couple of weeks with the hope that Grace might actually want to go this year. And now that Bonnie is older and the H1N1 pandemic is over, I'm pretty excited about school, too :-)

I guess our efforts paid off. I was all prepared for a little resistance and at least a big hug goodbye. Nope. She walked right into her classroom and turned around just long enough to say "bye, mom, I love you!" And that was it. Definitely much easier than last year's first day drop-off.

She wasn't ready to leave when Bonnie I arrived to pick her up, either. She was much too busy trying to get some last minute playing time in with Baby Aurora.

I got to hear all about her day on the way home, and it sounded like she had a great time. I asked her who she played with and the first person she named was her boyfriend, Gavin, who was in her 2 year old class last year during her brief stint there. Apparently, Gavin likes tattoos and motorcycles now. Great.

The poor thing was so exhausted from her day that she couldn't even make it through the first 10 minutes of Aladdin before conking out.

Happy 1st birthday, Bonnie!

After church this morning, we took Bonnie out for her birthday lunch at the OK Cafe. Not only was it a special birthday lunch, but it was also the first time Bonnie got to join her daddy and big sister at "their" restaurant. I got to tag along for the fun, too.

By the time we got home, it was time for Bonnie's nap. She's on one nap a day now, and is sleeping for right around 3 hours a stretch. Not bad at all!

After she woke up we played with her new Leap Frog Lights and Sounds table that I finally broke down and bought. I never got one for Grace because I figured that there was plenty of furniture for her to pull up on and cruise around and I also didn't want any more big toys cluttering up the house...which seems to be getting smaller and smaller by the day! This might, however, explain why she didn't walk until 15 months.

As soon as Bonnie saw it she crawled over to it as fast as she could and pulled herself right up. Maybe I should have gotten this a long time ago?! She even did a transfer from the ottoman to the table all by herself!

The 4 of us ran some errands this evening and then it was home for baths and bed. Both girls got to stay up way past their bedtime...mostly because I didn't want Bonnie's birthday to end! I know I say it a lot, but this past year has gone by SO fast. I can't believe my baby girl is ONE year old!

Our sweet Bonnie, we love you so very much and have had so much fun watching you grow and change this year. You're amazing. Now on to year #2!

Bonnie's Birthday Party

First, the decorations. I have to thank my friend, Carrie Beth, for letting me steal all of her cute party ideas. I seriously copied just about every single thing she has had at recent birthday parties for her children...even down to the fonts. It all turned out beautifully!

The delicious cake from McEntyre's Bakery. It was almost too pretty to cut into, but we managed!

The smash cake...

The Mays featuring the Birthday Girl!

The Birthday Girl anxiously awaiting her lunch so she can move on to better things...

like playing with the big girls!

Great Grandma E.J. with sweet Baby Ellison...

Bonnie trying to pounce on Ellison...

Now, for the fun.

Grace woke up this morning and was so excited, mainly because she knew that there was a giant piece of cake in her future. After breakfast she ran up to Corey and yelled "get your birthday on!" She was not so excited later on when she realized that none of the presents were for her.

Time to make a wish and blow out the candle...if you can get to it before big sis does!

I think it's safe to say that we all witnessed something today that none of us has ever seen a child do at a first birthday party before. After we set Bonnie's cake in front of her, she examined it, touched it, and then once she realized what it was...

she picked up the entire thing and gave it a big lick!

Needless to say she loved it!

It was such a great party and we can't wait to celebrate again tomorrow on Bonnie's actual birthday!

"33"

This morning, Grace and I dropped off Bonnie at my mom and dad's house and headed over to open house at her pre-school. She was a little jittery at first and wanted me to carry her inside, but as soon as daddy showed up to meet us she was all smiles again...not to mention the fact that her 2 boyfriends from last year's class will be joining her again this year!

These new 3 year teachers really mean business, too. Grace (I) have homework already...what's up with that? And, I had to add a new accessory to my "ultimate mom mobile," as my in-laws in Oklahoma have affectionately named my car...which is not even a minivan, by the way...our carpool number! Now I officially have the complete "mom" look.

In keeping with last year's tradition, we went to Chili's for lunch after the open house. The only difference is that last year I was a few pounds heavier and a mere 24 hours away from birthing Bonnie. My how time flies!

Sweet, Sweet Bonnie

This morning I took Bonnie to have her 1 year portrait made. Well, not her real 1 year portrait...Jen will be doing those. Duh. I just wanted to have a picture of her in her cute party dress to display next to her birthday cake.

She wasn't really feeling the whole photo shoot thing today, but we managed to get this one...with her big front choppers in all their glory!

Update

I should know better than to blog too early in the day...especially when the entire post is quotes from Grace. Of course she added a couple of new ones to the list tonight:

"I played an instrument with my toots."

**Lovely, isn't she?

This one was more of a conversation, but it went something like this:

G: (at the beginning stages of a temper tantrum) "But I wanna get in Bon's bed and snuggle with her!" (starting to jump up and down now)

Me: "Oh no. Are you 2 years old again? Because only 2 year olds act this way. Big-girl-3-year-olds don't throw fits."

G: "Yes, they do."

Me: "Well, then big-girl-3-year-olds that throw fits get in big-girl-3-year-old trouble."

G: "Do you want a piece of me?"

Seriously??? Where does she come up with this stuff?

Quotable quotes

After a fun outing to KangaZoom and lunch at McEntyre's Bakery with our friends, Carrie Beth, Handley and Harper, I put Bonnie down for a nap and sat down to check my e-mail, etc. I became a little suspicious after about 15 minutes or so when I noticed that Grace had not come into the office to "check on" me. I wan't too concerned about it because I could hear that she was busy doing something in the other room, but I decided to investigate anyway. This is what I found...

She had gotten herself and her babies, Annie and Clarabelle, all set up for "quiet time." And I use the term quiet time very loosely. I went back to the office to finish up what I was doing, and seconds later in she came with her blanket on her head and said, "I'm Little Red Riding Hood." Then she immediately turned to leave and told me, "Bye, Big Bad Wolf." Thanks a million.

Speaking of million, She recently told me that she "needed a hamillion Pet Shop guys." The Littlest Pet Shop is her latest obsession and apparently she doesn't have nearly enough.

As I type this, I'm reminded that Grace has been saying quite a few off-the-wall things that I'd better document or else I'll forget. These include:

(Whining) "Mom, I'm hungry. I just need a little snack. Mom. Mom. Mom. I'm hungry. No matter what."

(Whining again) "Mommy. My scratch 'n' sniff sticker doesn't work. I can't smell any something. I only smell part of my nose."

"Hey! There's a giant bird there!"

**This was in reference to the Big Chicken. We were driving home from her 3 year photo shoot with Jen when she spotted him. I grew up knowing about the Big Chicken so I didn't even notice until she so excitedly pointed him out. I don't know why, but the fact that she referred to him as a "giant bird" cracks me up! And since she can't quite pronounce th's yet, it sounded more like Hey! Dare's a giant bird dare! Makes me laugh every time.

"This traffic is JUST MISERABLE."

"Here you go, Bon. Your mommy says it's ok for you to have these princesses."

**This was Grace's attempt at being sneaky and trying to "trade" princess bath toys for another toy that Bonnie was holding. Apparently Bonnie has a different mother, too.

"Absolutely."

I can only imaging the things that are going to come flying out of Bonnie's mouth one day!

Emma's Birthday Party

This afternoon we met Emma at her pool for the most awesome Super Shark Girl party! Grace has only been talking about this party for the last month or so. And, not to be left out of the name game, Grace informed me while we were getting ready that I was to call her Fashion Girl. I don't know where she comes up with this stuff!

All the kids (and adults) had a blast swimming and eating delicious food prepared by Stacy and her mom. I wish I had thought to take a picture of the cake, too, because it was incredible!

The minute Grace saw the diving board she wanted to jump off of it. She has gotten very brave over the summer...

We couldn't convince Emma to give it a try, but these two best friends still had a great time swimming around in the big pool. Also, a big thanks to Uncle Dave for entertaining my kid!

All that swimming made Bonnie work up quite an appetite...

If you're wondering where Emma is in the picture below, she's the one toweling off in her very own personalized Super Shark Girl robe.

Happy almost 4th birthday, Emma! We sure had fun at your party and we love you very much!!!