Bonnie's 15 Month Check-up

Before I get down to brass tacks, i.e., the stats, I'd like to share some new developments about Bonnie since her actual 15 month birthday.

*She eats like a champ when I feed her things she likes (she still hates cheese and I just don't get it).

*She is starting to prefer walking to crawling (hallelujah!). Although, depending on how eager she is to get there, she will resort to crawling if it gets her to her destination faster.

*Has 8 teeth (2 bottom molars have appeared...random! She has 4 front top teeth and 2 bottom middle ones). That is a discovery that was made at today's appointment when she opened wide and screamed at the nurse.

*Is a BIG TIME mama's girl. Can't say that bothers me too much, unless I'm trying to cook dinner :-)

*Is turning into a "Gleek" just like her big sister. That is, she loves listening to songs off the Glee soundtrack. Particularly Queen's Somebody to Love. Sound familiar?

*Can "sing" the very beginning of Somebody to Love. Seriously. She did it in the car on our way home from the doctor and I almost swerved off the road. Granted, it wasn't perfect, but I knew what she meant.

*Finally calls my mom Mimi instead of Mama. Hallelujah, again!

Drum roll, please...

Length - 31 3/4 inches - 85th percentile

Weight - 22.64 pounds - 41st percentile

Head Circumference - 47 cm - 79th percentile

Thanksgiving 2010

This is going to be a whopper of a post.

Not necessarily because I'm going to talk a lot; rather because I am about to share 40 pictures of our trip to Dallas and Oklahoma City to visit Corey's family.

I was a little nervous about traveling on an airplane with two children ages 3 and 1, but to my surprise, they were absolutely perfect on both flights. I definitely couldn't have pulled off a trip like that without Corey, however. Who knew we'd make such a great team?

We left Atlanta on Tuesday morning and flew straight to Dallas, TX. Corey's dad, more affectionately known as Grandad, picked us up from the airport and we headed over to see Corey's grandparents, also known as Papa and Gamime. I've had the pleasure of visiting with them a few times before, and I have to say that they are two of the sweetest people I have ever met. I am so thankful we got to see them this year.

We spent the night in Dallas and, after a quick breakfast at the hotel, we started our 3 1/2 hour drive to Nana and Grandad's house in Oklahoma City.

We had a great visit with them, and the girls, Corey and I couldn't have had any more fun. Nana really outdid herself in the toy department, too. In fact, their downstairs TV room has been renamed the playroom.

We had a delicious Thanksgiving dinner prepared by Nana herself, and Grace was in charge of reciting this year's blessing. I must admit that I had to chuckle (and maybe even wipe a little tear from my eye) when she busted out the Lord's Prayer and then led right into Hail Mary. Of course, our typical pre-meal blessing is a little shorter, but I was so proud to hear her recite both prayers almost perfectly.

All in all, we had a great trip that certainly ended too soon. We can't wait to see see Nana and Grandad at Disney World after Christmas!

The Griswolds are packed and ready to go...

Visiting with Papa and Gamime...

Hanging out at the hotel in Arlington...

Scenery on our way to OKC...

Big Ben. Parliament. Not really. Just a huge casino across the Oklahoma state line that looks like Big Ben...

Rest stop in OK...

Now for the fun...

Ready for our Thanksgiving feast...

Homemade ice cream...yummmmmm...

Playing in Nana and Grandad's "coolest huge" steam shower...

Grandad babysitting...

Back home again...

Little helper sorting laundry...

Bonnie's "cheeks" bear a striking resemblance to mine!

Bonnie @ 15 Months

Heeeeuuuurrge news...

Bonnie is walking!!!!!!!!

Today, on her 15 month birthday, my precious baby girl turned into a full-blown, honest to goodness toddler. I can't believe it.

She must've known that today was a special day. And also that she only has 2 weeks to beat her sister in the "who walked first competition."

The girls were playing in my bedroom while I was packing for our upcoming trip, and Bon climbed up on to Grace's little munchkin chair, turned around and sat down on her little bumbosity, scooted down until her feet were touching the floor, and then just stood up and walked across the room!

I'm sure I don't even need to mention how excited I was.

But I will. I was TOTALLY excited! And so proud of her. And Grace was so proud of her. Bonnie was pretty proud of herself, too.

She spent the rest of the morning practicing her new skill. So much so that she was actually sweating from working so hard!

She certainly earned that 3 1/2 hour nap she took today!

Green. Yellow. Red.

Every now and then, Gracie offers a tiny glimpse of what goes on in her preschool class. Since she typically doesn't care to answer direct questions regarding her day, I have to be crafty about how I get my information.

Really, all I have to do is eavesdrop on her when she talks to Bonnie.

Like today, for instance.

One of Bonnie's favorite past times is crawling up to the armoire in the den, pulling herself up so that she can reach the cable box, and turning it off. This is quite an annoying little game she likes to play as we {Grace} are usually watching something that's been recorded.

The routine goes a little something like this:

1) Bonnie turns the DVR off.

2) Grace gets chapped and yells at her.

3) I scold Grace for yelling at her sister.

4) I turn the DVR back on, but it automatically goes to live TV mode.

5) Grace whines because it's not what she wants to watch.

6) I scold her again for whining and tell her to be patient.

7) I scroll down the recorded programs menu as fast as I can to find the program we were once watching.

8) I resume my chores.

9) Bonnie turns the DVR off again.

10) Repeat all of the above.

Today was a little different, though.

Bonnie, in her daily late afternoon attempt to antagonize her sister, crawled over to the armoire to pull her usual antics. Grace, however, handled the situation a bit differently this time.

I was expecting a shriek, but all Grace said was, "No, no, Bon. I'm sorry. Now you're on red."

Hmmm. Could it be that there's a "traffic light discipline system" at preschool?

So I started asking questions. And Grace was pretty compliant about answering them, too.

I started by asking if she begins each day "on green" and then subsequently moves to "yellow" after one warning and then "red" after two warnings, etc. She answered "yes" to all of my questions and then volunteered that "after red comes time out."

Now, I already know that she hasn't been to time out this school year. I know that because 1) she told me, 2) I believe her because she doesn't really know how to lie (yet), and 3) her teachers are always telling me how sweet and polite she is.

So then I asked her if she has ever been on red.

In a very matter-of-fact tone she said, "Um, yes. Yes I have."

Let's just say I've implemented this little traffic light system at home and it has been working quite beautifully. So far.

The Pink Pig and Santa Claus

Busy, busy, busy.

This morning, my mom got to our house bright and early and we headed to Lenox for our annual visit with Santa and a ride (or 2) on the Pink Pig.

Corey normally sneaks away from work to join us, but he is exceptionally busy right now so he had to skip it this year. Luckily, we made an impromptu visit to Lenox on Sunday and took a preliminary ride on Priscilla's train (and a very unexpected one at that as we didn't know it was even set up and I didn't have my camera!).

We got to the mall right at 10am to continue our tradition of not ever having to wait in line to sit on Santa's lap. Mission accomplished; however, Santa didn't arrive from the North Pole until 11am.

So we headed over to the Pink Pig where we also didn't have to wait in any sort of line whatsoever. It was awesome. As a bonus, tickets were buy-one-get-one so we got to take an extra spin around the track for free. Bonnie and Grace L-O-V-E-D it. Especially the Bon, whose ride on the Pig today was her first one (sort of).

After our ride, it was just about 11 o'clock so we walked back over to see what was up with Santa.

As it turned out, we were his first customers of the day. Grace walked right up to him and said, "Hi, Santa. I've been a very good girl."

Hmmm...

We were so early, in fact, that the "photographer" was still working out some of the kinks with his camera so Santa got to spend an extra long time listening to Grace's extra long Christmas list.

Of course, she pointed out his bejeweled coat again this year, and she also came bearing some bling of her own to show Santa in the form of gigantic plastic jewel rings.

Much to my surprise and delight, Bonnie did great. I was all prepared to make an appearance in this year's photo, but my little Choppers (that's what we call her on account of she only has 6 teeth and is nearly 15 months old) was just as excited to see him as her big sister was.

She just wasn't interested in sitting on his lap for very long.

All of the above pictures are courtesy of my mom. In order for her to be able to take her own pictures, however, we had to buy the "professional" one, as well.

This was the final verdict...

and it is my absolute favorite Santa picture to date.