Gabbin' with Gracie, Part 1

While Jonah grows out of his toddler slang, Gracie is growing into it. And OWNING it.
I've got to write them down before I forget.

Blinkah Beh
Translation: Tinkerbell

Happies
Translation: Help please

Uppies
Translation: Up please

I lud dyoo, Bubbas
Translation: I love you, brother

Beh BAH! Beh BAH! OHHHHHH!
Translation: Sponge Bob! Sponge Bob! *starting to sing the title song*
(I'll probably regret sharing that. Maybe I should delete.)

A Girl and her Guac

I love how you can tell the EXACT moment she spies herself in the viewfinder.

while YOU were sleeping...

According to Jonah, Part 30

Me: Buddy, please do your best to stay in bed tonight. It would make Mama so happy.
Jonah: Dat's jes not my style.

----------

Jonah: Mama, Cassie is my girlfriend again!
Me: Oh, yeah?
Jonah: Actually, I have 2 girlfriends now.
Me: Two?! What are their names?
Jonah: Um. I jes' can't think of dem right now. It's a long story.

Sunday Afternoons

Dear Stinkerbell,

The countdown to your 2nd birthday has begun. On Monday, it will be 30 days away. Kind of unbelievable.

This year we began learning just who you are. You've got some serious sass, young lady. (Along with a shoe obsession.) You're passionate, charming, emotional, and super girly.

Several months ago, when I was washing your hair, I noticed we were out of baby shampoo. I used some regular shampoo, just trying not to get it in your eyes. I failed. It stung your eyes.

You were SO UPSET with me. You folded your arms, stuck your lip out, and turned your back to me. Then remained that way for several minutes, ignoring my apologies, giving me the silent treatment. At 18 months old, you gave me a guilt trip.
Like most toddlers, you love a good chase. I once heard someone say, "as soon as they start moving, they're trying to get away from you". Yeah. That's about right. Although, you will go anywhere with your brother.

In fact, if I need you to hold someone's hand in a crowded place, you prefer that hand to be Jonah's. And he doesn't mind. He loves you, too.

Your main interest is doing whatever he's doing. That includes jumping off furniture and wrestling with Daddy. You're cautious, but willing to try just about anything to keep up with Bubba.

You sure can pull off the "boo-boo's with tutus" look.
Your toes are banged up, your shins are bruised, you have scraped knees. But your toenails are painted pink, and you love a frilly skirt!

"The only thing that separates us from the animals, is our ability to accessorize!"
- Clairee Belcher, Steel Magnolias

MANY times a day you changes shoes, clothes, hair accessories. Your favorite toy is a play purse loaded with plastic jewelry. You call hair-bows/clips, "pretties".

Recently, I finished changing your diaper, then left you running around in your skivvies. Just minutes later, you interrupted my kitchen-cleaning to take my hand and drag me back to your room.
You pointed at the shirt drawer and looked at me earnestly.
"Want to get dressed?", I asked.
"YES! Tank you, Mama!"
Then you practically rolled your eyes at me for taking so long to get you dressed.
I pulled out a brown and white zebra-striped tank top and pulled it over your head. You looked down at the shirt, both hands on your chest, and said, "cute", then ran off to play.

Cute, indeed! I cannot WAIT to see what this next year brings.

Love you so much, Baby Girl,
Mama

According to Jonah, Part 23

Recent Quotes...

In regards to an ottoman that he stained, "ah, man! That was my favorite furni-chair!"

Answering Grandpa's question about the whereabouts of In-N-Out Burger,
"I don' know where da Internet Burgers is".

Recent Quirks...

"Ta-Da" - a word used in place of "whatever".

"Oh, Barnacles!" - the latest exclamation of frustration.

"Hot Lava" - used to describe anything that's shiny.

I'm starting to see more sensory quirks emerge (very common in our family). For example,
-he hates to kiss on the lips. You can kiss him all day long on the cheek or forehead or tummy, but he really gets the heebs about kissing on the lips.
-he needs multiple covers at night (a heavy sensation) before he can relax and fall asleep.
-a twisted seat-belt in the car will send him through the roof.
-yesterday was "Backwards Day" at school. We tried. For about 1 minute. The feeling of backwards shorts and shirt was just too much for the kid. He stood there in his backwards clothes, visibly TRYING to cope, then collapsed on the floor in tears.

Summer Lovin'

Summer! Time for visits from Aunt Angie, swimming in the Snow Bird's pool, wearing flip-flops, and 110 degree afternoons.