Christmas with the Larsons

Christmas came early this year and Grace wasn't sure what to make of it.


"What fun boxes and ribbon," thought Grace







"Whoa, excitement overload!"

10 cents to see the talking Baby!

Picture this- Neil, Baby Grace, and I were hanging out on our bed the other day. Grace couldn't see me and she looked at Neil and pronounced quite clearly, "Where's my momma?" The child isn't even 9 months old! Grace's freaky talking began much earlier though. When Grace and I visited my parents (she was 4 months old) she yelled, "Grandma, Grandma, Grandma!" Keep in mind this was in front of my mom, Ashton and Troy. Clearly I was not hallucinating.

Baby its cold outside

Grace is ready for the cold Chicago winter, although maybe I should look into getting her some pants.


Grace is stunned by her new winter gear

Today my mother in law came to watch Grace so I could get a few things done namely

I'm making a new goal, blah, blah, blah

March 20, 2008 was the hardest day of my life. It was the day Grace was born. Right after Grace was delivered (c section) I saw the nurse pass me carrying my baby away. I remember thinking, "There is my baby. I should hold her but I'm so tired...." And at that point I fell asleep on the operating table(the doctor had just shot me up with "something for the shaking") Motherhood hit me hard. I wasn't one of those mothers who felt am immediate bond and an outpouring of love. I knew I loved my baby but things were much much harder then I thought they would be. But as each day passes I fall a little more in love with my sweet girl. I love her fresh baby smell. I love the way the hair on the back of her head is all curly after her bath. I love the funny way she smacks her lips or clicks her tongue as she crawls around the apartment. I love the way she presses her forehead against mine and snuggles. A few weeks ago it hit me that my little girl will grow up. At this thought I felt an intense outpouring of nostalgia. It was like a physical ache. This may seem ridiculous as this week she turns a wee 9 months old. It seems unbelievable that she is that old but at the same time it seems like she has always been with me. And so I have determined to try a little bit harder to make my home more like heaven on earth. To fill my life and hers with happy loving moments. Because overall our lives are made up and measured by those fleeting magical moments.

too many cookies?

Exhibit A:

"Back off, this is MY doll!"

Flirt Alert

Yesterday at church Grace made a new friend.... a boyfriend! One little boy decided it would be fun to chase Grace as she crawled. Grace was only too delighted with this development. She laughed and laughed as she speedily crawled about. Sadly, for her, her new friend soon lost interest with the game. Grace, however, being the vixen that she is, would crawl over and grab the kid's foot when he lost interest in the chase. She would look up at him and coyly smile then let out a little giggle and take off crawling. Every time that kid took off after her... this at 8 months! And a few Sundays ago I caught her holding hands with another little boy and loving it!

Busted!

Is gold wrapping paper toxic?

Crafts

Instead of going to sleep, once I put Grace to bed last night, I made these.

Ideas

My parents instituted a rule that we can only spend $10 per person this Christmas.... any good ides?

Bye Bye Baby

Grace decided this week that she is done with baby food. If she cannot grab it and put it in her mouth herself, she wont eat it. She will either grab the spoon from me and throw it on the floor or knock it out of my hand onto the floor. And then look affronted because I dared to feed her. So far she will eat scrambled eggs, boiled potatoes and carrots, canned green beans, oatmeal, bread, noodles, and freeze dried fruit. Oh- and she loves those baby cereal puff things. Let me know if you have any ideas for G's diet. So far she has refused all the fresh and canned fruit I have tried to give her.

Thanksgiving

This year it was Neil's family's turn to be graced with our presence for Thanksgiving, so we headed down to Humble.
Here were my favorite parts of the weekend.
*Great Grandma Joan springing to life for a game of poker
*Turkey place cards made out of those delicious ferrero rocher candies (and yes I ate Grace's too)
*I actually convinced Neil to go running with me Thanksgiving morning
*Coming home and collapsing in my own comfy bed!

**Sad note, I forgot to charge my camera :( Grace's first Thanksgiving is lost forever (although she was napping during the big dinner)