3 year check-up!

Weight: 28 lbs. (25%)
Height:             (75%)



Last week (June 6) Grace went to the dentist and it was a nightmare so I thought today wouldn't be much better. However, Grace was like a completely different child! :) She let them weigh her, check her height, check her ears, throat, heartbeat, and all other things associated with a check-up with no fuss what-so-ever! This was definitely a first. Her doctor even told me that I needed to write in her baby book how well she did today. (Yay for my blog being her baby book!)

A few things about Grace:
*One of her favorite sayings, "Can you do me a favor?" {Note: I think I must say this a lot}
*She can count to 13 without any problem, but then tends to then jump to 16, then 18, and then 20!
*She can count to 10 in Spanish (or "like Dora counts")
*She knows all of her colors. She even told me the other day that something was magenta when I told her it was a pinkish-purple. ;)
*She has been wearing big girl underwear since two weeks before her Birthday (May 9th). Since then she's even refused to wear pull-ups at night. She's solely been in big girl undies and we went a month before we ever had a night time accident. Daytime accidents have been very minimal.
*If I tell her "No" when she asks for something, her answer to me is, "You're suppose to share!"
*Some of her favorite foods: cashews, fried okra, corn.
*Her favorite cereal is Honeycombs.
*She also loves vanilla or "ba-nella", as she says, ice cream and popsicles.
*Some of her favorite songs: "Ooo, Ooo, Ooo Miss Grace" & "My God is so Big"
*She's all about compromise. Sometimes our conversations go like this...
Me: Grace, 2 minutes then its (nap time, time to put away something, time to turn the tv off, etc.)
Grace: No Mommy, 5 minutes.
Me: (if I give in...) Okay, 5 minutes
Grace: It's a deal.
*If she thinks she has a better idea than I do, she loves to say, "Isn't that a great idea?", after her recommendation.

Eye exam:


Modeling her check-up gown ;)

Grace: 4 days shy of 2 years, 8 months

Tonight she has on her snow white dress. Her Daddy says, "come on snow white." Grace's reply, "Daddy! I'm princess snow white!"

She's really into choosing. She needs a choice of outfits and food to eliminate meltdowns for any breakfast, lunch, dinner or when it's time to change clothes. She'll sit for 30 minutes to an hour with a magazine asking you to chose something on the page and then telling you what others (Crewe, Brookie, Andy, Dawson, Nonnie, etc) would choose too. If she doesn't like what you've chosen she'll say, "no you chose this." while pointing to what she wants you to choose.

She also likes to tell you what answer she prefers to a question. Example:
Grace: "will you play play-doh with me?" "Say okay, Mommy."

She's been battling a UTI just before Christmas and then an ear infection just after but seems to be on the mends.

Her favorite treat is a Starbucks birthday cake pop!

When playing puzzles she divides the pieces into groups- one for her, one for me, and one for her daddy. We have to put together ONLY the pieces she's given us and can't combine them until everyone has put their set together.

We're still working on potty training. She uses the potty often- either she tells me when she needs to go or goes on her own. However it's just inconsistent.

After my post last night about her not needing her paci to sleep, she's done nothing but begged for it today. False alarm, I thought she was going to give it up on her own.

She's hit the "WHY?" stage.

And her other favorite question is, "where we go next?"

Hope your 2012 is off to a great start! Xoxo from our house to yours!

Two and a Half

It's hard to believe that two and a half years have already passed since this beautiful ray of sunshine entered our life! I'm continued to be amazed at her everyday.

Two and a Half, 2.5, 30 months, however you call it- she's 2.5 going on 25! ;) We haven't been to the peds since she turned two but I did weigh her at the state fair just last month and she was up to a whopping 25.1 lbs. ;) She's wearing 24 month clothes although they're a little too big. 18-24 month seems to fit her perfect! And depending on the shoe, she's mainly wearing a size 7.

She loves to sing and dance. Her favorite tunes right now are:
5 Little Monkeys Jumping on the Bed
Jesus Loves Me
ABC's
If You're Happy and You Know It

Lately she's been in a very inquisitive mode, and her two favorite questions right now are: Where? What's Next? You can understand pretty much everything she says.

She STILL attached to her passy! Her dentist says that as long as its gone by 3 we'll be ok. We have six months to figure out a plan of action!

We're still not potty trained or wearing big girl panties- but she's peed and pooped in the potty lots of times! And atleast goes in the toilet once or twice a day!

After three weeks of screams when I left, she's finally adjusted to preschool. She goes two days a week and I love all of the cute, crafty things she brings home. I'll have to take pictures and post some of her artwork. :) She really loves her teacher, Mrs. Ginger. At school she's also learned to say the blessing when its time to eat, which is the cutest thing ever.

She's still really into ballet!

She can say her ABC's and can recognize all of the upper-case letters.

She loves Puzzles. She has a Dora puzzle and a USA States puzzle that she's mastered and can put together in no time.

I got an iPad for my birthday but Grace calls it her computer. "Mommy, where's my 'puter?" or if I'm using it (which is rare) "Mommy its my turn now!" She probably uses it 95% of the time and me just 5%. I put lots of apps on it for her that she loves. Especially the apps where she can put together puzzles.

She's REALLY into Dora the Explorer! And Cars (again) now that #2 has come out.

I can tell Christmas is going to be extra fun this year because she's already gone through the Toy Magazines and picked out what she wants. If you see her ask her what she wants Santa to bring her for Christmas. She'll tell you! :)

Her favorite books right now are:

Dora's Birthday Surprise

Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What do you See?

Curious George goes to the Aquarium

At 2 years old...

Grace has been two now for almost a month. I haven't done an update yet because we hadn't been to the doctor for her check up until yesterday! So... here goes some fun facts about our little one! :)

Weight: 23 1/2 (25%)
Height: 34" (50%)

*Grace communicates her needs and wants well. There is still a lot of babbling but its beginning to make more and more sense each day.
*She can say "My name is Allie Grace McLaughlin" (however McLaughlin seems to come out sounding more like the word 'daughter').
*For about a month now she has been able to count to ten. She first did it when we went on our vacation the first of May. If she's focused she doesn't skip any numbers, however if she does leave out a number its usually the 4 or the 9.
*I have tried my BEST to get the two above said items on video. However, she's camera shy and wont do it whenever I have the camera in her face. :( Maybe one day!
*She passed all of her developmental tests at the pediatrician yesterday and the pediatrician was pleased with her development. Based on her Height and Weight her BMI is slightly below the 'healthy weight' range that our pediatrician would like to see. She says that she doesn't for a second think Grace is malnutritioned but that she just probably is a little busy body with a high metabolism. The doctor would like to see her a little more plump. She recommended that we give her a daily multi-vitamin supplement and watch what she eats a little more. She wants to see us back in 3-6 months for a weight check and then she will determine if she wants to do some blood work to see if Grace may be anemic.
*Her favorite songs right now are: "Ten little fingers on my hands" and "You are my Sunshine". She loves to sing these with you. Even though they aren't word for word, she does a pretty darn good job!
*Her favorite books right now are: "Sleepy Bunny", "Flip, Flap, Fly", and any Curious George Book.
*She's still on a Dora and Diego kick and has learned to love Sid the Science Kid again.
*She tries her best to be a big helper. Even when it might be bringing me the laundry as its already folded and I'm beginning to put it away and by the time it gets to me its all unfolded. :)
*We're still not potty trained. I made an attempt and with maybe 4 out of 30 successful tries gave up. Three of those times we sat and sat on the potty only for Grace to beg to get up and pee in her panties before she even got out of the bathroom. I grew overwhelmingly frustrated and gave up. We have all of the needed materials so I hope to try again very soon.
*Some of my favorite thing she does/says: sings, when she says "Bless You" when someone sneezes, her big/tight hugs, storytime just before bed, her fake laugh is hilarious & a little scary if you didn't know her personality, when she waves her arm to come toward her and tries to say 'come on' instead it comes out "m'on". :) I love when she comes up to me and rubs my arm / back and asks me if I'm okay. "o-tay?" She isn't satisfied until I tell her I'm okay. I could go on and on here...
*Her favorite toys are her alphabet puzzles. She loves for me to say the letter before she places it in the puzzle, there are a few she recognizes on her own. If its possible to have a favorite letter I'd say hers is M. Each time I say M she says Moon with a big smile (same with D and duck). She's beginning to learn that she might have to turn the puzzle pieces to make them fit without me having to tell her each time.
*Grace refers to herself as baby. "baby do it" or "baby cry" (which she tells me as she's crying), "baby's turn", etc.
*Grace went to the dentist for the second time a few weeks ago. She screamed like a champ. the. entire. time. we were there! ;) Her dentist said all of her baby teeth are in so no more teething! :)
*Grace's comfort is still her passy. I kept saying it was going to be hard to get it away from her but I think its gotten worse. When she has one still still asks for another, "two passy" and isn't satisfied until she has two.
*She loves her weekly visits to the library. She's often so excited about new books she forgets to use her library voice. It's quite funny watching her fill her arms with new books to bring home. Even though she just grabs off the shelves she's picked a few good ones that we've really enjoyed. :)
*She finished her last Kindermusik class in May. We had fun interacting with other children and learning lots of new songs to sing.
*We have a few things on the agenda for summer! Kindermusik one-day-a-month play dates, story times at the library, a three day dance camp, Mommy & Me swimming lessons with Aunt Brooke and who knows what else might pop up!
*Her hemangioma has healed nicely from her recent surgery. Although I don't see much coloring difference in it yet, I can tell a big difference in the texture of the birthmark.

Hope you all are well! xoxo
SM&G

Happy 2nd Birthday, Grace!

Two years ago today my life was forever changed. For the better. I can't imagine my life any other way than having my baby girl by my side.

I wish I could keep you at this age forever. Someone told me that I'd say that for a while that it just keeps gettin better. Either way, I dont want you to grow up.

Never Grow Up

by: Taylor Swift

Your little hands wrapped around my finger

And it's so quiet in the world tonight

Your little eyelids flutter 'cause you're dreaming

So I tuck you in, turn on your favorite night light

To you, everything's funny

You got nothing to regret

I'd give all I have, honey

If you could stay like that

Oh, darling, don't you ever grow up, don't you ever grow up

Just stay this little

Oh, darling, don't you ever grow up, don't you ever grow up

It could stay this simple

I won't let nobody hurt you

Won't let no one break your heart

No, no one will desert you

Just try to never grow up, never grow up

You're in the car on the way to the movies

And you're mortified your mom's dropping you off

At 14, there's just so much you can't do

And you can't wait to move out someday and call your own shots

But don't make her drop you off around the block

Remember that she's getting older, too

And don't lose the way that you dance around

In your PJs getting ready for school

Oh, darling, don't you ever grow up, don't you ever grow up

Just stay this little

Oh, darling, don't you ever grow up, don't you ever grow up

It could stay this simple

No one's ever burned you

Nothing's ever left you scarred

And even though you want to

Just try to never grow up

Take pictures in your mind of your childhood room

Memorize what it sounded like when your dad gets home

Remember the footsteps, remember the words said

And all your little brother's favorite songs

I just realized everything I have

Is someday gonna be gone

So here I am in my new apartment

In a big city, they just dropped me off

It's so much colder than I thought it would be

So I tuck myself in and turn my night light on

Wish I'd never grown up

I wish I'd never grown up

Oh, I don't wanna grow up, wish I'd never grown up

Could still be little

Oh, I don't wanna grow up, wish I'd never grown up

It could still be simple

Oh, darling, don't you ever grow up, don't you ever grow up

Just stay this little

Oh, darling, don't you ever grow up, don't you ever grow up

It could stay this simple

Won't let nobody hurt you

Won't let no one break your heart

And even through to you want to

Please try to never grow up

Don't you ever grow up

(Never grow up)

Just never grow up

                             

Happy 2nd Birthday baby duck! You are my heart & I'm so proud to be your Mommy. <3

And since today is also Mother's Day- a big shout out to all the Mommy's out there. Especially mine, she's pretty dang special and I'm so glad I can call her my best friend too! XOXO

21 months

21 things about my baby girl at 21 months...

I guess you could also say she's 1 year and 9 months, but however you look at it she's growing up too fast for my liking!!

1. She's loves singing/music/dancing.

2. Her favorite songs right now are Wheels on the Bus, Skina-ma-rink (sp?),  & Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star. She'll even sing some parts with you.

3. She's saying much more and just now beginning to put two words together.

4. She started her first class of Kindermusik last week and although its much different from Little Gym, we're learning to like it.

5. I weighed her yesterday and she was somewhere between 22&23 lbs on the at-home scales.

6. She still wearing mostly 12 month clothes but they're becoming too short. The 12-18 / 18 month clothes fit her perfectly in length but I have to safety pin the waist for them to stay up.

7. She loves being read to.

8. Her favorite books right now are "Goodnight Moon" and "My Daddy and I".

9. She loves Toy Story and can name the main characters: Buzz, Woody, & Jessy.

10. Washing her hair has become much easier to do these days. She doesn't fuss during that process anymore, thank goodness! 

11. ... same with brushing her teeth! :)

12. She really likes going to Rhyme Time at the library and getting new books to take home.

13. She seems to have a calm, go-with-the-flow, always-sunny disposition, but she definitely has her meltdown moments too.

14. She loves playdates with her friends Lilley, Owen, and Crewe. And we wish we had more playdates with our other friends too.

15. She'll be TWO in just 3 short months.... Mommy nor Daddy isn't ready for that one.

16. I think she's got some 'monkey' in her as she's learned to do lots of climbing. She'll climb in her highchair by herself and I've never had a problem with her climbing up our stairs until now. Boy is she fast too!

17. Lately she's become more attached to her passy than ever. I've tried to only let her have it during nap times. Sometimes we go for days and it works, other days she has it all day long. Getting it away from her is going to be a challenge. 

18. She loves to draw. Often when I'm working at my desk she wants to be in my lab drawing or in her daddy's chair at his desk drawing.

19. Her sleeping patterns are about the same. However getting her down for naps or even bedtime is hit or miss at times. Sometimes its takes 5 mins, other times an hour.

20. She loves to point out and name all of the people in the photos on our refrigerator.

21. She loves to help me do things. Whether it's carry the laundry, change the laundry from washer to dryer, dust, put things away, etc. Sometimes I can even get her to clean her toys up! :)

Happy 21 Month Birthday, Allie Grace. We LOVE you!

18 months

Grace turned *18 months* old yesterday! Seriously? I know I say it every time but where has time gone?

She had her 18 month check up today and the pediatrician said everything was great!

Weight: 20.5 lbs. (10%)

Height: 30.75 in. (20%)

16 teeth

Wears either 12 month or 12-18 clothes. Still in some 9 mo and 9-12 mo stuff.

She had 4 shots today and is now running a little fever, but that could also be from the cold she's (we've both) gotten!

Just a few random photos:

Today at the library for Rhyme Time...

Last night in Mommy's Shoes...

(some face, huh?)

And last Tuesday with our new baby cousin Tripp (Lilley's baby brother). Grace LOVES babies! 

Love to all!! XOXO