Currently on Our Bedside Tables

Dora's Backpack and Map

Grace could hardly contain herself when she received her good friends Ella and Owen's belated birthday gift last week. Their very clever Mommy, Susan, handmade a Dora backpack and map. As if that wasn't to be beat, she also included an adorable Dora nightgown inside the backpack. The backpack has only been with us a short while and has already taken a shower with Grace. The map has a special place in her very teeny toddler bed which can surprisingly hold a lot of toys. And I'm instructed daily to give the backpack "cookies" after which Grace will say, "yum yum yum! DELICIOSO." We miss our friends very much and wish getting from Boise to Pittsburgh were as easy as crossing highest mountain, passing through the snowy forest, and crossing the grumpy old troll's bridge.

S-P-E-L-L-I-N-G

So we've been spelling things out around Grace when we don't want to include her in the conversation, but it never occurred to me that we'd someday be spelling the word butt. Rob was in Grace's play room the other morning when he noticed one of her monkeys in need of repair.

Rob: "Steph!?"

Me: "What do you need?"

Rob: "J-O-R-D-I has a H-O-L-E in his B-U-T-T"

Me: "OK. Thanks?"

Communicating this way allowed me more time to make the repair in sweet silence without Grace pointing out every two seconds that Jordi had an unsolicited hole in his rear end.

Grace Loves...

her new tee from Tia Milge
monkeys
baby animals
libraries
reading
counting
singing
dancing
cleaning
giving sammy and peoples treats
feeding her fish
playing in/with water
playing hide and seek
drawing
play-doh
tents
the zoo
the aviary
the children's museum
gymboree
playing with her friends
toddler beds
dressing herself
chocolate milk
ice cream
pudding
edamame
nana
aby
aunt daphne
tia milge
grandpa tom
abuelo
jenn, her babysitter
muffin, jenn's puppy
gummy bears (to play with not eat)
sticky tape
puzzles
converse sneakers
crocs
clothing with elastic waistbands
trains
bees
busses
rice
peanut butter & apples
bananas (see monkeys)
legos
putting pennies in her bank
snuggling
pingu
running
playing soccer
watching soccer
watching tennis
penguins (see pingu)
the sprout channel
dora
diego
the wiggles
rocks
the dog park
riding in her wagon
ordering her mom and dad to pull her wagon
fish sticks
cantelope
watermelon
peas
corn
to say "here's something cool"
calling us "guys"
merry-go-rounds
flowers
grass
watering the plants

Pittsburgh Named Most Livable Again

We've had an exceptional week in Pittsburgh. First, a trip to Penguin Point and now this!

Penguin Point At The National Aviary

The new penguin exhibit, Penguin Point, at the national aviary was so much fun. I can't wait...ehem...Grace can't wait to return. In addition to meeting one of the penguins, Elvis, Grace and her friends made their own penguins with paper, glue, crayons, and a little help from their adults. The aviary is offering a "name a penguin" online auction and we're hoping the winning bid is Mr. Jingles. Grace hopes the winning bid is monkey. I hope she's not too disappointed.

Summer Has Arrived!

The sprinkler was on and gunning for Grace this afternoon. She couldn't get enough of this game. Daphne and Rob, on the other hand, were wishing Sammy would've been more cooperative when asked to take his turn running with the kid. Peoples the Cat mysteriously disappeared once the water-festivities started.