December Delicacies

- Grace got her hands on the "real" phone and when she gave it back to me I asked her who she was talking to.   She said, "My Molly" (a.k.a. her birth mother).  I think it's so cute that she feels comfortable telling me that she's pretending to talk to her birthmom!

- We've been participating in community supported aggriculture this fall and have been getting a variety of veggies that I don't normally pick up at the local grocery.  Among these veggies was kale in one delivery.  I decided to make kale chips on the recommendation of a friend.  The kids both tried a few, but weren't very enthusiastic about them.  However, Grace found a new use for the chips when she pounded them with her milk bottle and proceded to "stamp" her face with the kale dust using the bottom of her bottle.  She made nice green circles on both of her cheeks!

- Prior to decorating the Christmas tree, Grace asked me, "Am I going to hang ornaments on the tree? Is Matthew going to take ornaments off the tree?"

- Matthew took his first unassisted steps on 12/2/2012.

- Sometimes Grace surprises me with the words she uses.  One of those words was "damage".

- After Grace's Christmas program at school, Jeff complimented her on how well she sang.  She responded with, "Daddy, I didn't sing.  I was distracted."  The little boy next to her was crying and she was busy consoling him with hugs throughout the performance.

- Grace was gifted with two new Christmas books by her grandma when she was asleep during a nap.  The next morning she ashed, "May I tell Mama Cisa thank you for the books?"  It's so nice to know that she is thankful for the many gifts she receives!

- Matthew has started playing with his food more. Lately he's been stabbibg his pita sandwiches with veggie sticks like you would a toothpick.

- Matthew's vocabulary is beginning to grow.   Now besides "Mama" and "Dada" he says "bye bye," "nigh' nigh'," "ba ba" (as in what a lamb says), and "hi!".  His use of sign language is growing too.  He can sign milk, more, and please.

- Lately, the first thing Grace says to me when she wakes up is, "Where are we going today?"

- Out of the blue, Grace told me, "I don't like wearing helmets on my head.   My head is too big!"  Funny, because she has never tried a helmet on!  However, i did tell her that if she ever got a scooter or a tricycle/bicylce, that she would have to wear a helmet.

- Matthew officially started walking and hasn't stopped!  12/16/12

- After reading Charlie Brown's First Kiss, I asked Grace if she has a dream boy (like Charlie Brown's dream girl...the little red-haired girl).  She said, "Yes!  Matthew."  I have a feeling she'll change her mind about this one sooner than later, but I thought it was so sweet!

- I let Grace lay in our bed one morning so I could sleep a little longer and when she was ready for me to wake up she said, "Wake up rascal and make breakfast!"

- Our "Elf on the Shelf" returned this Christmas season and it's been funny to see that Matthew gets excited whenever he spots the elf for the first time that day too!  I wouldn't have expected a 14 month old to take that much notice.

- Matthew was put in timeout for the first time after crawling into the fireplace upon his sister's request.  (This was not the first time that this had happened and Grace was put in time out also!)

- Grace asked me, "Do you want a [toy] spider for being a good mommy?"  I said yes, of course!