Goin' Bananas!

Grace loves to play and jump and slide and, well, just go bananas. So, it comes to no surprise that one of her favorite places to go is an indoor playnasium called Goin' Bananas.

We have been several times but this time, I captured some really cute photos of her and her pal, Kate. Click on Kate's name to see a video on Kate's blog!

I'm Skate-IN'

We were able to go to Bastrop, LA to see my nephew for his birthday - which was a ton of fun. Shawn David had a skating party!


I haven't been on skates in years...I'm talking decades! Grace has never been, so this was a fun experience. She LOVED it! We started out skating on the carpet, then with her skating holding my hand. Before I knew it, she was taking off without me! Several times I had to chase her down and follow to make sure she didn't get ran over by some bigger kid! Her Uncle Shawn took her around once and she kept telling him to go faster! The faster she went, the harder she laughed. She even started dancing to the music while she was skating - clapping and shaking her butt! I see a lot of skating in our future!

Shiny Dinah

This semesters Kindermusik focas is called, "Away We Go." It explores all sorts of transportation songs and dance. Grace is LOVING it! It started out with trains, which I think all toddlers are fascinated with.Her favorite song from this semester so far is, "I've Been Working on the Railroad." She could listen to that song and the sound of the train over and over. In fact she has!

Even though she and I have taken the train several times in the past, this time, she really enjoyed it and was so very excited! She named the train we were on Shiny Dinah (she also named her pet dinosaur Dinah, she received it from from Granddad and Mimi at Build-A-Bear). She gave the ticket taker her ticket (a fake dollar bill) to be punched. Every times she would see the conductor, she would yell, "All Aboard!!!!"

She even ASKED me to take her picture several times! Now - that is my girl!!!

On the way home, we got off the train in Ft. Worth to explore the station. They had an old electric car on display. Grace wanted to take her picture with it...

Her new favorite thing to do when the camera is pointed at her is to yell, "CHEESY MONKEYS!!!!!" So, almost all my photos have this wide open yell in them!

When we got back to Austin, Grace was really excited to see her Daddy, but pretty disappointed to leave Shiny Dinah behind. She didn't understand why Daddy couldn't climb aboard and ride the rails with us!

Sesame Street Live

For Valentine's Day, Jeff and I took Grace to see Sesame Street Live. She really hasn't been too exposed to the lovable Big Bird and Burt and Earnie. And she only knows a little of Elmo and Zoe. If it weren't for her playgroup buddies loving Sesame Street, Grace wouldn't have a clue who they are.

That all changed on Valentine's! On his way home from work, Jeff stopped and got an Elmo doll for her. I had bought her a Sesame St. shirt to wear the day before. So, decked out in her fan gear, we took off. As soon as we got there, she announced that she wanted a pretzel - my kinda girl! Daddy bought us snacks and a big balloon for Grace. I got Cotton Candy and we were ready!

She had a wonderful time watching the characters singing and dancing. Her favorites were Abby Cadabby (the princess who could fly if only Mommy would make her - she kept telling me to make her fly) and Zoe (the ballerina). Every time they would leave the stage, she would become distressed asking me where they went. She also really like Oscar the Grouch! He has always been one of my favorites.

The Potty Princess

On Thursday, February 7th, Grace began her potty training experience! With the help of a book called Potty Train in Less Than a Day, I set out to teach her all about Potty! She did wonderfully! By the end of the first day, she was consistently using the potty! The next day, she had no accidents at all! Daddy crowned her the Potty Princess!

That Sunday she had her first accident. She looked at me and said, "Need to tee-tee!" Then she said, "I did it! YAY!" Of course, she was standing in a little puddle!

Since that Sunday, she has had no tinkle accidents! Her bowel movements are getting better. She has been so constipated and on laxities, so she makes it half the time and can't make it the other half.

Happy Valentine's Day

Grace really enjoyed her Valentine's Day this year. We made cookies together for her friends in Play Group and at Kindermusik. As much fun as she had passing them out, I think eating them was more fun for her! On Valentine's Day, we met with our Play Group and spent the day jumping and bouncing and sliding at Goin' Bananas!