Designer in the making...

Autumn has been on a decorating kick lately and I think it is starting to rub off on Gracie.

Why should I think that? Well, the other day she grabbed one of Autumn's bluish color swatches and a nearby roll of individually wrapped toilet paper. She examined them together and then confidently declared - "That works."

Clowns

This weekend we observed that Gracie has a healthy and normal fear of clowns. As we were wandering about the SLC farmer's market on Saturday morning we decided to approach the 10 foot tall clown (on stilts) and see if he would make us a balloon trinket. Gracie stood at my feet quivering and squeezing the life out of my leg. You could tell that she wanted to cry but even more than that she wanted that balloon flower. She was able to keep it together and she got her balloon. I was proud of her. She really likes balloons.

Snow White

With all of the various Disney princess coloring books and sticker books around the house Autumn and I have made the comment a few times that if Gracie was to grow up and look like any of them it would have to be Snow White. With her new haircut I think that idea has been reinforced. Now, if she could only get some deer, bunnies and birds to clean up the messes she makes around the house her mother and I would be grateful.

Have any cash?

We arrived at Costco on Saturday to exchange some unopened boxes of diapers. It turns out since our last visit Jared has graduated to size 3 and Gracie is almost completely potty trained and doesn't need them anymore. Anyway, as we pulled into a parking space and I turned off the engine Gracie immediately asks - "Daddy, do you have any cash?" It only takes me a moment to realize what her 2.5 year old mind is thinking. She wants a berry smoothie from the Costco food court and she has learned from a previous trip that they do not take debit/credit cards. On our last visit I told her that she could have one only to get to be denied at the counter because I had no cash.

Anyway, on this trip I did have some cash and Gracie was in high heaven as she sat in the cart and slowly devoured her berry smoothie as we wandered the aisles. She drained the last sip just as we finished loading the car to leave.

I dare say that this has only been the first of many times Gracie will ask me for some cash, and I fear the desired amount will only go up from the $1.45 purchase price of a berry smoothie. :)

Bath time

Lately, when I get home from work, if it is Jared's bath night I give him a bath while Autumn trains for the 10k we will be running at the end of July. I always recruit Gracie to help me, since she loves it and it is a good way to keep an eye on her. We put Jared's bath on the kitchen counter next to the sink and Gracie stands on a chair in front of the sink. The scene usually plays out something like this...

Me: Gracie, do not touch anything in the sink please. It is all dirty.
Gracie: I want to do an important job.
Me: Ok, you can wash the top of Jared's head. (I hand her the wash cloth)
Gracie: There ya go lil' buddy. (She dunks the wash cloth in the water and dumps it on his head and face - leaving it there)
Me: Gracie, you can't just plop it on his head and leave it there. (I take the wash cloth back)
Me: Gracie, do not touch the stuff in the sink - do you need to get down?
Gracie: I don't want to get down. (whine, sniff)
Me: Better get these toes clean, huh buddy. (I wash Jared's toes)
...
Me: Gracie, NO NO NO. That is for the dishes! (I grab the dish sponge/brush out of Gracie's hand preventing her from continuing to scrub the top of Jared's head with it)

We are lucky that Jared is such a good sport.

Growin' up...

So, I'm sitting at work, busy as always, and my phone rings. I see that it's Autumn... I also see that it is 1:30pm, which is not one of our usual times for talking on the phone as this is usually when Autumn tries fruitlessly to get the kids to nap. I know this call has got to be something big as it is breaking our routine -- I brace myself for the worst. Autumn immediately puts Gracie on the phone and coaches her to tell me that she has pooped on the potty all by herself for the first time. I breathed a sigh of relief, but then quickly realize that I am expected to be wildly excited and throw a big fit.

The problem, however, is that I don't have my own office, and that there are lots of my co-workers in nearby cubicles that probably don't want to hear me yell something like "Way to poop!" or "Good poop'n! I'm so proud of you!". So, I discretely give my praises while trying to scurry to a nearby vacant conference room where I can really let loose with my enthusiasm. By the time I get there the moment is passed. Oh well, I sort of made up for it by sneaking a balloon home from some random celebration at work as a reward for the big accomplishment. She loves her balloons. Good job Gracie!

Look out for that GIANT RAISIN!

Gracie's top three favorite foods for some time have been strawberries, cheese and grapes. However, prunes or "Giant Raisins" as Gracie calls them are looking to break into the top three. Some un-named member of the family purchased the giant raisins last week for digestive regulation purposes and has had to battle Gracie to keep them in stock. It is wonderful to be able to bribe Gracie with something healthy when she enters her "independent toddler" states of mind. Previously, it was ice cream or a sucker that could coax her into taking a bath, but lately the "Giant raisins" seem to trump all the treats.