Growing Up

We did something today that we have not done since Grace was born...we got her haircut. Mommy had a REALLY hard time. Daddy has been saying that we needed to get it done since his return from Bahrain, but I think that the kicker was when a complete stranger walked up to him last night and said that she needed one. We went to the Cartoon Cuts place, which "specializes" in cutting children's hair. Grace sucked on a blue raspberry sucker the entire time. In the end, we got her bangs cut and the back evened out. Mommy still had a really difficult time. We have a certificate with a lock of her cut hair on it for keeping:)

Swimming Lessons

Well, we finally remembered to bring a camera to swimming lessons today. Grace and Daddy got in the water together. They are practicing using the kickboard to swim and float, jumping in the water, going under, and everything else. She really has a great time. She is a little lazy at times, just using Daddy's arm to float on the water. I am really glad that we put her in lessons. Now all we need to do is get her in the boat before she is too old and becomes scared of it.

Relaxing with Daddy

Grace sitting with Daddy before swimming lessons on a beautiful Saturday morning.

PigTails

Grace has a very difficult time sitting still. There is just too much to see in this great big world. I am always trying to get her to sit still long enough to do her hair. Usually it involves bribery with suckers or goldfish crackers. She usually will leave it up for about a half hour and then pulls it out. I try, but it looks like I am raising a tomboy.

Deep Thoughts....by Grace Hardy

Grace is a little over 18 months and has really started to come into her own. She has started talking up a storm, has developed definite likes and dislikes and strong opinions. The minute we get home in the afternoons or when she wakes up in the morning, her first word is "outside." I think that the child would sleep out on the back deck if we would let her. She loves the outdoors. The last owners of our house were elderly, so whe have a ramp on our deck to get up to the back door. She loves to run up and down.

Her two new favorite statements are "no" and "dada's hot." The "no" I definitely understand is a normal word and transition into developing her independence. The "dada's hot," well, I am not really sure where that came from exactly. She will repeat it over and over again. It is really pretty cute.

She has also started giving real kisses, as in puckering up to give them. She has gotten so sweet, yet, so independent and argumentative.

New Tricks

I could not find Grace this morning after I finished washing my hair. I had left her in the den watching Barney, drinking her chocolate milk, and reading The Wheels on the Bus. When I went back in to check on her after I dried my hair, she had left the den. I quickly went to look in the bathroom, which is where she always is when we can't find her. This is what I found. Definitely shows that she is an observant child.

Happy St. Patrick's Day....very late

This is my hat that I made at school for St. Patrick's Day, because my really slack Mommy forgot to dress me in green for the real day. My teachers were really upset with her, but they allowed me to make my hat to wear at school. Of course, this was the first day that I would actually put the hat on my head and keep it there.

CHEESE!

Coming in after a long tricycle ride, waiting for a banana...what else.

Ready to Ride

This is my new tricycle. I am the coolest on it. It has a seatbelt to keep me on the seat, because I am kind of a wiggler. There is a handle for Mommy and Daddy to steer me, just in case I am too busy looking at the other things in the neighborhood. It is also a little helpful, considering that I cannot quite reach the peddles. I also have a bell. The bell is my favorite part. I usually try to bring it inside with me when I am finished.

Yummy Spagetti

Still among our most favorites! Thanks for the spagetti G-G!!!

Rocking on the Porch

Grace really enjoyed rocking on the front porch with G-G.

River Rat

Grace loved the lake. It was beautiful that Saturday. The temperature was almost 80. The water was not NEARLY that warm. Grace did not care. She walked down to the edge of the beach to watch the ducks with Daddy. She walked out about ankle deep and sat right down. Then, she realized that it was COLD.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DADDY!!!

Yummy Cake!

Daddy's birthday was April 3rd. Granny Hardy made a cake for Daddy, and she let me eat the batter from the beaters. I did share a little bit with Pop...a LITTLE bit:)

After a Long Day!

Grace and Mommy finished at the museum. Boy, we had a GREAT day!

Cha-Ching

Ringing up groceries with Daddy.

Shop Til You Drop

Grace enjoyed shopping at the Piggly Wiggly at the museum. She did not enjoy having things in the shopping cart. She just wanted to race down the aisles and run into walls of the store.

Farmer Grace

She really enjoyed picking the vegetables at the farm:) Carrots were her favorite!

EDVenture

While we were at home during our week long trip to South Carolina, we took Grace to EdVenture. If you have never heard of this place, you should go. It is located across the parking lot from the SC Museum in Columbia. This is an all kids hands-on museum for children of all ages. It starts for ages one and goes up through school age. We definitely recommend it! Grace really enjoyed the Little Piggly Wiggly shopping center, the farm and the fire truck.