More "funny Grace" moments

Or, at least ways that Grace talks funny. Right now for some reason she is really enunciating her Ts. Also putting them into words that are actually Ds. Like "Datty" for Daddy (which is driving Rob nuts for some reason). Or, Homer is Butty. Other funny words include musTard, everybuTy, and beTTer.

Another little Grace quirk is putting Ps at the beginning of random words. Like Pabana = banana. Pabloon=balloon. Pabrella=umberlla. Pertucky=Kentucky, and so for some reason that makes Pertexas=Texas.

Funny girl.

Big Sis

I got to see Grace's protective side the other day when I took the girls to the dentist with me. My vision was that Viv would sleep and Grace would watch a movie in the corner while I got my teeth cleaned, but of course, I must have been hallucinating! Viv was sleeping soundly when we got there, but started to cry after I'd been in the chair 5 minutes, and Grace developed a sudden and inexplicable aversion to the DVD player. So a kind grandma/receptionist came and got Viv, and took the girls out to the waiting area. After a while, Grace came back into the room, saying heartbreakingly, "I lost my baby sister!" The hygenist told her that Carol had her and must have gone back behind the counter. (I couldn't say anything because her hands were still in my mouth). So I hear Grace go back out, calling bravely, "Carol, Carol, Carol!" Finally the hygenist called out to Carol that Grace was looking for her, and I heard her and Grace find each other. Then plucky little Grace said, "I need my baby sister." They got it all worked out, and Grace ended up spending the rest of the cleaning on my stomach watching what was going on in my mouth. I was amazed and touched by Grace's love for the sister she usually torments all day. It was just so sweet I had to write it down.

Viv in real life

If I ever get around to making actual New Year's resolutions, I think one of them will be to post more often, so I can count my blog as journal-keeping :)

Here is Viv giving me a big smile and talking a bit. Please pretend like the adult is someone you don't know, I think I sound like a complete dork. But Viv is adorable, so I'm posting it anyway! I was trying to get her to blow raspberries, but didn't have any luck. Maybe next time!

Pictures not taken

Sometimes I think I should take pictures of the bad times, because those are part of life, too, and really those are the stories we tell and re-tell that seem so funny looking back. Like, on our recent trip to Utah on the Saturday before Christmas, when everyone else in the Western World was also going home for Christmas, and Chicago was having bad weather as usual. (I hate Chicago.) The trip that was supposed to start at 8:30 Saturday morning in Detroit and end at noon in Salt Lake City. But instead ended at about 11:00 Sunday morning, after an unexpected mini-vacation in Phoenix with no luggage. These are the pictures I would have taken:

1. Us sitting and sitting in Detroit, waiting for fog to lift in Chicago so we could get on the plane.
2. Us sitting and sitting on the ground in the airplane while they put in extra gas, just in case the fog came back. Couldn't they have thought of that while we were sitting and sitting inside?
3. Grace getting motion sick on the very first leg of the flight. She actually thought it was cool: "I spit up in a bag!" Thank heavens Rob was quick with that bag!
4. The TV screen in Chicago where our connecting flight should have been listed, but wasn't because it had just left 5 minutes ago without us.
5. Me sitting on the floor in the middle of the hall at Midway, crushed in by other refugees sitting on the floor, feeding Viv.
6. The genius behind the Southwest counter who told us we should try going through Phoenix.
7. Me covered in Diet Coke, all down my white t-shirt, and soaked through my jeans.
8. The person behind the southwest counter in Phoenix who told us that every flight to SLC was already overbooked by about 8 people, so we had a snowball's chance of getting on since we were now stand-by passengers.
9. The last plane for SLC, leaving without us. Except it was dark by then, so the picture wouldn't show much.
10. The kind lady who took pity on us and told us SW would pay for our hotel room.
11. The amazingly awesome room service food at the Phoenix Airport Sheraton. I would stay at that place again in a heartbeat!
12. The kind shuttle man who took Rob to the grocery store for formula, wipes (see #3), toothbrushes, deodorant, etc. since our luggage was patiently waiting for us in SLC.
13. Viv sleeping propped up in an armchair with some pillows and crib bumpers.
14. And I'm sure there would be a priceless picture of us getting off the plane in SLC Sunday morning, with no makeup and nasty greasy hair and 2 children who looked like ragamuffins, but grinning from ear to ear.

So I don't think we'll be flying home for Christmas ever again, but in the end it was one of those days that makes you count your blessings. The girls were SO GOOD all day long. Grace thought the whole thing was a grand adventure, and Viv was just easy going. She probably loved being held all day (since we checked the stroller through, too--duh). And people were very kind to us everywhere, so that was a huge booster.

I'll try to post again soon about the rest of the holidays. For now, Happy 2008.