Grace the builder

On January 9, 2012 - Uncategorized
Since Grace helped Duncan put together her dolls house she has wanted to play with the screwdriver.  So today I took out her nuts, bolts and screwdriver and she enjoyed fastening and fastening, first with the screwdriver and then with her hand. 

Fastening

All done!

Playing

Over-the-wall swimming

On January 8, 2012 - Uncategorized

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Jack and Grace enjoyed a swim in the Bradshaw’s neighbours pool today. I loved how Grace was jumping into the pool for the first time. She stands on the edge and launches herself to me. I am not letting her go under yet, but soon we’ll try that. Swimming lessons start again this week and it is going to be great fun!

Gathering little memories

On January 7, 2012 - Uncategorized

Today was filled with lots of little things to remember, like dancing in the shops…..I never realised Grace was into Lady Antebellum…

We also made a trip to Stodels so that Grace could be more helpful with the watering – a definite improvement from her tiny watering can. I enjoy watering the garden with Grace – it is nice to have her running around with me and helping – although I think the thing that she loves most is watering her hand.

While we were at Stodels we walked through the petting zoo area (mandatory) and came across some noisy roosters. Grace really dislikes noisy birds – for some reason they seem to just freak her out a bit. I am not too sure why (although the noisy bird that gave her a fright in the Jeffrey’s Bay pet store did not help), but I did decide to work with her to teach her to cover her ears when there is a noise she does not like. Grace is definitely sensitive to noise in general, so being able to cover her ears will be a good skill to have.

It was really interesting how the noisy rooster stuck with her though. When she was bathing and going to bed she spoke about the rooster over and over again, “Come round corner, noisy rooster, mommy take away, put down at goats.” She went through the story over and over again, sometimes reenacting the distressed emotion. What made me laugh was when she told me she was going to dream about roosters tonight 🙂 Friendly, quiet roosters that is.

This afternoon while we were playing she said a really long sentence, “Mommy jumping on Gracie’s trampotine, Gogo and Gramps bought.” A nearly fully formed sentence! Really proud of our little noodle for doing so well with her language.

Grace has also started using the word “very” quite a bit, mostly to say, “very sore.” The other way she uses it is when something is, “very funny,” and we had two of those today. Moving the sprinkler and having it flick around and float through the air while spraying water was “very funny” and the snake and toilet roll rolling down a hill at the end of a Richard Scarry book elicited lots of laughter.

Cuddle bunny

On January 6, 2012 - Uncategorized

Grace has become a real cuddle bunny…and Donné and I love it! Donné and I like to hug and hold hands and just generally be affectionate, so it is lovely to get great big bear hugs and loving kisses from our little girl.

Another nice thing is when a stranger listens and offers some words which change the nature of your day. Thank you Lord for blessing us with kind hearted people, may we be the kind hearted people to someone else. Amen

Spicy-chino

On January 5, 2012 - Uncategorized

After our time in Jeffrey's Bay a babychino has become an everyday event for Grace….which also means lots of foam for Mr Spicy. He knew that all his kindness towards Grace would pay off one day.

Waiting…

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The pay off!

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Muwa

On January 4, 2012 - Uncategorized

"Two sides…one side, two side, go Muwa now!" says Grace as she stands on the couch looking out the window at our neighbours house across the street. She wants to go for a trip across the road to stroke their dog Mula. So off we go across the street, first to the one side….no Mula….then to the other…ahh there she is. "Muwa, Muwa!" One stroke and then, "All done! Go home now."

Well, at least I give Mula more than just one stroke.

Help mowing

On January 3, 2012 - Uncategorized

Grace's first lesson in mowing the lawn

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3…2…1….Go!

On January 2, 2012 - Uncategorized

Our holiday is coming to an end and tomorrow I am back at work…..I am ready…..I think I am ready…..I think I am ready?

Right now it feels a bit daunting to be returning, but I know that just means I have to lean into it, to push against that wall.

I am looking forward to the year. It is going to be exciting and challenging, and I am going to have to remain calm and keep my wits about me to stay on top of everything. It is going to be a year of great results – both in my business and personally.

I hope that you all can feel the energy of doing something both challenging and exciting in the year ahead.

3…2…1….Go!

One piggie, Two piggie, Three piggies

On January 1, 2012 - Uncategorized

While Grace was bathing she started doing a little bop and saying, "Barnee."

I said, "Barney?"
"No."
"Brownie?" (she helped Donné make some today)
"No."
Pause….while bopping and "Barnee" continue…
"Okay Grace, I'm going to stop guessing and just listen."

Soon afterwards she raised three fingers and said, "Three piggies." Pointing first to her index finger, "One in hay," then to her middle finger, "One in barn," and finally to her ring finger, "One in treee!"

I asked Donné if that was were the three pigs were in the Dora episode, and yes, it was. And they do a dance, which explains the bopping. And "Barnee" was barn. She then ran through the sequence over and over, enjoying it so much, "One in hay, one in barn, one in treeee!"

Her language and her ability to explain herself has taken a leap over the past few weeks, it is absolutely amazing. I so enjoy her ability to speak…and these days she does plenty of speaking 🙂 Love it.

Happy New Year peeps

On December 31, 2011 - Uncategorized

May 2012 be a year filled with love. Yes, the love which you receive, but more than that, may it be a year in which you are able to pour out your love, to give your love to the people around you and to the world.

Lots of love from the three of us,
Duncan, Donné and Grace