Every Day is April Fool's Day with a 2 Year Old

Hey there bunny!

Your dad & I talked about it this morning and we're changing your nickname.  We always call you monkey because you climb over everything.  You were climbing out of your crib by 11 months!  Well you jump a lot these days.  A LOT.  This morning I made the bed, turned around & it was disheveled.  Gracie!  I said, rolling my eyes.  When you jump, you either say "jump jump jump" with every bounce or my favorite "up down" "up down" "up down" every time.  We've decided maybe you're more of a bunny than a monkey.

You're a snuggle bunny, making daddy hold you while you insist on holding
cookie monster, baby, big bird and pinky bear!

We've also been talking about your language skills lately.  Your speech therapist agreed this week that you're better at language than you test at initially.  Specifically, you understand more than it seems.  You're a tricky girl!  We first noticed it when I said some not nice things to you in a plain tone.  I was frustrated & let myself vent for a minute because you'd never understand what I was saying anyway.  I was wrong!  Wrong to say mean things but also wrong because you understood me.  My tone was pleasant but my words gave away my frustration.  You started sobbing immediately.  Your dad & I were both in shock.  I hugged you and told you I was very sorry & that you were a very good girl & thank goodness you forgave me.

Maybe you started saying momma
because I always wear all the
hats you give me?

You do have trouble understanding things at times but it's not nearly as bad as they made it out to be.  Thank God for that!!  Your language is coming along slow & steady.  The other day you were on the phone with grandma and grandpa.  By the way, they are the most patient phone buddies on earth.  They talk to you for 10-15 minutes while you say nothing.  That is love, Grace and boy do they love you.  This week Grandpa said "Grace, are you not gonna talk to me?" and you shook your head no with a big smile.  Yeah, you understood what he asked.

YOU SAID MOMMA!!!!!!!  You now say momma regularly.  You say it with a French accent, much like you say the word jump (shump!) and it's the cutest thing ever to hear "mum-MA."  You already use it mostly to manipulate me, like saying mum-MA when you want me to get you another cookie (it's a good strategy that works 90% of the time).

You say words like car, dog, up, etc. to name things more and more.  No new words in the last week but that's okay because you've been working on consistently saying the words you know.  You're also trying to communicate a lot more.  You climb up on my lap & here's how the conversation goes:
You:  Mumma!

You're also trying out new faces all the time!

Me:  Good!  Yes, Gracie?
You:  Uh Oh
Me:  Uh oh
You:  Dada
Me:  Dada!  Good!
You:  Wow!
Me:  Wow!
You:  No no!
Me:  No No--what no no?
Yep, that's how the conversation goes.  You sit on my lap thinking of any words you can.  I generally repeat them.  Eventually you run out of words & then get a disappointed look on your face.  I try to encourage you but you tend to slide out of my lap and walk away, getting interested in something else pretty quickly.

You're getting a little bossy but we roll with it.  After all, you're an only child and we live to cater to you.  :)  Ok, that's just what you think but we let you boss us on the little things.

Daddy lets you be his stylist.
You tell him "hat!" and he puts in on
diligently, even lining the bow on the front up.

You bossed me at the children's museum.  I asked if I could draw too, and you promptly said "No!"
When I tried to draw on my own paper, you took my crayon away and said "No No!"

We're loving all your talking Grace!  It's letting you show your personality even more, as if faces like this one didn't tell us you were a bit of a character!

In addition to peeing on the carpet a few times this week, breaking a water & glitter filled baton open and getting glitter all over, and drinking from a bottle of pancake syrup while wearing a lot of it too, you also played a little prank on your daddy while he was cooking this week.  That's dry oatmeal.  I came in the kitchen to find you throwing it in the air like you were making it rain.  "Where is your daddy?" I asked, looking at your daddy standing not 2 feet from you & oblivious to your mess.  "He's cookin!" he said with a smile.  Ah, two year olds.  You're lucky you're cute!  Your daddy is lucky he's cute, too!

Brazilian Feijoada

Grace,

You're always helping me in the kitchen.  Always.  We attempted this Brazilian Feijoada (pronounced fay-ZWAH-da) last week.  I love your style.  When we were browning the first of the meats, the fat was jumping in the pan.  Not one to like grease splatters, you came up with a fashionable solution:  your winter coat!

Stirring the pork shoulder from a distance where it's "safe."

Getting right in there and working hard!

Working on your spoon skills with the pork shoulder.

Cutting an onion with a butter knife on your cutting board while I work on my own.

The focus and concentration!

Still working hard on your onion while the beef short ribs sear.

You insisted on trying the sharp knife!

Back to work on your own onion & butter knife but you insisted on using my cutting board.

Washing dishes while I keep cooking.

There are two ingredients mommy won't touch with her bare hands:  turkey necks & smoked pigs feet!

See how nice I plated your meal?

All that work and you only ate your rice!  Never touched the rest.

     You thought the rice was delicious.  We loved the whole meal but I should have known your love of rice would keep you from even attempting to eat anything else on your plate.  That's okay.  We'll make it again & you can try it then.  Thanks for all the help!

Fast Trip to Ohio

Grace,

This past weekend we did our first fast trip to Ohio meaning we left Friday night after your daddy got off of work & came back right after lunch on Sunday.  You did better on the drive to Ohio than your dad did (when we got stuck in downtown Chicago he wasn't happy) and you were great on the way back, too.  Thank you for that from the bottom of our hearts!

We were in town for a baby shower.  As always, we try to dress you cute for these things so that if your behavior leaves anything to be desired, people can at least focus on how cute you were!  It was fun because your Aunt Emily, Aunt Amber & Grandma came with us and any time all of us ladies can get together it's a great day.

You behaved well overall, starting out shy.  Then the momma to be started opening presents & you know what? There were TOYS in those presents.  Language disorder or no language disorder, you knew you shouldn't go up and take them.  So instead you tried to sneak closer.

And closer.

Yeah, we were on to you!

You had two favorite moments at that shower.  The cake and the other kids.  Toward the end of the shower, you'd warmed up to them & ran in circles around a table.  It appeared you thought someone was chasing you & you laughed and laughed as you ran around the table.  It wore you out!

The rest of your weekend was pretty low key.  Mommy had a lot of running around to you but you took time to lay on your "daddy chair."  At least that's what he calls it when you lounge around on him.

You loved grandpa's slate chalkboard, too.

You had fun with grandma.  By the way, your grandma has a lot of sass in her (as you've probably noticed).  Your daddy smiled after we left and said he was so glad your grandma has her attitude and is such a close part of your life.  He said your grandma Lee was a lot like your grandma.  We both wish you could have known her too, baby girl.  Your daddy finds comfort knowing you get to know this grandma.  She's full of personality, so was your grandma Lee, so is your momma and so are you!  It's a long line of strong women with a quick wit and fun sense of humor.

There's another woman in this line of strong women from whom you should admire Grace:  your great great aunt Sue.  We are so grateful that she's in our lives and that you're getting to know her, too, Grace.  She always makes your daddy laugh and this time when she saw you, she said you look more like your daddy every day.  He always hears how much you look like me and I saw him smile just a little brighter at the comparison to him!

You're one of us Grace & we'll always be a part of you.

We ate lunch on Sunday at the Chinese restaurant your daddy loves there in Bryan.  You attacked your rice with such gusto that one of the cooks came out from the back & laughed when he saw how much you loved it.

After lunch, it was time to go & you gave each of your grandparents a kiss.  Oh, you are such a sweet, sweet girl.  

We asked you if you were ready to go bye bye & you yelled out NO!  You cried when we left but don't worry.  We're seeing them again in just two weeks.  

Hey Good Lookin'!

What'cha got cookin'?

 This morning we made spaghetti sauce for dinner tonight.  You are such a good helper!  Our kitchen here in this apartment is the tiniest galley kitchen but that's okay for now.  It's easier to keep you close by.  Great job with the saute action--those onions & peppers didn't know what hit 'em!

Yes, your daddy has us buying grass fed beef--you're lucky little girl.  Your grandmother would never pay $6.69 for this package of ground beef but your daddy would!  He's done his research and has declared it better for you.

We've started looking at other apartments in case we get to stay here in Milwaukee.  There are thousands & we're trying to find the right combination of luxury, square footage & affordability.  We loved one right downtown and you should have seen the kitchen!  Girl, if we move there this fall you will have so much space to cook!  Your mommy is excited by the potential for cupboard space again.

We're taking our time and trying to decide between several areas.  The downtown one was beautiful--just two blocks walk to a park in any direction, two blocks to the post office, one block to a great grocery store, two blocks to another one, and only 5 blocks to get to all the museums--children's museum, the aquarium, the art museum & the public museum.

We're looking in the suburbs two weeks from now.  There's so much to chose from but you're our #1 priority:  what's in it for Grace? we ask all the time.


The kitchens in all of them are fantastic--I know that's one of your top priorities so don't worry baby, I've got your back on that one!  A girl's gotta get her cookin' on!

Mornings Can Be a Little Hairy Around Here

Oh Gracie!  Your poor husband to be!  This is how you wake up in the mornings.

                                                                 At least you're happy!

                                                              Does my hair look okay?

                                           Yes, I will show every future boyfriend this picture!

                               You seem to be thinking, "I wish my mom would brush my hair already!"

                                                 It doesn't look too bad from this angle!

                                     Oh dear, this angle tells it all.  I love you Grace--and your bed head!

We're All Learning Here

Grace,

This weekend we hit the ground running with our language boot camp of sorts.  We try & seize every teachable moment to work on language.  That meant practicing the words hands & water while you took a bath, practicing naming body parts while we tickle you ("I'm going to tickle your....leg!  arm!," etc.), later using a sticker ("I'm going to put this sticker on your belly!  hand!  nose!"), etc.

When we went to the Children's Museum on Saturday we'd normally let you play however you wanted.  This time, we were right there beside you, holding toys next to our mouths as we said them so you would look at how we said words.  We used sign language liberally, even though I think your daddy might have been a little comfortable in public at first.  You explored the new areas they recently changed but when you found the train set, you had to play with it before we left.

All morning, all day we worked on language.  You didn't say any actual words, just babbled and we felt discouraged.....until about 4:00.  You pointed and said "belly" the best you could.  You named a body part other than eye or nose!  Victory is ours!

Last night, you grabbed your snowsuit out of the closet at 8:45 p.m. and said, "Side?  Side" for outside.  Now, do you think your daddy could tell you no for even one moment?  Nope. He bundled you up and out you two went. This morning first thing, you got that snowsuit back out of the closet & brought it to him.  We made you eat breakfast first, but then you two were out there.  Here's the hard part about you not talking and being so tough.  When you came back in I got you ready to take your bath & saw it.  Your one boot is too tight & cut off your circulation on your leg so badly there was a circular bruise 2/3 around it and it was swollen.  Your daddy felt so bad!  He said you'd limped for a minute or two but he'd asked if you were okay & you acted fine after that.  Don't worry baby, we won't put you in them again!

Today you've been busy talking.  We went out to lunch at this great pub downtown.  The name Karma should have warned us that trouble may be afoot but we like to try new foods.  As soon as we sat down, you got out of the booth & grabbed my hand.  We knew from experience that this was your way of telling us it was potty time.  Then you were amazing--you said "Go!"  We hugged you with joy at this new word & the fact that you were actually signaling us in a verbal way for something.  You said "Go! Go!" again only more urgently and we were like "oh yeah!" and I rushed you down the stairs to the restroom.  You went and then we did your favorite activity--washing your hands.  Going back up the stairs to the main restaurant I could tell you thought you were such a big girl, you laughed with each climb of their really big steps.

When we sat back down to order you looked at me and said "Go!" again.  We praised you for speaking but ignored your request.  Honestly, I just thought you wanted to go play in the water.  We ordered our burgers & when they came we thought they were the best burgers ever. Meanwhile, you didn't eat but played under our table instead.  As we paid the check, you finally came out from under the table and then we smelled you.  You weren't that close but we knew there was trouble.  I ran you down to the bathroom and when we were close you did this waddle that looked like you just spent 9 days riding a horse.  It was the "get this sticky poo off me" shuffle.  You're potty trained so you had panties on and we didn't bring spare anything.  After 20 min of getting tar like poo off your rear & legs, we finally started climbing the steps back upstairs.  You were feeling much better evidently, in great spirits & shrieking with joy as you jumped up on each step.  When we were close enough, I ran ahead to our booth, grabbed your daddy's coat & wrapped you in it to hide the fact that you were now pants-less.  Your pants were in my hand but I don't think those panties could be saved--we left them in the trash there so now I'm not sure if we can ever go back.  We've learned though.  When Grace talks, we need to listen!

At the grocery store tonight, you were a total rock star!  You saw popcorn in a bag, pointed and said "popcorn", corn in the freezer & said "corn," & saw pizza and said "za!".  Cutest of all, you sat nicely in the cart & as I handed things to you, you tossed them behind you into the basket section of the cart, then we'd high five.  Gosh, I love you so much.  You're just too cute.  So cute I had to buy these Oreo cookies to share with you.  During pregnancy I ate so much of only two foods that we know you're half Oreo cookie & half KFC.  Sorry for the poor nutrition baby, but mommy was really sick for the first 7 months so she ate what stayed down.

Want to know the best best best thing you did today????  In the car on the way to the grocery, you focused so hard and said "mmmmmmommma"  "mommmmmmma" "moooooommmmma."  You didn't mean it yet but you were practicing & when I praised you and said "That's it baby!  That's my name!  I'm momma!"  You smiled at me with this huge grin that clearly said "Don't you worry momma....I'm gonna get this."

First You Cry

Grace,

You are a beautiful little girl.  Your strawberry blonde hair has these adorable ringlets of curls that warm my heart every time they bounce.  You are smart, problem solving all the time & getting yourself in trouble for doing it, too.  Not too much trouble though--you're too cute to actually get in real trouble.

You sat up at 5 months.  You crawled at six months.  You walked at 7 1/2 months.  Your first word, Mom (thank you for that one!), was at 9 months.  Then you stopped.  Well, it wasn't that you stopped, more like slowed to a verbal crawl.

Your momma is a school psychologist & she knows child development.  She knew an explosion of language development was just around the corner.  And then there was another word here, another word there.  Months went by and you didn't say mom again.  You didn't say the other words again either.  I worried.

At 18 months we were playing at the park and another girl a little younger than you was talking like crazy.  You only said 3 words regularly.  She was scared to go down the slide though.  I beamed with pride at you going down the slide screaming whee! as you went.  Inside, I worried.

Friends and family began commenting "She'd talk if you made her talk."  "She doesn't talk because she doesn't have to."  They gave examples of how other children your age were given time outs for a certain type of behavior or for not listening.  We grimaced & defended you.  "She doesn't understand." I'd say.  Most just looked at us like we were too "soft," not realizing that judging our parenting skills wasn't helping.

Your second birthday marked the end of a very long year-long wait for me.  That's a very long time for a mother to worry!  At your two year check up, I began to cry as I tried to outline my concerns.  Your vocabulary was 15 words.  You have said many words but we don't hear them again.  It's like your language disappears.  They handed me a referral slip with a number to call.

Your first speech evaluation was in January and it was hard for me.  As I answered questions, I worried:  No you didn't call for me, no you didn't show an interest in language, no you didn't like reading books with us but yes we tried every day, no you didn't use action words.  Your vocabulary was 18-25 words.  You scored so low on the test that it couldn't be scored.  I cried as we talked about speech therapy options.

Today was your final speech evaluation & you will start speech therapy soon.  I think today was the hardest day because today we found out exactly where things stand.  You understand speech at an 11 month level.  You speak at a 12 month level.  What's "really alarming" to the speech therapist is that your understanding of language is lower than your speaking skills, which is very rare.  The more we talked I realized--you didn't come for a bath because you didn't know what we were saying.  You get upset when we leave somewhere or stop an activity because you don't understand phrases like "almost done" or "one more minute."  You cry because to you it's all very sudden, without warning.  You didn't come to eat until we put your plate on the table because you don't know what "it's time to eat" means.  That one hit me the hardest.  I tell you it's time to eat three times a day but you don't know what I'm saying.

You are a visual & hands on learner.  You are incredibly independent.  If you want a fork instead of a spoon to eat with you just go get it.  When you have to go to the bathroom, you just go on your own.  You practically potty trained yourself.  You are a visual & hands on learner not to the detriment but to the exclusion of auditory learning.  Your very strengths keep you from learning language.

As soon as the evaluators left today, I burst into tears.  Sometimes that's how it is Grace, first you cry.  I cried because we've already worked so hard every day to try and build your skills.  I cried because you're as tall as a three year old but have the language skills of a one year old.  Wherever we go, even some family members judge you already.  They expect you to behave like your height.  People can think we're bad parents Grace & that's why you can't talk or why you don't follow directions, that's not the part that scares me.  I don't want people to think that you are stupid.  That is my heart's biggest fear for you because yes, people judge two year olds sometimes harsher than they judge adults.  You are so smart it scares us at times when you demonstrate your crazy problem solving skills but you don't speak the language so it can be hard for people to see.  Your level of independence alone tells us you were made for great things.

Some people (not professionals) have suggested you need more time with kids your age.  What they don't know is kids your age don't want to play with you because you can't talk.  They don't know how to respond to your jargon/babble and they walk away.  My heart breaks when this happens to you because you don't understand.

Some day you will be able to say Mom again.  Some day you will be able to tell me you love me, hate me, wish I was a better mother--these days I'd take anything.  lol  Some day when we go to the doctor you can tell her what is wrong--if your throat hurts or tummy hurts--but for now we'll do our best to interpret your tears.  Some day we will do a ton of crafts because you'll understand what we're making and the directions I'm giving you.  For now, cooking is your passion & you help us every night.  As long as you have visual cues, you're awesome.  I don't know a lot of other kids that can cut vegetables at this age (you were 18 mo old in this picture). :)

Today is the day I really let myself cry.  Tomorrow your daddy & I will start taking pictures and using them to make visual schedules and prompts for you for everything.  There is no doubt in anyone's mind that you will learn to talk.  We'll get there but it will possibly take a few years.  God gave you this school psychologist mommy because she knows all about disabilities, all about intervention, and all about how to love with a loyalty so fierce she'll take on anyone who dares to question your intelligence.  God gave you to your daddy because he has the patience of Job, the stubbornness to see any challenge through, and the ability to get us all laughing like no one else.  God gave you to us because He wanted to bless us in the best way imaginable.  It is truly by God's grace that you were given to us and that is why we could think of no better name for you.

I can only imagine the lessons this will teach us but for now, one step at a time.  First I'll have a good cry but tomorrow, we have work to do!