Julia's Grace

As some of you may know, I may have mentioned it once or twice- ha ha, I belong to Toddlers Board. It started out as a great place to get tips on how to get Madeline to nap, or ideas for dinners, or to ask if we should rent this movie or that movie. Very quickly it turned into something more than that. It is a diverse group of women from all over the country- some outspoken, some conservative, but many of us have become very close. We share in each others joys and heartaches, laugh at stories about toddlers( and now a lot of infants again) and talk about mundane stuff ( and some stuff that I'm just not willing to put on my blog- its not dirty, just gross). Some of these women I have 'known' since planning my wedding back in 2003/4. Greg will make fun of me for checking ' my board' so often, but I really look at it like I'm talking to friends. That I have never met in real life. I know it sounds funny, but its the truth.

I don't want to betray confidences, but our topics have ranged from sos and so's mothers' cancer to work vents to politics to religion to movies to books to just about anything. But obviously our main connecting thread is our children. And thats why this week has been a tough one, to say the least. One of our members gave birth at less than 24 weeks gestation to a beautiful little girl, Julia Grace. If you'd like to read her story, click on this link http://www.caringbridge.org/cb/viewMyStory.do?method=executeInit
( I'm sorry I can't make it fancy. Stupid Vista)
Everyday , we'd hear about what fighter Julia was, defying odds, gaining weight like a champ, and there was even talk about her coming home. Heartbreakingly, unexpectedly and just not fairedly, Julia lost her battle this week, 1 week after her original due date. It came as such a complete shock. I have been at a loss for comforting words for her family, her mother whose strength seems super human. I feel like the only thing I could do is give a big hug or a shoulder to cry on, but she is halfway across the country. And it just wouldn't feel like enough.
This is where my girls stepped in though. Within 24 hours, there a March of Dimes Team created for Julia- Julia's grace, t -shirts being made and money being pledged. Even some of the young children offered their easter egg money . The goal is $5000, but it wouldn't surprise me one bit if we surpassed it. Unfortunately I will not be able to do the walk that is near me, but I will pledge money. ( If you are interested in finding out more about Julia's Grace March of Dimes walk, click here. Again, nothing fancy, just click)
http://www.marchforbabies.org/s_team_page.asp?SeId=516603&si=

This beautiful, strong girl will not be forgotten. She was only here for a short time, but she touched so many lives. A cliche has never been more true.

My Big Girl

Yesterday, I took Madeline to the bookstore for storytime. As expected, she did not sit still for the story-choosing instead to play with the train table and stuffed animals. She did walk right in front of the story teller to make the ladybug stuffed animal clap his hands-er... wings?- and say " yay!" after they had completed a song. When it was time to go , I was prepared for a Grade A Madeline Tantrum- kicking, screaming, what I call 'Dorf'-ing ( remember those commercials for "Dorf Golfs", with Tim Conway playing a little person byt kneeling on his knees? Sometimes Maddie will go limp and drop to her knees. I call it 'Dorfing'. Its standard fare for a tantrum)... but she was SO GOOD. I asked her to put the stuffed animals away... and she did, without crying, without running back to them, without screaming. She put them back and said " bye bye, An-muls". And that was IT.

Then I took her to Trader Joes. I was going to be in and out because I just needed one thing. I told her if she would hold my hand and stay close, she didn't have to go inthe cart. As we passed a cart, I thought better of it and went to get one." No Mommy, I walk" she told me. Not whining, but matter of fact , like " Don't worry mommy, I'll be good, we don't need a cart" and she was , once again, so GOOD. Held my hand, never wandered off, stayed by my side.

I know it seems like a small thing, but I was so impressed with her yesterday. She's getting so verbal . We're able to carry on conversations- I think that has greatly reduced her frustrations...

Whatever it is, I'm more in love with her than ever.

Easter and Some Maddie Happenings

Less than 10 feet away sits Maddie's baby book. And right next to it is a journal I've kept for her since I found out I was pregnant. Neither has been updated in quite some time. I always mean to. And I always say to myself " Ok, at 23 months she started[fill in the blank] I'll remember that" . But the truth is I rarely get around to updating it. Thats why every once in a while I'll post Maddie stats or Maddie Happenings...like I'm about to do here.







It is very interesting when your child starts speaking a lot because you get to hear what you sound like. She's forever imitating Greg and I . All day today she was saying " Hi schveed-ee "('hi, sweetie') which I must say to her a lot. She's had some class of word explosion, stringing together 4 or 5 words , and I can seriously hold a conversation with her. It happened overnight ! I ask her about her day and she tells me that we went to the library, or she she went down the slide, or that Daddy was home.







I am also amazed at what I deem to be her artistic ability. She tries to make an "m" , and I may be crazy, but I think she's actually done it a few times. She also makes a circle that resembles an actual circle. She knows all her colors and shapes. Her scribbles are tiny and deliberate. My father is a good artist, possibly she inherited that from him ? Who knows, but its pretty cool to watch.







As far as physical stats, she's heavy and likes to be carried. Thats all I know- ha ha! She's probably about 33 lbs and seems taller everyday. She's getting a lot better at holding my hand and staying next to me in public places, which is good b/c she'll only stay in the stroller for about -oh -3 minutes.











And now... Easter.

Bubbles in bed while you open your basket....

Easter was really nice. Maddie enjoyed the easter egg hunt... but seemed a little disappointed in what we put inside.

" Goldfish? I get those everyday. I thought I was supposed to get chocolate?"

Poor girl, we put raisins in another egg.

Easter breakfast - Bunny Choclate Chip Pancakes ! ( Almost makes up for the raisins in aforementioned egg)

And one of my most favorite pictures of Madeline and Samntha. I am loving the way they are looking at each other. Here is Miss Emma trying to tickle maddie, despite what it may look like ...It was a very nice day, depsite the cold and the kids really wanting to go outside in the cold. Easter is in April next year, thankfully!

Random Stuff

- I sliced my middle finger this morning with a knife. Right on the tip, you know, where no bad aid will ever stay? I'm headed out to buy those liquid bandaids when the Cat gets up

- Madeline has become increasingly picky about food. There are about 3 things she will eat now. My old standbys( rice and tofu, which she loved, Squash and pasta ~all so easy to make) are just not cutting it anymore.

-Greg and Steve's birthday was this past Sunday, so we had them over for cake. Maddie was so happy to see her cousins, Samantha and Emma. They ran around screamed, played and screamed some more. You'd think she'd be exhausted by the end of that day,huh? Nope, she was in her crib for about an hour saying" Sammy ....Emma....ahhhhhhhhhhh!"

-This Sunday was also daylight savings time. Its always a brain twister for me to try and figure out 'well, Ok, we lose an hour of sleep, no, we wake up earlier, but its really five instead of six???". Before I had a child, it was no biggie. Its huge when you have a child, especially one that wakes up early. So I only had her nap for a short period that day, hoping she'd go to sleep earlier... yeah that didn't work. Today is Thursday and I think she just got the time difference down last night*knock on wood*

- The plus side of daylight savings? I love being able to take madeline out in the backyard after dinner. Love it. Its not so cold anymore, we can get away with bundling up a bit and heading out. She loves it.

"Cubba Dis?"-I hear these words all day long as Madeline points to various things in the house ( She means "what color is this?" , for those that don't speak TwoYearOld-ese.) Apparently, I say this to her a lot *shrug*

- I took her to a new playgroup this morning at our local church. It was nice, but I got the feeling they really discourage running around when its supposed to be circle time. All the other kids sit and sing songs. Maddie wants to run around. I got a few looks , but she's TWO. What do they expect? Nevertheless, I talked to some really nice people, so we'll give it another shot.

-I had a really bad toothache last week, went to an emergency dentist appointment. Guess what it was? No really guess, b/c they didn't know either. So I have to go to the oral surgeon on Saturday. Figures my tooth hasn't hurt since then. Doesn't that always happen? its like on the day you go to get a haircut, that day your hair looks perfect. I'll go to the appointment anyway b/c i want to know whats going on in there. I need to get on the dental ball, you know?

- Speakign of haircuts, I'm gettign mine cut next week. I am 90% leaning towards getting a short cut. My idea of short is different from most people's- I'm talking like shoudler length, just past shoulder length. So I'm off to comb through some mags to come up with some ideas. I am so over long hair. It always ends up in a ponytail anyway.