Where's Graci

Graci is truly the most investigative and exploratory child of my 3. She is always into something. Whether it be pulling all the dvds out of their cases, getting all the pots and pans out of the cabinet, climbing up the bakers rack, eating crayons, chewing on bows and barbies, playing in the potty and so on. She is just into everything. I know this is very normal for a 1 year old, but she just seems worse to me than the others were. She is so funny though. After Bible Study the other day (we had it my house), I couldn't find Graci. I was calling her name and I heard her, but she wasn't playing in her room or in the den. Finally I saw someone had left the bathroom door open and she had climbed IN the bathtub and was playing with her toys (soaking wet) and laughing about it. I'm glad she didn't hit her head when she climbed in, but it was really funny. She was so proud of herself. Of course, I had to take pictures when I found her....

Birthday Pictures

Here is a picture of my birthday girl that I hadn't loaded when I posted the other night. She is such a mess!!!!












And here is a picture of the sisters...

Pay Pay is 3!!!!

My middle baby turned 3 today!!! I can't believe it. My pregancy with her was my hardest of the 3 (most of you know and remember that). I had a blood clotting disorder so I had to do heparin shots in my belly twice a day during my last 2 trimesters - not fun :( but so worth it :)

Our verse for precious Payton was : I Samuel 1:27 I prayed for this child and the Lord has granted me what I asked of him. We were so worried during the last trimester because of all the tests I was having done and just to make sure she kept moving. But God was there for us, through it all. Payton was born 3 weeks early weighing 6 lbs 9 oz.... healthy and beautiful! Now she is 3 and close to 33 or 34 pounds. Time flies!

We had her birthday party today. She was so cute and so excited all day. She kept singing "Happy Birthday to PayPay" and acting like she was blowing out her candles. Her party was at pump it up with family and a few of her close friends she wanted to ask. We had a blast! Will upload the pictures tomorrow to share those. She got so many cute things and fun things. We played with everything all afternoon. Her sweet cousin Caitlin gave her a baby doll that goes in the bathtub and it floats.... so yes, we had to take a bath tonight and she and Graci had a blast with the new baby (she hasn't named that one yet). Nana & Paw gave her a new Cinderella book that has flip up pages that is a collectors book and really is amazing (the author creates one of these books a year - I'll try to post a pic to see it) and a cool Littlest Pet shop kit!!! Nana Reed and Papa gave her a new baby doll and she has already named her Callie (all on her own) and she is already being well loved and toted around. We gave her a new Princess bike that she was wanting and her Uncle Shane & Aunt Jen gave her the helmet that goes with it. Clothes, toys, books, art supplies, and so many other things I can't remember right now, but we had a great day all in all.

My precious little PayPay is one year older and she will proudly tell you that she is 3 and that she is the "happy birthday girl".... We love you Payton!!!

Meet Info..

For those of you wanting the information on the meet in March..
March 7, 8, 9 - not sure which day or time yet and we won't know until a couple of weeks before then but I will post it as soon as I know. She will only be on one day for a few hours.

Bragging on Emi

Well, before I brag I need to just write a little. There are days when I wonder if she really is 4 or if she is actually already into her teenage years and just trapped in her cute little body. She is so mature in so many ways and then in other ways, she is right on target for the sassy 4 year old she is. Here's an example:

The scene: Emi has been carrying Graci around and Graci is now aggravated and tired of her and wants me to "rescue" her from her sisters.

Me: Emi please hand me her lamb (lovey)

Emi: I told you if you put her down I will give her lamb to her
Me: Emi, I am not making a deal with you. Hand me her lamb please so she will quit crying

Emi: (now with hands on her hips) I will give it to her when you put her down

Me: Emi go to your room and I will be in there in a minute to talk with you

Emi: I don't have to go to my room because I didn't do anything wrong. You are the one that won't put Graci down so I can give her lamb to her

UGH!!!!! Well, needless to say, it didn't end well for my precious 4 year old.

Then I can turn around and she will be reading books to Graci and helping PayPay pick out her clothes and get them on and cleaning up the blocks and books and just being a great helper. Then I can turn back around and she is hitting Payton or picking up Graci again and making everyone scream (including her mommy).

Boy do I love her though!!!! I can't believe that my first baby is already 4 1/2 years old. She is such a little mini-mom. She has grown up so fast it is absolutely amazing.

Onto my bragging now...

Most of you know that Emi has been blessed with gymnastics talent that only God could give to her. She really is amazing. She is on a team at her gym with 5 & 6 year olds (she's the only one that is 4) and the team name is the Hot Shots. For the longest time she would tell people she was on the Hopscotch team :) Here is the picture of her new leotard for her team...

Anyway, she is going to be competing in a gymnastics meet in March!!!!!! This is so exciting for me. I did Gymnastics growing up so I love seeing her with a love for it too. She is practicing 2 days a week now for 1 1/2 hours so that is not too fun with Payton and Graci when they have to go but it's worth the sacrifice. She is doing her back hip circle on the bar with no help and it really is close to perfect. She has been learning her floor routine and she does it constantly at the house to get it "good" as she says. Her head stands and hand stands, splits, back bends, cartwheels, roundoffs, forward and backward rolls ... she is doing so good. I hate to sound prideful, but I am proud of her and I want to brag on her. I love seeing determination in a 4 year old and seeing it produce such great things. She is "strong as wood" as she will tell you so... I just tell her she is solid muscle.... she can definitely hold her own.

Here are some pics of her headstand, handstand and middle splits...

All this to say, even on the days when I want to knock her cute little sassy self into next week, she is mine and I am proud of her.