Last night as we sat at the dinner table, I just sat back and watched my family interacting with one another, smiling, laughing, just enjoying time together. My Angel is growing so fast right before our eyes. He had baseball practice yesterday afternoon and was still over-stimulated by the fun he had. His eyes lit up like a bonfire when Larry told him that he did the best job out on the field that day. He leaped off his chair to his feet and said, "Really, Daddy? I did?" Larry told him he did a good job and Angel sat back down, smiling, and then continued to get his grub on (Anyone who has had the experience of watching Angel eat will tell you it is quite a sight. He inhales food!) Alliah just amazes me. She can be so caring and say the darndest things. She also can be a little stinker, but today she chose to be a sweetheart. After Larry complimented Angel, Alliah said, "Yeah, I'm proud of you, too, brother" and knodded her head in a "matter-of-fact" kind of way. Miss Grace just sat completely content in her bouncer on the floor between Larry and Alliah. She didn't cry or make the whiney noises she's discovered she can make now. She just smiled away, playing with the toys that hang from the bouncer. Later in the evening, Larry asked the kids to bring down their homework so he could check it. Yes, you read it right. Larry is the homework checker - and to him I am eternally grateful! Alliah breezes through homework and wants to do more! Unfortunately, Angel guessed at half his answers and had to do them all over again. It wasn't a pretty sight. Larry was upset and Angel was crying. Needless to say, me, Alliah and Grace left the dining room and let Dad and Angel get down to business. It took them quite a while for Angel to understand his work so Alliah had to go upstairs to bed without him. About a 1/2 hour later, Angel went on up to bed. We stayed up to watch the 10 o'clock news. After getting Grace to bed I always make sure Angel and Alliah are covered and comfortable for the night. When I walked into Angel's room, I stepped on a box of candy, taped to a piece of paper. Alliah had written Angel a note. This is what it said: "Dear Angel, I was crying for you as I walked up the stairs because you were sad. Tomorrow we can play anything you want. I just wanted to let you know that I love you. Your sister, Alliah." Then she drew hearts all over with smiley faces inside. My heart melted!! We'd been experiencing some bumps in the road with the kids lately so I'm so glad that I got to peek into my daughter's heart and see that it is still made of gold. I'm grateful for my loving husband, my sensitive son, my caring daughter, and my precious baby girl. Thank you, Jesus!
It was on her 4 month birthday that Grace decided she was going to hold her head up and shout to the world! She is quite the talker now. She still can't stay on "tummy time" for very long, but she's doing better. When she's done on the tum-tum she yells out and I mean yells. She doesn't cry, but yells! It almost sounds like she says, "Ay! Ay!" We crack up!
It was also on Gracie's four month birthday (as we lovingly call it) that she discovered her FEET! Oh she laughs when she sees them! Everyday at about noon I lay her down in her crib for a rest. She used to watch the little mobile that we got for her, but not anymore. She has all the entertainment she needs right built in. She tried to get her feet to her mouth, but because she's so chunky it's hard for her to do it!
At Grace's last doctor's appointment she weighed 14lb 12oz and was 25 inches long! I'm raising a GIANT! :D That's okay...that just means that no one will mess with her when she gets older.
Each day we are falling more and more in love with this precious gift. Angel and Alliah laugh so hard when they see Grace play with her feet. They are as amazed as we are of how much she is discovering and learning already. I got a feeling that this little one is going to be quite the character. Sweet and full of life.
