The Bum Scoot and a Haircut

I tried to get this post up almost two weeks ago, but couldn't get the video to load. Better late than never!
My dad has given Charlie a new nickname...Scooter. This is why:


He's not crawling yet, and now that he's got this new move, I'm not sure he ever will. We call it the bum scoot. He is totally mobile and quickly learning that with this new freedom, he can explore places he's never been. In fact, a few moments after I shot the video, he found his way here:
Apparently he has a strange love of wine bottles developing. In runs in the family.

In other Walters Family news, check this out:

That's hair. Grace's hair. A LOT of Grace's hair. I found it in her crayon bin. (That is a normal 8.5x11 piece of paper in the picture.)

Did I mention she's going to be the flower girl in her Uncle Ryan's wedding in a little over a month?

It's actually not that bad. She basically gave herself some really funky layers on one side of her head. I'm still not quite sure what to do about it. (Other than take her scissors away, which happened immediately.)

If you see her, try not to say anything about it. We're trying to discourage her from trying it again. Somehow I think that's not likely, but we can try! =)

Sleepy Conversations

I should start this post out with a little history. All my life I've been an active talker in my sleep. My dreams often spill out into awake time. There was the instance when I was a little girl that I woke my parents up holding on tightly to a rolled up piece of blanket sure there was a snake hidden inside. Then in college my roommate woke up to find me walking around our dorm room picking up clothes because "the boys are coming over". On our honeymoon, I woke Jeff up in the middle of the night to ask him if he had walked the dog. We didn't even own a dog at the time. The stories could go on and on. I'm always good entertainment at a sleepover!



Its starting to look like I've passed this trait onto Grace. She often comes into our bed in the early morning to finish up her night's sleep. She has been having some funny things to say lately as she wakes up. Last week she awoke with, "I helped Daddy! I helped him put the top on!" When I asked her what she had helped him put the top on she said, "The Lollipop! But we couldn't find the bottom."



A few nights ago, Grace was standing at the edge of my bed in the middle of the night. I told her she needed to go back to her bad, and she replied, "See you in the MORN-ING! I just wanted to come tell you that!" Then she went back to her bed to sleep.



Yesterday she woke up crying and yelling, "Give it back! Give it back!" Jeff and I, who had both been sound asleep, were totally confused about what she wanted back. "The remote! The remote! The one you turn the channels on the TV with!" I explained to her that there was no remote in the bed, and that we don't even have a TV in the room, but she would not let it go. "I want it baaaaack!" I told her it was just a dream, but she absolutely would not believe me. At this point, Charlie woke up, so I left to get him, and by the time I got back she was sound asleep again.



This is what she looks like when she's sleeping soundly in her own bed. There's hardly room for her in there with all those dolls! Maybe that's who she's been talking to in her sleep. =)
(When I was a little girl, I slept on the floor because my dolls and stuffed animals all needed space in my bed. Like mother, like daughter, I guess!!)

Delegation

The other night, Charlie was hungry and I was trying desperately to get dinner made. What's a busy mom to do?

Delegate!

Charlie actually ate better with Grace feeding him than he usually does. It didn't all make it into his mouth, but Grace did a great job!! I love watching these two interact more and more.

Loading up on Vitamin D

We have been LOVING the sunny weather over the past week. Some days have felt just like spring! Grace asks everyday to ride her "dicycle" and Charlie loves going along in the wagon. We are so blessed to live in such a beautiful place with lots of safe places to enjoy being outside.

My Dad, the Superstar

Many of you know my dad is a shoe guy. Recently he and his company have been working on shoe lines for both Reba McIntyre and Fergie. He actually recently went shopping with Reba! Here he is rubbing shoulders with one of the superstars!

Now, you may not be a huge fan of Fergie. I wasn't either until I realized who she really is. Do you remember Kids Incorportated? (You know you raced home from school everyday to watch it right before The New Mickey Mouse Club. Please tell me that wasn't just me!!) Somewhere along the line little Stacey grew up and changed her name to Fergie. In case you don't believe me, check this out: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gb5DkLd22Ic

A Rite of Passage

As kids grow up, they hit a lot of milestones...first tooth, first step, first birthday. Yesterday, Grace hit one of those milestones.

FIRST DRINK AT STARBUCKS

(This totally moves her up into the "Little Lady" category!)

Last week, Grace figured out how to open yet another child safe lock on her bedroom door which meant keeping her in her room for nap time was next to impossible. We thought of some new solutions for making her stay in, but decided that maybe it was time for her to just do it. (Novel idea, I know!) To help her stay motivated to stay in her room for nap time, we started giving her "Self-Control Stickers". Her reward for earning 5 of them was a date with Mommy at Starbucks.

We had such a great time! Her hot cocoa was way too hot at first, and she learned that when Mommy says she should wait, it's probably a good idea to listen. Once it had cooled down and we put a straw in her cup, she sucked the whole thing down in about a minute. It was so cute to see her sitting across the table from me with her own little drink. I'm looking forward to many more Starbucks dates with my little lady!

Grace got pretty tired of her paparazzi mom taking her picture in such a public place. =)

Christmas Day

Christmas morning started early in the Walters house this year. Charlie has been teething and sleep has been difficult. He awoke at 5 am and was done for the night, so he and I got up, put the cinnamon rolls in the oven, turned on the Christmas lights and waited for Jeff and Grace. An hour or so later, Grace woke up, and the fun began....except that by then Charlie was ready for a nap. We opened stockings, ate breakfast, and then put Charlie out of his misery and let him sleep. We went ahead and let Grace open a couple of presents, which worked out great because she actually had time to play with and enjoy them instead of trying to rush through all the gifts. (Which is definitely her natural tendency!) Once Charlie was up, we finished opening presents then headed over to Grandma and Boppo's house for some time with my family. We ate lots of yummy food, opened presents, and laughed a lot. It was such a fun day!

Charlie checks out the piles of snow outside while we wait for Grace and Jeff to wake up.Time to open stockings!Charlie added A LOT of new vehicles to his toy collection this Christmas!We gave Grace a new American Girl baby doll whom she named "Mia". Within about 30 seconds of opening Mia, Grace had taken off her cute outfit and undone her perfect piggy tales. She loves putting barrettes in her hair and changing her outfit often. (Actually, she has me change the outfit often.) Her and Mia are now inseparable.

Grace snuggles with Mia and her other dolls in the Bilibo that Grammy and Bop gave her...another new favorite toy!

Grace talks about being a doctor when she grows up all the time, so we had to get her a doctor kit. Here she is giving Mia a check-up.

Charlie got his first basketball hoop.

Charlie snuggled in with Auntie Kate as he continued to recover from his early morning.

Grace loved getting to spend the afternoon with her cousin Jake.

Look at all those stockings! Our family gets bigger every year!

My dad always reads the Christmas Story from the Bible before we open presents.

Stockings!

Hmmm..Charlie sucks on a bottle of wine while sitting on the garbage sack. I'll go ahead and throw my name in there for the Mother of the Year Award! =)

Grace opened Mia's twin brother and named him Micah. (It was almost Melvin...thanks Auntie Kate for that suggestion!!) Micah has also become part of the family and can be found wherever Grace is. He, too, gets to wear lots of barrettes in his hair. Charlie took a nap break during the present opening, but woke up to lots of cuddles and a fun new push wagon!

What a great day!! Thanks Mom and Dad for all the fun gifts and special memories!