Growing Up...and Up and Up!

When I look at Bailey, I can see so much of Nick and I in her that it just amazes me. For better or worse, her attitude and demeanor come from me. When I see her being shy around new people, I know that's not from her father, I don't think Nick has ever met a stranger! If I compare baby pictures, I see a lot of resemblance between myself and her, but to look at her now and compare her to Nick and I, I see so much of Nick. Their eyes are shaped almost exactly alike, and she has his eyebrows. They make so many of the same facial expressions.

I think this photo really shows the similarities (excuse the half asleep look on both of my loves!). When Bailey does that face right there, with her eyebrows kind of drawn in, I think she looks just like her daddy!



But somewhere along the way Bailey seems to have inherited a trait that didn't come from either of us. Since birth she has been consistently in the 90th percentile for height, and that didn't change when we went to her 3 year check up either. She was 39 inches tall and 32 pounds. The doctor showed us her growth curve on her new big girl growth chart. If she were to stay on the same curve, they say she could be around 5'8"! Seriously, I'm only 5'4", she would tower over me!! Nick's 5'10", so he's not very tall himself. We'll see where she ends up stopping in the future, but I was just floored when the doctor told us that!

She did so well at her check up. They took her blood pressure and she sat there like a champ and the nurse kept bragging on well she did. While we were in with the doctor Bailey was, in true fashion, being a chatty Cathy and the doctor commented on how she could tell there were no speech problems! When it comes to the shots, I always let Nick be the one holding her, I'm just not good at that part. He had Bailey look at the animals on the wall and pick out her favorite one and talk about it. By the time she realized she was getting a shot and that it kind of hurt, it was over. She didn't shed a single tear! She was such a big girl, in so many ways.

Good Eats, Good Signing, Good Times

While Nick may not appreciate my trashy TV shows and I can't stand to watch sports, we both love watching just about any type of TV show dealing with food. One of our favorite shows to watch is Good Eats with Alton Brown. He's entertaining to watch, you always learn something and his recipes are good. We were both excited to find out he would be traveling to Lexington to do a book signing at Joseph Beth's for his new book and we were determined to go.

He did a q&a before the signing that lasted about an hour. By the time we got there all the seats were taken and the room was packed. We found a spot against the wall and squeezed in and strained to see and hear Alton. I did not enjoy this part nearly as much as I would have liked to, but it was so loud and our spot happened to be right in front of the doors where anyone coming and going needed to go. However, when I could pay attention and hear, he was very funny!

                                     

Once the book signing started they went in order of line pass letter, we were letter F. We headed over to the kids section and just sat down and read book after book to keep Bailey entertained. She did so well!! We ended up being there for about 3 1/2 hours and she only got a little whiny once, and that was during the q&a. Because she was so good she got to pick out a new Veggie Tales book...which we've read EVERY night since...that was a week ago!

Our line pass had said that no posed photography was allowed, but he said upfront that you could take pictures and that he would sign anything you wanted signed. He was very nice and personable and he made you feel like you weren't just being pushed through the line.

If you watch his show, you've probably seen the new diet he went on, and let me tell you what, he is tiny! I couldn't believe how skinny he was! And yes Danielle, I thought he looked much older in person too.

 Nick and Alton discussing their favorite bourbons.

  

Jerrill and baby Claire joined us for the q&a part. She did really well too!
 

 This was right before she finally gave up the fight and passed out on daddy.

I Don't Like You

We've all said these words at some point in our lives. Sometimes we say them out loud to someone else, sometimes we whisper it under our breath and sometimes we merely think it to ourselves. I can remember saying this to my mother. She had just told me that we were going to be moving and I was furious. I was in 4th grade and we lived in a little townhome on a cul-de-sac that was full of children my age. Little did I know we had only moved there so she and my stepdad could save money to build our future home. No matter how nice the house or new neighborhood were going to be, all I heard was "I'm making you leave your friends" and I told her I didn't like her...okay, okay, maybe I used the hate word. I was mad. And angry. And hateful.

Well, now I've had a taste of my own medicine. Granted, my daughter is much younger than I was, and while she does know what she's saying, she still doesn't understand how hurtful some things are. But regardless of her age, when those 4 words came out of her mouth...aimed at me! I was devastated.

We were playing the game Cooties with Brittany and Mike the other night. Now, if you've never played this game, you must understand it takes A LOT of patience, which isn't easy for most adults, let alone a 3 year old. But she likes it, so we played. **I'm sure there are parents out there who would whole heartedly disagree with what I'm about to say next, but oh well...

I don't believe in allowing my child to cheat. I know she's just 3, but I want to teach her now that you can't always win and that it's important to follow rules, even if it's just the rules of a board game. After we had been playing for a good 15 minutes or so, I could tell she was getting frustrated because she wasn't rolling the number she needed. I just kept reassuring her that she had to keep trying and that she would eventually get it. The next thing I know there are tears and I'm hearing "I don't like you" coming from her lips.

I was stunned. I didn't even know what to say next. I sat there for a minute and then decided to ask her why she didn't like me. She said because I hurt her feelings. Okay, I nearly died at this moment. I know she was overreacting but still, that crushed me! I asked her if she wanted to come sit on my lap so we could talk about it, and she told me she didn't want to sit with me. Ow - another dagger!

We did make up not long after all of this started, but my heart was broken. I was sharing this story with Bailey's doctor at her check up the other day and she kind of laughed and told me just to wait until the teenage years, I'd get used to hearing it then!

Your Guess

Tomorrow morning is the big day when we find out if this little pumpkin inside me is a boy or a girl! I am so excited I can hardly stand it. It doesn't seem like it should already be time to find out. Now that I'm finally feeling better this pregnancy seems to be flying by.

Nick and I know what we think the baby is, and I'm curious to see what everyone else thinks. Leave your guess and let's see who gets it right! That is, if this little babe cooperates and gives us a good look!

For what it's worth:

*This pregnancy has been totally different than my first

*Last time I craved pizza from almost day 1 and this time (so far) I've not had any cravings

*Bailey says my belly looks like a girl baby :)

P.S. Today may be crazy post catch up day, considering I have about 5 different things I'm behind in posting about...including Bailey's 3 year check up, hearing my first "I don't like you" from my daughter and meeting Alton Brown!

The Big 3 Year Old

Could someone please tell me where the last 3 years of my life have gone? It just doesn't seem right that the baby I brought home from the hospital could possibly be 3! While I may not be ready to accept that she's growing up, Bailey is embracing it! She doesn't miss a chance to tell me that she's a big girl. If she eats all of her dinner, it's because I'm a big girl now mommy, I'm not a baby.  When I tell her good job for getting herself dressed in the mornings, she tells me she could do it because I'm a big girl mommy.

Oh dear child, trust me, I don't need a verbal reminder. Every time I look at you I see the little lady you are becoming. There aren't many baby tendancies left in you at all. Except for the fact that you still sleep like a little frog, just like you did as a baby. You talk so big, you're so independent and you don't miss anything! While it does make me very sad that you'll never be a baby again, just like I always tell you, you will always be my baby. Even when you're a grown woman and have children of your own, you'll still be my baby. I cherish every moment I get to spend with you and I hope that as you grow up, we can have the type of relationship that I have with my mom, your grammy. I love you Bailey Grace!

Here are some shots from the big birthday party.

We surprised her with the Cinderella dress first thing Saturday morning. She LOVED it! She put her little hands over her heart and said I love it so much! This is also going to be her Halloween costume.



Waiting on her big surprise present...

A Barbie jeep!! She hopped right in and took off, but has been a little hesitant since to ride it. I think it will take some getting used to.



The Cinderella cake that I made her. She is really too smart for her own good. I had the cake hidden when she woke up Saturday morning, but I had left the cupcakes out. She saw the blue frosting and said Blue cupcakes are my favorite! Where's my cake mommy?  I told her it was a surprise. Then she asked me what color her cake was, and again, I told her it was a surprise. Then she said I think it must be blue, cause the cupcakes are blue. And you know what else is blue? Cinderella's dress! I just told her she would have to wait and see, but of course, she was right!

Nick spending a little time with baby Drew while we opened presents.

Showing off her new coat. She was so done with taking pictures by this point, definitely a forced smile!

Bailey had another great birthday this year! I can't believe my little pumpkin spice (her new Fall nickname) is 3 years old! Just to make me feel better...

The Best Age

I can remember when Bailey was first starting to smile and thinking, this is the best age.

Then she started crawling and soon after walking, and I thought, no, this is the best age.

When she started talking more and really learning how to play I thought again, this is by far the best age.

 Now she's almost 3, and I'm nearly certain that this must be the best age. She is so much fun right now. I love being able to have real conversations with her. She is such a good helper and wants to help us in any way possible. When it comes time to pick up, after she does one task she comes running back into the room asking what can I do now mommy.

In fact, she's quite the clean freak, and I have NO idea where that came from. She can't go to bed at night if there's even one toy that's not put up in her room. She'll come in our bedroom sometimes and say mommy, your rooms a big mess, I think you need to clean it. I hope she always stays like this!

I love to watch her play. She has such a vivid imagination, and plays so well by herself. She'll get out either her princess dolls or her baby dolls and she's just in her own little world.

She also says some of the funniest things and makes me laugh on a regular basis. Here are some of my favorite (that I can remember!) that she's said recently:

*She almost exclusively refers to Nick as her "Oh Silly Daddy" now.  Mommy, did you see what my Oh Silly Daddy  did? or Who forgot to pick that up? I bet it is was my Oh Silly Daddy.

*Whenever something annoys her she says - that gets me on my nerves!

*After waking up one morning she came into my room and said Mommy, I haven't seen you in a little while have I? Because I was sweepin (sleeping).

*Oh my gosh!!!! She says this any time she gets really excited, and she says very loud and excitedly. And usually her hands go up over her mouth.

*She told my 4 year old nephew the other day - Q, just do what I say and there won't be any problems.

I just never know what's going to come out of her mouth next! I'm sure there will come a time when she gets older that I'll think that is the most fun age, but for right now, I'm trying to enjoy every second possible of this amazing little girl who is about to turn 3 and makes me laugh every day!