Pictures - I'm behind on blogging... What else is new?

Ronnie played his first Upward Basketball game today & he made a basket! He is doing a lot better than he did last year. He's got experience & knowledge & is one of the leaders of his team. What a difference one year makes! If he has a passion for it, he could be really good. I just can't tell if he has the passion for it yet! FYI - bad mommy didn't bother to take a camera. I promise to get pictures of the next game. Gracie was overwhelmed by the crowds & noise & sat there beautifully with her Pops & watched the game (or should I say cowered in fear on Pop's lap.)

Becky suggested to me that we put our rental house on Craig's list after 3 months of nothing from our Realtor. She posted it for me on Monday & on Thursday night, I had a call from a very interested prospect who may even wish to buy it. The Realtor was too busy to make arrangements to show the house, so I took them there today & they were very excited about it. I am praying this works out for both them & us. I would love someone with their enthusiasm to live in the house. It is very sentimental for me since it was Ron & my first home & Ronnie was born 1 month after we moved in. We have a lot of great memories of the house, but I am ready to move on! They have 2 young children who loved the backyard & enjoyed the big room downstairs to run their energy out! I owe Becky bigtime!!! Becky, you should become a realtor. You've done more in a week than our Realtor did in 3 months. We need prayers that this could go through so we can get back on track with our finances & alleviate the extra stress of figuring out where the mortgage payment is going to come from.

Gracie is receiving Speech, developmental, & behavioral therapy through First Steps. She's starting to lessen on her behaviors & I have started putting her on time-outs as needed. Surprisingly, she will sit down without getting off the couch & will calm down quickly. I never would have imagined that! She's still not really trying to talk, but that will come eventually. She has some strange sensory issues that will take some time for her to get used to, but it's kind of funny. The therapist brought play doh & she didn't like it at first, but finally played with it. The 2nd time she brought it, she put it on a vinyl mat on the floor. Gracie was afraid of the mat, so she wouldn't touch the mat. She reached over the mat to get the play doh & ran away from the mat to play. If I don't laugh, I suppose I would cry, so I do see the humor in it. A behavioral therapist comes on Sunday to make some suggestions for us on how to work with her tantrums & screaming - both which are probably a result of her being unable to talk. I'm open for suggestions from anyone because I haven't found something that works. Anyway, long-winded blog here, so on to the pics...

Ronnie used to think Gracie didn't like him, but she adores big brother!

Ronnie put on Tiffy's boots & did a dance

Gracie loves my laptop, so this is the next best thing for her!

Hulk hands to match the hulk shirt...

Cousin Courtney's old chair. Gracie loves to recline in it!

Really not much to say here... Ronnie - do you love those boots???

Gracie, Toots, & a bunch of Laughter

Okay, so Gracie has a couple of new things that just make me laugh out loud. She has discovered her farts. She finds them to be hilarious. Everytime she toots, she laughs hysterically. Of course, the rest of us are laughing at her because she's laughing, so it just makes for a funny time! Gracie is also really into tickling people on their belly. She has to lift their shirts to do it, which can be a bit awkward. This morning, Gracie lifted her shirt & took her baby doll's hand & had her baby tickle her belly. Gracie then laughed as if it actually tickled! That just really made me laugh. That makes up for the new thing she learned recently - climbing out of her crib! I swear she is giving me gray hair (underneath all of that blond hair dye). Anyway, I do have new pictures to post, but haven't downloaded them yet. I'll add pictures soon. I was just watching Gracie's baby tickle Gracie's belly & had to share. Too funny!

Christmas updates

We had such a nice Christmas holiday & it's sad that our holidays are ending. I enjoyed having the kids home with me, but it's back to school on Monday. Gracie had her tubes, & she's having some difficulties adjusting to the sound now that she hears better. She continues to tug on her ears & has an ear infection again. Ronnie has the flu, but the good news is that it didn't turn into strep throat. That's great since he had his tonsils out. Ron & I have been recovering from the flu as well & were fortunate to have time off to recuperate. I'm off to join the kids playing on the Wii. Such an exciting day for me...

I LOVE my babies!

Gracie's new ball pit

Gracie & Auntie

Ronnie left a note for Santa, "Santa, do you know Jesus?" He was thrilled to learn that Santa did, in fact, know Jesus!

Santa, I've been GOOD!

Making Cookies

Gracie really gets into her cookie making!