My little singer

Gracie's take on iCarly

So one of our household's favorite tv shows on Nickelodeon is iCarly - I think for the most part that it is clever, funny and educational in an entertaining way. It does have some namecalling and bullying in it, but it is intended for an audience older than 4. My 4-year-old, however, LOVES this show.

Here's her take on the characters:

Big Love

It's been a pretty spiritual week for Grace. She witnessed her first baptism and her first wedding, in different churches, with different people, but you could easily tell God was present in all of us.

Baptism took place at Mamaw/Papaw Tallcake's church with a girl in her pre/early teens. Their interim pastor got all dolled up in his wading trunks and moved to the baptismal pool.

Grace: What's that?
Me: That's the baptismal pool. That's where Ashley's going to be baptized.
Grace: It's a pool?
Me: Yeah, but it's a special pool.
G: Oh, it has fishies in it?
M: No, no fishies.
G: Sharks, then?
M: Nope. No sharks. It's holy water.
G: Hmmm.
She thought a bit and listened to Brother Noah say Ashley had chosen to go to heaven at the end of this life because of this decision.
G: Mama!! She gets to go to heaven!
M: Yes, she does, honey. When she dies, she'll go to heaven, if she follows God's rules.
G: Me too?
M: You bet.
After the immersion,
G: I wanna go in there.
M: You will, honey. You will. Someday. (with tears in my eyes)


At the wedding of a very grown-up Brady Gerdts, whom I've known for the last 7 years or so, and his beautiful bride Emily Rowden Gerdts.
G: Mama, I wanna see the princess.
M: You will. She's coming through those doors.
G: Is that her prince?
M: Yep. That's Brady.
G: Prince Brady.
M: Yep.
G: What's the princess's name?
M: She's Princess Emily.
G: I love her. She's so pretty.
M: I know. This is when they get the ring.
G: I want a ring.
M: You'll get one, honey. When the prince marries you.

At the end of the wedding, the bride & groom escorted the guests out.
G: I wanna hug the princess.
M: She wants to hug you too.
G: (beams with pride)

Emily: I don't think I've ever met you.
G: You're so pretty.
E: thank you. (hugs her twice) (Grace beams the whole night!)

At bedtime,
G: Mama, when I get big, I'm going to have a big white dress.
M: Yep.
G: And I get my ring.
M: Uh-huh.
G: And a cape (she calls the veil a cape); and a crown, and I want Daddy to be the prince.
M: Daddy's my prince, honey. You'll have to find one of your own.
G: And I'm going to be beautiful, like Princess Emily.
M: You already are. And you love God, like Princess Emily does too.
G: (matter of fact) I know.

A mom can't ask for anything more.

Keeping safe

So Grace and I have a nightly ritual. We read a book, turn off the light, talk about the day, things for tomorrow, briefly, then I lay with her quietly for a few minutes. The perks of only having one child. So during our quiet time, especially during days when she's missed me during the day, she asks to hold my hand during our quiet time.
What that means is, she has me lay my hand on her tummy, and then she lays her hand on my arm. She's been doing this off and on for several months, but last night was the first time I asked her why she did this.
Me: I love you, Milly. (my nickname for her - silly milly baby girl - reduced to milly)
Grace: I love you too, Mommy.
Me: Just three minutes, okay?
Grace: Okay. Mommy, can I hold you?
Me: Sure. Why do you do this?
Grace: To keep you safe.
No pauses, not a thought except the truth. And safely kept am I.

Happy, happy birthday, baby

Happy birthday to you.
Happy birthday to you.
Happy birthday, dear Gracelyn.
Happy birthday to you.

And many more.

And baby turns four...

In seven days, our little girl will be FOUR years old. I know it's not that long ago that we were anticipating her arrival, wondering how the next few and more years would turn out. I just didn't really imagine loving something as much as I love my girl. I am so very proud of her and glad that I'm a girl, so when I tear up writing that statement, it doesn't get me mocked! She's really so very smart - shockingly smart. She's so excited to be a "big girl" and thinks she's able to be four and five on the same day so she can catch up to her big girl cousin Madison who will start kindergarten in the fall. Slow down, my big girl. There will be plenty of time to grow up. One of my students used woods class to make a huge doll house that will eventually turn into a book shelf when she's older and maybe be passed on to more kids or her kids when she's old enough (like 40) and she's getting a bike for her birthday. This summer will be swimming lessons, tumbling and dance, and will fly by, but for this morning as I listen to her answer Diego's questions on the TV and laugh at those silly monkeys, I look back at her beginning.

Papaw Bobcat

While reading through an animal book while putting Gracie to sleep, we came across a bobcat and a leopard. Here's the conversation:

Mommy: See, a leopard has spots all over. This bobcat only has spots on his belly.

Gracie: Like Papaw Tallcake (my father-in-law).

Mommy: Huh?

Gracie: Bobcat is like Papaw because his name is Bob.

Mommy: (laughs) That's true, honey. I thought you were telling me Papaw had spots on his belly.

Gracie: No, mommy. That's silly!