Sisters

Summer is ending in a couple days and we are trying to savour it as much as possible. Lily's Birthday Party preparations are in full swing and should be a GRAND affair!!! That year has gone by oh so fast :( Lily and Grace are really starting to converse and play together......enjoy!!!

Last Day at Preschool @ Lemon Crest (July)

I thought this was a cute video with Grace and one of her classmates. She will no longer be in this class and will be enrolled in a new Preschool in our new neighborhood. We are really getting use to our new house and neighborhood. It is really quiet and SUCH NICE people live on our street. Summer is almost over for us which is a positive and negative. Glad to get back on a routine for myself and Grace. Negative - we will miss out on our fun adventures during the week. During this summer we were able to go camping, many park days, pool days, Sea World, Del Mar Fair, movies...such fun times!!!!

Del Mar Fair

Hello...yes, it is me...I know it has been awhile...so sorry! Anywho...on Friday Grace's tap/ballet class had a performance on Opening Day of the fair. During the last couple of months at practice, Grace has been a wonderer. For a 30 minute class she probably stays with the class for about 10 minutes and focuses the rest of the time on herself in the mirror. I was so proud of her during the performance...she stayed with the girls on all the moves. Hope you enjoy the video :)

Western Weekend

This weekend is the annual Western Days Rodeo/Parade. Grace had her 1st Western Days Parade at school. This is when, each grade parade around their outfits while the school cheers them on. The rodeo Queen & Princess were their to support these cowboys & cowgirls. Grace did fairly well sitting with her class until she spotted me :) Lily and I joined her for the rest of the parade. Today, Grace will have her 2nd class of Ballet/Tap - she enjoys it.

Lily is starting that "rocking" motion, right before she starts to crawl. She has one tooth poking through and second one on its way. She is saying "Dadda" (I know Momma will be soon to follow ). Grace and Lily are really starting to enjoy each other. In the car, they crack up at each other - like they can understand each other :)

Weekend Fun

Over the weekend we were plenty busy (as always). We went to go watch Jacob's baseball game, well Lily & I watched the game. Josh & Grace played baseball with Caleb :) Later that night, we b-b-q some hamburgers and built a fort in to the living room while watching Bedtime Stories. This weekends was the kick off to Spring Break, so we going to busy with plenty of fun activities.

I gave Grace on the job training this weekend also. See below :) If you are asking...yes, I do have shirts that fit her. She stretched out Lily's newborn shirt while taking a nap and would not take it off.

Catfight

This is a video of Lily Lou....if you close your eyes - Does it sound like a catfight????





Grace was feeling generous and passed her sickness to Lily :) Grace is doing much better, but I am keeping inside with limited activity so she can regain some strength back. Lily is not as sick as Grace was, but still is not feeling up to par. For the last couple of weeks we have been putting to sleep together in their own room. It has worked out really well....well...not counting sick days - that is just a free for all!!!!



I feel as though I blog about GB & Lou everytime so I wanted to update on the man of the house. Josh is going to be getting shoulder surgery on April 9th and this has been a loooong time coming. His shoulder has hurt for awhile, due to all his awesome years playing baseball :) I will post more about this closer to the time. I just have to say that I am so thankful to have Josh as my husband and appreciate all his hard work he does for our family :)

Happy Tuesday

Happy Tuesday all!!!

Well today Grace is still recovering from the stomach flu. Since Saturday night she has been feeling icky and does not have any appetite. She is keeping down liquids now - so that is an improvement :) Last night, Josh went out with our church to pass out Easter tracks for our upcoming play - I can't believe Easter is just around the corner!! I'm bummed that we all can't go - but I'm hoping Grace can join him next week.

The Special Olympics organized a National "Spread the Word to End the Word" campaign today. Below is a link from John C McGinley from Scrubs who has helped spread this campaign on the national level. California has made official proclamations about Spread the Word to End the Word day.

http://www.r-word.org/

Three or more years ago, a campaign like this would of been silly to me. I would of thought, "we'll that's their opinion - doesn't have to be so PC!!!!" But, on Jan. 1, 2006 I started to think differently. Josh and I (and our family & friends) are blessed to have a daughter that was born with Down Syndrome. Let me say that again...we are BLESSED to have a daughter with Down Syndrome. I was among many of you that used the word "retard or retarded" to describe people or things that weren't moving fast enough or didn't work properly. I say that not in a condemning way, but just a reality - I did that. Before Grace I never knew anyone with a disability - I'm ashamed to admit, I even starred at them in the stores. So, if you ask why it's such a big deal - it's because the group you are insulting are just as deserving of equality in life that you already have and there is no reason to make fun of their weaknesses that they can't control. So...if you find yourself wanting to use that word because your computer won't work or the person in line won't move fast enough....use the word silly or difficult :)

Yesterday was a school day for Grace and during that time I got two calls from the school nurse. My first thought, oh great...Grace has a fever again! But, the 1st time she pushed herself back in her chair and hit her head on the ground. No biggie really!! Second time, she feel during recess and scrapped her elbow and has a band-aid covering it. So...it was a rough day for Grace. After school we went to go meet up with Thomas & Caleb at Shadow Hill park.

I lost my wallet yesterday at Albertsons and I had about $30.00 I lost, sooo today.......DMV to get replacement license :)

Open House & Wheels on the Bus

Last night, Grace had her 1st Open House at her school. She is enrolled in a Special Education class for 3 -5 yr olds. Grace really enjoys this class and even has a Best Friend :) His name is Noah and he too has Down Syndrome, according to the teacher him and Grace play everyday during recess and just light up everytime they are near each other. I was hoping to meet Noah's family, but there did not show to Open House. I really love this class!!!!

Grace was showing us her books and toys in the classroom.

This is a video from yesterday, Grace loves Wheels on the Bus. She must have Lily doing the hand signs at the same time :)

Occupational Therapy Day

Every other Tuesday Lily and I go with Grace to visit Ms. Ashley @ Children's Hospital for OT (Occupational Therapy). This therapy helps Grace with her fine motor skills (buttons, zippers, block stacking, core balance, etc). Grace's fine motor skills have turned out to be one of her best strengths. I am really thankful for Ms. Ashley she is very sweet and tons of fun for Grace.

We have a couple of birthday celebrations to go to this week and I just realized....I don't have to make dinner till Friday.....YES!!!!!!!!!

Park Day

Today we went to the park, due to our 3 Speech Therapies being canceled. We had lunch at the park and played for a couple of hours. I like this park, because it is totally gated in and hard for kids to escape - this is a good thing!!! Grace played with two other girls during this time. About an hour into playing, one of the little girls says...."I think your Daughter has poop on her hands!!" and she was correct!!!! Man oh man...potty training is a ton of fun :) The weather was great today - perfect day for the park.

This picture was from this weekend after Grace had a trip to Legoland.

Lily "Lou Lou" Baker

Accomplishments

This is a picture of Grace getting an Obedience award from her 3 yr old class at church yesterday. That award just topped off a really great day Grace had. We went to Playtown, which is an indoor play area for kids. There is a very tall jungle gym that Grace has been unable to make to play at the top, due to the lack of strength to pull herself up the steps. Yesterday SHE DID IT...not just once, but three times. I cheered her on the side the whole time and it made me teary eyed that she was able to do it. It may seem like a small growing step for kids, but for Grace it was AWESOME!!! With this confidence, she went to the inflatable jumpy and climbed up it's wall and went down the large slide by herself. Man oh man....I was so proud :) Don't get me wrong....Grace totally humbled me by having to change the stinkest diaper in Playtown that day :)

Grace playing in Playtown

Playtown & Organization

Hello fellow bloggers.... Yes, I was inspired from Mrs. Entrekin and created a blog to follow the happening of us Bakers. I think there will be a growing period on trying to figure out blogging and the techy things that go behind it. Well....for today I'm off to Playtown. I will post pics and/or video from our trip later today. I am also going to hopefully collect a donation from Playtown to add to our Silent Auction for the DSA Dinner Dance Gala...yipy!!!!!!