Love my job

I love my job.
I love these people. They are why I love my job.

Marriage Matters Jackson!

Tonya Kylee Shelby

Liza & Jaci

Best Website EVER- AwkwardFamilyPhotos.com

This is the BEST website EVER that my friend and co-worker Liza introduced me to.  AwkwardFamilyPhotos.com has weird, random, some creepy and downright hilarious family photos.  This one made me laught so hard last night that I stopped breathing for a few seconds, my eyelids felt like they turned inside out and I had tears running down my face.  One of my best laughs of my life- just struck me funny.There's just so much going on here.  Made it my profile pic on Facebook for a day and thought I'd capture it on the old blog to remember it long term. Enjoy...

Crazy Cat Lady

I like Blogs because you can preserve fun family memories or simply highlight random things that make you laugh. Saw this sign near the fountain at the Lake Michigan Beach at St. Joseph. I personalized the name to cover her number but I LOVED the fact we were supplied with options for names the kitty might respond to.  Absolutely ignores you if you say "kitty kitty" or "Fluffy" but whip out NANA or LITTLE GIRL and you've got puddy-tat snapping to attention.

Why oh why couldn't I have been around when these folks were roaming the streets yelling for this cat? I'm sure passers-by were concerned that someone busted out of a nursing home or else they were witnessing an Amber Alert.  No grandma's, no little kids, just a creepy black cat.

Side-note I hope Nana (A.K.A Little Girl) made it home safely! Probably a run-away cuz she thought the names were stupid.

Summer Vacation 2010

A few quiet minutes in the middle of a fun family vacation.  Mecosta MI, overlooking the lake, sun twinkling on the water, amazing breeze passing through.   A rogue cricket and the water lapping at the bottom of the rowboat are the only things I can hear. The precious few moments I get like this remind me how full and happy my life really is. I get to drink in a few minutes of quiet reflecting time where I can thank God for his blessings and stare out the window, reflecting on his exquisite creation for as long as this recess lasts. 

If I didn't have the promise of a pontoon full of chaos returning to the dock in an hour or so, I might find this same setting kind of empty and lonely. This wouldn't feel the same if there wasn't anyone to share it with. Pretty soon the pontoon will return to port from Party Island and up the dock will trot Drew, Sam, Faith, Grace, John, Melissa, Meg, Duncan and my Dad...tickling, tattling, bedtime treats, teasing and tooth brushing will resume.

For this moment no one needs anything from me. But what a comfort to know there are 3 little faces I will wash up later and kiss goodnight; and a sun-kissed husband who I will snuggle up to and reflect on the truth that our life is good.

Pensacola Pics- Spring Break 2010

Pics of Pensacola. We had a fantastic time on our Spring Break Trip to Pensacola. Drew's mom died when he was a little boy but she was one of 8 kids and many of them still live in Pensacola so we were loved on for the week with true southern hospitality. I took a TON of pics but I'll just post a couple to highlight our fun!

Back In The Saddle Again

Remembered my blog. Decided to check back in with myself. Over a year... wow. Strangely enough I am over-do for a haircut which seems to be my theme here. Facebook has had my attention for this last year. Better instant gratification. :) But I like blogs and following the little things in our life in one place. Snapshot April 2010- Drew is Asst. VP at Comerica in Battle Creek, my work with Marriage Matters Jackson is amazing and we become our own non-profit officially next week!

Sam is 10, in 4th grade with Mr. Greenslade. He has never played soccer but his speed got him an invitation to try out for a travel team. He has played only 3 games (in his life) and scored 2 goals already! He's smart and funny- we're working on his kindness to his mama and sisters!

Faith is 8, but she insists I say she's "almost 9!" She's as pretty as she is kind. She LOVES basketball and is now enjoying soccer season. My quiet little girl is competetive and loves sports. She's so smart and insightful and is my little helper and shadow.

Gracie is a 3 year old whirlwind! She is smart and sassy and silly. No one can get in her way! She goes full tork until she crashes at night then wakes up with awful growing pains like I suffered with as a kid. "My weggies hurt" is a familiar phrase we hear yelled in the middle of the night. She likes to "nuggle" with daddy and mama. Look out world- here comes Grace!

Pet count- Charlie our beloved yellow cat is alive and well, we have a black lab named Willow we've had since last fall. She's sweet and loving when she's not chewing on something of MINE! Newly added as of last week thanks to our friends the Asburys, 3 chicks and 2 ducks have joined our crew.

God is good. Life is good.

Between Haircuts

This Old House...

Welcome Home

Woah-- just remembered that I had a blog. Kind of weird thing to forget but life has been hectic in the last few months and I discovered a little thing called FACEBOOK. Yep, it sucked me in and I'm in the dizzying world of knowing minute to minute updates on everyone from a kid you went to 2nd grade with to a professional aqaintance you made yesterday. Strange stuff and hard to wrap your mind around. I don't think anyone reads my blog and if they did they gave up checking when I haven't updated since last fall.

Hard to believe how much stuff has happened since my birthday post in September. I got my spa day, haircut for my birthday and the beauty shop diva that I am, I haven't gotten back in until this week again. So a lot has happened between cuts. The biggest change is moving from our house we lived in for 9 years on top of the hill. God blessed us with a wonderful opportunity to buy the Mefford's house on a land contract. Across the road from my parents-- a little everybody loves Raymond but we're careful not to over-do it and end up like those people. We love our new house and it felt like home almost immediately. God is good.

Drew's job at Comerica in Battle Creek is continuing to go well. I am so proud of him. My part-time job as Coordinator of Marriage Matters Jackson continues to be interesting and fulfilling. I truly feel called to this work. Exciting things are happening.

Kids are great minus the illnesses that finally got to us. We were almost cocky about how we avoided the sicknesses that were running rampant around us. It finally caught us. Short lived thankfully but I've seen enough vomit to last a lifetime.

Finally feeling sleepy. Heading to bed. Let's see how much happens between this haircut and the next. :)

Happy Birthday to Me!

Totally weak to wish yourself happy birthday but I don't think anyone reads my blog besides me so it's ok to wish ME a happy birthday!!

So, self, wasn't September 13th just a wonderful day?

Yes, it was Me, I thought it was so cute that Drew asked your mom to set up a day at the hair salon for you to get your hair done.

I agree, it was so fun to feel pampered all day- how cute that Mom, Faith, Miss & Meg all came to join in the fun. Remember the monsoon outside made it so cozy to be inside just being girly?

I love how your hair turned out, BRAVE of you to try a few foils of hilights for the first time ever!

Yeah, it was fun but you can't even see them so I guess I'll have to be more adventurous next time.

How about the beautician saying I need to come in every 8 weeks or so and Mom said, "Oh, you mean she should probably come in more than ONCE a year?!"

Oh chuckle chuckle. Salon snobs are so last year...

How sweet was it when Drew and the kids celebrated at home with cards and the Red Velvet Cake? He made your favorite. Very cute.

Then wasn't it fun to go out with Mom and Missy shopping and out to eat? Just a girly day beginning to end. What a fun way to greet 34.

What do you think about 34?

Hmmm. Not sure. I think it feels creepy a bit like I'm slipping off the end of the earth. What is 34? It's not really "early 30's" anymore and it's dangerously close to 35 which sounds a heartbeat from 40. Ok, everyone over 40 says how young 34 is but duh, of course they think that. They're looking at it in the rearview mirror.

Then on the other end, college kids think anyone is old who has actually graduated, you go into some black hole if you add kids to your resume. You're like totally not relavent anymore. Remember when I worked in Admissions at SAU not long after graduating I swear the students thought I was like 90 and knitting in a rocking chair for kicks with my husband after work. How strange to feel obsolete so soon.

All that to say I guess we just don't GET what 34 is supposed to mean, huh?

Do you like the 30's more than the 20's self?

Are you kidding me? YES! I thought the 20's were way too much work and drama.

I hear every decade gets better and better.

Me too, we must talk with the same people. I think it's cool that we can be friends with people of all ages now and it's just kind of settled that you're all grown ups at various stages and experiences.

Remember when we used to wonder when people turned "old" and we realized that some people are fuddy-duddy old farts when they're 20 years old, member's only jackets and elastic pants, mommy high waisted jeans and old lady haircuts... they've just always been old.

Well, I think we want to be one of those people who is going to be fun and silly at every age be it 20 or 80.

Good idea- I wanna be the one in the old folks group at church leading Karaoke and get my old trunk of dress up clothes out and make movies with my friends.

34 really does sound young.

Well, enjoy the view, you're only passing through 34 once. Take it all in! I hope it's a good year!

Sweet Girl Turns Siete This Summer

My sweet wonderful sidekick turned 7 this summer and for some reason I didn't do a post to celebrate it. Summer is always so hectic and I'm not the most efficient or consistent blogger so this is to make sure I've documented this little miracle turning SEVEN!


We did celebrate Faith's 7th Birthday but it fell on the last day of school which was NUTS to begin with and we couldn't get the weather to cooperate with our waterpark or drive-in plans so we ended up taking Faith and her friends, Maddie, Meg, Hayden & Ally to our new found Mexican restaraunt in Albion and then to the movie "Kung Fu Panda" at the quaint little Bohm Theatre on the brick streets of Albion. We gave away "Summer Survival" gift bags to the girls with everything from a Barbie hat to toys for the pool.

It is impossible to adequately describe the essence of Faith in words. She has to be experienced one-on-one to understand the depth of her character and the purity of her sweet little heart. I cannot talk about her this way without bawling so I'm going to quickly summarize some of those things which scratch the surface to describe the second mother who lives in our house.

Faith is tender, thoughtful, funny in her own unique way, smart- a math whiz, her quiet nature hides the silly side and we have to work on keeping her worries from taking over control. A few things came from mama- she is creative and loves for us to do crafts or paint together, she is also a pack-rat (something mama unfortunately passed on in the DNA) and if we can't find something that happens to be small, shiny or sparkly around the house, we know to bring out Faith's purse collection and unload them in search of the item she squirreled away. Siete is 7 in Spanish and she LOVES her Mexican food. She likes things spicy, her favorite thing in the universe is "Chips & Salseee" and restaraunt of choice is Los Tres Amigos.

Faith is turning out to be our little athlete. She LOVES basketball and begged us to sign her up for soccer this fall. Our shy baby is the one on the sports field while her outgoing brother would rather watch from the tallest tree. Baby Grace is most likely to be the one running straight across all of the soccer fields holding something in her hand she wasn't supposed to touch and smiling with glee that one of us is running behind her in hot pursuit. What a joy to discover what makes each of them tick. Every mama thinks their babies are the most beautiful in all the land but this little girl was given an extra dose inside and out.

Your birthday was on the last day of school and it's funny that Mama is finally getting around to talking about it on the LAST DAY of summer vacation- tomorrow you'll be a 2nd Grader! Yikes!

Mama loves you Faith and I look forward to growing in our friendship and watching you unfold into the beautiful woman that the Lord created you to be.

I'm Brian Fellow

One of my favorite SNL characters.

Summer Raines 08

I don't know how summer goes so quickly while winter in Michigan seems to drag on and on and on...but I just had to break the news to the kids that the reason school supplies are on display is because it's coming soon. I LOVE Target as anyone who knows me knows. I ADORE their gian school supply signs hanging all over the store. It just makes me happy!

Sam, on the other hand, is in some deep state of denial and tells me to be quiet and not talk to me about school supplies and don't walk through that section. Similar to when he tells me not to walk across the living room because the carpet is hot lava. At this point the halls of Bean Elementary seem like miles of hot lava to him. Faith is like me and is absolutely fascinated by school supplies and the beautiful displays in the stores. She wants it all!

I LOVE FALL and everything it has to offer- school supplies, new school clothes, changing colors on the trees, sweatshirts and jeans, bonfires, orchards with cider and donuts... I'm getting ahead of myself. I need to reflect on the fun we have had this summer and it's not over yet so I need to finish enjoying what we have left.

We have had fun at the park, swimming in Mimi's pool, playing mini golf at "Papa Andy's" course, we had fun with our friend and virtual family member Isaiah and got a new cousin to love-baby Mira Raines was born in June to Matt & Bekah. We had fun when the Sheridan's from Arizona came home and we all played at the lake together. Sam is jealous of Great Grandma Sue's Wii games- something I thought I'd never hear- a kid jealous of his Great Grandma's video game system!

It worked out to be at Family Camp using the Asbury's trailer which was a DELUX way to camp!

Faith Friends and Family- it doesn't get much better than that! Sitting at the lake, riding bikes, the striped tabernacle, campfires, watching tween-ager drama unfold, mosquitos, Bible School, Freddy's Freeze... all a part of the magic of Family Camp.

We just got back from a fun trip to Grandpa Raines' house in Valparaiso IN and took the train into Chicago. We went to the American Girl store for Faith and dropped Bitty Baby off to go to the hospital to get her arm re-attached. Faith was so sad to let her go but we knew it would help her. Sam wanted to go to the Lego store and it was pretty cool. The Hello Kitty store was the stop for me. Drew drank his body weight in Starbucks and cruised a Borders Books. We ate at Gino's East our favorite deep dish pizza- Grace was a nightmare in there but she was great overall for being 1 1/2 and tethered to a stroller or the train seat all day.

The Jackson County Fair found the Sheridan clan gathering together for our annual trek through the exhibit hall (I haven't entered in the last 2 years but have promised to do it again next year with Aunt Ann and Grandma Sue), the 4-H barns, the fried food walk of fame, and finally to the over-priced-say-a-prayer-that-it-doesn't-fall-apart rides where Kimmy, Aunt Susie, Miss and I always do the scrambler. We make fools out of ourselves by laughing and screaming so hard that we almost wet our pants. The ride guy Rulan from South Africa flirted a bit with our group and gave us a longer ride than normal and a few smacks on the side of our carts when we were hurling towards him. That made us laugh even harder. Good times. To the little chick in barn #1- Grace is sorry for petting you too hard and trying to pick you up by your head.

VBS just wrapped up at church and the Sheridan Golf Scramble is this weekend-- all signs that summer is winding down.

Sorry Sam. Them's the facts.

Faith, high five for new folders & pencil boxes, even stupid stuff we don't need but love like the rubber holders for pencils and glitter glue for the spontaneous craft.

Only mom will understand this but it's an appropriate send off--- "Farwoo Summah"

Boy Are My Arms Tired...

The heading "Boy My Arms Are Tired" is a new feature I discovered that makes the title a link so if you click on it, you'll be taken to the SmartMarriages website which is all things marriage and the conference we attend each year. Check it out!

Just flew in from San Francisc0- boy are my arms tired! I hate that joke. Actually it's not even really a joke, it's pretty much just something "punny" people get a kick out of saying and they pride themselves in being so "clever". Typically you'll find this pun-ster being the only one chuckling at their own joke. If you watch- everyone else is either groaning or making a horrible face. Another favorite is one I heard as a kid- "enjoy your trip? see ya next fall!" That of course, is used when someone has just tripped over something and is probably a little flustered and doesn't relish the spotlight. This is where you just long to go over and flick that guy really hard in the nose and put an end to their party-of-one.

I digress- it's a favorite hobby I guess- this blog was going to be about my trip to San Francisco for work but I enjoy a good tangent and so I got into pet peeves about punny people. Blogs are an interesting journey even into your own mind. I have already thought of about 10 other things I could go on a tangent about but I'm going to practice staying focused.

Anyhoo, (another thing punny people say), I went to San Francisco for the SmartMarriages Conference for work and had a nice time- I was gone 5 days. The kids did better than they did last year when I had to go to Denver for the conference- where they made themselves sick and threw up because they were so devistated that I was gone. A bit dramatic but it's nice that they like me.

This year Faith only called and bawled & begged me to come home to end her misery 2-3 times. A real step forward. I don't think she even angst vomited. Sam got verclempt a time or two on the phone but if you keep his social schedule packed he's pretty much fine. Pretty much don't ever ask him if he's sick, tired, hot/cold, or sad. He will NEVER admit to it and if he is teetering on any emotion linked to the truth of the matter he will unleash HECK on you for almost making him get emotional about it. Grace is 1 1/2 and could care less that I was gone. Every baby I saw regardless of ethnicity reminded me of her and I would threaten to find the next flight home. If I got real emotional I threatened to strap on my tennis shoes and run home to them. Reality check- I'm on the other side of the country 3 time zones away, out of shape, and was winded by the 2nd giant hill I climbed. If this was hard I'm thinking the Rockies might pose a problem for my endurance. Alright, head back to the hotel, good workout. Thank goodness for cell phones, and picture/video mail. Again, I digress, this has now become about the kiddies.

Did some good work, learned a lot more about the marriage education movement, feel empowered that the work we are doing is good and essential to healthy families. I'm so glad my dear friend Tonya was there with me to commisserate on being gone from our babies. Our laughter and the people we met and observed helped me pass the time. I ate crab, halibut and avacado in my challenge to try new things. Cold turkey quit pop. I got back to our church weight loss challenge and I had LOST 4 pounds. Big step for me and I didn't feel like I was "dieting". Now I digress into my weight loss challenge subject. Another time, another channel.

I didn't leave my heart in San Francisco, I left it in Parma Michigan. Gross. I had to end it in a cheeseball way since I started that way.

Kirk Cameron and My Fireman Drew

I'm a fan of Firemen (especially my own personal fireman Drew), Kirk Cameron (the first boy to make my heart start racing), and I'm also a fan of marriage and good marketing. So when I was at the SmartMarriages Conference in San Francisco in July I was drawn to the booth with wedding rings making the OO's in FIREPROOF. Kirk Cameron, my earliest crush, is the star- I'm sold...

I was really drawn in because at Marriage Matters Jackson we have been working on the idea for a long time to take our marriage workshops to the fire departments around Jackson County. Since Drew is a firefighter in Parma and Spring Arbor I was extra intrigued in combining firemen and marriage! As I got talking with the people from FIREPROOF I found out it was a movie, produced by the people who did "Facing the Giants" a few years back.

I was able to preview the movie FIREPROOF at the conference and I'll be honest, I was a bit skeptical about how good it was going to be because it was given the constant disclaimor of "Christian Content". I assumed that meant lacking in budget and abundant with cheese. To my great surprise and delight I truly enjoyed the movie and the powerful message of marriage, it's complexities and the importance of forgiveness and healing. I laughed and I cried. Don't overexpect because I think people ruin movies with over the top reviews. Please underexpect like I did then you're pleasantly surprised with how much you like it. But I DO recommend that everyone go and see this movie.

There is a book they use in the movie that is coming out along with the movie premier in late September that is a great companion to the marriage message. I'm hoping to find a way to use it in my work with Marriage Matters Jackson. People are hungry for marriage support and something positive to encourage keeping things healthy and weathering life's storms together.

A group from Trinity Wesleyan got it to come to Jackson but I couldn't help because it competes with an event we are already doing for Marriage Matters on September 26th. I will be going and taking as many friends as possible that opening weekend. So check out their website that I have linked here and go see this movie!

It comes in waves- Calgon take me away...

Isn't it funny how you can be simultaneously overwhelmed and delighted by the chaos of your everyday life? Sometimes I just hold on tight and try to survive the ride. I try to remember that it's a short ride and someday my house will be empty. It will be quiet, perhaps organized if I have some sort of accident that changes my default programming. I guess my fear is that I won't be organized and tidy and I've spent decades blaming it on the kids. I'll deal with that when we get there.

Today I was trying to clean something, anything, chasing Grace, picking up our friend Brian from school, Sam & Faith stayed home for a "mental health day", Meg & Duncan were supposed to come for the afternoon but John didn't have school because of a power outage. So, I'm feeding, arbitrating, facilitating, and supervising tiny Tazmanian Devils. One minute I'm tearing up and taking photos to preserve the moment they discover a field of dandelions and how to blow their puffy things. Then I snap out of it and see how crappy our yard looks and these stinkin dandelions are taking over, now the kids are kicking each other and someone just stepped in dog poop. The phone is ringing, the baby is screaming ba-ba and I can't find it anywhere, I'm chatting with Brian's dad who is here picking him up, the dog just jumped the fence and got loose, the kids are screaming that he is getting away, "don't let him die mama!" I just calmly say to myself- fall apart or laugh it off? What's it gonna be? Praise the Lord I've gotten better at choosing the latter.

Now comes another precious moment where I snap just a mental picture of my cherubs playing together so nicely, playing pretend of some sort- store is it? school? how darling. Oops... not so fast, if you listen closely, Sam just called faith "Fart head" and she called him "dummy face" (we'll need to help her with the come-backs they're a little lame I'll admit). The baby is probably going to grow a tail soon with the amount of cat and dog food she keeps stealing and scarfing down before we snatch it out of her tiny fists.

But in between the crashing waves of adorable then horrible I really find I am delighted at how rich our life is. Just about every time I'm ready to throw in the towel and beg Calgon to take me away, I get that glimmer of hope that reminds me "for such a time is this" and I take a mental picture of the beautiful chaos that is the Raines family.

Please Be FUNNY!

I NEVER go to movies anymore. Too expensive, too hard to do when you have little kids and usually too disappointing. Don't you hate it when you're anxiously awaiting a new movie and you just KNOW this is one you'll add to your personal "classics" list? Only to have your hopes crushed by it being over the top obvious humor or too dirty or they ruined all the good lines by playing them over and over on the TV previews. I have pinned my newest cinematic hopes on "Baby Mama". PLEASE let it be funny! PLEASE let it be funny! I made my sister PROMISE to go with me because we have died laughing over the preview "sorry I farted in your purse" line. We're going tomorrow night- opening night. The last movie I saw in the theatre was Alvin & The Chipmunks. Not bad, and maybe I downloaded a few of Alvin's tunes onto my ipod but it was FOR THE KIDS!

PLEASE BE FUNNY "Baby Mama"!!! I'm the only one who even reads my blog so this is more of a note to self or a diary to reflect on hopes and dreams and see if they come true. So this one's shallow. Maybe next week I'll tackle world peace. For now it's "Baby Mama"....

What Makes Me Laugh

This picture is from some random forward that typically goes straight to the trash bin but I found this little jewel and it makes me laugh SOOOOO hard every time I see it. Just thought it needed a place on my blog to honor it. Sometimes people wonder what makes me laugh and it's hard to explain but this picture helps to give you an idea. It doesn't make great sense as to why it strikes me so funny, but that's why I love it. It just strikes me funny. Every time. Enjoy.

My Baby is 8 Years Old!

I can't believe I became a mommy for the first time EIGHT years ago! My sweet Sam made us a family on February 25, 2000. That was the year of Y2K if you'll remember, and everyone was freaked out that the world as we knew it was going to come crashing down on Jan 1st 2000. The new millenium. People were storing up extra canned goods and water even if they didn't openly admit it. I was freaked out enough with the labor experience looming overhead. It didn't help to watch people go all "chicken little"- our neighbor built some sort of special shelter and stored food rations "just in case". I mean we mocked him but also kept in the back of our minds that it doesn't hurt to be on the inside with one local nut job in case of emergency.

Well, the new year came and went without incident. The hospital was ready and waiting for me on the cold morning of February 25th, 2000. I had to be induced because of my pregnancy induced pre-ecclampsia (high blood pressure). So I checked my swollen ankles and bloated face into the hospital and pensively settled into the hospital bed awaiting the pitosin to kick in and start what I can only explain as the most terrifying unknown I have ever experienced. How long will it take? How much will it hurt? Will the baby be ok? Will I be ok? What if I scream? What if I cuss? What if I POOP?!

Slowly the reality of labor pains started mounting and it was creepy yet interesting to watch them peak and valley on the monitor. I could hear the baby's heartbeat the whole time whooshing away. I was feeling so many things beyond the pain and anxiety- like a deep compassion for this little person who was about to go through his first of many difficult experiences in this life. What a strange entrance into this world.

After some crazy pain I cannot describe, miraculous relief from the spinal, several awkward but apparently "text book" pushes (that must be a standard nurse cheer). I experienced a joy, euphoria, adrenaline rush that I never knew you could experience here on earth. This slimy, wriggly, beautiful boy entered our lives and would change us forever.

I marvel at how much has happened in his short little lifetime. Good times and yucky times- our Sammy and his sisters always bring us back to what is most important. We hope we are teaching him all he needs to know to be good person but most importantly a man of God. Sam has taught me as much as I have taught him. I love you sweet Sam. I'm so glad Jesus allowed me to be your mommy!

Gracie's First Year

It hardly seems possible that we just celebrated Gracie's first birthday. She is our joy and delight as my Grandma Sue used to say. She has gone from this tiny fragile little bundle that we all fought to hold and would fall asleep on our chests for hours- to this sturdy little toddler that has walked so long that she can actually run to chase Sam and Faith. She has a bunch of teeth which is weird for our kids- Sam and Faith just started teething a few weeks ago at 6 and 7 years old. :) She just seems to love life- Daddy is her absolute favorite thing in all the world and lights up every time she sees him. Da Da is the only thing she will actually say and if he asks for hugs and kisses she flies over to him to dole out the lovin. She ignores the rest of us most of the time when we ask. She has discovered the dog and cat and thinks they are so fun to pet and sometimes pat a bit too hard. If you say hello? she'll put her hand up to her ear like she's answering a telephone. If you say "Where's Gracie?" she puts just one hand over her eye to hide from you. I told her to "shhhh" the other day and all of a sudden this chubby little index finger went up to her mouth and she started saying "s s s s" to me. She loves her baby dolls and walks around holding and hugging them until something else grabs her attention and then she drops or throws them with conviction. This is going too fast but I'm trying to soak in as much as possible and enjoy the ride. We love you Grace Elizabeth!