Not a baby anymore…

There is just no denying it. Grace is not a baby anymore. And as if she knows her birthday is approaching, she is on some sort of developmental bender this week. There’s the walking. And the climbing. She has learned to give kisses and blow kisses “Mmmmwwha”. Last night she learned to say “shoes”. Tonight she had her first strawberry and when she was done she growled “Moo-wha” (more) not to be confused with “Ma-mwah” (mama). She loves her “Dada” and claps with delight when he comes home. There have been other random words too, “Sissa” (Isabelle was thrilled) and “dog” came out a few days ago. I know there have been others and feel terrible that I can’t remember now that it comes to write about it.

Over the last two weeks or so Grace has been transitioning from feeding off to sleep at night to going to sleep in her cot. As she has her feed she strokes my face and when she is done I put her in her cot. Some nights I have patted her, others I have rocked her, some nights Jesse has come in to settle her. Last night I put her down and after a few minutes rolling around and a few murmurs of “Sleepy time for Grace” she went to sleep. Tonight she wriggled around for a few moments, rolled over and without so much as a pat or a whisper, she went to sleep. It just seems unspeakably grown up to be going to sleep by herself in her cot.

Grace is just a delight. She loves life and she loves her family and friends.

Here she is at the airport this morning while Jesse was checking the baggage before leaving for Adelaide with Isabelle.