Grace is growing up!

I have been so crazy busy getting back into my life here in Texas and I have so much to say! Grace has really been learning a lot lately and saying so much more. She has a few new favorite words, which include: mess, vaccuum, rain, morning, cookie, and the list goes on! She started talking more in Utah, but since we have been home she has nearly doubled her vocabulary. Sometimes I can tell she is trying to say an entire sentence and I can't understand a word of it...all in good time.

I took her on the "big girl" slide yesterday at the park and she giggled and squealed so much it was hilarious! Every time her feet hit the ground, she took off to go up the stairs for another turn. I could hardly keep up with her...this belly is really starting to change how fast I move!

She also had her hair in a ponytail for the first time yesterday. Even though her hairstyles last about ten minutes it was adorable. Her hair is finally getting long enough to try new things. Matt insists that I keep trying to do her hair so she'll get used to it...I think he's right. She looks a bit like a boy when her hair is down.

Matt is doing as well as can be expected. He is often very tired and calls pretty late in Iraq time, but he is always so happy to see us as we are him. These five months have really had ups and downs for me emotionally, but since I've been home and we have seen and talked to him a bit more, I have felt a lot better. I truly love him more than I did when he left. What a guy, my Matty! He puts up with my whining a lot and still loves me! He can't get enough of Grace when he calls, either. She lights up and runs to the office when he calls.

I am now 28 weeks pregnant and Ella is kicking my gut! She is incredibly active and I have Braxton Hicks contractions so often that I am usually short of breath. But I'm still going to Jazzercise and loving every minute of it. Maybe I'll be an instructor when all my kids are in school. That's a bit down the road...

The Texas heat and humidity are rapidly approaching and I am not looking forward to watering the lawn this summer. I think I'll be waking up at 5 am to avoid the heat. I have finally hired someone to take care of the yardwork and I am sad to see the extra money go, but being pregnant and having Matt gone has brought this decision to the forefront of my mind. I had a hard time mowing the entire thing BEFORE I got pregnant...not really a good idea while in my 3rd trimester. Oh well.

Matt and I decided it is soon time for Potty Training to begin. I don't want two in diapers while he is away and she is excited when she sees the potty in the bathroom. Crossing my fingers that once she catches on, when Ella is born she won't revert back to diapers.