It's February!!!

We LOVE this month. :)

I just reminded Jeff that today is our Engagement Day anniversary--FIVE YEARS AGO Jeff flipped out a ring on a bridge over the Falls...

"That seems SO long ago..." he says.

"In a GOOD WAY, right?"

He smiles.

Sometimes life turns out better than you imagine it.

"Mommy Rest. Gracie Rest."

Mommy is a little tired these days......sometimes resorting to laying on the floor to "play" with Gracie in the evenings...
"Mommy tired. Gracie tired, TOO! Nigh-night, Mommy."
This was the calm before the Gracie-tackle: "I got you, babe!"

I've got you too, Grace Face.

PKU Update

I realize that we haven't posted an update on Gracie's PKU in quite a while... It's probably because her case is mild--which is rare in kids with PKU--and we haven't had to make drastic changes in her life. Blessed! :) At this point--20 months old--the only foods we've kept out of her diet are meat, eggs, and peanut butter. This is a lot easier to do than we originally thought--we just never introduced these foods, and she hasn't really known what she's been missing! Her body is able to digest SOME phenylalanine (one type of protein)--so we still let her eat dairy--which is something most kids with PKU are unable to do. She gets most of her protein from a special formula we add to her milk each day. At this point, we have her blood tested once a month and adjust her diet--usually the amount of formula that's added to her milk--accordingly after the results. We've just started taking her blood samples at home instead of going in to the lab. All-in-all, we are pretty blessed to have such a mild strain of this genetic disorder. The other good news we have received is that our next baby has a 25% chance of also having PKU, but his case would be very similar to Grace's--mild.

We are very blessed!

(This is a picture of the yogurt container that Grace emptied, threw away, and promptly retrieved from the garbage to lick clean...)

Daddy's Shoes

Yes! We've finally gotten to the little-girl-trying-on-her-daddy's-shoes stage! What a crack up! Gracie loves everything that belongs to her dad--from his CEREAL and SHOES to his DEODORANT--yes, his deodorant...she always wants the lid off and we're afraid that soon we'll find sticky blueish Old Spice gel on the walls--she thinks her dad hung the moon.


I know I've posted a picture just like this before, but it's my favorite part of the day. "More cereal, Daddy." You may see this pose again in a few months...just to mark this girls' growth! :)

"Happy Birthday, 'Eah!"

We cannot believe that "little" Alea turned FIVE this month! She and Kalei are such wonderful friends to Gracie--Alea had to make sure that Gracie (age 1 1/2) was invited to her Jump and Play birthday party with all of her friends. Grace had a GREAT TIME. Happy Birthday, Alea! Slow down! You're growing too fast!

Daddy went on the bigger kids' jumping toys with Grace. She was so giggly! How fun to be a big kid! :)
One going on five...?