Lacey Baby

There are so many things I want to remember right now. I think to myself, at least ten times a day, I must right that down! My kids are funny. Like so dang funny. I'm always laughing and now, I'm mad because I can't remember half of their shenanigans! But, I am going to try my best. 

We are going to start with Lacey...

...

because I just read, "Early Bird" to her for the 9,675th time. No jokes. I'm not exaggerating one bit. About two months before we went to Idaho, she became totally and completely obsessed with the book. We read it five times during the day and before every nap and bed time. I can add in new words or take out some of the original and she catches me and corrects me every.single.time.  I purposely left Early Bird at home when we went to Idaho, because I figured, out of sight, out of mind. Every time we read, which, sadly, wasn't often, Lacey would ask to read Early Bird. When we got home, you can bet your last buck it's the first thing she found and we have continued to read it 5, 6, 7, 8 times a day. The interesting thing about this. Each time we read she asks a new question, "What's that bug called?" -A Praying Mantis, and then the next time we read she will say, "Look, did you see the praying Mantis, his arms look like they're folded, that's why we call him praying mantis." "Where do bunny's live?" -They dig a hole in the ground and live in the hole. "Look Mom, that's a bunny, it lives in a hole in the ground." This last read, like ten minutes ago, she asked, "Mom, Early Bird is wearing a Sailor Suit, but when I'm outside, the birds don't have on a Sailor Suit, Do you think he could really fly in a suit?" -No, Lacey, it's just a story, real birds can't fly in suits, but some birds have really pretty feathers that look just like suits! I promise you, when we read at bed time, she will repeat me word for word. I've tried picking a different book, and most nights we do, but she just can't sleep until she's read her beloved Early Bird.

Lacey started School last week. She was so darn excited. We went to her orientation a few days before and she asked several times, "Are you leaving now? I think it's time for you to leave." The day before school started she reminded me several times, "When we get there Mom, you have to leave." She wasn't even sad to see me go, but when she got home, she took off running towards me and jumped into my arms with the biggest of hugs. She has done the same thing since. That hug brings me so much joy. You see, Lacey is not a hugger, or a kisser, or a cuddle-er.

...Each night after reading Early Bird and after tucking Lacey in, we do a pinkie promise. No hugs allowed and absolutely NO slobbery kisses. On occasion she will surprise me, but it must be on her own terms.  

She does everything on her own terms. You can not convince this child to do anything that was not her idea first. Like trying one bite of meat ball at dinner last night. She sat at the table for one hour and then convinced me to let her eat an entire apple instead of ONE bite... JUST ONE LITTLE BITE. This gives me hope that she wont so easily give into peer pressure.  She was by far my easiest baby and I still think she's been my easiest toddler. She's pretty laid back, go with the flow, doesn't complain much. But when she does, it's an awful nasty cry/whine that makes me want to plug my ears and crawl in a hole. She's been doing better about it because I told her I wont read Early Bird at bed time if she does it. Trying to teach this girl to just use her words. 

Lacey loves Elena. She loves to play with her and help her and boss her around and antagonize her. As well as the older kids, Lacey is a good little button pusher and of course always plays innocent. 

Lacey is a bag lady through and through. I guess it runs thick in her blood as I too am a bag lady and started my fetish just as young. If anything goes missing in our home, Lacey's bags are the first place we all check. Everything she finds or walks past or sees goes right into her bag of choice for that day. One day while sitting in church I opened up her church bag to find an extra pair of shoes, "In case my feet hurt, Mom!' She also had tights, the sound remote to our downstairs TV, books, crayons, scissors, and food, lots of food. It was a small bag, it was empty when we were getting ready for church, I don't know how she managed, but in just a few minutes she packed it tight! 

And last-

Lacey has a very large vocabulary, like too big for her own good. The results are hilarious and she says funny, adult things, all the time. "Oh my heck!" and "Holy cow!" Are two very common phrases from her. While we were at home my brother, Blake, made us breakfast and he had spilled something on the burner, before it cooled all the way he wiped it with a wet rag, resulting in a very loud sizzling noise, to which Lacey yelled, "Holy Freak, that's hot!" (Not one of my proud moments, as I was wondering where she learned it, I realized I say it... frequently! Oops!) Lacey loves the articles of Faith and has the first and second memorized. It melts me heart each time I hear her say them.

Lacey is an absolute joy. I'm so glad I have her and am grateful to be her Mom.

I am blessed and I know it!