Wonderful Saturday

Gillian had dance class again today which she was so excited about that she picked her outfit out on Thursday night. We got there early which I'm glad we did because there was one other Mom and daughter there and the instructors so Gillian acted like a big girl. She asked me to help her get her tap shoes on and asked for her ballet shoes which she walked in and put in the cubby. Once she was done that she came back over to me and I suggested she go sit in the middle of the floor and be the first one to start the circle that they get in to begin class which she happily did. Her shyness was gone. I went into the waiting room where the parents go and watched Gillian talk to the instructors. Others started arriving and still Gillian sat and waited with a smile on her face. She paid attention and followed the instructors. The first time that the instructors asked for dancer to come out in front of the class to demonstrate a move for the class Gillian raised her hand and walked out proudly. I could have cried, I know my eyes welled up and I held it in. To think a year ago at this time she was still receiving PT and here she is demonstrating dance moves...not sure a day will go by that I won't remember everything we have been through. I'm so proud.


After dance class Gillian and I headed home to bake cookies. I bake with Gillian a lot, so when I'm 400 pounds don't be surprised...lol. Gillian loves to bake, she asks to do it, it is something that I look forward to doing with her. We made Chocolate chocolate chunk cookies with orange frosting and sprinkles. Mmmmm, they were very good.

Apple Torte

Tonight I got home from work and I was tired, didn't really feel like doing anything. Craig was cooking dinner and Gillian was watching TV. I asked how Craig how his day was and he said fine. Then I hear a little voice from the living room say,"You didn't ask me how my day was." I went in the living room and asked Gillian how her day was and she got all excited and said,"Good!" Gillian is far from neglected but I would hate for her to think I don't care how her day was so I wanted to make sure she got extra attention from Mommy. We had apples to use up and a recipe I wanted to try for Apple Torte. Gillian and I recruited Craig to cut and peel apples while we measured and mixed all the ingredients. It didn't come out how I expected but it was good. Craig doesn't even like desserts like that but he humored Gillian and I by eating some. I love our family...it is funny how adding a little one creates more of a family feeling than I had when it was just Craig and I.

Busy Saturday

Today Gillian and I had a busy day. We had our slumber party last night and it must have wiped her out because she slept until 9am which is not normal for her. She is normally up by 8am at the latest. Once she was up, I told her the plans for the day which got her excited to be busy. Had breakfast and we were out the door.
First stop was to recycle which Gillian calls “cycling”. I want her to understand the importance of recycling so I started bringing her a couple months ago and recently started letting her get out with me and actually put the items in the correct areas.

Second stop was to buy Fall flowers a.k.a Mums. Our summer flowers died a couple weeks ago and I got rid of them and Gillian constantly brings it up when we come in the house so I’ve been telling her we needed to get Mums but she never would call them Mums so I called them Fall flowers and that stuck with her. I had told her that we would go this weekend so when we got there we had to inspect tons of flowers and finally settled on purple and yellow ones. Once we got back home we put the flowers on the front porch which is where the summer flowers had been previously which made Gillian happy.

Next Gillian and I were making Peanut Butter Blondes for a family gathering that we were going to for dinner. Gillian did her normal helping; I separate all the ingredients into separate bowls so she can pour them in. While the blondes were baking Gillian and I did a project which entailed making cards out of construction paper and gluing leaves. Gillian has discovered the joys of playing with scissors which she only has access to under adult supervision. She was thrilled and I enjoyed watching/helping her be creative. I also learned that Gillian can write the letter “i” which surprised me. Yet another thing she has learned at her wonderful daycare.

We went to the family gathering with my family tonight. Gillian and I had a lot of fun visiting everyone. I think Gillian and my niece Emma enjoyed playing on the swing set the most. Gillian enjoyed swinging and sliding down the slide doing choo choo with Emma. I’m happy that they get along so well, Gillian being an only child I’m glad that she has other kids almost her age to relate to. I know she picks up a lot being around adults so much but I want her to be able to be a kid too. I want her to have kids she can relate to.

The past week...

So Gillian is back in pull ups…doesn’t like to tell anyone when she has to poop. She is good about making it through the night without an accident and if she has to pee she makes it to the bathroom. So we are part way there and I know that with time it will come just like everything else. It is nice to be worried about something that all parents worry about for a change. I know that her bathroom issue is common for all kids not just preemies. It’s a nice change for me.

We had a wedding shower on July 12th for Craig’s cousin Rachael. Gillian and I made brownies…she loves to bake. It was a fun afternoon and Gillian was so good. I don’t think anyone really knew she was there. It amazes me how patient she can be.

July 13th we had some people over to celebrate Craig’s birthday which isn’t until the 19th but due to his work schedule that day worked best. Again, it was a fun evening and right as everyone is getting ready to leave Gillian decides to mention that I’m carrying her baby brother…which I’m not carrying a child so I asked her if she knew something I didn’t. Needless to say she got people excited with both happiness and fear which we had to crush by telling them we aren’t expecting a baby.

Today we got terrible news that Peanut had passed away…she would have been twelve next month. She was getting to be an old girl but that doesn’t make it any easier. That is the hard thing about dogs; they become like your children except you know they won’t out live you like you hope your children do.

This evening Gillian and I went grocery shopping after I picked her up at daycare. It poured rain this afternoon and Gillian was very excited to tell me a fellow daycare girl who had her own umbrella. I had never really thought about getting Gillian an umbrella. I have one and I have never used it so why would I think to get her one? But that is all she could talk about so we had to find her her own umbrella. I can’t believe her fascination with accessories. A she loves necklace, bracelets, barrettes, hair ties, likes to change up her shoes and now she has the perfect Little Mermaid umbrella.

Tonight when I laid down with Gillian for bed again, she asked me if I was going to have a baby. I asked where the baby questions were coming from but of course didn’t get an answer. I asked her if she wanted a baby brother or sister and she said yes. I asked if she preferred a brother or sister, she said she would prefer a sister. Not that I should be encouraging such discussion but I was curious what she was thinking. Then she changed the subject and told me how much she loved me, Daddy and Pooh which is always a nice way to end the day.

1st 4th of July Celebration...

Today we had a busy morning, slow afternoon and a busy evening.



This morning Gillian and I made a cake that I found in a cookbook specifically for baking and for kids. It looks like a watermelon and the cake is strawberry with chocolate chips so it seems like a watermelon…it turned out very good. Gillian was very good at making the cake. She cracked all the eggs, I measured all the ingredients and she put them in the bowl and she mixed all the ingredients. I made the icing but Gillian did add the sugar as needed while I was using the hand mixer. It was a very pleasant morning.

The afternoon was quiet and Gillian played Play-Doh.

This evening we went to my parents for a 4th of July celebration. We had the traditional BBQ….hence the cake that was for dessert. We got to see my siblings and parents…Tuesday is the big day when I find out if I’m having a niece or nephew due in November. Hoping for a healthy baby so doesn’t matter what the sex is. It was nice and quiet and everyone liked the cake which Gillian told everyone what she did to help make it which I thought was super cute. My sister-in-law also commented on how Gillian has the best manners for a child which is always nice to hear. My Mom took Gillian over night tonight so Craig and I can have some time to ourselves and hopefully sleep in.

Tomorrow is a day of celebration with Craig’s parents. I have brownies to make in the morning not sure if my assistant will be back from Grammies but I will try to make do if I have to.