Back to life..back to reality!

First and foremost...welcome to the world, Hollis Joy Hebert! We are thrilled to have another new niece and cousin. Our hospital pictures aren't terrific, but these glamour shots sure are!

For the months of August and September, I (Sarah) was consumed by a holiday market selling my paper goods & design services! It was a lot of work, and I'm glad I did it. Couldn't have done it without the help and encouragement of so many family and friends!!

For 10 days in October we were in sunny (and warm!) California visiting Carl's dad David & Peggy. We crammed a lot of amazing things into our time there – time with cousins Ellie & Gavin, La Costa Resort, Disneyland (Gracie loved the teacups and Dumbo rides, was a little unsure of meeting Mickey for real!), a pumpkin patch, and beach time (Grace did NOT like the sand, or seaweed, but was mesmerized by the ocean!).

'Round Here

This is what we've been up to (besides potty training):

Outdoor fun with our friends Emmi & Cecily (don't mind our dry grass...more than 50 triple digit degree days will do that to a yard)!

Celebrating Grampy's birthday. Gracie's new favorite thing is to color cards for birthdays!

Hanging out with cousin Evy...giving her fierce hugs!

Celebrating a new cousin to come with sisters in law Sarah & Brooke (expecting Baby Hollis in October)!

In our dear friend Will's absence (to Tiny Pebble for less than a year now), Gracie has affectionately named her favorite baby doll, "Baby Will." (We say it's short for Willena.) She likes to do most everything with her – including eat her breakfast!

Playing dress up...for some reason this elicited a dance and "Man hat, man hat!"

Fun with friends Elliot and Ruby on a walk to our neighborhood playground!

Girls' Night Out (daddy was dove hunting) at Barn'rds...milkshakes were a must!

Potty Training

The lack of blog posting is due in part to the fact that we've been potty training! Phew, it's hard work!

We started a couple of weeks ago. It went a little something like this: One night after dinner, Grace said, "Go poo poo, Momma?" Why yes, of course, my darling child, I would love to whisk you to the potty even though I'm not quite finished with my dinner. I was skeptical, but joyful about this prospect, since she hadn't ever pooped on her own initiative, so this was exciting! Lo and behold, she did it! And it was thrilling! I never thought I could ever be so excited about poop. The next day after breakfast, she wanted to poop again, so we went for it. Two successful dumps in less than 24 hours, and I felt like we were on a roll!

Pottying got a little boring, what with the timer going off every 30 minutes or so, but M&Ms and stickers made the trips bearable. And we made a big deal about big girl panties (just like Mommy)! There have been accidents, and we are on the lookout for the bathroom nearly every place we go, but I think we're on the right track.

Grace-isms

Couldn't help sharing a few of Grace's latest quotes. Toddler talk is so darn cute.

"Mama, you sit here, I sit by you."

"Daddy hold you."

"Oh no! Tree fall down. Tree hurt." (after a big thunderstorm took out lots of branches)

"Finkie, kitty cat. Hiding. 'teve's house. (referring to Frankie the cat at Uncle Steve's house)

"Muzak louderrr, Mama." (listening to tunes in the car)

"How 'bout..." (picking out a book)

"I do it."

"No no no!"

"Paydoh, paydoh." (she says this when she wants to play Play-Doh)

"Jump in! By myself!" (at the pool)

"I wan waaallk." (when she doesn't want to be carried)

"Pay." (She often reminds us to pray before we start eating)

"Peeese." (please)

"No dans you." (No thank you)

"Caw-berry." (strawberry)

"My shoes on!"

"Messy!" (whenever Cookie Monster is on TV or in a book...ha!)

"I wan color." (when she wants to color)

This one's about Eleanor

Oh my, wasn't she a cute pup? Carl and I picked out sweet little teddy Ellie shortly after we got married in 2005. Brought her home in October. She was/is the best little snuggler. She loves the outdoors, adventure, and has a strong love-hate relationship with Grace.

We always joke that we should've named her Scout. Her breeder said she was the first of the puppies to "escape" her litter box. She's escaped our backyard tons of times, digging under our fence to freedom.

My mom told me (much later) that one of the times my parents were puppy sitting when she was brand new, she escaped the backyard. They were watching TV in the living room, and my mom heard barking at the front door, and there Ellie was on the front porch!

She turned six today, which is 42 in human years. You're a good dog, Eleanor Grey Teddy Hebert!

Swimmin' & Bobbin'!

We've been spending lots of time at the pool this summer. (Thank you, Uncle Steve!) Gracie has taken awhile to really get comfortable in the water. She is careless or brave, whichever way you choose to look at it. As a former lifeguard/swim instructor/coach, I used to make fun of moms who used floaties. Until I became a mom. They have been especially helpful this year, because she just can't quite touch the shallow end bottom, and yet she wants the freedom to float around on her own. Or in her words, "Down, mama." Me: "I can't put you down, you can't swim!" Enter floaties.

In our past few trips to the pool, we've really emphasized going under. Taking turns with daddy, or with mommy, agreeing to both get our ponytails wet! I was ecstatic today when she wanted to bob on her own (with mama's hand, of course)!

Happy Birthday, Ann Leslie Baker Robinson - aka Mom!

Today is my mom's birthday. I can't really put into words what she means to me. She is the best mother, and over the years my best friend. She listens, supports and encourages, has a true servant's heart, giving generously of her time and talent, and is so loyal. She always used to say to me that I wouldn't really know how much she loved me until I had kids of my own. She was right. It's been so fun to see her as a Nana. At times she can be a tough critic, but that's what moms are for - encouraging the best from their children. Most of all, she is my biggest fan. The feeling is mutual. I love you, Mom!

4th of July!

We had an incredible 4th of July weekend with all kinds of out of town Baker (my mom's side) family. We got to tour the home that my mom grew up in, in Peabody, KS, recently purchased by family! Here Grace is standing in the doorway. (The exterior needs a little TLC - the inside was in good shape.)

Here are my Papa Ross and Great Uncle Paul. Aren't they cute? They're 14 months apart.

Father and daughter. Aren't they cute too?

While in Peabody, we took some time to explore the park I grew up visiting. Not much had changed!

Peabody always has a great parade for the 4th.

We all did a lot of this over the weekend. Here are my cousins chowing down. We didn't get a good cousin group shot! My folks were incredible hosts feeding all of us several times.

Hillcrest, established 1870: the home of my cousins, just outside of Peabody (you can see the Peabody Coop in the distance). It's been in their family from the start. We gather there every 4th! They are incredible hosts as well.

Sweet shot. Not the best quality, but a memory captured.

This was the 90th year for Peabody fireworks. I think I've been to nearly 30!

For more pictures of the weekend (and better ones, too), visit my cousin Lindsey's blog. She is really something and captured our endeavors and Kansas quite well.

Pool fun with Daddy

"Do you want to fly or swim?"

The answer was always, "Fly!"

'Round Here

Last weekend was full of friends and family - the best kind of weekend, really. There have been lots of happenin's 'round here. Our best friends are moving to Little Rock this week. (sniff, sniff, tear!) Father's Day was delightful. Sweet Grandma Betty had major back surgery. We are praying for her.

Let me tell you a little story. Once upon a time, three girls who did not know each other went to college in the land of Jayhawks. Unbeknownst to each of them, they joined the same wise sorority. In the short four years they shared together, they became dear dear friends and through date parties and sharing makeup and drinking beer and weddings and babies and long distance, are still to this day. We shared dinner together on Saturday night. Boge drove down all by her little self from Lawrence leaving her two babies and hubby behind to surprise Pinky. In her words, "Reunited and it feels so good!" My goodness it had been months and months since the three of us were together! It was particularly good being together, albeit too short, since Pinky is headed down South for a year. My heart is heavy with her impending move, but I am so thankful we are a) friends b) will forever be friends c) have had sugar & egg time in the same city d) only having to endure this separation 12 months.

We celebrated Father's Day on Sunday with a delicious meal on Sunday at my folks' house. If I tell you what we had you might drool on your keyboard, so just be prepared that that might happen. Raspberry salsa dip with blue chips, veggies and dip, bloody marys, mashed potatoes, Pennsylvania cheese grits, barbeque brisket, baked squash & zucchini, sweet corn, fresh fruit, strawberry pretzel salad, three been salad, bread & butter, Texas sheet cake, vanilla custard, and lemon cheesecake topped with fresh fruit. Oh my, I guess we sound like gluttons! It was magnificent. It was good to be with so many fathers whom I love, especially my own. Melts my heart to see my own daughter spend time with her Grampy. And of course to see her with her own daddy!

Grandma Betty had back surgery Tuesday and is recovering well. We visited her today at the hospital. This precious picture was taken on Sunday: