Growing up

Gracie has grown leaps and bounds in the last month.  In the last four weeks, she’s mastered walking, said her first words (we think), developed an infectious laugh, and has starting dancing.

Here is a short video of Gracie learning to walk right before Christmas.  Now she’s walking so fast it’s hard for mom and dad to keep up.

We were out to dinner the other night & when Gracie was finished with her meal, we swear she said “all done.”   Two weeks later she said it again!  I would have bet money her first words would be “more”, but Ms. Grace is never shy in letting us know what she wants, so it “all done” is fitting.  

Below is a short clip of Gracie laughing. Watching her laugh, makes me laugh so now it’s my goal in life to make her laugh. 

Aunt Nora and Uncle Al gave Gracie this big block toy & Gracie loves it!  She loves to dance to the music when she’s standing around it.  I wouldn't say we’re ready to enroll her in Irish dancing, but if I remember the Irish dancing lessons my brother got from Erin’s aunts at our rehearsal dinner correctly, I think she heading in the right direction.  The Mogensen square Flintstone feet don’t typically lend themselves the dancing arts, but maybe Gracie will luck out.  Now he just needs to overcome the inability to dance to the beat that she may have inherited from her dad. 

Who loves bacon?

Grace with her new shoes and big girl scarf.

This robe is so stinking cute, but we pushed the limits of letting her walk around without a diaper.  After I finished filling her bath tub and I turned off the facet, the running water sounds didn’t end.  I looked down to see Grace’s innocent face only to find a little puddle.  Ms. Grace still hates baths and she found a pretty effective way to protest them. 

           

Someone takes after her mom.  Grace loves her toy purses.  Dad’s bank account is in trouble. 

Sign Language

Erin and I have been trying to teach Gracie sign language, but she hasn’t quite taken to it yet.  She goes for the more direct approach.  Below are some examples.

I want to go outside!  Here is my hat and coat.

I need a diaper change!

You’re feeding what?

Oh well, we'll keep trying.  

Christmas Day 2011

Erin and I started out Christmas morning with making an ornament for Grace.  It proved to be more difficult than we anticipated.  It took five tries.  Grace wanted to play with the dough instead of making a hand print.

I think the final product turned out well though and I’m hoping Grace appreciates it as she gets older. 

Why do I think this if the first of many early Christmas mornings looking like I stayed out all night?

I got Erin an iPhone for Christmas and she loved it.  In fact, we barely talked for days as she constantly played with her new toy. 

We then headed out to the Danish Retirement Home for Christmas lunch with my grandmother, Maren.  Maren lights up every time she sees Grace so we’ve been trying to visit her more often these days. 

After lunch we went over to Jim and Noreen’s house where Noreen hosted dinner for 18 people.  Great work Noreen, it was delicious (while minus all the cheese based dishes).   Even though Grace and Rory are only 2 days apart, they don't really seem to acknowledge each other.  I read this is called "parallel play" for infants.  I'm sure by the next Christmas they will be inseparable play buddies though.  

Jim was recently added to the TSA watch list and now can't be trusted with real silverware, even in his own home.  He seems ok with it though. 

Hey, my head is not that big!  I had a little fun with oversized Santa hat chair covers.   You may notice one less chin on big old Mark this year.  I lost 14 pounds in a 3-month “fat-off” competition between 4 friends.  I won $300 and the losers will be treating me to nice steak dinner at a Chicago steakhouse of my choosing, not Sizzler.  Things have been going well for me lately.  I also won one of my fantasy football leagues and pocketed a nice $900 grand prize. 

I’m not sure what they are called, but each place setting had one of these tear apart tube gifts.  Anyhow, we each received different sized kazoos, a music sheet paper hat, and a music sheet.  Let’s just say the Ryan/Connors/Barton/Mogensen/Taylor kazoo group won’t be auditioning for America’s Got Talent’s upcoming season.  We did have a ton of fun and Uncle Mike graciously offered to be the conductor until he decided the kazoo group was lost cause.  At that point, he broke into a 2-minute freestyle version Beyonce’s “All the Single Ladies” which brought the house down.  Although he stopped short of the full black leotard Beyonce wore in her video, I thought he nailed it.  Aunt Maureen wasn’t quite so sure (see below).

The night ended with a Yankee swap which is always a lot of fun.  Grandma Shirley opened a Sonic Care toothbrush which she wasn’t so excited about.  Luckily, someone else liked it and stole it from her. 

Grace was showered with many gifts this year mainly by her two sets of grandparents.  I think she enjoys tasting each present more than playing with them.  Of course, she loved playing with the leftover wrapping paper and boxes.  Special thanks to Erin for getting me a super fancy camera for Christmas that took so many of these great pictures.  Although she seems to like it even more than I do and has become quite the paparazzi.

All in all, another great Christmas.  Thank all for your generosity.  

Christmas Eve 2011

The Mogensen’s hosted Christmas Eve this year.  It was a bit crowed in good old apartment 2N, but I think everybody still had a good time.

The Grace proof Christmas Tree. 

Who’s more excited for the new toy purse?  Mom or Grace? 

 Grace seems happy with her oversized toy lipstick. She still has those Mogensen cubbers.

So much for the Muppet’s Swedish Chef, I’m the Danish Chef.  Thanks Sean

Little did I know, Jim is a huge Cory Hart fan.   Come on, everyone knows the words, “I wear my sunglasses at night / so I can / so I can ...” Anyhow, I think he looks pretty sharp in new gift.  

Our Anniversaries and a Pool Party

Our downstairs neighbor had a birthday pool party at the local community pool.  Grace still doesn't like baths, but we thought we would see if she might take a pool better.

She's not too sure about this pool thing

After awhile, she start to warm up to the pool, but spending time in the water still isn't her favorite. 

Jim and Noreen graciously took us out for dinner at the new trendy Chicago Cut Steakhouse for joint anniversary celebration since our anniversaries fall within days of each other.  I had the Cajun Rib-eye which was enormous, but it didn't stop me from devouring the entire thing (Minus the grizzle and fat - there was no need to go the John Candy route in the Great Outdoors Old 96er scene).  Thank you so much Jim and Noreen, it was delicious.  While I don't have a picture of the phenomenal steak, below a great picture of Noreen with her granddaughter at Chicago Cut.