Another milestone: Swimming

Forgot to mention that Grace swam her first few strokes without assistance at lessons on May 28 and again in the pool with me on the 30th.  So exciting!  She started lessons in December and is getting very confident at floating, putting her head under water and jumping into the water (at someone).  Pics to come.  As of now, she is 32 lbs, and easily sees the tops of all counters and can turn on all light switches. She also can buckle her own child safety seat, clip on her bike helmet and write her first and middle names.  Guess she'll be wanting the car keys next....

Grace, Mary, and Old Mac

Grace had her first piano recital today.  She played "Mary's Lamb" and "Old MacDonald."  I lost the cable that will allow me to sync the video and pics from our camcorder to the computer and upload them here, but I hope to find it or buy one this summer before our big international trip.  Anyway, she has only been nervous in the last two days, but has willingly given preview performances to anyone she can pull over to our piano.  We got dressed up today, complete with a special gift of painted toe and fingernails (purple) and McD's nuggets (we were running late).  She wore a chinese dress (fuschia, with colorful butterflies) from Alan and Donna, and white tights and red patent shoes (her fave, from Maya M.) and her REAL grown up pearl necklace from China that she will get to keep when she is 16. We clipped a little white flower barrette in her hair.   She fell asleep five minutes before we arrived at the recital hall (nothing fancy, finished warehouse space that doubles as a music store) where she woke up and readied herself.  The video is shot from behind; wish I could see her expression as she went through the following steps:  Walked to the bench, slid up onto the bench.  Sat for an eternity while people whispered "She SO SMALL!" until her teacher realized the bench was too far away for Grace to reach the keys.   After a quick scoot forward, Grace placed her hands on the keys and...sat...and...finally...played!  Flawlessly!  Methodically, with excellent pressure and timing, and not a note out of place.  It was magical.  Everyone was so polite and quiet and patient and when it was all over, she gave a hearty bow to the audience.  (I was so proud and happy, of course I cried!)  Later, after all the other kids finished and everyone was eating and drinking refreshments, she joined the crowd of kids at the piano and squeezed in to play another song, a practice piece, that we hadn't realized she knew from memory.  It was great to see her enjoying the piano and her new skills.   Puts all that drama from practice behind us...at least until tomorrow.
Thanks to Miss Lorna, her wonderful teacher, and all of G's fans who have cheered her on since she started in February.  It bears noting that she has often remarked through the sturm and drang of practice, head in her hands, elbows on the keys, "I wish I'd never said I want to learn piano!"  Well, today, we are all glad she did.  Good work, Gracie!

Will also post photo of the program, in which she is the first student to play, as well as her medal (engraved with her name) from Lorna.  No shots of her black nose, which she gave herself by rubbing the program over it a few minutes before the performance.  Cleaned that up quickly.   

Webcam

Don't know how to use it, I admit.  Well, I do know how to point it at me and Grace and snap a pic.  See?

Headed to Four

Just a quick note to let you know all is well with Gracie Xue.  She turns four very soon and we are planning great things for this month.  This weekend, she attended her second musical of the fall (and a third one is teed up for next week).  She is a great theater-goer, and has the etiquette down pat.   She also had her first swimming lesson which went -- well, swimmingly!

I am taking a few days off before Christmas and will use some of that time to update her photos and current interests.  It's been a rough year for technology at our house, and the laptop we currently have is finicky and difficult to use so please bear with me.  I hope next year is one filled with reliable hard drives and no little software goblins.  Speaking of goblins, Grace went as a ghost this year for Halloween. Don't think daddy got any pictures and mommy was out of town but we did get a few at her preschool parade.  Hope to post updates soon -- no major changes (although she is over 30 lbs and 36 inches now) but still as beautiful as ever.  Happy Holidays, everyone!

Gotcha Day 2010 Campout!

For our third Gotcha Day Anniversary, we had a cookout on the deck and then Grace and I slept in a tent on the deck.  We were joined in the morning by one of our dogs.