Every Saturday morning I get up early and brew some coffee and call my mother. We have coffee together and talk about anything and everything and nothing. It's great! Today our conversation went like this:
Mom: Hello
Me: Happy Birthday! Did you see your shadow?
Mom: No. It's overcast.
Both of us at the same time: Phil saw his!
Both again: Laughing laughing laughing
We decided she is our family groundhog so we'll go with her prediction of winter ending soon. Hey, there's hope!
I sent her a birthday card which I mailed to her other house thinking she'd be there today. Oops. And I ordered her an official Punxsutawney Phil Beanie Baby Groundhog. She didn't get that yet either. Oh, I am not organized enough!
She also said there were 25 deer in the yard this morning to greet her and tell her happy
birthday. I'm sure that's why they were there. 
I actually have a sneaky suspicion that the deer may have been enjoying eating up her yard and garden for breakfast.After we got the groundhog, the weather, the deer and the birthday conversation out of the way I was able to tell her about Gracie's daycare experience. My baby went to a babysitter on Monday and Wednesday this week and it was the first time. It went pretty well I thought.
Monday she was happy to be there and she scampered off to the toy room before I left. So, I just snuck out and went to college. She had a full day of playing and eating and more playing. Sounds like she had a good day. The sitter had to take her along to watch her 4 yr old go to dance class. Well, sounds like that was a struggle as my little princess wanted to dance too! The teacher finally let her join the class for their last dance - The Hokey-Pokey. That's what it's all about!
Wednesday I made sure to say good bye before I left since I've been told that sneaking out causes trust issues. Oh that didn't go well! I'll be sneaking out! Trust issues, ha! After being consoled since her mother just abandoned her, she did have a good day. The sitter cannot understand a thing she says yet. They'll get to know each other and learn each other's language I'm sure. In the afternoon they walked to the park and my little tomboy was happy to run in the grass and play in the sand. That's my baby! She cried when they left the park and was not happy to leave such a fun place behind.
All in all, I'd say this week at the sitter's has gone well. Plus that, Gracie responded to the sitter when she spoke Spanish to her. The sitter said "Donde esta la pelota?" and Gracie turned around, grabbed her ball and said BALL! Good job, baby!
