Rolling, Rolling, Rolling and Rolling Some More!

Big news today: Grace rolled from her tummy to her back several times! I brought out the video camera so Daddy could see this when he came home from work but I was so excited that I dropped the camera! Now Grace is able to roll from her back to tummy & tummy to back. Oh the places she'll go now!

After all that rolling, Grace took some well deserved relaxation time with one of her favorite things -- her "lovey" named Ella the Elephant pictured here. After hearing about "flat teddy bears," which are a new safe alternative to stuffed animals for babies, Maddy searched long and hard and found a flat elephant for Grace! In order to fall asleep at night, Grace looks intently around her crib to find Ella and once she makes eye contact with her pink friend (and Glow Worm) she closes her eyes and falls fast asleep!

Four Months Old!

Happy four months Sweet Grace. I can't believe another month has gone by - and what a spectacular month it was! Grace learned so many things this past month:

• Rolling over from her back to her tummy


• Finding her feet
  
• Playing with her toes


• Using both hands together


• Mouthing toys (or anything within reach)


• Reaching, grabbing, and holding on to toys


• Traveling in a new "big girl" Britax car seat


• Riding in her stoller without the infant car seat


• Laughing (Mommy's favorite)


• Pulling to stand


• Sitting with support


• Eating and loving every single bite!


• Drinking from a cup


• Crossing midline with her hands


• Holding her head up
• Loving tummy time!
• Becoming very good friends with Emma, Lil' Bit, & Good P (the Leger cats)


• Producing so many more sounds and carrying on a "conversation"


• ...and we've saved the best for last - sleeping through the night!!
  

In addition to Grace's four month birthday, baseball season has finally started and the Red Sox played their first game today. Daddy says, "This is the year!" Hmmm.....I think I've heard that before! Unfortunately the Sox did not win today but I think it's because they didn't want to distract any attention away from Grace's big day. Go Sox.

Go Grace!

April is off to a big start already! Here are some pictures of Grace going for a walk with Mommy, Daddy, and Emma in her jogging stroller for the very first time!Here's Grace WINKING and WAVING at the neighbors. She certainly knows how to show off her new ride. Work it Grace! Grace loved the jogging stroller so much that she was fast asleep by the time we got home.

Emma!

"Now I'm Ready to Eat Anything"

"This is edible, right?"
"Mmmmmmmmmmmm!"

"Tastes like chicken."

Yummy Yummy Yummy in my Tummy Tummy Tummy!

Little Gracie had her first food experience on Sunday as she ate rice cereal. It would be a gross understatement to say that she loved it! Grace was leaning forward in her chair after every bite and would yell out loudly when the spoon didn't come back muis rapido. Rebecca and I truly enjoyed feeding Grace and watching her expressions and exclamations. It will certainly be a day that we will always remember.

Rolling!

Since learning to roll from her back to her tummy on March 16, our Gracie girl can't be stopped! Here are some pictures of Grace rolling over on her play mat.

Hooray Grace!!!

What a Great Gift!

"I Luv Baby Grace" From: "Brandon 3-22-07"

My goodness, Grace isn't even four months old yet and she already has an admirer! Brandon is a little boy in my Mom's 1st grade class that Grace met when she visited Mary Hogan Elementary School a few weeks ago. When Brandon first laid eyes on "Baby Grace" he jumped up and down with joy and happiness. He welcomed Grace to his school by giving her a green carnation flower for St. Patrick's Day. Brandon keeps asking my Mom when "Baby Grace" is coming back to school because he "loves her."

Brandon, thank you for your card - Baby Grace loves it. It was very nice of you to make such a beautiful card for her. Your card is in Grace's room so she can look at it every day. Baby Grace loved meeting you and she can't wait to go back to Mary Hogan School in April to see you again. Grace misses you and she loves you too!

It'sTime!

Pictures of the BIG event to come..........

What a Difference a Year Makes!

It was March 22, 2006 when I found out I was going to have a baby. Hooray! Ever since I was a little girl I had always dreamed about becoming a Mommy and it was finally happening. As soon as I found out the news I immediately called Bob at work to tell him he was going to be a Daddy. Looking back now, I wish I had waited to tell him the news in person but I wasn't thinking rationally and my first reaction was to pick up the phone. Later that day Bob met me at my workplace and we went out for a nice dinner to celebrate. We immediately discussed baby names and both knew that we wanted the name Jack for a boy and were undecided between the names Grace, Anna, or Violet for a girl. I couldn't wait to tell my parents after our dinner. I tried calling my Mom over and over and over again but I couldn't reach her! I must have called her at least twenty times within a two minute time span! I knew my father was at work because it was the middle of tax season so just like I did with Bob I called my Dad at work too! He was so excited by our news that he immediately left work and went home. A short time later my mother arrived home from dinner with friends and my father broke the big news to her. My Mom immediately called me and we talked for hours. I remember my Mom saying she had waited her whole life for this. She had even started a secret grandmother's box many years earlier! I then called my brother and grandparents. They were thrilled with our news too. Bob and I decided to wait and tell his family in person that weekend. It was so hard to keep it from them for two whole days! I'll never forget that very special day one year ago. Grace is my wish come true.

Happy Baby

Grace is very excited to experience her first Spring day. Grace always wakes up a happy girl and today was no exception. Mommy dressed her in some festive clothes and added one of Maddy's super cute headbands to make today even more special.

Spring has sprung!

Gracie's First Laugh

Our precious Grace has been blessing us with many smiles over the past two months. Today, she laughed for the very first time!! There were many raspberry sounds and a fair amount of drool that preceded the laugh and it was all worth the monumental moment. We hope that her life will be filled with lots of love, laughter, and happiness.

Happy St. Patick's Day

St. Patrick's Day is an enchanted time - a day to begin transforming winter's dreams into summer's magic. ~Adrienne Cook

A Big Trip for a Big Girl!

Mommy & Grace visited Maddy & Poppy in Middlebury, Vermont for a few days and arrived back in Maine just in the nick of time before the big Noreaster storm hits us with over a foot of snow. Grace had the best time in Vermont -- she sure was one busy girl. She visited Maddy's school yesterday for the very first time. Grace was initially greeted at the door by her beaming Maddy and two adorable children, Annie & Brandon. The three of them proudly escorted Grace down the hall to their classroom where all of the children welcomed Grace with large smiles and made her feel so special by singing her two songs. Grace met so many wonderful people at Maddy's school. A very big thank you to Donna, Sarah, Elsie, Sally, Donna W, Diane, Beth, Jenn, Ursula, Mary, Tena, Jodi, Jim, Laura, Marci, Liz, & Jessica for meeting Grace and for being so kind to her. She can't wait to see everyone again on her next visit!

Grace was full of smiles for her Maddy & Poppy. Maddy surprised Grace with many new outfits (with matching hair bows of course!), books, and toys. Maddy also taught Grace how to sing all of the short vowel sounds. Poppy helped Grace sit, stand, and walk. He also gave Grace her night time massage. Poppy came home early from work both nights to play with Grace, which is a near impossible feat during tax season. She sure is one lucky girl. Thank you Maddy & Poppy for an unforgettable visit. Grace also visited Great-Grandma & Great Pop-Pop today. They were truly amazed how much Grace has grown!

BIG NEWS - Grace rolled over from her back to her tummy for the first time in Vermont. At first I thought it was a fluke until Grace proceeded to roll over four more times. When we arrived back in Maine Grace continued to roll over again and again and again! I couldn't wait for Grace to show this to her Daddy. We are all amazed by her strength.

Life of Luxury

Ahhhhh....now this is the life!Grace finds it easy to relax and escape the stress of being a baby on her bearskin rug!

Look at Me Go!

This was big moment for our Gracie girl.... it was her very first ride in her stroller without her infant car seat! Grace went shopping at the Maine Mall with Mommy & Daddy where she received many, many smiles from onlookers as she held her color book and took in all of the sights, sounds, and smells at the mall. Don't worry Uncle Adam, Grace didn't spend the entire day at the mall. Later on we took Grace outside on a long nature walk where she experienced touching the cold wet snow, smelling the pine trees, feeling the warm sun on her face, and seeing all of the beautiful white birch trees!

Massage Time Workout

Gracie gets a massage nightly as part of her bedtime routine. She has taken this opportunity to incorporate a Tummy Time workout. Grace is now lifting her head straight up regularly and recently started schooching her legs. She loves her massages from Mommy. After massage time is bedtime bathtime then lotion time then dinner before bedtime. Not surprisingly, Grace sleeps very well after her bedtime schedule.

The Leger Lady Triumverate

Memere came to visit today and we all drove from Limerick to North Conway, New Hampshire. The scenery was wonderful and the company was fantastic. We had a great lunch at the Muddy Moose and enjoyed driving through Freedom, Jackson and Western Maine. Grace enjoyed the ride in her new carseat and spending QT with Memere.

Pepere!

Grace is a happy girl because Pepere is visiting for a few days! Pepere has a calming effect over our little Gracie. She has loved her time with Pepere but gets a bit emotional when she has to say goodnight to him.

All things girly!

All girls need a little beauty rest now and then....