Learning Time

"My Mommy just gave me a puzzle." "Seriously Mommy, do you really expect me to do a puzzle?! But I'm only six months old."
"Hmmmmm."
"Look at what I can do! I've had at least eight hours of inside learning time with my Mommy (with occasional breaks to eat!) for the past five days because of all the rainy weather we've been having -- all that learning time has definitely paid off."

Elllllllllllaaaaaaaaaaaa!

Grace's favorite thing in the entire world is her flat pink Ella the Elephant seen here. Grace ALWAYS falls asleep with Ella tucked snugly under one arm. We couldn't resist taking Grace's picture tonight after she fell asleep in her crib with her dearest friend. Despite two very bright nightime mode camera flashes, Grace remained sound asleep as we took this picture!

The Half Birthday Celebration Continued.......

We extended Grace's half-birthday celebration into an entire weekend of fun! We spent today in Portland at the annual Old Port Festival. Despite the winter-like temperatures, we had another amazing day. I tried to keep Grace warm but she obviously didn't seem to mind the cold wind! Grace loved every moment we spent at the Festival including the people, jugglers, food vendors, dogs, musicians, and dancers.

Because Grace is a "Big Girl" now, she rode in an umbrella stroller for the very first time and loved it! One of our local radio stations was handing out balloons so we got one for Grace and tied it to her stroller. Grace spent most of her time at the Festival with her hands up in the air trying to grab a hold of her priceless blue balloon. Bob and I couldn't stop smiling as we watched our determined little girl continue to grab that balloon over & over & over again as it kept blowing away due to the ocean breeze! A Big Sloppy Puppy Kiss!

A woman with her ten week old puppy named Bella approached us because she saw Grace curiously watching Bella. Grace got a huge thrill from being able to pet Bella. Grace even received a large wet kiss on her hand from this special pup. The woman was surprised that Grace was only six months old and commented on how alert she is! Grace certainly does not miss a trick! This was Grace's first dog experience......could there be a dog added to our family in the near future?!?

Six Months Old!

Our beautiful girl celebrated her half year birthday today. Grace brings true joy and happiness to our lives. Bob & I are on cloud nine (and then some!) each and every day because of our dear Grace.
We love you more than anything our sweet Gracie girl. Thank you for making the past six months the best ever for us.

This past month was a BIG one for Grace. Here are just a few changes that occurred:

• First teeth
• Sitting independently
• Able to get from her tummy to a sitting position all by herself
• Pulls up to stand from a sitting position independently
• Beginning to crawl
• True babbling!
• Drinking from a cup
• Drinking from a straw
• Trying to self-feed using a spoon (all the time!)
• Lots & lots of laughing
• Emerging pincer grasp
• Prefers to sleep on side and tummy
• Transfers toy from one hand to another
• Favorite things: Ella the Elephant, sound play, bubbles, music, having her hands wiped, eating, drinking from a cup, going outside, picking flowers, our three cats, movement games, animals, meeting new people, sign language, and books, books, and more books!!
• Grace loves learning new things - you can see the joy in her eyes when she learns and masters a new skill. She is the hardest worker we know!

A Big Birthday Party for Half a Birthday!

"Excuse me Daddy, I'm a Big Girl now and I would like to stand for this part of the tour please!"Grace was perfect throughout the two hour trip thorough Pineland Farms on her half birthday. She loved every part of the farm tour - the farmer/trolley driver Ken, the tour guide Scott (from Vermont), the baby calves, the big cows and the horses. Grace was such a Big Girl on her half birthday. She finally got to see the animals in all of her farm books come to life. Hooray!

This is Grace with a baby calf sharing their milestone celebrations with each other. The calf was shocked that Grace was doing so many Big Girl things. Grace was so impressed that the calf could eat 2 bails of hay each day. We're going to have to keep a close eye on Grace when she's sitting on the lawn!

This was a special moment for Grace as the foal hurried over to see Grace and was intent on nuzzling her. The foal had not come over to see anyone else in the group but was very interested in communicating with Grace. Although no words were spoken, Grace and the foal shared a very special baby moment through their touch and eye contact.

Guess Who Dressed Grace?!!?!?!!!!!

While Mommy gave Grace her nighttime bath last evening, Daddy went upstairs to get Grace her pajamas. Daddy thought it would help Grace to learn colors if she wore as many as possibe all at once! When Mommy saw the finished product she smiled and thought Daddy was being very silly! The individual pajamas pieces were given by Maddy, Uncle Adam, & cousin Heather. Grace certainly lit up the room this morning when she woke up on her big six month birthday!

More Crawling!

If Grace's toys are placed out of reach, she is determined to use her newly learned crawling skills to get them. We are in awe of Grace's strength, persistence, and determination --- all this and not even six months old yet. What a girl!

Look Who's Starting to Crawl!!!

Grace has been getting into the crawling position for a few weeks now but yesterday afternoon she made her first real attempts at crawling. Grace moved her arm and legs two times and was able to move her body forward. Unfortunately this picture is rather blurry because I was SO excited that couldn't keep the camera steady but it captures Grace's very first real crawl! Go Grace.

Happy Memorial Day

Grace spent her first Memorial Day in the center of Limerick with Mommy, Daddy, Maddy, & Poppy as she watched her very first parade! Our small town parade lasted ten minutes and Grace was thrilled to see the town's ambulance, fire truck, elementary school band, brownie troop, and a real horse go by. Grace was lucky enough to see the parade not once but TWICE since they redid the entire parade in the reverse direction too - aren't small towns wonderful! Maddy points out the horse to Grace as it gallops down the street. This was Grace's first time seeing a real horse......a very special moment shared between Grace and Maddy. Daddy loved the parade too! He said he had never seen anything quite like it! :) Grace clenches her stroller as she eagerly anticipates the parade approaching for the SECOND time. Hooray!

Mommy missed much of the parade the second time around since she couldn't resist giving Grace lots & lots & lots of kisses!

Berry Adorable!

Grace loved every moment she spent with Maddy & Poppy this weekend. Thank you for an unforgettable visit full of lots of smiles and laughs. An extra special thank you to Maddy who spent countless hours making beautiful skirts for Grace (one is shown here). Each skirt has a special Maddy touch added....you'll be seeing them all in pictures to come. We all agree that Grace look absolutely adorable in her Maddy skirts!

Date Night!

After much convincing, Poppy and I talked Bob & Rebecca into going out for dinner. How many times do you think it is normal for grandparents to tiptoe into a sleeping baby's room to sneak a peek?!? We think that Rebecca is just as sweet as can be in this picture with her wonderful husband. How I wish we lived closer. Love, Maddy & Poppy

Pure Joy

All good things when Maddy is here..... Gracie girl even loves green beans, typically not her favorite food, when given by her Maddy!

Grace's Debut of the Ducky Dress!

It was June 29, 2006 that we all found out that Bob & Rebecca's baby was to be a girl. That afternon, we went shopping (normally not my favorite activity as anyone can tell you). I saw this Ducky dress and knew it was perfect for Grace. It seemed so big at the time. But...here she is, in Limerick, Maine, on Sunday, May 27, 2007 in that dress. Isn't she lovely. Love, Poppy

Splish Splash

"Hooray, it's Memorial Day weekend and Maddy & Poppy are here. I had such a great start to my day....they gave me my morning bath OUTSIDE on our deck. My Maddy and Poppy are so much fun!"

A Piroutte for Poppy

"Pool" Party!

It was 99 degrees in Limerick, Maine today....a little too hot to spend large amounts of time outside so Grace & I brought the summer ,well almost summer, fun inside. We had our own special pool party on our kitchen floor. The porcelain tub was used by Grace's Great Grandma for Maddy and Uncle Larry when they were little. Adam and I enjoyed this same tub when we went down to Chicopee, Massachusetts to visit Grandma and Pop-Pop during our summers. Now, Grace is playing in this tub! It is over 50 years old!

All Things Green & Beautiful!

Look at Those Pearly Whites!

Just look at those bottom two teeth! We think they are absolutely adorable and they make Grace's smile all the more precious. Grace had a huge smile today for everyone she saw while we shopped at the mall on this very wet & rainy Saturday. Grace also started true babbling (repeating the same sounds over & over again) last weekend and has been working hard all week to perfect her repertoire of sounds. Grace showed off her new skills today by "buh-buh-buh-buhing" and "muh-muh-muh-muhing" her way through the mall, where she received lots of nice compliments from fellow shoppers on her huge smile and talking. Look closely to see what else Grace has now when she smiles..............dimples!

After greeting all of the shoppers, Grace was very hungry so she enjoyed eating her lunch of apples and bananas at the mall. As you can see Grace LOVES to feed herself!

Yummy!

"Look Mommy, fresh avocado!"

We went to the organic whole food grocery market today to buy some exciting new foods for Grace to try -- papaya, mangoes, whole grain brown rice, turnips, green beans, split green peas.......by the look on Grace's face she was, needless to say, quite excited!

Fairy House

Grace and I spent the afternoon on Mackworth Island. It is a beautiful island right off the coast that highlights the very best of what Maine has to offer - the ocean and the solitude of the forest. My very favorite spot on the island is located just off the walking path - it's tucked away amongst the tall pine trees. It is an area that is dedicated to the "fairies" that live in the forest. There are literally hundreds of little fairy houses that the island children visitors have made out of all natural materials. While on our walk around the island, Grace and I collected a variety of materials (white birch tree bark, pine needles, branches, pine cones, leaves, and grass) for our fairy house. When we came to the forest fairy area, we found the perfect spot to make our house for a forest fairy: Grace's very first fairy house! This is a tradition I will continue with Grace each time we visit Mackworth Island. After Grace made her fairy house, we spread out a blanket and spent the remainder of our afternoon on the island looking at books and enjoying the beautiful scenery together.