We Miss You Maddy & Poppy!

Here are some pictures that were taken last weekend when Maddy & Poppy were here visiting us in Maine. We spent last Saturday together at Pineland Farms. We were excited to share one of our favorite places with Poppy. It was his very first visit to the farm and we were just as excited for Maddy to return to the farm too!

Thank you for the wonderful memories that you have created for Grace (and Bob & I too!). Also, thank you so much for all of the pretty clothes, wonderful books, enriching toys, and especially for your beautiful handmade items for Grace. We love you!

Grace's Chalk Drawing of "Geese Resting Before Flight"

Grace's art project for the month of August is seen above and it is new and exciting. Grace experimented with a whole new medium - CHALK! Grace was given several different pieces of colored chalk and she created this beautiful masterpiece at Maddy and Poppy's house on their chalkboard wall in their kitchen. When Grace was finished with her drawing, Maddy and I interpreted Grace's work as "Geese Resting Before Flight" since the top part of her piece resembles that of a goose. I am so happy that Maddy and Poppy will be able to enjoy Grace's project every day. It will become a wonderful tradition for Grace to leave a special drawing for Maddy and Poppy on their wall each time we visit. We can't wait for the next one.....we miss you terribly!

ALERT.....

Grace's beloved Ella is missing!

Lakeside

I have been looking forward to introducing Grace to Burlington, Vermont - the city where I was born, spent a few of my childhood years, and attended college. Grace loves Burlington just as much as I do!

Grace? Grace?? Grace????

Mommy & Uncle Adam enjoy their yummy ice cream cones......but where's Grace?!?

Echo Lake Aquarium and Science Center

We spent the day at the Echo Lake Aquarium and Science Center. We saw frogs and toads, fish, snakes, a water bubble tower, turtles, dinosaurs, and water exhibits. Grace loves new experiences. Uncle Adam showed Grace the world!

Uncle Adam, Maddy, and Grace are doing a weather report on the television screen. We're not exactly sure what the weather will be for tomorrow and maybe it's best you just turn the channel!

Uncle Adam and a Ladybug Kite!

"Today was a most wonderful day. Mommy, Maddy, Uncle Adam, & I spent the day in beautiful Burlington, Vermont. We enjoyed a special visit to the Echo Lake Aquarium and Science Center on the Burlington waterfront. We had a picnic lunch and Uncle Adam flew a ladybug kite for me!"

"Point the camera at something you love and press the button."

~ Wes Disney, 1978 ~

"I'm a big girl at Maddy & Poppy's house!"

We Have the Whole World Ahead of Us

Happiness Is.....

Fun, Fun, Fun!

Grace and I enjoyed a wonderful afternoon together at the Children's Museum in Portland. We explored every inch of the fabulous fun-filled museum. The best part of our day was hearing and seeing an African drumming band! Grace squealed with delight during the entire concert and loved watching the African dancers and hearing the strong rhythmic beats of the drums. After the concert a woman in the audience approached us and said, "You're daughter has made my day. I have loved watching her smile and have so much fun." I feel the same way about Gracie girl. I'm so lucky to spend every day with my happy girl!
Peek-a-boo!

Grace Debuts Her Fall Clothes!

...and here are more of Grace's fall clothes. It continues to be very cool here in Maine ~ so much so that Gracie is wearing fleece pants and a long sleeve shirt and I'm tempted to put a coat on her too! What has happened to our summer....yikes?!

Our Sunday Morning Hike

We enjoyed a beautiful hike through the woods this morning. Lil' Bit even joined us!

I Love the Fair!

"Even though Mommy & Daddy still won't let me have any fried dough at the fair, the onion rings were great!"

Grace enjoyed watching her first "cutting" competition. Grace tried to convince us that she was ready to get into the ring.

Grace & Pepere

Grace & Pepere clearly adore each other!In case you were wondering --- yes, Grace really is wearing thermal pajamas and a hat in these pictures. It has been very cold here the past several mornings with temperatures in the lower 50's. I can't believe I've had to dig out fleeces, flannels, thermals, and hats for Grace in the middle of August!

Grace's First Certificate!

Congratulations Gracie Girl on completing swimming lessons at the YMCA! I have loved every second of the past eight weeks that we have splashed and "reached and pulled" in the pool together. I am so happy that you love the water and I can't wait to start up lessons with you again in September.

Thank you Memere, Pepere, Auntie Allison, & Rose for joining us on Grace's special day.

Mirror, mirror on the wall, who's the fairest one of all?

A Beautiful Day

We spent today day at Pineland Farms Perennial Garden. Grace enjoyed looking at, touching, and smelling all the colorful and beautiful flowers. After our breathtaking tour of the gardens we ate lunch under a shady tree where Grace continued to amaze us with her standing and attempts at walking!

Hip, Hip, Hooray!

"YEAH! We are going to spend the day at the Children's Museum in Portland. I have been waiting to go there forever!!"

Fun at the Children's Museum

Grace experienced her first tree house with Daddy! Grace "jammed out" with a drum stick along with a guitar player (out of picture). Grace was asked to join a band but she politely declined.

"Wow Mommy, I've never seen a stuffed cow before! This is awkward!"

Things That Go at the Children's Museum!

Grace and Daddy drove a big red firetruck. Grace turned on the lights and blew the horns. Daddy promised to teach Grace all of the fine driving skills he learned in Massachusetts. Can you race firetrucks in the Daytona 500?Mommy taught Grace to drive at the Children's Museum. God help us all.
Everyone who lives in Maine needs to experience being on a lobster boat. Grace now requires us to call her Captain Grace.

Goodness Grace.....A Ladybug!

There was only ONE ladybug in the entire Children's Museum and guess who managed to find it?!?

;)

Go Grace Go!

Gracie Girl had the best time at the Children's Museum in the gym area designed especially for toddlers. Grace met a delightful new girlfriend named Anne, climbed up stairs for the very first time (Mommy & Daddy don't know whether to laugh or cry about this one!!!), crawled through a tunnel, and tried to walk all by herself many, many times. Grace explored every single inch of the play area. We can't wait to go back.

Kickin' Back & Enjoying Summer!

Eight Months Old!

Here are a few amazing things that our Amazing Grace has done and loved this past month:

• Standing! Grace was standing for ~10 seconds at the beginning of the month and now is able to stand well over a minute. Grace also stands and reaches down to pick up dropped objects.
• Cruising along the furniture
• Crawling from room to room to explore, play, and chase our cats
• Kneeling
• Grace has recently been trying to take steps to walk....look out Mommy & Daddy!
• Grace loves finger foods. Her favorites are cereal, tofu, and soft fruits & vegetables
• Grace now uses her fingers (pincer grasp) to pick up very, very tiny objects
  
• Lots of babbling and imitation of some sounds and facial expressions
  
• Squealing loudly to express happiness and excitement
  
• The most exciting development for us this past month is that Grace has started to produce word approximations including: "Eh-buh" for her beloved Ella the Elephant, "buh" for bug, "bah" for ball, "ah-puh" for apple, "puh" for pop (during bubble play), "em" for Emma
  
• Waving hello and bye-bye!
  
• Grace now has a total of six teeth (four on top, two on the bottom)
  
• Swimming lessons all month at the Y with Mommy - we both love it!
  
• Grace continues to recognize more & more words, objects, and pictures every day
  
• Grace is responding to simple directions such as "look," "come," "come up," & "listen" (Grace stops moving and turns her head slightly when she hears "listen")
  
• Grace now understands what a buckle does. It keeps her in her feeding seat and car seat but it can also let her out! Grace frequently touches the buckles when she wants to get out!
  
• Grace's hair has started to curl in the back! :)
  
• Favorite things: ladybugs, balls, blocks, swimming, music/dancing, the IKEA step stool, farm animals, and most of all books! Grace and I read books for an hour (or more) every day - she can't get enough of them. We include books in all of Grace's everyday activities.