squeals of joy

Little Miss Gracie is 7 months and so much fun these days. She is basically crawling, she'll get down and army crawl after a few strides b/c its just faster, but when she sees something she wants, darn it! she's going to get herself there- and quick, too! Just over the weekend, she took on a whole new form of vocal, too. She has shreiks of joy and little squeals that sound like an old lady and she'll just carry on anywhere and everywhere. When she wakes up from a nap, that's how we know she's up b/c we hear her start 'singing' and talking to herself.

Our old neighbors and good friends, Benny and Dawn, came down to visit. Grace enjoyed all of the attention and hammed it up really cute for them and took to them as if she's always known them. Maybe she recognized their voices as she heard them through my belly. It was great to get to see them and enjoy hanging out together like the good old times.

the end... til next time :)

Yeah, Dad!!!

Grace was super-excited to see Dan after he was gone up in Dallas this weekend for the State Championships. She loves to groove with Dad, get tossed around and flipped upside down. It only adds to her spit-up problem, but hey, who cares when you're having fun!!

Ahhh....Spring....

I was doing some reminiscing while hanging out around the house while Grace was asleep and came across these pictures from last spring. I have to say, it made my heart ache for the familiar... I'm not sure why I never posted these last year when they were fresh, but they're just as beautiful a year later. For those of you not from NC, these are from the Duke Gardens. Absolutely beautiful almost any time of the year. I need to find a beautiful garden like this around here to take Grace to. She was there with me last year, in spirit. I remember being so sore the next day from squatting down (many, MANY times) to take close-ups of the flowers and not being in the greatest of shape from not lifting weights. That was like 75 squats in one hour...

Splish Splash!

Are you sure about this?? This isn't as warm as my bath tub....

After she got over the initial shock of the colder water, Grace had a blast splashing and playing in the water with Dad

Blue lips when she's cold- just like mom

Gracie is about to break free!!!

Check out these two videos. Just the other day last week, Grace started raising up on her knees and pushes up on her forearms or hands and rocks, trying to get the courage up to take off. Of course, she's always on the go on the changing table especially. Its fun trying to diaper a moving target. At least I had 6 months of practice with a 'stationary' baby before trying to lasso in this wild animal.

The other one, its just Grace playing, but that's the story of her life, everything to the mouth. And as Dan and I narrate her life for her, Grace says, "I eat that."

a whole half of a year!

Its hard to believe Grace is 6 months old already, at the same time it seems like 'it's only been 6 months'?! Grace has been having fun experimenting/feasting on new flavors in life, her favorites are peaches and sweet potatoes (hence the slightly orange-ish tone on her nose and cheeks according to her pediatrician :) ). She's sitting up on her own except when she forgets to balance and then topples over. We won't be shocked if she starts crawling in the next month or so. She can scoot to get to toys just out of reach and has ventured up on her knees and elbows even, though a bit wobbly. Time to start child-proofing!

Grace loves bath time! She rolls around and splashes like a fish. We'll have to take her to the gym to swim and see how she likes it.

Some of you up north may be feeling hateful but its been in the 70-80's these last few weeks, almost up to 90 the last couple of days. I could do without the 87-89 degree temps and its a little scary just because apparently summer starts early down here and I'm not quite ready for the sweltering heat just yet. The redbuds are already in bloom and we're starting to see leaves come out on some of the trees. Who knew?! At least I won't be huge and pregnant for this coming Texas summer! :)

more cuteness

Grace is almost able to sit up steadily on her own. Big brother Baxter standing by for support.

Yummy toes...

Kangaroo pouchin' it with Dad. Dan let his head be shaved by one of his 10-year old swimmers going in to championship season. I put the finishing touches on for him to smooth it out :)

Scooter-butt. That's how Grace gets around these days and apparently its a comfortable sleeping position, too