So much fun!!!

Its hard to believe Grace is 8 months old, we've lived in this house 8 months (exactly) and been in Texas 10 months. We've been blessed to be surrounded by family and friends lately. We traveled up to Denver and then my parents just visited this weekend.

There is no stopping Grace now!! She's crawling like a pro and pulling herself up on her music table and the furniture. She's a determined one too, when she sees something she wants (usually something she shouldn't have- the TV remote, cell phone, Baxter's nasty bone or ball...) she will do whatever it takes to get it.

She's learning to feed herself the infamous Cheerios and learning to drink from a sippy cup. Oh, the challenges in life!! Learning new things and playing so hard means this little one still naps really hard which is both a blessing and a curse. She always needs to recharge her battery so it can be full speed ahead when she's awake!

Beautiful Colorado

What an awesome trip! We finally made it up to Denver to see Matt, Christy and Tatum. Ron and Patti also came for Easter weekend so all of the Carringtons got to be together again! Grace and Tatum had a wonderful time playing together as you'll see in the MILLION pictures below :) Tatum is a good big cousin and she was showing Grace the ropes of how to play, share (one card at a time), giving Grace kisses, etc...

There were all kinds of first for Grace- first time flying, first time for the little Texan to see snow, first time in a big playground swing, first time to see the mountains and go hiking, first Easter.

It was so nice to get away. I hadn't left San Antonio since we moved here, something about being tied down and a little busy... It was so good to see family! It was nice to feel coldness again and to see snow. It was 99 degrees the day before we left to head up to Denver. One day it was 70 and we were hiking in t-shirts and then 32 and snowing the next day! I guess every state has its crazy weather issues...

the snow-capped mountains blend in with the clouds- pictures just don't do it justiceWhere are we going?!

This is so cool!!

What is this white stuff???

Are you sure we should be doing this?

wheeeeeeeee!!!!!!!!!

little Easter bunnies

Gracie is on the go- for real!!

Grace has figured it out- the crawling thing- and now there's no stopping her!!

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