getting closer...

Oh what fun! I was always the designated one to do French braids before volleyball games and gymnastics meets in high school. Its kind of something special to get to start doing them for my own daughter. The amazing part being that she actually sat still! And then I had to see if I could do pigtail braids... (not could I?- but could I get them done before she couldn't sit still any longer?)

and she let me....

The classic painting with water has become a favorite activity...
Well, I had a slight glimpse at our upcoming reality. There were some fairly regular, frequent and noticeable Braxton Hicks contractions that started on my way home from work and lasted through dinner. I just kept thinking,'There's no way... No... not THIS early...not in July... I don't have anything together to go to the hospital and boy these legs need to be shaved!'
It all passed but it got me thinkin' MAYBE I should finalize those last minute plans...

'Read you?'
Its the first thing Grace asks for in the morning, when she gets home from school, when sitting on the potty, before bed...

'WOW...' was all we heard as Grace was putting on the strobe light show. She knows the good spot, there are 6 switches here for a very exciting light show. Based on this we figured she'd love the fireworks for the 4th or else be scared of the loud booms. Either way, Grace couldn't hang until fireworks time. The rough life of being almost 2!

the secretary

I think Grace is going to make a great big sister (for the most part...) Teaching Emma to count, '4, 9, 10', putting her to bed, reading books, taking her for stroller rides. There would still be the flinging of Emma, hitting her head against the wall, and 'beating' her to sleep. The encounters will have to be supervised... but I assume it is all with good intent.

Grace's FAVORITE book, 'Do Princesses Wear Hiking Boots'. It ends up being read 8x/day and it is the only book with more than one word per page that she'll sit still for the entire thing. This reminds me of a card we were given in congrats for my pregnancy with Grace. It asked, 'Ever watch a movie 99 times?' Inside it said, 'Get ready, you will.' So here we go...Somehow she prefers Dan to read it to her and he loves princesses. Grace will come up to him at the couch and hand him the book and say 'read you?' I guess that comes from us asking,' Do you want us to read to you?' Its cute.

a little photo-shoot

I took Grace out for a little photo session yesterday afternoon. I had put her in this dress and decided she looked too cute to just let it go and end up with dinner all over it. Plus, it felt like it had been awhile since I had captured the munchkin on 'film'- at least for me. Since any last attempts, Grace has learned to say 'cheese' and ham it up for the camera. She will also think she is posing just because she is saying cheese even though she is distracted and looking elsewhere. I take what I can get.

We went to a sprinkler park and I thought surely Grace would have a blast but she, again, is like Baxter. She'll submerge herself completely in the pool (Baxter in the pond) but does not like to get sprayed or sprinkled on.

On the other front, the bean is turning out to be a feisty one, almost or equally as active as Grace. I think this is week # 31, and I am feeling rather large... Moving is getting more challenging- like it now takes 3 good shifts to get up out/off of the couch. To my credit, it IS a deep couch, but nonetheless.... Kind of crazy to think only 9 weeks (or less) left. I am not counting on making it to 8/26, although it would be neat if Bean and Grace shared the same birthday.

fun with Mimi and Papa

Grace likes to drink from a cup; she also likes to shake and pour her cup like a sippy cup, hence the wet front of her shirt and the fact that she is only allowed water in a cup for now

Fun at the pool! Darn, my daughter wants to go play at the pool, I guess that means we HAVE to go, that's too bad... The challenge, though, is the fact that Grace will sit at the edge of the pool and turn to slide herself in to the water-anywhere, even when its too deep for her. And she does not want anyone to hold her, yet of course she can't swim yet... Miss Independent...

Gracie and her Papa

Grace thoroughly enjoyed having 4 adults-worth of attention all weekend. When Dan brought her home from school the first day after my parents left, she searched the entire house calling for Mimi and Papa. Little girl doesn't understand. Now its back to seeing them in the box on the desk with Skype.

to the beach!!

I see you... overlooking the bay in Corpus Christi atop the Aquarium look-out

I don't know if it was more fun for Dan and I or for Grace but the aquarium is always a good time. This one was especially fun for the dolphin show and to see the otters diving and swimming

little sand crab

Funny girl, at first Grace was leery of the sand, didn't want to walk in it or anything- yet she had no problem walking through the seaweed that had washed up on the beach. As soon as we showed Grace the concept of digging in the sand though, she took off with it! We would fill the bucket and flip it over to make a sand castle; Grace was mimicking us but would only put one scoop of sand in the bucket, flip it over to see a tiny pile of loose sand and applaud herself, 'yeah!!' and clap her hands. Its the thought that counts, not the end result :)

Quite possibly the highlight of the trip for Dan and I was the last day as we were walking down the beach... The funny thing is, you can drive your car and park on the beach here in Texas. We were strolling looking for shells and an older Mexican couple had their camp set up out the back of their truck and were playing your stereotypical Mexican restaurant music really loud. Grace couldn't resist and began to shake her tooshie on the beach. The older couple was cracking up and so were we! She stopped to wave at them, they waved back, and then she resumed the tooshie shake. I don't ask for much in life anymore I guess, but that definitely capped off a great weekend of fun at the beach in a different fashion than the usual veg. and bake. A little more chase and play, cringe over sand going in and on things I just assume avoid. Oh well!! I wouldn't trade it for the world!

I see you... I'm going to get you!!!
Every time we were leaving the beach, it was a long farewell process, bidding the ocean bye-bye, 'bye-bye birds', 'bye-bye sand', 'bye-bye water'. Grace was in heaven as water and birds are two of her favorite things to talk about these days

A pearl of wisdom if you're raising a just under 2 year old... if she's in the bathtub and begins talking about diapers, you might want to end the bath at that time. Otherwise it results in wrapping up your dripping wet munchkin only to catch a stinky whiff, hear her say the words 'bye-bye poop' and lift her up only to find a chocolate truffle lying on the bathmat.
(I sincerely hope you're at least smiling, if not bent over in laughter like we were last night!)

love the spring

Bathing beauty, little girl after my own heart. (I swear I did not stage this but I sure couldn't resist capturing it!)

The truck, Grace, wash the truck... such a good little helper...

Proud Indiana roots showing through

pretty...

Bye-bye
(anything and everything must be told bye-bye each time as we're leaving)

and we are having...

...a modest child... the bean actually had a hand in the way protecting certain vital parts. Most important is that all major organs look great. I couldn't help but be a little paranoid while waiting since I work at a pediatric cardiology office...
I guess we will find out at the time of arrival. If this had happened the first time around, I think I would have been pretty upset or persistent to still find out, but I am actually glad to have this be a surprise. Back before I was ever pregnant the first time, I was always disappointed when everyone was finding out the sex of their baby. Then I became pregnant and I understood. Its not a bad thing to be forced into waiting for the surprise, one with knowing, one as a surprise. On that note, as we contemplate names for both, maybe we'll actually share that with you all in advance since that won't be our only secret.

'Mom, why do you make me stand in these flowers every week??' Or it could be that she's just plain mischievous? The joys of approaching 2 years old. Grace's personality is so strong, which most of the time results in hilarious moments, but it can also be incredibly challenging. Especially when she begins to combust spontaneously before our eyes and nothing gets her to calm down. Holding on to our discipline principles.... And then she's so darn cute when she's sound asleep, and the moment the food kicks in and she goes from monster to butterfly in 0.7 seconds... ah yes...more spring wildflowers... am I obsessed?- yes.