our trip

We had a great trip to Michigan City...  outlets, casino, lake Michigan, dunes, lighthouse...  it was fun!  Even in the dreary rain, we had a great time!

at the top of the dunes

view from the lighthouse

getting ready to run down

Thankful Thursday

I'm thankful for:

• Gracie's smile each morning.  She wakes up so happy.  She usually plays in her crib for a while.  Today when I went to get her up from her nap, she was sitting in there, blowing on her arm making noises and laughing
• Summer reading. I've read some great books this summer!  Water for Elephants, Still Alice, The Glass Castle, are a few...  check them out!

• the chance to spend so much time with Grace.  I love watching her learn new things every day. I love that she's curious, and full of energy.  (not loving the new little tantrums, but most everything else!)

• a great husband.  He took me away for my birthday this week.  It was wonderful.  We had so much fun, laughed a lot, and ate some great food.  It was a wonderful birthday

A lady and her purse

A lady never leaves the house without her purse.  Looks like we have a little lady on our hands.

Our little musician...

Monday

We are here!  We're doing great.  Gracie has added a few words...  thank you, milk, (and have I said that she says no? :)  )

We had a great afternoon last week visiting Grandma Diane.  Gracie loved playing in the sand and water.  She didn't love sinking up to her ankles...  but she had a great time!

Here is my little ham.  She will see a camera and say "cheese" even if it's not out or on.  I love that!

She is a busy little thing...  Our house is a constant wreck!  

No, I didn't let her eat this, but I did think it was picture-worthy!

There are too many

there are too many cute ones to pick a favorite...  but here are a few....  If you live near me or the Goshen area and want a great photographer for your kids (or she does weddings and families) let me know!!!!

14 Months

Grace is 14 months old!  At 14 months she:

• says NO!  What's funny to me is that she already uses it at the right times. Like "Grace do you want some green beans?" and she shakes her head and says "no".  :)
• is taking great naps.  She sleeps about 90 minutes in the morning and afternoon.  I love that!
• is a cook in the making.  When we are in the kitchen she is literally at our feet, wanting up.  I am seeing lots of baking and cooking together in our future
• is my shadow.  She likes to be wherever I am.
• climbed into the bathroom cupboard yesterday!  I took video and as soon as I learn how to transfer from the video camera to here, I'll post it
• had her one year pictures taken last week.  They are GREAT!  The one above is a sample.  As soon as I look through them I'll post more.

She's pretty great

We have a great daughter.  She wakes up happy and chatters all day long

She loves to explore and is my shadow from the minute she wakes up till she's down at night (except when daddy's home!)

She's imitating what we say and learns new things every day

And she's playful.  She loves to laugh.  Her new thing is to get up in our laps and then twist and turn, get down, get back up again and repeat it all.

She's pretty great.

Look who we got to see last week!  We had so much fun visiting with Rilee and Reese

Gracie learned how to crawl on Grandma's fireplace.  She liked that a lot.

and Grandma gave her pudding. Yum!

We went to the park to play. Gracie couldn't keep up with the girls but she did try!  Give her a year or two....She completely missed her nap but was so good anyway.  

Wordless Wednesday

More friends

We went to see some Haiti friends last week.  The Ackermans were in the States for the summer. It's been way too long!  I had a great time catching up and introducing them to Grace

She has no problem making herself at home!

And Jessica taught me something She showed me how to use the macro button on my camera!  Did you know you can take up close pictures like this with a point and shoot?  I didn't!

I am seriously addicted to trying this "new to me" feature out!  Thanks Jess!

Friends

Gracie has so many friends.  I like to think that's it's not just because she's a baby and everybody loves a baby but because she's so stinkin cute and that smile melts hearts...  (maybe it's both?!)

This is Sarah, Grandma Diane's granddaughter... so they are kind of cousins.  :)  Gracie liked playing with Sarah and reading books with her.  Thanks Sarah!

Blueberries

Last week my friend Nicole came to visit!  We all went blueberry picking.  It was so much fun!  We went to Nappannee and Jo's mom kept Gracie.  This was our second year.  Last year Gracie was little little so I just pushed the stroller between the bushes. This year I would have been chasing her!  It's a good thing she stayed at home though- we got some serious picking done!

Go ahead... guess how many POUNDS of blueberries we picked?  Did you guess?  ....

63 lbs!  That's a lot of eating my friends.....

I'm not kidding when I say we ate and ate and ate.  It started with two batches of blueberry muffins

and a blueberry dutch baby

and smoothies

and then throw in this... some granola, and some berry trifle....  

Seriously... so much fun... so much food!  :)