A Trip to the Coast

This past weekend my brother Joel graduated from high school, so we made the journey down to Langlois. I can still remember the how excited I was to meet my little brother for the first time. That was 18 years ago. I love you Joel. Congrats buddy!

We also celebrated Grace's birthday with my family.  Lucky girl, got two cakes this year.

I also made a trip out to the Bandon lighthouse to take some pictures.  Here are two of my favorites.

Happy Birthday Grace

Do you notice anything different about Grace?

I'll give you a hint...

She got her ears pierced.

And she only cried for a few seconds.  What a brave, beautiful girl I have.

Look Who's Turning 1

Tomorrow is Grace's first birthday, but we celebrated it a little early.  Joe's parents and grandma came over from Idaho to celebrate with us, and we were also joined by the Horton clan. Not to leave my side of the family out, we will be having a joint celebration for Grace and my brother Joel who is graduating from high school this coming weekend. 
As is tradition in my family, for your first birthday you get a cake all to yourself. I decided to make a mama owl and her baby.  Four or five hours later, here is the result:

I thought Grace would dive right in, but instead she cautiously poked each eye, then tasted the ears and so on.  She did end up demolishing the whole thing, but I think she ate very little. 

"I'm done Mom!"

Then it was time for presents...

Happy Birthday Grace.

Enjoying the Sunshine

Grace and I have been enjoying all the sunshine we've had lately.  I've also recently discovered that i can get her hair into pigtails.  Not sure if she could get any cuter.  Man I love this girl.

It's going to be beautiful with You.

Why is it that this time of year seems to breed chaos in my life?  Maybe it's the sunshine after the long winter rains that makes me want to accomplish every little project I've been thinking about while shut up in the house? Or maybe it's my task oriented nature? Whatever the reason, May and June seem to bring a flurry of activity. What I really crave during all this chaos is a quiet moment. Today a moment came via a friend's blog post about a song and a little girl from Brazil with advances AIDS. The song went something like this,“Dear Lord Jesus, I am so happy. I love you. I’m going to live with You. You love me. Lord Jesus, I am coming. It’s going to be beautiful to be with You.” 

Even now it brings a tear to my eyes.  So simple... so beautiful.

It made me stop.  And think.  And that is exactly what I needed.

Kisses for Daddy

A little explanation about the hair: It had been in a cute little ponytail earlier, but the rubber band had long fallen out.  Instead we were left with what you see here.

11 Months

I love my little girl.  Lately she:

• Has been standing on her own for longer and longer.
• Walks with the aid of our furniture. 
• Loves playing with her blocks.  We have been finding a lot of blocks in our shoes lately... and keys and fingernail clippers and remotes...
• Gives her dolly kisses, and once and awhile Mom and Dad get one too.
• Eats almost as much as I do.
• Says "thank-you" (although not at the right times), daddy, and if I'm lucky I hear mama once in a blue moon. 
• Loves looking out the window.
• Crawls faster than I thought possible. Pretty sure she can out-crawl me.
• Is teething again.  Joe and I always said it will be so nice when Grace can communicate what hurts, but I think it might make it harder.  Now she looks at me while crying and holding her little mouth and seems to say, "mommy fix it," and I can't.
• Will sit down long enough for us to read her a book; well, most of the time she makes it through a whole book. Her favorite: Fish Kisses.