Thursday Dec 4 - The Monrovia Holiday Parade

Monrovia has an annual Holiday parade. We headed down with our friends from across the street. Grace lasted almost until the parade started. (She wanted down to crawl, but there was simply no space, so she started yelling.) Overall, a wonderful evening. Maybe next year we can actually watch the parade.

December 3, 2008 - Grace turns 1

On Wednesday December 3, we celebrated Grace's 1st birthday.

She received wonderful gifts from her grandparents, aunts, and uncles. Also, her good friend Cooper from Oregon sent her a wonderful package. She of course tasted each present.

Even better, she wanted her dad to taste each present as well.

Grace's 1st Thanksgiving

The family headed over to Sherry and Marlin's for a Thanksgiving meal. Grace wanted to spend most of her time trying to crawl up the step from the living room and head toward the stairs. So Aunt Lynn acted did guard duty for most of the night.

Yes, I crawled after her dragging her favorite toy.

Grace and the Family visit Nocal

The family took off for a long weekend in November to visit

our family and friends in Northern California. Linda and Phill put us up. (Thanks Nelson for giving up your room.) Grace got to meet her new cousin Jeremiah David Buck. We all went to the Mandarin Orange festival in Auburn were Grace wanted to continuously crawl down this grassy knoll. Also, we drove on Saturday to Petaluma to watch Roberto ref a college Rugby game and congrats him and Tenysa on their coming child.

We all got sick on Saturday night ... I blame it on swamp gas.

The drive home was almost unbearable.

Grace celebrates Halloween

The entire family dressed in OU garb and went "trick or treatin" in downtown Monrovia. Of course, Grace could not depart on this spooky day without her lovable Mr. Rat (a $3 IKEA purchase that now goes everywhere with her).

She is too young to be scared by anything, but was amazed at all the costumes. She sat with us while handing out Candy. Her uncle Justin stopped by to partake in the festivities.

All in all a goo day. (Plus mom and dad got to eat all the candy she got from her trick or treatin excursion.)

Grace watches OU play Texas

Grace wore her OU chearleader outfit, which didn't seem to help OU is the second half.

Also, she is standing and trying to walk. She pulls herself up and then shuffles using some obstacle to balance.

Grace visits her great aunt Sarah

Riding horses, playing with dogs, pretty much a perfect day for our little tike.

Grandma Joan and Granpa Ed come for a visit

So, before on Sunday Oct 5, we went to eat at Phillipes in downtown Los Angeles ... the creator of the French Dip. (On Monday the 6th, Phillipe's celebrated its 100th anniversary ... all sandwiches would be 10 cents.) Afterwards, we visited the Los Angeles downtown Library.

Grace turns 10 Months

Enough said!

Also, her vitals at 10 months:

She is 70% percentile for height and weight.

She got another booster shot and we'll be back to see Dr. Yim at the end of October.

Grace Celebrates Talk Like A Pirate Day !

A knit cap and sparkly pirate socks is all you need!

I love my Squash

In order to assist in feeding, Grace gets to hold her own spoon, while we feed her with another. More often then not, this creates the image you see...

And yes, that is a Christmas bib, hey the holidays have to start sometime.

Grace goes to the LA County Fair - Friday the 5th

On Friday, we went to the opening of the LA County Fair. Grace was a good sport dealing with the crowds and heat. We remained at the fairgrounds for just under 2 hours, which was too long. I must applaud myself from eating any deep-fried food (snickers, Oreas, pop-tarts, twinkies). We headed over to look at the animals in a large enclosed barn. Grace preferred to look at the ceiling fans. (She loves ceiling fans.) Also, she liked to look at the small children, shadows, and dirt. Animals ... not so much.

Grace at 9 Months

So, our little bundle of joy turned 9 months old!

What is it like with a 9 month old?
- The biggest thing (to me) is she says 'dada'. Yep! When I walk into the room, she'll turn and say the two beautiful little syllables.

- She scampers about on all fours.

- You have to make sure you keep the front door shut ... or she is high-tailin' it outside.

- You can't leave anything on the floor ... or it is right in the mouth.

- Scratches and bumps and bruises from falling.

- When she cries because of falling, she'll put her arms up for mommy.

- Changing diapers is an immense undertaking all of a sudden, you have to keep her pre-occupied or ...

- She doesn't like to have clothes put on or taken off.

- She plays. She has her favorite toys and books and will sit and play for long periods.

- Constant chattering ... and a new game with daddy, called: "Repeat Screaming." It goes like this, I'll make a loud strange sound, then she'll copy. And then repeat. Sometimes, she'll start the game.

- Loves ... and I mean loves pulling mom and dad's glasses off. She gets so excited.

- Will drink her own bottle. She'll lay in her playpen (although she still prefers the couch or her mom/dad's arms) and drink her own bottle.

- Loves to dance with mommy.

- Like to play, "throw the pacifier out of the crib"

Grace visits Long Beach - Saturday August 23

Jenn and I are taking a weekly hike with Grace. So far, she has been to the Monrovia waterfall hike and Whittier Narrows.

This past Saturday we drove down to Long Beach to do the beach hike from the Aquarium to Belmont.

For the most part, she enjoyed it. But, there was a point near the end, were Jenn and I took turns carrying her. She just didn't want to be in the stroller.

Please note her bottom chompers.

Our Little POW

Grace is now sitting up on her knees and reaching for items to pull herself up with.

She has demolished her crib and we had to lower the bed portion down to the very bottom. In addition, we had to remove all toys and push her dresser away from the crib. (She was reaching through the crib and trying to pull her toys in.) Also, she has decided she loves her dad's shoes. Once, she is placed on the ground the makes a b-line right for them. With her new crawling fervor and the fact she enjoys throwing her pacifier around, she is beginning to spend some more time in her play pen.

Her is some POW pictures. Please note, she had decided she liked to lick the mesh netting (mmm good).

Kate and Justin's BBQ - 8-9-08

Jennifer and I hosted a BBQ the next day for Kate and Justin. It was a mixture of hamburgers/hotdogs and leftovers from the wedding. It was very much an open house with people arriving at 11:30AM and people finally departing at 6:30 PM (with a little help from yours truly).

Once again, we were able to "trick" a friend into feeding Grace. Now, if we can only do the same with her diapers.

Kate and Justin's Wedding - Part 3 - 8-8-08

Kate and Justin's Wedding - Part 2 - 8-8-08

Kate and Justin's Wedding - Part 1 - 8-8-08

So, by the time I got back from the bachelor party in Las Vegas, Grace had learned to crawl. I spent the rest of Sunday trying to child proof the house. Out went the playmat and in went the play pen. (She looks like a little POW sitting inside of it.) She has managed to bump her head quite a few times, no matter what we do.

Anyway, the week was spent preparing for the wedding, but now we had a large 8 month year old, who crawled, had two teeth, sat up by herself, and decided she didn't need to sleep much anymore. Also, she kind of got a little bossy.

The wedding was wonderful and we were surrounded by friends and family, who we had not seen for some time. Also, with everyone around, we had extra hands to hand Grace off to (thanks to Jenn P., Tenysa, Sara, Tim, Steven, Aunt Fran, Aunt Lynn, ...) the lists goes on.

Grace is getting her teeth

So after months of drool, a little white patch appeared on her lower gums in mid-July. (As of Justin and Kate's wedding in August, she has two bottom teeth.)

In addition, she started making her scary face.