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.

Grace visits the Pacific Northwest

Grace visited her aunt and grandparents in Tacoma during Fourth of July. She went up there beginning to role over and came back a tumbling gymnast, who requires constant supervision when placed on the ground. It was out with the bassinet and swing when she came back and in with the Pack n' Play.