32 Weeks Old

Today Grace Lynn is 32 weeks old.  She is definitely developing much faster than I thought she would; granted I thought we have had a smart baby, but didn't think she'd be doing as much as she is doing in such a short amount of time!  I love it, but at the same time wish that I could just slow down time.

Grace Lynn is not only crawling, but has also learned to pull herself up and is starting to STAND!!  Yep, you read that right, not even two full weeks of crawling and she is already trying to stand up.  She has also learned how to play peak-a-boo.  We put her blanket over her head and say "wherrrre's Grace?" and then she pulls it off with a big 'ol smile and we say "there she is!"  Now, she is starting to pull her own blanket up and then when we say "where's Grace?" she pulls it down real fast with her cute smile and often times a giggle.  She is too cute!!

Playing with her new toy from Miss. Cindy

This week we celebrated Thanksgiving at my Grandpa Vercamen's home.  It was so great to visit with family and enjoy a very delicious home-cooked Thanksgiving meal together.  While my cousin and her fiancé Mike were in town, we also took the opportunity to meet them in downtown Mt. Dora for a delicious German dinner, followed by some yummy home-made frozen custard.  Then this weekend, I spent a day with some wonderful ladies (Mama, Amanda-Kay, Cindy, Marla, and of course Grace) and went to breakfast, followed by the Winter Garden's farmer's market and Art show, shopping for Grace's first few pairs of shoes, visited Miss. Melissa, and ended the evening back home cuddled next to a nice warm fire with my handsome husband and sweet baby girl.  Talk about a wonderful day!  Also this weekend, I got to go to my home church and see our church family there and then afterward my dear friend Allie came over, as well as Chuck and Sandy.  Oh and while shopping this weekend Grace got to meet Santa Claus for the first time, but we didn't do pictures yet... saving that for the near future when we have a little more time, she isn't as tired, and she is dressed a little more Christmassy (yes, I sometimes make up words).  She did give him a nice smile though and let him hold her hand and talk to her.

This is what happens when she bumps her head on the table;
"Nana, please save me!"

Grace with her Great Grandpa, she was a little
tired from her busy day to say the least

Having a good time riding a Cambrie-look-alike pig in DT Winter Garden

Tuckered out after a fun and busy day

And so now we begin a new week and onto more wonderful things I'm sure.  God has surely blessed us.  I have so very much to be thankful for!!  No matter how stressed I may get from a lack of sleep, being a full-time mommy with a full-time job, and everything else we decide to tackle, it is all very much worth it... too blessed to be stressed!

31 Weeks Old

31 weeks old today and growing like a weed.

Notice the red knees from crawling and
the yellow is from finger painting at daycare :)

Fingerpainting fun :)

Friday, I got to enjoy Thanksgiving lunch with the best lunch-date ever!!  This is what I was welcomed to for my little date.

Notice she is waving now too!!  She is a cutie-patootie!

I am absolutely loving this slightly cooler weather!!  Garrett had another small bonfire this weekend just for the heck of it.  So my mom and sis came over to hangout with us girls (Grace and I) inside next to the cozy fireplace, while Garrett and a friend of his went four-wheeling and burning.  I just absolutely love this weather because I love being able to just snuggle up next to a warm fire and catch up on shows, movies, or relax with family and friends.

Nana and Grace

This weekend, we also went down south for DJ and Kim's beautiful wedding!  It was absolutely perfect weather for a late afternoon outdoors wedding with the perfect amount of Southern Flair.  The entire event was beautiful, especially the bride!  Grace also got to enjoy her first time line-dancing!  Garrett took his daughter out dancing some and then she got to dance with me a little.  To say she loved it would be an understatement.  She had a big smile on her face the entire time, was kicking her legs, and singing away :)

Line-dancing with Daddy; oh yes he is facing backwards, but those that
know Garrett know that he knows these dances forwards and backwards;
Grace liked it because she could also interact with others dancing

Sunday after church we got together with our friends Monica and Justin.  It was nice to spend time with them and their beautiful baby girl Kendall.  She and Grace are growing up way too fast!!  It is neat that the two of them are now able to interact more.  If you remember Kendall from previous posts (7 weeks old and 18 weeks old), she was much smaller than Grace and Grace was just starting to interact some... Kendall is 3 weeks younger than Grace.  Now that both are older, they can really interact and soon be able to really play together.  It is awesome that Grace will have a little girlfriend close to her age and with parents that Garrett and I both love!  We do think it is important for children to interact socially and the fact that her parents are God-fearing and just all-around great people makes it that much better.  I know these two will be friends for a while (at least if us parents have anything to do with it, lol).

I think it is safe to say they like each other :)

All in all it was a busy weekend, but you know we wouldn't have it any other way... we are always go-go-go.  Now with Thanksgiving on the horizon, it is hard to believe that the year is already almost over and that our little girl is already 7 months old.  I know I take tons of pictures, but looking back, I am so happy that I do because she is changing right before our eyes, every single day.  It is nice to go back now and then to look at how much she has changed and notice how she is turning into this sweet little girl of a person.

30 Weeks Old

Grace Lynn is 30 weeks old today and officially crawling like you wouldn't believe!  She is definitely a baby on the move and so very happy to be!  It is so hard to keep her still for a picture now.

Here's a video from this week of Grace's first time really crawling!

This last weekend, Grace and I got to join my mom, cousins, and aunts for a day of bridesmaid dress shopping for Favorite's big day coming up this summer.  It was a lot of fun and just nice to see all of them.  I cannot wait to stand beside Sarah and celebrate her wedding day with her.  After dress shopping, Garrett's parents and long-time family friends, Al and Melissa, came over to spend some time four-wheeling, shooting, and of course seeing our sweet Grace.

Grace with Melissa and Grandma

We also had our first bonfire of the season (hence, Grace's first EVER bonfire!!).  I think she really enjoyed it because of the bright color, warmth, and movement of the fire... she also loved all the people.  Have I mentioned she loves attention?!  Oh and yes, she likes the boys.  She would not stop staring at DK and Randall, lol.  Garrett and I are going to have to keep an eye on this girl.  I had an especially great time too because I got to see some of my closest girlfriends (Allie, Kristina, and Rachel) and spend time catching up with them.  They are definitely going to be like family for Grace (they are family to me), so it's nice to keep them in her life as well.  Here's just a few snapshots that I got from the evening.

Stare-down with Randall, hanging out with Kristina, love my family!

We made a family trip to see the growing Gaus family this weekend as well.  I was so happy to meet our good friends, Aaron and Jenny's, newest addition Tanner.  I wish I had a picture of him and Grace together to post, but I didn't have my camera :(  Have no fear though, they are going to have many future play-dates!!  He is absolutely adorable!!  Congrats Aaron and Jenny!!!  And, just for fun, here's a fun picture of Daddy and his girl... LOVE THESE TWO SOOO MUCH!!!

29 Weeks Old

Grace Lynn is now 29 Weeks Old!  Red, White, and Blue and ready for these elections to be over.  Hope you all got out and voted and please continue to pray for our nation and our leaders (current and future).

This last week Grace got to experience her first Halloween and her first Magic game.  We had so much fun enjoying both of these firsts with her!!

For Halloween we took her to my parents' neighbors home, Rilla.  She did great and absolutely loved it.  I have known Rilla for a large portion of my life and she was also the florist for Garrett and I's wedding, so it was cool for Grace to get to experience her first Halloween with her.  She even learned how to double-dip, lol.  She kept trying to go back for more candy, despite the fact that she can't eat it yet.  She was just too cute!!

Grace Lynn, the beautiful sunflower

Our sweet sunflower, Grace, and bumblebee, Milo

First dip into the basket of goodies!

Grace also really enjoyed the magic game!  She got to meet one of my friends (and magic dancer) Candace. She was all smiles with her.  She also really just enjoyed everything going on at the game (all the people, the action, and the bright colors).  She is bound to be a Magic fan growing up in our home... it's inevitable! :)

Other big things this week:
Grace is now saying "Dada" and saying it quite frequently!  It is absolutely adorable!!!  She is also pulling herself up onto her knees... guess we better lower her bed.  And, unfortunate news, she had her first accident :(  She tried to touch the humidifier and yep, you guessed, burnt her poor little hand.  She was so upset and had such a hard time getting to sleep last night.  I think it feels a little better today because she was in better spirits, but it is definitely red and starting to blister.  I think we all learned our lesson with that one.

She is so sweet!!