Grace's Summer Adventures

Steve took off a whole week and Grace enjoyed every minute of our vacation.

She got art lessons from Grandma and produced the best watercolor painting by a 16 mo old ever!


She ate turtle pancakes for breakfast.

She drove her first Jeep and did quite well. She just pushed the pedal and went like she'd been doing it all her life. She couldn't steer yet though so ran into bushes and trees.


She played with her friends at the soft play area at the mall.

She took her first trip to the American Girl store and got a Bitty Baby. She loves that baby! Everything that place offers for dolls is insane and I hope I don't get more wrapped up in it than her. It was awesome!


We went to the Hyatt Lost Pines in Bastrop, Texas and had a wonderful time. Steve called ahead and ordered flowers for me for the room.

After dinner, we hit the pool. There was an activity pool with basketball and volleyball; a sandy beach; a lazy river; toddler pool; spray area and so much more.

You could get balls from the rec hut and Grace went back and forth getting different balls. You can see her pink hat in the distance.

She liked reading the pool drinks menu.

It was unbearably hot while we were there. Average afternoon temps (without the humidity) topped over 105 degrees. And it was still hot in the evening. Despite that, we stood in front of the fire and roasted marshmallows. Every night they have s'mores and they were so good! Here is Grace playing with a ball after s'mores.

One morning, she ate outside on the patio. The pecan trees were so big, it was almost like she was in a treehouse.

She even got to see baby longhorns. She has to grow to love these animals since she'll be a Longhorn one day.


Back to life.....

Double the Girls = Double the Braces

We better start a savings account for our girls' braces. Grace pretty much has her thumb in her mouth unless she's playing with something actively or is eating.

Well, today we had our 20 wk sonogram and guess what? BV2 was sucking her thumb too!


Everything with the ultrasound was great. She was an active, little girl. Grace had the cord around her neck twice. If this one doesn't chill out, she'll have it at least that many times!

Finally, we have decided on a name. Grace's sister will be Claire Brennan Vela.

1st Day of Swim Lessons

Today was Grace's 1st day of swim lessons and she did great. The class is 4 moms with their tots all around Grace's age.

I assumed it would mainly be just getting used to being in the water, but the teacher actually taught basic swim principles. She showed them how to blow bubbles in the water; how to grab and pull the water with their arms; how to kick the water; and how to lie on their backs in the water.

The class was also filled with singing - traditional songs using the water, such as Pop Goes the Weasel where we "popped" the babies out of the water and Humpty Dumpty where she sat on the side of the pool and fell into the water into my arms.

PINK Is Back!!

As you may have guessed, we're having A GIRL!! 61% guessed BOY in the poll, but we found out definitively today that we are having another GIRL. I had to have amnio done and after waiting 13 long, agonizing days, we found out that all is well. We know Grace will love having a sister, although the baby may not love getting hand-me-downs (I know I didn't).

Now, off to plan another girl nursery and decide on names....

Vacation Bible School Week

This is VBS week at our church. Somehow, I managed to get myself involved in it and am teaching the Bible classes to elementary age kiddos. I must say VBS has come along way since I went when I was little. We decorated paper plates with macaroni. These kids have elaborate themes, crafts, games and stories.

Grace is going to the church nursery while I'm teaching. She wasn't crying when I dropped her off, but was crying pretty hard when I picked her up. They said she wasn't happy about playing again after she'd had lunch. I realized walking her to the car that she hadn't had anything to drink with her lunch. I'm thinking that was why she was sad after she downed the whole sippy cup before we got to the car. Hopefully, tomorrow will be a better day.

Posing for her 1st day of VBS nursery:


Her new lunch box (and the blanket, of course):

Jumpin' Bunnies

Grace went to Jumpin' Bunnies class today at the local Athletic Club. This is the only run/play type class offered here in Corpus for toddlers. She loved the class so much that I wish I had brought her sooner.

She's gotten so good about coming off of things on her tummy onto her feet. Even if it was only 6 inches off the ground.



She might be the next Mia Hamm. But don't you dare try to take her ball! She's still learning to share.

The Beginning of Hurricane Season

Today marks the beginning of the 2009 Hurricane Season. One of the named storms this year will be Grace. Our Hurricane Grace hit in February 2008 and strengthened to a Cat 5 in March 2009 when she started walking. Her path of destruction these days seems to be pretty far reaching which goes against my mindset of "everything has its place".

Here she is busily bringing all her favorite things to her wagon in the garage:


She turned around and was off to find something else to add:


She continued at that pace until everything that she wanted was in the wagon.

Let's hope this is the only Hurricane Grace (or any hurricane) we'll have to deal with this season. Packing up and evacuating with a toddler, a poodle and a baby on the way sounds horrific.