Grace Turns One and We Go to Disney

Grace surveying the Savannah on her birthday.

Hey - this doll looks like me.

The big cake

I don't think I eat bugs.

Grace LOVED Cinderella's Carousel.

James meets Eeyore.

James and Daddy - Guess who's tired.

James loved Mickey Mouse.

Happy Thanksgiving, Mommy.

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Grace turned one year old in November and Cousin Ellis turned one, Mommy turned 35 and Maa turned 70. So we headed to Disney World to celebrate! Grace had her party at home before we went. Her godmother and her mommy stayed up late making a really cool Very Hungry Caterpillar cake for Grace (the little cake above, the big one came from the bakery). Grace took one look and decided that she didn't eat bugs and James looked at it and said "That is slimy, I don't eat slimy." The photo is actually of Grace removing the cake from her mouth after Mommy put it there. Grace actually turned one while we were in Disney World. She loved Cinderella's Carousel and we had to ride it twice. James got to meet Eeyore, Piglet, Winnie the Pooh, Tigger, Donald Duck, Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Mary Poppins, and Alice in Wonderland. We had so much fun and everyday we think about going back soon.

Pumpkins and Monkeys

Grace the Rock Star


Halloween Monkeys


Grace in the pumpkin patch

Daddy thinks we both fit in this double bike trailer!

Hiking in Chimney Rock

James comforting Jack

Pumpkins, Pumpkins, Get Your Bright Orange Pumpkins!

James at the rice table

My little pumpkin

Dreaming of Hop On Pop

Disco Grace

Both kids were naughty monkeys for Halloween, although Grace spent half the day as a pumpkin to make her mommy happy. We sold pumpkins at the church and even though we only had one sale on our shift, we had tons of fun yelling "Pumpkins, Pumpkins, Get Your Bright Orange Pumpkins!" We bought a crate of pumpkins at the Farmer's Market and wound up helping two little kittens there. The black one that James named Jack, broke his leg and James and I took him to the clinic set it. During time that Jack was fostering at our house, James comforted him every day. Grace took her first steps on Nov. 9 in front of her Maa, Nana, Cappy, and Daddy and just couldn't wait until her Mommy came in from the kitchen. She did it again tonight so I finally got to see her walk! Grace turns one in two weeks and I will post more photos after all the celebrations have ended.

Late Summer 2008

August and September have passed in the blink of an eye. Grace turned 10 months old today and is a girl on the move. Turn your attention away for one moment and she is trying to climb the stairs! James is busy imagining things - last night a baby beluga swam in the carpet ocean in his room and then jumped right in bed with him!


Auntie Skip came to visit and we had SO MUCH FUN!
Come again soon Auntie Skip.


Grace is on the go. She learned to sit up, pull up, and
cruise in one week.


What big brown eyes you have Mr. Bear.



Grace likes the big kid toys much better than baby toys.


Grace standing up in her crib after nap.


Even dragons need supper.


Grace and James in the helicopter at the fair.


Wow . . . Curious George and The Man in the Yellow Hat.



Giddy up Horsie!


The wagon weighs A LOT with both kids in it, but they love
taking trips around the yard.


Shaking hands.


Museum of Life and Science with Riley in Durham.


Best seats in the house at the UNC game. Grace loved her
first Tar Heel game and James is still talking about Ramses.

We just got back from New Orleans where we had a Mardi Gras celebration at the conference and James and Grace both got new fun hats. They got to play with Dad all day while Mom went to classes. We also went to Lake Lure for Cappy's birthday and to Bele Chere.

Happy Mardi Gras!

Mardi Gras!

Feylin and James in the jungle.

Grace and her Godmother, Katie.

Auntie Sarah!

Grace is plotting.

James and the way cool old fashioned fire engine.

Grace loves Cappy's mustache.

Westward Ho!

James in the starfish.

We have had a very busy month. We celebrated Jay's birthday by spending a weekend at Lake Lure with the Grubbs Family. Celebrated Cousin Henry's high school graduation. Raced for the Cure in Raleigh with Maa and friends from when Margee was in vet school. Visited the vet school and saw the really cool skeletons. Celebrated Grace's half birthday with half a birthday cake. Nana and Cappy visited for the Fourth of July (those photos are still on the camera). We are off to New Orleans soon.
James and Grace are growing growing growing. James is a fantastic big brother and takes really good care of his sister. He's even written a song about her that goes something like this: "Baby Grace is my sister, my sister, my sister . . . She's my sister, sister, sister . . ." The best part is that he sings it in his rock star voice while playing his rock and roll guitar or just the air guitar depending on his mood. Grace absolutely adores James and wishes he would hold still more often so she could pull his hair or just grab him. She's on the verge of crawling so will probably be able to catch him before too long.


Quality time with Maa


Grace's half birthday


James the Superdad - carrying his babies and doing the vacuuming.


Can we lick her please?


Grace and Maa


Grace LOVED playing in Lake Lure.


Watermelon and popsicles on the dock.


MMmm . . . watermelon



Watermelon at the lake . . . this brings back memories


Here kitty kitty!


Grace liked the cow skeleton.


James and Feylin


Grace loved having James strapped in beside her - James
wasn't so thrilled with the arrangement.



James and Feylin racing for the cure.


The best part of the 5K was the sprinklers.


Maa and James raced in the one mile race in a special
rickshaw since Maa is a survivor.


Racing is hard work.


My toys!