Take me back to Hilton Head

While tempting to lump all of our summer happenings thus far together in one post, I felt this trip deserved it's own entry. We traveled to Hilton Head Island over Memorial Day (yes, it was that long ago) for the first time in nearly 11 years with nearly the entire Wright/Livingston family. A first to say the least! Zach and I decided driving would be best with how much "Grace gear" was needed for one week. Our stops along the way included Grace's first to THE Ohio State, and all of our first times seeing the beautiful city of Charlotte, NC.

Proud mama on her old stomping grounds.

Gracie in front of The Horseshoe. Next time we'll put some Scarlet and Gray on you sweetheart!

My Dad's side rented a gorgeous home in Palmetto Dunes right on the ocean for the week, and needless to say all 20-plus relatives were in complete Heaven. May be one of the last times we are able to have that many family members together in one place making it a vacation I will never forget. Wonderful memories, wonderful people, wonderful place. Can't wait to make Hilton Head an annual family trip of our own in years to come! 

Grace at a little over 20 months.

Our fab accommodations for the week!

Classic "holding hands and walking toward the ocean shot" with Daddy.

Drinking ocean water and putting sand in my mouth is cool right?

Gaga and Gracie.

Mimi, "Toots" and Grace.

Wonderful grandparents.

So wonderful spending time with the Baker family! Aunt Dana and Kat.

"Cheese!"

She looks thrilled to be taking another photo.

Fabulous aunties.

Sisters with preggo :)

Mimi looking adorable.

Our pre-dinner photoshoot!

So close to somersaulting alone!

So much joy.

It's not as high as it looks....

Zach's proudest moment. Haha. Again, NOT as high as it looks!

Safer lifts with Mom.

My heart.

After spending a week with 20 plus adults, Grace was desperately looking for small people to make friends with.

Cathy, Aunt Sara and Deb.

Derek and Stu.

Grace took a special interest in Uncle Stu... haha

Playing peek-a-boo!

So happy all week long.

Love you two.

Livingston fam.

Cousins!

Mimi and Papa.

No fear of the crabbies. Wading with them in hopes of catching one.

Favorite Son-in-Law.

Double date with Kat and JD!

Attempting to play frisbee!

These two are excited Paul is finally in Chicago for good with them!

Thank you Aunt Dana (and Cathy and Deb) for the awesome Monkey Farm T-shirts :) 

They say good things come in threes...

Have you ever reached a point in your life where things seem to be going so wonderfully that you're honestly scared to breathe wrong (let alone write about it) in fear that it might all be snatched away? This is exactly how I've felt since 2013 began. After a rough end to last year, things have finally started to feel on the up and up. In January Zach and I got the "ok" to start trying for a baby again, and low and behold, we succeeded. Hence Good Thing #1. We were obviously very cautious the entire first trimester, but kept praying hard and hoping for the best. After multiple doctor's appointments and ultrasounds early on, our fears were finally comforted with news that this baby was healthy and doing wonderfully. Here's one of the first glimpses we received of our little nugget at 8 weeks.

After an excruciating wait for the big gender reveal, we finally received another joyous round of news at 18 weeks. Grace was going to have a little sister :)

Our little family of three had dinner at Morton's Steakhouse with the request of a favorite waitress of ours to help in the big surprise. Tina brought out a delicious dessert with a pink candle following our meal to share the news!
We celebrated at home with pink balloons for Grace to play with, and eventually say goodbye to, in the backyard.
An evening I'll never forget. 

Proud big sister-to-be!

Thoroughly enjoying our celebration..

Why wouldn't one somersault with happiness?

Starting to get exhausted...

"Bye bye balloons" is now what we hear EVERY TIME we step into our backyard :)

Our latest photo of baby girl #2! 

At nearly 23 weeks and an October 17th due date, I couldn't feel better. I've been feeling her flutter around, and now throw out small soccer kicks, since 17 weeks which has been undeniably comforting. 

In the midst of trying to get through our first trimester, we stumbled upon our dream home. And I literally mean stumbled upon. We had contacted a realtor only weeks earlier with plans to just get the ball rolling in case the perfect house presented itself. Thanks to my realtor.com obsession since moving to Michigan, this exact hypothetical situation happened immediately! We saw the house the first day of showings, were one of four immediate offers and somehow beat the odds. Hence Good Thing #2. On May 10th we moved out of our adorable leased bungalow into the house of our dreams (only a mile away) and have been on cloud nine ever since. What a whirlwind!

Our Hazel Street home after officially purchasing (before closing) in May!
More before / after photos to come pending a major tech savvy update to this blog. 

This is the home we plan to raise our family in during our time in Michigan, however long that may be. The home we plan to bring our next baby girl back to. The home Grace will leave for Kindergarten from. The home that will hopefully be filled with lots and lots of visitors in months to come. It is above and beyond anything I couldn't imagined for Zach and I, and I'm still pinching myself before falling asleep each night that it's actually ours. 

And now back to the title, "they say good things come in threes". I've also decided that really good things can come in two's. Good things, just like bad things, happen to the best of us. We don't experience the bad as punishment, but as part of our story and as part of God's larger ultimate plan. Some days, months and years are just better than others I suppose. Right now all I can do is just feel thanks and give thanks for the good... 

...and anxiously wait to meet Good Thing #3 come October.

Everyone loves a naked baby

She may disown me as her mother one day for posting, but I couldn't contain myself. Bath time is too much fun these days. From pretend play, to practicing the alphabet, to drinking faucet water and practicing her Goldfish swim skills (bubbles, kicking, splashing and pulling), we have trouble prying Grace from the tub nearly every bath experience. This morning she literally laid on her back for a solid 10 minutes refusing to get up despite the water totally drained. She even continued to attempt her bubble blowing and splashing in the empty tub. Cuteness at its finest.

Cutest tushy around.

Who doesn't play the piano naked?

My heart. 

The perfect spring day

After a brutally long and cold winter, we finally experienced our first real spring day! High 70's and sunshine from morning till night - we just had to keep our Ugg boots out till May 1st to get it. Ahhh the wonderfulness of Michigan...

My favorite part about Birmingham is how everyone flocks to the outdoors once the weather turns a corner. Bike riders, walkers, runners, dog walkers, tennis players and kids ecstatic to finally toss a ball around in the front yard are every which way. Today we thoroughly enjoyed yard-hopping after nap time from friend to friend to friend in the neighborhood. Our first summer with a "walking Gracie" is sure to be a treat!

Playdate at Nottinghams! This is Grace's bud, Brady. What a squish!

Popsicles were a huge hit! Perfect toddler treat on a hot and steamy day.

These photos were too cute - couldn't pick just one to post.
Cam, Grace and Brady.

"Water Mooooooom!"

Cruising with our girlfriends across the street (Lexi and Lauren).
And a ride down the block wouldn't be complete without a hot pink mini escalade, now would it?! 

So the escalade doesn't ride quite as smooth (and motor-free) as our normal "bop bop".
Time to move on with our day...

Water table fun with gal pal Ella at the O'Lynnger's house!

Our beautiful little host for the afternoon, and Grace's BFF, Harper!

LOVING the water tables. We have way too many outdoor toys on our "to buy" list...

The gang at Harper's house.
Harper, Jake, Ella and Gracie. 

Walkin' and Talkin' at 18 months

Better late than never! Gracie took her first steps in mid December (15 months), and by February was cruising around like she'd been doing it forever. Our rehabilitation specialist suggested we order Sure Steps orthotics for her shoes, which finally arrived in January. Within days of wearing them, she took off! Today she even found joy in walking around in circles until she dizzily fell down laughing. Ahh the little things in life :)

Thought you'd all enjoy this video we took of her first steps! As you can tell, we were obviously overjoyed. Pretty sure a few tears were even shed.

Now here's our big girl at 18 months rockin' and rollin'... and PHYSICAL THERAPY FREE! We got the go ahead last week from our physical therapist, Miss Holly, that Grace is cleared to graduate. After nearly a year and a half of therapy, this was majorly exciting news! We couldn't be more proud. We'll be checking in every month or so to make sure she's still progressing, as well as to check her foot alignment for her orthotics (and decide a timeline for how long Grace will be needing them). She's getting faster by the day and loves attempting a "step" on the stairs (in her words - holding our hand of course).

Time... please slow down.

The few perks of Ann Arbor

Obviously these words are from the mouth of a die hard Buckeye! Since moving to "that state up North", we've come to find a few positives in being near my largest enemy..

1. Ohio State Women's Gymnastics (and all Ohio State sports) compete there on occasion.

2 . It is a fabulous meeting point for the McKenney's (now in the Toledo area after moving back home from Cali).

3. There is an adorable children's museum downtown and some fab places for food.

Like I said, the FEW perks :)

We had a blast checking out the children's museum and meeting Kirk, Lindsay and Baby M. (to-be) a few weeks ago for my birthday celebration lunch. With the exception of a rather dramatic meltdown pre-lunch from a tired toddler, our day was fabulous. Thanks again for putting it together Linds!

We obviously need a water table outside this summer - Grace was in Heaven!

Oh, just shoving bigger kids out of the fire engine.

This so-called carpet slide stinks Mom...

She loves to build towers these days.

My beautiful expecting friend, Lindsay!
We can't wait to meet your little squish so soon now!

All the girls.

Apples are the best.