Latest and greatest at 16 months

Can't believe our peanut is 16 months old. Here a quick clip of the latest and greatest tricks performed by Miss Grace!

Recent new words include duck, more, mommy, daddy, the "g" sound for "gaga" (aka Grandma Jenny), please (my personal favorite), hot, Harper, Jane and Elle (all of Grace's best Michigan gal pals), oh no (with hands to cheeks in a very dramatic fashion), what's this or what's that (to everything in sight) and Elmo. She's also started pointing at nearly every animal on our magnetic board when asked to find a specific one, and kicks on command due to our recent undertaking of swim lessons at Goldfish with friends Lindsay and Harper. As you can see in the video, Grace also now understands what a somersault is - cue Mom's inner gymnast delight. This obviously warmed my heart more than most. Just happy our overly expensive Little Gym lessons are paying off!

She's still pretty teeny only weighing a little over 19 lbs at our 15 month check-up. Hoping our holidays filled with sickness was the perpetrator there! Despite her light weight, she's in the 75-80% for height at 30 inches. Long and lean blonde bombshell - Mom is a tad jealous.

Belated Holiday Recap

This is obviously long overdue, so I'll spare you too many details and leave the enjoyment in the photos themselves.

Kisses from Gaga on Thanksgiving.
We were obviously cheering hard for our Buckeyes against MICHIGAN! 

Muck Fichigan!

Wonderful great-grandparents, Mimi and Papa, with Gracie on Turkey Day weekend.

Kisses for the biggest Buckeye of all, Papi.

And more kisses for Grace's long lost girlfriend, Lyla Rose,
during a get-together at Carrie's parent's house.
So fun!

My wonderful mama friends reunited at last!

"Decorating" (or eating) Christmas cookies at the Mark's house with Miss Jane! 

Our fabulous playgroup before we left for Chicago!
We attempted to decorate ornaments at the O'Lynnger's house with the kiddos.
This is Grace with her buds Brady, Harper and Cameron :)

Seeing boyfriend Brayden for the first time in forever!
Amazing how fast time flies. Last time they were together was around 4-5 months old.  

My beautiful Buckeye ladies!
Thanks again for having us over Meg - such a fun night catching up!
We miss you guys. 

Haha love it.

Say CHEESE! :)

Love of my life.

My best girls. 

Oh Christmas tree...
Our first decorated tree in the Mitten.

"I'm supposed to open this? I'd rather use it as chair."
An early Christmas morning in our house!

Our first baby, Kingston. 

Santa thoroughly enjoyed his milk and cookies that Grace and I decorated!

My heart.

And the stockings were stuffed by the chimney with care....

Grace was obviously on the good list this year. 

Actual Christmas morning at the Livingston house! 

Beautiful tree in my home sweet home.

King got a new bear this year since his old one FINALLY bit the bullet :(
Couldn't believe he managed not to destroy old Mr. Bear for nearly three years - pretty impressive!

Annual photo tradition with the sisters / Grace's aunties on our stairs.
We've done this since birth... seriously.

"A bop bop ATTACHED to a shopping cart?! This is AWESOME!" - Grace's reaction.
Unfortunately she thought she could fit in the mini bop bop as well... not so much.

New sparkly Toms for baby girl.

Thanks Auntie Tooks and Auntie Lolo!
We've been hearing "naaaaay!" and "moo" nonstop thanks to Grace's new farm :)

Our little girl is finally taking steps - hooray!

Crazy tot.

We're so in love.

Much better :)

Gaga getting some love.

Cute, festive outfit from Nana!
Christmas at the Ullrich house.

Newest addition to the family - little Miss Nellie!
Cutest pup on earth. I miss her already... and you two of course :) 

Smooches.

Grace and Nellie were best buds.

Carolyn and cuteness!

Daddy and more cuteness. 

"You mean I have more gifts to open? Ok, cool." - Gracie Mack 

Grace sporting her new Jordans! She's so fly.
Thanks again Auntie Jess and Uncle Aaron!

The final missing piece to Grace's new kitchen! Woohoo!

Nana showing her how its done.

Beautiful couple.

Another pretty tree... bare after all our gift opening!

My favorite parents-in-law :) 

Nana giving her beautiful new coat a test run - looking good lady!

Kisses for Nelly from Auntie Kels.

A recent visit from my dear, expecting friend, Lindsay!
This was sadly the only photo we got from our wonderful day together.
So fun catching up, and getting to see her beautiful belly
due in April. Thanks again for visiting you two!

Thanks again to both our families and our amazing friends, both old and new, for an incredible holiday season! We are super blessed. I have a good feeling about the year 2013, and can't wait for the memories to come. Stay posted!

Moving Forward

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, 

"plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope 

and a future." 

-Jeremiah 29:11

I miscarried. 

Again.

However, thanks to my faith and verses such as above, I feel strong enough to finally write about what we've been through (glass of wine in hand... of course). 

I like to consider myself a fairly optimistic and positive person. And for those of you that know me,  I think you would agree. With that said, writing about something that was obviously extremely devastating for both Zach and I, and both our families, is less than ideal. I didn't feel right, however, moving forward with the joyous moments in our lives and Grace's latest milestones without acknowledging the past few months... And the tiny beautiful baby of ours that is now in Heaven. I'm praying that despite the heartbreak I'm feeling at the moment forcing myself to relive what we went through, telling our story will be a therapeutic step in bringing closure and moving forward. 

We received a call earlier this week from my OB regarding test results from the D&C I had done in December. Our baby had a chromosomal abnormality known as Turner's Syndrome. This was obviously bittersweet news to both Zach and I. Hearing a "reason" the miscarriage occurred both comforted and tormented me. For those that have never heard of this condition, Turner's Syndrome means that one copy of the X chromosome is found missing or significantly altered. A normal healthy person is born with two sex chromosomes - either XX (meaning girl) or XY (meaning boy). A baby with Turner's has only one X, meaning it only affects girls.... cue the torment. Turner's Syndrome affects 1 in every 2500 pregnant women with a 98% chance of miscarrying at some point in their pregnancy. There is no genetic issue involved that causes Turner's - it is a completely random and sporadic event that is extremely unlikely to ever occur again. 

Deep breath.

My only comfort found in this news was that it wasn't my fault. My two diet cokes, my moving our couches to fit our Christmas tree in our tiny living room, or the violent period of illness I went through (and lack of a flu shot) were absolutely not the reason our baby's heart stopped beating. Our baby was taken up to Heaven for a reason entirely out of our control. As with all things in life, this was in God's hands. While I still struggle with the "why" factor... why me AGAIN?... why this baby?... why not let this baby defy the odds and be in that 2%?... I'm trying to find peace in the fact that God knows what He is doing. I have faith in His plans for our family.. and I believe with all my heart that our little family of three will absolutely grow when the time is right. We just need to have patience.

Thank you to all those who supported, loved, thought and prayed for us this past month. I'm so sorry if I haven't gotten back to each one of your kind e-mails or messages. Please know your love has meant the world to us, and I promise once Grace's toddler tantrums / random meltdowns, mischievousness and lack of naps finally cease... I will get back to each and every one of you :) 

In the meantime we are living in the moment.... loving our beautiful, healthy, intelligent, sassy little Grace Mack, spending time with our wonderful family and friends... both old and new. We are so incredibly blessed and thankful.... 

And finally ready to move forward.

An early Christmas gift...

Our little Gracie is going to be a....

BIG SISTER!

And here's the proof... potentially the 10th stick I tested out.

Officially 8 weeks today at our ultrasound, and due July 1, 2013!

Obviously hard to tell (as usual), but baby #2 is the small blob on the top left :)

We're overjoyed to finally tell our family and close friends the exciting news, and can't wait to be finally be a family of four (or five counting King of course). Please keep our family, and especially our little growing blueberry, in your thoughts and prayers these next several weeks and months to come. Still very early, but we couldn't be happier with the results of today's ultrasound and doctor report. Baby Ullrich #2 is looking perfect thus far, and we are certainly optimistic she or HE (ahh!) will stay that way :)

Lots of love, 

Zach, Britt, Grace and Kingston