Happy 2nd Birthday Gracie girl!

Hard to believe two years have passed us by since our lives were forever changed for the better with Grace's entrance into the world. She is more than I ever could've dreamed of, and we are so blessed God chose us to be her parents. Before I post photos from her "sweet sixteen style" 2nd birthday party, here are a few tid-bits about Grace and recent memories I'm hoping to never forget...

• Finally saying "I love you" voluntarily. Heart melter.
• Band-aids are called stickers for "boo boo's". They make everything better.
• She loves cars. All kinds of cars. Adult, kid-size... they'll entertain her forever. And we also still call them "bop bop's" despite her ridiculous vocabulary.
• She can sing the entire ABC song! She also loves singing Twinkle Twinkle Little Star, Little Bunny Foo Foo, Happy Birthday, Rock-a-bye Baby and attempts the Georgie Porgie Nursery Rhyme.
• She can count to 20 when she thinks no one is listening. 
• Loves singing Ring Around the Rosie and watching others fall (and pretend to be hurt of course).
• Kisses baby girl in Mom's belly, gives her "hugs" and continually tells me how heavy she is. Haha. She has also attempted to push her unborn baby sister.... hmm.
• Talks in long sentences. So amazing watching her brain absorb EVERYTHING.
• Play-doh obsession, and eating play-doh obsession.
• Grace loves markers, stickers and Mickey Mouse Clubhouse. We've slowly become interested in Dora lately too.
• She has a fascination with Zach's belly button. Hysterical.
• Wants to help out however she can. Whether its cleaning, vacuuming, putting things away, throwing her own "icky" diaper away (ew), she's a wonderful little helper.
• Clasping her hands together at night to pray with us and attempting the sign of the cross. We even caught her saying "Amen" while playing in the fountain the other day. Haha. 
• Her favorite saying right now is "Gracie do it!" She's verrrrrrrrrry independent. Surprised she isn't requesting a place of her own actually.
• Showing interest in the potty and loves to take her diaper off. Definitely ready to potty train. Holding off until we're settled with baby #2 though (for our sake)!
• Attempted sleeping in a big girl bed... for one night. Didn't go as well as we hoped! Again, sticking to a pack n' play until we're adjusted after baby arrives.
• Loves all things baby right now. Feeds, changes, cuddles and rocks her own dolls. This is obviously very comforting right now!
• Cheers "Go Daddy go!" when Zach mows or the lawn or "Go Mommy go!" when Mom vacuums or catches a fly. Haha.
• Just moved up to the Mini 3 class at Goldfish Swimming. Mom no longer goes in the pool with her, and she's doing awesome! Loves wearing goggles and going under water now.
• About to finish our first real gymnastics session at Troy Gymnastics. Grace is in Heaven jumping on the trampoline, playing in the pit, walking on the beam and swinging on the bars. She's even started to do handstands (more like a plank) with her feet against the wall all by herself! Obviously pretty exciting to watch.
• Her best friends are Harper, Brady, Cam and Jane.
• Grace started pre-preschool at Hand-in-Hand Early Learning Center (First Presbyterian Church) on Fridays and Mother's Day Out at West Maple Lutheran Church on Wednesdays this fall. She couldn't have said good-bye to me faster the first day! Having a blast.
• She loves her extended family so much. Grandparents, Aunts and Uncles visiting make her so happy.
• Kingston is her buddy (whether or not he actually wants to be).
• At her two year appointment Grace weighed 24 lbs (18%) and was 33" tall (33%). She's a peanut.
• Grace tells me I'm pretty in the morning when I get ready. Being nine months pregnant, you can imagine how wonderful this feels :) 

Sure more will come to me, but these were at the top of my head! Here are a few of my favorite two year photos we recently took. I'll be posting the super belated Minnie party photos later today!

We love you to the moon and back baby girl! 

Happy 2nd birthday!

Summer 2013 Recap

I'm going to go ahead and use the "pregnant card" for my major blog slacking this summer. You only get to use it for 9 months, and with a month to go I figure I might as well pull it out as much as possible! As we prepared today for Grace's first day of "pre" pre-school starting tomorrow (tear.. many tears), I figured I had only so much time left to post. Did I mention our baby girl also turns 2 this Saturday?! Craziness. I can't handle it.

The summer of 2013 has been an awesome one to say the least. As I packed on the pregnancy pounds, Grace seemed to grow faster, stronger and busier. Funny how that happens right? Bear with me while I jog my memory in photos...

In May we welcomed Carolyn with open arms into the Ullrich family! Brock proposed in Lake Geneva with family and friends waiting at the Ullrich lakehouse to celebrate. Such a beautiful memory we were so happy to be a part of! Already counting down the days till Labor Day weekend 2014 :)

In June we made a trip home for Tom and Jodi's surprise 30th Anniversary Party and Father's Day. Another amazing celebration we wouldn't have missed for the world! We even squeezed in a few touristy days downtown Chicago with my Mom and Brooke at Navy Pier while Zach had meetings for work. Super fun (for the girls.. probably not so much for Zach).

The traumatizing first train ride. It went smoothly for about 1 minute.

Grace LOVES the carousel!

First time on a Ferris Wheel. I'd be lying if I said I wasn't paranoid beyond paranoid.. haha

Who doesn't love a trip to Build-a-Bear?!

Of course my car-loving-daughter requests a "bop bop" for her new bunny. Only fitting. Thanks Tooks!

Ullrich family pre-surprise and post-Adelle's for dinner!

Surprise!!!

Reliving their wedding day obviously :)

We even squeezed in a few swim sessions. This was Grace's "bomb squad suit" for the summer.  It did wonders for her swimming ability!

First time riding a golf cart at Medinah with Dad on Father's Day.

Family photo and growing bump :)

More golf cart riding requests with Aunt Jess and Uncle "Bock".

We celebrated the 4th of July with friends in Michigan! A hard decision not going home, but the traveling was starting to wear preggo out after being non-stop for nearly two months.

First 4th of July parade in Northville with the Scheidt family. This is the longest Grace had ever sat in one place up until this point. For real. Her eyes didn't move from the parade from start to finish!

I made this. And yes, I was very proud :)

One of my favorite photos :) Aiden is awesome.

Grace checking out the Scheidt boys.

Zach and AJ trying to look "cooler" by forcing Grace in their Dad photo.

Cheese!

More 4th of July weekend fun.
We were on our way to a late night pool party with the Kotcher family here!

I even squeezed in a few girl's nights with my mama friends!
Lindsay, Shannon, Val and I about to celebrate Val's birthday at Phoenicia.

We took our first trip Up North thanks to the Mark's family! Austin's parents have a house on Burt Lake and invited us there for the weekend. Such a fun time with the girls. We finally felt like official Michigan citizens after this trip!

Girls lunch in Harbor Springs.

So beautiful.

Zach's favorite activity with Grace. And of course Grace loves it too :)

Cutest labs.

Girlfiends Jane and Grace.

The whole clan minus baby Elle. 

The boat ride that lasted 10 minutes.

 At the end of July we finally had the McKenney family out to visit our new home with their newest addition, "Baby Henry". Grace could not get enough of this poor boy! It was love at first sight. Such a fun day exploring A Day on the Town in Downtown Birmingham and grilling out with wonderful friends.

Moms and babes.

Dads and babes.

Henry sporting his new hat. Sure to be a favorite this fall!

Grace dancing in the streets :)

Adorable family.

She was obsessed.

Trying so hard to be "gentle".

Trying out Mr. Kirk's boots for size.

In August my entire family came to visit, along with my grandparents Mimi and Papa, to celebrate my Mom's Birthday. This was our first time having overnight visitors in our new house! We had a blast relaxing, walking around downtown and treating my Mom to a birthday dinner at Bacco.

Party hats make the party. Obviously.

Adorable.

My beautiful sisters and Grace's beautiful aunts!

The party hats were on all weekend. 

During the end of August Tom and Jodi came out to visit as well and gave Grace an early 2nd birthday gift. We loved having some one-on-one time with just the two of them!

Grace's first fabulous princess gown from Nana and Opa!

Our little beauty.

Cuddle sesh with Opa.

Playing hide-and-seek. Grace didn't fully grasp the concept of "seek"...

The birthday present trail post-nap! The hunt started upstairs with her birthday card...

She followed the ribbon down the stairs, through the kitchen, out the patio and...

Finally found her surprise outside!

Thank you again Tom and Jodi for her adorable picnic table! :)

We spent Labor Day weekend with more visitors! Jess, Aaron and Nelly took time out of their crazy, test-studying schedules to spend the long weekend in Birmingham. Truly appreciated you two! We had a wonderful time!

Nelly and Grace cooling off in the "no wading" fountain Downtown.

Monkey bars with Uncle Aaron!

My heart.

And that was our summer in a nutshell! As I mentioned earlier, Grace starts pre-preschool tomorrow morning at the Hand-in-Hand Early Learning Center (run through the First Presbyterian Church) and turns two on Saturday. Praying I make it through the weekend without my pregnancy hormones getting the best of me and making a "she must be a first-time Mom" scene. Be on the lookout for lots of birthday party, two year old poses, and backpack action shots to come!