It's been too long . . . but I'm back!

Hey friends! I am so sorry that I haven't made time to post anything since August! It was a crazy fall and once mommy and daddy went back to school, I just couldn't seem to find the time to get on the computer AND play with them at night. I had a very busy fall and hopefully I can catch you up on the past few months, but for now I'm just going to focus on December . . . my BIRTHDAY MONTH!

I celebrated my first birthday and my dedication at Heritage Christian Church the first weekend in December with LOTS of family and friends. It was so fun to have everyone visit my new house. It was packed, but we had fun. I loved eating birthday cake and opening presents and playing with all my friends. Marley Grace, my new cousin, was a pretty special guest, I can't wait until we can

celebrate her first birthday next year!

A few weeks later we celebrated Christmas with all my grandparents, great-grands, aunties and uncles, cousins and a few friends. I got lots of great presents, I am so blessed, and then I got to the beach . . . my first, of hopefully many, beach parties!

It was rough driving there all night long in Uncle Jerry's Escalade, especially

through the mountains. It really hurt my ears and mouth when we came out of them, Mommy said it was because I was teething. Whatever, it HURT! I felt pretty yucky the first few days at the beach, but by day three I was feeling better and I was able to play a little in the sand. By the end of the week, though, I was loving the ocean, the seagulls, the sand, and just being able to hang out with my family. Here are a few of my favorite photos, there will be more posted to mommy and daddy's shutterfly page once mommy gets a few extra minutes . . . ha ha!

I felt yucky my first moment on the beach . . .

but by day three, I liked it a lot!

Sunset at Lely Barefoot Beach Preserve

Playing with Daddy

Playing on a boat with mommy

The whole Peddicord/Olinger gang!

We made lots of wonderful memories, which I'll write try to write more about later, but I am so thankful for all the Christmas love I experienced in 2009.

Mommy and daddy can't believe I'm one year old, but I am! I love getting into the tupperware drawer, giving mommy and daddy "advice" on everything, reading books, having dance parties in my new living room after school, and playing with anyone and everyone who comes to visit. I'll post more later, but I love and have missed many of you! Hope to see you soon!

xoxo,

Gracie

August Adventures * Volume 2

August is now more than half over and we have had so much fun! Two weekends ago I got to go on my first airplane ride! Aunt Ann, Uncle Larry, Logan and Landon flew me to Texas to visit them. Mommy and I said goodbye to Daddy on a Friday evening and spent the rest of the long weekend with my Texas family. We had SO MUCH FUN! Aunt Ann got me my own special bed, complete with homemade sheets and blankies. She even found me some toys to play with and books to read. Auntie Kelsey was there, my cousin Jennifer, and one of my new favorites, Auntie Lisa. We got to play, swim in the pool, eat some yummy food and spend time together. Auntie Kelsey, Lisa, and mommy took me for my first college visit to Texas Christian University. We had so much fun! It was so hot, but we survived the sunshine and took a few pictures. Mommy says she loves to visit Texas, and we're so blessed to have so many people who love us. I think so too! You can check out more of the pictures on our shutterfly page, but here's a sampling from our trip.

Not sure what to think about this airplane thing, but mommy said I did great!

Cousin Jennifer - a true Buckeye even though she's in Texas now!

I love my mommy!

Frog Fountain and the new quad at TCU with mommy and Auntie K

It was so hot, I was so tired.

Cousins Logan and Landon liked to read with me :0)

I got to meet Mimi and Papa - Uncle Larry's parents

I love Auntie Lisa . . .

I love Aunt Ann . . .

and I love Auntie K, but not saying Goodbye at DFW

August Adventures * Volume 1

On Sunday we went to play and have lunch at Tuscora Park in New Philadelphia. Mamaw, Papaw, Aunt Sara, Uncle Kurt, Luke, Kyle and Uncle Joe were all there with me. I rode the train with Luke and Mamaw and Daddy. Then Mommy and Daddy took me on the merry-go-round, I cried the whole time. I was so tired! Kyle and I decided to take naps while Luke finished riding. We had a great day in Dover/New Philadelphia :0) Check out our fun at http://olingers23.shutterfly.com/

This week mommy and daddy have been playing with me lots, I even went to visit daddy at cross country camp two different days this week. Yesterday Gma came to visit. We all loaded up in the car and headed to the State Fair. I still don't know exactly what a fair is, but I had fun. I got to take a long ride in my stroller, I got to hear the All Ohio State Fair Youth Choir and meet some of Mommy and Auntie K's high school choir friends, and I got to see some animals. We had so much fun even though it was very hot!

watching the choir at ODNR park

Singing with mommy at ODNR * I LOVED the end of "Battle Hymn"

This is mommy and daddy's friend Bladen. He played piano

at their wedding.I liked his beard :0)

Beth, Bladen, Mommy, and Chad * this one's for Auntie K

Exhausted . . .

Tomorrow Mommy says our adventures will continue. I get to go to Texas to see my family and some of Auntie K's friends. I can't wait!

xoxo, Gracie

A busy end to July and start of August

Last week and weekend were very fun, but very busy! Mommy says she can see me changing and growing SO MUCH! I've been climbing up on mommy and daddy whenever I can and I just don't like to sit and play as much by myself anymore. I also am starting to figure out this new thing called a sippy cup. Mommy and daddy gave me a few different ones to try over a month ago, but this past week mommy brought me home two new ones! I love them! One is pink and purple (my

favorite) and the other is green and pink (my Alpha Zeta Aunties' favorite) Even though I still get very wet, I love to drink water! I also tried

toast for the first time last week.

It is yummy! I had it everywhere!

On Friday we got together with Gma and Gpa, Nana and Papa, Aunt Ha and Uncle Ryan to celebrate Gma's birthday. She was trying to keep my toes out of the cake, she said that my birthday was in four more months, so I had to wait for cake. I didn't listen . . . I put my toes in twice! We had fun playing and eating cake . . . well everyone but me.

On Saturday we got all dressed up and went to my cousin Ashlee's wedding. Everyone looked so pretty and we had lots of fun with daddy, Mamaw O, , cousin Luke, uncle Kurt, and all the rest of the Olinger family. I even got to meet Grace Taylor, one of daddy's and gpa's teachers, for the first time. I loved her glasses!

Read the next page for the rest of my weekend adventures . . .

A Weekend Visit to Coshocton

Last weekend I got to visit all of my grandparents in Coshocton. I went swimming at Nana Donna's again, ate a yummy dinner with Gma and Gpa before heading to bed. On Saturday morning I got to play with my friend Avington! We have been waiting a long time to get together, but she came over to play and have breakfast with Gma, Mommy and me. Here are a few of photos from our playtime. You can find the rest at our shutterfly site :0)

Avie shares so well

I fell asleep and Avie got to play piano :0)

I do not like my tummy time, so Avie tried to comfort me

Avie eventually realized I didn't care, I wanted off my belly!

On Saturday evening I went to visit Mamaw and Papaw O where I got to see Mamaw and Papaw Joe, Mamaw and Papaw Lee, Uncle Kurt, Aunt Sara, Luke, Kyle, Uncle Joe and his new friend Brooke. We had lots of fun eating, laughing, and eventually sleeping!

Happy Birthday America

When I woke up last Saturday morning Mommy and Daddy told me it was the 4th of July. I had heard them talking about red, white, and blue, flags, fireworks and lots of other things. When they got home from Washington, D.C., Mommy and Daddy even brought me a book that tells the story of America's birthday. After my breakfast Mommy and Daddy told me we were going to a parade. I had never been to a parade before so I didn't know what they were talking about, but I soon figured it out. I loved watching the cars, tractors, kids, and band! The drums were my favorite! We went home and took a nap and then I got to play with Auntie Jaim and Uncle Brian before watching fireworks in my pjs with Molly and Dan. I had a great first Fourth of July!

Watching the Parade was so fun!

I love my daddy! We had fun at the parade!

What's Been Going On this Summer * Volume 1

I ate my first bites of cereal just before the end of the school year. Then I got to try vegetables. Dinner time makes me happy - I get so excited!

My first taste of vegetables and cereal together - I love the sweet potatoes!

It may not look like it, but I really do love them!

I slowly learned to sit up all by myself

I also reach for my taggie ball now that I can sit up a bit

hangin' with cousin Melissa at her bridal shower :0) Can't wait until September!

Swimming with Mommy and Landon

playing with Nana Donna at the pool

lounging around . . . so tired!

worn out from swimming

Gpa couldn't wait to push me in my swing! I love it!

playing with cousin Kyle on Father's Day