Is it spring time yet?

It is really cold. For some reason this winter seems to be dragging by very slowly. Grant got back from inauguration last week and as I'm sure everyone who watched it on TV knows, it went really well. We girls are sure glad that he is home. He went to Grace's school yesterday and read to her class, she thought that was really cool. It seems that I am getting bigger by the minute. I'll try to post a belly picture later. Other than my back and legs aching and not being able to take a full deep breath, I am feeling pretty good. I feel like all would be right in the world if I could only get a little dose of sunshine. But alas, it is still JANUARY. Grace is finally almost fully potty trained. It took her a while but she now makes it to the potty every time- almost. We are very proud, and thankful to have about three months of no poopy diapers in the house:)

I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas and New Year. We definitely did. Christmas with a three year old is so much fun. Grace had so much fun leaving cookies and milk for Santa on Christmas Eve. In the morning she had a whole pile of gifts including the train set that she asked for.

On New Years Eve day we found out that our new baby is a girl! We were both surprised because we were both feeling like it was a boy, but it looks like Grant is going to have a house full of ladies. We spent New Years weekend at Twinbrook with the entire Simmon family, 16 of us all at the house. We spent the whole time eating, talking, and playing plenty of euchre and mafia-it was just what the doctor ordered. Grant's cousin Mike and his wife Lisa have a one year old baby, Sara, and Grace got to practice her big sister skills.

Grace and I are on our own this week, Grant is in Washington DC working on the innaguration. He is one of the production managers for the event and will be there for 5 days organizing and setting up the event, the event itself, and then 2 days for the out. Grace and I are heading to Bourbonnais for the weekend to visit with the fam.

Ready Teddy Halloween Party

Grace had her Halloween party at preschool today. This was the first time that I got to attend class with her and it was so much fun to see how she interacts with her teachers (pictured left, Mrs. Kramer, right, Mrs. DeAnna) and the other kids. We made a craft, played with a parachute, bozo buckets, and had a pumpkin shaped rice krispy treat. What a day! Tomorrow we are headed to Bourbonnais for trick-or-treat and sloppy joe's at my mom's house. Yum....

After preschool Saylor came by for lunch with Grace and I. For those of you who don't know, Saylor is the captain on the boat I work on.When I told Grace that she was coming she said something that I found quite cute. She looked really puzzled and concerned and said, " Mommy we live so far away, how will the boat get here?".

If anyone is not yet aware, I am almost 12 weeks pregnant! Yeah!! We are very excited for Grace to have a litte bro or sis. I have had one appointment with my midwife, Amy, so far and everything looks great. I got an ultrasound so we got to see the baby and have it measured to calculate my due date, May 17.

Grant turned 30 last Saturday. We had a breakfast of my mom's eggs benedict then in the afternoon I sent Grant to the spa for a massage followed by dinner at Shaw's Crab house with the Simmons. It was a great day and his only day off in two weeks. He has been busier than usual with work. His company, C3, is producing Barack Obama's election night party in Grant Park. His title for the show is Network Production Manager. Basically he will be in charge of handling all the media in their backstage area. I am just hoping that he can get me in, it is bound to be an incredible night in Chicago if Barack wins!

Our New House!

Wow, has a lot changed around here! We moved into a new house. We made the move to La Grange Park (12 miles west of downtown Chicago). We found a great house on a cute tree lined street that is surrounded by forest preserve. It is so much better for our family than city life was. We have a yard and a big driveway for Grace to play in. There is a beautiful porch with a pergula roof in the backyard and we spend almost as much time out there as we do indoors.

Grace started preschool last week. It is SO cute. She is in the 2.5 year old class since she will not be three till November. Her teacher, Mrs. DeAnna, reports that she absolutely loves it. I cried the first day, she did not. She goes on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 11-1. I was sad to see her go off all by herself, but not that sad, I get 4 hours a week to myself- WOOHOO!!

We took Grace and her friend Mikela, who lives down the street, to see Sesame Street Live at the Rosemont Theater. Grace is now two and a half and Mikela just turned three, the two of them are quite a pair.

Here are some recent pictures of Grace for all of you who don't get the pleasure of seeing her very often. She is getting really big!

USVI 08

We recently took a family vacation to St. John with the Simmon family. It was really great to introduce Grace to the island life and all of our old friends who are still there. Grace had the time of her life. She told me that her favorite things about her trip were "the beach, sand castles, and ketchup (her new love)". We stayed in an AMAZING four bedroom villa with a pool, so we had several relaxing days lounging and reading by the pool. We went to some of our favorite beaches, had burgers at Skinny Legs, and rented a power boat to Jost in the BVI's. Someone, remind me why we moved back? Please???