1 year Pictures!

On Friday evening we went and had 1 year old pictures of Gracie taken at Sears. Now that she moves... a lot... it is not quite as easy to get her to sit still for the picture man. We did end up with some pretty cute ones though. Today (Sunday) is her birthday... so she is officially a toddler!

1 year Birthday Party!

We celebrated Gracie's 1st birthday last Friday evening (her birthday is in two weeks, but alot of the family was around for Easter, so it worked out to do it early). We had a pizza party. It was lots of fun. Lots of Aunties, Uncles, and cousins were there, and Grandma and Grandpa Malecek.

Below is an attempt to download a video from my camera. I had the camera turned sideways, and don't know how to rotate it... so sorry you have to look at her sideways. Gracelyn very much enjoyed her cake! She really didn't do to bad with the mess. She sure was cute to watch.

To view the video, double click with your mouse on the play button symbol and it should play.

Our little girl is growing up so fast!

A Walk In The Park

There has been so many beautiful days lately (temps 40-50's) with the sun shinning, so Gracie and I decided to dust off the stroller and take it for a spin at Ramsey Park in Redwood. Most of the trails were still snow covered, but we found some spots to go. There are a few animals in the little zoo so we checked them out too. There were these white geese just talking and squawking up a storm. Gracie wasn't too sure about that. I thought she would take a nap during the walk, that is what she did last summer all the time, but she just kept those big blue eyes open. She is a little bit bigger and more interactive than she was last summer!!! I think she enjoyed the fresh air and some different scenery to look at. I know I sure did. Now if this Minnesota weather would stay this way... we don't need that cold back.

This is the frozen Ramsey Waterfalls.

Checking out the big buffalo.
Checking those noisy geese and ducks.

Having Fun!

Am I cute or what?

Playing with daddy.

Daddy has taught Gracie how to do double "high-fives."

It is pretty cute.

I sure like this Easter basket thing...
I really like to empty it ALL THE TIME!
And then Willie likes to take the plastic eggs and chew on them.

News to Share

Yes, you are looking at it correctly... we are PREGNANT.

Gracie will be a big sister in September.
No, this was not in "the plan", but never-the-less a baby is always a miracle from God and we are delighted and grateful, (although I am not looking forward to being pregnant over the summer). So far the pregnancy has caused just a few problems for me- some nausea, being tired all the time, and never getting enough sleep.

This is an ultrasound picture at 8 weeks gestation. The blob in the middle is the head then the body curves off to the left, and upper top, left to right, is a leg and foot! Isn't it just amazing what can all happen in 8 weeks. At this age the baby is 1.66cm long and the heartbeat was 162. We could see the heart beating on the ultrasound screen... what a miracle!

The next two pictures are a 12 week ultrasound picture, which we had this last Wednesday. Doctor said everything looks just fine. The baby is about 2 inches long now. It has hands, feet, a mouth... just about everything... those private parts are just being developed right now.

This picture above is the head and if you look closely you can see the baby's hand, kinda in the middle of the screen. The thumb is not quite in the mouth, but right on the outside ready to go in!This picture is the head and body. On the bottom you can see the legs curve around. The baby is sitting. Sorry about the glares on the pictures... I just took my camera and took a picture of the picture, which didn't turn out to bad actually.

Naughty, Naughty!

Well, Gracie has discovered the toilet paper.
I left her alone for like 2 minutes... and this is what I come back to.
Pulling the toilet paper off of the roll isn't enough,
she needs to also shred the paper into tiny little pieces.

On another note, she has been standing by herself without hanging on to anything for like 15 seconds. Sometimes she tries to take one step and then she falls... but this morning... she did it!! She took like 3 complete steps before the fall. I think the walking is just around the corner.

Gracie's Day

This is a day in the life of Gracelyn Malecek:

I think I will be so nice and help Mommy fold clothes.

Folding clothes gets kinda boring... and Mommy just keeps taking them away from me anyways so I think I will go on to picking out the perfect book to look at, but first of course I have to pull several of them off the shelf. Pulling one off the shelf just isn't good enough.

So now it is nap time... Mommy thinks she is smart by leaving me in my room all by self with the door closed... little does she know that when she leaves, I just get up and play! No naps for me.

Well I guess since Mommy is kinda upset with me for not taking a nap I will try to be nice and help her cook supper. I'll get out the pots and pans for her!

Note from Mommy: Even though she is a little stinker sometimes and gets into EVERYTHING... one look at that adorable smile and it all melts away!

Busy, Busy

I know it has been a while since I put any pictures up... it has been busy, busy at our house. Three weeks ago Gracie was sick and a week ago I was sick. Luckily Marty has been pulling through with not even a sniffle! He just gets to listen to me complain and wipe Gracie's runny nose! Lucky guy! Then school for me is in full force... so every night I am trying to catch up on something, and still try to make supper, and do laundry, and keep the house clean (which is getting trickier with toys everywhere) and spend time with Gracie (and Marty!), and the list never ends. I sure am glad I am almost done with my Graduate program.... so I can do more fun stuff then! As for Marty the cold weather always makes working on a farm a challenge so he is busy to, working long hours. We are also so fortunate to have Marty's Mom and Dad next door to help out with Gracie so much and make us the occasional meal (which is always delicious!). So hopefully soon I'll get my pictures downloaded and posted and life will be less chaotic (Does that ever really happen?) As for today I have a date with this computer and my homework! Hopefully Gracie takes a big long nap!

Birthday Party!!

HAPPY FIRST BIRTHDAY JESSE WALTER!

Baby Jesse turned one year old on Jan. 30th!! Shelly and Jesse had his birthday party last weekend with all the cousins in attendance. He is no longer baby Jesse. He is now toddler Jesse. And that he certainly is. He is quite the cute boy.

To think last year at this time Shelly was just experiencing her first moments as a Mother... and I was getting big and plump, with 10 weeks to go till little Gracie was to be born.

Gracie thought this party hat was pretty cool, until she took the elastic string and snapped herself... then we saw some tears.

Gracie and Maddy

Mommy and Gracie

Jesse opening some of his presents with the help of his Mommy (and some cousins).

Gracie and Jesse playing with the big lego blocks.

Jesse has it figured out...

No need to use his hands... just dive right in with his mouth.

Time for clean up after eating that yummy cake.

Jesse (1yr), Paige (2yrs), and Gracie (9 1/2mo)

Jesse and Gracie

Cousins: Maesee (5yrs), Maddy(4yrs), Paige(2yrs), and Gracie

They are pushing Gracie around in the dolly stroller.

Gracie loved it.