Catching Up and a Visit from the Grahl Ladies

Another day in paradise . . . this is a beach in Sand City.

The girls "posed" for me . . .

Grandma and Aunt Sandra came to visit for two weeks . . . yeah!!! We tried to do some sightseeing without overdoing it. One day we went on a walk along the water from Lover's Point toward the aquarium.

These were from a Salinas HS football game . . . Kurt had to watch a back gate so we went to bring him dinner and hang out a little.

We went to the Monterey Bay Aquarium on Monday. What a wonderful place for Ella to run around and see cool animals! She had a blast looking at the fish in the tanks and playing in the kids' zone.

Ella made a new friend . . . she was following their family around.

This is how we spent much of the day . . . chasing Ella!

The aquarium has a terrific kids' area . . . here is the "splash zone" . . .

This is a kind of water bed for kids to jump on and experience wave action . . . Ella needed a break after vigorous jumping :)

There's also a slide!

Grace kept a good disposition in the stroller . . . for about ten minutes at a time! Mom had to wear her most of the day.

The Grahl family bus . . .

We had lunch at the Steinbeck house on Tuesday . . . it was delicious and relaxing, even with the girls :) We recommend the Steinbeck iced tea!

Waiting for her grilled cheese . . .

Out in the garden . . .

Thanks Grandma and Aunt Sandra for a great time!!

We've been here in Marina for a month now, and we love living here! The weather is perfect--we see both sunny blue sky days and foggy cool days, usually both in the same day. Ella loves going to the beach and the playground, and our little "house" is not so little for the four of us. We have yet to go to the aquarium, but that will come soon as JoAnn and Sandra will be coming this week to visit for two weeks.

I decided to let Ella sit in this old portable swing that I got used for her when we took that vacation to Bodega Bay when she was about three months old. She loves swings, unlike her sister, so why not give her a comfy place to read?


A little over a week ago we all went to Bubba Gumps on Cannery Row for a CSU, Monterey athletics party to kick off the new season. We met the other coaches and their families who were very friendly and welcoming. Coach Bishop's daughters shared their chicken fingers with Ella :)

Ella got her hands on a huge apple in the van after a trip to the beach. She actually munched about half of it before she got full--unfortunately she doesn't know there are some parts you are not supposed to eat, so she ate the bottom of the core :(

This is an adorable surfboard play mat the Doe family got for Grace. The top part can be filled with water so the baby can watch these little foam fish float around.

Ella has taken to "reading" to her sister. She has also taken to pulling her arms out of her shirts and walking around with her onesie top around her waist!

Grace has excellent hand/eye coordination. She is already purposefully grabbing objects.

Just checking . . .

I'm not sure what they are plotting, but I think I should be worried :)

More pics of my smiley baby . . .

I've decided to try to "recreate" some pictures of Ella with Grace just for fun (not to compare the two :) Here are Grace and Ella in the cow outfit Nonna got Ella. Ella is 2 months and 19 days old and Grace is 2 months and 19 days old (I didn't plan that, I swear!) Grace looks much bigger, but I also took her picture closer than I did Ella's. Grace does look too big for the shirt already.

A Quick Post for Grandma

We're here in Marina and still trying to get settled. I wanted to make a quick post for Grandma which is a little difficult as I'm in the Marina Starbucks parking lot because we don't have Internet access at home yet, and they have free wifi--don't worry, we spend enough money in there.

The girls and I went in last week to help Daddy get his classroom ready . . .

Here is Ella at the Denis the Menace playground in Monterey . . .

I think she needed a diaper change :(

She will swing forever--literally forever!

Here's our home right after the move-in . . . this will be the living room one day . . .

Ella loves to lay down on the playmat with her sister . . .

And give her baby sis kisses . . .

Our happy little Grace . . .

Ella signing off from Marina!

Catching Up With the Girls

Grace had her two-month-old appointment yesterday, and she now weighs in at 13 lbs. 6 oz. and 24 inches long. She is staying awake for much longer periods, and she coos and smiles a lot. I'm trying to get it on video.

Ella put George in this position--I swear I didn't touch a thing!


I brought out this play mat a few days ago, and Ella is having a ball with it. I think she remembers it from her babyhood :) Grace also loves it--more than her swing or car seat--so maybe movement isn't so fun for her. I might have one carsick child on my hands :(


Girl Smiley . . .

Ella and Daddy got up every morning together to watch the Tour de France for the last three weeks. Here Ella is sporting Daddy's London TDF hat while she eats lunch.

After the tour is over each day, Daddy takes Ella out for a driving lesson . . .

Just kidding! This is the closest she gets to driving . . . Daddy gives her rides around the house in the new duo stroller.

These adorable (or creepy, depending on your experience with large dolls as a child) Raggedy Ann and Andy dolls belong to Erin . . . Ella wasn't so interested in them . . . maybe someday.

This is what I woke up to one morning . . .

Ella loves to climb into the pack n' play and try to make the moblie work. Grace likes to watch her big sis.

New Pics of the Girls

Now that Grandma and Aunt Sandra (how can we ever thank you enough for all the help?!!) have gone home, Mommy and Daddy are getting used to going two-on-two with the girls. We try and keep Ella busy with activities and Grace happy with milk and sleep. Here is Ella at the Fountains playing in the fountains :)

Here is Ella reading to Grace . . . it will work better when Grace can sit up on her own!

Ella loves to kiss her baby sis . . .

Grace is starting to have much longer periods of wakefulness now . . .

And her neck is getting stronger . . .

And she smiles . . . a lot! I need to get more of her smiles on film.