Memorial Day Weekend!

I'm behind and out of order with my blogs these days but it's hard to find 10 minutes of alone time when I don't have to work or do chores around the house. But I had to blog about our memorial day weekend because it was soooo much fun!

We started the weekend out by headed to the Strawberry Festival in Pungo! I've always heard of this famous strawberry festival but never attended till this year. They had a HUGE parade, strawberry everything..daiquiri's, shortcake, ice-cream, etc. They had a fair, entertainment, rides. It was a big deal. We went with our friends Amy, Kevin, and Gracie's boyfriend Peyton! We were super excited to be able to pick the strawberry's from the fields but by the time we got there was a "All Picked Out" sign up. So we did what many new parents would do, we bought some strawberries and put the kids in the field for a photo op of course. Little did we know there were still some stray strawberries left and the kids found them quickly.





After the strawberry festival we headed home for much needed naps (all of us). Then we headed over to Beth and Andy's for a cookout.

Then on Memorial Day we went to the Norfolk Botanical Gardens with our buddies again. We got some really great pics in the kid's water area and in the beautiful rose gardens.






Overall it was a fun-filled, memorable day. Gracie also had her first grilled cheese sandwhich and strawberries. She loves them both!

Weekend Get-a-way!

Matt and I recently went away for the weekend to celebrate our 4th anniversary. This was our first weekend away from Grace so we didn't want to go far. We ended up at a beautiful B&B in Nags Head, NC. It was great but we really missed Grace a lot!

Before Grace and baby girl to be we traveled a lot. We have been to Mexico twice (once on our honeymoon and loved it so much went back 6 months later) and then celebrated our 2nd anniversary in Punta Cana, DR. We had been planning our third anniversary trip to Italy when we found out that we were pregnant with Grace. But who can compare the two..obviously Italy can wait...we were so thrilled with the news of Grace's birth.

Now with Grace getting older and traveling even better than she did last summer, we just want to take her everywhere with us. She is the queen of road trips. At just three and half months old we took her to GA, TN, and AL for a 10 day adventure. I couldn't believe how well she did! I think she is going to love road trips like her mom and dad. :)

Now with baby girl #2 on her way, we new if we didn't get away now just the two of us, it might not happen for a very long time. It was nice to get away with no agenda or schedules. We went to a late movie, slept in, ate good food, and layed on the beach and relaxed all day. However, the topic of many a conversation was GRACE! We were at dinner one night when I saw the cutest little girl...a few months older than Grace....laughing and hugging her Grandpap...when all of a sudden...I started crying! At that moment, Matt and I realized that as much as we needed our time away that we wanted to take Grace everywhere we went. We wanted to experience all our vacations and get-a-ways with her. So as much fun as we did have I don't know that we'll do again anytime soon.

The McClain Clan isn't just the two of us anymore..it's the four of us!!! That is still so crazy to think about. In less than two years we are going from two to four! And we couldn't imagine life any other way!!

Happy 4th Anniversary to the Love of my Life!

I often blog about Grace and being a mom but today I want to talk about my husband, Matt! Grace and baby girl to be wouldn't even exist if it weren't for my wonderful husband who, despite my crazy quirks and lack of common sense, decided to marry me four years ago today!

It's crazy to look back on your life and all the mins, hours, days, weeks,months, and years that led you to where you are today! I remember praying for my husband to be and just praying period that the Lord would bring the right man into my life to be my husband and the father of my children. I remember days where it seemed like that day might never happen. I had to slay a lot of dragons to get to my prince! But on March 21st, 2003, in a very unlikely place ( if you don't know the story of how we met you'll have to ask me later..that's another story) God brought us together. We weren't even ready for each other at the time but after much time, struggles,joys, and hurts....He took two messed up individuals and made something wonderful out of them..husband and wife! I can't even fathom my life with out Matthew McClain! He has brought out the best in me and has made me want to be a better woman, mother, and wife.

Here are some pics of us throughout the past four years!!

I love you honey! I can't wait to spend many many more years with you and our kids! Thank you for choosing me and for putting up with all my imperfections. You are an amazing man and father and I couldn't be more blessed to have you in my life. I am so proud of you! Happy Anniversary!

A Big Day!!!

Gracie started crawling today!! This is a huge accomplishment for any baby but especially for Grace as the strength and mobility on her right side isn't equal to that on her left side. Her Physical Therapist and her Occupational Therapist both said she would be crawling very soon and they were right. She is only 12 months old ( well 13 months next week) and we are just soooo proud of her. She has the best personality and is such a joy to be around. We really are so optimistic about her future and know there is no obstacle in life that she won't be able to overcome and accomplish.

She has started a lot of firsts this week. She has a new face and if I was fast enough with the camera to catch it I would put it on here. It's kind of a pouty, mean, faker face. It is sooo funny. She has learned to high five, clap her hands (which we've been working on for months now), standing up in her crib, and now crawling. It's amazing how fast she is growing and changing. She isn't a baby anymore! It's sad but exciting to witness!


Last weekend Grace had a full day of Weddings. We went to Jennifer and Matt's wedding in Newport News, VA in the morning! My parents were at this wedding so you could imagine their excitement to get to see Grace too.



Then we spent the evening at Joe and Natalia's wedding. Grace love the live band and danced with half of the wedding party and guests. She was a huge hit. Despite the long day she didn't cry one time. It was a fun filled day and we are so happy for both couples as they start their lives together!!

It's another Girl!!

We found out that we are going to have another little girl!! We are so excited and can't wait to meet her. Gracie and baby girl #2 are going to be 18 months apart!! We hope that they will be great friends. We don't have a name yet but I'm sure we'll have one by the time she is born.

We are expecting her arrival around Oct. 3rd. I'm 20 weeks so we are halfway there. Can't wait to meet you baby girl!!

12 Month Check-up

Today Gracie had her 12 month check up. We have had a crazy few weeks and this was the first we could get in to see her Dr. She now weighs 22 lbs 2 oz. and is 29 and a quarter inches. She has grown so much. She is also speaking at a 15 month old level which is excellent. The Dr. was very impressed with her. She also had to have two shots which weren't fun but Daddy left work to meet us so I think having us both there calmed her more than if just one of us had been there.

Grace has come leaps and bounds in Physical Therapy! She is really really close to crawling. She is also pulling her self up. She gets to where she wants to be and has very unique ways of doing so. She is still a very happy baby but has definitely developed a little bit of a attitude when she doesn't get what she wants. She gives kisses on command and still sleeping through the night despite the teething. She now has 8 teeth and I believe her back teeth are coming in.

It's amazing how you can look back over the past year and see how much she has changed. She no longer looks like a baby but more like a little girl. Tomorrow we find out if she is going to have a little brother or a little sister. Hard to tell at this point but either way we are excited about the closeness between them and the relationship they will develop. She will still be my baby no matter what! She just brightens my day and gives me hope for the future.

Gracie is 1!!

I can't believe my little girl is 1 years old! Her birthday was April 22nd (also known as earth day)! We had a great day. We played, ate, and had a great Physical Therapy appt with Erin, and had lots of visitors come by the house to wish her a happy birthday.



Aunt Jenn and cousin Alex even came by to take a nap with Grace!














Gracie loves her Uncle Andy and Aunt Bethany!
They came by the night before to be the first to wish her a happy birthday!







Gracie had a lady bug themed birthday party. The reason we chose that is because we called her our little luv bug while she was in my belly. We had so much fun planning the party and finding various lady bug decorations. Here are some pics of the birthday girl and her party. We had over 50 people there and she did soooo great! She didn't cry at all even with so many people clapping and singing happy birthday to her. She did seem to wonder why everyone was staring at her when the cake came out but as you will see in the pics below she got pretty wrapped up in her cake. The reason for the pink lady bug cake is because I was told that red icing can really stain there skin. But pretty much everything else stayed true to lady bugs with red and black decorations. She got a TON of presents-toys and clothes! We had so much fun and are so thankful to everyone who came out and made this such a special day.


My sister made over 50 individual lady bug cupcakes. They were a huge hit and very
YUMMY!