Just in case she forgets her home state’s nickname, someone was kind enough to create a building, that creatively incorporates the state nickname, right in Grace’s neighborhood. She hopes that when she visits Kentucky, someone will be kind enough to leave some Bluegrass lying around, and when she visits Pennsylvania, someone will leave Keystones lying around, and when she visits Michigan, someone will leave Wolverines lying around (OK, that pretty much rules vacations to Michigan out)
Thanks to the arrival of Grace, the Fuchs household has been innundated with catalogs and magazines informing them of all of the things they “need” to raise Grace properly.
After categorically rejecting the collapsible wet bar, satellite-guided pacifer finder, cell-phone disguised as a bottle, titanium Veggie Booty dispenser, 120mm applesauce gun and a 17-inch flat screen for the stroller, Grace’s parents finally broke down their marketing defenses and purchased a Bumbo.
They may be getting their marketing pitches confused, but Grace’s parents think that somehow, the Bumbo is supposed to guarantee fluency in 3 ancient languages while giving her the ability to write a concerto by age 2. Her parents also think it’s also supposed to teach her both complex mathematics and how to make a mean Beef Wellington.
Who knew massive consumerism could buy so much success & happiness?
So please don’t be deceived by the appearance of the Bumbo which just kind of looks like a chair that Grace is marginally happy in — because it is so much more than just a chair!
Someone (ok, fine, it’s Grace) is getting dangerously close to giving her parents fits by learning how to crawl - here’s the future perpetrator getting one step closer to driving her parents insane (but at least she looks reasonably cute doing it):
As is the tradition, Grace poses with her favorite bear for her three-month birthday pose. In a super light-as-a-feather weight class wrestling match, it appears as though the Bear would still win, but Grace is getting more and more wily by the second.
In a moment of nationality confusion, Grace noticed that updates to her Web log were curiously absent during the month of August - knowing the European propensity for extended vacations during August (especially among the French), Grace wondered if her parents “checked out” for the month finally allowing their cheese infatuation to drive them to total defection to the land of du fromage:
Who can blame her when presented with the following evidence:
Clue #1 - Forced Sniffing
Against her will, Grace was forced to fill her nasal passages with the putrid aroma of an well-aged Gubeen (the cheese may be Irish, but the odor was ALL French)
Clue #2 - The Diversionary “Corn buying” tactic at the Farmer’s Market
Although Grace’s parents lured her to the farmer’s market with the promise of purchasing fruits and vegetables, they somehow left with a couple pounds of cheese and a bagette or two, or three. Here we see Grace not falling for her parents’ corn diversion technique - instead she ponders their cunning next move.
(Grace’s parents would like the thank the random Asian woman who so kindly added a touch of multiculturalism to this posting)
Perhaps Grace is captivated by her mom’s smile - or perhaps she’s just focused on the food caught between her mother’s teeth. Either way, both are fascinating when you’re 2 1/2 months old
This past weekend, Grace decided to get out of town for a little R&R- after all, being a baby is tough work! Of course, food is always the first thing on her mind, so the first stops on the trip were a cheese making farm and a winery. When Grandma Rymarquis found out that Grace met a few cows, she immediately inquired about the type of cow Grace met. She was thrilled to find out that the first cows Grace met were high-class Jersey cows, instead of troublemaker Holstein cows. Perhaps one day, she can explain the subtleties of the cow caste system to Grace.
*Jim wishes to provide the following disclaimer regarding the above picture, “That’s not my drunk face, it’s just my stupid face.”
After a hard day of seeking out culinary delights, Grace decides to check into a Hampton Inn for a little lounging. After a little bedtime story,she clearly enjoys having the king bed all to herself while her parents squeeze into the port-a-crib.
Poolside, she goes for a swim and then proves that she can lounge equally well both indoors and outdoors- a remarkable skill for a two month old.
Finally, we went for a small hike on a nature trail. Jim was trying to quietly persuade Grace that hiking with him is so fun that she should complete the 2,050 mile Appalachian Trail with him when she turns fifteen. Grace agreed to do so only if Dad carries her the whole way, as he did for this hike.