This Is What It's All About

The last two weeks have been nothing short of amazing when it comes to Grace. She has turned into a sponge, picking up new things so quick I'm still in shock from the last new feat when she's accomplishing the next. She's learning at least one new word everyday, climbing up onto the adult furniture, mimicking everything you do and then applying it to another scenario appropriately, doing summersaults, and playing peek-a-boo while giggling with such excitement that it makes your heart sing, Not to mention, she has learned the word 'no' to my dismay. I also started asking her to point to objects in her books and she comprehends WAY MORE than I even realized.

In addition, she cut her first two teeth earlier this week (with quite a few more in the cue to pop through the gums next). Poor thing, she'll get most of her teeth all at once. And last but not least, this afternoon she started walking. Finally! I was wondering if this girl would ever have teeth or walk.

This afternoon Grace stood up on her own, which she'd been doing for several weeks, and walked about 4 steps to me. She'd been walking 1 or 2 steps on her own on a rare occasion but has been walking with assistance for some time. Those who see her often, including myself, had come to the conclusion that she could totally do it on her own she just didn't have the confidence quite yet. Well, that came today! I wish I had the look on her face on video when she realized she could walk all by herself. I saw her face light up, quickly moved to the other end of the room and watched her stand back up and make it clear across our living room without falling. It was awesome.

Scott left early Tuesday morning with 5 other guys to hike through Olympic National Park and summit Mt. Olympus. Boy does he have a surprise for him when he gets home. His baby girl will get to greet him with a smile baring her two new crooked bottom teeth as she WALKS toward him. I can't wait to see the look on his face. Maybe I'll try to get that one on video.

While I'm Away... SEND MORE PICTURES!!!

As I mentioned in my blog post yesterday, I flew to Georgia with the Air Force Reserves this past week. We left on Sunday morning and returned home on Thursday afternoon.  It's not until I'm away from home that I really gain a greater appreciation for the blog and how it keeps family and friends updated on Grace and her daily changes.  You might be thinking, "But there weren't any blog updates during the time you say you were in Georgia." and you would be correct.  It took but one day of being away from Grace and not seeing a single update via blog, photo, or email before I made my displeasure of such a lack of updates known.  After that I was blessed with a photo of Grace every day while I was gone.  Here are the photos that arrived in my in box...

Grandma & Grandpa were visiting and took Grace on a daily walk - some times 2.

Grace at Grandmuhies house checking out one of the old family milking cans.

I'm going to have to talk to Grace about sagging pants.  

She's way too young to be sporting that style.

20 Week Ultrasound

If you didn't already know, Sarah and I are pregnant with our second child.  Twenty weeks pregnant to be exact.  We had our second ultrasound and got some great photos.  Please enjoy the latest images of the Templin to be.

Picasa Album with all the photos HERE.

We are due in mid January, but from Sarah's history of being 2 weeks early with Grace, I'm hoping for a 2011 tax break...

Watch People Jump Out of Airplanes - Get Paid

As I blogged about a few months past, I get to do some pretty cool stuff as part of my job with the Air Force Reserves.  Not only that, while I'm doing this pretty cool stuff they pay me.  Suckers.  I guess I should try and keep it a secret that I would do most of it for free.  

This past week I had the opportunity to assist and observe some airdrop operations.  I'm not airdrop qualified, but I could certainly help with the workload while under the tutelage of some great instructors.  Besides, I thought this job would be easy.  I thought I'd simply get to watch a few folks jump out of an airplane and that would be that.  I could not have been more wrong.  The mission was to fly to Columbus, GA where the Army's Airborn school is located.  The 500 students all needed 5 jumps to graduate from the course.  During 3 days, our crew would facilitate over 1,600 of the required jumps - roughly two thirds of all jumps accomplished.   The physical punishment of wearing a 30lb parachute, while attempting to maintain one's balance walking around the cargo compartment on a warm, 90 degree, bumpy, summer, Georgia day while repeatedly preparing for jumpers to exit, was much more demanding than I had expected.  However, to stand in the open door of an airplane and loot out over the land as we cruised along but 1,000 feet above the Chatahoochie River was well worth the effort.  

Unfortunately, I didn't get any photos of myself.  I look forward to the opportunity to pose for a few next time... while I'm getting paid!

Cargo compartment filled with eager students. 

About 1 minute from the drop. 

Green Light & everyone exits.

The Wedding We Could Have Had...

As most of you who read this blog are aware, Sarah and I were wed at the Crystal Mountain ski resort.  Like every bride, Sarah had hoped for sunny skies.  We and our guests would ride the chairlifts to the top of the resort and have a beautiful ceremony with Mt Rainier as a backdrop.  It was not to be.  The wedding weekend was exemplified by typical Pacific Northwest weather; clouds, fog, and mist.  As such we went with the indoor backup plan.

In August Sarah and I returned to Crystal Mountain to celebrate our 3 year anniversary.  Grandma watched Grace while just Mom & Dad took a parent's weekend apart from the baby.  The weather this year was nearly cloudless, warm, and spectacular; everything our wedding could have been.  We enjoyed some hiking in and around the resort area and dined in the Summit House Restaurant with the sun setting behind the Cascade Mountains and Mt Rainier staring us in the face.  The food was descent, but the view was stunning.  We left our table four times (with food on the table) to go outside and enjoy an unobstructed view of the true beauty nature has to offer.  The photos cannot begin to demonstrate how amazing out location truly was.

Sarah riding in the new gondolas.  What?  No ski lifts!!

These gondolas were nice.  And I don't mean nice like a low milage rental car;
I mean nice like a brand new sports car.

Mount Rainier coming into view as we reached the summit.

Mt Adams was also visible in the background...

 Sarah glowing in the sunset.

The Sunset pose.  Remember to never give your camera to a 

stranger - they always cut your head off... or in this case,

the giant mountain that was suppose to be the backdrop.

It was also a full moon that night.  Amazing!

See all of the photos from our Crystal Mountain Anniversary trip at Picasa.

The next day we hiked in the NW corner of Mt Rainier National Park in the Sunrise area along a ridge to an old fire lookout tower.  The views were even more dramatic and the hike was a perfect end to a wonderful anniversary weekend.  We finally had the wedding weekend we had hoped for - but without all the family and friends.  

Start of the hike, just above Sunrise parking lot. 

Our lunch spot, near the Freemont fire lookout. 

A look back at the trail along the ridge 

The end of the trail with the fire tower & a fog covered Puget Sound in the background. 

I could live here...

The Reading Boat

Grace has a few baskets full of books laying around the house.  Lately, she had taken to removing all the books from the baskets, placing herself into the basket, and then proceeding to read one or more of the books.  If I hadn't seen it myself, I don't know if I would have believed it.

Dahlia Garden

The beautiful weather in the Pacific Northwest continues and we have been taking advantage of it regularly.  Point Defiance has a Dahlia and Rose garden which the whole family visited this past Sunday for a nice little photo cession.  Grace continues to demonstrate her love of all things outdoors whether it be flowers, rocks, or birds overhead.  

Check the link on Picasaweb for 54 photos! - Dahlia Garden


I don't mean to brag (too much) but this is one of those albums you want to put full screen and watch the slideshow...