If this doesn't make you smile...

Grace was a trooper and let Beth and I turn her into little bo peep one afternoon right before Easter. Our dear friend Patti made this dress for her (Grace also has it in white!) to wear home from the hospital. Can you just imagine? Oh what a sight that would have been. I would have been turned in for cruel and unusual punishment to a newborn!


Not sure what's going on and why Nana and Mom are rolling on the floor laughing.


Seriously, this picture is tops. Those cheeks!




Stage two of stage five meltdown.


There it is... stage five, code red meltdown.

shameless self-promotion

Most of you know, but I sing with the Klifnotes, a local classic rock band here in town. We will be at Abuelo's this Friday night (the 17th) from 6-10 for party on the patio. Hope you can stop by and see us.

easter and a dedication

What an amazing day we had on Sunday! My mom and Dan's parents were able to be there and watch as we dedicated our pumpkin to the Lord in front of our church family. And I love that it was Easter; I think it will mean a lot to her when she is older.
Here is the pumpkin in her Easter dress:




and on a totally different note, this was what I came home to after band practice on thursday. I heart my baby and my baby daddy!

almost five months

Oh my precious Grace,
I can’t believe you are almost five months old. Everyone told me it would, and they are right; time has absolutely flown by. Part of me would jump at the chance to keep you right where you are, but I watch bitter sweetly as you grow, and I am filled with such awe and pride as I watch you change right before my eyes. You are a beautiful baby, with a smile that can light up my whole world, a bit of sass, and the bluest eyes I have ever seen. I love our time together. The quiet moments at night when I rock you to sleep, while your eyes flutter and you chase bunnies in your dreams. The precious look of complete peace right after I nurse you. All of the smiles and laughter we share throughout the day. The way you try to talk and sing to me in the morning when I change you. Your big eyes as you soak in God’s world. I love you, Grace. You will always hold the most special place in my heart, because you made me a mommy. My prayer for you is simple: I want you to love the Lord with all your heart and I pray that your daddy and I will always point you toward Him. You are my little angel and I love you.
Love,
Mama

Dan singing to Grace

Editors note: Dan seems to be combining the Star Wars and Superman theme songs. So we are both right. But I think I am the most right.

rice cereal and rolling over

Grace has been trying to roll over for several weeks now and she finally did it! She tucks her knees up to her chest and rolls to the right, but she hasn't been able to get past the arm part. On Friday night, Kristin came over and Grace just almost made it over. Then on Saturday, I laid her on the ottoman and had a funny feeling she was going over. It only took her about three minutes from start to roll over completion; she took her sweet time and stoppped about four times in the middle of the process to eat her fist and try to talk to me. So funny.


She also had rice cereal for the first time on Thursday. Babies eating from a spoon for the first time are too much! We have had such a blast. I don't think she loves it anymore than she loves the spoon, but we are going to add a little fruit to it later this week. I can't believe she is already old enough to be trying solids. Time just flies.



Grace looked like such a pumpkin on Sunday. She did great in the nursery; she only fussed for a little bit when she was waiting before big service for me to feed her. And mom didn't fuss at all, for those of you wondering. I had a MUCH easier time this week.

Dr. appointment and the Nursery

Grace had her check-up and shots yesterday morning. She is such a trooper. She was a little fussy and not herself, but the dr. said that's normal. This morning she is right back on track though!
She is 15 lbs. 15 oz (in the 85th percentile) and 26.5 inches long (97th percentile!) We are so grateful for our healthy, happy baby girl! Here she is waiting with Dan for her shots.

And Sunday was our first morning in the nursery. I knew we were getting close to the day, but I was putting it off as long as possible. During Sunday School she was getting a little fussy and I decided to take her at that moment. No thinking about it or planning or worrying all night Saturday. I got back to our small group and felt the tears welling up and then felt like I couldn't breathe. It was the weirdest thing. I am not prone to anxiety but I felt like I was about to have a panic attack or something. The lady next to me told me I looked pale and I started to lose it. So much for not being a distraction! Kaylee paused the discussion and everyone was telling me it was going to be okay and then we all started laughing because half of the circle was teary-eyed! Apparently it doesn't get easier (which is not comforting advice) but I was comforted knowing my friends had been thru it and understood the hard time I was having.
She was fine, of course. She wasn't in there long, but she did great and was sleeping when we came to get her. They said she didn't even cry! And as weird as it sounds, I am excited about this week; I guess because I know I can do it now. (sidenote- I heart semicolons and I am not sure if used that last one correctly. I have trouble remembering my advanced grammar rules. So whether right or wrong, it stays. Enjoy.)

newest pics

The past two weeks Grace has been sleeping even better than usual. We have been putting her down at 9:30 and she has been waking up at 8:30 or 9! (I was paranoid she was sleeping too much so I called the dr. today and was one of THOSE moms. She just laughed and said, "I don't think anyone has ever called me because their baby is sleeping too well." First time for everything.)

Grace thought it would be fun to pee all over my hand and then poop on the table. I had to give her a bath at noon! Good times.


She has started grabbing our face and trying to pull us in close and give us open mouth, wet, drooly kisses.


Just drooling and laughing. Her two favorite past times these days.

Not sure why Dan thought he could hide behind our 15 pound child. Too cute.

the five things I love best about Grace

1. When I pick her up in the morning out of her crib, she lifts her hands up above her head, puts her lip out, and sticks her bottom out to stretch. Then she toots at least twice. Who am I kidding? The child breaks wind, much like a grown man. So funny.
2. She already has sass. She will watch me while I sing and dance in front of her and make silly faces and then turn her head to the side and yawn. Like she's seen more interesting things than me in her short time on earth! Or she will smile and throw back her head to laugh at us. And she raises one eyebrow when she doesn't know what's going on. Who knew a four month old could have such a big personality.
3. I love listening to her "talk." She will contort her mouth and grunt and raise her eyebrows to try to get her point across. Don't you wonder what babies think?
4. When I lay her up on my shoulder at night, she rubs her hand on my arm as if to say thanks, mom. melts me!
5. I love the old man patch of hair she has in the back. She doesn't have much hair up top, but she has needed a haircut for the back since the day she was born. When she sleeps it gets all matted up and she gets a cowlick. I love it.

Trying to say something important, I am sure



hanging at work with mom

four months (well, last week)

I am a bad blogging mother and did not post pictures/updates of my child on her four month birthday. We were driving to market (see post below) and I did not have time! She is so precious and such a joy. A few updates:
She still won't roll over. Forget it, not happening. I roll her over myself, but I don't think that counts. She still hates tummy time which is probably why she won't roll over. I put her on her tummy thinking she will get mad enough and figure it out, but it doesn't happen. Oh well. They grow up too fast anyway.
She "talks" pretty constantly. Too cute. She also LOVES to stand. She hates sitting down anymore. I know all moms think their baby is advanced, but she has been standing like this since three months! Seems advanced to me. If your baby has been doing it since birth, don't share. Just let me think my baby is awesome! Here is a quick video.

Her four month appointment isn't until april 1st, so I don't have height and weight measurements yet. She is getting big though. Dan and I took turns weighing with and without her and she weighs somewhere between 15 1/2 and 16 pounds depending on who is holding her. We will see when we get on the official scale at the dr.'s office! She sure seems big!
Dan calls her slobber monster. She drools constantly and must have her finger/hand/or hands in her mouth at all times. Yes, I still hate drool. It isn't getting any cuter, but who knows? Maybe I will grow to love having my shoulder constantly soaked in a pool of baby wetness.
We had a "play date" with kristen and little evyn. It was so cute to see the two of them side by side since they are three weeks apart. Evyn was rolling over and I thought Grace might get competitive and start trying out of sheer jealousy but she seemed content to just lay there on her back and drool!