Day 95...

Happy Halloween!

I hope everyone had a safe and fun-filled Halloween! Sean and I had a great time taking Gracie "Trick-or-Treating" for the first time! We went to about 5 houses in my mom's neighborhood and everyone was pleased to see such a sweet kitten on their doorstep. Gracie ended up with quite a bag full of candy (some of which I am enjoying at this moment), it was a fun evening. :)

Day 94...Meow!

Halloween is so much fun, and it's become even more fun since adding Gracie into the picture. Last year, I chose a very simple costume for Gracie, one that she would tolerate as a 5 month old baby. She was an owl, and it was as simple as pairing a black shirt with black pants, adding an owl hat, and completing it all with a "Look Whooooo's First Halloween" bib. :)

This year, the costume search was a little more serious. I wanted to choose the perfect "thing" for Gracie to dress up as. Something cute, something comfortable, and something warm, just in case. I considered a few options, one being a little ladybug costume (we call her our "bug" and her first birthday party theme was ladybugs!), but I just couldn't make a decision. Then, it hit me!

(She saw a spider on the sidewalk before heading to my mom's Halloween party, and this was her reaction!)

Gracie runs around "meowing" all the time, and she loves her cat, so I thought it would be a great idea for her to be a little black kitten! I then decided it would be double the fun if I joined her, as the mommy cat, of course. :)

And it was as simple as pairing a black shirt with black pants, adding kitten ears and tail, and completing it all with whiskers and a pink nose. :)  Meow!

Day 93...

Hugs for Cuddles!

In this picture, Gracie and Cuddles had just woken up from a nap and were waiting for lunch!

Here they are again, snuggling up with Daddy before bed. :)

Day 92...Wonderful Wednesday!

I felt such relief this morning after my phone conversation with my grandma in West Virginia. My grandpa is home from the hospital and doing well, considering the severity of the surgery he's just had. The doctors are amazed at just how well he's done, and he's truly passed their expectations. What a wonderful thing to hear! It's going to be a long road to recovery, but my heart is happy at this news and I am thanking God today (and always) for holding my grandparents in His arms and giving them hope and strength during a difficult time.

Why else would I consider today so wonderful? Well, I got to spend it with her and her sweet smile...

Day 91...

My little Grace became yet another month older today. My 17 month old baby is getting closer and closer to the big "24"...meaning, of course, 24 months old, or as some may refer to it--2 years old. I'm still trying to figure out where the past 17 months have gone...in the mean time, here is my growing girl today:

She was actually loving on her other Cuddles today! (For those that don't know, Gracie adores her lovey, Cuddles, but he gets so dirty and is so worn out that we bought her a new one. She usually rejects the nice, new Cuddles in favor of the one she's loved on since birth.)

She even took it to the window to show it the rain...

Honest Scrap Award :)

I would like to take a moment to thank Elizabeth for presenting my blog with an award! I'm going to have a little fun with it and play along!

There are some rules associated with this award, so here's how it works:

1. Thank the person who gave you the award and link to their blog.
2. Share 10 honest things about yourself.
3. Present this award to 7 others whose blogs you find brilliant in design or content.
4. Tell those 7 people they have been awarded.

I'm going to alter the rules, ever so slightly, and instead of passing this award on to 7 people, I'm choosing my Top 3 (in no particular order) and telling you why:

1. Elizabeth @ Confessions from a Working Mom: She's already received this award, but you can't deny her blog is honest! She writes candidly about her life as a dedicated mother, wife, and employee in a fast-paced career. Very witty and entertaining.

2. Jade @ IVF: Here we come!: Inspiring and Touching; she writes openly about her journey towards becoming a mommy. The struggles are many, the road has been long, but this is a couple with hope.

3. Alisha @ Keeping Up with Kensi: She's also won this award before, but this blog is what inspired me to start a blog in the first place! I love keeping up with my cousin's daughter, Kensi, and have enjoyed taking a peek into the lives of a family I do not get to see often enough!

As for my 10 honest things:

1. I honestly enjoy blogging. I started my blog as a way to keep everyone updated on my Gracie-Bug, and while this is still the main purpose, I have also found this blog to be a great outlet for other thoughts on life, as well.

2. I love photography. I always have my camera nearby. I don't want to miss a thing, especially those precious moments with my family.

3. I also enjoy reading, yoga, and scrapbooking! It can be a challenge to find the time to really enjoy these hobbies, but when I can, enjoy them I do!

4. I adore my family. I can't be honest about who I am without mentioning them. I find it quite fulfilling being a mother, wife, sister, daughter, and the list goes on...I also have many close friends that I consider family, so I'm super blessed. :)

5. I hate cleaning. I do an okay job at keeping things as they should be, but man, it can be a struggle. I find it frustrating that I work so hard to make things sparkle, just to have to do it all again the next day, or hour!!

6. I don't mind cooking. Most people would be surprised to know this, because I really don't cook often...I can't enjoy myself in the kitchen because I'm already thinking about the mess I'm going to have to deal with later! I have found that preparing a crock pot meal first thing in the morning works best for me. I "cook", sort of, and do not have a big mess to deal with after my belly is full. :)

7. I love "kid stuff". I had forgotten how much fun it can be to sit down and draw silly pictures, or color, or paint. I have caught myself continuing an activity, such as these, even after my baby has lost interest and moved on to something else...

8. I am spoiled. I am already cringing as I type, and don't want to even admit this (it's all about honesty, right?), but I pumped gas this weekend for the first time in a loooong time. It had been so long, that I honestly couldn't remember how to get my "gas door" to open. Embarrassing! I thought it was as simple as pushing in the door so it would release, but it wouldn't, so then I thought that maybe there was a lever to pull inside the car! The fact that I didn't know seemed like a problem. I finally realized that the car door had to be un-locked in order for the "gas door" to open. Ridiculous, I know. It's definitely my hubby's fault. :)

9. I find people insanely interesting. This would explain why I chose Psychology as a major in college, and why I often sit back and observe. I find it so intriguing that there are rarely two people who look at life in the same way. I'm finding that I can learn so much from others, and taking the time to really learn about a person often serves as an explanation as to how they came to be the person they are.

10. I'm short on time. If I had more time, I could go on and on, but I know that once naptime ends, I'm back to work! Thanks again to Elizabeth and thanks to you for reading along!

Day 90...For the Love of Mud

So, I'm thinking that pretty brown shoes with dainty, pink polka dots are not supposed to look like this (and this is after I wiped them off before heading inside...):

Am I right?

Here's a little peek into our afternoon:

It was a really beautiful day today. Gracie had a lot of fun chasing Bentley around and exploring. She loves finding random objects on the ground, like rocks, sticks, leaves, or bugs. She loves showing me the little things she's found. I was enjoying chasing her around, and attempting to get a few pictures. At one point, I had Gracie in focus and was ready to snap away, but the child went flying to the ground. This isn't necessarily a rare thing, and Gracie is really good about jumping right back up after a fall. When I saw that she was having some difficulty getting up, I ran over to her. Her little feet were stuck in a hole filled with thick, icky mud!

The whole thing actually had me thinking back to my own childhood. I remember that I was always playing in mud, falling in lakes, or running wild through the woods beyond our neighborhood (jumping creeks was a favorite, as was snake hunting). Dirty shoes didn't mean a thing to me then!

After today, I've decided that Gracie needs a pair of "mud" shoes. This will not be the last time that those curious feet end up in a pile of muck, and besides, some of my best childhood memories are also the ones that left me in desperate need of a change of clothes, and a bath. :)

Giving it Another Go: Not Me! Monday

I really enjoyed sharing my "Not Me! Monday" post last week, and was relieved to see that I wasn't alone in some of the little things I didn't do... :) So, I'm going to give it another shot!!

  One day last week, while chatting with my husband after putting our little one to sleep, it was not brought to my attention that I may have neglected to feed our dog--the day before. Usually, this is a task that I take on as soon as I wake up in the morning, so I'm sure that our doggie just gobbled all of his food up so quickly that it seemed like he'd never actually been fed. This also means that his belly issues were not a result of being starved for a day...Even though I know I am not responsible for this little mishap (did the cat get fed?), I still feel horrible.

On another note, I also did not go to the grocery store alone last week, just to discover that I enjoyed it! I was not that eager for a solitary moment and did not find it that relaxing to roam up and down the aisles uninterrupted, while browsing the latest sales and contemplating potential dishes for the week ahead. The lack of a husband (rushing me along) and child (relentlessly trying to escape the grocery cart) did not present me with 45 minutes to myself that left me feeling both refreshed and ready to tackle the day. I do not think I will make this a weekly event, and would never consider bringing the iPod along next time, because like I said, I don't get that desperate!

Happy Monday! :)

Day 89...

A year ago...Gracie was attending her first Halloween party! Here's a picture of my "Baby Owl", she was 2 days away from turning 5 months old!

Here she is today, trying out a little finger painting!

Day 88...

Great Saturday! It started off rainy and cool, but by late afternoon we had blue skies and warm weather! My friend's yard/bake sale was a great success! She was able to raise over $1200 to put towards her costs for IVF!! We've been praying about this event for a while now, so I'm so thankful she had so many people come out for some really great deals! I was nervous that the rain would keep people away, but she turned the "yard" sale into a "house" sale, set up what looked like a general store, and sold some really great stuff (wish I had looked through it all before today!). :)

I was also able to swing by and meet my other girlfriend's new baby today! Ahhhh...those sweet baby noises and precious newborn features...he's as cute as can be, and I am so very happy for his mommy and daddy.

In *Gracie* news, she's still teething and definitely still fighting naps. We're not sure what to do about her afternoon nap...at what point do toddlers stop taking two naps a day? We've been skipping it for the past fews days, and while she manages fine without it, she's obviously exhausted earlier in the evening. She already goes to bed between 7:30-8:00pm, so I can't really move her bedtime up...Hmmmm...

Here are a few pictures of my silly, nap-fighting girl today. :)

Day 87: Saved by the Sugar Cookies

I was determined to make an edible amazing batch of cookies today for my girlfriend, Jade. She is hosting a yard sale/bake sale at her home tomorrow, and for such a good cause. She's saving every penny for her IVF fund, so that her dream of motherhood can finally come true. So, Gracie and I gave the cookie baking another shot! And...it was a success! Gracie was both helpful and supportive (no heads were injured or bruised in the process), and stood at the oven door saying, "Cooookie, cooookie...". I even had enough dough left over to make her two "baby" cookies, complete with sprinkles, which she was very excited about!

I would also like to take a moment to congratulate the "C" family on their new addition! :) Their baby boy is both healthy and beautiful...Can't wait to meet him!

Baby C. is on his way!

Well, the girlfriend that I mentioned yesterday, who's expecting her first baby, is on her way to the hospital today! We are so excited for this special couple and cannot wait to meet their baby boy! She is already 8 centimeters dilated, so it looks like we'll be celebrating his birth sometime this afternoon! Very exciting!

Day 86...Chocolate Bricks and Boo-Boos

Boy, what a day! It started out "normal" enough, but took an unexpected turn sometime after lunch! First of all, I managed to destroy a batch of Double Chocolate Cookies that I was planning on taking to a girlfriend's yard/bake sale this weekend. When I say destroy, that's exactly what I mean. I didn't even consider these things edible, and I am not picky about my chocolate! Sean had his own advice: "Take them to Johnny (my step-dad/fellow-chocoholic), you know he'll eat them..." Ummm...not this time, Honey. But, thanks. :) I decided it was best to just let them go, walk away, and start over in the morning.

Even worse than the chocolate bricks, I mean coookies, was the boo-boo that my little one managed to get this afternoon. I think it's so cute when she and Bentley (our doggie) play, but hearing a loud bang, that could only be your child's head, and turning around to see a huge bruise already forming, not so much...On top of it all, the little sweetie is teething her molars, and she has been pitiful. I keep the Tylenol and Orajel handy, but she still hasn't been sleeping well, during naps or at night.

Luckily, I know that while today was more challenging than most days, Lord willing, we will be blessed with the chance to start fresh tomorrow. And, I am anxiously awaiting the phone call/text from a good friend whose baby boy is due to begin his journey into the world at any time! So really, I have no complaints, only reasons to smile. :)

Day 85...

Gracie and I had so much fun today, doing not much of anything! I was able to run my errands this morning while Sean was still home, and Gracie was content to play on her own while I finished up some chores around the house this afternoon! I also talked to my dad this evening, and my grandpa's surgery went as well as it could have! He's expected to come home in around 7-10 days. I appreciate the thoughts and prayers for my family!

Day 84: You say it best...

I make it a priority to remain aware of the blessings in my life. I never want to take these people, these opportunities, or these moments for granted. Today, I am thinking about what a blessing grandparents are. Not only are they extra special "just because", but they have the ability to provide us with a unique perspective on life, one that comes from living it. They are wise, and have "been there, done that", so to speak. I always appreciate whatever it is my grandparents have to say, and as I've gotten older, I treasure even more the advice they give and stories they share. I think, however, it's sometimes those things that are not said that can have the most impact.

I'm going to talk about my Papaw today. He's my dad's dad and if I had to draw a picture of him, it would be a big old smiley face. He's an amazing husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, and so much more. When I think about this set of grandparents, I think of laughter, warmth, and good food. :) No matter how much time goes in between visits, arriving at their house in West Virginia just feels right. It has always been like being home, just away from home. When I think about my grandparents, I also think about love, strength, and faith. This is a couple that is truly in love, after 60+ years. I have seen it in the way they look at each other and in the spontaneous acts of affection they show towards each other. They're a perfect picture of true love that has endured.

They are also an example of complete faith, and perhaps this is what is most striking to me, as a 25 year old new mother and wife. There is a lesson to be learned each time I sit and chat with them, and they don't even have to say a word. Their faith shines through them.

My Papaw has been fighting cancer. I've struggled with this fact since I received the phone call from my dad. It just didn't seem right, and it didn't seem fair. After some time, and lots of prayer, it is clearer than ever that he is not fighting alone. For one, he is backed by an army of family and friends, all armed with faith and the power of prayer. He also marches forward with a strong faith of his own, and even a smile, and has been inspiring to everyone who knows him. He is amazing and he is precious. My Mamaw is also amazing, she stays strong as they face this together.

My Papaw has surgery this morning. My day will be filled with prayers for him, prayers for his doctors, and prayers for my beautiful Mamaw and our family. I am trying to be more like him today, and everyday. I'm trying to have the kind of faith that can move mountains, the kind of faith that moves your soul. I'm thankful for what my grandpa has taught me, without saying anything at all...

Day 83...

Gracie always seems to be on the move! I can barely snap a picture of her as she goes running...

diving...

and flipping through the house! :)

One thing's for sure, there is rarely a dull moment in my day!

Joining in the Fun: Not Me! Monday!

Well, I have so enjoyed reading along with a few fellow bloggers (including the founder of Not Me! Monday, MckMama) and their "Not Me! Monday" posts, that I've decided to join in the fun this week. We all have a few moments in life that we would rather not have actually been a part of, right? The whole idea is to get it out there and laugh about it, in a "there's no way that was me" kind of way! I know I am guilty of lots of these moments...So, here goes!




First of all, there is no way that my child would ever get her hands on a liquid suppository...and, it would not have been her own mother that handed it to her "little helper" in the first place! My child doesn't get constipated, and even if she did, what mother in her right mind would hand her 16 month old a liquid suppository sealed safely(?) in a plastic bulb? I do know that it was not me! I am a responsible mother, on my toes at all times, which means that I also most certainly did not turn my back for just a moment, just to turn back around to see the plastic bulb being bitten into and a liquid laxative (meant for, ahem, not her mouth) dripping down her chin and chest, and pooling in her mouth...definitely not me or my child! I then did not completely panic and race for the Poison Control phone number (while my husband was not trying to get our baby to rinse her mouth out with water at the faucet) and frantically explain what it was that my baby did not just ingest, just to be told that she would be perfectly fine and that, "This could happen to anyone...".

This past weekend, it would also not have been me who stood by and allowed my child to nibble at a triple chocolate chunk brownie at 8:20 in the morning, just to distract her for a moment as our good friend, Cuddles, went from the washer to the dryer. When the brownie nibbling attempt failed, and Gracie went screaming towards the dryer, I most certainly did not just grab Cuddles out, soaking wet, and hand "him" to Gracie, who then trotted off happily to play...Nope, not me! :)

Alright, my conscience is (mostly) clear! Happy Monday!

Day 82...

I adore days like today...

Chilly, Fall days...

Spent with Family...

Day 81...

Cup of Tea...(I received this in an e-mail and thought it was cute enough to share.)

One day, my mother was out and my dad was in charge of me. I was maybe 3 years old, and someone had given me a little tea set as a gift. It was one of my favorite toys. Daddy was in the living room, engrossed in the evening news, when I brought him a little cup of "tea", which was just water. After several cups of tea and lots of praise for such yummy tea, my mom came home. My dad made her sit quietly in another room so she could watch me bring him the cup of tea, because I was so cute. Mom waited, and sure enough, I came walking down the hall with a cup of tea for Daddy. Mom watched Dad drink from the tea cup. Then she said (as only a mother would know), "Did it ever occur to you that the only place she can reach to get water is the toilet?". :)

The Daddy/Daughter combination is one like no other. I find this relationship so sweet, and as a mother, I love watching the interactions between my daughter and her daddy. I didn't necessarily start my relationship with Sean evaluating what he would be like as a father (we were 15), but as the years passed, it became clear that if I was looking to find the father of my children, I had made a good choice (and I was right). I look forward to little moments like the one above, and enjoy watching the special bond between Gracie and her daddy grow stronger everyday.

Day 80...

Busy Friday!

Fridays mean Kindermusik! My grandma joined us this morning to watch Gracie sing and dance with her friends! She was very entertaining today. At one point, she took center stage (well, center "carpet") and twirled until she toppled over! She also created quite the costume with scarves and then attacked Mommy with them!

We also went to visit our Aunt Geneva and Uncle Paul today. Gracie enjoyed exploring this new territory and chatting with her great-great aunt. :)

Day 79...

Great-Granny is in town!

Gracie and I started our Thursday off with a trip to the airport to pick up her Great-Granny! Later that evening, we had dinner at Nana's house and had a chance to visit with everyone, including Cousin Austin. :)