November 27, 2011

1
Christmas Pictures

We took Gracie to get her first Christmas pictures today...I can't believe its almost Christmas!
We picked out the perfect pose for our Christmas cards...I'm thinking we are going to order more than last year...she's just that adorable!

Tiny Prints has a special offer going on right now, if you order $100 worth of holiday cards and a gift certficiate for $25 or more, you will receive 30% off your order! Hurry offer ends tonight. Get more info here!


November 21, 2011

1
Holiday Cards

I really need to start thinking about what picture we are going to be using on our Christmas cards this year.
It is Grace's holiday card debut! She was in last years card, but was about the size of an apple so this year she will be much more visable! So what do I want people to see when they open our envelope? Something that will make them smile and want to keep it on their fridge all year long!

TinyPrints has an amazing line of cards to chose from this year. I am really liking the square and round cards..something a little different then all the rest. My favorites include these:
But I also want the option of going with mutliple pictures, like in these cards:
Either way its a win win situation, because the quality of Tinyprints speaks for itself. I've gotten birth announcements before and they were top notch! Such vivid color...I think it will be a tough choice! Next is to find the perfect outfits!

*I blogged about TinyPrints to receive 50 free holiday cards. Its a great way to try out new products...go check them out and get some for yourself!


November 20, 2011

4
Five Months

Grace Mae - you are FIVE months old!!! 
You weigh 12 lbs and are 24 1/2 inches long
You are wearing mostly 3 months clothes.
You wear a size 2 diaper.  
You had a few nights this last month when you woke up in the middle of the night, but I just changed and fed you and you were back to sleep in no time! You sometimes will wake up right before my alarm goes off but don't open your eyes just wiggle around and let out a few whimpers and then you are back to sleep. It amazes me how sound of a sleeper you are....you get that from Mommy and Daddy...we like our sleeptime!
You have been spending some time each day in your jumper...you are almost touching the ground! Your favorite part is the spinner ball and the yellow sunshine. You have pushed the music buttons a few times but don't do it often, maybe next month you'll start trying it more.
You love being on your back on the floormat! You tend to roll to one side more than actually rolling over. Its cute when Ellie is laying beside you and you look at her. You guys will be good friends one day. Doing better with tummytime, but often push yourself back over after a few minutes.
We waited until you reached 5 months old to offer you anything besides mommy's milk. On the 8th of November (5 months old to the day) we started feeding you cereal for dinner! You are so curious about the spoon and try to reach for it yourself already! You have been more interested in watching Mommy and Daddy eat and drink, so its time to expand your choices.  Next month we'll start vegetables and fruits...oh I can't wait to see your reaction to flavor!
I can't believe that you are almost six months old...its amazing that you have been growing up so fast! You are getting stronger and more interactive. You smile at everybody and rarely get upset around strangers. I hope that continues, I like you are more curious then a lot of babies. Always looking around and investigating sounds when you hear them behind you or in another room.

I am so excited to start decorating for the holidays this month...I hope you love all the twinkle lights and pretties that we will have all around the house. You aren't crawling yet so we don't have to worry about you getting into too much mischief! 

Daddy can get you to giggle now so thats adorable to see, Mommy doesn't get as many laughs but that's ok, I have to work on it! You brighten our days with your beautiful bright blue eyes and little nose that scrunches up when you smile.We love you Gracie!



November 4, 2011

1
30 Days of Thanks-Day 4

What favorite snack are you thankful for?
Designer Wife
 I am a huge fan of caramel corn. 
Not the bagged hard stuff, but freshly made popcorn with melted caramel on top.
I have been eating that stuff since I was a teenager, and probably went thru 2 or 3 bags a week back then.
Now that I am older {cough cough....now that my metabolism resembles that of a snail} I only splurge once a month or so.
But it takes me back to a time when I had no worries, when I lived at home with my Grandparents 
and everything in life was slower. 
I didn't have a schedule to keep to or a bank account I needed to worry about.
But now that I do have those things, and I wouldn't change it for the world, 
I still like to enjoy that melty gooey snack from time to time.
{and you better believe that I stock up when its on sale...got that bank account to worry about now!}


0
30 Days of Thanks-Day 3

What cozy place in your home are you thankful for?
Designer Wife
When we first bought our house, we made one of the extra rooms a guest/hubby's closet room
and the other a guest/computer room.
When we found out we were having a baby, the hubby's closet had to get moved and made into the nursery.
It was amazing to get it all done and see it transform from a dark room
that we hardly ever spent time in to a light airy room full of hopes and dreams.
We spent more time in that room during my pregnancy than we had the previous 4 years that we lived there.
You could often find us, meaning all of us....dogs included....sitting in there practicing my breathing for labor
or talking about what we wanted to hang on the walls.
It was a nice place to end the day and just enjoy being together.

It has easily turned into my favorite room in the house.
It is warm, cozy and comforting.
I hope Grace loves it as much as I do!


November 3, 2011

2
30 Days of Thanks-Day 2

What animal are you thankful for?
Designer Wife 
 I am thankful for our little first "baby"...Emma. She turned 8 years old this summer. 
We have had her since she was 7 weeks old. 
She is the sweetest and most loving dog I have ever met. 
Really she has such a big heart and understands so much of what we do and say, its amazing sometimes. 

She has had a rough year, first with the new edition of Ellie, our black lab we adopted last fall. 
And then with the birth of Grace, her world was spinning for a bit. 
She has been so good and patient and is finally starting to give Grace some attention instead of just ignoring her. 
She used to sit beside me when I was nursing, and now she now will come up 
and sniff her head and give her a little lick on the arm. 
She is so loving. I am so proud of her for accepting our growing family so well.






0
30 Days of Thanks-Day 1

It's November already! 
While the month ends with Thanksgiving, the whole month has become a time to reflect on things you are thankful. 
I've seen people posting on Facebook and Twitter about things they are thankful for, and today I came upon this link up. 
I thought it was a wonderful way to take a few minutes and give thanks for all the amazing things that I have in my life.

Thanks Jaime for posting about this and Lindsay for hosting it...don't mind if I tag along! 
I'm playing catch-up now, but hope to be able to get on track with posting something everyday. 
They might not all have photos but the words will be there!
Designer Wife
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What person are you thankful for?

I am most thankful for my happy healthy baby girl. 
I waited a long time to start a family, I wanted to have all my ducks in a row as they say. 
While I'm sure it would have been less tiring when I was younger, 
I wouldn't change a thing about when our little girl came into our lives.
Now is the prefect time to be her mommy. 

I look at her in amazement of how perfect she is. 
10 tiny fingers and 10 tiny toes that curl up when she is sleepy. 
2 beautiful blue eyes that look at me like I hold the moon. 
A smile that would melt your heart and bring tears to your eyes.
I thank God everyday for blessing me with this precious gift.

I am thankful for my Grace.


November 2, 2011

5
Grace's First Halloween

It's Grace's first Halloween!
We had trick or treat in our neighborhood the Thursday before, 
so we got Grace all dressed up and took her over to see some of the neighbors. 
It was chilly outside, so the warm costume was great and we had a hat that matched perfect! 
I think she was supposed to be some kind of dragon or something but we called her our slobber monster. 
Cutest monster I've ever seen!
 
On Saturday, my aunt and uncle had their annual Halloween party so we all got dressed up and went there.
Enter costume #2....my little ladybug! 
When I saw this costume on Carters for 50% off I had to get it, even though I had already bought the fuzzy monster. 
The whole time I was pregnant, she was my little Junebug. 
And everyone knows I love ladybugs...so I think this costume is really what she was meant to wear!
Isn't she an adorable ladybug? A happy ladybug to boot!
I rarely dress up, but since this was our first  Halloween as a family, I knew I had to. 
We were making memories!
Daddy was a personal alarm, which he pulled from Kentucky Fried Movie. 
His light spun around, Grace liked looking at it. 
Mommy dressed up as Sue Sylvester from Glee. 
I haven't watched the show, but knew who she was. 
I thought maybe Grace would be afraid of me in a wig, but she was fine with it.
My little family. Eeek-I love it!
We spent most of the night inside since it was chilly and rainy, 
and the Ohio State game was on so it was good. 
{We ended up winning and beating Wisconsin! Woohoo!}
Grace spent some time on Daddy's lap and was as content as could be. 
Just chillin and sucking her thumb watching everybody come in and out.
Wait...did I say sucking her thumb??? Oh yes I did!
Our little girl has mastered that over the last few weeks! 
No longer is she sucking her whole hand, which she still does occasionally.
But its not long until she moves her thumb up in there.
Love it!
 
It was so fun having a little one to dress up and I can't wait {but I can} until we can take her trick or treating next year!