1 Her Smile

I go home almost everyday for lunch to see this smile. 

It makes the rest of the day much easier to deal with.

If I have to work outside the home, at least its only 10 minutes away!

0 Let's go to the Pumpkin Farm

Saturday we took Grace to Pigeon Roost, a local Pumpkin Farm that is about half an hour from our house.

We have heard people talking about it and how much fun it is for kids...I was shocked at all the activities that were there! They had a huge fenced in activity center area that had a petting zoo, a huge fort, a corn maze, fun kids activities and tons of fall themed fun! Gracie was a little too young and small to enjoy it this year, so we just stayed up in the front where all the pumpkins were, but next year...we are so going to rock that activity center!

First stop....how tall are you this fall? 2 1/2 pumpkins....almost 31 inches!

 

Daddy helped to hold you up behind the ghost cutout...you thought it was the best thing! 

Look at that dimple!

She wasn't a fan of bring held...but Mommy wanted a picture in front of the giant pumpkin tree!

So we then let Grace loose amongst the pumpkins to let her play and pick out the one that she wanted.

 

 

She had alot to choose from and was planning her attack wisely...

 

I think she was a bit excited don't you? She loves to be outside and able to run around.

Oh this little girl.....we are gonna be in trouble with those eyes!

It didn't take long before she caught interest in all the leaves that were on the ground. She started picking them up one by one and was "gifting" them to me. Of course I lovingly took each and every one. (Then tossed them back to the ground where they belong...lol)

 

We thought it would be cute to get her a little pumpkin that she could actually carry around, so we headed over to the baby bin. Baby pumpkins..not for actual babies. She took her time saying "hmmmm" and "punk punk" while touching almost everyone within her reach.

We then headed over to take a look out over the activity center. They had a fenced side of one of the barns that you could still see the animals...so we went to take a look.

There were turkeys and goats in the pin beneath us...so we took a few minutes to bend down and look at him. Grace kept waving and saying hi to it...how cute! When we left I told her to say bye to Mr. Goat...to which she puckered up and started to cry. She's not a fan of the goodbyes. Even if its to a random goat she just met.

The wind had started to blow a little and it was getting crisper. It was time to wrap things up. But before we headed out, we went back to the pumpkins and picked out the one we were going to take home. 

We had a great time at the Farm and can't wait to take her back next year and let her wear herself out. She was so excited this year and fell asleep in the car, so I can't imagine the fun she will have next year! And I bet she will be close to 3 pumpkins tall by then!

1 Grace's first haircut

Grace got her first haircut today!

We waited a while because while her hair has started thickening up a bit, its not that long. But its started to grow and get in her eyes and hang over her ears so that makes her constantly have to flick it away. It was time.

We were a bit nervous, because anyone who know Grace knows that she isn't one to sit still very long. She has grown a very independent bone and wants things to be done her way or there will be screaming and whining. So we armed ourselves with toys, snacks and fruit pouches and prepared to head to the salon.

We went to my aunts salon and my aunt propped up the little booster seat and we attempted to get her sit in the big girl chair. I thought well we will try....then I will probably have to sit down and have her sit on my lap.

So we sat her down and got the cape on her.

She was a little concerned but quickly diverted her interest to a comb my aunt gave her.

Look how big my baby looks sitting all up in the salon chair!

So my aunt started snipping away. My baby is getting a haircut!

She quickly she lost interest in the comb. So we switched to the fruit pouch.
Bam! We had a few extra minutes!

Turns out that it was a banana squash pouch and she wasn't a fan of it, so it didn't last too long. So onto the next distraction....hairclips! I'm so thankful my aunt is a stylist, I wouldn't have wanted anyone else to cut Gracie's first hairs!

Soon after, she discovered the mirror in front of her and kept looking and smiling at the woman sitting behind her getting her hair down.
I love watching her watch herself. She is so interested in seeing her reactions right now.
This one makes my heart melt.

So the fun continued and her little hairs were dropping to the floor. Great Grandma went with us and she loved watching Grace sit there like a good girl. I love having this picture of her smiling in the background. That little girl lights up her world like I can't even explain. I think is loving her for my mom and her both!

We did have a few minutes that were borderline throw a fit, but I gave her some cherrios and she was good to go for a few more minutes.

Cherrios make everything better...am I right Moms?

All in all it was a great experience! I was so proud of her for sititng in the chair by herself the whole time! We were almost done when my husband said, aren't you going to keep some of her hair? I almost forgot....I was so busy trying to keep her from freaking out that I didn't even think of catching her first locks! So my aunt quickly lifted up and trimmed a few more strands for us to keep. Now I have a momento for her baby box from her first haircut! I know its the first of many! 

I am thinking about getting this one framed and putting it in her room.
Her feet were constantly going while she was getting her trim. Her little chucks are too cute!

0 Looks who's walking!

Grace has been taking a few steps from furniture to furniture or toy to toy for the last few weeks. This weekend she made the leap and began going further distances. She also has become much better at standing up from a sitting or squatting position.

It amazing to think she just started crawling 4-5 months ago and here she is starting to explore on her own!

Go Gracie Go! Mommy is so proud of you!!


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2 Hello? Is it me your looking for?

Hello friends! First thing is first....this is my new blog. The old one, The Little Ladybug that Could will expire in a few weeks, so be sure to follow this page and not miss any updates!

Did you think I dropped off the face of the earth? Its been a LONG time since I have posted. Life has changed so much and to be honest I feel like I am doing a horrible job trying to juggle being a mom, a wife, a homemaker, a working outside the home Mom. There aren't enough hours in the day...I don't know how you ladies with more then one child do it!

I like to spend all my free time with this little cutie. Can you even believe she is a year old already??? I hardly can, time has flown by. Literally, like jet plane fast. Its like I just went back to work not too long ago and here it has been almost a year!

I hope to get back to regular blogging again. You all have missed so many milestones the last year, and I want to have a place to keep track of these memories too, besides my handy iphone which I use every.single.day to either capture pics or video of the new things she is doing. I am in awe of her and the awesome that she is made of. And I can't wait to share some the awesome with you!

Have a great day....oh and Happy August!!!

0 Happy Valentines Day

0 Eight months

Grace Mae you are EIGHT months old!

You weigh 16 lbs now!

We haven't measured you ,but I think you are 

about the same height, about 25 inches long.

You are in 6 month clothes and wear a size 3 diaper.

Oh and you finally fit into your shoes! 

You wore a pair of size 2 black patent leather tipped shoes!

They look so cute on you! I think you will have tiny feet like your momma. (I'm in a 5.5 or 6)

You love to wave! You and Daddy go to the door when I'm leaving for lunch 

and you are obviously waving at me!

Its more of a whole arm wave, but I know that you are intentionally 

doing it as you watch me pull out the driveway! Its the only good part about leaving.

You started saying MOM this month!

It was the sweetest thing I ever heard!

The first time I heard you say it was on January 18th, 2011. 

You were on daddy's lap and I was getting ready to nurse you at lunch.

You said "Mom Mom Mom".

I looked at your dad, and he said "She's talking to you".

I instantly got teary!

You also did your first sign that week! 

Just 3 days later on January 21st, you signed for "milk".

And now you do it all the time, mostly with your right hand.

Sometimes I think you actually want milk, 

other times you just like doing it andshowing me. 

I'm trying to teach you "more"  next, 

but you haven't picked upon that just yet. We'll keep trying!

You have had a rough few weeks with waking up 

multiple times during the night. 

Your normal 8 hour stretch is now broken into 2-3 hour chunks 

and you are even nursing a few times when you wake.

Of course I don't mind getting up with you, you are so stinkin cute, 

but its kinda waring on me in the mornings. 

So if you could push thru this little growth spurt, 

and go back to sleeping thru the night, we would appreciate it.

I know you would wake up happier too!

You are doing great with eating solids. 

You eat sweet potatoes, butternut squash, peas, and green beans, 

and love pears, peaches, apples and bananas!

You like banana Mum-Mums but don't love them. 

So we thought we would try the sweet potato puffs 

since you gobble down your sweet potatoes!

As you can tell from the above face, you weren't an instant fan! 

I think the sweetness and solid form took you by surprise!

Now you have done a complete 180...and love them! 

If I don't get them on your tray fast enough, you scream for more!

You are my little peanut. My ray of sunshine. My little boobah. My silly monkey. 

I have tons of nicknames for you.

The only common theme is that you are mine. 

And for that I thank God every night!

We love you Grace Mae!

0 You have a tooth....now you have to brush it

0 Seven months

Grace Mae - you are SEVEN months old!!! 

You weigh 14lbs and 5oz and are about 25 inches long

You are wearing 6 month  clothes now for the most part. 

There are still a few 3 month onsies that fit you.

You wear a size 2 diaper....but I think this will be the last box of those!   

You had a very busy month! 
Oh...big news...you got your first tooth! 
It finally busted thru on the day after you turned  6 months! And I think it was just a few days later you slightly um, bit your mum.
Nursing moms will understand my pain. Youch!

Christmas was fun...but you will read all about that in another post.

You also had your first Ohio State Bowl game this month.

It wasn't a fun game to watch and you probably heard Mommy and Daddy 

yelling a lot at the television. Hopefully next season is better!

You started eating fruits and vegetables this month...and you love them!
You haven't spit anything out yet...I'm so proud of my non-picky eater!
You sometimes try to put the spoon in your mouth, 

but for the most part are happy with me feeding you. 

You eat your cereal for breakfast, normally some fruit for 

lunch and vegetables for dinner. 

You love sweet potatoes and pears the best!

You are doing much better at sitting up and like to sit and watch the dogs.

We still have to put pillows or the boppy around you since you like to slide down.

You are so nosey and want to see whats going on, so its been good

to see you showing interest in what we are doing!

You are trying to crawl a little, kinda army crawling I guess you would call it.

You kinda lean to one side and shimmy your way to where you want to go.

You don't stay there to often and before we know it you are rolled onto your back again. 

You still like to play in your bouncer too. You are touching the ground now and sometimes bounce but

most of the time you just play with your toys or try to turn yourself around.

We are going to start giving you a little extra formula along with the milk you get from Mommy. 

It's not going to taste as good, but you need some more liquids and act like you want more.

I'm okay with that, as long as you are getting filled up and 

still getting Mommy's antibodies first...all is good. 

You are such a happy girl, you sometimes have your moments of screaming or fussing. 

All babies do, and I 'm for certain that you are in the upper percentile of non-fussy babies.

We really are lucky you have such a good personality and are a happy baby.

We love you Gracie!