September trip to Santa Cruz--Pictures Only Post

Engaged!

August Recap

Joey bought himself a bagpipe.  (Why, yes, they are very loud, thanks for asking!)

 Danny had a birthday.  The grandparents came up to help celebrate.

Gracie kept growing.

I may have consumed way too many vanilla caramel lattes in my cute new cup from Colette.  (What, you don't take pictures of your coffee?)

We started a new school year and Nick got his drivers permit......and I don't have any pictures.  Here's Gracie again instead.  Isn't she cute in her dress from Auntie Rae?

Jackson had a birthday.  Again the grandparents came up to help celebrate.  He got way too many toys, mostly Toy Story toys this year.  And he loved every minute of his day.

And Gracie grew some more.  We love our Gracie Girl.  :-)

And that's all I can remember of August.  Soon I will take some back to school pictures.  (If I say I will do it, maybe I will?)  Now, we are off to the lake for a few hours.

 A couple of weeks ago, our family had the privilege of celebrating my mom's 75th birthday with her and my dad.  I was holding Gracie most of the time, so didn't get a lot of pictures, but here are a few.  God has blessed our family with wonderful parents, and I am so glad I get to have them both in my life.  Happy Birthday, Mom!

  Mom with Gracie Girl

My little Great Nephew, Colin.  Isn't he cute?

Dear Gracie Girl - 2 Months

Today you are 2 months old!

It has gone by so fast and you have already grown so much.  Here are a few things I want to remember about you:

For the last three nights you have been sleeping 8 to 8 1/2 hours, which is pretty exciting for Mommy.  You sleep in your little bed right next to me. 

 Then in the morning, you like to come nurse and snuggle in my bed for a while longer.  I love snuggling you. 

We are still working on a daytime schedule.  You are not a great napper during the day yet,  but I can forgive you since you sleep so long at night.  :-)  

You are starting to give us little half smiles and to watch our faces and try to "talk" to us.

Your siblings all love you to pieces.  Samantha is my biggest helper with you, followed closely by Rebecca, who likes to sing to you.

  Cara loves you bunches too, but she is pretty busy with work and stuff, so she isn't around as much as your other sisters.  But she likes to hog you on the weekends.  Danny always stops to talk to you when he is home.  Nick plays it pretty cool, but when he thinks no one is looking he will come and touch your face or stroke your hair.  Joey talks to you alot when you sit in your bouncy seat,

 and Jackson adores you.  He is always kissing you and wanting to hold you, and you put up with his awkward ways of holding you pretty patiently.

Daddy, of course, loves you to pieces.  

You love to nurse.  You won't take a bottle from Mommy, which is fine, but you will take one a couple of times a week from Samantha, if Mommy is really busy or has to run to the store.

You do NOT like to ride in the car, so you tend to..um..scream on longer car trips, so we try to limit those for now.  You like to be held a lot, just like all my babies have.  Some people say that I spoil my babies, but I don't think it is spoiling you to hold you a lot.  I know that you will grow up so fast, and be too busy playing to snuggle, so I will hold you while I can, and while you want me to.  But you don't always have to be held.  You also like to relax on a blanket or in your bouncy chair.

  I have a baby sling that I put you in for walks, and you almost immediately fall asleep in there as soon as we get started on our morning walks.  Sometimes I use the sling during the day when I need to get things done and you want to be held.  I love our sling.   

 You are our beautiful Gracie Girl who brings us joy, and we all love you so much.