These are a few of our favorite things...

Since Grace's first birthday is right around the corner, I thought we would share with you the things that got us through the first year!

1. Boppy Pillow - I seriously have used this everyday! It made breastfeeding so much easier and it was a nice little pillow to prop Grace on when she was tiny. I've heard from some moms that they don't like it, but I can't understand that one bit. It is a key essential in my book! Here is a pic of Gracie learning to sit with a little help from the boppy.

2. Pampasan Swing - This swing is really more like a craddle rocking Grace. We used this everyday until it got retired around 8 months when Grace learned how to get out.
3. The Bumbo Seat - What a cool invention!!! Seriously whoever invented this is so clever. I first put Grace in the seat when she was around 2.5 months (when she had good head control) and we put it everywhere. She would sit on the sink and watch me get ready, she would sit on the kitchen counter and watch me cook, and she would watch Adam and I eat dinner at the table. It was great... she could be right at our level. This was perfect for feeding too before we had a highchair. This is probably one thing I would tell any mom you HAVE to have.
4. Tidy Diner - This is one of our latest finds. My friend, Hailey, found it and uses it with her daughter. Grace is that age where she wants to feed herself... so that means finger foods, which is totally fine at home, but when we are out it is sort of a problem.

5. Highchair/Shopping Cart cover (There are tons out there, but we have Buggy Bagg)- Another cool recent invention. You know how nasty the carts are at Walmart and how often to they really clean the highchairs at resturants... well now we don't have to worry! We just keep it in the car so its with us wherever we go. If you know me then you know that I'm sort of a nut about germs so this gives me peice of mind knowing that my little baby isn't touching some of them.

6. Germ X - Speaking of germs... I love Germ X... not Purell! I acutally buy the Germ X with Aloe... its purple and you can normally only find it in the baby section at my Walmart. Anyway its wonderful. We have a couple bottles of it around the house, including one at her changing table, and of course we have a couple small ones for the diaper bag!

7. Baby Einstein Play Mat - This was Grace's first toy! She loved to stare at all the fun toys handing from it for hours on end. We used it for a good 6 months.

8. Fisher Price little highchair - This is great when you have another baby over (several of my good friends have babies around Grace's age), when you go someplace that doesn't have a highchair or just to put in the bathroom as some place to keep her still while I try to get ready :)

9. Baby carriers - We have 2, a Baby Bjorn and a Hot Sling. The first one I got was a Baby Bjorn and I love it. It has been especially wonderful for when we were out and she didn't want to be in her stroller or for grocery shopping when she was really little. I didn't the Hot Sling until Grace was nearly 6 months, but it came just in time. This is just one simple peice of fabric to throw her in it when she wants to be held and I need to get something done. I've cooked many meals carrying her around in it. Plus she loves being about to see everything that is going on.

10. Oxi Clean - Who knew that stuff existed... it gets ANYTHING out of clothing! As many of you know we have had a few (HA!) diaper explosions and this works wonders on... just presoak for about 10 minutes and presto... not more stain. It has also been great more recently on food stains.

11. Baby Bath with a sling - There are so many baby baths I had no clue which one to get. I ended up getting this one as a gift and it was great. The sling was especially nice b/c it kept Grace from sliding around the baby tub, but she was still in the water to stay warm.

12. Mesh Feeder - This is great for first foods that are soft but maybe a bit large to just hand to her. We have also used it many times for just ice when she was teething!

13. Portable DVD player - Okay so not a necessity, but definitly a wonderul luxury. Grace loves watching a little Baby Einstein when we travel. We are always heading to Dallas and it makes the ride a bit more plesant.

14. Wipes Warmer - Again, not a totally necessity, but great to have early on. I actually registered for one, got it at a shower, and I returned it thinking Grace didn't really need it. Then she was born and my world changed! How could I possibly put an ice cold wipe (remember it was Februrary) on her tiny little bottom... so after maybe a few hours we had a wipes warmer! :)

15. Diaper Champ - There are several diaper pails out there, but this one is great. We only have to take it out about once a week and we can use our kitchen trash bags, so we don't have to worry about having special bags like a lot of the other ones out there. Oh and I don't think you can really smell dirty diapers!!

16. Miracle Blanket - We swaddled Grace for the first 3 months and let me tell you that it was the only way we got any sleep! She managed to get out of recieving blankets, but this blanket really is a miracle. I don't have a pic of her in the miracle blanket, but here is one of her swaddled in a recieving blanket when she was just a couple weeks old.

17. Outdoor Swing - This is a favorite and hopefully it will last for a lot longer. It is great to have on those days that we can't make it to the park. The best thing is I found this swing brand new at a garage sale for $8 bucks!

18. A walker - this is our latest toy that we have gotten a lot of use out of. Grace will tear through the entire house now pushing this toy! She is so happy to be walking... if we can only get to her to take her first independent step!

19. Kangaroo Climber - She loves this thing... plus its been fun to have in the house. Once the weather is a bit warmer we will be moving outside!

20. Hylands Teething Tablets - These are non-medicated and Grace eats them like they are candy! When in doubt... teeting tablets! :)

She is already worried about her weight! She learned to stand on the scale today... I guess she learned that from us! But I don't think she is too worried about her figure since she found the cookie cabinet too!

Doctor, Doctor... give me the news...

Sorry I haven't posted in several days, Grace has not been feeling great.

I thought it was the start of yet another ear infection, so I loaded her up in the car on Monday and took her to see her pediatrician. Thankfully it is just teething. He looked at her ears and one looked "crystal clear" and he said the other had a bit of fluid on it. He thought it was just in the healing stage but said it could be the start of a new ear infection. GREAT. He said to keep a close eye on her and call if I had any questions.

Even though she was *just* teething, the doctor made me feel like I had done the right thing by bringing her in. He looked her over, said her eczema looked good and talked a bit about her constipation issues. He didn't rush me out the door, he didn't make me feel dumb for bringing my child to the doctor when it was just teething... to be honest, I felt like I got my moneys worth... all $153 of them (part of my $500 deductible... we don't have copays). He even gave a handfull of samples... Grace's lotion that is freekin' expensive (but it works!), so I guess it was worth the money and trip! :) Hopefully the fluid on her ear isn't another infection starting.

I should note that this is the 3rd time Grace has seen her pediatrician this month!! Hopefully this isn't a trend!

What to do, what to do...

Here are a couple fun videos of Grace learning new things! Everyday it is something new and fun. Oh to be nearly a toddler!

First video... I guess I need to go buy more tissues. She was having so much fun and just couldn't figure out how another one popped up when she thought she had pulled it out!



Second video... I found this play phone that looks and sounds so real, so of course she loves it. (Got it at the dollar store!!) If you watch her closely you can see that when I hand her the phone she puts it to her ear and starts jabbering. It is soooo cute!

Swingin'

The weather has finally turned a bit nicer! It's still pretty cool and Grace has just gotten to feeling better from the ear infections so she is bundled up. These are the days when I wish I was a little kid and that something as simple as a swing on the back porch made my day. I guess I will just have to settle for living vicariously through Grace! :)

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Tree Update:

Well like my granny told me... she said it would pop back up. Which is did quite a bit, but this is how it has looked like this for about 5 days now! Maybe it will stand tall once it gets warmer this Spring??

All these toys and she likes the dvd player most!

Here is the latest video of Grace learning a new skill...



What do I do now? I guess I could move the dvd player? I just hate to do that. How do you teach an 11 month old baby not to do that. At this age she thinks the word "No" is funny. I'm just at a loss. So all you mamas out there with a child that has the same skill as mine... HELP... what do I do??

Attack of the beads!

While cleaning out my guest bedroom closet (where all the junk in the house is!) I came across some beads from college. Grace loved them! Here are a few pics playing with the beads.

(I took them in black in white b/c the beads are green and she was wearing pink... it just didn't match! :) I love that black and white makes anything look better.)

Grace's birthday wish list

Gracie's 1st birthday is quickly approaching and a couple family members and friends have asked me what she wants/needs for her birthday. While Grace would LOVE anything that you pick out, here are just a few suggestions...

1. Board books
2. PJ's (18-24 months... pajamas tend to run a bit small)
3. Spring/Summer clothes (12-18 months)
4. Push-Around Buggy
5. Robeez (12-18 months)
6. Baby Einstein DVD's
7. Bath toys
8. Fisher Price piano
9. Shopping Cart
10. Pretend food and play dishes for kitchen
11. Instrument set
12. Pop up tent

I'm it!

I was tagged by Lindsay for a New Meme.

Here is how it works....

Here is a list of categories add the titles and links to previous posts that you feel fit these descriptions... and tell why if yah wanna!

****

*FUNNY*

Gracie's toe fetish

*SERIOUS*

Becoming a Mom

and

Baby Conner

(I should add that Conner is now a healthy and happy 5 month old!)

*UGLY*

The poop one

*ALL ABOUT YOU*

3 years with my husband

*TAG*

I tag.....

Margaret

Megan

Leigh

Mommy and Me

EVERYONE tells me how much Grace looks like Adam. But you know what I think she looks like me too! Grace and I were taking pictures of ourselves the other day and here is one I got. Do you think she looks like me? Maybe its just the eyes and hair color (although my hair was blonde as a baby)...

It is amazing how ice and a cloudy sky can make something look. This is a tree in our backyard that thankfully isn't leaning! :)

our church

Adam and I have always been the type that went to church when we could (which was usually once every month or 2), well about a year ago we decided that had to change. In college Adam and I were both in a different Christian organization and through people I met in that organization I met Adam (in a round about way). Anyway, so we have always wanted to have a church home. In college, we visited 3 different church, the Methodist church, the Baptist church and the non-denominational church. We got something different from each of them, but enjoyed going to which ever we felt like we needed that Sunday morning.

So we graduated, got married and moved to Oklahoma. Over the first year and a half we visited lots of churches both in the town we live in and another city about half an hour away. We weren't great about going... like I said we went about once either month or two. Once we got pregnant we knew we needed to find a church home.

It was about this time last year we decided that we wanted to start going to the Methodist Church in town regularly. Adam was raised Methodist and we were married in a Methodist church in Dallas so we felt like it would be a good fit for us... especially after trying churches that weren't our style. So we started going, we had Grace and kept going.

I was sooooo scard to leave Grace in the nursery, but she loves it. The ladies in there are so loving and they really seem to enjoy her.

After several months we joined the church (August 2006) and are now finally going to get Grace baptized in February. (We wanted to have her baptism sooner, but it just didn't happen especially with trying to get 2 sets of Grandparents here).

I've volunteered a few times to do Meals on Wheels (Grace and I deliver meals to elderly in the community) and we have served dinner at the church on Wednesday nights. I just love that we have met so many other couples with kids. I even met one mom that has a playgroup at her home every week... I've been going for a while now and its nice to sit, relax and chat with other moms while the kids play and pretty much have the run of the house!

We also made it a rule sometime last fall that if we were home we were going to church (that is of course if no one is sick, etc). Grace and I have even gone by ourselves a couple times when Adam was out of town. So if you don't have a church that you regularly go to.... find one... it has been a wonderful blessing for our family!

Double Ear Infection again

My poor little Grace. She just hasn't been herself and was acting like she does when she has gotten ear infections in the past so we headed to the doctor on this cold, icy day and sure enough she has an ear infection in both ears. We are trying a new antibiotic this time to see if it heals quicker and better. Tubes are a real possibility but we are going to wait a little longer to see if she gets more infections. Hopefully she wont get any more, because she is little Miss crab when she gets one. But I guess I can't blame her. The doctor did say she is also working on getting her 5th tooth. Oh and she tipped the scale at 20lbs even!

the tree today..

I don't know if it is going to make it. Do pine trees pop back up after the ice is gone??

Conditions got worse since yesterday... we lost power (and heat) for 4 hours last night. It got sooooo cold in our house! The roads are pretty icey today and all the schools are closed in our area, but of course Adam is at work. I guess it will stay like this today since it is suppose to stay in the 20's! No fun... I guess we will be hangin around here today!

11 months!

I can't believe my little baby is already 11 months. In one short month she will be 1 year old!

Here is what Grace is up to these days:
*She is learning more words. As you all know she can say "Mama" and "Dada" like a pro, but if you say "Uh Oh" she will say "OH"... too cute! I also think she says "du" for duck and "do" for dog, but I'm not sure many would agree with me.
*She is trying to blow kisses... or I guess I'm trying to teach her to blow kisses. She still thinks that it means to do the Indian noise, but maybe she will get it soon.
*She still only has 4 teeth and is currently working on the 5th and 6th tooth (in the middle of the night I might add!).
*She will cruise (walk holding onto furniture) around the house, but as soon as she wants something quick or gets to a corner she gets down and crawls. So I guess she isn't ready to walk. She has stood up on her a couple times, but as soon as she realizes that she isn't holding onto anything or that no one is holding onto her, she immediately sits down! (I guess she is going to a bit of a wimp.)
*She eats pretty much anything we give her. She especially loves any pastas (spaghetti is her fav), veggies and loves cheese (which we have to limit due to the poo issues).

I think that is about it. We are already getting ready for her 1st birthday party, which we hope everyone can make.

Baby its cold outside!

Well we are managing to survive this little ice storm all by ourselves. Adam is in California right now (due to be back later today!) so its just Grace and I. Our air conditioning unit is managing to survive to despite the way it looks... (Something Adam knew was wrong with it and will finally fix it because this doesn't look good!) and our poor little pine trees are hangin in there despite the way it looks too...

Grace and I felt the bitter cold when we went to church this morning and are now safely at home where we plan to stay all day!

We are just ever thankful that we still have heat (even though our electricity has gone out briefly twice! We have electric heat). So for now we are trying to stay warm!! I just don't know how people do it that live in places like Minnesota or Wisconsin... brrrrrrr makes me cold just thinking about it.

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UPDATE: my poor tree... leaning even more! (This picture was taken only about 4 hours after the one above!)

Grace and Molly

A fun book meme!

Margaret tagged me for a fun book meme.

Here are the directions:
1)Grab the book closest to you
2)Open to page 123, go down to the fourth sentence
3)Post the text of the following 3 sentences on your blog
4)Name the author and book title
5)Tag three people to do the same

The book I just started reading:
Parenting with Purpose: 12 Biblical Traits to Prepare Kids for Life
by Margaret Buchanan
"Webster's New Encyclopedia Dictionary defines addiction as 'the state of devoting or surrendering oneself to something habitually or obsessively,' and the 'complusive physical need for a habit-forming drug.' These sides to the addiction problem - choosing and needing - will help us to understand the causes. Consuming a berage is a choice: The kind of drink, the quantity, the context, the frequency are up to the person."

I tag Lindsay, Lace, and Megan.

MOM - JOB DESCRIPTION

POSITION:
Mother, Mom, Mama, Mommy, Ma

JOB DESCRIPTION:
Long term, team players needed, for challenging permanent work in an often chaotic environment. Candidates must possess excellent communication and organizational skills and be willing to work variable hours, which will include evenings and weekends and frequent 24 hour shifts on call. Some overnight travel required, including trips to primitive camping sites on rainy weekends and endless sports tournaments in far away cities. Travel expenses not reimbursed. Extensive courier duties also required.

RESPONSIBILITIES:
The rest of your life. Must be willing to be hated, at least temporarily, until someone needs $5. Must be willing to bite tongue repeatedly. Also, must possess the physical stamina of a pack mule and be able to go from zero to 60 mph in three seconds flat in case, this time, the screams from the backyard are not someone just crying wolf. Must be willing to face stimulating technical challenges, such as small gadget repair, mysteriously sluggish toilets and stuck zippers. Must screen phone calls, maintain calendars and coordinate production of multiple homework projects. Must have ability to plan and organize social gatherings for clients of all ages and mental outlooks. Must be willing to be indispensable one minute, an embarrassment the
next. Must handle assembly and product safety testing of a half million cheap, plastic toys, and battery operated devices. Must always hope for the best but be prepared for the worst. Must assume final, complete accountability for the quality of the end product. Responsibilities also include floor maintenance and janitorial work throughout the facility.

POSSIBILITY FOR ADVANCEMENT & PROMOTION:
Virtually none. Your job is to remain in the same position for years, without complaining, constantly retraining and updating your skills, so that those in your charge can ultimately surpass you

PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE:
None required unfortunately. On-the-job training offered on a continually exhausting basis.

WAGES AND COMPENSATION:
Get this! You pay them! Offering frequent raises and bonuses. A balloon payment is due when they turn 18 because of the assumption that college will help them become financially independent. When you die, you give them whatever is left. The oddest thing about this reverse-salary scheme is that you actually enjoy it and wish you could only do more.

BENEFITS:
While no health or dental insurance, no pension, no tuition reimbursement, no paid holidays and no stock options are offered; this job supplies limitless opportunities for personal growth and free hugs for life if you play your cards right.

MAMA!!

FINALLY!! She said "Mama" 3 times yesderday and a bunch today! YEAH!! I've thought I heard it in the past, but Adam said it wasn't mama. Anyway, she IS saying it now. So after a good 2 months (at least) of saying "Dada" I finally get some thanks for giving birth to her! I can't wait till she can tell me she loves me. I am sure it will be an amazing feeling!!

Poopsplosion

poopsplosion - Pronunciation Key - Show Spelled Pronunciation[poop], Slang.
–noun
1. a diaper that has exploded with over flowing fecal matter.

If you are a parent you know EXACTLY what I am talking about. I posted previously that Grace has had some constipation issues. We tried natural remedies, but the issue wasn't becoming resolved. So we have been giving Grace a very natural laxative. So the result of the laxative is a poopsplosion. Put it this way, she has been a bath practially everytime she goes! Thankfully that is only about every other day. So for now, I have to bring like 5 extra outfits anywhere I go and pray that the poop is contained! :)

ps... Sorry if this is too much info, but hey... this is a day in the life of Lisa. Here is a picture of Grace with the evidence of a poopsplosion.

Ulden

Adam's grandmother, Ulden, passed away this morning. (It is actually Adam's step-grandmother (Adam's first grandmother passed away when he was little boy), but a grandmother none the less!) She had a stroke a little over a week ago so we all knew it was just a matter of time. It happened so suddenly though. We saw her just 2 weeks ago for Christmas and she was doing well. Happy and her sweet self. We got to see them for a few days before they all headed back home to East Texas. So I just wanted to post that we are thankful that we were able to have one more Holiday with her and that she was able to meet and spend a few months getting to know her Great-grandaughter. We are also thankful that she isn't any in pain anymore. Please pray that everyone is safe while traveling to California for the funeral. She will be buried in Morrow Bay, CA where she is from.

Here is a pic taken when Grace was just a week old with Ulden and Big Pop Pop.

Sorry for the lack of posts lately. It has just been so busy since we got back. You know how it is... you need a vacation from your vacation!

Anyway, here is a recent pic of Grace. She looks so grown up in it, I guess since she is standing. If I could have only gotten her to smile. Seems like she is laughing or smiling all the time but not for the camera these days. This was taken in our backyard!

Oh the needed updates...

Busy busy busy! The last couple weeks have been that and more. Adam had an entire week of vacation last week. He didn't even take an entire week when Grace was born, so it was wonderful to be able to spend time with him and Grace.

We started off the Holidays with my family for Christmas Eve. We had a wonderful dinner with my mom's side of the family. Around 7:30 the REAL Santa stopped by before his big night to say hi to the kiddos and get any last requests. Grace wasn't too excited about seeing him, but was more curious this time.

Christmas morning we quickly opened gifts at my parents house and then we were on the road to Austin by 9. We got to Austin shortly after lunch and spent the afternoon with Adam's entire family.

It was so great to see everyone as we had not all been together since Easter. Grace loved the wrapping paper and enjoyed watching her cousins tear into their gifts. Hopefully she got a few pointers for her birthday next month! I don't really have a lot of pics :( because our card was full!


We then spent the rest of the week in Austin. We mainly just enjoyed eachothers company and relaxed. Adam spent a great deal of time helping Paul (his brother) put together his kids Christmas gift... a HUGE outdoor junglegym. When we left it wasn't even half way done...I wonder if has finished it by now??

Getting home wasn't as easy as driving there. We hadn't even gotten out of Austin and a lady flagged us down on the highway to tell us we had a flat tire. By time we pulled over it was completely flat. Adam then had the honor of changing the tire in the rain. After a quick half hour we headed back out on the road. It was raining off and on and at some points we were driving at a standstill. NO FUN! Thankfully Grace was pretty good.

We then spend the last few days of Adam's vacation at home. It was WONDERFUL. We just did stuff around the house.

On New Year's Eve our friend Haily and her daughter Molly came over (her husband had to work) and we played board games and had a yummy dinner of Surf and Turf!

So that is our last week and a half in rewind. Here are a few pics of Grace enjoying her favorite gift... a little kiddie climber. We have it in the den for now since its been so cold! It will head outside this Spring. :)

WOO HOO!!!

Don't you love my new look!!! My good friend Lindsay made it so cute and snazy! She can make your blog look just as good too... just check out info here!

THANKS LINDSAY! I LOVE IT!

Merry Christmas!

We would like to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas. We pray that you and your family have a wonderful Holiday and travel safely.

Since Adam, Grace and I will be out of town for the next week I will not be posting until after the New Year. So check back then for lots of updates!!

Why do I need a walker??

We got this walker for a Christmas gift but decided to get it out earlier because she will walk around the coffee table and pull up on anything. But I don't think she gets it. She will take a few steps pushing it and then goes to her knees as you can see in the video. Oh well maybe she will get it soon!

The Wave

This is Grace waving and VERY excited about it! She has been waving for a little while now, but this is the first we have caught in on tape!

We're hungry.

Grace (right) and her friend Sophie (left) were having so much fun trying to get into the fridge. This seriously entertained them for half an hour. Until we had to close the fridge b/c Grace was trying to climb up the shelves!

Double Ear Infection!

Poor little Gracie! I brought Grace to the pediatrician last week b/c she was having a few issues with constipation and her skin... anyway, when we were there he checked her ears and said they had a little fluid on them but he thought it may clear on its own. Well since then Grace has just not been herself... fussy, low grade fever, cough, runny nose, not sleeping well, etc. So I took her back today and she has a double ear infection, yup both ears are raging!! He also said since this was ear infection #4 that we may need to start thinking about tubes. He wants to give it a little more time (at least till her first birthday) and see if she gets anymore. Hopefully this is it.

Anyway, her other issues with constipation and eczema are much better. We have her "going" more regularly now and her skin is doing soooo much better!

Please add Grace to your prayers tonight that she starts feeling better. I would hate for her to feel bad over Christmas, especially since we will be away from home visiting family!

A Christmas tradition...sort of

When I was little my mom would buy me and my brothers Christmas PJ's. We have tons of pictures of us growing up each year in our PJ's! So I picked one of my favorites with my big brother, Bryan. (My little brother, Todd, wasn't born at this time.) I think I was around 3 and Bry was 7. So my mom decided to continue that tradition with Gracie. She got her some cute jammies! I couldn't get a great pic, but you know how it is with a mobile baby! I will take what I can get :)

10 months!

She is now in the double digits!! Like I say every month... time flies!

Grace's had to go to the doctor earlier this week (issues with consitpation and her eczema) so we got to weigh her and she was 19lbs 5ozs. (Last month she 18lbs14ozs...slowing down!)

Here is what Grace is up to these days:

*Becoming a pro crawler... if they had baby crawling contests Grace would definitly win!

*Still pulling up on everything and getting into everything. (See pic below)

*She stood on her own (holding onto nothing) for like .5 seconds today.

*Will take a few steps pushing a walker. (still trying to get a good video to upload)

*Says "DADA" for everything and I think she said "MAMA" yesterday...we are working on that one!

*Claps and waves "bye bye", but at the completely wrong times.

*Dances all the time... even when there is no music!

*LOVES books and tring to open the Christmas presents and hates Santa (see post below).

Here is a pic of Grace getting into the drawer under the oven. She opened the drawer, crawled in, but couldn't get out. Forgive her poor little red face, that is her eczema, and her hair is everywhere since she had just gotten up!

Visiting Santa... oh the drama!

So I totally thought this year would be a peice of cake. Yeah right!

Over Thanksgiving Adam and I brought Grace to a mall near my parents and got this pic. I wasn't totally happy with it because it looks like her eyes are closed. She just wouldn't take her eyes off Santa! I am sure she was thinking of tugging that beard or tearing off his glasses. But nope she just starred.

So today my friend Melanie and I drove down to the city to try to get a better pic. No such luck. In fact it was worse! She wanted NOTHING to do with Santa as you can see in the picture below. Oh well maybe next year. Actually I bet next year I get a pic simular to this one! :) Which do you like better??

How much is that baby in the window??

I'm sure my neighbors must be wondering this. (I saw a post simular to this on my friends blog... Lindsay!). Grace LOVES windows and our lab Sammie always tries to be right in there with her. The window in our guest bedroom is nice and low to the ground, so Sammie normally sits at this window most the day guarding the house, plus she can see if anyone is coming to the front door through this window. Of course if someone were to come to the door she would initially bark, then when the person enters the house she would lick and beg that person to lick her! :)

Anyway, back to the baby in the window. Looking out the window just must be something amazing for Grace (well all little Toddlers for that matter). Plus I think she likes that she can stand up all by herself relatively easy. Speaking of standing up... I don't think she is far from that first step. She will pull up on anything, and hold on with one hand. Sometimes a toy isn't far and she will reach for the toy, think for a minute and then get down and crawl to it! She will however walk along the coffee table and couch (crusing), but no independent steps yet. Maybe soon!

Oh Christmas Tree...

Oh Christmas tree... you're making my life so busy!

We finally finished decorating the tree and the house this past weekend. We decided NOT to pull out the big 6 foot Christmas tree and instead bought 2 new little table top trees. The main reason is because Grace is into everything. I dediced on the small trees after she was driving my nuts with a small house plant that was on the floor. It was her favorite. She already tried eating the moss/ivy off that little plant twice so I didn't want to deal with broken ornaments. But on the other hand I couldn't possibly imagine not having a Christmas tree! So we will just have to wait until next year, when Grace (hopefully) will know the meaning of "No" and not just turn around and laugh at me when I say it. Yes she does laugh when I say no. So I'm pretty sure that word isn't very effective with a 9 month old baby. So anyhoo.... here is a picture of little trees that sit on top of my grandmothers buffet. We did have to put a couple gifts on the floor because of overflow and Grace LOVES those. She already unwrapped one gift (well just partly), but I caught her in the act so it was still salvagable!

The stockings were hung by the ...um, the front door...with care. No chimney for us! (I thought that was cute... I borrowed it from my friend, Megan). My mom made each of our stockings. She made Adam and I's a couple years ago (that is why it doesn't say "mom" and "dad") and she just finished Grace's stocking last month. They each took her months to finish as each beed is hand sewn! I'm sure she is hoping that we don't have another baby for awhile.

Tooth #3 & 4 have arrived!

All I have to say is FINALLY! I am so happy to see those pearly whites make their debut. Grace already seems much happier.

My MOHAWK!

Grace is a complete wild woman in the bathtub! She crawls around playing and splashing the entire time. We try to clean her the best we can, but those of you that have tried to bathe a mobile baby you know how hard that can be! Sometimes I really think its just a joke... its not like I say "Grace sit on bottom so mom can clean you up", RIGHT! If it were only that easy. At least she does love the bath. Here is a picture of a mohawk I gave her.

Here is another pic of her ready to get into the tub. Love that cute butt!!

Playdate!

My friend Margaret and her two kiddos, Karina and Cade come over for the afternoon. Grace LOVES Karina!! She spent the afternoon crawling after Karina, kissing her and hugging her. I can only pray that one day when I have another baby (no time soon), that Grace and her brother/sister will play as nice and be as loving towards one another. Here is a pic of all 3 of the kids. Karina is nearly 3 and Cade is 6 months old. I'm sure Cade will be crawling after the girls in no time!

Holiday survey...

Welcome to the 2006 Holiday Edition of Getting to Know Your Friends! Post your answers on your own blog or in my comment section! Everyone has time for a few moments of fun! Don't be a scrooge!!!

NAME: Lisa
1. Egg Nog or Hot Chocolate? Hot Chocolate (does anyone really drink egg nog!)
2. Does Santa wrap presents or just sit them under the tree? In my family, Santa left an unwrapped present, but mom and dad wrapped the ones from them and put them under the tree. They wanted some credit! I think we'll do the same!
3. Colored lights on tree/house or white? white
4. Do you hang mistletoe? Not this year... we use to get some at Adam's parents house, but they moved!
5. When do you put your decorations up? A few days after Thanksgiving. One Holiday at a time please!
6. What is your favorite holiday dish (excluding dessert)? Mashed potatoes with lots of Gravy!
7. Favorite Holiday memory as a child: I have so many.... I loved Christmas day. All our extended family lived in Dallas so we would open presents and get dressed and go to my dad's side of the family and then go to my mom's side later that day... I loved the busyness of the day!
8. When and how did you learn the truth about Santa? I think 3rd grade.
9. Do you open a gift on Christmas Eve? Never!
10. How do you decorate your Christmas Tree? White lights and ornaments we have collected since being married. This year we have just a little table top one since Grace is on the move!
11. Snow! Love it or Dread it? Love it, but glad I don't live where it snows often. The once or twice a year is just perfect. :)
12. Can you ice skate? Of course!
13. Do you remember your favorite gift? Hmmm... probably anything Strawberry Shortcake or Cabbage Patch!
14. What's the most important thing about the Holidays for you? Being with family and friends.
15. What is your favorite Holiday Dessert? I love my grandmas pies... she is a great baker!
16. What is your favorite holiday tradition? I love going to look at Christmas lights. And I love the shopping... even though the crouds are tough!
17. What tops your tree? Just a bow I made.
18. Which do you prefer giving or Receiving? Well, it's always nice to receive, but I really like giving the best.
19. What is your favorite Christmas Song? All the ones on my Mariah Carey CD.
20. Candy Canes! Yuck or Yum? I like the flavored ones.
21. Do you re-gift? Not this year!
22. Worst gift given to you. I got some socks one year from a relative... I was like 12 so it was terrible!
23. What is your favorite holiday movie? Christmas Vacation
24. Who will you be spending Christmas with this year? We will be driving to Austin to see my husbands family! We can't wait!

I love spaghetti!

I think more of the spaghetti ended up on her face and on her highchair then in her mouth, but she sure does love it!

SNOW!!!!

Grace saw her first snow today. Well actually only for a couple minutes... I brought her outside long enough to snap a picture in our backyard. It was sooooo cold, that I didn't want to risk getting her sick, so it was just one quick pic. Maybe next time I will let her play in it. She sure did look cute in her little scarf, hat and mittens! I didn't even know they made mittens that small. :)