What's going on?

Well I don't really know what has been going on, but we have been busy and I haven't blogged!

Here are some updates:

Grace is finally "going" like a normal little toddler! AMEN! If you read this post you know we have had a few issues with Grace and poop. Somehow it has just worked itself out and she is going usually once a day with little problem. Hopefully it will stay that way!

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My friend, Margaret, gave us 4 bags of hand-me-down clothes today! Everything is in GREAT shape. What a blessing. Those of you that have kids know that clothes can really add up quick especially since they grow out of them so fast. Here is a picture of the clothes (not pictured is about 50 pairs of shoes as well!)... I organized them by size and season. THANKS again Margaret. I really owe you!

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Grace is walking more and more each day. The most steps I've seen her take is around 10, but each day she is walking more and more. However, crawling is still her primary way of getting around.

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I'm also still on the pursuit to get more fit. Lindsay has started a new blog... the inner health nut. So I'm following suit and trying to get my butt in gear. I'm still doing Turbo Jam (which I love), but I'm going to try to go walking for 30 minutes each day. As far as eating better, well I love to eat... but I'm gonna work on that too. So if you are out with me and I try to eat something bad... remind me that I want to look good in a swimsuit this summer :) THANKS!

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Grace is into everything... I know I've said this before, but now I really mean it. She can open cabinets and drawers and love to pull everything out of them. (We have the cabinets with the cleaning stuff in it locked, but I don't think she has even tried to open that one!). Here is a picture of her reaching to pull stuff out of the top desk drawer. Lovely.

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Grace loves to wear her daddy's glasses. Here is a picture of her... doesn't she look so smart :)

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Oh and Happy Birthday to my blog! I've been blogging for 1 year now. Time flies when you're having fun.

I guess this is it for now. Be back soon!

Peak a boo

Gracie playing with her Little People doll house.

Naked girl

This picture taken a couple weeks ago when she had a really bad diaper rash from an antibiotic. So I thought it would be cute to snap a couple pictures of her enjoying being clothes and diaper-less after a bath. This one is the only one I decided to post since its the least revealing. Isn't she getting so tall and really leaning out? Where did her baby rolls go??? I guess she really is turning into a little toddler!

HELLO....

I haven't really been in the blogging mood lately so that is why I haven't posted recently.

Last week Grace had yet another ear infection (#8). The doctor actually thinks her ear infection from 2 weeks ago never healed... which totally explains why she never seemed like she was better. So needless to say the last few weeks have been pretty frustrating dealing with my unhappy and clingy and fussy toddler. Thankfully on Saturday a new Grace got out of bed and she had a much better weekend. I can tell her medicine is FINALLY working. The doctor mentioned tubes again... he really thinks that since its getting warmer this may be her last one for the year, but then we may be in the same situation next winter. He said we will talk about it at her 15 month appointment since we can't even do tubes until her ears aren't infected. I'll keep you updated.

For Easter weekend, Grace and I joined my parents and little brother on a quick trip to Kentucky to see my big brother and his wife. It was a nice weekend although it was COLD... temps were in the 30's, with wind shields in the teens (brrrrrrrrr...). So we mainly hung out indoors, but did get out for opening day at Keenland (horse races). It was pretty quite since it was so cold, but still fun to watch a few races. Then on Easter Sunday we went to their church with I loved. It is a great non-denominational Bible church with a really good pastor. All in all it was a nice weekend. Here are a couple pics of Gracie at the races.

Grace staying warm

Grace with grandma

Go #3!

Grace with little jockey

Adam stayed home Easter weekend because he was on call. He has off every other holiday this year so we figured Easter would be okay to miss. So he decided to make the best of being home alone all weekend. He took out our old, ugly florescent light in our kitchen and put in recessed lighting. It looks awesome! He definitely gets the Husband of the Year award. It sure is nice to have a husband that is an electrical engineer... sort of handy to have around and saved us a ton of money since he was able to do it all himself. Thanks Adam!

Oh I think that is about it for now. I'll be back soon! :)

Happy Easter! (one day late)

Grace wishing you a Happy Easter!
This was Grace wishing you a Happy Easter last year ...

Next year she will probably be holding the basket! :)

Happy Easter early...

Since Grace and I will be in Kentucky visiting my brother and sister-in-law for Easter Adam and I called up the Easter bunny and asked if he could deliver Gracie's Easter basket a little early. He said she has been the last few months so it wouldn't be a problem. :) The Easter bunny brought her a vacuum cleaner, a my little pony, food for her kitchen, a bunny and a new book. She was in heaven. Lucky little girl!!

Here is a picture of her looking at what the Easter bunny left her.

Eggs, eggs and more eggs...

Tonight was our church's Easter Egg Hunt for the kiddos. Grace had a good time eating a chocolate cupcake and banging the eggs together. She didn't want to collect eggs to put her in basket... she just wanted to hold them. Oh well... there is always next year! Here are a few pictures.

The little ones enjoying cupcakes (I was holding Gracie's).

Grace and Mommy (about to go hunting!)
I found an egg...
I think I will hold onto it...
Grace found a total of 3 eggs... we are so proud :)

BLUEBONNETS!!

Margaret over at Gogo's World took her little ones to take pictures in the bluebonnets and was so sweet to tell me to do the same. (Oh and just so you know... we only live 30 minutes from one another!).

Anyway, here are some pictures of Gracie enjoying a beautiful Sunday afternoon with the bluebonnets.

SHE'S WALKING!!!

Well I guess I should say that she has taken a few steps. She will take 3-4 steps and then go down to her knees or start crawling, then get back up and take another couple steps. She is so proud of herself. We will try to get it on tape and post it soon. Just wanted to tell everyone!

news...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ADAM!

We love you! You are such a wonderful husband and daddy. Thank you for everything you do for us.

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Grace is doing well. Her rash has cleared up and the new antibiotic seems to be working. Since I've told a couple people about her new allergy, I've learned how serious a Penicillin allergy can be. I'm so thankful that she only got a rash, since my granny told me if could fatal... SCARY!

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Grace also got her 6th tooth today! Surprisingly she hasn't been that fussy... just drooling constantly.

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As some of you guys know I've been trying to wean from breastfeeding for a couple months now. I've been down to nursing once at night for quite a while now and couldn't manage to drop that feeding. Well Grace has finally weaned. I tell you though, when I first started nursing 13.5 months ago I would NEVER in a million years thought I would have nursed this long. It really got to be so easy, especially since I was staying at home, so I just kept nursing. Anyway, I was sort of sad for a split second, but it will be nice to have my own body back to myself!

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Oh and I almost forgot about other news I have... I quit my job today! Yeah, I know I just started, but it wasn't working out. I wasn't getting paid very much and since I was only working 20 hours I was barely making enough to pay for daycare. I've been so run down, our house is a mess and I'm just not fulfilled from working like I use to be (probably b/c I worry constantly about Grace). Plus, Grace has gotten 2 ear infections, a virus and pink eye all in 4 weeks of daycare. I'm going to work through next week, but then back to being a Stay-at-home mom. :) I'm just so thankful that we are able to make it work with me at home. We are very blessed.

If it isn't one thing its another...

This morning we went to see Gracie's pediatrician for the eye junk and her bad diaper rash. She has an ear infection. Which I guess I knew since I only gave her 2 days of the medicine we gave her last week. So it didn't get to heal from last week. So I go fill the Rx and come home and give it to Grace. Then about 30 minutes later she was scratching all over (her arms, head, eyes, etc)... and I noticed she all these little bumps on her that looked like mesquite bites. I freaked! I called the doc back and left a message. They called me back within 5 minutes and he said that is a definite Penicillin allergic reaction. I gave her Benadryl and within 1 hour the bumps were nearly gone. My poor baby. He said not to give her any more of the antibiotic and he is calling in something different. Hopefully this is the last of the drama and my baby will be healthy for a while at least!

On a brighter note, here are a couple pics of Grace in some pj's that Michelle got Grace for her first birthday. Aren't they so cute?? I love them!

Home Sweet Home

Grace was happy to be coming home (she was so tired... this is a picture of her sleeping on the plane ride home... she slept the ENTIRE time... AMEN!!)

We're back! 10 wonderful days of fun filled relaxation and excitement... all done. Boo Hoo! Overall the trip was great. We got to Rob and Kelly's house in Ohio on Thursday the 15th and the next day headed to Chicago with them and their little girl Hannah (20 months). Chicago was soooooo COLD the first day (and windy), but then the next 2 days there were great... cool, but sunny and it wasn't windy so it was 10,000 times more enjoyable. My best friend from high school, Alyssa, and her hubbie and 3 year old (Jameson) joined us in Chicago. She lives in Minnesota so it was only a 4 hour drive for her to meet up with us. It was so fun getting to hang out with everyone. The kiddos enjoyed the trip too... probably b/c they got to eat lots of junk food. Although Grace did enjoy her green beans and mac 'n cheese at the Cheesecake Factory (YUM!).

Once we got back to Ohio we just had a week of relaxation. Adam drove back and forth to his class eat day in Detroit (about an hour each way), but he wanted to be with us in the evenings so he thought it was worth it.

Unfortunately Grace and I got sick while were up there. I just had a cold and bad cough. But Gracie's eye was still having some yucky goop build up in it (I was having to clean it 5-6 times a day) so I brought her to the doctor. They thought it was still pink eye (but I'm not so sure since no one else got it)... we actually go to her pediatrician tomorrow to see what the deal is since its still gooping up. Anyway, the doc up there did say she had an ear infection and prescribed her for an antibiotic she had never had. Well she is allergic to it! She had diarrhea (I wont go more into that!), and broke out into a bad diaper rash that we are still trying to fight (second reason we are heading to her doc tomorrow).

All in all though... it was a great trip. We got to spend some wonderful quality time with Rob and Kelly and their 2 kiddos. Their little one, Conner (I wrote about him several months ago... he was little preemie born at 32 weeks)... well he has turned into a little rolly polly. He is the BEST baby I've ever seen in my life. I would have another baby in a second if I knew he/she would be as good as this baby. :)

Enough of me rambling... here are some pics of the trip.

Jameson (3 yrs), Hannah (20 months), Grace (13 months)

Can you tell that Hannah and Grace are also in matching outfits... sooo cute! I wish I had a better picture.

Grace at the Aquarium (she loved it!)
Daddy and Grace
The whole group!
Conner says hi!
Hannah and Grace holding hands in the car
Grace at the Sears Tower (downtown Chicago in background)
The fam... Grace was ready for a nap at the Sears Tower
The GREEN river (for St. Patty's day!)
Jumping water at the Childen's Museum at Navy Pier

Bye Bye

We are off in a couple hours to go to Dallas... we fly out tomorrow to Detriot, then to Toledo, OH and then on Friday to CHICAGO! I'll post an update when we get back on the 25th! See ya then.

Grace update

Poor baby... her fever was better for a while, but then this afternoon it started climbing again. About an hour ago it got up to 104 so I called the pediatrician on call and they said to bring her to the ER if it gets to 105 or if she breaks out in a rash. I'm pumping her with Motrin, but I've decided it isn't helping. So I will be taking her to the doctor first thing in the morning (for the second time this week!). Hopefully she will be feeling better by Thursday when we fly. So say a little prayer tonight for my sweet sick baby.

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Another update: (updated Wednesday)

Grace had a fever all night, but this morning when she got up it was only 99. I still decided to take her to the doctor since it had gotten so high. He said it is just a virus... he thinks rotavirus...but its really just a guess. It just has to run its course. He thinks she may be on the tail end of it... I sure hope so. Thanks for thinking of my little Miss Pris.

3 weeks

It only took 3 weeks of daycare for Little Miss Pris to get sick. I guess that should be no surprise.

I dropped her off at daycare yesterday morning and about an hour later the daycare called and said they thought she had pink eye. I had noticed she had a little eye drainage, but she has had that clogged tear duct issue off and on so I just cleaned it and sent her to daycare. So I brought Grace to the pediatrician and found out she did have pink eye. We ran by the pharmacy and got some drops and she seemed okay. Well last night at dinner she got sick and threw up in her high chair. We put her in the bath to clean her up and I could tell that something was right. When I pulled her out of the tub I realized she was soooo hot. She had a 103 temp! So we got her dressed, gave her some Motrin, and she fell asleep laying on my chest. She still has a fever this morning but it was 99.5 so it is much better. Hopefully it will break soon. I guess its just a little bug or something.... could it be teething maybe?

Anyway, while at the doctors office yesterday we did find out the results to Grace's allergy test. She is allergic to peanuts and pet dander! So no peanut butter and no dogs... wait!... what about Sammie (our sweet lab) ... well the pediatrician said she is the Moderate range, so we just need to keep Sammie clean (give her baths often) and keep the floor free of dog hair. Obviously he has never had a lab in the spring. Hopefully it will be something she will outgrow as she gets older. We are just so thank full that she wasn't allergic to something more threatening like wheat or milk (which is in like EVERYTHING).
Oh and like I've said before... every post is better with pictures... so here are a couple I took over the weekend. How can you resist those big blue eyes.

Baby weekend...

This weekend Grace and I had 2 baby showers. I just love baby showers. It is so fun to ooooo and ahhhhh over all the tiny adorable little outfits, matching shoes and all the newest baby gadgets on the market. It makes you wonder where the time goes. I feel like it was yesterday when I was celebrating with my friends and family at my baby shower. And now I have a cute little toddler.

Anyway, the showers went well. Grace wasn't feeling 100% (I think b/c of teething), but still managed to be the life of the parties. Here are a few pictures from the shower for my good friend, Katie.

Ashley, me and Katie ... us girls lived together during college.

Melanee (Katie's sister - 22ish wks preggo, and Carson's mommy) and Katie (26ish wks preggo) Here is Grace and her new friend, Carson (Katie's nephew). Although I think Grace was more interested in what he was eating then him. :)

The yummy cake

And here is a pic of Grace all worn out from all the action.

And I ran...

I know I have posted before that I've been trying to get into shape and have my somewhat pre-baby body back, well I've been running. A girl that I've known for a few years from work and I have been running several times a week for 2 weeks now. It's gone really good. We even ran 4 miles this week with stopping to walk for only a brief minute. Grace usually joins us in my jogging stroller if Adam isn't home yet. She seems to love it (which I thought she would). Plus the weather has been great. So hopefully we will manage to keep it up. I'm pretty proud of us so far. (Oh and I'm also still doing Turbo Jam on the side... which I highly recommend!).

Anyhoo, have a wonderful weekend.

My baby bump...

I saw this photo tag at Adventures in Babywearing and I thought it was too cute. Here is a picture of me 35 weeks pregnant with Miss Pris herself (Gracie!). I look back at this picture and think OH BABY! You can even tell in the pic that my hands and face were so swollen and my belly really stuck out there. Oh but I did love being pregnant. Maybe that is weird, but it was so cool to feel all those little kicks and movements and to know that you are growing a little baby in you tummy. Sort of makes me want to have another... HA! Not quite yet mom.... :)

So go to her blog and join in the fun.

Busy month...

What an exciting month! So much is going on this month and we are really looking forward to it all.

Sunday was my Dad's birthday, so went to the Big D to have dinner with my family. Then this past Saturday was Travis' first birthday party. We had a blast socializing and drinking margaritas! Saturday night we met up with our friends Seth and Tiffany. I actually went to high school with Seth and we have kept in touch over all these years... him and his wife are really a lot like Adam and I so we always enjoy spending time with them. After dinner we headed back up to Oklahoma, because Molly was baptized. (I'm sorry but I'm totally slacking on taking pictures... but I'll be better the rest of the month!)

This week is somewhat uneventful. I did get my hair done yesterday by Hailey (Molly's mommy). I can always trust her to make me look cute! Yesterday I also took Grace to the pediatrician. Her eczema has really been acting up and we are still having issues with the constipation now that we have started whole milk. He actually took some blood that they are sending off to get allergy tested. It only tests for 10 major allergies... like wheat, corn, milk, pets, etc. I just hope that this can help pin point the problem. We should find out the results either late this week or early next week. I'll post when we find something out.

Then this weekend Grace and I have 2 baby showers! On Saturday, I am helping to host a baby shower for my good friend, Katie. Katie and I met in high school and then both went to college at Texas A&M (whoop!) and we were even roommates for a year. She is good friend to say the least. I just can't wait to see her growing pregnant belly! Then on Sunday, back home to Oklahoma were Grace and I will be going to a shower for a girl that I work with, Kari. I've known her a couple years now and she is so super sweet and getting really pregnant (she is 34 weeks!).

Then next week on the 15th (Thursday) we are flying to Detroit! Adam has a seminar that he is attending there and Grace & I are coming along. We have some good friends, Rob and Kelly (I've written about them before... they have little Miss Hannah (20 months) and Mister Conner (6 months)) that live in Ohio, just a short hour drive from Detroit. Since Adam's seminar doesn't start till the 20th we are going to drive to Chicago on the 16th and stay for a couple days. We are so excited! Rob and Kelly are also coming to Chicago and bringing Hannah. Conner will be staying with grandma. We are just hoping for decent weather. We fly back on the 25th (yup... we will be gone for 10 days!).

When we get back Adam's 27th birthday is that week. So I'm sure we will be doing dinner or something fun.

That brings me to the end of March! I should add that the first weekend in April (Easter weekend) Grace and I are going Kentucky to see my big brother and his wife!! Unfortunately Adam is on call that weekend so he will be staying in OK. But I'm sure he will have a nice quiet weekend.

Anyway, I should say I'm sorry that I've been bad about posting lately... but with working part-time, Grace starting daycare, trying to wean and I've also started running... its been busy to say the least!

So that is it for now. I promise to be better and post more often!

And since every post is better with a picture... here is one of my sweet girl! Isn't her outfit cute too?? Margaret's little girl Karina gave us a whole box of hand-me-downs that fit great and even some that she will grow into this summer! Thanks Margaret!

We're here!

This past week has flown by and I've been so tired. I think mainly it has just been tough to get into a new routine. Last week I worked half days and it was not working. I wasn't able to eat lunch till around 1:45 (after I picked up Grace) so I was starving and I wasn't 100% comfortable where I was leaving her on Tuesday and Thursday. So this week we made a couple changes and it already feels better. I'm just going to work 8 hours on Mon and Wed and 4 hours on Friday (with a lunch break on the long days). So hopefully that will go well.

Grace seems to really like daycare. She gets excited when she sees all the other kids her class, but she is also excited when I'm there to pick her up at the end of the day. Her teacher said she is sleeping on a mat on the floor like a champ. She just gives Grace her lovey and she lays down.

Anyway, I really feel like I have the best of both worlds. I'm able to get out, work and socialize and talk grown up talk for a few hours a week and then the rest I get to spend with my precious baby girl. Hopefully I will still be saying this in a couple months :)

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Here is a pic of Grace playing with her Little People dollhouse that we got her for her birthday. Isn't she so cute.