Daddy and Gracie Hanging Out

Here is Gracie in one of her most favorite spots in the whole world...Daddy's shoulder.

Child of Mine

These are two pictures we took a couple of weeks after Gracie came home. These pictures remind me so much of how wonderful the pregnancy and labor/delivery experience was. Since we have been home I have realized how amazing, yet how difficult raising a baby is. Each day is different than the one before. Some better than others. My favorite days are when she is happy and content. She smiles and plays and tries so hard to talk to me. The hardest days are when she is in pain because of gas and when she can't sleep. I feel so helpless when I can't ease her pain quickly. How do people handle babies with colic?!!! What a range of emotions parenthood brings! All I know is that I will continue to do my best to love Gracie the best I can, to hold her when she cries, to pray for her daily, and to take a million pictures of every stage of her life. She is growing up so fast, we are just trying to enjoy every minute.

Breaks My Heart

Look at this sad face. It breaks my heart every time I see it.

Last night we saw this face a lot since she just couldn't seem to get rid of the gas pain and get to sleep. We tried everything and nothing seemed to work until about 4:00 this morning. She wore herself out and fell asleep. Not the best night of sleep I've ever had, but praise God these kinds of nights are few and far between!

Innocent Eyes and Kissy Lips

I love staring into her precious eyes. She is so alert and alive and her big eyes are getting more and more color to them. I also can't resist her adorable kissable lips! How do I not kiss these lips? They are so cute and pouty and absolutely irresistible!

Freedom!

Gracie took a bottle for the first time yesterday! She wasn't too thrilled about the idea at first, but soon she got the hang of it. She took the whole bottle and her daddy got to feed her for the first time! I always love my time with Gracie while she is feeding and now I am thankful Jonathan gets to have that time with her too. I am especially excited about sharing the night time feedings with Jonathan. :o) Now that she can take a bottle it will give us so much more freedom. We took advantage of that freedom today as we went on our first date since Gracie has been born. Donna Kay came up to babysit and we went to see a movie. I got to leave the house!!!! Praise God for a wonderful date with my wonderful husband!

Photo Shoots

Here are some pictures we took of little Gracie in some quick impromtu photo shoots.

This first one is in the tutu and headband her Aunt Nicole made her.

Here she is with a sweet pink hat that April's mom made for her.

This photo shoot we put her in a mixing bowl! Thank you Gracie for cooperating!

Bedtime with Daddy

Jonathan put Gracie in our bed the other day and we took pictures. She looked so tiny in our big bed!

Her First Shot

Today Gracie had her first shot. :o( It was painful for her and traumatizing for us! We dressed Gracie in a precious dress that Donna Kay and David bought for her and headed out to the doctor. We love to dress her up when we go anywhere since she rarely leaves the house. They weighed Gracie at the doctor's office and she is already 9 lbs 3 ounces! When did she get so big? She is still below the average in weight, but when I saw that number on the scale a little part of me was sad. We are out of the newborn stage. Don't get me wrong, I am thankful for a happy healthy baby, but it is going by so fast! Ok, on to the traumatizing part. The nurse came in with the shot, I was holding Gracie, and then they did it. They stuck my precious baby in the thigh with a long evil needle...and remember, I was holding her! For about 10 seconds she cried the most pitiful painful cry that literally made my heart break. I put her over my shoulder ("in her spot") and she immediately stopped crying. Gracie took it like a champ! She fell fast asleep and will never remember this day that has emotionally scarred her parents!

The War Wound

Gracie in her sweet dress