New Year, New Adventures!

2011 came in a very quiet one in our house. I think we were all asleep by 10 and watched all the activities on the news the next morning. Boy do I feel old! I remember New Years Eve was so exciting and a fresh new start. I gave up on resolutions a while ago. Why build yourself up to not complete them and feel bad. I decided to make resolutions throughout the year and work on them without a deadline.

2010 was a wonderful year for Pat and me. We became a family! Grace Ryan was born May 5th and has been a joy to us all. We also found out that we will have a new addition this September! Yikes. Its exciting yet scary all wrapped into one.

So far 2011 has been great. Im feeling good, Grace is thriving and growing every day. Pat and I are blessed to each have full time jobs that we enjoy (especially in this economy). The dogs and cats are healthy and happy and we have a roof over our heads.

We look forward to what 2011 will bring and here's hoping for a happy and healthy New Year!!

2010 What a Year!

 So many wonderful things have happened to us this past year...Here's to a wonderful 2011!

7 Months!

I cant believe Grace is 7 months old already. She is just amazing. We often hear our parents tell us how fast time has gone by and how it seems like just yesterday we were this small. I never understood how they thought it went so fast. That was until Grace came along! These past 7 months have felt like like 7 days. Somedays I want to push a pause button and keep her this little and other days or should I say nights I wouldn't mind a fast forward button to get through her teething or little colds.

Pat and I are so lucky to have Grace in our lives. She truly is our little miracle! We have often thrown out the thought of another and time will tell if we will be able to add to our family but for the time being we cherish each day we have together.

Gracie is learning so much lately and amazes us every day with something new. Her most recent accomplishment is saying DaDa. Pat was wrapped around her little finger before but when he hears her say DaDa he is whipped! MaMa & DaDa are her first 2 words and she shakes her head NO when she wants to be silly.

Grace weighs 17pds and is about 28in long. She has been sitting up on her own for about 2 months and LOVES to stand. She is still pretty wobbly but is learning. I have a feeling she will be an early walker. She loves to babble and is really into the dogs and cats. She's a people watcher (gets that from her mom) and is perfect when we take her out to dinner and shopping. Often she's the light of the party and is such a ham at times. When excited she will clap and wave. Her latest is new found joy is sitting in front of the mirror. We need a 2nd bathroom pronto!

We look forward to the days, months, & years ahead of us and we will share every wonderful step with you!

Santa Claus is coming to town!

 Pat came home and had surprised us with a Christmas tree. It's perfect! Grace and the dogs sat in the living room and watched him as he got it all set up. All three were a little confused but once the lights were up on it they loved it!!

 Grace posing with her first gift to put under the tree. She LOVED the bow. I might have to just get a box and wrap it and stick bows all over it as a gift this year for her!

 Our Helen Keller tree is back. We havent added any lights to it since last year and with all the storms we have had the tree looks pretty pathetic I must say. Well it does every year but this year I think has the others beat. I have to say it does make me laugh everytime I see it.

Our Christmas Angel Grace. What a wonderful blessing she has been to our family. She is full of smiles and is always so happy. She is the best gift of all!

Grandparents, Aunts & Cousins

Over Thanksgiving Grace got to meet her Grandpa & Grandma Clouse, Aunt Erin, Aunt Lindsey & Cousin Alta. We all had a great time. Dinner was excellent and we were even able to get family pictures done while they were all here.
Grace's Cousin Alta who is 2 1/2 was so cute! "Hi Baby Grace, Im going to be your friend" she was so sweet with her and very talkative! I couldn't believe how big our niece had gotten. Im excited for what we have in store for the future with Grace.
We miss having them live so far away but when we are able to visit with them it feels like we were never apart.

Update

I've really taken the lazy train with my blog and Im kind of bummed I've let it slip away from me for this long! I haven't posted anything since August! So much to fill everyone in on so here are some highlights...

September was alot of fun. Gracie got to meet her Grandpa Kee for the first time and what a wonderful weekend it was. She was spoiled the entire time.

October we were able to go to a local orchard and pick out some pumpkins and we grabbed a bag of homemade doughnuts...Mmmmm. Grace also celebrated her first Halloween and was dressed as a giraffe.

So far this month we have been adjusting to the change in the weather and it takes us twice as long to get ready to go anywhere since we have to dress like we live in the North Pole! Thanksgiving is just days away and Grace will get to meet her Grandpa & Grandma Clouse, Aunt, Lindsey, Aunt Erin, & Cousin Alta for the first time.

I cant wait for Christmas this year since Santa gets to come to our house :) I will have to have a post just dedicated to all the fun adventures we will be having in December!!!

I know this has been short and sweet but I just wanted to do a quick update so I dont feel too guilty for slacking :) Here's a quick list of Gracie's stats at 6 months:
16pds
27 inches (98th percentile for her age)
Sits up by herself
rolls to get where she wants to go
screams at the dogs
learning to wave
started drinking from a sippy cup
just starting to like cereal (with bananas)
2 teeth

I've been busy

Well I've been a little busy and haven't had as much time as I'd like to update our blog so here we go.....

Gracie had a well visit appt and passed with flying colors last month. She got 3 shots and did just fine. Here she is showing her dad her war wounds. 

 

 

 

Awww her booboo's.

12 weeks! I dressed Grace in her announcement outfit for her 12wk pictures. Im hoping to be able to somehow keep them in all the major pictures for her first year. At 12 weeks they were a little tight so time will tell on how I can work this out!

Gracie has really started to come out of her shell. She has such a cute little personality and isnt afraid to show it!

At our baby shower I was given this sunhat from our friend Kathy. We decided to try it out and it fit perfectly. She was so stinkin adorable in it!!!

Playing Peek-A-Boo at Music Class

At music class dancing with Daddy. Grace had so much fun!

Playing the drums with Mommy

Gracie with her BFF Ava at Music Class playing the drums :)

Our Funky Monkey. Before Grace was born Pat called her Monkey. While pregnant and out shopping with Pat he found this hat. He had to have it! I wasnt a fan of it but somehow she makes this ugly cap so cute :)

The bib says it all!

Tummy time! Grace is getting so strong and rolls over to her side...almost on her belly, then rolls over to her back.

These rings are her favorite toy at the moment. She throws them, shakes them, and of course sticks them in her mouth. Right now everything is in her mouth!!!

Too cute.