Gracie's little pool

I got Gracie a little shaded pool to put out on the deck and play in, since she loves the water so much. We tried it out this afternoon, and she loved it! I finally found a swimsuit big enough for her to wear several times (size 18 mos!)... hopefully it will last the whole summer!

Splish-splash!


Her little swimsuit is so cute!

Happy Friday!

Today was one of my alternating Fridays off of work, so we went and spent the day at Gran's house visiting with her and Gracie's Great-Great-Grandmother! We had a very fun time smiling and playing, and even got to visit with Aunt Dyana and Uncle Rick later in the afternoon! We have Gracie's very first Ranger game tomorrow night, so we're very excited to have a fun weekend ahead!

Playing in the carseat

With her Great-Great-Grandmother
In Sassy's doggy bed
Hi, Sassy!
Hi, Mommy!

Gracie is extremely ticklish... enjoy this video of her just giggling away! =)

Sippy cup!

Here are some pictures of Gracie attempting to master the sippy cup last night... she's finally got it!

Oops... wrong end!

Look, no hands!
Now we're getting the idea...Picked it up the right way all by myself...
I'm awesome!

Daily family walks

We just started another new family tradition: taking a long walk together every evening! Now that my schedule allows me to get off earlier, we started taking walks when we get home! It's a lot of fun, a great way for us to just talk and spend some quiet time together... all while getting 30 minutes or more of great cardio! We love it, and Gracie really seems to enjoy it as well!

Sara's Work Schedule for July

I figured out a work schedule that is a little easier for us to accomodate with one car. This week I am working 8:30am-4:30pm Mon, Tues, and Thurs, 11am-7pm Wed, off Fri, and 8am-1pm Sat.

For July, my schedule will be more stable (thank goodness) since one of the girls I work with won't be in summer school this month. The fall will be a different story, since they will both be in school full-time, but we will get that schedule mapped out in a few weeks.

For July, here it is:

Mon-Thurs: 8:30am-4:30pm
Every other Friday (18th): 8:30am-4:30pm (alternating Fridays off: 11th and 25th)
Every other Saturday(12th and 26th): 1pm-5pm (alternating Saturdays off: 5th and 19th)

And of course we are closed on the 4th, so I'll have a 3-day weekend, yay! =)

Snowcone Day!

One of the best things about being a new family is creating family traditions. Well, we've decided to start a summer tradition of Snowcone Day, one evening every week during the summer that we all go to a snowcone stand and sit at the tables and talk about our week. We had our inaugural Snowcone Day yesterday evening, and it was a lot of fun! Gracie sat up on the table playing with my sunglasses while David and I enjoyed our snowcones and talked about our day. We gave her a tiny bit of plain snowcone ice and laughed at the silly faces she made at how cold it was.

We can't wait for next week!

Update on Gracie's 6th month discoveries so far

Gracie is now pulling herself up! From a sitting position, she will turn her body, get up on her knees, pull up with her hands, and sometimes gets all the way up to standing! She's not sure what to do next, but it's a huge milestone for her! She did this the first time on Monday evening, June 16th. She's starting to roll more, which we are relieved about, as her doctor said that was an important developmental skill she needed to be perfecting.

She is doing great with all her new foods! So far she absolutely hates (after three separate tries) macaroni and cheese! And she didn't take too well to the Gerber beef today, either, so we'll wait a couple days and then try that again. She LOVES the apple and white grape juice out of her sippy cup, but hasn't quite figured out how to hold it by the handles for herself yet.

Her teeth are really bothering her lately. We think another one might be about to cut through, although we can't see or feel it yet. She is having the hardest time sleeping and staying asleep at night, but we are still working with her to stay in her crib all night. It is hard but we know it will pay off in the long run. It's just hard on us since for awhile there we got used to her sleeping in her crib through the night from 8:30pm-6:30am every night, and now she's not having any of it!

Well there's the little Gracie update. David and I are exhausted from working all day and then being up with her a lot at night, but we forget it all in those big brown eyes and beautiful smiles!

Happy Father's Day!

We had a very fun Father's Day! Went over to my dad's house for lunch and had a great time visiting, and playing with Dash. Then we went over to David's dad's for some swimming in the heat! It was nice and sunny and there was a breeze all day that just made it a very great day to be outside. Enjoy some pictures of David's first Father's Day!

A GREAT picture of Gracie and her Grandad

Me with Gracie and Dash
Gracie in her new swimsuit (and she's already grown out of it! )
Playing in her new float!
She really seemed to like it!
Sweet picture with Daddy
She discovered the joy of splashing everyone this time!
Family picture

Gracie's 6-month check-up!

Gracie is weighing in at a whopping 18 pounds and 8 ounces! She is in the 90th percentile for her weight among other babies her age, however her doctor is not concerned because her 95th percentile length of 27 1/4 inches balances it out! He is still saying she is going to be a very tall girl!

We got the okay to start on Stage 2 baby foods, so she will now get meats and different veggies and fruits as well as different cereals, and we can mix it up however we want! We're very excited, and Dr. Len says we have a perfect 6-month-old little girl!

2nd tooth in!!!

Gracie was so fussy all weekend, especially this morning. Brandi texted me at 4:30 to tell me that her second tooth had just broken through! So, two teeth in three days... wow she's on a roll, isn't she? =)

Gracie's first tooth broke through!

So yesterday it wasn't even visible, you couldn't feel it or anything. She has been drooling twice as much as usual lately, in a lot of pain, and even running a couple of low-grade fevers the last two days, so we figured it would be any day now. Well... that day was today! We were at Jacqueline's baby shower and Gracie was just attacking everything in sight to chew on, so I finally put my thumb in her mouth to chew on for awhile. That's when I felt a tiny, sharp bump on her lower gum! You can barely see it, but it has definitely broken through. So, she got her first tooth in today! We are very excited!

Time for a Gracie update!

She is a champ at eating all her baby food and usually sleeps through the night in her crib with very minimal fussiness if any at all when we lay her down. YES! =) No teeth in quite yet, but it should be any day now.

Here are a few other things she has mastered lately:

Grabs both feet at a time...

...and chews on them!
Sits straight up, unsupported by even her hands...
...leaving them available to put absolutely everything in her mouth!
And she is starting to hold her own bottle!

What a big girl! =) She turns six-months old next Thursday, and her 6-month appointment is next Friday! We can't wait to find out her measurements and start the next feeding stage!

Taking action to protect pets

In light of the horrific story in the Dallas Morning News and all over the radio yesterday about a Denton couple's dog that was mistakenly euthanized at the Denton Animal Shelter (see story here: http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/dn/latestnews/stories/060208dnmetdeaddogs.375a981.html), we are now supporting the local no-kill animal shelter Operation Kindness.

There are many ways to help them! This link: http://www.operationkindness.org/helping/HelpingAnimals.htm outlines several ways to help the shelter. We use the Kroger Cares Card and Tom Thumb Reward Card to donate a portion of our purchases, and I will use the "Giving Works" Icon on Ebay when I list a few items to sell, which will let the buyers know that I am donating a portion of their purchase to Operation Kindness. I even volunteered to help at some of their Special Events!

Please get involved to help these animals, and to support the no-kill animal shelters. The Tom Thumb Reward Card option is simply notifying the cashier one time to link your card to Operation Kindness, and then you never have to worry about it again!

Thanks for listening!

Gracie's first art!

Gracie fingerpainted for the first time at Mrs. Brandi's today! I can't wait to get it in a frame!

Sara's 23rd Birthday Party!

Last night we went out to celebrate my birthday! First we had dinner at Copeland's of New Orleans inside the Hilton Hotel in Southlake Town Square. Then we headed over to the Glass Cactus at the Gaylord Texan Resort on Lake Grapevine! It was loads of fun, and a much-needed party night! Here are some pictures!

With Brandi

The party at Glass Cactus!
This crazy cover band was playing
What a smile, David! Haha
I can't remember where this hat came from, but I loved it!

Gracie's fun bathtime!

Today is my 23rd birthday! We didn't do anything to celebrate, but my party is Saturday night, so we're looking forward to that! I had to work 7-3 today, Mom took me to lunch at 11, and Brandi picked me up in the afternoon and took Gracie and I home, which was so nice. David has to work in Arlington until 10pm, so it was just me and the kiddo for the evening. We had a lot of fun playing and napping together, and after green beans for dinner (she ate them all!), it was time for her bath! I usually play with her a little bit in the water, just pouring water on her, but this time she actually sat herself up in her tub and reached for the toys! It was so cute, I couldn't help but take a bunch of pictures! Afterwards, we read a story and sang some nite-nite songs and when I laid her down FULLY AWAKE in her crib.... she didn't cry once! Just smiled at me when I kissed her goodnight and said her prayers and when I left her room she didn't make a peep! I checked on her every five minutes or so and she was just snoozing away... so the last three weeks of letting her cry really did pay off! We are so excited! It was a very hard process, but now she knows her bedtime routine and knows what time it is when we lay her down. I'm so proud!

Enjoy some pictures of our fun bath time tonight!

Memorial Day week

It's been a busy one so far! We both had Memorial Day off, which was really nice. We sat around the house being lazy and cooked a big M-Day meal of BBQ ribs, corn casserole, and green bean bundles (just cooked, fresh green beans wrapped five at a time in bacon slices, then popped in the oven for about 15 minutes until beans are crispy, bacon still a little soft.... so good!). We had a crazy time this week running back and forth between our jobs and the house and the Koon's to drop off and pick up Gracie. We can't wait to get that second car soon!

I got the schedule all worked out for June, and most likely the rest of the summer, as well. Here it is:

*Every Monday and Wednesday: 11am-7pm
*Every Tuesday and Thursday: 7am-3pm

Friday, June 6th: 11am-7pm
Saturday, June 7th: OFF

Friday, June 13th: OFF
Saturday, June 14th: 8am-1pm

Friday, June 20th: 11am-7pm
Saturday, June 21st: OFF

Friday, June 27th: OFF
Saturday, June 28th: 8am-1pm

Gracie's first swim!

We went over to David's dad's house today to cookout and go swimming. We've had a little swimsuit for Gracie, but I've been waiting until she is old enough to have sunscreen on her skin (her pediatrician said to wait until around 6 months old). I decided that at 5 1/2 months it would be fine to go ahead and put it on her so we went to the store and got her some baby sunscreen and swim diapers and headed to the pool! I used almost half the bottle of sunscreen on her throughout the afternoon, and she wore a hat the whole time she was in the sun, so don't worry, she was very protected! She was great, she really loves the water anyway, so she was calm but interested the whole time. She loved when I blew bubbles at her in the water, and when I'd go underwater she would watch me. She fell asleep on David's lap afterwards and snoozed away in the shade. It was a fun day, and I can't wait to get her in the pool again! Next time we'll get her one of those floats with a shade on them, made especially for babies her age. She will love it! Enjoy some pictures!

We got our new car!!!!!!

We have been wanting to get rid of our 2005 Ford F150, because we spend about $600 per month on gas. Well, David got off work early today and came up to my work and sat down to talk with one of the used sales guys and we left in our new car! It's not new, really, but it's a Certified Pre-Owned 2005 Honda Accord Sedan! We got a great deal on it; it's in great condition, warranties still intact, and only has 40,000 miles on it! It's a really ugly green color, though, but I can live with that since we have a much safer, nicer, and cheaper car! We will pay it off quickly through our Total Money Makeover plan, so we are excited to have a great family car that will last us a really long time! We are going to keep our eyes peeled for a cheap little car we can pay cash for that I will use to just go to work and back, since I stay in the Lewisville/Flower Mound/Highland Village area every day. My weird work schedule has made having only one car pretty hard, so we need another car. But it's going to be a cheap little thing, probably less than $3000. We will try to get that by the end of the summer. Here are some pictures of the new addition to our family! (;D)

Busy week

Well, I haven't had much time to get on the computer this week. I'm trying to adjust to my work schedule and still get things done at home. Gracie's going to stay with Brandi tomorrow, and I'm really excited. I know she'll have a lot of fun with Brandi and Maelyn. I really like my job so far. It's very easy and I've already learned pretty much everything. It keeps me busy, which I like because it makes the day go by faster. Next week I have Monday off for Memorial Day, and Friday off, also, so that will be nice. Gracie started applesauce tonight and she loves it! Ate the whole container. We are definitely looking forward to a long, relaxing weekend!

Sara's Work Schedule for May

I love my job! =) It's a little boring sometimes, but it is easy and fun, because I get to talk to people as they come up to the counter, and there's always filing to keep me busy. I really missed Gracie, but I was so busy trying to learn everything that I didn't get too upset. I picked up on everything really well and quickly, and I'll actually be closing on my own on Friday! The scheduling isn't quite what I had planned for, but I actually like it a little better. The cashiers make their own schedule together, so we're flexible with each other's needs. Here is my schedule for the next two weeks:

Mon, 5/19: 11am-7pm
Tues, 5/20: 7am-3pm
Wed, 5/21: 11am-7pm
Thurs, 5/22: 7am-3pm
Fri, 5/23: 11am-7pm
Sat, 5/24: off
*Closed Sundays*
Mon, 5/26: off for Memorial Day
Tues, 5/27: 7am-3pm
Wed, 5/28: 11am-7pm
Thurs, 5/29 (my birthday!): 7am-3pm
Fri, 5/30: off
Sat, 5/31: 8am-1pm

I will work 11am-7pm every Monday and Wednesday, and 7am-3pm every Tuesday and Thursday. I won't know my weekend schedule (Fridays and Saturdays) until the beginning of each month, but I will post it when I find out!

Sara starts new job today!

I'm a little nervous, and at the last minute I've decided that I REALLY don't want to go back to work. There's just too much going on with Gracie, and I want to be with her! But, we really needed to get the ball rolling on our Total Money Makeover, and get on the right track to getting our own place to live, and that means I just have to get a job. Uuuuuuuugh.... I'm not even excited! That is so unlike me, I'm always excited about a new job. And this is Honda, of all places! I guess having a baby really does change your outlook on everything...

Well, off to get ready. Wish me luck!

*And please keep our friend Brandi Koon in your prayers today. She is having a test done this morning, and we pray the outcome of that is a positive one. Thanks!

Camping!

David and I went camping with some friends this weekend to Lake Whitney (it's a little outside Hillsboro). We had so much fun, we didn't realize how much we needed a weekend to just get away. Of course we missed Gracie, but it was nice to have some uninterrupted time to ourselves for a few days. Here are a few pictures, hope everyone had a great weekend!

Brandi and Mark entertaining us with a musical performance =)

Baggo! (or as I call it, a glorified bean-bag toss)