What a smilin' GIRL!

In the past week, we have really seen some changes in GA. She has really started to smile! Although they are mostly gas, she does smile when she hears our voices! ( I have to say that she gets tickled when bathroom business comes calling!) But these two pictures are my favorite of her smiling for the camera!

This expression reminds me of my brother Mick, so there is a little bit of my side of the family in little GA.
She's looking at the fan! She is definitely a fan of the fan!

Walkin' time....

GA is wearing her wrist rattles that her Grann gave her so she can add some pizazz to the walk!

Apparently I did not notice that her head protector is crooked...need to fix that!
What a groovy stroller!
Trying to show you all her daisy tennis shoes, but she is a little wobbly!

Look at that precious belly!! She likes to show off!

We've started going on walks with the girl and she is such a trooper. Of course she falls asleep as soon as we get going! But I think she enjoys getting out in the open air. (Tip for parents around mosquitos: We bought a net to put on the stroller.....very good choice! There are a ton of mosquitos around here no matter when we go out.)

Bows, bows, bows!

Little Miss GA just hasn't gotten the hang of this bow business! Everytime I put one on her she either cries or her head doesn't cooperate with the headband. But we try anyway........

I think the flash got in her eyes or she is saying, "No more bows Mommy."
I think this is definitely a Russell expression!
We just got home from church and she was mighty hungry!

Non-dairy desserts....

Isn't she sweet? Now can we figure out what I can eat?

Since Grace Ann can't handle dairy in my diet I have not had several of my favorite foods in weeks including milk, cheese and ice cream. Can anyone think of something sweet I can eat that doesn't have dairy or chocolate in it and that I can make? My sweet tooth is desperate..........

My favorite things!

In the spirit of "Oprah's favorite things" I have decided that I have a few of my own favorite things about being a new mom, only they definitely won't show up on Oprah. Since I have hardly any time to myself anymore, not that I am complaining, here are a few things I have learned to love:

• Clinique Intensive Eye Repair cream (for those sleepless nights)
• pony tail holders (GA has found out that I have hair and she pulls on it)
• bobby pins ( same purpose as above)
• my navy blue LOFT jogging pants ( I wear them, oh probably 4 days a week)
• my laptop ( To blog of course and to stalk my friend's blogs)
• Young and the Restless ( I am a little obsessed)
• DVR ( I loved this before but now it is definitely a necessity!)

Here are my favorite baby things:

• Mylicon ( any new mom can't live without this wonderful stuff)
• Pampers ( I am not in love with LUVS)
• my breast pump( I know but we are very close these days!)
• The cradle n' swing by Fisher Price ( it is worth it's weight in gold)
• The swaddle blanket from Swaddle Designs, inc.
• washclothes by Circo ( I have 30 of them and I use them so much)
• pacifiers ( There are times when I hate them but at 3 am they are my saviors)
• my glider

I could go on and don't be surprised if I revise this list later on! Now to my other mommy friends, please post your mommy favorite things, maybe we can share quick tips and favorites!

Random Thoughts!

As I sit in my living room blogging let me paint my scene for you: Russ is on the opposite side of the couch with suspected PINK EYE!!!!, GA is in the swing hanging out looking at sheep, and Oscar is demanding to be let in the house while barking, scratching the door and occassionally licking the door! Welcome to my Sunday evening! Ahhhh.....but oddly enough life is very good.

Random thoughts that are going through my head:

(in case you were wondering)

• Will GA go to sleep tonight? I wonder this because she has slept ALL DAY very soundly!
• What will I do tomorrow? Eat, sleep, maybe bathe, and change diapers.
• Does my husband have pink eye? Well his eye is not itching and it hasn't closed shut. Both good signs.
• Will I be motivated to exercise tomorrow? Answer still under deliberation.
• A more serious thought: Will I be applying to SLP grad. school? Feeling a little overwhelmed with the course work.....

I am so intrigued with how the human brain can organize all those random thoughts and be able to retrieve them at any given second. Although since being pregnant and giving birth my memory is not as good as it used to be. I have reassured though that it should come back.

I will sign off with GA's 4 week check-up stats:

From 2 weeks to 4 weeks she went from 8 lbs. 5oz. to 10 lbs. 2 oz. WHOA! Apparently Mommy's milk is pretty filling!

She grew an inch! GA is 22 3/4 inches long.

No colic....thank goodness! Dr. Schultz says that she is too happy of a baby to be colicky!

We are going on Friday for GA's first photo shoot! Although I wanted to get new-newborn pics, (Rick took some for me), these will be her 6 weeks shots!!! Can't wait to see how they turn out!

Happy Birthday to Grace Ann! She turned One Month on Sept. 16th!!!

Look at me..I turned One Month today!
Me and daddy watching the Kansas St. vs. Louisville game on ESPN!
My first photographed SMILE! I love to wear green! Thanks for my PJs--- Owen and Brody!

My mom feeds me so much that my tummy seems to be growing really fast! This was after I ate one morning!
While waiting for my check-up we ran into our night delivery nurse and got to catch up! Plus she loved seeing GA and how big she has gotten!
A better picture of Dr.Wilder while we were at our check-up! He kept saying how pretty GA was and that we were some lucky parents!
Yea --he has his eyes open this time! GA doesn't....
We love our play mats! GA looks at all the things that hang down, but loves to look at the polka dots on the mobile.

Ever since Brody and Owen let me take a test drive in their swing I have loved using mine at home. It is very relaxing!!!
Now I lay me down to sleep I pray the Lord my soul to keep.....
Unfortunately most of the sleep pics are taken during the DAY....now GA needs to do this sweet sleeping at night!
One of my all time fav. pictures!
Bath time isn't so bad when my Grann is in charge!

Here's the house boarded up for IKE!

Our first evacuation since moving to CC.
Oceana with Grace Ann!
Taking a nap with my Grandpa! She loves to lay on his chest!
A visit to Dad at his office! I was tired!!
My mom puts me in my bouncy seat when she needs to her chores!