A Few Pictures

Just thought I'd share a few pictures from the last week.

Grace climbing like a monkey.

Going down the slide like a big girl!

On the swing

Look at those long legs!

Showing Daddy where they're going next.

While Cole and I were getting ready for a wedding this weekend Grace decided to rock a hat.

The twins at 16 weeks at a wedding.

Imagination Island

On Sunday I was still wallowing, even though I said I wouldn't, so we decided we needed to get out of the house. We decided to take Grace to an indoor playground called Imagination Island. Grace had a blast!

Grace playing in the fire truck.

Playing with the bubbles.

Riding the fish.

Trying to decide where to go next.

Nurse Grace

After the play place we met up with Cole's family for dinner.

Grace coloring with Papa C.

Getting out of the house helped me get past the wallowing!

Girly Girl

The other night  we were in Grace's room getting ready for bed when Grace noticed her tutus hanging up. She pointed up at the tutus, so I got one down for her. I put a tutu on her and she squealed and began fluffing her tutu...I love it! She turned on her crib soother and started dancing around in her tutu! I made Cole run downstairs and grab my camera because it was just so stinkin' cute. While he was searching for the camera Grace found one of my hair elastics on the end table and kept trying to put it in her hair. I grabbed some smaller elastics and helped her. I have a girly girl and I love it!

Playing some music.

You'll Regret This!

Grace has this really cute pair of pj's and I always forget that she slips and slides in them. I do not know why, but she can not walk on our hardwood floors in them at all. Well Cole put these stupid, yet, cute pjs on Grace after her bath last night. After she fell for the 4th time in them last night, I decided that the feet on them must come off. So I took her pjs off and cut the feet off.

Well in the 2 minutes it took me to do this, this is what Grace did:

Yup, we have a streaker! I strapped her diaper back on and it 2 seconds again:

You'll certainly regret doing this someday, my love!

Black Friday

So I decided for the first time ever, I was going to brave Black Friday, and man was it an adventure!

We got home from Thanksgiving festivities @ 9pm. I tried to get Grace to nap, but had no luck. I decided to shower and get ready for our adventure. Toys R Us opened at midnight, our plan was for Cole to drive and stay in the car with Grace while she slept. Grace will only sleep with me or in the car so we decided she's get her best sleep in the car. I packed lots of snacks and blankets, with the intentions of sleeping between Toys R Us and Kohl's.

We left our house @1030pm and gassed up and I grabbed a coffee. We were pulling off the highway @11pm heading to TRU. Now I've never done this, so I just thought that maybe there would be a few people outside TRU...oh I was so wrong. We pull off the highway and hit TRU traffic, I hop out of the car and tell Cole to circle back @ 1am to find me. I get in line an hour before the store opens and I'm probably a good 2,000 people deep! yikes! This is not what I expected at all! I was very unprepared for this, my hair was soaked and here I am standing outside in the freezing cold with just a fleece jacket on!

Fortunately the people around me in line were very nice and we had lots of laughs to pass the time. The doors finally opened at 12am and they let everyone in at once, oh my! I basically get pushed through the store and manage to grab a few things on the endcaps before I realize I'm in the check out line. The good thing is that there wasn't anything I had to have. I leave the store at 1230am and start to wander the parking lot looking for Cole, luckily he happened to be circling as I was walking out so I found him immediately.

I get in the car and I can't stop laughing at the craziness of it all! I filled Cole in on it all. We were planning on heading to Old Navy next, but got lost and decided to just head to Kohl's instead. Here's where our night gets really interesting!

We were about 0.5 miles from the off ramp for the Kohl's exit, when our mini-van starts to make a funny noise. Next we know our wheel is flying down the highway! Sparks are flying as Cole tries to stop the van with only 3 wheels. Cole manages to get us safely to the side of the highway. Fortunatley it was 1am so there were no other cars around. Cole called his Dad to see if he could come get us. I called my Dad who happened to be working that night (he's a cop, incase you were wondering.) He tells me to call 911 to get a cruiser and tow there to prevent us from being hit on the highway. Through this all we managed to stay calm.

Because of all the phone calls Grace woke up. We didn't want to take her out of her carseat just in case we were to get hit. Luckily I had just bought her a doll at Toys R Us. I took it out of the package and she was very happy playing with her new doll.

The police and tow truck got there immediatley and stayed with us until our ride got there. Cole's Dad arrived and we put everything in his car, installed the carseat, and then got it. He drove us back to Cole's Mom's house where his van was. Grace had just fallen asleeep and we decided we didn't want to wake her up again, so we took the car and headed back to Kohls.

I stopped for another coffee and then got to Kohls and was 4th in line! Haha! After all that and I still was 4th! Unfortunately it started to rain, cold, cold rain! Luckily again there was more nice people to pass the time. The employees of Kohl's were super nice! Three of them stood outside in the rain with us and went up and down the line asking what people were looking for and telling them exactly where in the store to find it. The doors opened at 4am and I managed to get everything I came for!

After Kohl's we headed to the mall and I hit JCP, Old Navy, Sears, and Target. Finally at 7am we were done! We headed home and managed to transfer Grace to bed with me. Cole got up and played football in the mud and rain. Grace and I slept until 11am! (Yes Grace slept from 1030p-11am, only waking for 20 minutes when we were broken down!)

All-in-all it was a crazy, adventuous experience, but kind of fun! We managed to fiinish almost all of our Christmas shopping.

Fortunately the tow company broke our car door while backing it off the tow truck, so the aren't charging us for the tow or the storage. The are also going to fix our door and wheel for free.   

Just Grace

Saturday morning after we set-up for my sister's party I took advantage of having an hour to kill, a cute dress, and the sun. Some of my favorites:

Fun Birthday Facts

In honor of Grace's half birthday Friday, I thought I'd share these fun facts:

Your baby's birthstone is Sapphire (Clear Thinking)
Your baby's Astrological Sign is Virgo
Your baby's Flower is Aster or Morning_Glory (Brown, Deep Blue)
Your baby was born in the Chinese Year of The Brown Earth Rat
Your baby will start kindergarten in 2013, be old enough to drive a car in 2024, finish high school in 2026, and will graduate from college with the class of 2030, give or take a year. Can you imagine?
This time last year you were 11 weeks pregnant!

For Pet Owners

WHAT PETS WRITE IN THEIR DIARIES

Excerpts from a Dog's Diary......
8:00 am - Dog food! My favorite thing!
9:30 am - A car ride! My favorite thing!
9:40 am - A walk in the park! My favorite thing!
10:30 am - Got rubbed and petted! My favorite thing!
12:00 pm - Lunch! My favorite thing!
1:00 pm - Played in the yard! My favorite thing!
3:00 pm - Wagged my tail! My favorite thing!
5:00 pm - Milk Bones! My favorite thing!
7:00 pm - Got to play ball! My favorite thing!
8:00 pm - Wow! Watched TV with the people! My favorite thing!
11:00 pm - Sleeping on the bed! My favorite thing!


Excerpts from a Cat's Daily Diary...
Day 983 of my captivity...My captors continue to taunt me with bizarre little dangling objects. They dine lavishly on fresh meat, while the other inmates and I are fed hash or some sort of dry nuggets. Although I make my contempt for the rations perfectly clear, I nevertheless must eat something in order to keep up my strength.The only thing that keeps me going is my dream of escape. In an attempt to disgust them, I once again vomit on the carpet.Today I decapitated a mouse and dropped its headless body at their feet. I had hoped this would strike fear into their hearts, since it clearly demonstrates what I am capable of. However, they merely made condescending comments about what a 'good little hunter' I am. Bastards.There was some sort of assembly of their accomplices tonight. I was placed in solitary confinement for the duration of the event. However, I could hear the noises and smell the food. I overheard that my confinement was due to the power of 'allergies.' I must learn what this means and how to use it to my advantage.Today I was almost successful in an attempt to assassinate one of my tormentors by weaving around his feet as he was walking. I must try this again tomorrow -- but at the top of the stairs.I am convinced that the other prisoners here are flunkies and snitches. The dog receives special privileges. He is regularly released - and seems to be more than willing to return. He is obviously retarded.The bird has got to be an informant. I observe him communicating with the guards regularly. I am certain that he reports my every move. My captors have arranged protective custody for him in an elevated cell, so he is safe. For now ...

Picture Tag

The object of the picture tag is to:

1) Choose the 4th folder where you store your pictures on your computer
2) Select the 4th picture in the folder
3) Explain the picture
4) Tag 4 people to do the same

NO CHEATING! (cropping, editing, etc!)

Here is mine!
It's Grace as a little baby in her tutu..aw, I can't believe she was really this small!

I tag all those who want to play along!

I'm Fabulous!

Well I was surprised to read my comments this morning and see that Rebekah thinks I am Fabulous, in fact so fabulous that she gave me this award! Well this award comes with string attached of course ... but fun strings ... Here are the rules posted on Rebekah's site ...
Here are the rules to receiving this award:

1. You have to pass it on to 5 other fabulous bloggers in a post.

2. You have to list 5 of your fabulous addictions in the post.

3. You must copy and paste the rules and the instructions below in the post.

Instructions: On your post of receiving this award, make sure you include the person that gave you the award and link it back to them.

So here are my Fabulous addictions:

1. I LOVE coffee, I know that's not that unusual for a new mommy, but I only drink decaf, so it's not even the caffeine I drink it for, I just really love the taste of coffee...go figure

2. I love to shop for Grace, especially headbands and bows! I just can't help myself, and I'm convinced that she can never have enough. In fact here are some photos:

These are all her headbands:

And these are all her bows:

I know you asked, Rebekah, where I get them from. I buy most of them at Etsy or ebay. I can never find any cute ones in the stores. I desperately searched for headbands that won't leave marks in her poor little head.

3. I 'secretly' love reality tv, the trashier the better! Cole despises trashy tv though, he just rolls his eyes in disgust.

4. I'm addicted to facebook, there I said it! I must check facebook 2-3 times a day. I love stalking people via facebook! Sounds creepy but it's fun and innocent I swear!

5. And I will steal from Rebekah and list Cole as my 5th Addiction - Cole truly is my best friend in life! He's the best husband and father. He's a hard worker and knows how important being a stay at home mom is to me, so he makes it happen!

Here's who I Nominated as a FABULOUS BLOG!

Okay, so I'm going to break the rules here. I'm only going to nominate a few, frankly because only a few people actually read our blog, I don't think we even have 5 other blogs that read ours.

1. The Brennan's~ It's my sister's blog and it's hilarious! She has a 3 year and a one month old, both boys, so you can just imagine the stories she has to tell!

2. Rebekah ~ I'm tagging her back, not because I want her to redo her, but because I want her to know that I think she's fabulous as well! Rebekah has an adorable daughter with another on the way, very soon! Rebekah, thank you for the kind words and for being such a loyal blog follower! I love reading your comments!

Things I look forward to

Here's a list I have compiled of the things I look forward to (in no particular order):

1- Of course the first on the list is meeting Grace
2- Being able to fit into more than 2 shirts in my closet
3- Being able to bend at the waist
4- Being able to actually reach into the washing machine
5- Being able to actually leave the house
6- Being able to clean the house (yes, I do actually look forward to this. Cole tries really hard,
but he just doesn’t do it like I would)
7- Being able to actually use all the baby stuff we have
8- The fall, I can’t stand the heat
9- All things pumpkins and apples (muffins, lattes, pies)
10- Baking, I can’t wait to bake some good fall deserts
11- Being able to wear my wedding ring
12- Being able to see my feet and actually being able to paint them
13- Being able to shave my own legs
14- Not eating a whole bottle of Tums every week
15- Not being nauseous ALL the time!
16- Not having to vomit ALL the time!
17- Cole being able to sleep in bed with me again (although he may not want to once we have a
crying baby in there!)
18- Actually having something, more like someone, to keep me busy all day
19- Not over analyzing every little pain in my body, wondering is this it!
20- Labor, yes I do look forward to this!
21- Being a Mommy!
22- Watching Cole become a Daddy!

I'm sure I'll think of many more things to add to this list!

Eviction Notice

Dear tenant (Grace),
I am writing to let you know that you are no longer welcome in my uterus. You have cooked long enough, and now it is time to move out. The wild dance parties you have been enjoying in my belly are starting to cause problems for me, my bladder is not a punching bag, and your head is really hurting my cervix. You can make you departure short and sweet (just a reminder: my belly button is not an exit). Thank you for your cooperation, I have a bed all set up for you in your new house.
Love, Mom

How I'm feeling lately

except I do usually puke!

Your Opinion is Needed

Ok, so your opinions are needed. Cole decided he wanted to shave his head last night. We need peoples' opinions on which hair is better. I think I actually do like it better shaved, but it's so weird to see him with a new hair-do after 7 years.
Here's the Before:
and the After:

Everybody's Free (To Wear Sunscreen)

I forgot how much I liked the message behind this song. Thought I would share it with you all. Here are the lyrics:

Baz Luhrmann's Everybody's Free to Wear Suncreen Lyrics

Ladies and Gentlemen of the class of ’99 If I could offer you only one tip for the future, sunscreen would be it. The long term benefits of sunscreen have been proved by scientists whereas the rest of my advice has no basis more reliable than my own meandering experience…I will dispense this advice now.

Enjoy the power and beauty of your youth; oh nevermind; you will not understand the power and beauty of your youth until they have faded. But trust me, in 20 years you’ll look back at photos of yourself and recall in a way you can’t grasp now how much possibility lay before you and how fabulous you really looked….You’re not as fat as you imagine.

Don’t worry about the future; or worry, but know that worrying is as effective as trying to solve an algebra equation by chewing bubblegum. The real troubles in your life are apt to be things that never crossed your worried mind; the kind that blindside you at 4pm on some idle Tuesday.
Do one thing everyday that scares you

Sing

Don’t be reckless with other people’s hearts, don’t put up with people who are reckless with yours.

Floss

Don’t waste your time on jealousy; sometimes you’re ahead, sometimes you’re behind…the race is long, and in the end, it’s only with yourself.

Remember the compliments you receive, forget the insults; if you succeed in doing this, tell me how.

Keep your old love letters, throw away your old bank statements.

Stretch

Don’t feel guilty if you don’t know what you want to do with your life…the most interesting people I know didn’t know at 22 what they wanted to do with their lives, some of the most interesting 40 year olds I know still don’t.

Get plenty of calcium.

Be kind to your knees, you’ll miss them when they’re gone.

Maybe you’ll marry, maybe you won’t, maybe you’ll have children,maybe you won’t, maybe you’ll divorce at 40, maybe you’ll dance the funky chicken on your 75th wedding anniversary…what ever you do, don’t congratulate yourself too much or berate yourself either – your choices are half chance, so are everybody else’s.

Enjoy your body, use it every way you can…don’t be afraid of it, or what other people think of it, it’s the greatest instrument you’ll ever own..

Dance…even if you have nowhere to do it but in your own living room.

Read the directions, even if you don’t follow them.

Do NOT read beauty magazines, they will only make you feel ugly.

Get to know your parents, you never know when they’ll be gone for good.

Be nice to your siblings; they are the best link to your past and the people most likely to stick with you in the future.

Understand that friends come and go,but for the precious few you should hold on. Work hard to bridge the gaps in geography and lifestyle because the older you get, the more you need the people you knew when you were young.

Live in New York City once, but leave before it makes you hard; live in Northern California once, but leave before it makes you soft.

Travel.

Accept certain inalienable truths, prices will rise, politicians will philander, you too will get old, and when you do you’ll fantasize that when you were young prices were reasonable, politicians were noble and children respected their elders.

Respect your elders.

Don’t expect anyone else to support you. Maybe you have a trust fund, maybe you have a wealthy spouse; but you never know when either one might run out.

Don’t mess too much with your hair, or by the time you're 40, it will look 85.

Be careful whose advice you buy, but, be patient with those who supply it. Advice is a form of nostalgia, dispensing it is a way of fishing the past from the disposal, wiping it off, painting over the ugly parts and recycling it for more than it’s worth.

But trust me on the sunscreen…

Baby Pool

Okay, so I set-up an online baby pool to guess Grace's weight, length, birth date, etc. Feel free to play along!

Website: http://www.expectnet.com/games/GraceWeight

Charlie!

I had to post this video. Ever since Cassie reintroduced me to it, I haven't been able to stop watching it. I think it is so cute!

Flashing Back to the Doctors Appointment

Even though it may be old news by now, the doctors appointment was amazing. It was absolutely incredible seeing our baby. I thought I was gonna dump all over the place while watching the doctors face as she tried to get a view on the screen for the ultrasound. I was just a little paranoid, but all is well, which is awesome. The other shocking thing about the appointment was "my first vaginal examination." Although I do not have a vagina and really could not even see anything, I still felt violated. My lovely wife was sitting spread eagle and the doctor/CIA torture specialist started coming over with the tools found in "SAW." After the doctor brought in the car jack to open her up she mentioned "scraping," "some bleeding is normal," and something about "putting the lotion in the basket," thats when I temporarily blacked out a little. It was quite traumatic, but I think Kristen handled it well (like everything else involving her pregnancy) so that is the important part. She's still being a trooper with the morning sickness, but I'm know it'll turn around soon. So Gryler if you're reading this in like 12 years, I love you and am so grateful to have you. Muah!

Photo editing

Just playing around with some pictures and thought I would share!