Gracie is growing

So this past week Gracie is officially 7 weeks old. I tried to weigh her last Sunday and she is rapidly approaching 13 pounds. I always said I wanted a chubby baby and I definitely got my wish. Now I would just like a baby that could sleep through the night, I hope I get that wish too! We went out to Johnston again this weekend to work on our house. We ended up spending the night both nights. We have a queen size bed and Gracie's pack'n play. I related it to camping, but as John pointed out we have a full functioning kitchen and a jacuzzi tub. That is hardly roughing it. But I did go without TV for a full weekend. That is really something for me! Gracie's sour hour at night is starting to expand from her 7 o'clock bottle to her 11 o'clock bottle, a little bit more than just one hour. She really just wants to be held during that time if she is awake. John is good about taking her for an hour or so during that time so that I can relax in a bubble bath for a little while. He is focusing on trying to teach her to say Daddy, he would love for that to be her first word. Her favorite time of the day is bath time. She kicks her little legs in that baby bath tub and smiles. We were just saying how fun it is to see her react to our words and facial expressions. She will smile and make funny noises at us and we think it is amazing. I am posting a picture of Gracie right after her bath. She looks so cute in her ducky towel John saved the picture as his desk top. When John called his friends to let them know Gracie was born, his friend Tyler summed parenting up so well. He said, "this is when life really begins". I have to agree with that.

Big Weekend

This past weekend was big for Gracie. We had her dedication on Sunday morning at church. She slept throughout the whole dedication and then woke up once the sermon started and was ready to eat. She looked so cute in her little outfit Nana gave her. We have several friends at church who have also become parents recently so it was fun to be at the dedication with everyone. There were fifteen boys and only five girls, so I think her odds are great. After that we went over to Gama's (John's Mom) to have pool party with all of her cousins. The water was still a little cool for her so she watched from the sun room. She is so content. We are still trying very hard to get her on a nighttime schedule, which seems to be our biggest challenge. Last night she made it 6 hours without a feeding. I was so happy when I looked at the clock and realized how long she went. She just likes to cry when it is time to start the bedtime process. If anyone has suggestion let me know! I am reading the book by Jo Frost from the TV show supernanny. I haven't gotten too far yet. I am trying to read everything I can get my hands on and then take what I want from each persons suggestions. The only thing I have learned so far is that nothing is constant and I have to do whatever is best for Gracie and myself!

Lunch Date

Today Gracie and I got to go to lunch with one of my good friends and her son. Her son is only two weeks younger than Gracie, and much smaller. Gracie looked rather large next to him. She is doing so good, today she smiled and laughed at the same time. I couldn't help it, I cried. I have turned into that sap I always dreaded. I happened to be on the phone with my Mom at the time and then she got sad that she wasn't here to see it. This time I know it wasn't gas and she wasn't dreaming because she was wide awake. I know this is the first of many amazing moments I will have in my life with Gracie. This elderly woman sitting at chic-fil-a stopped me and wanted to take a look at her. She asked me what her name was, when I said Grace she teared up and said that my little girl was filled with Grace so the name was perfect. Then she about hacked up a lung (almost on Gracie) and ruined the beautiful moment. My pediatrician Steve said people will be dying to touch her in public just like a pregnant woman's belly. I told him when I was pregnant if a stranger touched my belly I touched there's back! He liked that. I go back to the Dr. on Thursday, hopefully I will get the ok to start working out again. I am ready to get the rest of my baby weight off before I put on a bathing suit! This Sunday is Gracie's baby dedication at church. Of course her Nana had to buy her a new outfit, so I will post pictures once I have some.