CrAzY Hectic Days...

Well, things have been a little crazy the last few weeks, and they still are!  My dear friend will be getting married on Saturday and I have been running back and forth to Ft. Smith to see/help her.  Hopefully, after she is off blissfully married and honeymooning in sunny Mexico, I'll be able to get some rest!  Can you imagine?  I'm not even a part of the wedding and I'm exhausted!  I think I need a vacation, too!  Do you think they might pack me away??? I doubt it! 
Gracie is of course just growing like a weed.  Luke said yesterday while he was on the phone that she was yelling at the top of her lungs, in his face, about something but he couldn't figure out what, but whatever it was, she was excited about it.  Whenever he hung up the phone, she quietly said, "Bye bye, Alex."  I told him, she probably wanted to speak with him and she wasn't getting through to you so she thought she had to be louder!  LOL!  She is SUCH a character. 
Yesterday, was a bittersweet day.  I was extremely stressed out by many work things, we had to take the car to the shop and get tune up work done, but that meant one car, I had 2 tests yesterday and felt unprepared and we were keeping Gracie for the day between classes (which I love, but meant no study time).  But all things concidered, I got to spend more time with my sweet little family yesterday than I have in a while and whenever Daddy went to class and I had my girl (normal study break), she was so sweet.  We read a few books, relaxed in a soft chair and she fell asleep in my arms.  I miss that.  We don't do it enough.  And because she went to sleep I was able to study for my test! 
God has a way of working things out for us, to relax us, calm us down and prepare us if we will just let Him.
I'm thankful for those days, even whenever I don't realize it at first.

Checkup!

She had her checkup today and the doctor said she was perfect!  I said, "I know!"  LOL!  He said that she looked really good, her height (32 1/2") was right on schedule and her weight (26 lbs) is just where we want it to be! 
I told him, "Dr. H, she's REALLY smart, too!"  He said, "Well, the way to tell at this age what their IQ will be, is how well they speak and their ability to put sentences together."  I laughed and said, "Well, I must have the smartest kid on the block... she doesn't STOP talking!"  He said, "Well, that's great!"
So, everything on my perfect little girl is just as it should be. 
I am SO thankful that my little girl is growing and developing like she should be.  Thank you, Lord.  You are so good to me!

My Little Sweetie!

Just the other day, we were all playing in the living room.  Gracie was in a wonderful mood.  She was giggling, playing, sitting on the dogs (one of her newest and most favorite things to do!) and then she just got up and walked to her bedroom.  Luke and I at the same time, said "Gracie, sweetie.... Where are you going?" Or similar questions...  She stopped, looked over her little shoulder, she kind of shrugged a little half shrug with a smirk on her face, a twinkle in her eye and giggled.  It was adorable.  It was a little mischievous, but extremely sweet.  She just wanted to have a few minutes alone I guess.  She came back with in just a few minutes with a book for me to read to her.  It was the sweetest thing, she is the sweetest!

God's Handy Work

This morning whenever I was getting ready for work, I was stressed about all the things that I needed to accomplish today.  My "to do" list was overwhelming just thinking about it.  My nanny (my Granny) came over to stay with Gracie while she slept.  I asked her if she would mind cooking the sweet potatoes today.  She said she still had some at home that I had sent before.  I mentioned I just didn't have time to cook them today and I was worried they would spoil.  She said, "I don't know how you do it, girl.  You have SO much going on." 
I felt like her saying that "helped" my pity party of the morning that I am just so busy I can't see the light at the end of the tunnel sometimes. 
As I was driving to work, I was listing to KLove and heard that the lead singer of Sanctus Real, Matt Hammitt, is having a real problem.  Their 1 week old little baby boy, Bowen,  is in the NICU and had to have open heart surgery this week.  They mentioned that the doctors had decided to leave his chest cavity open so if he had problems, they would be able to address him immediately.  He watched his little heart beating as he looked into his eyes.  He was hovering over his little open chest and looking into those precious little eyes.
Well, he did have problems and Matt said that he witnessed the nurse pumping his son's heart with her hands to keep him alive.
Let that sink in for a minute.
Can you imagine watching as your child maybe slipping away, someone holding his tiny little heart in their hands?
I just broke.
I am so thankful. 
So many times, I forget how blessed I am. 
Today, I was reminded. 
Lord, please forgive me for being selfish.  I am so blessed, in so many ways.
Bowen is doing much better now.  He is now off of life support.  We are still praying for this little miracle and ask that you do the same.  If you would like to read more, here is the link to their blog spot. 
Just remember as I did today as I looked at the beautiful Son rise, that God's Handy Work is everywhere.  We just have to remember to be thankful and look for it.

Gracie

I would like to preface this post with "I know that I'm her mother, I know that parents always think that their children are the best children, but..."


I'm so proud of Gracie.  She is so polite, so sweet, so wonderful!  Last night she got a new chair, her own chair.  She was so proud of it!  She looked it over, talked about and said that it was pretty.  Then she got up, came over, kissed me and daddy and said, "Tank Too" in her sweet little voice.  Now, I just can't help but think that she is extremely smart and polite.  I mean, seriously.... she is 15 months old!  I just... love her!
I'll try to get a picture of her in it to show you, but I just had to share.
I love my baby girl!

GOOD NEWS!

My niece or nephew is doing GREAT!  His/Her heartbeat was up to 167 bpm!  YAY baby!  Grow baby grow!!  God is so good to me and my family! 

Check out the info here

Just trying this out!

Hey guys!  Thanks for checking in...
After much encouragement from others, I am going to give this blogging a try.  I'm hoping in do so that I will have better documentation of Gracie and her daily activities for everyone, especially since some of you are far away. =(
So, yesterday we went to the zoo.  Gracie is really starting to appreciate the animals.  It's amazing to me that this starts a such an early age.  She was naming them for me!  She said almost all the animals that she knew on her own and the others, she asked what they were and tried to say their names.  I'm really proud of her.  She is so smart!
So, like I said.  This is a first time for me.  I'm hoping that I will do better on activities and information for you in the future.  Stay tunes for pictures and updates on your favorite little toddler!
~Loves