This month has definitely been an interesting one... my sweet girl has grown and learned so much in the past month.. it has been fun (yet just a little sad..) and a true joy.  I have the happiest baby ever.


Your quirks this month...

.You grew out of 3 to 6 month sleepers.. and into 6 to 9 month.  You are going to be tall baby girl.

.You are still wearing 3 to 6 month clothing though.

.You are also still wearing size 2 diapers.

.You had your first bout of not feeling too well this month.  Although we never knew what you for sure had, it was either allergies or a cold.  Some coughing, congestion, sneezing and a runny nose.  It was fun for the two or three days it was here. Then you passed it on to mommy.

.You started blowing bubbles.  Which includes blowing bubbles while nursing.

.You love to lean your head against other peoples heads.  I call it mind melding.

.You started bouncing up and down while being held.

.You learned how to scream, and enjoy shrieking while playing.

.You finally truly became interested in toys this month.

.You are also really interested in everything else... Mom and Dad's phones, anything mommy is carrying while carrying you and way more.

.You discovered your thumb this month.  When your binky is not present, you can soothe yourself with your thumb.  Mommy doesn't really want a thumb sucker, but it is possibly the cutest thing ever.

.You are easily distracted while nursing these days.  A quiet room is hands down the best for you.

.You may be a lefty.  Mommy is hoping at least.  You suck your left thumb, and you reach for things with your left arm usually.

.You really became interested in people food this month.  Daddy started letting you taste (but not swallow) different foods.

.You are still on the same sleeping schedule for the most part.  Sometimes you get up to nurse around 2 am and go back to sleep.

.You love morning time with Daddy while mommy is fast asleep.

.You are still very happy and love to smile and laugh.

As usual.. I am so blessed to be your mother.  I love knowing that I am the one you will be looking for in a crowd.  The one you respond to when you hear my voice, the one you know, love and need.  It makes me feel complete.  You make me feel complete.  I love you sweet girl!

This month has definitely been an interesting one... my sweet girl has grown and learned so much in the past month.. it has been fun (yet ju...

Just a date on the calendar to many... but in this household June 25 is a day that holds so much meaning.

Six years ago today Rob enlisted in the United States Army.
Six years ago he signed a contract that would have ended today had he not reenlisted.
Today I am celebrating my husband and his military career.  He went from a Private to a Staff Sergeant.  He finished his Bachelor's degree.  He spent a year in Kuwait.  He made the decision to make a career out of it.  He became a NCO that his soldiers respect.  He was selected to become a Warrant Officer after his first look.  He works his ass off every single day.  For me, for his daughter, for his dog, for himself.
I am so proud of my husband, everyday.  But days like today remind me just how blessed I am to have him as my husband, best friend and baby daddy.
Happy 6 years in the Army baby!  Here's to (at least) 14 more!


And because it is wayyyyy too late to do a Father's Day wrap up post.  I just wanted to put out there that it was a success.  His grandparents got into town on Friday.. and so on Sunday they came over for some smoked ribs.  Again, my husband rocked it.  And while he had to cook his own meal, I do believe he was a very happy camper.

For Father's Day we got beer mugs made for him and his grandfather.  They read.. "Daddy, est 2014" and "Great-Grandfather, est 2014" and have Grace's name and actual footprints on the back.  My friend Rachel rocked this project for me last minute and my husband LOVES it.
(Do yourself a favor and go like RachJam Decor if you haven't already!)

Rob also got a surprise Father's Day card from Treat Cards (highly suggest this company for any of your card printing needs... it was so easy to select a design, personalize it and send it off) that showed up in the mailbox earlier in the week.  He was definitely surprised by it.

---

Oh and, Grace is 5 months old today.

With that.. I am headed off of here to have a discussion with a certain higher power about slowing time down just a whole lot smidge.

Just a date on the calendar to many... but in this household June 25 is a day that holds so much meaning. Six years ago today Rob enlisted...

Last week my mom asked me.. "so what do you guys have going on this weekend?"  My response was.. "nothing-short of a get together Friday evening."

And here it is Monday, a day late on posting.. and I am tired.  Oh so tired.

Why?

Because our weekend was JAM packed.  Much to my surprise.

Friday was pretty much a HUGE deal.  It was my first evening out without the baby AND my husband since little miss made her debut.  Which I was excited, maybe a bit guilty and above all else - ready.

A little over a year ago, my cousin (who at the time was in the Navy, stationed here at Fort Gordon) and I created a military spouse page on Facebook with the sole purpose of organizing get togethers for local spouses.  I personally have met some great people and Friday was another successful Gordon Gals evening.

My friend Rachel hosted a Murder Mystery Party for the group.  Thirteen lovely military spouses came out to get into character.  I've never been to one of these parties.. and it was super fun.  But I had a horrible time staying in my character as a medium.  Regardless, it was great.  (Rachel found her scripts on the internet and tweaked them just a bit.. she did awesome!)
Saturday came with no real plans... which turned into another impromptu rib smoking session with some friends by about noon.  Abby and Nick came over for ribs, macaroni and cheese and chips (becoming a specialty!).. and after that we decided to go to the rodeo half an hour up the road. HELLO-Summer Bucket List-Check mark.

The rodeo itself was kind of disappointing.  As in - half the riders didn't even qualify because more than likely it was their absolute first time in the ring.  You gotta start somewhere though.  And Abby had never even been to the rodeo (which we will forgive her, because she is from the Boston area... where apparently they don't do rodeos..), so it was fun to show her the ropes.  Literally.  Haha.

After a fun car ride, we got ice cream and called it a night.  A perfectly random, fun night.
Sunday we had a list of chores to do - mowing for Rob, grocery store for me, Master's degree homework for Rob, laundry for me.  So Grace and I hit up the store while Rob mowed.  After lunch, I picked up the house, Grace napped and Rob did homework.

Then we had more company, in the form of Grace's great-grandparents.  They brought over chicken, corn on the cob, baked potatoes and rice.  We fired up the grill for some BBQ chicken and watched the crazy USA soccer game.  (Crazy.. did anyone else see it?!)
Needless to say.. it was an exhausting, fun weekend in our neck of the woods.

Hope you all had a fantastic weekend as well!

Last week my mom asked me.. "so what do you guys have going on this weekend?"  My response was.. "nothing-short of a get toge...

I will admit. I've discovered a new little [very fun] problem.  Online shopping.  I usually don't spend too much cause I've found some MAJOR deals.. and in the process I've opened the mailbox to find some very fun things.. that I am seriously LOVING.

So here is what I am loving right now...

My birds nest mother necklace.  Mine is just simple with one little pearl.  But I had one made for my mom that has three little beads... one for my sister, one for me and one for Grace.  This is my first mothers necklace of my very own.  And it is perfect.
My phone case.  When I first moved to the south I noticed everyone puts these monogram decals on their car.  I was like what the heck... WHY is that a trend?!  And now... I have a monogram on my phone case.. as well as...
My license plate on my car.  I can't help it y'all.  I'm totally on board with this trend.  I picked out the colors and the design for both my phone case and my license plate.  And in the process.. I am totally repping my football team.  Guess who?!
My address stamp.  My best friend from back home sent me the cutest thank you note earlier this year with a personalized return address stamp.  I had just ran out of address labels.. and immediately decided that I wanted a stamp.  This one popped up in my inbox as the steal of the day for one of my websites.. and so I finally fulfilled my wish.. and I love how easy it is to use.. not to mention I'm a sucker for cute looking mail.
My new pots and pans.  Okay, okay... so I didn't buy these off the internet.  My parents gifted me these for graduating from college. Let me tell you folks.. we desperately needed these.  The old ones were a mess.. and these.. make cooking fun.  Did I just say that?!  Although I will admit.. I'm almost afraid I'm going to ruin them.  But slowly I am getting over that fear.

What are YOU loving right now?!

I will admit. I've discovered a new little [very fun] problem.  Online shopping.  I usually don't spend too much cause I've foun...

Happy Father's Day friends!

To say she loves her dad is an understatement.

Happy Father's Day friends! To my baby daddy-- Happy first Father's Day!   You'll never know how much my love grew for ...

It is June.
It is hot.
It is humid.
It is most definitely summertime in Georgia.

It's also my first summer with Grace.  So I do believe a bucket list is in order for this summer.

Got this idea from Melanie over at Ribbons and Rotor Blades.

--Take Grace swimming.  I am really not a pool person.. but my mom got her the cutest swimsuit ever.  And we have to have an excuse to use it!

--Make Rob's first father's day a memory he will cherish for years to come.

--Have professional 6 month pictures taken of baby girl.

--Finally graduate.  I've been done with my degree since August... and next month I will finally walk (totally would have skipped this if I were not graduating with honors!).

--Go garage sale-ing.. more than once.

--Host many barbeques (Our first one of the summer was on Saturday!  Several of Rob's buddies from work came over and he smoked the most amazing ribs in his new drum smoker.).. more than once.

Not looking at me OF COURSE.. but so proud! Notice our yard...

YUM!

Grace and Layla. 3 months apart, but my baby girl looks huge next to her!

--Attend a fireworks display over July 4th weekend.

--Cherish every moment with all the family coming to see us this summer (Rob's grandparents are in town starting this weekend until July.  His aunt, her family and his uncle will be here over the fourth.  And my parents and sister will be here in July when I graduate.).

--Whip the yard into shape.. as in pull weeds, trim bushes and tidy it all up.  We are totally THAT yard.. the one that gets a note from TruGreen every single time they are in the area.. telling us they can take care of our weeds! (see above for evidence of it's awfulness.)

--Start taking regular walks with Grace and Piston.  Maybe Rob too.

--Eat on the patio at a restaurant over in the a/c (thanks Melanie for the great idea!).

--Light up the fire pit some night... sit around it with family or friends.  Laugh, drink a beer and enjoy it.

--Finally (hopefully) scoop up some fantastic gently used patio furniture!

--Invite friends with babies over for play dates.

--Redo our master bedroom, once and for all.  Small changes need to be done.. but I'm so not motivated to do it.

--Take tons of pictures.. of EVERYTHING.

Do you have a summer bucket list?! If so, what is on your summer bucket list?!

It is June. It is hot. It is humid. It is most definitely summertime in Georgia. It's also my first summer with Grace.  So I do bel...

Another month has flown past us.  Nobody was lying when they said.. it goes quickly.  A sentiment I find myself saying day in and day out (and in the blogs case, month in and month out!).


Your quirks this month...

.You weigh 15 pounds, 2 ounces (77th percentile).

.You are 26 inches long (95th percentile).

.You learned to roll over.  From your belly to your back.

.You hate tummy time.

.You have started fighting naps. Like a champ.

.You still wear size 2 diapers.

.You are in size 3 to 6 month clothing.. with a few size 3 month outfits still in the rotation.

.You enjoyed vacation and all the extra attention that came with it.

.You need mommy to fall asleep.  Which mommy is totally okay with.

.You started sleeping in your pack and play.  While on vacation we were always in a bed smaller than mom and dad's king size... so we had to adapt.  Which has resulted in a permanent move out of our bed... just not out of the bedroom yet.

.You laugh, a lot.  And at anyone that looks or directs attention your way.

.You are almost always happy... except when tired, hungry, dirty or your teeth hurt.

.You had some more teething fun this month.. so far only 1 tooth has actually popped through.  But the drool has increased dramatically and your hands almost never leave your mouth.

.You love it when people sing to you.

.You stop smiling or talking the minute a camera comes out.  At which point you turn into your dad and act indifferent.  It is a pain.

.You go to bed between 8:30 and 11... sleep through until 6 (usually, sometimes you wake up to nurse earlier).  Then you nurse, and go back to sleep.. before waking up around 8 or 9 to play.

You are such a joy to be around.  You are hands down the happiest, cutest baby I've ever met.  I am so proud to be your mother and love being on this journey with you.

Another month has flown past us.  Nobody was lying when they said.. it goes quickly.  A sentiment I find myself saying day in and day out (a...

We did it.
We survived.

Warning, pictures for days.

We started our journey at 2 am Wednesday (the 14th!) morning.. and completed the 14 hour drive to Kansas City just before 5 am local time.  The first 7 days were spent at my parent's house in Shawnee.

We met my best friends son Harrison, and in return my best friends met Grace.

Future couple alert!

We finally introduced Grace to my sister, her Aunt Erin and her Godmother.

We watched Aunt Erin graduate from college.

We baptized Grace.

This just shows my daughters love for her dad.

Us, Father Riley and Grace's Godparents, my sister on the left and my best friend and her husband on the right.

Everyone (minus Derek) who came out to the baptism!

We celebrated Grace's baptism and Erin's graduation.

Proud grandma, with her baby!

Honorary Great-Grandpa makes a great napping spot..

She had 3 outfit changes...

We met Great-Uncle Allan.

We said goodbye to friends.

Natalie is the absolute sweetest with the babies!

We hung out on the patio with my parents.

We started the second leg of our journey just before 7 am the following Thursday morning.. and completed the 2 and a half hour drive to Springfield just before 10 am local time.  The next 6 days were spent at my in-law's house in Republic.

We swung.

We barbecued.

Most of Rob's dads side of the family.

Five generations. Grace, her dad. Her grandpa, her great-great-grandma. Her great-grandpa, her great-grandma.

We met horses.

We visited Silver Dollar City.

We painted Grace's toes for the first time.

We played at the arcade.

And then we made the long 12 hour trek home.

We were of course reminded how blessed we are in the family department.  So many people made time to see us and meet Grace.  We were fortunate to be able to make the trip home all together.  I can't thank everyone enough...

We did it. We survived. Warning, pictures for days. We started our journey at 2 am Wednesday (the 14th!) morning.. and completed the 14...