Harrell Time

We just spent a fantastic, all too short, can’t-wait-to-do-it-again-soon visit with the Harrell family.  John led worship at our church Sunday morning and then performed for a worship concert that night.  It was so much fun to spend time just hanging out talking, eating, laughing and praising.  Justin and I are so incredibly blessed by John and Cristin’s friendship and treasure our time with their family.  Spending time with them is like getting a nice big breath of fresh air.  We just “click” and it makes for a great time, every time.

Caleb “holding” Gracie

Jack “holding” Gracie.  He was such a love bug and never got tired of her.

Jack’s shirt says “Ladies Man”  Ha!Modeling one of the cute vintage outfits from the Harrell fam.  You guys spoiled our little girl!Heading out for our double date (thanks for watching the youngins’, Bek!)A picture of bromance.Cristin, you are one amazing woman.  I look up to you as both a wife and a mommy and am SO grateful for your friendship.  Thank you for letting me share so much and for being a listening ear and giving such loving wisdom.  It means so much to me.  You are a such a woman of God and He is so evident in you.  I loved our time at the park and I so wished we lived closer, but it makes me truly cherish the time spent together even more.  I heart you!This is what happens when I’m allowed to go out without my baby.  It aint pretty!Our cuties!  It’s so hard to take pictures of multiple kids!A Night of Worship

Dear John, Cristin, Caleb and Jack,

Come back soon!  We miss you already!

Love,

Justin, Sarah and Gracie

Two Months

Happy Two Months, Gracie!

-Your personality has emerged this month as you’ve gone from a newborn that just sleeps and eats to a baby baby.

-This month you met two special friends!  You met each of them before, but you were still in Mommy’s tummy:

Cousin Dylan Monroe Musial (and your Auntie Chris)

and Mr. Silas Richard Hauge (and his mommy, Joy).

-You are such a content girl and you never fuss when Mommy or Daddy change your clothes-you like dressing up in all of your cute outfits!  You’ve outgrown nearly all of your newborn clothes too-such a big girl!

-You’re still in size one diapers.

-You have officially found your thumb and love to suck on it when you’re sleepy.

-You LOVE the mobile over your crib!  Mommy and Daddy say it’s like crack for you because you could just stare and smile at it for hours!

-Speaking of smiling, you give the biggest grins all day long-while you’re getting changed, laying on your back playing, in your car seat, while sucking on your binkie/thumb, while nursing and sometimes you’ll be in the middle of a mini meltdown and you’ll stop crying for just a second to crack a grin.  It’s THE most adorable thing!

-You make and hold eye contact, often times with this infamous furrowed brow.

-You know Mommy and Daddy’s voices.-You weigh about 11 1/2 lbs (official measurements to come on Wednesday when you go to your two month appointment where you’ll also be getting your first round of shots-Mommy is trying to prepare herself to NOT be a bigger baby about it than you).

-You make the sweetest little “oooooo aahhhhh” sounds and Daddy says you’re practicing your vowels.

-After a lot of learning, for both you and Mommy, you’ve become a great little nurser.  PTL!

-You’re not a big napper during the day (*sigh*), BUT you’re are sleeping like a champ at nighttime with your longest stretch at nearly ten hours straight!!  Mommy is just enjoying it while it lasts!

-Your hair is starting to grow back in (the mullet is still going strong!).

-You currently tolerate bath time, but you don’t scream or cry during and Mommy and Daddy are thankful for that!

You are such a joy!  We love interacting with you and watching you discover new things everyday.  You are such sweet little girl and we love you so so much!

Pumpkin Patch

Last Friday Justin and I took Gracie to the pumpkin patch.  While she slept half the time, we had so much fun walking around, taking pictures and remembering all the times we’ve come in years past and thought about how fun it would be to bring our kids-and now we have this sweet little girl to dress up, prop up on hay bales and pumpkins and take a billion pictures of!  It was also a great place to get better acquainted with our super cool new camera.

Fall is my favorite and it’s great to remember God’s faithfulness this time of year!

Something

there’s something about the way that you look at me that melts me completely

my heart swells and my throat tightens in the moments that I’m holding you, reminded of your complete innocence and helplessness

my desire to protect you, care for you, nurture you,

to love you,

is stronger than anything I’ve ever felt

there’s something about your little sighs

and the sound of your breath as you sleep that make me know that you are mine,

my sweet daughter,

my precious miracle,

my baby

I want to protect you from the world, yet I don’t want to spoil you

there’s something about your personality

and your crooked little smile that makes me feel like I’ve always known you,

that you’ve always been a part of my life, a part of me

I love that you need me,

that even the sound of my voice calms you when you’re crying,

that you know my touch, my arms, my smell

there’s something about having you in my life that makes me love your daddy more than ever before,

in a brand new way

a piece of him, a piece of me, the gift that is you

there’s something about being your mommy that makes me feel like I’m becoming more like God intended,

striving to be

loving,

patient,

gentle,

selfless

there’s something about being your mommy that makes me better understand the love of the Father

I love you, sweet girl. I love you more than words can ever express.

I’m learning…

…how to use this!

One Month

Happy One Month Birthday, Grace Elizabeth!

-You are growing so much and so fast that you look different every single day.

-Over the past week you’ve started holding eye contact and tracking things with your eyes.

-You just graduated to a size one diaper, but they’re still a little big on you.

-Our favorite nicknames to call you are Little Worm because your neck is so wrinkly, Little Turtle because you make the cutest expression with your mouth open and lips puckered, Beauty/Beauty Queen because, well, you’re just the most gorgeous thing your Daddy or I have ever seen,  Beebers, and Sweet Girl.  That’s just what we’ve come up with thus far-your Mommy is silly and loves nicknames.

-You’re not on a “schedule” per say, but your routine is to eat every 2 1/2 to 3 1/2 hours.

-You respond awesomely to being swaddled when you’re tired.  It seems to soothe you almost instantly.  However, we refer to you as a Little Houdini  (Babydini) for being able to break out, no matter how snug we wrap you.

-You’ve given both your Daddy and Mommy a few smiles and we know they’re more than just gas because your whole face lights up and it makes our hearts swell.

-Your fussy times are in the late afternoon before your nap.  You fight sleep because you want to stay awake and join the party!

-You are SO sweet at nighttime when we put you to bed after you eat.  You’ll just lay in your bassinet, all swaddled up, and lay peacefully until you fall asleep.  We LOVE that about you!

-You usually only wake up once to be fed at night.

-The hair on the top of your head is falling out, but your little mullet is still long and lovely.

-Your cooing is the sweetest sound and you do it the most when you’re being played with or held.

Gracie Girl, you are the joy of your Mommy and Daddy’s life and we thank God for you each and every day.  We may be a little sleep deprived and tired, but every single moment we spend caring for you is worth it.  You are truly a miracle and we want you to grow up in a home full of the love that you deserve.

Moments…

The Gift of Grace

Born August 25, 2009

7:20 pm

7 pounds 1 ounce

19 3/4 inches long

Sweet Things

We’re still waiting on our Gracie.  I’ve tried occupying myself this past week with little projects here and there.  I made chocolate and vanilla cupcakes with whipped cream cheese frosting (from scratch-first time!) and some cute little headbands for baby girl.  Justin got me the Jewel lullaby cd that I’ve had my eye on for the past month or so.  He even came home today and surprised me with a big box of truffles.  He spoils me!  Between the cupcakes and the chocolates, we’re going into sugar-overload.  Luckily it only takes like two bites of something for me to feel full because sweets make Gracie kick and squirm like a wild woman!

The belly picture is from today in all my 41 weeks and 2 days pregnant glory.  I’m SO low.

But, no baby yet.

I’m scheduled to be induced this Monday.  I had hoped to go into labor naturally, and I guess over the next day I could, but I’m trying to get my mind prepared for an induction.  I’m trusting God to take care of Gracie and I no matter what.

We would love your continued prayers, especially over the next few days.

Hard & Awesome

Kinda Hard Things

• Feeling like everyone else in the world who’s due either before or around me has already had their baby
• Wondering everyday if this is the day
• Getting asked ten times a day, everyday where my kid is
• Having my belly drop so low that I actually had to go out and buy a new maternity shirt at 40+ weeks because my bare tummy keeps peeking out
• Getting the update from BabyCenter today about taking care of my 1 week old baby
• Dealing with prego hormones
• 41 week post due date doctor appointments
• Struggling with worry
• Knowing that I have no legitimate reasons to complain, but feeling like it’s what I’m continually doing

Pretty Awesome Things

• Being pregnant
• Wondering everyday if this is the day
• Still getting to feel Gracie move around inside of me
• Getting sympathetic belly rubs
• Having super healthy hair
• Being healthy, both baby and I, overall
• Being stretched to trust God in everything and fighting to not become a prisoner of worry
• Having my belly drop so low that it’s easier to breathe, I get less heartburn, and my ankles aren’t swollen anymore
• Continuing to marvel at the miracle of pregnancy
• Having great medical benefits and actually being able to go to 41 week post due date doctor appointments
• Getting to pray daily with Justin for our daughter
• Getting to have my feet/back rubbed daily by Justin
• Having Justin make me an ice cream sundae at 11pm last night, out of the blue, just to make me happy
• Falling more in love with Justin on a daily basis for his patience, love, humor, thoughtfulness and friendship
• Having a loving and supportive group of family and friends
• Having an immaculately clean house
• Dreaming about how she’ll look, smell, feel and even cry
• Knowing that God’s timing really is perfect, despite my own anxiety
• Knowing that I have no legitimate reasons to complain