2 months old and blessing day!

2 months....really?? ahhhhhh. time. slow. down!!

Gracie is such a joy. her smile melts my heart every single day. After she eats she's usually really happy and awake for an hour or so. I call this 'mommy and gracie time' where I talk to her, sing to her, and play with her until she falls asleep :) I look forward to it.

The past month she:

*is seriously all smiles!
*she found her fist and sucks on it all the time.
*is barely outgrowing newborn clothes
*She can now look at you in the eyes and follows objects in front of her face
*she kicks and kicks
*She's trying to talk and makes THE cutest little squeaks and noises.
*she loves being swaddled all the time. nighttime, daytime, all the time.
*she is still quite mellow and calm. content with anything
*still only wakes up 1x a night to eat
*she's sooo alert! always looking around at her surroundings
*went swimming for the first time and loved it!!!
*we also went camping with her for the first time and she did great
*she loves her baths!
*she's my favorite :)
*we are so smitten by her every day

And of course some of my favorite pics the past month:

what do you think- does she look like me?? unfortunately I couldn't find a picture of tanner when he was a baby haha

Gracie's daddy gave the sweetest blessing to her on Saturday June 6. we chose to do it that day because our little niece Addie was getting baptized and tanners whole fam was up already.  My 2 sweet brothers came up for Gracie's blessing as well- so sweet of them! Gracie looked like a little angel- I just couldn't get enough of her. Her grandma stacey made her dress :)

 Tanner gave the sweetest blessing- and I of course bawled haha.  Gracie is one loved girl that's for sure.  stop growing baby girl!!!
We are so grateful for those that came and supported us for Gracie's special day :) Love you baby girl.

A letter to my Gracie Girl

I wrote this letter on mothers day I just never got around to posting it!! A letter to my sweet little Gracie Girl :)

Dear baby girl,

I have been overwhelmed today on my first mothers day with you.  The past month has been the BEST month of my life.  People always told me how amazing being a mom was, but I never truly understood what they meant until you came into my life.  The past month I've looked through pictures of you from when you were born up until now.  I feel SO blessed and grateful to you for choosing to come down to earth, and trusting me to be your mom.  That relays such a powerful emotion inside of me. Your dad and I had been waiting for you, and praying for you every single day for the pat 3.5 years.  We couldn't WAIT to hold you, and to see your beautiful face, and to get to know you.  That time came, and at THE MOST perfect time.  God works in mysterious ways.  He knew that we needed you at this time in our life, and we are so grateful for you!! Time is going by SO fast. I wish time could stop, but it can't.  It's been so much fun to see you change the past month. You are growing like a weed, and are getting cuter and cuter everyday! People can't decide if you like more like me or your dad. it's fun :) I guess you are just a good mix of both of us :)

Gracie girl, you truly are the greatest blessing I could ever ask for. Even when you peed on me on my  first mothers day :) And even when you keep me up at nights, or cry nonstop because you want to be held, these moments I cherish with you. Because before I know it you are going to be a teenager! I'm struggling getting my emotions out, because there are so many.  

I just want you to know that you truly are a miracle. Your dad and I had been waiting your arrival for so long.  Now that you are finally here, it is so surreal. I want you to know that your dad and I love you more than you will ever know. Being a mom is such a blessing, and I love every waking moment I get with you. I love staying at home with you every day, and just staring at you and your precious face.  You are a precious daughter of God, and I thank him everyday for sending you to me.

I hope that as you grow up you will know that me, your dad, your older brother, and your Heavenly Father love you so much.  You truly are an angel sent straight from Heaven. I envy you that you got to see and talk to your Father in Heaven just one short month ago.  I can't wait to be able to do that someday :)

The long 3 year wait for you was really hard, but it was so worth it.  It brought your dad and I closer to each other, and closer to our Father in Heaven.  We feel so much more love towards you, and count our blessings every day.

You have the cutest little features, and I can already tell you have such a sweet little personality.  Your spirit shines through, and ever since you were born I could see and feel the light you brought with you. You are such a sweetheart, and I LOVE YOU SO MUCH.  The Lord knew that I needed you in my life, and I will be forever grateful for Him.  You are our little miracle, and the biggest blessing of my life. I can't wait to watch you grow up and see your personality shine through :)

Stay sweet Gracie girl! I love you!!

Love,
Mom

Mothers Day :)

What a day.  My first real mothers day being a mom.  What a blessing.  Gracie gave me the BEST gift ever for mothers day!....

I always give her a bath on sundays.  I got her naked, was getting her bath ready and making sure the water wasn't too hot. Before I know it, I start feeling something wet drip down my arm.  I didn't think anything of it, I just thought that it was the faucet water dripping. Yeah....I was wrong haha.  I look down and Gracie's spraying me everywhere!!! It got in my eye, all over my pants, ALL over the walls and the floor, and the counter! I yelled for Tanner to come help, and she got him wet too. hahahahaha we had a good laugh as tanner said, "happy mothers day sweetheart." hahaha good memories.

Tanner cooked me a delicious breakfast full of bacon, eggs, and toast. yummm.

Sunday was the first day we took her to church- at a month old. I put her in an adorable dress, and we were off!! She looked cute as a bug.

And even better, she slept through the full 3 hours of church. she's my little champ!! she was happy about it too :)

We went out to Tanner's parents house and pampered little miss :)

 DAH i just love this dress!!! 

 Saturday we went to Bear World because moms get in free.  We had a ton of fun! and once again Gracie slept the whole time.

I just can't thank my Heavenly Father enough for sending Gracie to me.  She's such a little joy, and the biggest blessing ever.
I am also so thankful for my 2 moms. My mom who is a billion miles away still cares for me from far away. And tanner's mom who continuously makes me laugh every day.  I love them!!!

side note: so Gracie started getting a cold Friday.  I thought it was just the dry air and allergies but then me and tanner got sick with it.  One thing I HATE about being a mom: is seeing my baby girl so sick. it's so heartbreaking!! I hope she gets better soon so her little body doesn't have to be sick :(

HAPPY MOTHERS DAY!!!

1 month old...really?

Wow- people warned me that time would fly when I had a baby. It really has- it's crazy!! I've been looking at pictures of her the last month and she's changed so much it's insane.  we just love her to death- she is SUCH a good baby. I keep telling Tanner that since my pregnancy was so rough, she's my reward :) the best gift and reward ever!!

Here's her one month picture. Tanner says she looks like Aunt Jammima. hahahaha.

**she is so mellow. really only cries when she's hungry.
**She still only wakes up once in the middle of the night. I usually feed her at 11 pm, and she wakes up at 4:30 am, and then 8:30 am. Heavenly.
**Tanner and I competely adore her. we just drool over her all day every day. even when she throws up on us or pee's on us. haha.

I have to say that she's an angel baby.  People keep telling me I haven't even experienced being a mom yet because I'm not up all night long :) Haha. That's okay- I'll take it any day!!

Here's some of my favorite pics I took of her this past week:

 starsky always tries to sit on her.... haha

 buddha belly!!!!

 daily snuggles :)

 I love her little toes.

 all ready for church!! We haven't actually taken her to church yet but i had to get her dressed up in this cute outfit anyway haha.

Love you gracie girl. It is the best thing EVER being your mom.

3 weeks old!!!

Time is just flying by!!! Can't believe my little princess is 3 weeks old already.  She's such a joy to have around. she's awake like ALL the time, and when she is she's so alert :) Just like she's soaking everything in.  Her bright, huge eyes just light up my days.  Wouldn't trade being a mom for the world!! This past week we've really noticed that she's looking more and more like tanner.  Everything about her is tanner except she has my eyes and eyelashes :)

*She is still wearing newborn clothes, and she makes SUPER funny noises when she's eating and sleeping. She's a noisy baby :)

*She has some massive hands and long fingers!! Let's hope she'll be my little piano player :)
*When she's about to poop she flares her nostrils and it warns us that an explosion is about to happen haha.


I've taken a billion pictures this week as well so here's some of my faves :)

 such wide pretty eyes all the time :)

It's so fun to see tanner be a dad. IT makes me fall in love with him more and more. Who knew a baby could lighten your life SOO much.
WE LOVE YOU GRACIE GIRL!!!