It's Been a While....

So, it has been a while since I have posted anything. Life has taken me over, and I haven't been able to find much time to myself. Gracie is getting bigger and needs more of my attention these days. It is funny how I thought it would be the opposite as she got bigger.
We spent the day, yesterday, doing laundry and working on her forward roll. She hasn't quite conquered the task, but was working hard on it all day. We also spent some time creating a few fingerpainting masterpieces. She plans to give them away as gifts for Christmas.
When I am not with my little Gracie, I am doing what I can to make Joey's life easier. This is a task in itself because he rarely home. It becomes alot of guess work since I can't just call him and ask what he needs me to do. I hate to call him during the day because he might have his hands deep in someone's foot.
So, soon I hope to use that gift certificate my wonderful husband bought me. I can't wait to go get a massage, mani, pedi, and facial. Lord knows I definitely need it! I hope all of you are taking a few minutes everyday for yourself!

Our Weekend

Our weekend was Great!

Friday, Joey's brother and sister in law came to visit! We had a lot of fun getting to visit with them on our turf. They had not been here (to our house) since we moved. Gracie had tons of fun playing with Kirsten, her only cousin on that side of the family. Those two girls giggled until they finally collapsed for the night.

On Saturday, we all shared Chick fil A breakfast and the girls played hard until Sam, Staci, and Kirsten left. Once they left, Joey , Gracie, and I cozied up to take a long nap on the couch. These have become a weekend tradition in our house and I love it! There is nothing better than all three of us cuddling up together on the couch and sleeping for three hours.

Once our nap was over, we got ready for a birthday party! Some friends of ours were having a birthday party for their 3yr old daughter Riley. We were so excited to attend, we hadn't seen Dallas and Rochelle since Joey graduated college.

We had a great time! Our friends hadn't changed a bit!
This was Gracie's first time attending a birthday party. She had fun!

Today, we started our day with church. We tried a new church and enjoyed it immensely! Then, we got pizza for lunch. We don't eat pizza often enough! It was soo... good!After pizza, it was off to the grocery store, then home. Once we were home, we cozied up again for a family nap. These naps are heaven!!

My little girl Gracie fell asleep but woke from her nap as a fairy Princess!

Her costume was falling off of her, but she refused to take it off! She kept rubbing the fabric and saying, "PRETTY!" She played in it for hours!She was Pretty! I am definitely going to have her twelve dollar fairy dress altered. I know it will cost more to alter it that it is worth, but she loves it and it is worth it to her. This evening, the fairy princess took her bath and went to sleep (in her costume, of course!)

BOOO!

Gracie is sick again.... BOOO! I feel so awful for her when she is sick. Once again, we have ear infections in both ears. She is miserable. So, no school tomorrow... which means all day with mommy! I guess illness is just par for the course when you put your children in school.
I must say, she loves going to school and will be so disapointed to have to spend two days in a row with me. I am not half as fun as the other kids her size, nor am I as fun as the slide they have in her classroom.
Anyone have any fun ideas on how to entertain a sick child? Its not like I can take her to the park or anything. She has fever, aren't I supposed to keep her inside and down as much as possible...or is that just in cold weather??

She's an ARTIST!!

Gracie recently did her first fingerpainting! I have to say that she wasn't very cooperative, and was more intersted in eating the paint, but after much hard work and help from mommy....She completed her masterpiece!

Gracie's First Day of School!!

So, I have been meaning to post pictures of Gracie on her first day of school! She was so excited to carry her backpack that her nana (my mom) bought for her. It was too big for her, but she insisted.

9-11-01

I will never forget the morning of September 11th, 2001. I was in my dorm room at UMHB, and my suite mate woke me up to watch the news.I was so shocked! That's not really how I was feeling, but there is no other word to describe it. AWE, maybe. Numbing, I felt numb. I was glued to the TV all day. Our campus was shut down so that students could get to their families. My family happened to be 6 hrs away, so going home to my mom wasn't really an option for me. God knows I wanted too. I was so scared. There were rumors that terrorist planned to bomb Ft. Hood since it was the largest miltary base in the country. ( Ft. Hood was very close to where I was-- maybe 15 miles, I'm not sure.) I remember we were told not to use our cell phones because they were trying to intercept messages... or something, I don't know, I just know that I hadn't been able to call my mom. It created a very desperate feeling in me.

I sat infront of the telivision for hours, trying to wrap my mind aroud the devestation of what occurred. I wanted information! I needed to know what was going on. I remember feeling like it was so personal. Like I, personally, had been attacked.

I now understand that I was. All of America was touched personally by this attack on our country. My sense of safety was damaged forever in a matter of minutes. The world will never be the same. This day affected my future forever.

The afternoon of September 11th, 2001, I met the man who would eventually be my husband.

Our campus was shut down and we had to leave the dorms. My roomate and I had nowhere to go, since home was so far away for us. So, we went to her boyfriend's house. This is where I met Joey. He was the roommate to my roommate's boyfriend.

I will never forget seeing him for the first time. I was infatuated immediately! I thought he had the most gorgeous blue eyes. He melted my heart when he let me call my mom (long distance) from his land line. I was in love right then! While on the phone with my mom, I told her that I was going to marry this guy!! I was serious!

We started dating that day and got engaged one year later. We were engaged for 3 and a half years and were married.

Now, seven years after the day we met, the day is bittersweet for us. We pray for those devestated families of the people we lost that day, but at the same time, we try to remember the day for the blessings it brought to my husband and I.We are so blessed to have one another and such a wonderful life! And because of 9-11, we have a precious little girl that we can't imagine ever living without.

Fall!

So... Fall is here! I am not sure when the first day of Fall is according to the calendar, but in MY world....Fall has fallen!! I love the fall! Not that we really have the actual season here, but, for me, Fall presents a new season indoors. My fall lives in TV land. I love that all the season premieres for all of my shows have now started. For the few that haven't started yet, they will soon! I was so excited to see the new 90210! And am loving it! I can't wait for Survivor and Grey's to start up again. Private Practice starts On October 1st!! Yay!! I love what the fall season holds for me. These are only a few of the shows I indulge in on a weekly basis.
So, how do I catch them all?? I had to crank up two of the TVs we don't use and program their DVR's to record all of my shows for my viewing pleasure!!This way, my time with Gracie is not divided. I watch my shows while she is at school or asleep. I am loving it!!
So, for everyone who is living in far off places enjoying you beautiful fall season with your perfect weather and beautiful orange and red leaves, (you know who you are), there is a "fall season" here in Texas to experience. It just depends on how you look at it!

Aunt Katy Saves the Day!

We took Gracie to the doctor yesterday.... She has an ear infection in both ears! BOOO!!! She also has a cold, but that is probably not what has been waking her up in the middle of the night. You know, it is amazing how going to the doctor will make you realize that you are not a fabulous parent, but merely adequate. I felt terrible when the doctor told me that my Gracie had double ear infections! How could I not know?!?

This doctor appointment followed a visit to the Urgent Care facility last week when I feared she might have a bladder infection. My mom, Grace, and I sat in the waiting room for a few hours to find out that Gracie was totally healthy. Not a problem with her bladder. I felt ridiculous for taking her to the Urgent care. Not only did she NOT need a doctor, she definitely did not need urgent care.

Oh well, I will eventually get the hang of being a parent, I hope.

Well, My sister Katy came into town to visit and to share in Gracie's first day of school. Since Gracie was ill and unable to attend, Katy provided us with the next best thing. She provided moral support at the doctor, and babysat Gracie so Joey and I could go on a much needed date.

We went to see a movie and got dinner. We felt awful for leaving Gracie and Katy at home while Gracie was sick, so we grabbed dinner to go and rushed home. Come to find out, we were not needed nor missed at home. Queen Katy and Princess Gracie were having a great time without us! Runny nose and all!
I love knowing that I can count on my sister to take great care of my child and make sure that she enjoys her time as well. I don't know why I worry.... The two are peas in a pod! The relationship between them is very special! I couldn't ask for more!

First Day of School Sniffles

Today was supposed to be Gracie's first day of school. and mommy's first day off! What an exciting day I had planned, (sigh), but Gracie had the sniffles. She woke up yesterday and was extra clingy all day long. She seemed to be whiny and just couldn't be pleased. I was a little concerned, but not enough to skip school today. That was until she started coughing and licking the snot off her chest as it ran down her chin and neck. Gross! Her eyes were so glassy, that I though she was going to cry all day! I felt awful for her, she looked miserable!

So what did I do? I did what any mom does, who is on the verge of losing her fabulous day off! I started shoving medicine down her throat! I was hoping for a miraculous recovery! I decided that I would see how her night goes and reassess her illness in the morning.

Her night was awful! She slept, but not well. She coughed and sniffled all night long. The poor thing slept with her pacifier in her hand because she couldn't breathe when it was in her mouth. She wouldn't turn lose of it though.

When we woke up this morning, Gracie still had a stream running from her nose. I decided I just couldn't be THAT mom. You know, the one that sends her kid to school sick so he can pass his germs around to all the other children. I just couldn't, so I kept her home.

Luckily, Aunt Katy, (my sister and bestie) is in town. So, our day wasn't a complete wash out. We both enjoyed our time with Katy. I guess there is next week for school and a day off for mommy!