letters for grace.

This afternoon I started something I wish I had started a long time ago. A notebook that I will fill with letters to Grace that I will give her when she's 16. I want her to know how much I have loved her & I think it would be really cool for her to read stuff like the story of her birth or how cute she was when she first started to crawl, walk, or talk. I'm really happy that Jason & I each wrote her letters before she was even born. I am so thankful for my little girl. As once a girl myself, I know she will cherish things like this. Baby books, pictures, letters; I know she will appreciate it.

On another note, I'm in the mist of packing. I can't get out of here soon enough. My AC went out last night & we were stuck all night without air... in June, in PHOENIX! Tomorrow is my last night here & I am thankful for that!

9 things learned.

I often find myself reminiscing about a time not too long ago when I was pregnant. This is obvious if you've read anything prior to this entry. So in boredom, I've compiled a list of things I learned from being pregnant. =) Enjoy.

1. No two pregnant woman are the same. So often I found myself comparing me to everyone else. Why did their baby kick so soon? Why am I so much bigger/smaller? You can ask questions like, when did you start feeling pregnant? But the truth is, its different for everyone. I knew I was pregnant before I ever took a test & I think I was literally 2 weeks into it. I've known people who didn't know until they were 7 months! (crazy, I know.) Some people gain 100lbs & others, like me, gain 22lbs. My doctor told me to eat what I wanted, just not to go crazy, and I did, & gained the 'perfect' amount. Others, eat extremely healthy & still pack that baby weight. Some of us are just real lucky. Either way, the weight comes off. Most of it...


2. Its definitely a transitional time, so take advantage! Having a baby is a big change in your life. There is so much preparing to do & life changes to make. This is the perfect opportunity to work on other parts of your life that need mending or changing. Most of my changes were on the inside.


3. Pregnancy is gross. It can be anyways. Like uhhhh, laughing too hard and peeing just a tad in your undies. Ya, it happens a lot if you've got a sense of humor & a very sensitive, almost always, full bladder. And yes, women toot. Quite often too when you're carrying a baby. I'm just glad Jason had a great atittude & sense of humor about it all.


4. You're not Wonder Woman, but you're not recovering from a 20yr coma either! Some woman use pregnancy as an excuse to do virtually nothing! Wussies! Unless you're put on bedrest or told to take it easy from a doctor, you can work, you can clean, you can even exercise. I worked on my feet for 10 hours sometimes when I was 9 months pregnant. Sure, my back was sore, my feet ached at the end of the shift, but you know what, it was great exercise & being on your feet, walking around, is actually really good in that last month. It helps move the process along. I'm a prime example.


5. You'll never recieve so many massages in your life. If you're lucky I guess. Jason rubbed my feet and/or back every single time I asked. No matter how worn out he was from work or basketball. He was amazing! And I was spoiled!


6. Buying baby stuff is as addictive as crack! Or so I've been old. I guess I wouldn't entirely know. I hear its addictive though. Be patient. I was in such a hurry to start buying that I decided since I didn't know the sex of the baby, I would do neutral things. Well, when I found out she was a she, I was disappointed by small amount of pink things I had. I was sad that I hadn't waited & went with a pink themed baby room.


7. People will never be this nice to you again. People always wanted to talk to me. Ask me questions, touch my belly. I felt so special. Like I was super unique. The only pregnant woman in the whole world! Ha. Doors were opened. People offered to carry things for me. I am finding out though, people are still super nice when you're carrying around a super cute baby girl! =)


8. Do not take advice & just pretend to listen to all the BS! People told me so many scary things about being pregnant & labor. Fortuntely, I never got myself worked up over it. I always saw it as another obsticle I got to overcome. Morning sickness. Check. Spreading of the hips. Check. Labor without epideral. No check. Labor with epideral. Check.


9. Being pregnant = no dirty diapers. Enjoy it. Charish these short 10 months. (Ya, its not 9... fault advertising!) Being pregnant is not near as much work as caring for a little one. Enjoy your sleep. It WILL be a long time before you know what its like to not be tired. But most of all, enjoy!!!!!

momma's day.

My first Mother's Day was amazing! I spent all day with the most important people to me in the world. We had lunch out with my family, & swam and had dinner with Jay's side. Gracie made me the cutest little card! (Jason had a big hand in it.) The card had Gracie's foot prints & hand prints all over it, and Gracie made her first drawing for momma. (Jay put the crayons in her hands and moved the paper around when she gripped the crayons.) Jason also wrote me the sweetest letter ever, along with some useful coupons for me to use (ex: body massage & house cleaning!!) I also got lots from my sister, grandma, and mother. For Mother's Day, I bought and personalized photo albums and had all the pictures we have of Gracie's first 3 months printed up and placed inside for the moms. Jason & I also made sure we wrote letters telling them both just how much we love and appreciate them! We both seriously have the best moms. And they make the best grandmas in the whole wide world. That's not an opinion, its a fact. All in all, it was a wonderful day! I am so blessed to have the family I have.

Dave.

♥ Dave Matthews tonight!!! ♥

cdm.

This should be quick. I have a friend on her way over right now. Happy Cinco De Mayo!A year ago today I got engaged. And almost exactly a month later I found out I was preggers with little Gracie. Most people say, wow time flies, but really... a year ago seems like forever ago! I already don't remember what it's like to not have Gracie, I don't remember what its like to be pregnant, and I don't remember what its like to not have Jason in my life. I'm ok with all of this of coarse!!

Gracie LOVES mirrors. She'll stare at herself for the longest time, then start kickin her feet and wavin her arms around with the most excitement. It is so cute. She's wearing a cute pink dress today with baby knee high pink socks and a pink bow around her head.  Its as adorable as it sounds!

momma talk.

So, I think Grace was making up for the fact that last night, she woke every 2 hours... midnight, 2am, 4am, 6:30am, & 7:45 am. Because this morning she was so oocute. I was helping her with her head and neck exercises & she was just smiling & doing the new little baby giggle she does now. THEN, she decided to get moody & the only way to break her away from that is to hold her only one certain way she likes while standing... not sitting. She wants what she wants, like her momma. But God bless her, she's so adorable. Yesterday I had her in a yellow onsies w/ a yellow shirt with flowers on it, and someone said again, "What an adorable little boy!" Haha. I don't mind at all, but I was said, "I know isn't, SHE!" I don't like to embarrass people, because I know what its like to say the wrong sex.  AND at the same time, when I was a little baby EVERYONE thought I was a boy too. & Gracie and I look a ton alike as babies. Its cuz we both had barely any hair. I think little baby girls in dressed and almost a bald head is so cute though. Ha. I'm thinking about getting her ears pierced, but I'm going to talk to my pediatrician first and see what he thinks about it. I just think its better to do know then when she can start touching her ears and pulling on them.

Anyways, I'm headed to Jenna's for lunch today. I've actually gotta get going right now. Ughh.... sooo tired!!

Easter Sunday.

Today is Easter. We're getting ready to meet my family for lunch, then after that we're driving to Jason's parents house for dinner. Today I feel very blessed to have such a wonderful, loving family on both sides. I'm blessed with the love of a child, the love of a man, the love of a family, and the love of Jesus Christ! Its good to be alive!  Happy Easter everyone.

fifteen randoms.

I've seen these lists on a few myspace blogs. A bunch of random facts about yourself. I thought I'd give it a whirl...

1. I use to play softball, basketball, & swim. One of my biggest regrets is when I stopped making the time to continue on. I was very naturally athletic, and I feel like I could have had a lot of opportunities open up for me if I had stayed involved.

2. My favorite foods are; Pizza, teryaki beef, white rice, sushi, & quesadillas. So, its a good thing I've been blessed with a super fast metabolism.

3. I love the Dave Matthews Band. I seriously feel like that's a big reason why I first took interest in Jason. Haha. That was the first time I met someone who was a bigger fan than I am.

4. When I was 15 I had a hernia removed over the summer, & the next summer I found out I had a benign tumor in my boob. I had surgery twice in one year, and that's the only time I've ever had to.

5. When I was younger I played the violin, the flute, and piano. Even though I always wanted to to play the drums. I quit playing, because I didn't want to be a band geek.

6. I've gone to school for nursing, elementary education, criminal justice, psychology, & sociology. I'm very indecisive & to this day I can't put my finger on what I want to do, & the money train for schooling is on hiatus.

7. I am a girly tomboy. I'm really not that girly at all. I mean, I might look it sometimes, but I don't think that way generally. I rather hang out with a bunch of guys & watch football & drink beer. I like being outside in the heat, and I hate wearing anything other than flipflops. & I love hooters...  for the wings.

8. My favorite sound is two-fold. Its the sound of Grace cooing, followed but the laughter of Jason. Makes me smile everytime!

9. I hate talking on the phone & nowadays, I don't text near as much as I use to.

10. I did not vote for Barak Obama. & thus far, I wish a lot more people would have not either.

11. There are a few commercials that I can not STAND!! One is the freecreditreport dot com commercials. Everytime I hear of of those stupid jingles I want to strangle thoses losers & that parate! lol. Secondly, the shamwow guy that also does the slap chop commercial. I'm sorry, but no, the slap chop will never change my life. I'm not going to love his nuts, and my tuna isn't boring, and neither is my life. This guys has waaay too much energy! And lastly, and mostly... that stupid snuggie commercial! You know the blanket with arms. If you have a robe, simply put it on backwards. That is all the snuggie is!! Or simply wear your robe the right way and just tie it in the front. Golly!

12. I can't stand when I hear about teenagers smoking, doing drugs, drinking, having sex, cursing, and being violent. Why can't kids just be kids anymore. I want more than anything to raise my child in the same manner as my mother did.

13. When I was a very little girl, I was pretty bossy. When we played school, I had to be the teacher, if we played house, I wanted to be the dad. When we played powerrangers, I wouldn't play unless I was the pink one. Same with Clue, if I wasn't Scarlett you could count me out! =)

14. Im a very impatient person, and I change my mind like crazy.

15. I believe without a doubt, that Jason & I were made for eachother. We didn't realize it when we first met, but God sure did have a helping hand in it all. People say this all the time and it doesn't work out that way, but I do believe Jason & I will be together for all of our lives.

one month, today

Today Grace turned one month old. She still looks so tiny though. Jason & I both agreed that this has been the longest month of our entire lives. I feel a little repetitive here, but I'm so glad that Jason & I found each other through all the mess & I'm thankful God helped direct us into each others paths, when sometimes we weren't exactly sure of what we wanted!! - When did I become so sappy?? Pregnancy hormones must still be lingering. =)

Grace is sleeping right now, but I'm sure not for long. She wakes up quite a bit in the night still. Rarely sleeps at all during the day either. I love grandparents. They are always willing to babysit. The last two Fridays Gracie stayed at grandma's house over night so Jason & I had time to spend together. Yes, we drank! I've missed doing the happy hour thing with Jason & coming home tipsy. =)  -- Tomorrow Gracie has her checkup with the doctor. Jason & I are taking her when he gets off work. I'm also going to look into more wedding information, because if we're planning something for Aug or Sep, I need to get my butt in gear. -- This has seemed super random tonight. I guess that's me. I'm going to bed. Maybe for an hour or so, haha.

Best 'job' ever.

Life with a baby is sooo much more work than I thought it would be. Its a 24/7 job. But its the best job I've ever had! Gracie is an amazing baby! She is such a joy to have. She rarely throws fits, and rather than cry, she wimpers. Everything she does is just so stinkin' cute. God really did bless us with a beautiful baby girl.

So everything is going great. Jason and I are loving life. I'm pretty sure Gracie is loving life. She's definately living the dream right now. Sleepin', eatin', and taking the occasional (& often) huge dump! We're just one big, happy family. =)