A little bit of this & that

Up to something...

I have been so busy lately. My job is "part time" but I have been working full time hours. It's challenging, but I really love it. I haven't been able to say that about a job since I lived in Minnesota. Gracie gives me some challenges with trying to get work done & keeping an eye on her. She likes to be underfoot & into everything. Ronnie loves to play with her & be the best big brother. I have pictures from his last basketball game. I just love to watch him play. We were playing catch the other day & he told me that I wasn't doing it right. He showed me how because he's the expert now that he can play basketball. He's very self assured! He told me that his favorite thing in the world right now is basketball. This past week, Ronnie's cousin Kacie, Aunt Robin, & Auntie came to watch him play.

We have been watching my friend's daughter one afternoon a week so my friend can have some time with her new baby girl. Ronnie really loves playing with Layla. She's about 18 months & Ronnie told me he wishes Gracie could do things like Layla. I keep reminding him that she will eventually. He takes great care of Layla - almost too good of care. She doesn't really care for all of the hugs & kisses. There's really not much new here except work, work & more work. Gracie is saying Da da some, but not consistently. She mostly screams with joy or anger. They are very close in sound!

I started my diet AGAIN. I have lost 6 pounds & am motivated to continue. I hope I stay motivated. Time will tell. On to the pics...

Gracie & Cousin Kacie!

Cutie Pie Layla

Uh Oh!

The ball is bigger than Gracie!

Gracie's first haircut

The mullet is gone! Now she slightly resembles a boy! My cute little Gracie endured her first haircut! She didn't cry, but she was very into everything she could get her mouth on. She sat in a firetruck chair & tried to eat the steering wheel. She kept turning around to look at the hairstylist too! It was fun to watch. They put Big Bird on the TV & she actually really enjoyed that! I need to try that at home!

Before (It's the mullet!)

I Really just want to eat this steering wheel!

No more mullet!

I LOVE it Mommy!

Gracie's clapping!!!

http://www.youtube.com/v/P_BsfEDVrDU

Thanks to my friend Beth for recording this. We captured Gracie clapping on film! Oh the small milestones that make a momma happy! Click on the link above & then click on the triangle to play the video.

Proud Mama!

Ronnie had his first basketball game. It was entertaining to say the least. He's a very polite player & will step back if someone else wants the ball. He enjoys skipping down the court at his own pace & really had a fun time. It was absolutely adorable to watch all of the kids having a great time. There were a few kids who really knew how to play, but the majority were at the same level as Ronnie. He had a little cheering section with Mommy, Auntie, Zack & Gracie cheering him on! The pictures didn't turn out very clear because of the lighting, but I still think he looks adorable! Go Ronnie...

Ronnie is right under the goal waiting for a rebound. We were waiting for him to get hit!

Basketball

I don't know why I keep forgetting to take my camera to Ronnie's practices, but he has started basketball & it is adorable. He gets so excited when he makes a basket. He is in a Christian program called Upward Basketball. They don't keep score & it is a way to bring in children to the church through sports. Ronnie keeps score anyway. I see a competitive side to him! Although when they played a scrimmage with another team, he was happy to trot down the court & watch the action. It is the cutest thing I've ever seen. I will try to get pictures at his first game & definitely will get video footage! In the meantime, I'm posting pictures of Ronnie & Gracie, because that is what I do!!!!! :)

We had to take out the batteries so she could have the remote!I'm obsessed with remotes!


What is the deal with my obsession with feet???
Acting silly!
Acting cool!

YIKES!!!

Gracie has perfected the army crawl & is seriously keeping me on my toes. My dad warned me I would have my hands full & he was 100% correct! The other day I asked Ronnie to keep an eye on her while I checked my email. He left his chocolate milk cup on the floor (quite a ways away from her) and he went to "booby trap" the stairs. He puts up a lot of toys in front of the stairs so she won't roll down them, something we almost learned the hard way a few days ago. Gracie crawled over to his milk & proceeded to knock the cup over & roll all around in the milk! She had to make sure it would get nice & deep into the carpet.

Gracie is also fascinated with Ronnie's computer. When he's playing computer games, she likes to come over & try to turn off the computer. She likes anything & everything that is not a toy. Ronnie is becoming slightly frustrated with her because she will crawl over to his toys & try to play. However, his toys are too small for her, so he keeps having to move his toys. He asked me today if I would play with her away from him because he was "tired of moving my toys!"

Right now Gracie is chasing a ball all over my office. Everytime she gets close enough, she reaches for it & knocks it further away. It's entertaining to watch. I watched her eye a pen from across the room. She immediately took off for it when mean ol' Mommy took it away. And to think, she's not even using her knees to crawl yet. Once she figures that out, she will probably be much faster than me! YIKES!

Gracie's got a Gun!

Thanks to Aunt Becky for this picture. "Gracie's gotta gun (sing to the tune of Aerosmith's Janie's got a gun...)" Thanks Aunt Becky and Jason for letting me play with this age appropriate toy! :) Gracie's taking NO prisoners...

A little bored

So, I went to my in-laws the other night and was a little bored while they played cards and I played with Gracie's hair & tried new styles. I need a life! It's so much fun having a little girl to torture with weird & sometimes adorable hairstyles. I can tell you that she doesn't like having her hair fixed. I just wanted to share the torture pictures! Enjoy!

My attempt at a french braid!Cute pig tails. Kimmie, give me my keys!
Like the hat???

A family member gave this to Ronnie. Isn't it creepy?
I'm adorable!

I love my Auntie
A back ponytail with the pigtails removed! Very sheek!
You have to see it from the front!

New Years with friends & family

We had such a wonderful New Years, but poor little Ronnie had strep throat & had to miss the fun festivities. We had our small group over to play games. Ronnie was very good & stayed in my bedroom with a ton of toys & DVD's. He didn't feel well, so he didn't seem to mind missing out on playing with the other kids. I had a great time playing games & just hanging out. I think I ate way too much, but isn't that the point? I made the resolution to lose weight. Unfortunately, that seems to be my yearly resolution & I'm not doing so well right now. I best get it together!

My job is still going well & I love being at home with the kids. It's a true blessing.
In other news, Gracie is now doing the army crawl for a little bit each day. If a toy is slightly out of her reach, she will scoot herself forward with her arms to get the toy. If the toy is too far away, she gives up & cries. She will be 7 months on January 12th. I can't believe how big she is! Ronnie really enjoys her & to be secretly honest, she prefers Ronnie over anyone else.

Hey Beth! Are you hungry???

Amazing amounts of food!!!

Poor Jodi got injured on our stairs. Walk much Jodi? :)
Our mascot, Scott
Jennifer had the baby! Congrats! Sorry you missed that tax break!