A Smiling Girl

SMILES :)

Our sweet baby girl is finally showing off that million dollar smile! She cracked a smile or two towards the end of the third week, but really started cheesing in week 4. Now, she is responding with big gummy smiles, especially right after she eats during her "play" time. It is so sweet!... or bittersweet I should say. I'm really going to enjoy getting to see her personality unfold and am proud at even these little milestones, but it comes at a price... growing up.

She's advanced... a smile and a wave! ;-)

She LOVES hanging out in her crib and watching her mobile. Doesn't this look like a fun place to be? She has recently found Raggedy Ann and Andy, but is still trying to figure them out.

She absolutely looks like an angel when she's sleeping. Wearing mommy's favorite sleeper.

And now on to less angelic things... poop (blow outs to be specific)!

Watching the Gator game with mom!

Our first Sunday going to church.

"Scrub a dub dub, the sink is my tub"

We've graduated to a new moby wrap position. Feet are out now! Again, bittersweet.

" I like the view from up here!"

She is getting so strong, holding her head up like a big girl!

Pops and BeBe

He likes her a little...

"Psssst... hey, over here good lookin'!"

Our second Sunday at church, Grace Louise got to meet Owen! He is 5 months... and a linebacker.

My arm was really hurting at this point. Is Grace Louise going to get this big??

"Hey mom! Get this crazy hat off my head!"

She likes her a little too...

Helping mommy decorate for Christmas.

Best Friends Forever

Missy and Mike Fisher's new baby girl, Joanna

"Hey, Joanna, WAKE UP sleepyhead!"

I see what everyone means... It's truly amazing how fast they grow at this age. To think that Grace Louise was this size only a month ago. And in a year you won't even be able to tell an age difference at all. Crazy! Missy and I are looking forward to watching these girls grow up together.

Jimmy, wondering what it would be like to have twins...

5 weeks old...already?

I've been up to my ears in Christmas cards and decorating in my spare time that I haven't been able to take the time that I'd like to update the blog with pics and details of little Gracie Lou's 4th-5th weeks of life! So here it is almost midnight ...I know I should be catching sleep while I can, but blogging is one way I process life and I must take time for it!

I'll post pics tomorrow, but an update for now...

Last week was amazing! It was my first week in my new normal! All rested up and getting comfortable with Grace Louise's routine, I was ready to take on the world! Well, our world anyway. I cleaned the house and worked (still teaching with UOP on the internet) on Monday and Tuesday... figuring out how to get things done with an infant! The Moby Wrap was a huge help, freeing up my hands while still comforting my love muffin. It's amazing that she can be sound asleep against my chest as I'm framming around in the kitchen washing dishes. Perhaps she thinks she's back in the womb.

I'm getting much more comfortable traveling with Grace Louise and she is becoming more manageable in the car. It doesn't take her long to fall asleep in the car seat and as long as she has her paci in her mouth she's peachy. My car is so small (blessing in disguise??), I can reach back to replace it (safely, of course) when her little lizard tongue accidentally spits it out. Wednesday we were out and about- chiropractor's office for an adjustment and visited Pops at work. I think that might have made someone's day ;-) Thursday we visited a friend and then went grocery shopping... a breeze thanks to the Moby. Friday was a visit to Lala's school. Lala was proud as a peacock and her kids were just precious towards the baby. They drew Grace Louise pictures and went on and on about how beautiful she was! One of the kids made a card for GL that said "Grace Louise. The most beautiful baby I had ever seen." So sweet!

We haven't been back to the pediatrician since week 3, but I'm guessing she weighs around 11 1/2 lbs now. She's (obviously) still doing well nursing. And I'm really enjoying that time, as well. She feeds every three hours during the day, naps once during every feed cycle, and goes down for a long night-time stretch around 9pm. She's been waking up once at 3-3:30am and then again at 7am. I'm SO thankful for that long stretch early in the night. (Exactly why I should be in bed right now)! Grace Louise is a happy, healthy, and well-rested baby girl. I couldn't ask for more!

"I make camo look good"

Thanksgiving was particularly special this year with the recent birth of our baby girl and SO many other blessings in our lives to be thankful for! A few things that I am especially thankful for...

a healthy and beautiful baby girl
the amazing love that I have for her
the amazing love that my mom has for me (which I never knew until now!)
the amazing love that God has for me! (again- I have been enlightened!)
my husband- a GREAT man of God (these are in no particular order ;-)
our wonderful family

A few pics from the week of Thanksgiving...

need I say anything at all about this picture?

Grace Louise met her Aunt Lindsey for the first time last week. What a sweet embrace!
(They both cried).

Jimmy's family- "Lunch in the woods"

4 generations of Hursts

"Alright dad... I think I'm ready to go huntin'"

"I make camo look gooood!"

Inspired by Jimmy's family's thoughtfulness in capturing family photographs, I insisted on getting a shot with my bros at our Thanksgiving. It only took 100 tries to get one decent picture (one where someone wasn't laughing or picking their nose!)

4 generations of... (we all have different last names- how does that work?)

Grace Louise hanging out with Uncle Chris. He can't keep his hands off of her!

Papa Coates and Rachel with GL

"Now that I'm out of the woods, I can wear my pumpkin outfit."

Complete with matching pumpkin hat!

Boys will be boys!

First Date

Sorry... I just had to post these last couple of pics tonight... Is this not just the sweetest thing ever?! Grace Louise on her first date with Carson Joyner- precious! (She is 8 days older, but from what I hear, Carson is into older women).

Brook, Amber, and Carson met us for lunch on Monday in Winter Haven. It was such a relaxing visit and so fun to get the sleeping beauties together ...

A few firsts...

I'm so excited to have a couple of hours tonight to catch up on my blogging, take a bath, and just have some time for myself. Jimmy hit the sack early, Grace Louise was a darling about bed time tonight, and I was lucky enough to sneak a nap in earlier in the day. I mustn't be too long, though, my little snapping turtle will be up for a midnight snack here in a couple of hours.

The past few weeks have been amazing! Jimmy commented last night, "I just can't believe she's ours". It does seem surreal at times... then I hold her close to me and smell her sweet skin and milky breath and there is no denying these moments are as real as ever! And so much fun- everything is a first! It's so exciting to witness and create first-time memories (which, if you know me, I've documented in picture form below ;)

Still receiving visitors. Pics above are Grace Louise with Aunt G and Uncle Wes, Aunt Cindy and Jade, Aunt Missy, Lala #2, and Taylor, Lala and Triston, Nikki, and our wonderful baby-catcher Midwife Melissa.

Grace Louise loves spending time with Daddy. His favorite place to hold her is in his chair. They watch ESPN and huntin' shows... you know.


Okay, now for some firsts... Grace Louise's first time meeting her Grandaddy! She will undoubtedly grow to love this man as one of her #1 playmates. A child at heart.

First real bath!

I was so eager for her umbilical cord stump to fall off so that we could enjoy our first bath together. This is her "help me, hold me" sign... she was a little scared, but eventually relaxed in the warm water.

First time meeting Granny and Papa Dubose. Granny's in love...

First ride in the BOB stroller. We only went around the block the first time because mommy was still a bit sore. Looking forward to our first 5K together!

First time wearing an outfit (vs a sleeper/onesie or a gown).

First day out with mommy! We went to visit some friends and then to Publix for some grocery shopping. She was all wrapped up in the moby and no one tried to touch! I was a bit nervous, but Daddy helped us get ready in the morning and we did good!

First time at the YMCA! Meeting my yoga and water aerobics instructors, as well as a couple of ladies from class. Grace Louise has so many grandmas!

Sweet dreams in the bouncer!

"Hey mom! Can you hear me?!"

She LOVES to hang out on her changing table and look around.

Here we are actually making eye contact with the fish. If she's anything like her dad she's thinking, "hmmm, how can I catch one of those little guys?"

I didn't get any pics of Grace Louise at our first social engagement, but we did attend a surprise birthday party for our friend, Heather, on Saturday, as well as a wedding that evening! It was a good, but busy day for us!

We went for a check-up at the pediatrician's office today and got two thumbs up from the doctor! She is a whopping 10lbs 6 oz and 22 inches long! She's certainly not wasting any time (or breast milk, apparently)! She is a healthy girl :-)

I'll post more pics of our first holiday together at the end of the week. Happy Thanksgiving everyone!