Mother's Day, Father's Day 2010 and More

We are experiencing many firsts with our daughter. My first Mother's Day was wonderful and I believe Joey can say the same about Father's Day. Our gifts were both from the Paintn' Place in Bowling Green and it is something to cherish! Gracie is growing up so fast. At her 9 month check up Dr. Kelly said she can start eating table foods so we got her first taste of pancakes, scrambled eggs, gravy and mashed potatoes in the past 24 hrs. She loves real food! She went for a checkup at Vanderbilt this week too and everything still looks great! We are very lucky to have a happy, healthy, little girl!

Summer is here!

Over the past few weeks I have wrapped up the end of school with kindergarten graduation, closing day, and two professional developments on the new math series. I am so glad to be home for the summer and spend time with Gracie. I am taking my 6th master class (4 more to go) and I will finish it up the last week of June, then I can officially be free for the summer. It amazes me to see Gracie change from day to day. She is saying, bye-bye, papaw (so Papaw says), and hi. He giggles when I blow on her tummy or tickle her under her chin. She smiles when I throw Addy in the air at grandma's house, she kicks her feet in the big pool, and she loves to throw things in the floor so I will have to pick them up (this is her favorite game I believe). Above are some pictures of Gracie making daddy a Father's Day gift at the Paintn' Place, and a few places she likes to nap.

Happy 8 Month Birthday Gracie!

The expression time flies when you are having fun is absolutely true when you have kids! I love that we are getting to experience new adventures with Gracie. I have always thought things are so much better when you see them through a child's eyes and it is true. Over the past week we have took a trip to Rough River with the church, and introduced Gracie to her first pool. We hope to open the big pool next weekend. Here are a few snapshots of the past week. Enjoy!

Indianapolis Weekend Adventure

When I found out my brother Jarrod was moving to Indianapolis I was certain he would be back already and almost 3 months later we found ourself loading up the SUV on the way to visit him in his new apartment. I was not sure what to expect, but I am glad Jarrod is at least doing something with his life. He works for a landscaping company and rooms with his friend Jeremiah. He seems happy up there, not sure why because I would SO MUCH rather be here in Small Town, USA...the sounds, the smells, the crime, the traffic, the neighbors, EVERYTHING is so different...but Jarrod being the rebel he is thinks otherwise. We visited, chatted, took him some appliances, kitchenware, clothes, food, etc. We stayed at a hotel and let Gracie swim and she LOVED IT. We went to the GIANT 4 level mall in downtown and we stayed 3 hrs. and did not even begin to touch the tip of the iceberg. I did get Gracie a very adorable pink skirt (expensive), but worth it. Here are some photos of the trip and I am looking forward to going back this summer!

Fishing at the Pond

One of the things that Joey and I have loved to do together since we met over 10 years ago is fish. Joey and I fish everywhere from Spa, pay lakes, the Dam, and of course the old farm pond. Life with Gracie has definately put a little hold on some of the fishing, but yesterday Joey, Aspen and I got to fish for about a hour while Grandma and Papaw watched Miss Gracie Grace! But I rushed back to the house to take a shower to go get her before 7...if she is NOT at home with her routine at 7...we all suffer! Here are some photos of the big catches of the day :)

Grubb Island...Rochester KY

Not the best way to give Gracie her first boat riding experience, but thankfully Timmy was kind enough to take her for a spin!

ARK FLOOD 2010

Well Gracie has got to experience her first flood and I have not went to work all week partly because of flooding and partly because of Gracie being sick. So the past couple days Gracie and I have played outside, went with the grandparents to Nashville, visited with Timmy and Michelle in Rochester to check out the flooding and today we are going to Bowling Green to pick up the Mother's Day gifts that my class made at the Paintn' Place. Gracie is to the point now where she needs to be constantly entertained and she is becoming a Mama's girl VERY bad. She refuses to let Joey rock her to sleep, feed her, or even hold her in general after the 7 PM point. Lord HELP US ALL :)