Gracie growing with a little love

Gracie has really learned to smile...and smile big. She's been smiling since the day she was born. But it's really bloomed into her "social smile" in the last couple of weeks where she smiles upon seeing our faces or hearing our voices. She is very close to her first giggle. Here she's simply looking at her owl pillow. Thanks cousin Alli.


Just a cute little scene from our everyday lives.

She likes to sit in her little chair from time to time. Of course her first choice is to be held. But when she's full and dry she is sometimes willing to chill in a chair. This is the first time she's liked having the extra toys put on. Before it had always upset her. This time she sat in there for probably 10 minutes staring and smiling at the animals and music.

Levi has been her biggest motivation for smiling since day one. She hears his voice and everything stops. She searches around for his face while already beginning to grin. I think her first laugh might be for him. She's been close a few times. Here she is watching a Levi concert.

She's a fan

The rest are pictures of our valentines weekend. We didn't do much. Gracie celebrated the most with her countdown of lovey outfits. She really could have done a whole week's worth with all the heart clothes she has! Here's friday....

Saturday. I love love love that hat. So adorable. I've been saving it for Valentines day but now she's gonna wear it out until the day it stops fitting.

This is on Valentines Day. She was very accommodating for this little photo shoot. Hence the many more pictures. She was smiling for every shot. Here she's modeling her love shout out to daddy bib.

I just love this picture. It might be my favorite from the bunch. Just such a perfect tiny face and smile. When she gets going she smiles with her whole body. Her face lights up, and she scrunches her shoulders up like a cutsie little girl.

Daddy and Levi picked out her big soft red puppy. I got one in Pink and white. I'm sleeping with it while Nathan is in Vegas for a couple weeks.

She is also reaching out for things now. It's still a little spastic and most of the time her hands are still clenched in fists. But she is definitely reaching out. When I lay her down on her back to talk to her, she smiles and throws her little fist out to touch my face.

Along with the smiling and reaching out, she is discovering her voice. She's been working on it for weeks! She's been studying our mouths and working hers. Lots of times it ends with frustration and resorting to crying. But, she's still working at it. She has a darling high pitched coo.

This smile is all because Levi climbed up on the bed and sat next to her. He doesn't even know how much power he has yet. I must make sure he uses it for good...

I find it funny every time I use the term "kids" in reference to my own. Plural?

Notice that in all her pictures alone she's staring right at the camera. But when her brother came on the scene, her head was always turned to find him. They're a cute pair.

All of Gracie Bella's friends are definitely gonna have a crush on her big brother. She's gonna have to deal with that cause he's a good looking boy. That blue eyed stare is going to melt many a girls heart....

I like this picture. All the other ones are posed obviously, but this is just what they did while I was in between snaps. I just like it.

I can't believe what a dog we found in Charlie. He is such a little mate for Levi. They're inseparable and so entertaining. I've never seen a dog play like Charlie does. He does everything Levi does. If he needs to climb a ladder to follow, so be it. If he needs to jump into a large home made box boat to play with his boy, then bring it on. And if he needs to hop into the bath as soon as my back is turned every single time Levi is in there, I guess that's just the way it is.

The other day, Nathan called Levi over to sit on the couch next to him so he could talk to him about his upcoming business trip. Charlie of course came too. As I'm watching Levi whose listening to Nathan talk I get to see Charlie sit right behind Levi and literally put his paw around Levi's shoulder and listen with him to what Nathan is saying. Apparently he's a person.

A little mother/daughter picture time

I like this picture...a little Daddy time.

And of course, the foundation of love for this family. As I've mentioned, Nathan is gone for 2 1/2 weeks in Vegas with work and I hate it. It's a short trip, but it's still icky. I've spent half my life following after that boy. I guess that's why I'll spend the rest of my life doing what I need to do to make sure I stay by his side.