A growing girl...

Gracie is 7 weeks now and just growing like a weed! She's getting so big and learning so many new things. She's still wearing newborn clothes because she's so skinny. It appears, however, that she got Mommy's long torso because she seems so long to me! When she's awake, Gracie smiles and coos. She's got such a pretty smile... really gummy and wide! She can also kick, kick on her playmat. I've tried several times to upload video of her in action, but blogger just isn't cooperating. I'll keep trying!


She's beginning to get into a routine of sleeping. She's still in a cradle in our bedroom at night, but during the day she takes 2 - 3 naps in her crib. She didn't enjoy her crib much at first, but after stealing tips from The No Cry Sleep Solution by Elizabeth Pantley, she sleeps in it really well! I kind of spoil her right now by pre-heating her bed with a heating pad before I lay her down... even Grandma thinks I'm crazy, but it works. No worries, I don't plan to pre-heat her bed forever, just until she'll go to sleep in her crib without it. I've also been trying to lay her down before she's totally asleep (per the book's recommendation) but I'll be honest and say that I still rock her to sleep for half of her sleep times each day. We need our snuggle time!



Because it's been so blasted hot lately, we haven't taken too many walks, but Gracie is a great shopping partner! Mommy's working to build a new wardrobe to fit my body right now. I'm not one of the lucky ladies who loses her pregnancy weight in the first 6 weeks (like several of my friends). So instead, I've decided to dress my larger and smushier body in cuter clothes. The athletic shorts and t-shirts just aren't cutting it any longer. I've been researching wardrobe basics that allow you to build multiple outfits with fewer pieces, so I'm able to get more outfits with less money. This is a new way of thinking for me, which is challenging, yet fun. I never spent much on clothes before, but I've also never considered myself well-dressed. Not that I'll ever be a chic fashionista, but I'm learning and making the best of my post-pregnancy body. My goal is to stay this size (or smaller -- just not larger) until I'm done breastfeeding - which hopefully will be next June. At that point, I can join Weight Watchers without fear of my milk supply dropping. It's all a small sacrifice to pay for such a sweet little girl.



Speaking of a sweet little girl, here's my favorite picture of Gracie and I at the moment!





Alright, before my little darling awakes, I'm off to make my grocery list and find my price-match items in the weekly ads. I need to blog about that sometime... price-matching. Thanks to Tracy, I'm saving TONS of money at Walmart. I know many of you hate that place.... ahem, Shari and Brandi. But as with the pre-heating of the bed, it works! And we all know I'm all about saving money. I'll shop with the toothless, greasy-haired, aisle-hogging people anyday to save a buck or two. But really, I save about $20-$30 each week.

First Family Camping Trip

On Gracie's one month birthday weekend, we had our first family camping trip! It turned out to be so relaxing for Mommy and Daddy Weaver. Both of us love the lake (Pomme de Terre for those who don't know). We usually fish and swim and take naps and watch movies. We've got a big camper with air conditioning, so taking Gracie down wasn't too difficult. Our car was loaded to the top with stuff... less than I thought we'd bring, actually. She'd been having several blowouts at the time, so I packed 15 onesies for weekend trip. I didn't use 12 of them, but better to be safe than sorry.

It was such a hot weekend that we spent most of our time inside. We were okay with that because we bought a new flat screen TV for our camper. Ryan and I installed that on Friday night, so we had the rest of the weekend to enjoy it!

Several of our lake friends were down for the weekend, too. All of them fell in love with Gracie from the start. Carol and Sharon argued over who Gracie liked better. And Bob offered to take her out in the boat to teach her how to spit and cuss! Mama said we'd save that for another time!

Below are a few pictures of our camping trip! We have 2 others planned for this summer, so I'm sure there'll be more!

Daddy and Gracie "in" the lake!

Mommy and Gracie "in" the lake!
Gracie sporting one of her adorable sun hats!


Swimmin' Dog Tysie in the lake... she was so hot, too!

Because of the heat, we spent only about 45 minutes each day outside.

Gracie said it was too hot for clothes!

We all spent a lot of time sleeping.
Gracie particularly enjoyed the co-sleeping thing.

Here she is passing the day away.

Lately her bouncer is one of her faves! Thanks Aunt Giermann!

Passed out on the way home
I was all ready with a pumped bottle and everything, but this kid was worn out.
She slept the whole drive home!

Happy One Month Birthday, Gracie!

My goodness time flies! I can't believe Gracie's been with us for a whole month already! I'm trying not to get sad thinking about going back to work in August. I'm also trying not to get sad about how she no longer looks like a newborn and is starting to look like a baby. We're having so much fun together!

We spend our days taking walks, which Gracie loves to stay awake for. She just watches as the world goes by. We read books, too... she happens to be a big Dr. Seuss fan! We sing songs and dance together, which gets us really worn out for our afternoon nap! I spend my time trying to get her to smile (super cute!) or kissing her feet. We've also had several (and I mean more than a few) unplanned baths. She's really good at blowing out her diaper all over herself and Mama... usually just after I've showered and changed clothes. It's rather disappointing when it happens, not because I don't like giving her baths... that's my favorite, but because getting a shower and clean clothes (of the 2 outfits I own that fit me) is really hard to pull off.

Here are a few pictures taken this week!

Smiling Girl!
She likes to kick, kick, kick on her activity mat.

G-Mack and T-Lou or 'G and T' if you prefer
Almost asleep snuggling together.
(For those of you germophobes, they weren't that close for long,
but Tysie is very gentle with Grace)

Alright, back to laundry. For those who remember my post a few months back that I enjoy folding baby clothes. Well... alas, the fun has faded. Laundry is a chore once again.