Growing Up...

Gracie said farewell to her crib, and she has a new room AND a new bed! She transitioned beautifully, which is saying a great deal for a toddler who never attempted to crawl out of her crib and would tell me on a daily basis how much she loved her crib.


But now she loves her BIG bed just as much. And I think I'm having a harder time with the transition than she did.

She's growing up.


It's so magical to watch her grow and learn. However, part of me aches a little knowing she'll never be a baby again.

You don't get another chance to live yesterday - so you really have to take advantage of TODAY.

And some days that means sitting on a toddler chair, with my knees pushed underneath the toddler table, while we color and play for hours. The reward is priceless. Gracie compliments me - she doesn't hesitate to let me know that I'm good at coloring Cookie Monster in her Sesame Street coloring book. She never holds back when she wants to wrap her arms around me and tell me that she loves me. I can assure you I don't get an uplifting feeling or encouragement like that from fellow drivers on my commute to work or from my co-workers once I arrive at work. So there is something to be said about the treasure of "working" at home.

This post should be about Gracie and her new room. But her transition has me thinking about how I want to appreciate all of her special moments.


Jody worked so hard on installing the beadboard. I love it. It really brightens up the room. And Grandma and Papa Tait spent a whole day painting and making the room look perfect. Now Gracie gets to pick out some extra trimmings to hang on the walls to give it that finishing touch!

34 Weeks

Feeling Hot * Hot * Hot *

We traveled down south to St. George to spend a few days baking in the sun with Jody's family. We enjoyed boating, swimming and a hike around Zion National Park. Jody and the rest of the family are really good at wake-boarding and slalom skiing - so it's always fun to watch them show off their skills behind the boat. It was 113 degrees during the days we were there...Hats off to all the pregnant women who live in St. George. I was a puddle the entire time - melting and hot!!

In Baby News - I am feeling spoiled. These are the moments when I get to feel my baby girl move when no one else knows it's happening. It's such a special bond.

The doctor says I'm measuring right on; he also told me, at my last appointment, that I am anemic. This explains the nausea, dizziness and feeling tired & weak ALL the time. I'm now taking triple the iron supplements - and it does seem to be helping. Only seven weeks left until my due date! I know a big transition is coming; going from one child to two. We are excited and humbled to meet this new little one.

The Summertime Checklist...

Parades...


Fireworks...


And Family...


This is what summer is all about!

Jody headed to Butte for the weekend to work on some property we own up there. So Gracie and I enjoyed some summertime favorites at 'Steel Days' with my parents and Michael.

I recently came across these Gaucho Pants (The name says it all) in my closet.


They maybe weren't super cute when I bought them five years ago, but when I saw them last week in the bottom of a drawer, I welcomed them with open arms because one; they are light and flowing, and two; the waist can stretch and stretch. So Saturday morning before all the festivities, we are getting ready to walk out the door - and I'm putting on my shoes. Gracie starts wailing. Bawling.

"No Mama!! Take Your Jammies Off," She Howls.

I explained to her that these were mom's pants for the day.

"No! Please Take Them Off!! Puh-Lease..."

It's official. My 2-year-old is already embarrassed of me. She seemed to forget about my pirate pants once the salt-water taffy started flying on the parade route. After the parade, it was off to the City Of Fun Carnival - a somewhat frightening, but fun, experience; with rides that look like they could fall apart at any moment. This duck was a hit with Gracie!


Gracie really REALLY wanted to ride in this caterpillar. The ride operator waved her pass - taking her ticket, but I think she was a little small to truly enjoy the experience. To ease my fears, my dad tried to squeeze in the seat next to her. But he got X-ed from riding. Although - it was pretty funny watching him try to fit.


Oh dear, You can't even see her in this one!! Gracie darling...are you still there? The little girl sitting next to her is looking to make sure she's still holding on.


We ended the day with some funnel cakes and beautiful fireworks. We're super excited for the show to start!

Just Call Me "Gus Gus"...

Does this look familiar? Minus the gnome-like hat, fur and mouse ears...it's what I see when I look in the mirror.


Jody has a new name for me - Gus Gus! (You know, the mouse from Cinderella) I roll out of bed in the morning and my shirt has rolled up - exposing my baby bump.

"Good morning Gus Gus," Jody says.

"Good morning Jody," I say...and then I think; "When did this nightshirt shrink? Why are shirts that used to act as tents now hanging on for dear life - trying to cover my tummy??"

And then I feel the most surreal feeling ever - my little one moving inside of me. A little person growing in my tummy, and I get to feel her move. The thought is, at times, overwhelming and so beautiful.


I kind-of like my new nick-name! :)

~Catching Our Breath~

We have been super busy since I last updated our blog. Here are the 'cliff notes' of what has been going on!

* We sold our GMC truck!! It's gone.


We now only have one vehicle, and we are hunting for something that will sustain 2 car-seats. That truck holds so many memories. We bought her when we moved to Butte, MT after we were recently married. She carried us through Yellowstone and Glacier National Parks on camping trips and sat through drive-in movies - as we watched from the bed of the truck. We watched fireworks light up the sky from the back of the truck too.


Gracie loved the truck just as much as we did.


I can tell Jody is sad. That truck helped him with many projects in the yard. I threw up out the window of that truck, on my way to work, when I was pregnant with Gracie more than a dozen times. And it was in that truck, that I saw Missoula in the rear view mirror as we left for the last time - when we moved back to Utah. We will miss you dear friend!

* This is me at 27 weeks.


Our baby girl is active, and it's a blessing to know she's growing. She has turned me into a TUMS addict. I never knew what constant heartburn was until the last few months.


* The surgeon who removed my tumor informed me the scar on my face is abnormal. He gave me a painful shot of steroids into my face to help the healing. It did the opposite. It turned that area black and blue for about 2 weeks! No amount of make-up could conceal it. He wants me to have another surgery after I deliver - in hopes of a better looking scar.

* Many weeks, I've been working a full-time schedule at Channel 2. It's been a blessing in the fact that we can put that money toward expenses for the baby, before she arrives.

* We traveled down to Moab with our friends the Jensens. We enjoyed hiking 'Arches', swimming, and staying up laughing with friends. And the boys had a great game of golf.




* We took a fantastic trip to Scottsdale, Arizona with my family. The sunshine felt wonderful.

We ate lots and lots of yummy desserts.


My dad found his long lost twin in Scottsdale. :)


Gracie and Grandma went for a ride on a drugged camel at the zoo. Really. That camel has no recollection of what it does during the day.


Gracie worked on her tan.

Just Like Mommy...

I have dreamed of the day I would snap a picture of my little girl doing this...


She walked into the living room, (after finding the right pair of my shoes in the closet)...and she was singing "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star" to her baby doll.


Wow, I gasped to myself. I have the most amazing opportunity to teach this little mommy.

"No teaching is equal, more spiritually rewarding, or more exalting than that of a mother teaching her children."
--President Boyd K. Packer

The other night, Gracie and I were going through her regular bedtime routine. After a few storybooks - I always sing to her while rocking her in the rocking chair. This night, she nestled down - putting her head on my baby bump. She hummed along with my songs, and soon her little breaths deepened - as she faded into a sweet sleep. All the while, I could feel our new little one moving and kicking.

"Please God," I thought to myself. "Don't let me forget this moment."

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And what would a mother's influence be without some flair too? :) Gracie has some serious skills to walk around our house in these chunky shoes of mine - without stumbling.

It's a Robot!

...A GIRL ROBOT.

When it was time to tell my in-laws if we were expecting a boy or a girl - We decided to let Gracie share the news. She was so excited.

"Mommy Having a Robot," She exclaimed.

I didn't even know that was an option.


We are thrilled to be expecting another GIRL. I can't tell you how much joy it brings me to know Gracie will have a sister; and that they will be close in age. Growing up, I remember wanting a sister so badly. I am happy Gracie will have the chance to share that bond.


Our growing baby girl looked wonderful at the ultrasound. What a blessing and relief to see that she is measuring and growing at a perfect rate. My eyes welled up with tears when we saw all four chambers of her heart beating in perfect rhythm.


I Love This Picture. You can see her little hand waving, profile and those little legs & feet.


She really is a miracle.

Cutest Cutie!

Gracie was named the First Place Cutest Cutie Born in 2007 in the Utah Valley Magazine May/June Issue! Those blue eyes of hers won her a new blanket that she won't put down! Jody went out and bought a stack of the magazines - which I thought was cute. Now, of course, we already thought she was the Cutest Cutie...but we're biased and her parents!:) We both think she's pretty special, and we love her so much!

Click Here to Flip Through the Pages and see her Picture in the Magazine.

The Joys of SPRING!

We woke up this morning to freshly fallen snow.

However, we have had some BEAUTIFUL days so far this Spring! We attended the Tulip Festival with our good friends, the Jensens. I think it's safe to say this is Gracie's BFF. His name is Sawyer - She looks forward to playdates with him!!




There is something so beautiful about this time of the year that makes you excited to be outside and see the world in full bloom.


Nothing like a piggy-back ride to the car - after an exhausting evening chasing tulips!


This is Gracie with her cute cousin, Nahla. Gracie really adores her and talks about her all the time.


If you couldn't tell, Gracie is a VERY happy little girl. The girl likes to smile.


This Spring brought many Easter Egg Hunts. Gracie was so thrilled about hunting eggs, that it has become a weekly occurrence.


And what would Spring be without GRANDMA GRACE?! Jody informed me that sometimes I dress Gracie like a Mini-Grandma. (As Pictured Below.)

I thought the Grandma look was really working for her. :)


And here I am at 18 weeks. My belly button has already popped! That's funny - because it never even did that when I was preggers with Gracie.