It’s sooooo good to be Gracie!  She has so many people who love her and so many wonderful things in her life.  Her birthday was on Thursday, so we celebrated as a family that day. She got to go to Build A Bear at the mall and pick out whatever she wanted.  She chose “Monster Cookie” and we got a sound box so he talks to her.  She hasn’t put it down since she brought him home. 

Then of course, was the Birthday donut:

And the McDonald’s party.  I WILL NEVER have another birthday party at home again!  It was wonderful!  I didn’t have to set up, clean up, or worry about anything.  The kids had happy meals and cake and ice cream.  They played in the playplace for an hour and a half!  It was her best birthday party by far.  Mainly because I didn’t have to clean anything.  LOL

Gracie and Beth enjoy their Happy Meals  (but the sun was in Beth’s eyes):

Gracie sneaks icing from the cake while Sarah thinks about doing the same:    

Opening presents and cards with a little help from Leah:

The boys, Tate and Trendon:

Best friends, Leah and Gracie.

Brooke, Kelly, and Bonnie enjoy Happy Meals

Gracie and Miss Meagan:

All the Grandparents came and brought fun presents!

Our family, exhausted and ready to go home (me looking quite pregnant! Yikes!)

**EDIT**  I almost forgot–we did get the 3D/4D ultrasound done on Thursday also, but the pictures weren’t as clear as we’d hoped for.  The lady offered to do some more for free if we’d come back.  So we made another appointment for March 9.  I don’t think they do that alot, but she knew that Matthew had paid for it, and since he’s overseas and a soldier, and did that for my birthday, I think it really touched her and she wanted to make sure he got good pictures since he won’t be here when she’s born.  I dunno.  They’re not bad, but Baby Gap seems to like  folding herself in half and holding onto her ankle with her hand.  Most pictures she’s got her foot to her forehead. We did see enough of her chin and mouth and nose to realize she looks an awful lot like Gracie.  Pictures will come soon! 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MARY GRACE!

Wow, it’s 7:45 here…this time thre years ago, I was in our bathroom at the old house, the tub full of water, and Gracie was on her way.  I’ll not post too many details of her birth on here, but I will say that she was delivered quickly (one push) and she was perfect.  I had no drugs, I didn’t need them.  My energy was focused inward, I believed in myself and my ability to give birth naturally, and I had an excellent support team made of Chris, a midwife and her assistant,  and our mothers. I truly enjoyed the experience of delivering her–I know most people can’t believe that–but it was so quick and less pain than I’d expected(not that it wasn’t hard work!) my body just did what it was supposed to do.  I felt afterward that I could do anything.  (I guess that’s why I’m planning a drug-free waterbirth with this next baby, too!)

They placed her on my chest. I looked down on her, perfect, naked and pink. Chris was crying and leaning over us from outside the tub. I could hear our moms crying too–but I couldn’t see them.  They had disappeared into the background to tell our dads and my brother that all was well. We covered her with dry warm towels and she cried right away.  I’ll never forget how the Mommy instinct in me reacted so beautifully, “don’t cry, Gracie, Mommy’s here” Soon everyone was in the bedroom waiting for her, so I showered and joined them as fast as I could.  No one could talk–there were no words.  All we kept saying was beautiful… pretty…calm…peaceful…big smile…perfect.  It was like looking into the face of God.  There were just no words that matched the little being we were looking at. 

So  three years ago today, on a Sunday morning, our beautiful angel baby made us the happiest parents on the planet.  She is not always perfect, but she’s close.  Gracie has challenged us, inspired us, changed us.  She makes us laugh and cry.  Thank you, Mary Grace, for being who you are.  You are our treasure and our joy.  

***EDIT WORTH READING*** So I got a call after my massage today that my parents are coming over to see us and take us out tonight for ice cream.  That’s very exciting to Gracie, who has such a thick Southern accent sometimes, she started yelling what sounded like “I want orange ass cream!!!  Can I have orange ass cream?”  So…um…yay for ass cream.  LOL

She got into our room while I was doing the dishes.  She found my vase of seashells that Chris and I collected on our honeymoon. She accidentally dropped it onto the hardwood floor.  There  are shards of broken glass and  pieces of my beloved seashells everywhere.   

But…who can stay mad at someone who makes Jello Jigglers in her underwear?

Or sings Twinkle Twinkle Little Star to them before she eats them?

Or crashes on the sofa after insisting she’s “not tired enough for a nap today”?  

I love her.  More than anything that could ever be broken, or lost, or ruined.  Guess I better get to cleaning up.    

She gets confused with the words “anything” and “nothing.”  So when I say, “Gracie, what are you doing?” She replies, “anything.”  Which is probably more accurate anyways.  You really just never know what she’s doing.  Like earlier today, she said “anything” and she was on our bed, had stripped completely naked, and was reading a story to the dog.  Huh.

Her play group is going to McDonald’s on Thursday.  The same McDonald’s we’re visiting Saturday for her birthday party.  I’m trying to get over the guilt of the whole nutritional aspect of that.  Yuck.  Can’t really do anything about the additives and junk, but at least she burns off those extra McCalories in the PlayPlace. 

She’s been begging me to let her go out in the snow.  (Ice)  I set the timer and she’s out for 10 minutes, but that’s it.  She’s running laps with the dog.  I think it’s good for both of them to get out of the house.  They’ve been cooped up way too long.  But to me, it’s just not worth it–it’s FREEZING! 

10 minutes is over! Okay, off to put the VERY cold and very red-nosed Miss Gracie into some warm clothes and I think it’s naptime…

We bought a new mattress that feels like heaven…It was delivered today and I can’t wait to sleep tonight.  Haha.  So yay for tax rebates! It’s really, really tall and now our furniture looks really little.  I love it already.  We also got new pillows, and mine’s one of those funky swedish memory foam kinds.  It’s awesome.   

Tonight we celebrated my birthday (yes I know it was forever ago, but in our family birthdays last for weeks sometimes) with Dick and Janie.  They took us to Yamato for dinner – sushi and Japanese stir fry.  We’d only been there once and I wasn’t impressed the first time but I’m glad we went back.  Gracie had so much fun and ate with chopsticks like a big girl!  She loves that they cook the food at the table and the guy really made a fuss over her tonight.  He was really good and it was pretty special.  She LOVES the big flames on the tables, LOL. 

Baby Gap has decided her favorite place to rest her foot is on my spine, or maybe on my sciatic nerve…somewhere that it hurts like crazy and I keep getting “stuck” in the laying down position.  It hurts so bad I cry out in pain. I’m ready, I think, for her to just be out of me.  (Remind me I said that when I’m three days post partum and crying about not having enough time to get ready for her!) Oh–she’s kicking now– I guess she wants me to tell you she says hi.    

*EDIT* God, can you please make it springlike outside again? Gracie and JoJo have been in the house all day and they’re driving me crazy!!! Thanks!