Sunday morning french toast

This morning Ryan and Payton got up and went grocery shopping, so I could sleep in a little later than normal. It was so sweet! When the two of them got home they both made yummy french toast!

Payton loves to help in the kitchen any chance she gets. If I don't ask her to help before hand, she'll pull her chair over to the counter when she realizes that I'm cooking dinner or making something in the kitchen.

Daddy and Payton

Payton kept trying to add more things into the french toast liquid. Thankfully the cinnamon cap was secure.

I can't tell Payton in advance that I'm going to take a picture or she won't look, so this is what I get when I call her name.
Gracie smiling
After breakfast we were able to sit and relax and have a lazy Sunday morning. Ryan kept getting Gracie to smile. I couldn't help but take the opportunity to take some pictures of our precious girl.

It's been a pretty lazy day today. Payton and Gracie are both asleep and the house is pretty quiet, except for a little noise from ESPN. It's been a perfect day for our dreary weather. :)

Saturday night playdate

After a busy day Saturday, that night a couple of my close girlfriends came over to hang out and watch chick flicks. Ryan's group, Quiet Monkey Fight, was celebrateing their 50th show, so he wasn't home. Thankfully it gave me a great reason to have some girl time! Tiffany, Nika, and Nika's daughter Kiley (10 days younger than Gracie) came over..

Tiff and Gracie

Tiffany brought a bunch of chick flicks to watch, but unfortunately we didn't get to watch any of them. At one point we had put a dvd in the player, but never actually turned it on. We all kept chatting away and catching up.
Kiley and Nika
Unfortunately this was the first time that Nika and I had seen each other since we (the Zdeneks) had visited her in the hospital. It was long overdue and was great to be able to catch up. It's crazy on how busy life gets when you add a little person to your family! I can't believe the summer is almost over and soon we'll both be going back to work.. yuck!

Kiley (will be 9 weeks tomorrow) and Gracie (10 weeks)
This picture was taken at midnight and Kiley was still wanting to partack in the evening fun. Gracie, not much of a nightowl anymore, had passed out around 10ish. **She didn't wake me up until 6 a.m. this morning!! Yay!!**
The two girls are so cute together and I can't wait to see what they're like as they grow up. When Ryan got home he was able to see what it would be like if we were blessed with twin babies! We concluded that we are just fine with singletons.
It was so much fun having the two babies together. When one would hear the other fuss/cry, they would decide to fuss as well.
Payton thought it was pretty cool having two little babies, but didn't stay up too long to hang out. She went to bed at her normal bedtime and left us girls to continue our chatting.
Wednesday both girls, coincidentally, have their two month check ups. It will be interesting to see how much bigger Gracie has gotten and hear how much Kiley has grown too! Nika and I will have to call each other and share the kids stats. At both girl's one month check up, the two of them were the same height and weight. Too funny, considering they were the same weight and length when they were born too.

Ten weeks today

Today Gracie is ten weeks old! I can't believe that ten weeks ago she entered our lives! Ryan, Payton and I are so in love with her and enjoying every minute of it! Gracie's a great little baby. She's been sleeping longer in the night (going to bed around 10pm) and only gets me up once to eat, usually between 4-5 am. She's a fairly content little girl, but does have her evening fussy times. We're working on routines with her, but don't have too high of hopes considering her age. :)

The girls and I have started working out again, daily and Gracie has adjusted to her morning stroller ride nicely. She sleeps through most, if not all, of class and doesn't wake up until we are home.

Gracie mid-July
Early August

Mid August

Gracie and Payton playing on the floor

Gracie ten weeks today!

Showing her cute little smile

Gracie's eyes look like they are going to be a pretty blue color and her hair is still red. She's been loosing a little on the top, but it's still fairly thick in the back. She has her two month well baby check up next Wednesday, so we'll see how much she's grown since last month.

Ryan and I can't believe how fast this summer has gone and some days we wish we could freeze time. We look forward to the months to come and experiencing all of those fun milestones with Gracie. Happy 10 weeks Baby Girl!!

Coffee on the boat

I have to say, living the retired life sure is fun! Payton, Gracie and I have been here in Loon Lake since last Wednesday. We aren't leaving until tomorrow to go home and if it weren't for Ryan not being here, I don't think I would ever want to leave. It's been so hard us being away from Ryan for as long as we have.

Payton and Grandma driving the boat
This morning we decided to take our coffee while cruising the lake. The girls and I didn't change out of our pj's, we got up and went. What a life!

Dad, Me and Gracie

The girls and I are having so much fun! It's been nice being able to relax and spend time with my parents. I feel like I'm a kid with how much they spoil me and the girls. I've even been able to take a nap and play on the computer during the day! We all really wish Ryan was able to come with us though. We miss him so much and are looking forward to seeing him tomorrow evening when we get home!!!

I'm not sure what Dad and I are looking at, but Gracie doesn't care. :)

My little coconut. She sleeps the majority of the time when she's on the boat. It's rare when we can get a picture with her eyes open.

Outside in the sun

Monday morning we all sat outside and drank our coffee. It was beautiful out, so I wanted to take advantage of the sun.

Payton cleaning the counter

Payton stayed inside to help make pancakes with Grandpa and Grandma.

Grandpa and Payton making pancakes. My dad made her Mickey Mouse pancakes like he used to make me when I was little.

It was so nice sitting outside eating breakfast

Later that day Payton had Grandma paint her nails. Of course Payton picked out a bright blue color. She's learning her colors and blue and green are her favorite ones to say!

Sunday

Sunday's weather at the lake wasn't as nice as it had been the previous days. We were pretty lazy getting up and moving, which was nice to do.

After giving Payton a shower, she wasn't too anxious to get dressed. My dad thought it was funny, so he captured a few pictures of my daughter streaking through the living room.

Later Payton wanted to help me sweep up the kitchen. I had her help me remove each of the rugs and take them outside to shake anything that might be on them, off.

A couple of the rugs were as big as her! Sunday was a great day, we all hung out and relaxed at the cabin.

Cookies and Great Grandma

Saturday..

Grandpa and Gracie (so sweet!)
On Saturday Payton and Grandma (my step-mom Rosie) made snicker doodles together. Payton loves to help in the kitchen, so she was so excited to make cookies with Grandma. The two of them have so much fun together and it's fun watching them interact! Rosie has so much patience and loves that Payton is so anxious to help and learn.

Payton and I of course got to lick the beaters! I'm a product of my dad, so I love cookie dough. I'm sure Payton and Rosie didn't enjoy me coming into the kitchen constantly to check out how the dough was tasting!! :)

Me showing Gracie to Grandma Ev

After they were done making cookies, we went over to visit Rosie's mom Evelyn. I met Grandma Evelyn when I was 13 and she immediately treated me as one of her own Grandchildren. Whenever I'm visiting my parents, I try and take a trip over to visit her. She is truly one of the sweetest ladies I've ever met and I'm so thankful that my girls got to meet her as well! Payton of course was a little shy at first, but warmed up towards the end.

Grandma Ev and Gracie (sleeping of course!)

Our little photographer

Payton any chance she got would take pictures with either Rosie's or my camera. I think we now have a good Christmas idea!

Great-Grandma, Gracie and Payton

Payton was excited to share the cookies she had made with Great Grandma

Me, Grandma Ev, Gracie, Rosie, and Payton

We had so much fun visiting Grandma Ev and being able to introduce Gracie and Payton to her. I wish I could see her more often! I need to make more trips out this way to visit!

Payton having fun at the beach

Friday morning, first thing, we all got into our suits and headed to the beach (5 min away). At the cabin the there are a lot of rocks and a large drop off in the water. Rosie suggested we take Payton to play in the sand and make it so she's able to walk into the water at her own pace, rather than fall into the water. Payton LOVED it! Ryan and I really do have a water baby!

Payton really enjoyed playing with the sand. Filling up the bucket and then dumping it out to start over again.

Payton walked right into the water. It didn't phase her that it was a little chilly. Once she picked up her feet and realized that the life jacket would keep her floating, she would forget that she could touch the ground. Payton liked being able to float. A few times she got a little nervous when she would roll from her back to her tummy and then back again. She felt a little lack of control while floating.

I swam Payton out to the end of the dock so she could climb up the latter.

Grandma helped her kick and swim. Payton had so much fun!

Payton especially loved jumping off the dock. She kept wanting to do more and more!

Fun with bubbles and Grandma

Thursday afternoon, after Payton's nap and boat ride, Grandma and Payton wanted to make HUGE bubbles out on the deck. Unfortunately they weren't very successful. I think Rosie (Grandma) used up a whole bottle of dish soap in their attempt. We never figured out why it didn't work, but it was fun watching Payton and Rosie continue to try. Gracie and I of course watched on while the two of them attempted..

Pre-bubbles, Grandma and Gracie relaxing on a lawn chair. Gracie's neck is getting so strong and she loves to sit up.

Payton loved stirring up the bubble juice, but unfortunately she was making really small bubbles inside of the tub.

Grandma and Payton were unsuccessful in their big bubble making, so they resorted to a fly swatter that made lots of little bubbles. Payton enjoyed chasing after the little bubbles and popping them. The two of them were laughing so hard and having such a great time!

Gracie relaxing while the craziness continued.

Payton is in love

On Thursday, my dad took all of us girls out on the boat and around Loon Lake. Payton was in love with the water! She loved being on the boat and having the wind blow in her hair. She would point out ducks and ask "what's that?" to most anything she saw.

Payton on the Pontoon boat
Me and Gracie (she slept the whole time)

Payton with the wind in her hair

Payton excited to be out on the water

Miss Gracie asleep

When Payton woke up on Wednesday morning, she looked out our bedroom window and yelled "WATER!" she was so excited that everywhere she looked she could see water. We're all having so much fun at the lake and not yet ready to leave.