Gracie's four month check up

On Wednesday Gracie had her four month check up. I still can't believe she's four months! Gracie is weighing in at 12 pounds and 11 ounces and is now 24 and a half inches long. She is still in the 50th percentile for her height, but has now dropped from the 33rd percentile to the 22nd for her weight. We have to go back in to see Dr. Haugen (Gracie's pediatrician) in one month to have her weight checked again due to her only gaining 10 ounces in a month.

I hate to compare one child to the next, but I'm always curious on what Payton weighed or was doing as she grew. At four months Payton weighed 14 pounds and 12 ounces and was 24 and a half inches long.

Everything is still pretty much the same with her breathing. She'll have a couple of good nights with only waking up once to eat, but then go back to waking up quite a bit throughout the night from choking or her gasping for air. (Yes, I'm exhausted!) Through all of this, Gracie's napping really well during the day and is a very happy little girl! She has her fussy time still in the evening, usually around 7-8pm, which is probably because it's so close to her bedtime.
We're waiting to hear back from Dr. Haugen regarding going back to Children's to meet up with the Ear/Nose/Throat doctor to see what we can do to help Gracie's breathing. We'll keep everyone posted on her status.

My cousin Brianna is getting married!!

My cousin Brianna is getting married! She's been dating this wonderful guy, Ryan (I know, another Ryan! This makes three in the family) for awhile now and we are all so happy for him to officially join our crazy family!

Ryan proposed on September 15th (my birthday!!) and of course she said yes! He did it while they were playing scrabble and long story short, he spelt out "marryme" and she told him that that wasn't one word, but then she got what he was saying when he pulled out the ring. So cute!

Last Sunday, Brianna called me to see if she could "borrow" the girls on her wedding day. I was ecstatic! Of course, they would be honored to be her flower girls! My nephews Trent and Kaden are going to be the ring bearers as well!! My brother Ryan and I were my aunt Leslie's (Brianna's mom) ring bearer and flower girl.

So she invited me, along with my sister-in-law, Rachael, and my Grandma Claire to go see her dress on Saturday.

The beautiful bride (Thankfully her Ryan doesn't read my blog!)



Brianna's dress is gorgeous!
She makes a beautiful bride and I'm so excited for her and Ryan.

Great-Grandma and Bapa Carter

Thursday right after music class, the girls and I went over to my grandparents house to visit with them for awhile. It was wonderful being able to sit and chat with my grandparents and for Payton to be able to play as well.

Gracie and I had been with Grandma a week and a half prior at a party and we also got to see Bapa as well, but Payton wasn't with me at that time. So, we decided to stop by on our way home from Payton's music class.

Payton, Bapa, Gracie, Grandma and Mugzie

It's crazy going to the same house that I've been going to since I was born. Now I'm taking my children there! I feel so lucky to have my Grandparents in my life and I feel blessed that my girls get to share them with me. They are the most wonderful people and we are so fortunate to have two of the most selfless individuals, in the world, in our family! I don't think they realize how special they are to me.

I love you Grandma and Bapa! Thank you for everything that you have done for me!!!!!!!!!!

Something in the water..

It seems like when one girl gets pregnant, that's when you start to notice that there are tons of women pregnant around the same time. That's how it's worked with both of my pregnancies. With Payton there were six of us at work (due dates within a six month span of each other) and then with Gracie there were four of us pregnant at the same time at work (within a four month span) and four of us (within 3 months) in our Stroller Strides group. There are now a total of 9 of us who were/are pregnant with our second babies!

Gracie (6/13), Crew (8/27), Charlotte (9/6), and Levi (7/7)

This past Wednesday our friend Karen who we have all met through Stroller Strides, had ten of us moms and ALL of our kiddos over for a play date. It was such a great time and Payton was in heaven being able to play with her friends. It was wonderful to be able to see everyone and get our kids together.
Levi and Gracie's first date

Gracie and Levi (date number.. ?)

Gracie, Crew, Charlotte, and Levi

June 10th

Hilary, pregnant with Charlotte; Elesha, pregnant with Crew; Me, pregnant with Gracie; Kelsie pregnant with Levi

This picture was taken three days before I gave birth to Gracie. I feel so lucky to have such wonderful friends that I got to share my pregnancy with. I'm excited for our kids to grow up together and be friends as well!

Hilary and Charlotte, Elesha and Crew, Kelsie and Levi, Me and Gracie

Here we are with our babies.. We'll have to keep taking pictures to show how our kids keep changing. Next pic will have to have a picture with their older siblings too!!

Four months already?

It's hard to believe that Gracie is now four months old. She's such a happy girl. She's smiling, laughing, rolling over, and bringing so much happiness to our family. We are so thankful to have another healthy and happy little girl.

Gracie's four month check up is next Wednesday the 22nd. We'll find out then how much weight she has gained and how long she is. Depending on how much she has grown, will determine whether or not Dr. Haugen wants us to go back and see the specialist at Children's for her breathing.
With as much trouble as her breathing gives her or for how much she chokes, Gracie is such a happy baby. We are so in love with her and thankful she has entered our lives.

What Payton would look like with a mustache

This is what happens when you give Payton chocolate ice cream and she drinks the melted ice cream from the bowl. Thank you for teaching her this lovely habit, I'm not naming names, but you know who you are! :)

She's too cute!

Lazy morning with two happy girls

Last week I was struck with the flu and now this past weekend into this week I'm battling a nasty cold. For some reason, thankfully, I'm the only one who has received these special gifts. Due to me not feeling 100%, the girls and I have been in our jammies a little later in the day than normal.

Here are my girls lounging on the sofa together
Payton saying "cheese"
Now it's Gracie's turn. I'm so lucky that even though I haven't been the most fun, my girls have been really good!

Carleton Farm Pumpkin patch

On Saturday, Ryan, the girls and I went to the Pumpkin patch, Carleton Farms, which happens to be near our house. We've been going to this particular patch since we moved to Lake Stevens. We love to go here because,

1. it's close

2. there's a lot to do and see (animals to pet, pumpkin cannon, hay rides, slide, pumpkin carving, etc.)

3. We actually go out into a patch and pick out our pumpkin.

Again this year it was a beautiful day when we went and Payton had a great time. I would say the same for Gracie, but she just looked around. :)

Here's Gracie all bundled up to go to the pumpkin patch for the first time
Every year we have put Payton in front of this sign "How tall this Fall".

Gracie and Ryan walking around the patch, searching for the perfect pumpkin
Payton coming off of the slide

Payton and her pumpkin
Payton on her way to us from playing in the patch.
Gracie and her pumpkin (the one in front of her)

Gracie getting kisses from Payton

Our family

We unfortunately didn't get to do as much as we wanted to while we were there due to it being a little chilly and Gracie not being in the mood for it. Thankfully the patch is only a mile or two away, so we can go back and see all the animals. Overall, the day was beautiful, the girls were good, and we picked out two perfect pumpkins.

Making brownies

Last Friday Payton helped me make some yummy (from scratch) brownies for me to take to bunko that night. Payton is such a big helper in the kitchen and loves to cook!

Payton helped me measure the ingredients..
Mix them all together..

..pour them into the pan..

and then topped them off with Halloween sprinkles.

Here we were waiting for our brownies to finish baking.

"Not done yet."

Here's our finished product. We melted some chocolate chips to make a yummier topping. Payton did such a great job! I'm looking forward to our next baking date.

Blogging just to blog

I love my girls! Thankfully they love each other too!!

Gracie getting hugs from Payton, and thankfully right now they like being around each other!!

Gracie giving Payton hugs

I love that right now I get to be home with my two favorite little girls! I'm having so much fun watching them grow and be great friends. Payton is such a big helper and Gracie loves her big sister. I'm not looking forward to going back to work in a month, but am so very thankful that I've had this time to be home with my babes.

Gracie and Kiley

On Tuesday September 30th, my girlfriend Nika and her daughter Kiley came over to play with Payton, Gracie and I. It was so much fun getting the little girls together and for us moms to be able to chat.

Kiley and Gracie

Gracie was a little fussy and tired.

Payton was down for her nap at this time, so unfortunately we didn't get a picture of her with Kiley and Gracie.

I thought this picture was so funny and I can't wait to show the two girls when they're in high school! Nika and I are going to try and get the girls together at least once a month so we can get a picture of them together as they grow. I'll for sure keep our blog updated with those pics.

She's rollin

Gracie is growing up faster than we would like, she has started rolling over! On Tuesday I put Gracie on the floor for some tummy time and I was sitting by her trying to get her to reach for a toy. I noticed that she was starting to go onto her side, so I ran and got our video camera in hopes that maybe I could capture it on film. While I was filming her, Payton dropped something in the dining room and was calling for help, so I ran to assist Payton and when I came back, Gracie was on her back!

I put her back on her tummy and started recording again, but also took a picture to show her pre-rolling over.
The video I took is around 5 minutes long and there is a lot of me trying to coax Gracie to roll. Thankfully... she eventually did and I got it ALL on tape!! I immediately texted Ryan telling him and he then called me right away. We are both very proud parents! :)

Here's Gracie post-rolling over, she was VERY frustrated at this point! So cute and so much fun to watch her achieve that milestone. I can't believe that my little girl is already 3 1/2 months and rolling over. She needs to slow down, I'm not ready for all of this!!

Payton, Daddy, and Gracie celebrating Gracie's achievement.