Showered with LOVE

Gracelee, Cookie (grandma got re-named on this trip), and Momma travelled to Dallas this weekend to celebrate a shower for Ms. Keila and Mr. Brian.

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It was a beautiful shower with the MOST gracious hostess! I love Keila's family, too! EVERYONE is so sweet and so special and they all adore Keila... what is not to adore! The food was delicious, and the company was outstanding! I am speaking on behalf of Brian's side of the family when I say how blessed we feel in this union!

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Mimi, Robyn and Annabelle along with Aunt Clarice joined us at the shower! The girls had a blast playing together and they are both so beautiful that I almost took a million pictures! Gracelee was movin' and a groovin' as always, so it was a little bit more difficult to get her posing! Just too much to see and TOO MUCH to touch! LoL!!! Made momma a tad edgy as I am sure it would make anyone!!! The hostess's house was like a show house, and I don't think I could have afforded for Little Miss Gracelee to write all over the walls with Sharpie!!!

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We had fun none the less!!!

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I love my baby girl!

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Does it surprise anyone that she wanted to be greeter?

Yes, we are coordinating! I am going to take full advantage until she says no more! My hopes is that she likes it too!! = )

Makeena (pictured on the right) is Keila's sister, and she is just as sweet as they come! I just love her! Gracelee thought her and her cousin were the bee's knees!!! Definitely thinks they are funny!

And she went around and around and around and around (am I making my point?) giving everyone high 5s, knucks, and Noggin... and then, of course, a kiss!

My little busy body... my sweet precious angel... my world!

Keila was so gracious and made time for each of her guests... she was so considerate and beautiful, as always!

You can see the pride and joy in her momma's eyes watching how happy her daughter is!

And one of Keila's Besties, Kara, will make a beautiful Maid of Honor, as she is just as beautiful on the inside as the outside!

Like I said before... the food was incredible... this picture was premature! There was sooooo much that I could not believe it!

And this picture was also premature as there were also a bunch of presents...

Auntie (or Mimi) made the most beautiful Rehearsal bouquet out of the ribbons from the packages... it is supposed to be tacky, but she makes it so pretty!!!

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These girls had a blast!

Mimi with her Annabelle

Beautiful Blue eyes!!!

Share and share alike

Hey, can I have some of that???

Library Day 7: 7/22/2010

We knew it had to come to an end... but really, WE HAD A BLAST!!!

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We cannot wait for next year so we can do it again!

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Dear Gracelee,

My little ray of sunshine... I had so much fun with you during library time! You make everything so fun because you are so good! You are so smart and wonderful, and I love EVERY minute with you! Whether I am having to correct you or we are playing or you are asleep in my arms, I know I am the MOST BLESSED mother in the world!

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You completed my life... I was born to be a mother... your mother! I cannot believe that in a couple of weeks I am going to have to leave you for the ENTIRE day... what will I do without you... Will you know that I am thinking of you every second? Will you know that I have to concentrate on my heart beating without you near me? Will you know that I am counting down EVERY DAY, EVERY HOUR, EVERY MINUTE, EVERY SECOND until I get to spend time with you again?

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Library time was you and momma time! We had occasional visitors that made it extra special, and even when we were alone, baby, we had a BLAST! You learned so much in just one summer! You love your books! You dance like no one is watching and you smile for everyone! You know new songs and can sing them!!! You sit so still during story time and the puppet show, and it sort of bothers you when people don't observe the "1...2...3... shhhh!" rule!

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You are more precious than words can say! You fill our lives with good and you are the spark that keeps us young!

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What more can I say?????

I love you.

I LOVE you!

I LOVE YOU!!

I LOVE YOU x INFINITY!!!!!!

Love,

Momma

P.S. I miss you already!

"Ready...set...GO!" Run baby run! The hug at the end of this sprint melts me through the floor!

"Head and shoulders knees and toes..." You are so incredible! How do you know??? Oh I just love you!

And some "More Momma Juice" to wash down snack after a strenuous workout!

Listening to the story time... I love your little side pony tail and your little tennis shoes and your little shorts...

"Uuuuuhhhhmmmm.... I think she said, 1...2...3...SHHHH!!!!"

I love story time with you, Raggedy Ann!

Until next year folks!....

Time after time.

Back it up!

So.....

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July 13th and July 20th were very special, special days!!!

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Momma and Brian's birthdays!

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We had a combined celebration when the Brooks's family vacation was completed, and we all gathered for an Italian feast with Paula Deen Ooeey- Gooey Butter Cake for dessert (of course, I made 'em cupcakes!)

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Birthdays are so special... too bad I am not having anymore... only Anniversaries now... and this one will be my 1st anniversary of my 29th birthday...

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Anyway, enjoy the pictures! We really did have fun!

Yay! A Pizza Stone!

The soon- to- be- wed couple

Momma getting her "Paula Deen" Magazine from Gracelee

A little help

Thank you Brian and Keila!!!!!

Can I take YOUR picture please??? I need to find her a little camera to play with! She is so darn cute!

Lunch with Grammy

On Wednesday, Gracelee and momma got a special treat!

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First, we got to pick up Aunt Amanda... that in itself is pretty darn special! We love to hang out with Aunt Amanda! Then, we travelled a long journey, through the cement jungle of Downtown Houston and through a winding tunnel to meet.........................................................

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Grammy and Daddy for lunch!!!!!!!

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Like I have said countless times, there is NOTHING like spending time with family! This summer has been full of that, for which I am so thankful to God!!! Lessie treated us to a wonderful lunch and then took us up, up, up in the elevator to her office. Gracelee's eyes popped open as we travelled up, almost like you could see her tummy jumping!

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Once we were in the office, Gracelee thought it was her own personal show! Everyone popping out of their cubicles to see her, waving to the masses and giving everyone high 5s! She was so cute running up and down the hall and did her best tricks... saying all the words she knows and fake laughing with us! We are laughing so she thinks she should too!!!!

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So precious!

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Grammy let Miss Gracelee play on her computer keyboard while sitting in the desk chair all by herself! She thought she was BIG stuff!!!!! It was really cute and interesting to see her type and then reach for the mouse! Like she new how to do it already... I am probably going to have to take a computer class to keep up with her and her siblings once they are in school! It is hard to believe my baby can "type" on the computer! LoL!!!

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Anyway, when it was time to surrender the keyboard and mouse Gracelee threw a fit loud enough to rattle the windows... But who WANTS to leave their Grandparents????? They are the ones that love you so much that you can do what ever you want to and get away with it! I just didn't expect her to catch on to that this quickly! Just goes to show that her grandparents are

THE BEST!!!!!

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Thank you for a wonderful time!

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We are gearing up for what is going to be a fast, furious and busy 2 weeks! Lots of visiting and playing... sorry if I lag behind on the blog, but I promise to catch up when we can slow down a bit!

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Here are some pictures of Little Miss at the computer!

Thank you Aunt Amanda for the pics!!!!

Library Day 6: 7/15/2010

Today was the day!

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We did it... not that it is difficult to read 20 books to this child, as it is something she likes to do and would do ALL day if we let her!

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20 books down and we got a summer reading trophy and her name on the wall in the Children's section of the George Memorial Library!

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I really think she enjoys this, and I hope that she continues to like going every summer! I have very fond memories of reading, particular books that the pages are taped up because they were turned so many times that they began to fray... I remember getting lost in them... becoming someone else... enjoying the adventure, or the mystery, or the love story... I still like to read... but my favorite moments are when my daughter brings me 6 books in a row, turns around, and plops down in my lap to her a story for the umpteenth time.

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(I have to admit that I am sort of enjoying exactly how proud of this trophy she is... not that I am competitive or anything!)

= )

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She really is very special to me... as I am sure all children are to their parents... when she looks at me and smiles because she is having fun, I want to melt right through the floor... I cannot help myself! I want to devour her! I want to kiss her a million times and then another because that wasn't enough!

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She and her daddy are my "all" to life right now... there is just nothing better than time with the ones you love!

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Gracelee,

I want you to know how proud I am of you! I know I say it alot, but, baby, you are truly amazing! The way that you want to learn and read and grow is so inspiring! You, in your little tiny body and in your own teeny- tiny way, you make me want to be better, to live life better, to be the best person I can possibly be! You are a light... you are my sunshine... you are my pride and joy... you are the answer to many prayers... you my darling daughter, are a BLESSING!!!! I love you! Keep up the good work!

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Love,

Momma

Weekend Fun!

So, anyone who has one or ever had one understands why it has taken me 2 days to complete this post... a 15 month old is a VERY busy body!!! And I love every minute of it!

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We decided on Saturday to go ride the Hermann Park train. It is for little kids and it is located right next to the zoo... I think every city has one, and this was our first opportunity to enjoy the one in ours!

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Enjoy we did, too! When we got there, we had to wait while the "conductor" ran a few test runs to ensure all of our safety... Appreciated that! Of course, as any smart business person will tell you, the best thing to put next to any outdoor activity for children is an air conditioned gift shop... which is where we waited, and Gracelee played!

Not a moment to soon (for daddy anyway... LoL), the train arrived and we were on it... gift free!

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Gracelee has this fascination with trains ever since the Mickey Mouse Club House Choo- Choo Express

She sings the song and anytime we pass the railroad tracks she is shouting "Choo Choo!" It is really precious!

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Here is Daddy and Gracelee waiting for the "All Aboard!"

As we continued down the tracks, Gracelee, I am assuming, felt like it was her own little parade! She was waving at the people, and some hobos, as we passed grinning from ear to ear! We really had so much fun!

We had intended on eating at the Aquarium Downtown, but Daddy made a great suggestion about going to the zoo... we had not planned on going, but it certainly was a treat! I have been wanting to see the newest addition to the Elephant family! * Remember this post about the pregnant elephant!*

: )

Anyway, we looked right outside the train station and there was a Little Big's... known for there amazing Sliders and Milkshakes (which I unhappily avoided due to the fact that it was like 1000* outside)

So after a delicious lunch, we headed to the zoo! There is also a new Dinosaur exhibit that we wanted to check out too! It was a little bit hot, but we had LOTS of water and it was still early enough in the day to where it wasn't miserable!

: )

These guys are my favorite... well, one of my favorites... They swim with such ease and are so playful! Gracelee kept calling them like they were dogs saying, "Ladyyyyy..." then she pretends to snap and whistle... super cute!

Of course we saw the howling monkeys and the Big Cats... we also toured the zoo aquarium and the indoor desert exhibit, with the little squirrels that run really fast and the rabbits that aren't really rabbits, but sort of look like one only with talon like claws... really neat!

: )

And the last order of business was to see my baby! What a love bug this little guy was! He stayed really close to his mommy and daddy, and tried to nurse every 5 seconds... when that didn't work, he practiced picking up hay like his parents with his trunk and putting it in his mouth... only he didn't get any hay... just dirt. Poor Baby! It was really sweet!

On the way out we saw the pink flamingos that were just gorgeous... Gracelee thought they were ducks, and since that is close enough for now, we let her "quack" at them... LoL!!!

The Dino exhibit was fun, too... not Spielberg quality, but fun nonetheless!

: )

They moved... They were in there environment... there was a great fact stand next to each one that showed on a map where each one lived... It was neat to know that this Triceratops lived on the upper west coast of the United States! It was NOT very cool to hear it growl, and, needless to say, we ran... and Daddy caught it on camera.

We had so much fun! I think the best days are when there is really nothing planned and you have to go with the flow! Any time with family is a good time! I really feel so blessed to have the family that God gifted me with... born into and extended... Justin and I would not be where we are now or the people we are now with out the love and support of our families!

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I think that is why it is SOOOOO important for us to introduce our little one to a variety of experiences... to educate her even while having fun! I think she had a good time! Judge for yourself... This is the ride home!

On Sunday... Justin and I got to see Wicked!!! I am so in love with the message that this musical sets forth! I was born Elphaba and I will remain Elphaba... I love her sense of justice and her passion for doing what is right... no matter the cost... no matter what people think of her! If you haven't seen it... do yourself a favor! Go.

It was a great weekend! We had a blast, as usual, and we cannot wait to see what is in store for us next weekend!

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BTW, Happy Birthday to my momma! They are on a great vacation, and we will get to celebrate with her when they get back!

15 month appointment: The Stats are in...

Long and Lean @

24 pounds (70%)

32 inches (90%)

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Shots: 3

Cried: Oh yes!

Mom felt like a bad momma: Ummm... yes... {tear} I hate it!

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Doctor said she is VERY smart and developing at a very fast rate! He was very pleased with her growth, although he said she could gain a little weight (1-2 pounds) but that she would probably always be tall and thin... Her iron was a little low, but she still prefers to nurse to drinking milk, so he said that was fine she just needs a vitamin... Flintstone chewables here we come!

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All in all, she is one healthy kid! That is all that we ask for!

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"Come on Monkey... It's time to go in!"

Monkey and her "phone" in tow

She knows her impending fate