Just a quick note....

We have officially gotten 99% of the stuff moved. Of course there where a few things at the other house, mainly empty boxes and misc. junk. The new house is a disaster, the thought of parking in the garage is not even close to anything, but at least we are moved. I am heading back to work tomorrow....ugh! :) Well, just a cute quick note about Gracie, she has started to push her toys around on other toys. She loves to push boxes around (actually anything she can push around she does). Now she has started putting her toys on top! Cracks me up. I will try to get a video of it. As soon as the toy falls she puts it back on top...so cute. Well, gotta go to bed! Have a great day!

Moving Day #2

Oh my goodness, yesterday was interesting. We did get most of the stuff packed but we were only able to get one load moved over, which means we have a lot to do today. The good thing is that we have some people helping us! So we are doing the rest of it today. Either way I got most of the kitchen unpacked last night which was VERY nice. To me the kitchen is always the hardest. Gracie has been great so far. It really helps that she has started to play on her own a lot. The only time she doesn't like to play on her own is when we block her in to places that she can't get out. She likes to have freedom to roam. Well, I just wanted to give everyone an update. All I have left to pack is the bedroom which shouldn't take too long. I am hoping to be done with that in about an hour or so. It should be doable! Anyway, enjoy your Saturday. I will post pictures of the new house once we get it put together! Smiles!

Just The Three of Us!

What a wonderful day! The Cunningham's had a fabulous Christmas. We really didn't do much, there were no dinners to go to, there were a million phone calls and texts made (or at least attempted), and it was just the three of us. As you all know, it has been absolutely nuts here the last couple of weeks. Since our vacation, it has been a whirlwind of one thing and then another. Not to mention the fact that we are moving tomorrow. So when we woke up today, we knew we just wanted it to be a chill day and not having a plan. It really worked well. Gracie woke up at 7 so I got up and gave her a bottle, let the puppies out, and just enjoyed sharing a moment with Gracie on her 2nd Christmas. I told her about her 1st Christmas when she was literally weeks old. Then we all went, all 2 and 4 legged creatures to wake Matt up so we could open gifts. Gracie knows what to do let me tell you! She had such a blast. She had been trying to open the gifts all week anyway and you could tell she was excited. She was most excited about her Elmo Live. She had such a blast.

After a few naps and some packing of boxes (seriously, my freak out mode did not cease since it was Christmas) Matt had the brilliant idea to see if this restaurant was open in Fabens. We had not planned anything to eat considering 90% of the kitchen is packed so we weren't for sure what we were going to do. So we got all dressed up and went to the Indian Cliffs Ranch for dinner. It a very cool place that I look forward to going to again. It was out in the middle of no wear (I didn't even have cell service) and had walking paths with animals that you could just enjoy the views. It was really nice to have a big meal followed by a walk in 65 degree weather around a lake. Gracie really enjoyed the sheep. She just talked to them, it was so adorable.

Now we are home, taking it easy. We packed the rest of the kitchen and made a game plan for tomorrow. It has been such a nice couple of days. We spent yesterday with Leda and Brian. Leda fixed a fabulous dinner. After dinner, we made gingerbread houses and watched a movie. I do have to admit, I did miss being around the families for the Holidays, but I loved spending the day with Matt and Gracie. I hope that your Holiday was as fabulous as ours. Here are some pictures for you to enjoy! Merry Christmas to you all!


Gracie after opening her gifts and laughing at Elmo!



Daddy & Gracie at dinner



Me & Gracie on our after dinner walk


Daisy & Harley on Christmas Morning



She didn't understand why she couldn't
play with it out of the box!

Gracie over the year!

I still can't believe that our baby girl is a year old. I just look at her and remember that she fit perfectly in the crook of my arm and now it takes both arms to cradle her. I miss her being so tiny but I look so forward to her getting bigger and becoming her own little person. There are days I take her to the daycare and realize that she is no longer my little infant...she is a toddler! That thought is just mind boggling to me. Either way I love to go back and look at pictures of when she was a newborn, so I thought I would share pictures from every three months. Now I realize I have done this before, but I figure if I enjoy looking at them, then you would too! :) So enjoy!!

Grace Anna ~ 7 lbs, 7 oz ~ 19 inches long

3 months

6 months

9 months...such a poser

1 year old ~ 20 lbs 3 oz ~ 28 inches long

You have no idea...

You have no idea how many times I have stopped and started to write a blog in the last week and half. The only reason why I am doing it now is because I refuse to not do it! :) Well, we have been incredibly busy with the Holiday's and trying to move. We are super excited to move into the new house, but I am sad to see this one go. This was Gracie's 1st home. We have had so many new and wonderful memories in this house. I am going to have to go and take some pictures so that Gracie will have some pictures of her first home. Being in the military we knew that we wouldn't be here but a couple of years, but it is bittersweet.

Gracie is doing well. She is still only taking a few steps here and there but I think it is just because she knows that she can do it and she just doesn't care. Ha ha! She is pretty much off of formula. We are just finishing up the little bit we have left. She is also doing well on her sippy cup although she gets a kick out of spitting whatever it is back out. She is just too much! There are things that I wish people would of told me before having a child. I am sure there are some that probably told me but I obviously didn't listen. Anyway, here are the top five things I wish I would have realized:

1. You will be the most organized person while still being disorganized...yeah I know, figure that one out.

2. No matter how low you try to keep your expectations when it comes keeping things nice in the baby's room, the crib is still going to get teeth marks on it.

3. When you think that a diaper could not get any worse then the last one you changed, there will be one that is 20 times worse and the cycle keeps going until nothing surprises you anymore.

4. Just because you were able to do something with a baby at one point in time doesn't mean that they will be an angel the next time around. For example, taking them to a movie.

5. Even when you think your heart is full of love for them and you don't think your heart can get any bigger, they flash you a smile, giggle at something funny, or give you a surprise kiss and your heart grows that much more with love.

Well, I finally got Gracie's one year pictures back so I will post them. The one's in her Christmas dress are my favorite! Have a good week and Merry Christmas to all!!!!

Playing in her story chair...it's her favorite right now!

Smiley Girl

So sweet

She stuck her tounge out so many times!

I still can't believe she is 1!!!!

Not my favorite of me but great of Matt & Gracie

Weekend update!

So, it was a quiet weekend here in the Cunningham household. We did some shopping but mainly stayed home and took it easy. This week starts the big packing week on top of the Holiday festivities we have planned. So we decided to sit and chill this weekend. Not to mention Gracie is not feeling well. I am thinking we have more teeth coming through but she won't let me see if my suspicions are true.

On Saturday, I took Gracie to a Christmas party at work for the kids. We had a good time. They had games and present for everyone to open. It was really a good time. Gracie had fun playing musical chairs. She got to practice walking around the chairs with Mommy's help of course. She took those first few steps on her birthday and hasn't been interested in walking anymore. However, I am not complaining, once again it is just Gracie telling me that she does things in her own time. She can be so stubborn...I wonder where she gets that from! :) After the party, Daddy took his girls out for dinner and shopping. The three of us had a really good time getting into the Christmas spirit seeing all the decorations and everything. Gracie even got to tell Santa what she wanted for Christmas!

Well, this week is another long one at work. I have a feeling we are going to be busy even though everyone tells me it will be slow. Tuesday we are having our adult Christmas party at work but Gracie is going along. We just don't have any family around to leave her with and those that we could leave her with are either on vacation or going to be at the party! But that is ok, everyone at work loves her and it will be fun to get her dressed up in her Christmas dress! I will definitely take some pictures so I will post them later this week! Well, have a good week everyone!!!


Gracie telling Santa what she wants for Christmas


I just love this smile!


Baby it's cold outside

Craziness...

I just wanted to give you a midweek update on the Cunningham household. Nothing is really going on here except for the fact that we are busy busy busy! We have been doing a lot of here and there stuff. We have Christmas parties, meetings, and packing all to do in meer days. But we are geared up for it.

Ms. Harley (formally known as Molly, the black poodle pup) is adjusting well. Daisy loves having a playmate and Gracie hates having someone climbing all over. It is the exact opposite of what we thought would happen. I am going to have to go and get her nails clipped already if I can do that. I am not for sure. I am going to take her to the groomers and see what they say. They are awesome.

Well, below are some pictures...just some random ones of Gracie and some of Daisy and Harley playing. I hope you all have a great week! Until next time...

Daisy & Harley playing!


Such a big girl!


Look Ma...I can put my finger up my nose!


Excited little girl!!

Early Christmas Present = Monday Blues

So Gracie and I had the Monday blues today. When I woke her up to go to school today, she gave me a Gracie stare that you could almost hear her saying “Seriously Mom, do we have to go today?” The thing is, Matt brought us home an early Christmas gift last night in the form of a little black poodle named Molly...for now, the decision isn't definite yet. Both of us just want to be home and play with the new puppy. Not to mention the weather is really windy and gray here (this not a complaint, I like having a gray days. El Paso is too sunny for me), the perfect kind of day to snuggle up under a blanket and watch TV all day. Well, 2:30 is only 2 hours away so I will be able to get my wish then.

Other then that our weekend was very uneventful. I had to work on Saturday but I was still home early enough to spend most of the day with Matt and Gracie. We had Gracie’s 1 year old pictures taken and they turned out great. Once I can get to them, I will share them with you. She is so adorable. Yesterday I cleaned and packed a few things. We are moving in 2 weeks and only have 3 boxes packed. We are also booked with stuff pretty much between now and Christmas so I am not sure when we are going to get a chance to pack, but it will get there. It always does.

Well, I am obviously typing this blog while I am at work so I should probably do what I am getting paid to do! Have a great week and look for more pictures. I promise to load them soon!


The new edition!


She loves Gracie...

Happy Birthday Grace Anna!

Believe it or not, one year ago, an hour from now, I was giving birth to our daughter. After an impromptu c-section, our lives changed. Gracie came into the world December 5th of last year at 10:25 p.m. and our world changed forever. It amazes me how fast a year goes and how many memories are made during that year. I am still amazed that it has been only a year that Gracie took her first breath. I still remember the day, clear as a blue sky, I found out I was pregnant, I remember the doubts, fears, the unbelieving (I took a pregnancy test even after I had pictures from the ultrasound because I didn't believe Dr. Plock). I also remember seeing her heartbeat the first time, feeling her kick, seeing her kick, and the first time I realized I was really going to have a baby. Now she is a year old and there are even more memories like seeing her smile the first time, crawling, talking, hearing her say mama and dada, seeing her stand, and take her first steps...which happened TODAY! On her 1st Birthday, Gracie took 2 steps towards me to give me a kiss. How sweet is that! I love her so much! Of course I couldn't get her to do it again, but she did it once and that is all I needed to see! She is getting so big!

Ok, so I think I am done reminiscing...for now! Tonight we had a family night, just as we did the first night Gracie was born. We already had 3 parties and quite honestly we are partied out. Spending time together is what sounded like the best plan. Gracie really enjoyed it. She got to have another cake, open gifts, and all the fun stuff that comes with having a party. Right now, Gracie is passed out here with me on the couch with Daisy sleeping right next to her. Those to really are partners in crime. Once Gracie had all she wanted from her cake, she started feeding it to Daisy. Surprise, surprise!

Well, as far as the weekend goes, we don't have much planned. I have to work tomorrow so I am hoping it is going to be a short day so I can come home and spend time with Matt and Gracie. I also need to get a lot of housework done...shhh don't tell anyone but I am still not unpacked from vacation! LOL! So here are a few pictures from tonight. Our Birthday Girl, what a precious little girl. Ah, how time flies!


Gracie & her 4th cake!



She never gets tired of cake!


Princess Gracie is 1


I still can't believe it!

3 Parties & a Last 1st Holiday....

Ok, so I was not able to update as often as I orginally tended too. Since last Sunday we have had 3 parties, a last 1st holiday, and a whole lot of other stuff in between. Everything went off without a problem and we really enjoyed seeing everyone. I was very exited to see 2 of my best friends at the b-day party in Greenfield. It had been so long since I had seen either of them. Gracie got a lot of fun new stuff. She loves all of her new toys and clothes. It was interesting to see all the stuff packed into CC & Dianne's little Sunfire. Gracie was so packed in...at one point we had to take a suitcase out to get her out of the car! It was so funny. Now to think about it, I should have gotten a couple of pictures of that! Gracie had a lot of new foods to include real turkey, sweet pototoes, and birthday cake...which she loves. She must take after Liz on that one! Everytime she sees cake, she makes a "mmm" sound like "hey where is mine!" But after having 3 birthday cakes, who wouldn't right!?! She even has one more very small party at home on Saturday. We are hoping to have our friends Brian and Leda down to go see a movie and have cake and ice cream afterwards! Well, I am feeling a bit discombulated after our trip so I am not thinking straight. I will provide more fun details and tons of pictures when I have my thoughts together. I just didn't want you all to think I had forgotten all about you! I hope you all had a great Thanksgiving. We have so much to be grateful for this year!

The Cunningham's @ Thanksgiving


Mommy, Daddy, & the Birthday Girl


Princess Gracie & Daddy

We made it and stairs...

So after a VERY long day in the airport, we finally made it to St. Louis. We got to Uncle CC & Aunt Dianne's to relax and eat some yummy pizzas with some of our friends here. Gracie loved being the center of attention but passed out early due to the long day. The yesterday we just took it easy. Uncle CC and Matt went to the Rams/Bears game where I have to say the Bears pounded the Rams which made Matt extremely happy. The girls just hung around in jammies, it was fun! Of course we had more friends over last night for dinner. It was such a good time.



The other thing we have figured out which is so SCARY and exciting considering we are moving into a 2 story house is that Gracie figured out how to crawl up the stairs all on her own. Aunt Dianne and I had this conversation about how the stairs in the new house is making me kind of nervous not 5 minutes before Matt called up stairs (where I was at) to come to the top of the stairs and there was my little girl just crawling her way up the stairs. I just can't believe it. I had no idea she could do it considering she hasn't been around stairs in 5 months! Baby gates are definitely in our future!!!!!! There is a video down below of her adventures up the stairs.



Well, today is Gracie's photo shoot for the university. For those of you that forgot, earlier in the spring, Uncle CC bought some University of Missouri @ St. Louis gear for Gracie and in appreciation for it I took some pictures and sent them to him. Well, of course, he had to show them off. Well, the bookstore wanted to blow her picture up into a poster and diplay it by the baby clothes. So now that we are in town they want new pictures so we are heading over there today to take some. Don't worry, mommy is going with the camera so I will be sure to grab some and post some!



Alright, well I have some things to do while Gracie is sleeping so I am going to go! Have a great day and I will post more later! Enjoy the pictures so far!!!!





"Look at how far I am"






Gracie & Daddy this morning!







Gracie in her ducky tub!





Stair Climbing

UGH....Airports

Hello all...we sure hope your Saturday is going well...ours is not. We got off fine in El Paso, but as soon as we got to Albuquerque, we discovered our flight was delayed because of fog in San Diego. We were supposed to be on a plane into St. Louis by 11:30 (it is now that time) and we not have to wait until 2:10 to be in the air. If you want my opinion, I am not happy. Thankfully Gracie is being a good girl and sitting in her stroller chewing on her bink. I am going to try to keep her content there since we have to be here for so long. Eventually we will have to get up and walk around. She loves to look at all the new things. I am hoping she sleeps for most of the flight into St. Louis. Ok, I think I am done venting...ha ha! I thought I would just let you all know that our trip is turning out to be interesting to say the least. Like I said before I promise to keep you all updated throughout the trip! Have a good Saturday!

WOWZA...

What a week. So let me just give you an overview of my week:

Monday-very busy at work
Tuesday-went to the toe doctor, singed off half of my toenail, went to the dentist, extracted a tooth
Wednesday-went to work in pain, got sent home, had to go to the zoo to replace Pengy since Daisy decided to use Pengy the Penguin as a chew toy
Thursday-VERY long day at work, got off early, Gracie fussy due to another tooth coming in
Friday-busy busy busy-dropped Daisy off, took pictures of our new house, and attempted to pack

Tomorrow we leave for our much deserved trip home to see family. We are starting off seeing our family in St. Louis, then heading to Greenfield, and then off to West Frankfort. All in a week or so! Gracie will have 3 parties while we are there to celebrate her upcoming first birthday. She is getting to be such a big girl.


Speaking of Gracie, she is doing great. She is experiencing more and more with standing on her own. I don't think she is going to take her first steps before her birthday or even by her birthday but that is A-OK with me. Walking turns into running and I am not ready for that.


So we are officially moving at the end of December. It is going to be crazy but we are excited. When it comes down to it, we are just out growing our house now. It is a fabulous deal that we cannot pass up. Even though we are just renting it, we are going to make it our own. I still won't be able to paint, but there are ways to make white walls look good. We have been doing it for almost 8 years so why change now! ha ha!


Well, I am exhausted and have to get up early to finish packing. Busy busy day! Here are a few pictures from the last week along with a few of our new home. Enjoy your weekend and I promise to update as long as I can while we are home!

Me attempting to get a good Christmas picture...


Entry to our new house



The kitchen...much bigger then the one I have now


The outside

My happy girl!

Good Sunday Morning~

Good Chilly Sunday Morning....it is so cold here this AM. But don't think I am complaining! I am EXCITED! I love cold weather which is why we won't be staying in El Paso after our 2 years here. I like warm weather, but it just gets too hot for me to handle.

Yesterday was such a great day. I started out by doing some housework which was majorly needed and got it all done by the time I needed to go run some errands. After I got back, Matt and I strapped Gracie into her car seat (who is sitting forward facing now) and headed over to look at another house to rent. It has a fireplace, a separate laundry room (not in the garage), a better kitchen, a bigger spare bedroom (very important for you all that have come to visit), double sink in the master bath, and pretty much the fix to all the gripes we have about our current house. With all of Gracie's toys and stuff that comes with having a baby, we need the extra 600 feet it is going to give us. So at the beginning of the year, we are going to be moving. That should be interesting.

Other then that, today we are hanging out at home. Matt needs to get caught up on some school work and I am going to set up the Christmas Tree. Since we leave for vacation next weekend I want to do it this weekend, not to mention I am totally in the Christmas Spirit already!

Well, you all have a fabulous day and I promise to post some pictures soon!

My Veteran's

Today is a special day for me. It is a day I get to honor my husband, my grandfather and Matt's grandfather. All three of them, among many others I know and don't know, have fought in wars in the past and in the present. Today is a day for all of us to celebrate, take a moment, and appreciate those who have served, are serving, and are deployed to foreign lands to protect all that we have here in the United States. So far Matt has only done one deployment to Iraq, but we are looking towards another one in the spring. I am so very proud of my husband. He sacrifices so much of his own life and things he loves to fight for our freedom. Many people ask me if I like being a military wife, which I admit at times I don't, but you know what? I am married to a guy who unselfishly fights for a cause that many people don't agree with. He gets up everyday, puts on his uniform and drives to work to do his part in protecting our country. There are times where he has to put his job before his family but I know that he loves his country and does it to protect our freedom. I know Gracie is so proud of her daddy. I look forward to telling her stories of the things her daddy has done and stories of her grandfather's that she will never know. Matt is my hero, he is the man I love with all of my heart, and he is my man in uniform. Whatever decisions he decides in the future, I will be there by his side. So Happy Veteran's Day to you Honey and to all of those out there that are serving, have served, and will serve in our military. Your dedication and service is appreciated by all!

My hero and his little girl!


Such a perfect way to describe what today is really about:

They Did Their Share

On Veteran’s Day we honor

Soldiers who protect our nation.

For their service as our warriors,

They deserve our admiration.

Some of them were drafted;

Some were volunteers;

For some it was just yesterday;

For some it’s been many years;

In the jungle or the desert,

On land or on the sea,

They did whatever was assigned

To produce a victory.

Some came back; some didn’t.

They defended us everywhere.

Some saw combat; some rode a desk;

All of them did their share.

No matter what the duty,

For low pay and little glory,

These soldiers gave up normal lives,

For duties mundane and gory.

Let every veteran be honored;

Don’t let politics get in the way.

Without them, freedom would have died;

What they did, we can’t repay.

We owe so much to them,

Who kept us safe from terror,

So when we see a uniform,

Let’s say "thank you" to every wearer.

Cheerios for Two

So, Gracie has figured out that not only does Daisy love Cheerios like she does, but sharing them is not only nice, but fun! For about 10 minutes I watched Gracie eat a Cheerio and give one to Daisy. There was a couple that Daisy attempted to get out of Gracie's little fingers but was unsuccessful and almost ended up in Gracie's mouth with puppy germs. I am so proud of Daisy, she is such a great dog. Most dogs would keep trying to get the food from some one's fingers until they got what they wanted, even if that meant biting, nipping, or whatever to get it. Daisy with all of her puppy patients would take it if she could get to it without hurting Gracie. Daisy is so great with Gracie, we are blessed to have a dog like Daisy. Either way here are a couple of pictures of the two dining on Cheerios!

Here Daisy, try these!!!

Daisy loves him...have some more!

Taken a few minutes ago...her hiney is up in the air! How Cute!

Relaxing weekend...feeling icky!

Well, what a nice long weekend. Gracie hasn't been feeling great and quite honestly neither have I so I left work early on Friday and just stayed home all day. It was an extra bonus to have Matt home too considering he had 24 hour duty on Thursday. He gets a 5 day weekend due to Veteran's Day on Tuesday...lucky duck! I still have to go to work tomorrow but I do get Tuesday off. Either way we had a nice relaxing weekend. We got some stuff done around the house that I have been dying to do. I wanted to go through a couple of things before we drug all of our Christmas stuff out. Yes, I am getting the Christmas stuff out next weekend because we usually set the Christmas tree up the day after Thanksgiving but this year we are going to be home in Illinois for Thanksgiving so I want to have it done before that. I know, I am nuts, but I love Christmas and I would rather do it now rather than later.

Gracie cracks me up. She now sticks her tounge out all the time. As soon as we go outside, that tounge pops out. I have some funny pictures down below of it! She is just too cute. She is doing great and just hung out all weekend. We did get out of the house for a little bit today and went to the park to take some fall pictures. Keep in mind we live in a desert climate so our fall is everything brown. The very few trees that have leaves that turn are just now starting to turn. Also, it was still 72 today....we are just now starting to cool down. Either way, I still got some cute pictures of Gracie. There is even a small video of her walking for you to enjoy. She is getting better at it but still stumbles a bit as you will see.

Gracie and Daisy have always been the best of friends, but lately they have been almost inseprable. It is so cute. I decided to see if I could get some pictures of them together considering when they are near each other it is hard to get both of them to stay still long enough to snap the picture. I have to say the more mobile Gracie gets, the harder it is to get pictures.
Well, enjoy the pictures and enjoy the week! I will be sure to post more pictures soon. I finally got my good camera back so I am a picture taking fool again. Until next time....

So precious!

Me & My girl!

Walking...and doing a good job!


"So Daisy, this IS a great idea!"

Typical Gracie smile


Video of Gracie Walking