A Special Day

Today is our 7th Anniversary so we spent the day as a family. I know to some that isn't a big deal, but to us and the busy lives we lead (especially now that I am working) that we just wanted to spend the day together. Matt did surprise me and take me to Olive Garden for lunch. He is such a sweet guy! All I know is that I have been married to a great man for 7 years and I hope that we are able to spend another 50 or more together!

We had a really nice 3 (4 for Matt) day weekend. On Friday, Matt & Gracie had a Daddy/Daughter Day where they spent the day out running errands and bonding. Gracie spent most of the day sleeping on her daddy in the snugli back pack. They sure had fun together.

This weekend we are heading home for Amy's (Matt's sister) high school graduation. On Saturday we are having Cunningham Family pictures taken and I was making sure Gracie's dress fit. Well, of course, once I had her in it, I had to take some pictures so I will include a few today. My favorite one is her petting Daisy. Those two are already becoming friends. Daisy likes to lick Gracie on her hand...which of course is spreading her doggy germs....ewww. But Gracie just sticks her hand out waiting for the puppy tongue. Either way, they play....well Daisy plays and Gracie laughs at her!

Alright, we are off to bed. Tomorrow is my first full work week and Gracie's first day at full-time daycare. I went to meet her teachers and see the room on Friday. I am really excited about her spending time there. There are a lot of babies her age and the teachers seem really nice. I know tomorrow will be hard for me and the next two days, but on Friday we have another 3 day weekend! So I am sure I can do it! Anyway, goodnight all and until the next time....

Our Memorial Day girl!

Smilin' as always!

Daisy & Gracie posin' for the picture!

Outside Time

El Paso in the springtime can be an awesome time to spend outside before it gets super hot in the summer. The winds, which are very very bad at times, can put a damper on outside plans, but most of the time we can enjoy at least a few hours. Anyway, we have been spending a lot of time outside. Matt had a unit event on Thursday that Gracie and I visited until it got to windy. Gracie had a great time swinging with daddy and playing with her toys while riding around in her stroller. She loves to look at all the things outside.

Today, Matt needed to do some training for the training he is going to be attending in a couple of weeks. So we headed over to the park we have around the corner. While Matt did his exercising around the track, Gracie, Daisy, and I sat on a blanket and played with toys until he was done! Gracie is getting stronger at sitting up. She still tumbles over a lot, but she loves seeing the world from a different view. Gracie was also excited as she got to ride "big girl" style in her stroller! A totally different view then what she has been used too. However, she was so pooped from playing outside, on the way home she feel asleep! :)

Here are a few pictures of our outside adventures. Until next time....

These are pics from Matt's unit Sports Day

These are from our adventure outside today!

P. S. I am tired of trying to put the pictures in order...the ones with Gracie in her white hat & Cardinals outfit are from today...the other 2 are from the other day! Have a great Memorial Day!

Before I was a Mom

I came across this adorable little poem the other day and wow, it is so true. My life has changed so much since Gracie has joined us. It totally made me laugh and appreciate being a mom so I thought I would share! Enjoy!!!

Before I was a Mom
I never tripped over toys or forgot words to a lullaby.
I didn't worry whether or not my plants were poisonous.
I never thought about immunizations.

Before I was a Mom -
I had never been puked on. Pooped on. Chewed on. Peed on.
I had complete control of my mind and my thoughts.
I slept all night.

Before I was a Mom
I never held down a screaming child so doctors could do tests. Or give shots.
I never looked into teary eyes and cried.
I never got gloriously happy over a simple grin.
I never sat up late hours at night watching a baby sleep.

Before I was a Mom
I never held a sleeping baby just because I didn't want to put her down.
I never felt my heart break into a million pieces when I couldn't stop the hurt.
I never knew that something so small could affect my life so much.
I never knew that I could love someone so much.
I never knew I would love being a Mom.

Before I was a Mom -
I didn't know the feeling of having my heart outside my body.
I didn't know how special it could feel to feed a hungry baby.
I didn 't know that bond between a mother and her child was so strong.
I didn't know that something so small could make me feel so important and happy.

Before I was a Mom -
I had never gotten up in the middle of the night every 10 minutes to make sure all was okay.
I had never known the warmth, the joy, the love, the heartache,the wonderment or the satisfaction of being a Mom.
I didn't know I was capable of feeling so much, before I was a Mom.

Our day outside!

So it was a beautiful day outside today. After having a cool front come in over the end of the week and all of suffering from allergies, it was nice to get out in warm weather with no wind! We spent the morning sniffling in bed and taking it easy and we were all feeling better in the afternoon. A couple of weeks ago, I bought a pool for Gracie to enjoy this summer and we thought it was a good day to break it out! She had such a blast playing in the water. She has figured out she can splash with her hands and not just her feet! Here are a few pictures of her enjoying her time in her pool!! There is also a short video for you to enjoy....don't worry I made sure I took it the right way this time! :)

Until next time...

I love cereal...it is so my favorite!




















Huh, so this is what swimming is!



















Such a happy baby!

Look at my new pool!

I forgot...

I forgot the Daisy and Gracie picture so here it is!

Guess who is sitting up??

Gracie sat up all on her own today. At first she was really wobbly, but the more she did it the steadier she got! Everytime we cross over another milestone, I can't help but be excited. On the other hand, it just reminds me even more that she is getting bigger and bigger! Which again, is bittersweet. Anyhoo, she is getting to be such a big girl!

I also caught her and Daisy sleeping together...again! Gracie feel asleep while I was finishing up getting ready today and I looked over to check on her....yeah, Daisy had curled herself up right next to her! It was so cute! Of course, pictures are below.

Well, that is all for now! Until next time....

So, did you know that feet taste really good? You should try it!

Look at those baby blues!

How did I get way up here?

Look at what I did Mommy!

Oopsy....I fell over.... :)

Exciting news!

So, I got a call today for a job! I am so excited. It looks like I will be working for the MEPS station, Military Entrance Processing Station. I have been waiting for a call like this for awhile. But, as always, there is a downside to the great news. It means that I won't be able to stay at home with Grace. I have always known that I wanted to work and that still hasn't changed but I am going to miss spending time with Grace everyday. It will be good for both of us, but I will miss our daily moments. They great news is I was able to get her into a daycare of base which is a really good daycare. I just wanted to share with you our good news! Yippee!!!! Until next time....

Long time....

I am so sorry it has been awhile since I posted it a blog. We have been super busy in the Cunningham household. Matt's cousin Heather and her boyfriend Chris came to visit for a week. It was awesome to see Heather again and to meet Chris. We had a fun week of heading around El Paso and just hanging out.

Gracie of course loved all the attention she gets when people come! She hasn't really done a whole lot of new stuff but she has perfected holding her bottle which she does almost all the time, but not every time. She still isn't rolling over a lot but she will in time, I know she can do it, so I am not worried. Gracie is finally feeling better. The congestion is pretty much gone, but we are supposed to get a cold front this weekend (it will be done in the 70's...gotta love the El Paso weather) and I am afraid it will come back. Only time will tell.

Gracie still loves her jumper. Every time we put her in there, she just smiles and laughs. It is super cute. She is starting to log a lot of hours jumper around. Her favorite thing is when Mommy or Daddy comes and plays with her.

Well, that is all for now. I hope everyone had a great Mother's Day. Until next time....

Heather & Gracie playing!

I love this picture even though the color isn't good!

Daddy calls us every morning after he gets through with PT (Army lingo for their mandatory work out they have to do). Gracie loves to hear from him in the AM.

5 Month's Old!

Believe it or not, Gracie is 5 month's old! It still amazes me how much she has grown over the months and how much stuff she has discovered. She found her feet weeks ago, but today she figured out she can actually get to them when she is laying down! It is so cute. She is trying to get them in her mouth...again...adorable. We have also started on veggies too! Gracie did not like the green beans at first but by the end of the jar she loved them. We had carrots yesterday and they are already gone today. She really liked the carrots. We are going to do carrots again to give her a couple of days to see if she has an allergy, but I doubt she does. Neither Matt or I have any food allergies.

The medicine is really helping with her congestion. Instead of being congested all day, she only has moments of congestion. The dry skin is better too, but I have a feeling that is going to be a long term battle as long as we live here. The air is so dry in good ol' El Paso.

Matt's cousin Heather and her boyfriend Chris are visiting this week. We really don't have much planned but we are glad they are here. Gracie is loving all the attention she is getting. They of course think she is darling!

Anyway, there are a few pics of her and her feet along with a couple misc. ones! Have a good week all and until next time....

I can almost get my foot in my mouth...almost...see Daddy...I almost got it!
Ugh, so close!

I love carrots, yes I do, I love carrots, how about you?

Our Girl is getting so big and she is FAMOUS! :)

Today I took Gracie to the doctor because she has been battling a stuffy nose and some dry skin on her back. The doctor gave us stuff to make it all better but the most exciting part was we got to find out how much she has grown in less then a month. It is nuts. She is 15 lbs and 2 oz and has already grown a half of an inch...she is 26 inches tall. She is getting so big. I tell her she needs to stop growing so fast but apparently she is not going to listen to me.

Uncle CC and Aunt Dianne (Matt's aunt and uncle from St. Louis) sent us a package....well, I should say sent Gracie a package, full of goodies. They sent her a couple of University of Missouri-St. Louis outfits (Uncle CC is the Vice Provost for Student Affairs there), a BEAUTIFUL dress, some shoes and pearls to go with the dress because we all know every girl needs accessories, and some Baby Einstein books. They (along with everyone else) spoil her. Well, in appreciation and the fact I love to take pictures, I took some pics of Gracie in her UMSL gear and sent them to Uncle CC and Aunt Dianne. Well, of course, Uncle CC had to show them off to everyone. Someone from the bookstore decided they are going to blow up one of Gracie's UMSL pictures into a poster and put it in the bookstore. So she is going to be famous in St. Louis...alright maybe not famous, but I know there are going to be a lot of people saying..."Awwww....she is so cute!" Which she is!

Well, other then that nothing new to report. Have a great weekend all! Until next time...

Gracie is so funny...she was laughing at me in this picture!

Gracie is officially a member of the "Itty Bitty UMSL Fan Club"