Life in the Eyes of the Spagoogles

A Day with Mommy

2011-09-12T18:15:00.000-07:00

I cannot tell you what it means to have a day off during the week where I can spend time with my children. I miss them so much during the week when I have to go to work. Today was a great day and we had loads of fun. Jonathan still isn't feeling himself, but he still managed to play and I got him to smile several times. I love my babies and wish that I had even more time with them than I do, but I am thankful for the time that I do have. The highlights of the day were pizza. Grace loves pizza, and so do I. Then we had some icecream. Lots of laughs and lots of love to go around in this house. Thank you God for such a blessed day!

Jonathan is 9 months!

2011-09-12T10:32:00.000-07:00

Our precious Jonathan is 9 months old now. He turned 9 months officially on September 6th. Just a week ago before he turned 9 months we celebrated a big milestone with him, he began crawling forward. He really loves the fact that he can get to anything that he desires now by crawling. It has opened up the world for him. Unfortunately he has had a rough couple of weeks. I took him in to the doctor a week ago because I thought that the cold that he had been trying to fight was in his chest, the doctor assured me that it was not in his chest. He said that it was all in his upper respiratory system and that he had an ear infection. He needed to be put on antibiotics. I had given him his amoxicillin for a week. Yesterday was the 7th day of a 10 day dose of this medication. When he woke up yesterday he was covered in a rash from head to toe. I felt so helpless. What caused this I wondered. He was also very irritable, and I can understand why. I took him back to the doctor and he was convinced that he is allergic to penicillin and that is why that he has this full body rash. He told me that his ears are still red and that he needs another antibiotic and a steroid to help alleviate the symptoms associated with the rash. I took him in for his 9 month well check-up today and a different doctor, his new pediatrician, told me that his ears look fine and that he shouldn't be taking the antibiotic. He isn't sure whether the rash was from the penicillin but typed in his chart that he is possibly allergic to it and recommended getting allergy tests in the future. He then told me that he recommended he get a third Hepatitis B vaccine since his shot records do not reflect him getting that dose. He also recommends a flu vaccine. So I agreed to have the two vaccines given to him today. I know that he is not feeling himself still. He is napping now along with his sister. She seems to be doing fine and has been offering to help entertain her brother. She is such a loving sister. Jonathan weighed 20 lbs 1 ounce today, and he measured 28 3/4 inches long. The doctor stated that if he remained on this trajectory that he would probably be at least 6 feet tall. Wow Buddy, you are growing! I hope that this awful rash goes away soon because it just doesn't suite him. He is always smiling and this rash is just making him miserable. Please pray that our Jonathan gets well soon and that his health is restored. I need to see him smiling again! His smiles are so infectious :) I will keep you updated.

Unfinished Business

2011-09-12T10:05:00.001-07:00

I am sure that many of you are already aware that we have moved back to Indiana now. I can't say that were are settled yet but we are trying to make this new place of ours a home for now. There are still boxes left to be unpacked, and there are many more that I might just leave packed up for now. Where does all of this stuff come from? As much as I would love to decorate this place and make it look even more comfy and cozy, I just haven't got the time or the energy to do it. You know how that goes I am sure. There just isn't enough time in the day to get everything done that you want, so I have learned to just do as much as you can and then save the rest for another day. It has been much too long since I have been able to update our blog. I feel like our lives just hit huge barriers along the way since the move. Nothing has been easy, but we have embraced these changes and we are trying everyday to work through the trials that we bear. It just makes me again so thankful for our faith and how much that we do rely on our holy family to get us through these tough times. I do know that despite the trials and the heartache, we are always left with more joy and more graces than I could ever be thankful enough for. God really does know what he is doing? He knows our hearts and he knows exactly what he wants of us. He also knows what we can handle and he never asks for anything more than that. I know that the trials that we have gone through and continue to go through are only the smallest fraction of what our dear Lord went through. How can I complain? I am human and I do worry and fret when things are tough. Sometimes I feel like there is nothing left inside me to give to anyone, but then those little reminders of how great our God is come into my heart. I take one look at my wedding picture and I am reminded of the love of my life, my husband and how thankful that I am for our marriage, our vows, our beliefs, and our values. I take one look at my children and I am reminded of how blessed we truly are. How beautiful they are and how much joy they bring to our lives. I think of our extended family and how blessed we are to have such wonderful parents, who all are also the best grandparents for our children. I also think of our friends who continue to offer all that they have to help us during our times of need. Thank you God for being so close to our family. We know that it will not always be easy, that there will be many rocky roads ahead of us, but we also know that the reward is in sight, our final destination along this journey of ours will end with You holding us in Your arms and welcoming us home for good. And that makes everything all worthwhile. Thank You for the many blessings that You have bestowed upon our family along the way. No matter what You have in store for us, I can trust that You know what is best and I look forward to meeting that challege.

Dancing Spagoog

2011-07-08T13:08:00.000-07:00

I think that this girl may be a dancer or a gymnast. What do you think? One thing is for sure, she certainly knows how to entertain herself and everyone around her. I love this girl!

Happy 7 Months Jonathan!

2011-07-08T12:57:00.000-07:00

My baby boy is growing fast. He turned 7 months on July 6th. Can't believe it! We love him so much! He makes us all smile and laugh!

Two Peas in a Pod

2011-07-08T12:30:00.001-07:00

Thumb Sucking Pals

2011-07-08T12:20:00.000-07:00

Clearly demonstrating here that they share a common habit.

Checking to see what the other is doing.

Realizing that it is in fact true. They are "thumb sucking pals" after all.

Gary the Gecko Part 2

2011-07-08T12:10:00.000-07:00

A couple of weeks ago I was doing dishes and I found this in my sink, Gary the Gecko. Pretty sure he was not the same Gecko that made his presence known to us in Abilene, but he was definitely a relative. To bad he didn't survive with the Joy dish washing liquid soap. :(

Happy Father's Day

2011-06-20T20:13:00.000-07:00

The kids sure do love their daddy! I am so blessed to have him as the father of my children! We love you Marc!

P.S. I am also so very thankful to have such wonderful fathers, Bryan and Harold, in my life. They have been amazing role models to me! I love you both so much!

Marc's Birthday

2011-06-20T19:54:00.001-07:00

We celebrated daddy's birthday on Friday. I made him an oreo cake. We went to Chedders for dinner after he got home from work. Chedders is very similar to Applebees. The food was very tasty and the price was very reasonable. We enjoyed the cake when we got home. The cake turned out very yummy and rich...almost too rich. I think next time I am going to either make the icing out of cool whip and oreos and leave the cake the way it is or make the same icing and tone down the cake. Today is day four of eating the cake and we still have over half of the cake left. I think that we may have to waste some of it. This is why we need people close by to help us enjoy these things. I believe that he had a great birthday. I am so glad that this fine man was brought into this world...because I met him, fell in love with him, married him, and started a family with him. He is amazing! I don't know what I would do without him. :)

Buddy Pictures

2011-06-20T19:50:00.000-07:00

Trip to the Zoo

2011-06-20T19:09:00.001-07:00

We went to the Fort Worth Zoo on Sunday June 12th. It was a free day event compliments of Marc's company, T.D. Ameritrade. You probably have already noticed that our family picture that was taken at the zoo is now our main picture at the beginning of our blog. It was a great day for us, but it was very hot. We ended up staying there about 4 1/2 hours or so. We took many breaks going in and out of the cooler buildings to help cool down the kids. We saw many animals of course, and enjoyed a nice cheeseburger and ice cream. They even gave us little backpacks with snacks and water. Grace really enjoyed Texas Town. There was an area there where you would pull on a rope and lots of water would come pouring out on you. All the other children were frightened but not Grace. She stayed right underneath the water and stuck out her tongue. She got completely soaked, but this was actually a good thing because it was over 100 degrees out and this helped her cool off a bit. She was so funny to watch dancing in the water. She loves water! Jonathan enjoyed the trip as well and he napped often. He made it without crying for the entire trip except for the last five minutes. We realized then that we had stayed long enough. We might go back again before we leave because they are having Veteran's day there on July 2nd.

Update on Jonathan

2011-06-20T18:42:00.000-07:00

Jonathan sure is growing and changing every day. On Friday June 10th he tried his first bite of rice cereal. He loved it! He has only had it a few times since I first introduced it to him because he is still quite content with just breastfeeding. Grace did not like this cereal at all when she was his age. She completely bypassed the rice cereal and went to some vegetables and fruits. He seems to enjoy it a lot. It is so funny how they are different in these little ways. Each child is certainly unique and special. I can't wait to see them interact more. His face always lights up when his sister is around him. It is a precious sight. Jonathan is sitting better now. I am sure that he will be sitting independently soon. He still likes me to spot him now and then while he is balancing. :)

Happy 6 Months Jonathan Gabriel

2011-06-06T12:16:00.000-07:00

Jonathan is 6 months old today and I can't believe it! Our little man sure has changed so much over the last couple of months. We went to the doctor today for his well baby checkup. He is right on track with his growth and development. He weighs 18lbs and 5 oz, and measures 27 and 1/4 inches in length. He is growing like a weed. He rolls and turns and pushes up very high. He is also building strength in his thunder thighs as he practices daily in his jumperoo. I am sure that this boy will be on the move in no time. So far he doesn't have any teeth yet but the boy sure can drool. :) He vocalizes and laughs often. He absolutely loves to be sung to. He is so much fun! I have sure enjoyed watching him grow to the adorable baby boy that he is. Love you buddy!

Missing South Padre

2011-06-06T09:56:00.000-07:00

We had such a great time last month going to South Padre Island, and with everything getting busy here lately I really miss those beautiful crashing waves of the ocean. Although I wish that we could have stayed longer than we did, it was a nice trip. Maybe it was a good thing that we didn't stay longer because Marc and I came back with a rich sunburn. Our skin peeled for several weeks after we returned. It has been very hot here recently, and of course we could use some more rain too. However, I must say that I have really enjoyed our time here in Texas. We have shared many memories here including the births of both of our children, one in Abilene and one in Grapevine. We drove to Texas in the summer of 2008 with much excitement and three years later we are still excited but scared about what the future may hold for us. One thing is true, we trust in God and because of that, Marc and I have a wonderful marriage and two precious children. Things have not always been easy, but we have learned to embrace change. It has certainly made us stronger. We can't wait to see what the Lord has in store for us as we continue our journey. But I am still missing South Padre, it was so beautiful and peaceful there.

Mother's Day

2011-05-09T11:15:00.000-07:00

I am so thankful to have such wonderful mothers in my life: Our Blessed Mother, my Mother, and my Mother-in-law. All of these mothers have taught me so much in my life. God Bless you all! I am also very blessed to be a mother to two of the sweetest children, Grace and Jonathan. Here are some pictures from Mother's Day.

Cowboys and Cowgirls

2011-05-09T11:11:00.000-07:00

Rolling Right into 5 Months

2011-05-09T10:17:00.000-07:00

My Jonathan started rolling on Wednesday just two days before he turned 5 months. Go Buddy! He is getting stronger by the day. Can't believe that he is already 5 months old. Look at how much he has changed. His personality has really emerged. He is such a character! Enjoy the pictures!

Johny the Jumperoo

2011-05-08T10:40:00.000-07:00

Jonathan tried out the Jumperoo this Tuesday. The jumperoo is something that we got from a friend when Grace was little. Jonathan just loves it! And this will give him some more activity too. He loves jumping around. I can't believe how much he has changed within the last few months. Go Buddy! Grace decided that she wanted to give it a try too after seeing Jonathan have so much fun.

Easter

2011-04-26T12:28:00.000-07:00

We sure had a joyous time celebrating the resurrection of our dear Lord this year, as we always do. We long to be with You someday in glory. We are so thankful for all of our blessings. We have the best marriage, and two beautiful and healthy children. We have a roof over our heads, and a comfy place to rest our heads. We have good food to eat and a rich supply of sweets. We have loving family and friends. What more could we possibly ask for? This year we celebrated Easter here in Fort Worth. We got up early to go to mass. When we returned the kids got their Easter baskets with treats. Grace received three Sesame Street books, some rabbit ears, a chocolate bunny, a candy egg, a rabbit purse, and a little people car. She absolutely loved everything especially the books. Our daughter loves books. She spent almost the whole rest of the day looking at those books. Jonathan got his first chocolate bunny, Baby Binks. We had to help him eat it this year. He also got two pairs of socks, some eggs that do not open up, and a hammer rattle. I made a homemade ranch chicken pizza for lunch, and daddy hid the eggs in our back yard. Grace really enjoyed finding the eggs. We had to help her toward the end so that we could make it back into the house before it rained. We made it. We also enjoyed the resurrection eggs that Sharon sent us for Grace. And I bet that you are thinking that pizza doesn't sound like a traditional Easter meal right? Well, we love pizza in this house, and we went out to eat for lunch the day before Easter. So it was simple and delicious. Here are a few pictures from Easter at our house. I have placed more pictures on facebook for those who would like to see more. Of course, I made my way to the store the day after Easter for the candy sales. I picked up some sweet treats but I didn't go overboard. I also bought some cookie cutters. And thank you Mom for sending us those cute Easter cards.

Jonathan is Stronger

2011-04-26T12:13:00.000-07:00

My little man is getting stronger by the day. He pushes up more now, can turn 360 degrees on the floor and has almost flipped over. He plays with his toys and turns on his side often. He hasn't flipped over yet but I believe that he will accomplish that milestone soon. One thing is for sure, he loves to smile and to laugh. :)

Just My Kiddos

2011-04-19T19:51:00.000-07:00

Nothing brightens up my day more than seeing these children looking back at me.

Amen

2011-04-19T12:49:00.000-07:00

On Sunday April 10th, Marc and I shared a quiet laugh when our daughter said something during mass. When the priest said that Jesus is the way, the truth, and the light, Grace shouted, "AMEN." My how our little toddler brought such joy to our hearts. And the other day when Grace climbed onto the bed in our bedroom, she looked up and saw the crucifix on our wall. She pointed to it and said, "Jesus." I smiled and told her that she was right. Then she tried to sing parts of Jesus loves me, and so we both began to sing that song together. My little girl makes me so happy. Thank you God for my children, for they are the most precious gifts to me.

Jonathan's 4 Month Checkup

2011-04-06T12:14:00.000-07:00

Can you believe my Jonathan is already 4 months old? Where does the time go? I have been so blessed to be able to enjoy him growing up. He is such a joy! He laughs and smiles all of the time. We went to see the doctor today for his well baby checkup. He sure is growing? He weighs 16 lbs 14 ounces and is 25 and 3/4 inches long. Go Johny Cakers! He is healthy and right on track with development. Here are a few details about him. He loves looking up at the fan on the ceiling when it is spinning. I wonder if that makes him dizzy but he finds it fascinating. He also smiles when I turn it on. I think that he also enjoys the pleasant breeze that it creates. He loves playing on his play mat. He eagerly pulls at all of the hanging toys, especially the giant red bug that plays a number of tunes if you pull on it just right. He vocalizes very well and gets very excited trying to tell me what is going on in his world. He loves to hear mommy sing to him. He loves to sit in his bouncy with either the radio or the dishwasher nearby. When he falls asleep in his bouncy seat he will often open his eyes to see if I am nearby and when he makes eye contact with me and hears me speak he smiles the biggest smile and then he closes his eyes again and drifts away in baby dreamland. He loves to be tickled right under the chin or around his ribs. His laughs are so infectious! And when he smiles he uses his entire face. His eyes are so big and blue and they have such shine to them. He loves to listen to his daddy talk to him. One of the cutest things that he does, and this also reminds me of when Grace was just a baby, is that when he is nursing he often breaks away and gives me a smile or he will vocalize and coo at me, or sometimes he will laugh, and then he will return to nursing. God really knew what he was doing when he thought of women nursing their young. It is such a beautiful thing. Jonathan really took well to nursing even though he came early. Jonathan also loves to watch his sister. He always smiles when she is talking nearby, and especially when Grace gives him hugs and kisses. And when Grace occasionally cries, he cries also. I cannot wait to see how they will interact as he continues to grow. But I don't want to speed up the clock, so I hope that these moments don't pass by too quickly. I love my babies, and even though Grace is a toddler she is still my baby too. I am so thankful for the health of my children. And Jonathan, happy 4 months sweetie! You light up my world!

10 Facts About My Husband and I

2011-04-04T10:27:00.000-07:00

1. I met my husband at a party held by my roommate in Indianpolis, and the favorite topic of conversation between us was Michael Jackson. So many laughs were shared between us. I became very interested in this man immediately.

2. On our first date we went to see The Aviator, and while we were watching I envisioned our wedding at Saint Boniface. This was even before I went to Saint Boniface. And I know you probably think that I am joking about the wedding but I am completely serious. Remembering our first date, when we were married Marc told me how he really wanted to hold my hand when we were watching that movie together but he didn't want to come off too strong; if only he knew what I was dreaming of at that moment I believe he would have held my hand without any hesitation.

3. On the night of our first kiss, Marc and I drank at least 32 ounces of Mountain Dew each, and then we sang "Roxanne" by the Police, at the top of our lungs.

4. We enjoyed many conversations about our faith while dating, and we still have very detailed conversations about religion and politics. Marc really helped me seek out the truth and it is by his example that I started digging deep into the Catholic faith. Thank you Mom and Dad for raising such a gemstone for me! I am proud to see what I have become and I can't wait to continue to grow with my husband!

5. A favorite memory of ours was going to The Fiddler's Hearth to see Gaelic Storm. We went with Ben and Katrina. We danced and sang to our hearts content that night, and then pigged out on Cheetos on the way home. The next day in class, while I was in dental school, I discovered one random cheeto in my purse. I burst out laughing and everyone looked at me like I was crazy. And I was crazy, crazy in love!

6. We went to Disney World for our honeymoon and it was record cold for Florida then. We still had a great time and our favorite food while we were there were fries from Mc'Donalds.

7. While we were dating, I bought Marc an alarm clock that woke you up by saying many silly phrases. He loved it and used it every day up until our daughter thought it would be fun to see if it would float in the toilet. It was sad to see it go because it had such sentimental value, but you couldn't help but laugh to see how it met it's fate. We put it in the trash and it randomly went off muffling the wake up phrases in a creepy voice. It was only a memory when trash day came.

8. On our second wedding anniversary we cut a piece of our wedding cake but decided that we weren't going to eat it. We were unable to enjoy it on our first anniversary because the cake was in the freezer at my parent's house in West Lafayette while we were in Abilene going to the hospital to have our first child. We got some nice pictures of it.

9. My husband is much wiser than I will ever be. I adore him!

10. My husband is my absolute favorite person in the world. He is my best friend. I believe that he knows me better than even I know myself. He is the greatest husband that a girl could ever ask for. He is the best father to our children, and they are madly crazy about him. Our love continues to grow stronger each and every day and I can't wait to share even more memories with the love of my life, my husband.

** And I could go on and on about my husband and I but I can't tell you everything. ;)

Best Shot

2011-04-02T20:43:00.000-07:00

March Pictures

2011-03-31T10:48:00.000-07:00

Here are some more pictures that were taken this month. I love my children so much!

The sun was shining bright when these photos were taken. That is why Jonathan is not opening his eyes up really wide.

Grace loves playing outside!

Giving Thanks

2011-03-31T10:46:00.000-07:00

We are so thankful to have such wonderful friends in our lives! It truly is a blessing! God is so good!

Recent Snapshots

2011-03-13T19:43:00.000-07:00

Grace is not the only one who loves the Elmo chair.

Mommy's sweet baby boy.

Smile.

Just having fun.

Still having fun.

And even more fun.

A new pirate in training.

Grace brushing her pearly whites.

Having fun together.

Smooches.

Jonathan is thinking that he is on top of the world.

A picture of our family by Grace and Mommy.

Would you like some cake?

I love you.

Let's dance.

You are getting the moves down.

That was so much fun!

The Refrigerator

2011-03-13T19:38:00.001-07:00

Recently we have given Grace the permission to open the refrigerator and place her drink when she is done with it. With my permission she loves to get apples out of the refrigerator for a snack. Tonight I noticed that the house was too quiet and I asked Marc to go and check on Grace. He found her trying to open my hamburger container. She only opened part of the plastic and didn't end up trying to eat any of the raw meat thankfully. Her curiosity is getting to be bigger than she can handle right now. Boy would she have been surprised if she had tried to take a bite. Yuck!

Grace and The Potty Adventures

2011-03-07T12:35:00.000-08:00

Grace has really become interested in using the potty recently. She has been playing with her Potty Elmo and other dolls acting out the acts of potty and changing. Yesterday served to be a big milestone for us. Grace used the potty twice while watching Elmo. She was so excited when we both clapped and sang a song with her to acknowledge her big accomplishment. I know that we still have much work ahead of us, but we are so pleased with the official beginning of potty training. Today she went to sit on her potty recognizing that she had to go. However, she left her pullups on. I quickly went to help her pull them down but it was too late. That's okay because she is recognizing that she needs to go and I am so proud. I told her that next time maybe she can go in time. She is such a big girl. I had even bought a seat that fits on the big potty several months ago. I figured that we would master potty training in the small potty first and then graduate her to the big potty, unless she shows that she would rather potty in the big potty before then. It is such a happy time to see her grow and change, but in a way it is also sad because I realize that she isn't really a baby anymore. But I guess no matter how much you grow and change Grace, "You'll Always Be My Baby."

Jonathan is 3 Months

2011-03-07T12:22:00.000-08:00

Can't believe that our little baby boy is now 3 months old. He officially turned 3 months yesterday. He is really starting to vocalize more and more now, cooing and smiling in delight. He is such a good content baby. He sleeps very well. He loves to listen to his sister talk to him. Here recently Grace has been showing much more affection towards him. She has been surrendering many a kiss and hug to this little boy. We cannot say enough about how much joy our children have brought to our lives. Every day is a precious moment.

Grace and Elmo ABC's

2011-03-03T12:14:00.000-08:00

Grace has been saying the entire alphabet and numbers from 1-10 now for quite some time. Here is where mommy captures her saying some of them while watching Elmo. I can't believe how much she has changed. She is getting sharper by the day. We are so proud!

Growing Quickly

2011-02-22T10:49:00.001-08:00

Can't believe how much my babies have changed!

Daddy and Jonathan

2011-02-19T18:38:00.000-08:00

I absolutely love this picture of two of the most important men in my life. What a precious moment captured on film. Although Daddy doesn't like pictures of himself, I am sure that years from now Daddy will really appreciate this picture. I love you both so much!

Sleeping Princess

2011-02-16T13:34:00.000-08:00

Marc and I checked on Grace before going to bed last night and this is what we found...a sleeping princess. We always place her in bed with one pillow every night. She had gotten up and stacked three pillows on her bed and decided that this would make for the most comfortable sleeping arrangement. Silly girl!

Sunday Morning

2011-02-16T13:16:00.000-08:00

Although she appears sad above, she did allow mommy to place piggy tails in her hair. She usually did not let me put things in her hair in the past. She's a big girl!

Grace's Accident

2011-02-16T12:38:00.000-08:00

On Sunday afternoon Grace fell at the playground. She was having such a great time just moments before the event. While running on the sidewalk I heard her daddy tell her to stop and she fell. I didn't witness the event because I was tending to Jonathan. I did hear daddy tell her to stop running and then I heard her crying. I immediately turned to find her on the ground, her daddy quickly sweeping her off the ground. As I quickly walked to look at her I noticed some blood droplets on the sidewalk. I looked up at her face and there was so much blood coming from her mouth. I screamed several screams that you wouldn't want to hear repeated and went to put Jonathan in the stroller. Daddy was trying to comfort her and tell me that it would be okay, but I was so worried about our daughter. A nice couple came to assist us. I ran back to him with the burp cloth and he kept trying to put pressure on where he thought the bleeding was coming from. I was trying to assess the damage. Grace was crying and I couldn't see the damage because of all of the blood still. Because there was so much blood I thought that we were going to have to take her to the emergency room for sure. Jonathan and I ran back to the house to get the car, but when I got there I forgot that Marc had the keys. While the nice gentleman from the park watched Jonathan in the stroller, I ran back to meet Marc and I met him half-way. Marc said that Grace was calm now and that she was sucking her thumb. There was so much blood on both of them, I was so scared. We quickly got her inside and gave her a bath to clean her up. We were then able to take a better look at her mouth. He lip was very swollen and I found two deep lacerations that appeared to be made from her lower anterior teeth. One of the lacerations was right over what is called the maxillary frenum. It is the tissue attachment in the middle as you raise your lip up. Due to this area being highly vascularized, we knew that this must have caused most of the excessive bleeding. Although I did not get to look at her teeth for very long, I didn't notice any huge damage. Slight mobility in the upper front teeth but no bleeding from the teeth, excessive chips, and the teeth had not been shifted in position. Thank goodness! We gave her some ibuprofen, and soon she fell asleep with me holding her in the tub. I called my fellow dental buddy and she assured me that everything that we were doing was correct. We got her dressed and made sure that she was given a soft food diet. She won't let me put ice on it. I have been keeping an eye on her lip daily. The swelling has decreased and it appears to be healing very well. I haven't noticed any change in her teeth. Marc and I still can't seem to get the accident out of our minds. It is like a nightmare thinking about it. When you see your child injured, it cuts you deeply. I even went to the playground to inspect the scene. There is still blood on the sidewalk. Until it rains, it will be there. I don't think that I want to take her back until it rains first. We just got rid of the burp cloth. I didn't want to take any pictures of her injury because I didn't want to continually be reminded of the event. We are both thankful that her guardian angel was looking out for her when she fell. Although it looked like the most gruesome image we had seen before, we knew that it could have been worse. She seems to be recovering very well. She is so brave and strong, much more than her mommy. I screamed in terror when I saw her and I am sure that this probably did not help the situation, but it was my reaction. I know that although we hope not, there will probably be more accidents in the future as she continues to get braver. I hope and pray that she will always be protected. I know that God and her guardian angel will always look after her. I am so thankful for our faith! We love you Grace Marie!

My Valentine

2011-02-16T12:33:00.000-08:00

How could I forget to say that I had a wonderful Valentine's Day with my husband, as always. He wrote me a letter and it was the most romantic thing that I could have received. Thank you Marc for making me the happiest girl in the world! Loves yous Babes!

Cute Outfit

2011-02-16T12:26:00.000-08:00

Grace sporting one of her new favorite outfits. Thank you Grandma!

Mommy's Hair

2011-02-16T12:18:00.000-08:00

It has been several months since I have had anything done with my hair. The last time I had it trimmed and highlighted it was the beginning of my second trimester in Abilene. Let's just say my hair was desperate for some pampering. Marc suggested on Saturday that I get my hair trimmed because he knew how badly I had wanted to. So I looked up a place and got it fixed. The picture may not do justice but I think that it turned out well. My hairdresser flat ironed it straight. I had been walking outside just moments before taking this picture. I usually don't have time to flat iron my hair. I usually just let it remain naturally wavy. Thanks honey for making the suggestion. I feel much better now.

Sleeping Situation

2011-02-16T12:10:00.000-08:00

It has been about a week and a half since I placed Jonathan in his crib at night for the first time. I was quickly surprised at how well he would sleep away from me. I still get up two times during the night/early morning to nurse him, but he and I sleep much better in between these sessions. How it was bitter sweet to put him in his room already, but I know that it is for the best. I put Grace in her nursery around 3 months, so Jonathan did go in his a little bit earlier. However, he is doing so well. I think that he likes his space, and I am sure that he likes staring at the barnyard bumper and mobile as well. I can't believe how much my baby boy has grown and changed already. He is so sweet and is such a joy to be with!

Eye Spy

2011-02-11T09:52:00.000-08:00

Daddy and Jonathan looking over the couch to see what Grace is doing at the table. They have to be the cutest spies that I have ever seen.

Fun Pictures

2011-02-10T12:52:00.000-08:00

I love you baby boy!

Look at those long eye lashes. I think that she is adorable!

Grace in pigtails.

Grace loves drawing and painting.

Grace also loves to watch the Price is Right.

My children always make me smile!

Family Memories

2011-02-10T12:06:00.000-08:00

We sure enjoyed time spent with our families over the last few months. Mom and Dad (Cunningham) came to visit on Christmas Eve through the first week of January. We shared many moments including meeting Jonathan, Christmas, Our Anniversary, and Grace's 2nd Birthday. Mom and Dad (Gretencord) and Father Tim came mid-January to celebrate meeting Jonathan, Jonathan's Baptism, visiting the school book depository in Dallas where JFK was assassinated, visiting SouthFork Ranch where Dallas was filmed, eating at the Cheesecake Factory, and Shopping. We cherish the memories of all of those occasions! We love and miss you all so very much!

Precious Moments

2011-02-04T19:59:00.000-08:00

After I was finished nursing Jonathan this afternoon, he smiled. And he held this smile for quite sometime while his eyes started closing. As his eye lids were slowly closing, his eyes started rolling in the back of his head. He was truly content and happy. Grace comes into the kitchen and says, "Ma" and grabs my hand and starts to signal that she wants me to go back into her room to play. We enjoyed fine dining as Grace prepared me some eggplant. I don't believe that she would enjoy eating that for real. Later, Grace goes into the kitchen and starts dancing in beat to a 90's rock ballad. I saw her and started to dance along with her. She loves it when I pick her up and we dance together. I wouldn't trade anything for these precious moments with my children. I love them so much!

Grace Marie turned TWO!

2011-02-02T13:13:00.000-08:00

My daughter Grace turned TWO years old on December 30th 2010 and although she did not share a birthday with her brother as was forecasted, she had a great time celebrating it with Elmo, her favorite and devoted playmate. Can't believe that my baby girl is already two! With each passing day she amazes me. She is so smart! She has been picking up more words by the day. Her favorite foods are mac-n-cheese and strawberries. She loves fruit and yogurt. She has a passion for art and music already. She loves to play drums, dance to music, sing out loud, and draw pictures. Her hair is getting longer but the curls are still hanging on, which is good because I think that they are adorable. She is much more beautiful than I ever was, that is for sure. She will make your heart melt with her giggles. She is very motherly. She is always taking care of her baby dolls. She likes to wear necklaces and dress up. She regularly blows kisses at all of us throughout the day. At nighttime she tells me "Night-Night" and blows me kisses when I am leaving her room. It is the cutest thing ever! Grace is also very determined to learn and try new things. She doesn't give up easily, which usually means that she may holler out if she is frustrated while doing a task. She takes me by the hand and escorts me into her room for a play session. This usually involves her bringing me all of her pretend food. She even taps the chair at the table in her room advising me to take a seat. This girl has always had a love for books. She has been looking at books since she was just crawling. Now she is getting into the longer stories. She likes to take my finger and point to an object or picture and wait for me to say what it is. She is learning rapidly and it is so amazing to watch those changes in her. I hope that she knows how much she is loved. She brightens up each of our days with just her smile. She has always been a joy! Highlights of her party include: Experiencing a lit candle and the consequences of touching a flame (very sad, broke my heart but I guess that is how you learn), enjoying her birthday Elmo cake, unwrapping gifts to include her rocking horse, playing with every blown up balloon in the house, reading Elmo books, and enjoying time with her family and friends. We love you our little Spagoog.

To My Husband

2011-02-02T12:36:00.000-08:00

For all that may not know, my husband and I celebrated our third wedding anniversary on December 29th 2010. It has been one adventure after another with this man of mine. He has taught me so much about love, patience, and the beauty of making sacrifices. From the moment since we said "I Do" the Lord completely changed our lives forever. I can't imagine a greater gift each day than the love of my husband. I can't wait to see what adventures will be before us in the next many years of our marriage. Highlights of our day together on December 29, 2010 include the following: Lunch at Uncle Julios Mexican restaurant. Marc and I enjoyed a fine Mexican dinner. Especially noted were the chips and unique salsa dip, and the free dessert that they brought us which was fried and dipped in honey (very much like an elephant ear, but better). Of course we also enjoyed time spent with the family and our children.

Jonathan's Birth Story

2011-02-01T11:31:00.000-08:00

I remember waking up and going into the bathroom with this notion that I was pregnant again. This was in April and we were still living in Abilene. We soon found out that I was in fact correct. God Bless! We were going to have another baby! How exciting to imagine Grace having a brother/sister to play with. We couldn't be happier. Lots of big changes were happening for us at that time. Marc took a job in Fort Worth. This involved him working there during the week, and coming home on the weekends. I was still working at the dental clinic on base. We had to find Grace a babysitter for the first time. Grace would no longer be home with Daddy during the day. What were we going to do when I separated from Active Duty? No matter what always came our way, things always ended up working out. The Lord always provided for us. My pregnancy with Jonathan was quite different from Grace. I was pretty sick for the first 3-4 months of the pregnancy. No matter what I ate, I had this terrible metallic taste in my mouth, as if I had been sucking on a mouth full of pennies. I really felt like this baby was going to be a boy. I remember them telling me that every pregnancy was different, but I really had a gut feeling that this baby was a boy. The couch became my buddy as I would rest there every night after feeding Grace dinner. I played with Grace but I felt bad that I didn't have more energy and more time to give her. The weekends always went by so fast. Marc came home and as soon as he got comfortable he had to leave again. Marc managed to make it to the ultrasound when we found out that we were having a boy. No questions about it. We knew from looking at the screen that it was a boy and we weren't even experts. She then proceeded in telling us about the turtle sign confirming that it was in fact a boy. How exciting! I can't forget the look on Marc's face. Grace, you are going to have a baby brother. As the time grew near to me separating from Active Duty we decided that Grace,Mommy + baby boy were moving to Fort Worth to be with Daddy. Marc had a good job and I would look for a job in that area. I managed getting a dental job working part-time (3 days per week). I started working mid-September. I hated having to go back to work because I had gotten used to being at home with Grace. It was also nice to be able to rest if I needed to. However, I was happy to at least be home with Grace for 2 days per week: Mon, Tues. This made the weekend very nice and the work week bearable. I got bigger as you would expect with the pregnancy. I felt like I was even bigger than I was with Grace at the given time in the pregnancy. The doctor's did several ultrasounds but never wanted to change the due date, which was supposed to be December 30th, the same day that Grace was born. It seemed like the whole time during the third trimester I had Braxton Hicks contractions. I experienced a tightening in my belly, it would become rock solid, it was uncomfortable, and it would last for a long time. Was this normal? Everything that I read said that it was and that these contractions would be stronger with the second pregnancy. So I kept right on going to work and carrying on my daily activities.

On the morning of December 6th (about 2 am) I woke up with what I thought were the usual Braxton Hicks contractions. I was 36 weeks and four days pregnant. I had been used to turning frequently in bed to get the contractions to pass, but I knew that Marc had to get up and go to work. This was my day off so I decided to move out to the couch as to not disturb him. I would wake up from time to time throughout the morning with the same tightness. So I drank some water and ate a banana and went back to bed on the couch. It became time for Marc to get ready to go to work. He was surprised to find me on the couch. I told him why and then explained to him what I had been feeling. As I got up and started moving around I noticed the tightening (Braxton Hicks)? I told Marc not to worry because I had an appointment with the doctor that morning at 11 am. I planned on picking up Marc on the way to the appointment because we had a scheduled ultrasound to look at the positioning of the baby. He got his phone and left for work. I got Grace up and dressed and gave her breakfast. It seemed like the contractions were becoming regular at this time. So I decided to start timing them. They were coming about 3 minutes apart. I went to the bathroom and experienced what I thought was bloody show. It was at this point, I knew that I must be in labor. I called Marc and told him that I was going to call the doctor's office to see if I should come in early for my appointment. They advised me to go ahead and come in early. Meanwhile, the contractions seemed to be getting a little stronger. I called Marc and told him that I think that he better come home. I started packing my bags for the hospital. Everything was packed and ready to go when Marc got home. What were we going to do with Grace? If this was labor, I really didn't want her to have to experience me in pain. I also knew that if Marc was with her in the waiting room, I didn't think that I could go through it without him. We tried to call Adam and Sharon in Austin, and we couldn't reach them. We called mom (Marcia) back home and asked if she could get a hold of Adam and Sharon. In the meantime we called the Daycare that Grace attended and asked if we could bring her there for the day, even though Monday was not her regular scheduled day to attend. They agreed. When we got in the car the song "We Will Rock You" started playing. We took Grace to Daycare. We both went in to drop her off. Grace started crying as they took her to her classroom and I didn't want to see her go, but we knew it was be for the best until we found out what was going on. We left the car seat so that Grace could be picked up by Sharon if needed. Sharon called us and we asked if it was possible that she could come to Fort Worth and take care of Grace tonight. She right away agreed to come and stay with us in Fort Worth. She was going to bring all of the kids as well. We were so relieved and thankful to have such a caring and loving family. She would be traveling 3 hours with her four children. Marc and I drove to the hospital, which was about 15-20 minutes away in Grapevine. We ended up arriving to my appointment at 10:20 am. I checked in and told them that they informed me to come in and be seen early. I then sat back down. Soon Marc and I were timing my contractions to be about 1 minute apart. Every time the contractions started I got up and paced around the waiting run. As the contractions seemed to get even more intense after waiting for 5-10 minutes, I went back up to the desk and said that I had to see the doctor because I am in labor now. You can imagine the looks on all of the ladies faces in the waiting room watching me pace, but continue to smile. They called us back and weighed me and took my blood pressure. Then, I went to a room to wait for the doctor. He came in shortly and examined me. I was dilated 8-8.5 cm. He told us that we needed to go ahead and go to labor and delivery because we were going to have a baby today. They gave us a map to get there. We ended up stopping in the hall for rest breaks, and we also managed to get some help locating labor and delivery by asking a patient walking down the hall. When we got to labor and delivery, she asked us some questions and I continued pacing around the halls until they took us to a delivery room. When the nurse came in she took me to the bathroom to help me get changed. Then, I came out and squatted on the bed hugging the back of the bed. Another nurse came in and placed an IV in my left hand as I was hugging the bed. They kept asking me if I wanted help with the pain. We told them that I was having a natural birth. The contractions were very intense at this point. I wasn't left with much time in between to rest and breath. I was also scared because I knew that I was having this baby early and I was fearful of possible complications. Thinking of our dear Lord, my fear went away. They came in to examine me and I was 9.5 cm. The next thing you know our doctor came in with some other nurses. He had me move down on the bed into position for the baby to be delivered. My legs kept falling off of the stirrups. I knew what they were telling me to do but I felt like my legs were numb and that I could not move them. I felt a huge urge at this point to push. It seemed much more intense than I felt when giving birth to Grace. It was then that I let out a shout. Some of the delivery staff asked if something was wrong to the doctor and he calmly smiled and said, "No, she is going natural." Apparently, this is not a common preference these days. The doctor said that I could have had the baby out with the first push but my legs were not open enough to allow the baby to come out. So, by the second push, our baby was born. I remember feeling like a huge ocean was coming out of me at that moment when they pulled him out. Water just gushed all over. My water was not broken earlier. I heard him cry out and they took him over to the warmer to suction him and check him out. He was born 11:54 am. Soon, they placed him on my chest. He was so beautiful! His name they asked, Jonathan Gabriel. We named him with a devotion to St. John the Apostle and St. Gabriel the Archangel. I cried and enjoyed the short moment with my son, as they told me that although he was breathing that he was working very hard and had some mucous in his chest. They told me that they were taking him to the neonatal unit to care for him until he was cleared up more. I remember saying yes, do whatever you need to do to take care of my baby. I didn't even get to nurse him. He was taken away. Although I knew it was for the best, I was saddened. I wanted to hold him and talk to him more and just be with him. I told Marc to go with him. The remaining nurse helped me get cleaned up and placed into a new room. After Marc returned from the neonatal unit he went home to pick up Grace and meet Sharon and the kids at our home. I was alone again. I went down to see Jonathan and to nurse him every 2 hours. I was with him for about an hour and half each time, which left me about 30 minutes until the next visit. You can say that I didn't get much rest, but I didn't mind. I looked forward to each visit with him. It broke my heart seeing that tube running up his nose. They had placed it there to help assist in feeding him to help him get stronger until my milk came in. Because some of the mucous remained in his chest they decided to keep him over night. I really wanted to have him with me in my room but knew that it was the best for him. I continued to nurse him every 2 hours on schedule. They ended up releasing him from the neonatal unit the next evening. I got to have him by my side that night for the first time. It was wonderful! Sharon and the kids stayed with Grace for the second night as well. I had Marc go and get Grace and bring her to hospital on that day. She came to have dinner with us and meet her new brother. I was so happy to see her for I had missed her so much. Marc said that she was having a good time playing with her cousins. Marc, Grace, Sharon, and the kids even ended up all going to church that morning. I was sad because I couldn't go, but much to my surprise I was able to receive communion at the hospital. They released us to go home on Wednesday around 1 pm. By the time we made it home with our new family, Sharon and the kids had already left to return to Austin. The house was in order and there was even stew cooking in the crock pot. I really wished that I could have been there to thank Sharon for everything that she did for us, but I understood why she had to go. We called to thank her over the phone. And so it began, life at home with our new family. Marc and I looked at each other and then at the beautiful children that we had created together in our love. We are so blessed! And would I do it all again? YES! Absolutely! What an honor and a privilege to bring forth new life into the world! Life is beautiful!

Halloween Memories

2010-11-08T11:01:00.000-08:00

Grace was a pirate again this year and she played the part well. It is hard to believe how much she has changed since last year. She sure made us laugh as she eagerly gave out her treasure(candy) to the trick or treaters this year. She is a joy in our lives and we love our little Pirate Scoogs!

Halloween 2009 *Grace was 10 months old

Halloween 2010 *Grace is 22 months old

Grace enjoys some candy! Don't worry, I brushed her teeth really well. :)

Pumpkin Patch

2010-11-08T10:30:00.000-08:00

Grace sure loved the pumpkin patch this year. I think her favorite thing was the bouncy houses. She would run to them constantly. I let her jump, but only if there were no other children or maybe one other child her size. I wanted to try to prevent accidents. She loved climbing into and out of them. She is very adventurous! She also enjoyed riding on the big red tractor. I think that Grandpa Gretencord would be very proud. She loves anything related to the farm. One of her favorite books is Little People's Farm book and she opens the flaps and makes all of the animal noises. Her favorite animal is the cow. The way that she moos is so precious! I am glad that she is momma's country girl! There are actually cows grazing pretty close to our house. We live in a great section because it is like having your country life, and then not being too far from the big city. Ooh North Texas, I love your fall weather. It has been in the mid-70's here. Just perfect. If only I could get my baby girl to feel better. She has been sick off and on for the past month. She is on her second round of antibiotics trying to fight a nasty ear infection and upper respiratory infection. Please pray for her that she will get well soon. It just kills me seeing her so miserable.

Sweet Baby Boy

2010-10-25T11:29:00.001-07:00

I am currently 30 weeks and 4 days pregnant now! We went to the doctor today for a checkup. Baby boy has a heart rate of 130 bpm and is growing. They tell us that from the ultrasound he is a little over 3 lbs now. Yeah! Both mommy and baby are healthy. It was so exciting for all of us to see our sweet baby. Grace just smiled when she looks up at the screen. We love you baby and can't wait to meet you when the time comes. In the meantime, enjoy your time nestled in mommy's belly :)

Funny add-on:
The other day daddy was talking and playing with Grace on the living room floor. He tells Grace that soon she will have a little brother to play with. Grace looks at daddy and says, "OOh Boy!"

Pregnancy Profile of Spatoogle

2010-10-25T11:23:00.000-07:00

I am 30 weeks and 3 days pregnant here. Mommy and baby boy are doing great!

Mommy's Little Helper

2010-10-25T11:19:00.000-07:00

Here is my baby girl helping me do the dishes. She knows how to take care of her pregnant mommy. She is such a fine little helper. I love you Grace!

Fall in Texas

2010-10-03T17:53:00.000-07:00

I love it when it gets cooler out, but fall just isn't like it would be in Indiana. Which I am fine with that right now. I really do enjoy fall in Texas. Yesterday it was 86 degrees here. We got a new sprinkler for the lawn. One that you just can't put a price on, our daughter. She really loves the hose and the water that comes out of it. It serves as hours of entertainment for all of us. I almost went to put her swimsuit on, but I decided to just let her get soaked. I just watched her enjoy what she does best, just being a kid. It even made us think about how we used to play with the hose when we were kids. Grace, you really made our day so much fun! We love you baby girl!

For the Love of Spaghetti

2010-09-16T18:48:00.000-07:00

I must say that once you make your own spaghetti sauce, you will vow to never buy store bought sauce again. I made homemade spaghetti sauce on Tuesday. I had it simmering in the crock pot all day long. Marc is usually not super fond of spaghetti but after he tasted the spaghetti that night he said that it was the best spaghetti that he has ever had in his life. He returned to the kitchen to get more and more. I thought that it tasted wonderful myself. That is when I said that I don't think that I ever want to buy spaghetti sauce again. It did take a long time to make...well, at least to simmer in the crock pot...but I am not going to let that stop me. It was worth it. I can't wait to make something else yummy now.

Grace's New Bed

2010-09-13T10:55:00.000-07:00

I can't believe it! Grace Marie is growing up so fast. She has a new bed now and she isn't even 2 yet! That's right, she has a new bed! Well, even though I planned on keeping Grace in her crib until she showed signs of climbing out of it, she began sticking her legs out through the railing. She would manage to stick them so far out that they would be hanging out past her knees. Of course, they would get stuck in the railing at that point. Every time she woke up and realized that she couldn't get them undone, she would scream. We even had to get the butter out to help get her legs free from the railing. Because I was worried about this issue and I didn't want her to continue to possibly hurt herself, I started looking at toddler beds. I know that when Marc and I were little, we probably slept on twin/full beds, and just fell out of bed until we got used to it. But since they have a wide selection of toddler beds now, I started looking at those. I wanted to find one that was very close to the ground, and one that did not have side railing with holes, like her crib had. We ended up deciding to get a nice wooden white toddler bed. We thought that white would work for a boy too, when she grows out of it. I found her a princess sheet set to complete her new bed. It was delivered to us this past weekend and Marc put it together for her on Saturday. I proceeded in decorating her room more making it extra special for her. We were so worried Saturday night about her sleeping in it, mainly because she could get up and roam around the room, possibly tripping over toys and who knows what. We put a night light in her room, and had the monitor in there, and shut the door after saying our evening prayers with her. She waved and said, "Night...Night." There was a brief moment of silence first, and then we heard her cry for a short period of time. At that point, I cried and said that I didn't know if I could do this, but we decided to wait a little longer to see how she would do. I was thinking that my baby girl is only 20 months and is in a new bed. For as long as Grace could remember she has been in her crib, and now this. She was probably scared and confused. Then, things got quiet. We didn't hear toys going off, just silent breathing. She must have went to sleep. We darted up in the morning and I had the camcorder in my hand. As we opened up the door, she was laying on the bed, and she waves, and goes, "Hi!" in the cutest voice ever. She went to sleep in her bed. We were so happy for her. We can't believe that she is growing up so fast. We love her so much and are proud of her, but we don't want her to grow up too fast before we get to savor those precious moments. She loves her new room and we are so happy for her!

Just moments before waking up after her last night in her crib.

Her new bed discovery.

A little test jump.

Getting a second opinion with her toys on board.

Taking a nap on her new bed the day after her first night's sleep in it.

Grace is 20 Months!

2010-09-01T08:34:00.000-07:00

It is hard to believe that our sweet baby girl is already 20 months now. She officially turned 20 months old on August 30th. We have cherished all of the moments with her. I hope that she knows how much she is loved. We love you Scoogs!

Thank You God for the gift of this child to raise, this life to share, this mind to help mold, this body to nurture, and this spirit to enrich.

A Month of Catching Up

2010-08-27T10:27:00.000-07:00

My goodness...it has been a month since I have updated our blog! I guess that you can say that we have been ever so busy. A lot has happened in the last month. We said goodbye to our home in Abilene and moved to Fort Worth. We went several weeks without most of our things. They delivered our household goods last Thursday. You can say I was happy to get our stuff back...but I was not happy about all of the boxes. I work on unpacking what we need from the boxes and placing some things in storage every day...but there are still boxes everywhere. Where did all of this stuff come from? It is also hard to put things away where you want them when you can't get to those places because they are covered with boxes. I almost want to take everything out of every box and then try to put it somewhere...but then we would have no place to walk. I must say that it is a bit frustrating. However, I must also say that it has been very nice being a stay at home mom with our daughter for the last couple of months. What a precious time, that I cherish deeply! She has grown very attached to me, which I know will make it that much more difficult when I have to go back to work. But we are working out a part-time working deal so that I can be with Grace a few days a week. So that will be very nice. I am not sure when I will be starting, but I don't want to rush the time...because I really love being with Grace and being here when Marc gets home. It is soo exciting! Just wish that we didn't have to deal with all of these boxes. I swear that they never end! Ooh well! Anyone that has moved, understands what I am talking about. Marc has been working very hard at his job. Their team as been very small since he started and they want more and more from him despite the fact that there are not that many working. I really appreciate his hard work and persistence. I know that I couldn't do what he does. He is the best husband and father and I couldn't be prouder! I know that I give him a hard time sometimes, but I really love him more than ever! He will always be my Babes! Grace sure has grown! I can't believe that in 3 days she will be 20 months! She is so determined to be more and more independent everyday. Which is good, but I don't want her to grow up too fast. She loves to play in the yard and the sandbox. She would go out there all of the time if I let her. It just has been so hot, that I only take her out to play in the back when it is cooler in the evenings. When, it got really cool the other night, I walked with Grace into the backyard while Marc was working out on the treadmill in the house. I opened and fastened shut the gate from our front yard going into our back yard. I had Grace in my arms, and I turned to continue to walk back in the back yard. Then, I felt something stab me in the rear. It was terrible. I kept stopping to look and see what had bitten me. I didn't know if it was a snake or what. I couldn't see anything in my drawers. I proceeded to walk in the back yard and the pain became unbearable. I went to put Grace in her sandbox because that is what she wanted to do. I was going to try to tell Marc that something bit me but the back door was locked. I knew that he wouldn't hear me with the treadmill going. So I proceeded to back track my steps and approach the gate. I kept looking around trying to find what could have got me. Then, as I looked up I saw a nasty yellow jackets nest swarming with yellow jackets. That must have been what got me. The bad part now was that I had to go back through the gate and I was hoping not to set them off again. I made it through the gate and ran in to tell Marc. Then, I quickly made my way back to the backyard to check on Grace. She was happily playing in the sand box. I grabbed her and Marc went to check out the nest. He came back and said that he needed the spray that we had. I went to get it and Marc sprayed the nest and ran into the house. The next day we went to check on the nest and there were tons of jellow jackets dead and hanging from the nest. I read about them on the internet and it says that their stings are very painful. I can attest to that. Thankfully, they didn't attack our Grace, and thankfully they targeted a part of body which is very big and fat. I think that must have helped. I still have a huge mark on my rear where the stinger went in. I am glad that Grace's guardian angel was looking out for her. On another note, Grace and I try to take morning walks around the neighborhood before it gets too hot. She loves hiding in cabinets, climbing onto our bed and dancing around, getting into boxes, and coloring on the paper that comes out of the boxes. I taped some of that paper to the table and Grace experienced her first official coloring session yesterday. She loved it! She didn't want to stop. She seemed to get very frustrated when the paper was all colored and she wanted a new sheet. I believe that she is very creative. Maybe she will enjoy art as much as I did growing up. She sure is a cutie! On the side of unpacking, I have been looking at baby names for our baby boy. It is very fun but I just can't come across anything yet. Marc has also been searching and with no luck. I know that we have plenty of time to decide what his name will be. It will come. This baby boy sure is a kicker. He kicks and kicks throughout the day. It especially feels funny when he kicks near my belly button. It tickles! It is such a joy being a mother! I can't express how truly thankful I am to be able to bring life into the world. It was a dream of mine ever since I was a little girl. I am so blessed that God gave me that gift! Well, I will include some pictures of Grace and will try to keep everyone more updated since I have more time now. Have a most blessed day!

My Girl is Growing

2010-07-27T14:13:00.000-07:00

Happy Father's Day Daddy!

2010-06-20T12:40:00.001-07:00

I can't tell you how blessed I am to have Marc as the father of my children. I am so richly blessed! Grace absolutely adores her daddy and I hope that she will always remain close to him. Then, come December our little Spatoogle will get to meet his/her daddy in person for the first time. It is hard to believe how time has went so quickly. Just the other day I remember seeing Marc with Grace at the hospital for the first time. Those moments will always be vivid in my mind. I remember how sweet it was seeing daddy take care of his Spagoogle. Precious moments...and soon we will be going to the hospital again for another little baby. Thank you Lord for not only a wonderful husband, but a wonderful daddy for my children! I couldn't be more thankful!

Happy Father's Day!

2010-06-20T12:31:00.000-07:00

I just would like to thank my fathers, Bryan and Harold, for everything that they have done for us and their families. How fortunate I was to have a great dad and then find another great dad when I married my husband. I am very blessed! The sacrifices and the love that you have demonstrated for your families throughout the years have been amazing. You have and continue to both serve as great examples for us every day. Your hard work, your dedication, and your love have given us so much happiness in our own lives. I can't tell you just how much you both are appreciated. We love and miss you both so much! I hope that you both had a great father's day!

Fun Weekend

2010-06-20T08:49:00.000-07:00

Grace sure enjoyed jumping on the trampoline with her daddy this weekend. She has been on the trampoline several times, but never have I seen her this happy and brave. She was actually trying to jump. It was so cute. She is getting so daring now. We have to keep our eyes peeled.

This is Grace enjoying some of daddy's birthday oreo dessert.

Grace loves to get into her toys container now. I think that she can't decide which one that she wants to play with more, so she decides to get in with all of them surrounding her. It is so cute.

More Catch Up

2010-06-13T20:17:00.001-07:00

Catch Up

2010-06-13T20:02:00.000-07:00

Here are some pictures from May to catch everyone up. Enjoy!

Happy Mother's Day!

2010-05-09T18:18:00.000-07:00

I just would like to say that I am extremely blessed to have such wonderful mothers in my life. They have both been an inspiration to me and I will always be grateful for the sacrifices that they have made for me and my husband. I cannot thank you enough for everything that you have done and continue to do for me and my family. Thank you God for blessing me with such wonderful mothers here on earth. And thank you God for choosing Mary to be my mother also. I don't know what I would do without my mothers. Hopefully I can continue to grow in motherhood to become even a better mother for my children. I pray daily for this. Please pray for me also that I may be a better mother for my children and that I will help lead them to our dear Lord. God Bless You Mothers! I would not be who I am today without your love!

Gas Mask Testing

2010-05-04T13:38:00.000-07:00

With the love of eating comes the love of stinking. What a better day to try on my gas mask than this day last month when I changed the mother of all diapers. I must say, no leaks in the mask, I didn't smell a thing.

Just Being a Girl

2010-05-04T13:04:00.001-07:00

A couple of months ago Grace got her first potty seat. I have noticed that she has a greater interest in it as the months go by. Last month I snapped some shots of her having fun with her potty seat. She likes to disassemble it more than anything. She then carries all of the pieces around the bathroom and then re-assembles it. She is becoming more and more girly by the day. She found a Mary Kay sweat band of mine and loves wearing it. I think that she looks quite cute wearing it as well. It looks like she is ready for exercise displaying the eighties fashions. She also loves wearing beaded necklaces. If only I could keep her from removing the pretty hair barrettes that I place in her hair. I am hoping that within the next few months she will begin to realize when she has a wet diaper. If and when she does that, we can begin the quest of potty training. I know that she is still quite young right now. :)

Momma, I think that I just might try to sit on my potty today.

I am sitting but how can I keep my feet out of the potty?

Let me try again.
Baby girl it would be easier with the seat cushion in place.

Ooh momma, I just don't know if I am ready for this yet.
That's okay sweetie. Someday you will be ready.

Grace Marie

2010-05-03T20:15:00.000-07:00

Here are a few pictures everyone. I know that I haven't posted a blog in awhile. We have been so busy. I will be posting more updates shortly, but in the meantime here are some pictures of Grace. Can't believe that my baby girl is 16 months old now!

For Your Love

2010-04-02T20:11:00.000-07:00

Thank you Jesus for Your love! Thank You for dying for me! If it wasn't for Your love, I don't know what I would do. Words cannot express how much You mean to me, my Jesus. I will try harder daily to pick up my cross and walk with You. I know that I have a lot to do to prepare me for my journey home to You one day. Please forgive me for all the times that I may fall along the way. No matter what I may do or say, my heart will always long for You. Everyday I am thankful for Your love!

A Trip to the Zoo

2010-03-31T17:30:00.000-07:00

On Monday we paid our visit to the Abilene Zoo. The weather was beautiful. Although it was smaller than I imagined, it was a nice little zoo. I loved watching my child's face light up when she saw the animals. I think that Grace loved the monkeys the most. Although she did enjoy feeding Golly the giraffe very much. We took Grace to a nice little playground for tots right in front of the zoo at the end of our adventure. I enjoyed the time that we spent there. I am glad that we took the time to visit while we were still in town.

Visit with Grandma and Grandpa Cunningham

2010-03-31T17:07:00.000-07:00

Mom and Dad came up to visit us recently, and they were thrilled to see their sweet grandchild. She received more attention than what she is used to. We just spent the time visiting here in Abilene. It was nice to just spend some quality time without all of the hustle and bustle of traveling. I made lots of casseroles and desserts. We spent a great deal of our time playing Phase 10 (card game) and talking. Mom and Dad sure enjoyed the trampoline also. We also watched some at home movies and went out for dinner and ice cream several times. We sure enjoyed each and every moment spent together. It was a lazy but necessary break from our everyday routines.

Even More Moments

2010-03-20T12:24:00.000-07:00

More Precious Moments

2010-03-20T12:14:00.001-07:00

Precious Moments

2010-03-20T11:50:00.001-07:00

These Moments

2010-03-07T20:27:00.000-08:00

Our Lives Lately

2010-03-07T06:50:00.000-08:00

A lot of big changes are coming up for us in the Gretencord household. I separate from active duty mid-August. Marc has been looking for a job to be able to keep his license up to date. Grace has been reading books and smiling. Sometimes I wish I was a child again. When I was a child I would just play happily for hours, only stopping to have a meal which would already be warm and ready from mom. Well, Marc and I are both looking for jobs, with no luck yet. Soon, if we will be moving, they will want to know where to move our stuff. We have been looking at houses online, but we know that we need jobs first. Then, when we do find jobs we need to find someone to take care of Grace. So many changes coming...exciting possibilities...but mostly very scary times. We have been praying to our Lord that he make straight our paths and guide us where he wants us. We have both been awaiting some opportunity, wherever it may be. We know that God will take care of our needs, he never fails! Mom always told me that God will never give you something that he knows you cannot handle, and I know that she is right. Please pray for us and the changes that are coming, that we will make the right choices. We look forward to the day that we can establish our very own home, one that we will spend the rest of our years.

She Brightens Our Lives

2010-02-28T17:10:00.000-08:00

Another Snowy Day

2010-02-23T19:48:00.000-08:00

It was another snowy day here in Abilene today. Started off with a two hour delay before reporting to work. When I arrived, they told me that they were closing the base due to the weather. Although, I wish they would have decided that before I drove into work, I was still happy to come home. I got to spend the day with my husband and my girl. Grace sure loved looking out the window and seeing the snow come down in our back yard. It was nice just being able to spend a day with them during the week. I am so blessed! I have a wonderful husband and a beautiful daughter. What more could I ask for? It was a great day!

She IS Growing

2010-02-21T05:56:00.000-08:00

Dancing Scoogs

2010-02-20T13:44:00.000-08:00

Grace and Elmo

2010-02-20T12:47:00.000-08:00

Girl in Love

2010-02-14T18:21:00.000-08:00

I'm not the hero
Who will always save the day
Don't always wear the white hat
Don't always know the way
I may not even be the dream
You wanted to come true
But I'll always be the girl in love with you

I'm not the key
That opens every door
Don't have the power
To give you all you want and more
But when you're needing something special
You can hold onto
I'll always be the girl in love with you

I could never work miracles
That maybe others who can do what I can't do
But no one else can be
As good as me
In loving you
So when the world won't turn
The way you wish it would
And the dreams you have don't come alive
As often as they should
Remember that there's someone there who's heart is always true
I'll always be the girl in love with you

Remember that there's someone there who's heart is always true
Someone there to help you make it through
I'll always be the girl in love with you

-Lyrics from George Strait

I love you babes! Thanks for making every day of my life wonderful!

My Girl

2010-02-14T18:18:00.000-08:00

"The Friendly Pepper-Upper"

2010-02-14T14:59:00.000-08:00

Snow in Abilene

2010-02-11T16:44:00.000-08:00

Yes, we got some snow in Abilene today! We got about 4 inches or so. It was enough for early dismissal from work by one hour and a late start tomorrow. We know it certainly isn't as snowy here as it is in Indiana. We took Grace outdoors when I got home from work today. She enjoyed it.

Sleeping Beauty

2010-02-11T16:34:00.000-08:00

So this is what I see when I come home one evening from work...sleeping beauty. So precious! I love you both so much!

Adventures of the Spagoogle

2010-01-31T17:54:00.000-08:00

I finished cleaning Grace's room this weekend. It involved sorting and putting away some of her clothes, and sweeping. I also bought a new rug to add some girl power to her clean room. She loves the rug. She is always laying on it or playing on it when she goes in there. I think that it really brightens up the room. She loves to help me with the laundry. If she finds any clothes, she loves to throw them on the floor. Since the room was cleaned she was able to make it to her windows. She enjoyed playing peek a boo behind the curtains. The simple things in life are the great adventures in her eyes. She just makes me smile!

Mommy and Grace

2010-01-31T17:39:00.001-08:00

I love all of the moments that I get to share with you sweet baby girl! I love you Grace!

My Darling

2010-01-29T20:06:00.000-08:00

Goodness, Gracious, Great Balls of FUN!

2010-01-24T15:02:00.000-08:00

Grace loves her new toy that we got her with a gift card from her birthday. We got her a ball popper from Sears two weeks ago. It has become one of her favorites. The ball popper that we have plays a number of fun tunes while shooting balls into the air and down the slide. Grace likes to put other items into the ball popper as well. She places some of her toy food items into the popper and they fly out back at her. It is a joy watching her have such fun. She also loves her Elmo Microwave, her Elmo Live Encore, and her singing teapot. However, despite her favorite toys she loves just playing in the kitchen cabinets. Everyday she has to pull out all of our canned goods!

Trash Patrol

2010-01-24T13:08:00.000-08:00

The other day I was getting ready to make a smoothie. I was getting the parts to our mixer out and I noticed that a part of the lid was missing. Where did it go? I know that I washed that part just the other day and placed it in the cabinet. Just days before I remember Grace playing around the trash can. "No honey, trash is yucky! Why don't you play with these items instead." I directed her away from the trash can. So I ask Marc if he saw Grace around the trash can today. He doesn't recall seeing her there. I told him that I am missing part of the mixer. So we decide to look in the trash. And what do we find....Marc's cell phone and a bunch of little toys. No mixer piece. So Marc went out to get the bag of trash that he took out to put in the dumpster. So we dig, still digging, and finally we find the missing part of the mixer. So we attempt to tape the trash can up and periodically check it for items. She still managed to pull the tape off, and throw more toys, her sippy cup, and even some of our unopened canned goods from the cabinet. Now I have the tape on the inside and outside of the trash. Marc and I have to lift off the lid before throwing anything away. I still find her over there playing with it, and I try to re-direct her to other areas of the kitchen. It makes you wonder what else ended up in the trash that we didn't catch. I guess we will never know unless it comes up missing. Oh, little Spagoog and her discoveries!

For the Love of Pepsi

2010-01-24T12:39:00.000-08:00

Not long after we returned from Indiana, Grace decided that she wanted to get a taste of what mommy and daddy love, Pepsi. She was determined to get a taste despite the consequences. So when mommy and daddy where not looking, she reached for it and she got a taste. She probably enjoyed accomplishing the task...but she dreaded the sticky aftermath...as did mommy and daddy. Marc ran to clean it up and what did I do...I ran to get the camera of course. Here are the pictures of Grace and her first sticky mess. The good news is that this happened just moments before a scheduled bath time. She sure had us laughing. We love you little Spagoog, and we know that this is only the beginning of sticky messes, and funny moments!

Holiday Trip

2010-01-14T13:24:00.000-08:00

Here are some pictures from our trip to Indiana for the Holidays! We had a great time visiting with family and friends! We love you all and miss you loads already!

Mommy and Daddy's Anniversary

2010-01-14T12:18:00.000-08:00

Marc and I celebrated our 2nd wedding anniversary on December 29th. I must say that our wedding day was one of the greatest moments of my life...and our marriage just gets better every day. I am truly blessed to have such a wonderful man as my husband! It all started back in Indianapolis when my roommate Stacey said, "Here Misty, someone wants to talk to you." Marc was on the phone and I had never met him or saw a picture of him before. He says, " Hey baby, we are going to be together!" I say smiling, "Ooh really!" He says,"Yeah, I'm your destiny." And what turned out to be a flirty moment on the phone ended up being the beginning of a relationship that would change my life forever. I first met Marc when he came to a party that Stacey and I had. He had me mystified! I followed him around the room listening to him talk about God, farming, past relationships, everything you could think of. I couldn't keep from being drawn to him. He was soo handsome, wise, and incredibly fun! We spent the rest of the evening singing and dancing to Michael Jackson music! We developed such a deep friendship and rich romance! He became my babes, and I became his. Two of a kind! He proposed to me at St. John the Baptist Church in Earl Park, in front of the Blessed Sacrament. We prayed there, and then reminisced about our childhood. I felt so close to him and I prayed a quick prayer, that included asking God to give me patience, that if Marc didn't ask me to be his wife and that if we were truly meant to be together, that it would be on his ( God ) time. We got up to leave, and I thought to myself, I hope that he does answer my prayer because I am really going to need patience for I have such a longing to be with him. Then, I trip on the steps coming down. Marc catches me, and says "I will always be there to pick you up when you fall." I looked at him as he helped me up. Then, he knelt down and asked me to be his wife. What a blessing! I of course accepted and we said a consecration prayer to Mary and Joseph. We got married and celebrated on the eve of the Feast of the Holy Family! We rushed to the hospital on the night of our 1st wedding anniversary and Grace was born on 1:18 AM on the 30th. This year we spent our 2nd wedding anniversary in Lafayette. We spent a portion of the night celebrating at St. Boniface. We even got our wedding cake topper out. Yes, although we were unable to consume it on our 1st anniversary because we were in Texas, we got it out to celebrate our 2nd anniversary. Again, I have been richly blessed. Thank you Lord for such a wonderful husband, a fantastic marriage, and a beautiful daughter! Pray for us that we can continue to grow close to our Lord, and that our love will be an example to our daughter! May she grow with a desire in her heart to love and follow our Lord. I look forward to all the memories that we will continue to share together over the next many years!

An actual saved bag of Holiday M&M's from our wedding! They still tasted yummy too!

Random Funny

2010-01-14T12:11:00.000-08:00

So Grace is getting into the trash this afternoon...Marc says, "No Grace. That is where Oscar lives and he bites people." It just makes you wonder what other funny statements I miss while I am normally at work. Gotta love my husband, he is soo funny!

Our Lil' Cupcake

2010-01-13T16:13:00.000-08:00

As some may already know, our lil' cupcake turned one on December 30th 2009! I can't believe that she is already one! She has changed so much since she was born, becoming more and more beautiful as the days go by. I just love her teeth coming in! :) Grace Marie Gretencord was born in Abilene, Texas at Abilene Regional Medical Center at 1:18 AM. I remember when she first made her presence known into the world. She cried and I looked up and saw her. My heart was filled with such joy! I was shocked! She was even more beautiful than I had ever imagined. "Does she have red hair?" I asked. Dr. Stephen Ward said that it was blond. But I still say that she has red in her hair, such a gorgeous shade, strawberry blond. I remember when her and I cuddled for the first time when the doctor laid her on my chest. "I love you Grace!" Our lives were changed from those moments on and I wouldn't trade them for the world! Over the next few months Grace grew bigger, smiled at us with those unforgettable blue eyes, and touched our hearts each and every moment of the day. She has continued to make each day fun and exciting just being our little Spagoog! We are so blessed! I don't want her to grow up too fast, but I definitely look forward to each new moment shared with her as she continues to grow and mature. I have included some pictures to recapture some of those precious memories of her life so far. Enjoy!