Grace's latest stats

Remember when the doctor told us Grace was too skinny, at her 9-month well-baby checkup? It was because she was in the 90th percentile for height and only the 25th percentile for weight, based on the growth charts. So, the doctor told us to start Grace on formula to fatten her up. Well, who wants to start buying formula after nine good months of free breastmilk? Not me. So, we tried formula with her once, and she hated it, so we quit trying.

Anyway, we went in for her 12-month checkup today (a couple of weeks late), and not to worry - she's perfect (as always)! She weighs 23 pounds, which is 80th percentile, and is 31-3/4 inches tall, which is above the 95th percentile. She's a big girl!

She also got four shots, and she was a champ. Luke held her hands and I watched. She only cried for about 10-15 seconds afterward. I think it was harder for me than her! And she hasn't acted cranky or feverish at all. What a sweetheart.

We also taught her a new "trick." We say "I love you...Mwah!" and blow her a kiss. So, now we'll say, "Grace, tell Mommy 'I love you.'" And she'll blow us a baby kiss. It's SO adorable!

On the home front, our drywall is being mudded this week. It should be done by the end of next week, and then priming will happen Thursday or Friday. After that is trim. WOW! I hope it goes as quickly as it sounds like it will.

That's all for now.

-{lkr}

Happy Thanksgiving (Part II)

Here is the big, happy Rumley family:


We had a great time gorging ourselves, and going shopping at 4am on Friday. Grace loves playing with Uncle Zach and Aunt Elyse. She scared us to death when she accidentally pulled two small banquet tables over onto herself. She came out without any injuries, though she has run her face into quite a few objects since arriving here in Indiana. Sheesh.

Happy Thanksgiving!

We have so much to be thankful for, including our family (with a new baby on the way), our new church family, and our house going up fairly quickly.

Here is what I am not thankful for this Thanksgiving:


That should make for a fun drive to the Rumley house in Indiana later today!

How old are you?

If you ask Grace, "How old are you?" she'll hold up one finger. She's so smart!

Yum yum yum!

Grace got her very own double-decker chocolate cake to eat at her first birthday party.



Sweet chocolate face...



This is Grace's new favorite toy, from Grandma and Grandpa Liabenow. It talks and sings to her, and she tries all sorts of different ways to sit on it. SO cute!


In other news, we had our 21-week ultrasound last Thursday, and it's a....BABY! No, we didn't find out the gender. We like surprises. But we did find out that there's only one baby in there, and he/she is perfectly healthy. YAY!

On the home front, we're getting drywall today! YAY again! They'll start hanging it tomorrow, and it'll take up to three weeks to finish all the steps (hanging, mudding, sanding, etc.). Then it'll look more like a house on the inside! Hooray!

Next week is Thanksgiving. Can anyone believe it? This fall has gone by SO quickly! And now, the first snow has fallen. I can't say that I'm ready for the cold and the yucky driving conditions, but it is so beautiful outside. Praise the Lord for his beautiful creation!

-{lkr}

Happy Birthday, Grace!

Grace turns 1 today, at 9:25pm! She is pretty amazing, if I may say so. She had a great time at her party on Saturday (Lacey will post some pictures later), and she is loving her new toys, clothes, and dolls.

Our family website, which we rarely update anymore because this blog is easier, still has the counter rolling. It is fun to look at today:


Lacey and Grace are out at the house right now for a possible 3 HOURS waiting for inspectors to come and let us know how we did on the electrical rough-in. Hopefully we did just fine, and the inspector won't complain about anything. We will see...

--
Luke

Party time!

Tomorrow's the big party! Grace is almost ONE! (Her birthday's not technically until Monday, but we'll celebrate tomorrow.) We're excited to see both our families and some friends. It's been a while since we saw our families, especially Erin and Betsey. If they could only come to college in Grand Rapids, instead of Indiana...

Today we're going to visit Luke's friend Dan in the hospital, and then Luke will spend the rest of the evening with our good friend Rusty, trying to finish up our electrical rough-in at the house. Grace and I will be at the church, decorating for tomorrow.

I can't wait for the electrical to be done. Luke's been out at the house a lot of nights, and Grace and I have missed him a LOT these past three weeks. I think next week will be much better.

See you tomorrow!

-{lkr}

Two years!

We're coming up on our 2-year anniversary - December 20! In some ways I still feel like a newlywed, but then I realize...In those two years, we have gotten married, gotten pregnant, had a baby, lived in three apartments, gotten pregnant again, and partially built a house. WHEW! We never get bored, that's for sure!

Grace's first birthday is just one week away! I can't believe what a "big girl" she's become. She's walking and trying to talk, and she says "please" in sign language (she sorta changed the real sign into her own version, but it's good enough for us!). I'm weaning her now, and it's bittersweet for me. I'm getting my body back (until baby #2 arrives), but I also won't have my little girl needing me for sustenance anymore. My baby's growing up!

Can't wait to see everybody this weekend for the big birthday party!

-{lkr}

Grapes and suckers

My eyes are looking and feeling a bit better even today. YAY! Apparently those eye drops are doing their job!



Isn't Grace sweet? She LOVES eating grapes.



Here's her pretty little hand picking up some grapes. Her fingers are gaining more and more dexterity as she grows.



And I, the generous mommy that I am, gave Grace her very first sucker ever - a raspberry Tootsie Pop. She couldn't smile well around it, but she really did like it!


Oh, and as of yesterday, we are officially halfway through this pregnancy! WOW! Those 20 weeks went by quickly! Our new baby will be here in no time!

-{lkr}

My face looks like a Halloween costume.

I have pink-eye. It's gross. I think I caught it from Stacy (the bride from last week). Darn! I went to the doctor today at got eye drops for it, and he thinks it'll clear up within 72 hours. But I can't wear my contacts until then. I hate wearing glasses!

Thankfully, Grace hasn't caught it yet that I know of. I've been careful to wash my hands a lot since I noticed it yesterday.

On the home front, we have gutters now, and our well is being drilled today. We're having some issues with the kitchen cabinet budget, but hopefully those will be ordered tomorrow or early next week. Crazy! Only two more months (ish) to go!

Can't wait to see y'all next weekend!

-{lkr}