Video

I've been wanting to post videos of Grace but wasn't sure how to do it. Thankfully, my sister-in-law took some videos of Grace tonight and put them on the computer so i could upload them. The first video is of Grace laughing (after a minor spit up incident).

The second video is catching some of Gracie's smiles.

Enjoy!!


Thanks for the videos Sarah!

Bonding

The best part about having Aaron home is watching him bond with Grace.

Snuggy time early in the morning

A little breakfast time.

Waking Grace up and loving the "Angry Awake Face"

and the Dad Couch, best seat in the house.

I love watching them together. Grace definitely has Aaron wrapped around her little finger. Its going to be a sad day when Aaron has to go back to work. Until then, we'll enjoy some more bonding.

First Haircut

While Aaron and I were getting our hair cut by my wonderful friend Kristen, I decided that it was time for Gracie to get a little trim as well.

Cutting your 3 month olds hair? Crazy? Probably.

But the mullet and scraggly wisps were getting out of control and I was sick of always trying to slick them back with my hand.

Here are the before pictures (taken with my phone)

So not attractive

Gracie getting her first haircut. It took awhile, she moved her head quite a bit, but Kristen did an amazing job.

The finished product. It looks SOOOOOOO much better.

Its all the same length and cutting it shorter made her hair look a lot lighter

I love it!

Goodbye mullet!

Bethlehem

Welcome to..Yes, we went there. Bethlehem. We traveled back in time...sort of. There is a church down the road from us that recreates the nativity scene. They built this mini city and there were shops, tons of people in costume and a variety of Inns. every 15 minutes they would do the nativity. You followed Mary and Jospeh as they moved through the town. Its a really cool experience.

We got together with some friends to go to it.

The Wise men coming into Bethlehem. Yes, that is an actual camel. (I was thoroughly impressed)

Gracie, looked so cute all bundled up.

The final nativity scene. Aaron kept talking about the cows that were going to be there, and I kept telling him that there were no cows but lo and behold there is a cow in the left corner of the stable. Aaron... you win this one...

Thanks for setting everything up Smiths!

Family Pictures

We took family pictures with Jen Wyeth while we were in Phoenix. I've purposely omitted the complete Stringham family (and Barnard family) picture as to not ruin the surprise of the Christmas card. Its all about the Christmas card, let's be honest.

Emma Lou, keeping it classy.
The "original" Stringham kids: Ashby, Kara, Stacey, and Matt

The Stringham sisters, sexy as always? You better believe it.

The original Stringhams

The Men

Mema and Poppy with the grandkids

Taylor, Carly, Grace, Brooklyn, Emma

The Women

Thanks Jen!!

Lack of Posts

There has been a serious lack of blog posting on my part for two very good reasons.

#1- Aaron. Aaron used the rest of his paternity leave along with some PTO and got from December 6th to January 5th off of work. It has been absolutely amazing. Our days are filled with getting everything done that has been sitting on our "To Do" list for months, Christmas shopping, loving on Grace, and spending time together as a family. This, unfortunately, hasn't left too much time for blogging. But, it has been so much fun to have him here all the time. It makes up for him working all those nights he worked late.


#2- Grace. Poor Gracie has gotten her first cold. Its messing with her sleeping and leaving her cranky during the day. So she's requiring a little extra attention (and some serious nose aspiration). Thankfully Aaron is here to tag-team the situation, but its causing the blog to take a hit.

Hopefully I'll get back on the blog bandwagon- but in the meantime i'll be hanging with my two favorites.

**Special Shout out to Jillian and Andy who had their beautiful baby boy Lucas Henry on the 10th!

3 Months

After multiple failed "photo shoots" which mainly resulted in pictures like this:

Or this:

I finally got a few good pictures of Gracie at 3 months

and despite the setbacks, we still had a good time

At 3 months Grace:

-loves to lay on her changing table, kick her feet, and "talk"
-can hold her arms and legs up during tummy time
-gets comments about how she is "so alert" or "so aware"
-scrunches her nose when she smiles really big
-is happiest in the morning (definitely doesn't get that from her mom)
-drools like a champ
-loves to look out and see whats going on
-has a favorite blanket

Happy 3 months Gracie Girl

Thanksgiving

With all of the western dwelling family members, we decided to have Thanksgiving at my sister Ashby's house in Phoenix. It was one of the best Thanksgiving weekends I've ever had. And I'm pretty sure I want to move to Phoenix. Here is the picture recap of the weekend. (Photos courtesy of Ashby)

Thanksgiving day started with a Turkey trot. Aaron and I missed it because we were flying to Phoenix at the time. But, here is the group that participated.
Once Aaron and I arrived, everyone went straight for the babe

But once they realized that Aaron and I were there too, they saw our super awesome Three Wolf Moon t-shirts. (For an explanation of the wolf moon shirt click HERE. Its definitely worth your while)
Aaron even grew out a WT fumanchu to go with his wolf/moon shirt
Finally it was Turkey time. The lovely host, Ryan, carving the bird.
The table. Gorgeous? Yes. My sisters whole house was gorgeous
After dinner, there were a lot of manly activities like watching football and arm wrestling
And napping (there was a blanket shortage, thus the towel)

Since Thanksgiving was officially over once the dishes were done, the Grandkids opened their Christmas jammies. Ryan helped Grace open hers.

The Stringham Ladies got matchy matchy Christmas jammies too.

On Friday the men Golfed

While the women got pedicures. Thanks Mom! (Snowflake design and polish called Mistle-toes-y, you better believe it)

For lunch, Five Guys. YES they have Five Guys in Phoenix... its amazing.

The Group. I think we took up half of the tables"Baby Grace," got lots of TLC from her cousins which she thoroughly enjoyed On Saturday, after a lunch at Cafe Rio, we took family pictures with Jen. here is a Preview that Ashby took.Then we headed to the Mesa Temple to see the Christmas lights.I was not in a good mood, can you tell?

Aside from my Christmas lights crankiness our Thanksgiving weekend was absolutely fabulous. We had so much fun being with family, having warm weather all day, and eating our hearts out. Ashby and Ryan thank you so much for letting us stay. You were great hosts and your house is amazing, I'm thinking about moving in with you.

Now lets start celebrating Christmas!

Oldies but Goodies

I asked my mom and Aaron's mom to send pictures of me and Aaron as babies so that i could compare them to Grace, thus the previous blog post. They both sent quite a few pictures that got Aaron and I laughing pretty hard . I figured they might just make your day too.

The classic front porch picture. My mom's only comment "Look at those bangs." Poor Ashby and Stacey.
Aaron and I spent a good 20 minutes laughing in regards to this picture. #1, its been colored on with a pen. #2- Aaron said "Thats me? That baby looks nothing like me." #3, the jury is still out on why Sarah is making that face. #4, you can almost hear Joe laughing in the picture. #5, where on earth is Liv looking? I think i might frame this.Ah, the Christmas card picture. The bangs are still in full force, as are the ruffles. Matt's face is priceless, as is his hand placementAaron and Joe. Is that a civil war fence in the background?A solo shot in my Christmas dressCan you believe this blonde haired kid was the same baby in the first Barnard family picture. No wonder Aaron didn't recognize himself.The eighties weren't such a fantastic decade for hair (sorry mom). What i love about this picture, is that i now own the sweater that i was wearing... crazy.I saved the best for last of course. This is the best picture ever. The parted hair, teary eyes, bow tie and vest. You can't get any better than that.