First Day of Pre School...

I actually meant to post these a few days ago when I started back blogging, but totally spaced.  Anyway, these were shot back in August on her first week of pre-school - which she loves.  She has made so many new friends.  

This was taken the third day of school.

The second day.

This is the official first day photo.

This is the official first day pre-photo opp.  We had a great breakfast with no pants on.

Graci's Birthday - Part II

I know... everyone is probably in shock that I posted three days in a row!  However, this has been a FABULOUS week.  This morning Graci woke up and officially turned 2.  Allen and I were up last night (he was up until 3 am putting the kitchen together and I was up until Midnight with the tent and other things) getting her room ready.  I brought in the balloons from her party last night and hid in there so I could capture her face as she came through the door.  She was so excited she didn't know where to go first.

She and her daddy colored for a little while.  They were both very excited about all of the new art supplied.  Thanks to CiCi, bug has a new table and chairs to sit at as she works on her masterpieces.  Thanks to Aunt Tina and Uncle Wes for the art supplies.

This is the kitchen we ended up with.  We started out with the Pottery Barn version and it was so big and didn't fit in her room.  This is a really nice small retro-style from Target that she has already fallen in love with.  Her daddy spent all night and have the morning putting it together.  I think he was VERY thankful we didn't get the other one - it was 3 times this big.

Her new butterfly tent.  She actually ended up with three "tents".  The other one is a Disney Princess Tent that her Granny and Paw gave her and the other one is a very cool "playhouse" that has a porch that Aunt KK, Uncle Dave, Sommy and Tate gave her.  Both now reside in the game room.

She decided to bake us cupcakes and fry eggs in her new kitchen.  It was delicious.

Her new Hello Kitty traveling doll house from Aunt BB and Uncle Rit.  She packed everything up in it, put on her shoes, told me bye bye and said she was going to CiCi's house.

Graci's 2nd Birthday

I told you I was going to get better about posting...

We had Graci's 2nd Birthday Party (or Hobby Dobby as she calls it) this evening at the house.  We had a "Bama" theme because the Tide played Auburn and beat them 36-0.  ROLL TIDE!

A few pictures below for you to enjoy.  Our little bug is really growing up fast.  We are so blessed! 

Bug's First Visit to T-Town...

Most of you know that I am a HUGE football fan and love my Tide.  It was only natural that we bring Graci to a game early on.  Below are a few shots we took of her on the Quad before kickoff.  Mom (now known as CiCi - somehow that came from GiGi) came with us - we all had a great time.

Allen took the middle picture of us.  It was really special to me because I have a picture of me as a freshman at Bama standing in front of Denny Chimes in that very same spot.  So very cool.

Halloween...

Okay, so I admit that I didn't dress her up for Halloween.  We put her in the car and drove to Tuscaloosa on Halloween night to make it to Alabama's Homecoming game the following day.  I figure that I could only get away with not doing the trick-or-treat thing one last year.  We tried a costume and that DID NOT go well.  I ran around Party City like I was trying to kill her, so I didn't push the issue.  I did, however, take her to her preschool's fall festival in her pumpkin dress.  It was the best I could do.

Below we strike a pose before we leave for the festival.  The last picture is of Graci that morning before school.  Note her shirt...my magical power is being cute.  How true!

From the summer....

Here are a couple of random pictures from the summer.  I love the one of her in the pink outfit.  At this point she really started loving the camera.  You can get one out and she is all smiles.  She totally "hams" it up.  The other pic shows her in a Metallica shirt - gotta love it.

I am the world's worst blogger...

Okay, so I am officially the world's worst blogger.  The sad thing is that we set these up for clients all of the time, so when it comes to doing it for my personal life I am less than excited. However, my goal is to get back on track with it.  Maybe that will be my New Year's resolution...

While I don't have photos for every month (for the last year) that I have missed blogging, I do have a few snapshots for you to look at...  We are so blessed Graci is growing up so fast. 

These were shot at the beach over the summer.  We would go to this area that you can only get to by boat and she would run and run up and down the beach.  She would be asleep before we could get the boat out of the water.

Roll Tide...

Here are a few pictures of Graci in her new Alabama dress. She decided that she would chase me around, climb up in her dad's lap and finally just strike a pose for the camera. Sadly, these were shot the morning we lost to FSU. Roll Tide.

I know...I am a terrible blogger.

Okay, so my deepest apologies. We have been a little busy here in the McLaughlin house since the spring. We finally moved into our new house back in June and then I had to have surgery in July - we are finally getting somewhat back to normal. Anyway, here are just a few pictures of Graci to catch back up on how she is growing.

Miss Graci hanging out with her dad at about 9 months.

This is at 7 months. We used this photo for several ads for my client, Gulf Reflections Studios in Fort Walton Beach, FL. You can check out the website we did for her at www.gulfreflections.com.

Easter 2007 - As you can see little Miss Thing was not happy about sitting through church and then having to come and be the center of attention at Mema Daisy's. She was about 5 1/2 months at this point and DID NOT sit still that morning in church.

Lions and Tigers and Bears, Oh My!

Well, the McLaughlin's had their first outing to the Gulf Breeze Zoo this afternoon. Miss Graci enjoyed being out of the house and mommy & daddy enjoyed watching her observe all of the animals. Below are a few snapshots from our visit...

The mommy and baby orangutan...no, not us...behind us.

We thought it safer to sit her on this lion, instead of the real one.

Graci and Papa chillin' with the gators.

No, it is not too early to start promoting elephants...Roll Tide!

My little bug.

She was more interested in posing for the camera, then looking at the bears.

Adventures in Rice Cereal...

Okay, so as optimistic as my post earlier today was I have recently learned that rice cereal is good for a variety of things...throwing at mommy, pouring on the table and flinging it at Bailey (our little dog)...how interesting. Below are my attempts to capture the fun and joy of Graci's first time with something other than formula. At one point she started laughing so hard it came out of her nose. As you can see my one-handed camera skills have much to be desired.

Her first official bite!

Mommy is so funny! Taken just before it shot out of her nose.

Yum...that's good...now where's my bottle!

4 Month Check Up Report

Graci went for her 4 month check up (in style as you can see from the pics below) and here are her new stats: 13 lbs 8 oz (a little more than double her birth weight) and 24 inches long (6 inches longer than when she was born). The doctor said she she is in perfect health and we can start her on cereal twice a day. Yippee...less bottles.

Here are a couple of pictures I snapped before we left the house. As you can see she is in high style with her Mudpie outfit that my friend Heather gave her. Please note the FABULOUS shoes and mathcing shirt - they both read "If The Tiara Fits."

Bath Time In the Big Tub

I had to post her first "Billy Idol" pic. She and I got in the BIG tub for a "swim." She didn't know what to think at first because our tub is a far cry from the little tub she has been getting a bath in for the last three months. Thank goodness she didn't poop on me!

It's Time for a Walker...

Well, it is already time for Graci to get movin'. Her bouncy has become like prison, as she has recently decided that she needs to be up where she can see what is going on. So, last night Allen and I took her to WalMart to purchase her Winnie The Pooh walker. What you can't see from the picture is that the little Princess legs are too short to reach the ground, so we have to put a pillow under her feet. Just as Allen and I suspected, she is going to be short like us. Oh well, with a face that cute who cares.

Graci Has A Fabulous Friend

I've posted Addison and Graci's pictures previously, but this one is from Friday. The girls giggled and chatted while Amber and I enjoyed lunch. As you can see they are becoming very good friends. Addison likes to hold Graci hand...it is too cute.

And The Winner Is...

Well, Graci didn't win photogenic in her pageant this afternoon. However, she did bring home a 5 ft. trophy, a crown that was almost bigger than she is, a plaque and a medallion. She was given the Sponsor Award, Prettiest Eyes, Best Fashion & 2nd Place Overall in the 23rd Annual Fort Walton Beach Cover Miss preliminary today! Graci had a captive audience as she took the stage...her GiGi Shirley, Aunt Betty, Mema Daisy, Grammy Carolyn, Aunt Tina and of course her Daddy. I was privileged enough to escort baby girl on stage. Here are a few shots from her big day!

Go Graci...Mommy & Daddy are so proud. We love you slobber monkey!