Gracelyn is one month old!

Our sweet Gracelyn Mae turned one month old yesterday. Trent and I can see drastic changes in her this week, especially in her size. It seems like she grew overnight and has now outgrown two newborn outfits, her newborn diapers and is starting to hold her head up more and more. Her growth was even more pronounced when we visited our friend, Callie, in the hospital who had just delivered Ambrey, her 6 lb 3 oz baby. Callie was in the room right next door to our room in the hospital so there was so many sweet memories as we set our eyes on it again.

Gracelyn also smiled at me this week. On Sunday, when she finished nursing, she was quite content and was intently looking at me while I talked to her about just how crazy I am about her and there it was...a sweet, momentary all-out smile. What a precious moment that I would guess every parent holds dear. I can tell she is on the brink of cooing, she often looks like she has so much to say but just can't seem to make her voice work.

On her one month birthday, we ate Chinese with Aunt Monica, Hope, Emma and Kado. We also got her a new toy. It's an infant to toddler rocker seat. I love it and she seemed very content in it today. I have been desperate to find a place where she can sleep well and be somewhat entertained at such a young age. But I am not very keen about the idea of buying items that she will only use for such a short time. She will be able to use this rocker for a couple years and right now the vibration provides the perfect soothing environment for a nap.

Just wanted to mention a couple more of my favorite things that she does these days for my sake. I am so quick to forget. Whenever Gracelyn gets hungry and is sitting upright against someone's chest, she will begin to peck with mouth open. We affectionately call her "woody woodpecker." And if she is in just the right position she will start to suck on the neck or arm of whoever is holding her, most often her daddy. Watch for hickies on Trent's neck! I love how she cuddles me each and every time I have the privilege to put her to sleep. I absolutely love her belly button...it smiles! I love how she looks in a little T-shirt. I am so excited to see how long her hair is in the back...I think we could try out piggy tails one day soon. And as her Aunt Monica pointed out the first time she met Gracelyn, our baby girl has beautiful eyebrows.

One last thing...I wanted to give a warm shout out to my awesome husband. One morning this week, I was a zombie in tears realizing that I was desperately in need of some unbroken sleep that would last more than an hour at a time. Trent was so quick to volunteer more of his help during the night so for the past couple nights, he has been up to change her every nightly diaper and bring her to me to nurse. He even tried to get her back to sleep in the crib which is a huge feat. And even though it will take a little more practice for him to master, I am so appreciative to have a husband who shares in the joys and responsibilities of caring for our little one. I love you, T. God has blessed me so richly!

Below are some pictures and video of the above mentioned things for your viewing pleasure!

Mommy's Report

First of all, I wanted to share this picture that my mom took while she was here. This is looking off our back porch at the most amazing rainbow. I love how the sky is darker above and lighter below. At one point, there were actually two rainbows. God's handiwork is so incredible and we are so blessed to live on such beautiful, peaceful property.

Here is me and mom with Gracelyn on Mother's Day. Trent and Dad were sweet enough to get us corsages. It was such a special day, having Gracelyn in my arms and bringing her to worship. It was also really special to celebrate with my own mom. I have a new appeciation for my own mother. Her servant heart is a good example to me of how selfless I want to be when it comes to loving and taking care of my children.

Mom and I also got to go to a Mother's Day tea for church. Everyone wore hats and had a great time of fellowship.

Mommy's Report on Gracelyn--Weeks Two and Three

At two weeks old, we were very hopeful that she would reach her birth weight. On May 13th, she had surpassed her birth weight and weighed 8 lbs 1 oz. We were so proud of her and relieved to see that she is growing well and getting plenty to eat. One week later I can now start to see a little chub gathering on her thighs. Her arms are still long and skinny.

So I wanted to share some of my favorite things about Gracelyn and our time together.

1. Getting Gracelyn dressed for the day. Here she is dressed in an outfit given to her by her Aunt Monica. It is a little jumper that looks so sweet and straight from the 80's.

2. Seeing her with Daddy. She is quite cozy and secure as he reads to her from the Bible. He is such a good man and I am grateful to God that Trent is a man who leads our family in faith and truth.

Gracelyn seems to love cuddling with her Daddy. She has her hand right up on his face and the other under his chin. It's like she is reaching up to give him a hug.

3. Seeing Gracelyn loved by others. There is nothing more comforting than knowing that your child is loved by people who will point her to Jesus. Here she is with her grandmothers (Piggy and Grammy).

4. Watching Gracelyn's faces. She is such an expressive baby and I wish I could get into her little head to know what she is thinking.

She makes this face whenever she is getting ready to fill her panties!

She looks very serious to me.

5. Gracie's Feet. They are long and flat and her toes turn in all kinds of directions.

6. For the first two days after Gracelyn's birth, she was nameless while Trent and I figured out which name fit her best. During this time, I lovingly referred to her as my gorilla baby. The sweet baby is covered in dark body hair. She even has hair around the edges and lobes of her ears! Pictures just don't do this justice.

7. Gracelyn's Kisses. There's no doubt that Gracelyn enjoys getting a ton of kisses. She just melts and draws herself in closer when you start to cuddle or kiss her.

8. Gracelyn waking up. I think she will be a pure grump as she gets older when it comes to waking up from a good sleep. It usually takes her quite a while to wake up and she is full of grunts and groans and yells out now and then. It's quite endearing.

9. Her smile. It's hard to catch a pic of her smiling because it's usually here and gone quickly. But it's priceless when you get a glimpse of how content and happy she is. She most often smiles after nursing and sometimes I swear she even giggles. It's one of those things that I will probably never capture outside of my memory. It's one of those many gifts that comes with being the one who gets to hold her during the middle of the night.

10. One of my last favorite things about Gracelyn Mae is that she belongs in our family. She's just a perfect fit and I am so grateful to get to be her mommy. Even when she cries in the middle of the night and I am so tired...even when she needs me to hold her and I haven't met my self-imposed goal of getting a shower by noon...even when she wakes up when I lay her down in her crib and then she cuddles right up next to me in bed and falls into deep sleep without a single peep...in all of these moments I count it a privilege to be her Mommy. The other day we were sitting together and listening to a Plumb song called Me. It's a beautiful song that perfectly describes how dependent a baby can be on mama.

I haven't had/A chance to sleep/And when I wake/I wake with your dreams/I guess my pillow/Holds some kind of key/To your peace/Your peace/Me/I wouldn't trade your love for all the candy/In this great big world/Me/I feel so crazy blessed and oh so lucky/To be the place you go/When you need to feel safe/When you need a kiss/It's meI haven't showered/And I tried to eat/But all your tears/Oh they needed me/I need some time, some time to think/But then I hear you/And what you need is...Me/I wouldn't trade your love for all the candy/In this great big world/Me/I feel so crazy blessed and oh so lucky/To be the place you go/I wash your face/To make room for/All the kisses/Of tomorrow/And every day/That I get to Be here with you/Is sweet/Me/I wouldn't trade your love for all the candy/In this great big world/Me/I feel so crazy blessed and oh so lucky/To be the place you go/When you need to feel safe/When you need a kiss/Oh don't be afraid/Cause what you'll have is....Me

Thanks for reading. Hope you enjoy the pictures!

Mommy's Girl

I have never been very good at being able to see the resemblence of babies to their parents and until now I have had a hard time discerning who Gracelyn looks like. My mom sent a few pictures of me as a baby. What do you think? Can you see me in her? It's actually kind of crazy to me how much we look alike. How cool! It will be fun to see if she takes on more of her daddy as she grows up. I love my baby girl.

Highlights of the Good Life--Gracelyn's First Week of Life

Here we are, the Willhite family of three. Although labor and delivery was by far the hardest thing I have ever accomplished, the rewards were beyond expectation. Having Gracelyn in my arms was the greatest joy. However, I got to witness the peace and mercy of God in new ways. He provided all that I needed to endure and having Trent at my side meant the world to me. His huge hand on my face and hair provided much needed security when I was overwhelmed and his words of encouragement helped me stay diligent when the pushing went long. He had so much faith in me. I was also fortunate enough to have Lavonne (Trent's mom), Monica and Joni (Trent's sisters) at my side during most of the laboring stages. They held my hand through contractions, gave me foot and back massages, kept my washcloth wet, pulled my hair up and prayed for me. In the end, we were blessed with a wonderful delivery doctor, Dr. Ohlhausen, and Trent and Joni were there to witness the moment of Gracelyn's birth.




Holding my baby for the first time was different than I expected. I loved her from the beginning but it was a strange love. I realized that I didn't know her and there was a lifetime ahead that we would spend getting to know this little human, this little soul. It still is somewhat surreal.

Gracelyn's first bath

The nurses at the hospital did such an amazing job taking care of Gracelyn. They dressed her in gowns that had long, floppy sleeves and fixed her hair with bows and spikes. I melted the first time I saw her with a hair bow.




Here is Trent after 40 exhausting hours without sleep and very little food. He is literally hanging off the "expandable" couch.

Gracelyn just got examined by the pediatrician. Dr. Lively was awesome. He finished off her exam with a kiss on her head.

We had many visitors in the hosptial. Here she is meeting her Piggy and Pops for the visit time.

Hanging out with Pops

Gracelyn got to meet almost all of her family. We can't wait to see you Aunt Jamie, Uncle Paul and cousins Ashton and Emma. Here are Aunt Joni and Uncle Beau and cousin Grant below.

Cousins Sarah, Steven and Michael with Aunt Julie

Uncle Todd

Auntie Monica

Great Aunt Betty

I love this picture!! Gracelyn loves hanging with her daddy. He is so precious with her. My love grows for him more and more each day as I watch them together.

Here we are getting ready to leave the hospital. Trent picked out this dress for her to wear on the day we welcomed her home.

You can catch a little glimspe of her dimple on her right cheek. It is becoming more defined every day and lately there has been a hint of a dimple of her left cheek too. Piggy, Papa and I all have dimples.

We made it home!

Gracelyn taking her first sunbath.

Her hair intrigues me everyday. Everyone asks "where did she get that jet black hair?"

Gracelyn loves to sleep with her hands over her face. I think she looks like a little pink sausage all swaddled up in her blanket.

We have a thumb-sucker in the making!

Five days old and going to church.

Dreaming and grinning with Mr. Bunny

Checking out mommy's new carrier

Celebrating being one week old!

We love you Gracelyn Mae!