Tuesday, October 16, 2012

9 Months

  Not the most 'on time' post ever but it is what it is. 
G - 
Every month that goes by I just think about how close we are getting to the one year mark and disbelieve how close we are getting to the one year mark at the same time. You are simply a blessing. Our family as a whole is so in love with you. Payton & Charley adore their 'Grant Michael' and love to give you kisses and bring you toys and other such things.
Sleep - You are sleeping better these days, no new teeth but some how you are sleeping better. I'll take it! I can't remember if I have even mentioned what you go to sleep with so I will tell you. You always have your blanky (often you will have two other small ones in there too), bop, seahorse that plays music and your sound machine is on. Ok, now for the schedule.  You are up around 7:30/8. Nap in the morning from 9:30/10am to 11/11:30. Afternoon nap 1/1:30 to 3:30/4 maybe even 5 on a good day. This nap is taken in your pack n' play in mommy & daddy's room. Depending on the day you will take an evening nap from 6 to 6:30. You go to bed at 7:45/8. At night we don't have much of a 'routine' for bed. You go down really well. You hardly ever cry when you go to bed. I usually just walk you up the stairs and when we get to your room I will either say prayers when you are in my arms or I will lay you down and just touch your face and say prayers with you like that.
 Eating - This is probably your favorite thing to do these days. You are getting a lot more 'big kid food' and are loving being able to feed yourself. When it's time to eat your baby food you try to grab the spoon away from me and in doing so usually get food everywhere. (mommy is not a big fan of that:) Every meal begins with big kid food. Breakfast is waffles, bread with jelly, grapes, peaches, pears, cereal bars, etc. Lunch is meat, such as ham, turkey, hotdogs, chicken nuggets, cheese, fruit or veggies, carrots, green beans and sometimes mac n' cheese (which you love). At the end of every meal you have some baby food. Breakfast is fruit/oatmeal combo, lunch is fruit or veggie depending on what big kid food you had...I do the opposite, and dinner is either a veggie or meat.
Diaper Size -4's. You will be in these for a long time...at least I hope so.
Clothes  - 9 month stuff is getting small but you can still wear them for now. I do prefer to put you in 12 mo stuff just because I feel you may be more comfortable in them.
Activities - You are a full time, on your knees, fast as you can go, crawler! You LOVE this new found freedom to explore and you get into EVERYTHING. The dog dish is your favorite toy and when told no you simply turn around, smile, and turn back toward the bowl. Trouble, trouble, trouble I tell you. :) I have a feeling you are not going be content with just crawling for very much longer. I bet by your 11 month post you will be walking, maybe even running. You just want to keep up with Payton & Charley and do what they do. 
Daddy has started playing 'popcorn' (P & C run from the kitchen to Daddy and he throws them on the couch) with you involved too. You are not thrown but he sits you on the couch and you tuck your head and roll off into his arms. I guess it's kind of 'reverse popcorn'.
Payton & Charley are learning how to 'protect' their toys and Payton is learning she can't play with her tiny toys on the floor or anywhere where you can get at them. This is teaching Charley he needs to share, which I can tell you, he doesn't like much. But with that said you are all going to be buddies I can already tell. There are moments when I catch you all playing with each other and it makes my heart melt. 
I love you Baby Boy,
Mommy


Monday, September 24, 2012

Cowboy/Cowgirl Birthday Party

We officially celebrated Payton & Charley's birthdays last Friday night with a cowboy/cowgirl party. Thanks to everyone for celebrating our 2 and 4 year old. 
We are so blessed by these two little ones.


























Monday, September 17, 2012

8 Months - Grant Michael

 Little G -
8 months...really?! SLOW DOWN! :)
Sleep - Your sleeping patterns have been all over the place these days. I am blaming it on teeth and am hoping this is the case. For the most part it's ok but there have been a few nights you have been up several times during the night so I can't say it's been perfect. Let's, for the sake of the blog, say you wake up around 6:30 still and have your bottle and sleep until 8:00ish. Still napping 3 times a day, same times as before and going to bed around 8.
 Eating - You are in love with meal time. Breakfast consists of the same 'ol, same 'ol...fruit baby food & oatmeal cereal. They actually make baby food with oatmeal in it so we have been doing a lot of that. Lunch/Dinner, we have started big boy food! We started with puff and such things but have worked into bread, small bits of meat, cheese, cooked veggies, bananas, grapes. Oh man do you love this. Not a whole lot gets in your month on the first round but when it's all 'gone' I empty your bib pocket and it's like a whole other helping. You get very excited when I put you in your high chair and pound the tray. If I don't get you something fast enough it always ends in tears. Most of the time I start you with puffs just to hold you over while I cut things up.
Early morning you still get a 10 oz bottle. You also get a bottle (6 oz) before your morning nap, afternoon nap and right after afternoon nap. Then another 10 ouncer before bed at night.
Diaper Size - Moved you up to size 4's. We are a one size diaper family.
Clothes  - 9 mo and 12 mo
Activities - You are extremely close to crawling. It is bittersweet for me. Crawling means you are fast becoming a toddler and leaving babyhood behind and because you are 'my baby', it makes me a little sad to think about. I do love watching you try this new, well...almost new, found talent of yours because it gives you so much joy (and a little frustration:). You just want to keep up with Payton & Charley and I am excited for you to get the chance to do so.
You are pure joy. Love you so much!
Mommy

Monday, September 10, 2012

Chuck Diesel is 2!

Charley Bear - 
You are finally 2! 
In so many ways it seems like this day is long over due but really I still can't believe it's already here. You bring so much joy & laughter to our family on a daily bases I can't remember the days before you were here. You capture the attention of most everyone that meets you. You are a total goofball and keep us on our toes. I can never predict what you are going to do or say next. I love being your Mama and feel so blessed!
There are so many things you are doing right now I don't even know where to begin.
Let's start with how much and how well you talk. You repeat everything and talk like a three year old. Some of the cute phrases you say are; "Alwight", "Daddy go? Daddy at wook", "Where go?", "Grant Michael", "Outside, outside Mama" (when you want to play outside), "Wove you Mama" (that's my favorite:) You have started to refer to yourself in the 3rd person. So today when people asked you how old you were you said, "Charley two". 
Blanky & bop are very big parts of your life and so is babydoll but the thing you like to do the most, play cars and build things. 'Popcorn' is also a huge hit (You and Payton run from the kitchen to Daddy and he throws you on the couch).
I am quite sure that you would live outside if you could. Love, love, love being outside. I don't know what we are going to do this winter... I think one of the big parts about this is you get to run, run, run and play ball.
You love to dance and be silly.
You run with your right arm bent and pumping.
You want to do everything like the big kids.

Day #2
1 Year

2 Years

Saturday, September 8, 2012

1st Day of Preschool

Payton had her first day of 4 year old preschool on Tuesday. She is going to South Side Christian once again and her teacher is Mrs. Baker. We decided to put her in the two day class verses the three day for a number of different reasons. She did a little gymnastics over the summer and really enjoyed it so I wanted to give her the chance to do a little more with that so she will be going to school on Tuesdays and Fridays and on Thrusdays she is going to gymnastics at For the Kidz (aka Aunt Alisa's gym). I thought it would be good for her to do something other than school one day a week. There will be pleantly of years of school in the future. :)




Thursday, September 6, 2012

Labor Day Weekend

We were again super fortunate to get the Boathouse over Labor Day weekend (+ a few days). It was a great way to spend a holiday on which we don't have any traditional plans. Payton & I were even able to enjoy an hour or so at the beach all by ourselves. It was so wonderful to spend time at a place we both enjoy doing what we both enjoy (swimming) without having to worry about the boys. It was also a great time spending time with great friends.


Our sandcastle
Watching the Michigan v. Alabama game in style.


Ride to the beach.
Just Mommy & Payton
Charley/Daddy Boatride

Little fishy
Life is rough.

Headed to meet everyone on the beach.
Truck parade


3 Little Monkeys in a wagon.