Part of Your World

Jenna belongs on a stage!  She is constantly singing and dancing.  She actually has a good voice when she isn't being silly.  Last night she put on a "show" for me and Erik.  This is her singing part of "Part of Your World" from The Little Mermaid. 

She has also asked to take singing lessons and we found someone to do that for her starting in January.  Along with swimming and gymastics she also wants to take. 

Marco Island 2011

We  just returned from vacation last night.  It was a lot of fun, but with both kids, not quite relaxing.  My mom came with us for 1/2 the trip and that helped a lot and was great!  The kids had lots of fun, Jenna became a fish and would have spent every second in the pool or on the beach if we let her.  Grant felt the ocean for the first time and liked walking around chasing birds and lizards. 

They did so good on the travel days.  We were saved by dum dum suckers.  Grant and I were sticky messes but it kept him from fussing.  Jenna had her first jet ski experience, on some choppy waters, she was a bit scared, we only made it about 15 minutes and Erik rode the rest of the time by himself. 

These are pictures from my phone, I'll add more later:

The only family picture we got the whole trip! 

My new favorite of the kids, and their outfits even coordinate!

Grant livin' the dream!

Looking for good shells

LOVE this one...Grant's first steps in the ocean

Jenna had fun drawing in the sand

My attempt at trying to keep Grant covered up.  He kept taking off his hat and throwing it in the water

Aww...nice and relaxing!

Version 3.0

This is the last post I'll do while in my 20s.  Tomorrow (tonight at 2:51am to be precise) I will be 30 years old.  It's so cliche, but I really don't know how I can be that "old" already.  I don't feel like I thought I'd feel when I'm 30, but here I am, entering a new decade. 

I'm lucky and blessed with Erik and the kids, and my family and friends.  I'm going to embrace being 30, it's defiantly better than the alternative! 

Good Report!

This was the note I got on Jenna's slip from Preschool yesterday:

Jenna was OUTSTANDING during circle today!  She knew every letter with sounds and words to accompany each!  She named words like Charge, Quail, Victory, Queen, Quilt, etc!  She knew words none of the others had any idea of!  GREAT JOB  JENNA!  Very impressed with her today (not that I'm not everyday)!
Ms. Erica

I was such a proud Mom!

New Milestone...literally miles included

Last week was a new milestone for Jenna. After worries about falling, and losing her comfort and security of the training wheels...she finally took off! It was such a great feeling to see her so proud. Honestly, she could have probably done it earlier, we just didn't take the time necessary to work with her. She took about two evenings working on it and then Wednesday (10/5/11) she did it!

Erik wasn't quite preppared for her to get so good so fast and was running up and down the street in his flip flops and then complained all night.

The look on her face was one of disbelief she was really doing it, fear, and excitement.  It was great!

Look, no hands...or the "I'm tired and give up" sign from Daddy...not sure!

"Look Mom...I'm doing it!"

This is what Grant thought about it...

This is what he thought about our neighbor's Camaro...he was much more interested in that car!

He really is all BOY!

A Makeover? Sure, why not!

Don't get too excited! It's not for me personally, although that is also needed, but I'm sure it would be MUCH more expensive that the makeover I'm talking about.

Don't you love my new and improved blog?!
A HUGE thanks to Ashley ! She was great to work with, fast, and well priced!

Yes, it's about time I got Grant's picture up there, he's only 15 months! What's important now is it's done and I LOVE it!

Papa's Pumpkin Patch: Then and Now

This is just a sneak peek from our Pumpkin Patch trip...more to come!  We had a great time with nice weather. 

Take a look at the next two pictures.  They are from the same Pumpkin Patch in 2008!  Time's sure have changed.  Look at the sweet little girl at almost 2 years old...

Dear Grant (15 months),

Dear Grant,

You are 15 months old now...Still hard to believe you aren't my little baby anymore.  You are a hyper, talkative, adventurous little boy.  You can always be found throwing something, eating, reading, pushing something, running around, or falling down.  You are a tough little guy and rarely cry when you fall.  Half the time I have to bite my tongue and not gasp when you fall, since I know you'll probably be right back up on your feet. 

You are the reason for so many of my smiles and I love watching you learn and grow more every day.  You're babbling like crazy but have some real words in there too:
Uh-Oh
More
Shoes
Ocie (Outside)
Enna (Jenna)
Elmo
Mama
Dada
All done
Ball
NO

You have the shake your head movements down for NO and YES and the sign language for MORE.

Everyone told us you and Jenna would probably be total opposites, but so far you both have happy, bubbly, cuddly personalities.  Besides the fact you are all boy and love balls, throwing things, and wrestling you also have a strong love for shoes. 

Happy 15 months Grant!  You are such a joy in our lives and we are so lucky to be your parents!

Love always,

Mom

Cousins

Jenna and Grant are finally cousins to sweet baby Anabel Rose (Annie). Jenna is so excited to finally have and be a cousin, although a little disappointed Annie won't be living with us. We finally got to meet Annie and be there for her baptism. Jenna was in love with Annie and got to hold her, Grant...well, he was more excited about the little dogs to play with.

Jenna and Anabel! She is so tiny and sweet!

This one turned out really blurry for some reason, and you can see Grant trying to escape, but there are all three kids, cousins, grand kids on Erik's side!

Activities

I've been an awful blogger lately! When the kids are older, I'll apologize for the gaps between posts on the blog and they will probably say "Whatever Mom!" But, the time will come when they have a family and they will understand the busy, chaotic, "just get through the day" kind of days.

Here are just a couple pictures of Jenna and fun things she's been doing lately. I don't have any new ones of Grant right now from my phone since he doesn't sit still for one second and most of the pictures I try to take are blurry and he's running away from me.

Jenna at the Library! She loves going there, I think she could stay there all day and read books.

Jenna took golf lessons through the City. She recently went golfing with her Dad and Grandpa. She actually has a good swing!

Jenna got a chance to drive a pontoon boat, let's just say it's a good thing she's not old enough to drive yet!

She's giving her fake smile in these pictures, but the thing that stands out the most to me is how old she looks. She's tall and long, and has conversations like:

"Mom, ya know that Justin Bieber song, Baby, Baby, Oh Baby...that's a remarkable song!"

Like always, I'll tell myself I will be a better blogger, but then kids, work, grad classes, to do's, and a little thing called sleep get in the way!

I LOVE These Two...

Grant is on the go ALL THE TIME! He also LOVES to eat. His teacher said he was shaking the other day because he couldn't get his chicken tortellini in fast enough.

Jenna's rock star look! She said, "I look like an all-star, super-star, rock-star!" I told her that was quite a name and she said, "Well, it doesn't matter!" Okay then...

She is such a sweet little girl, yes...she has an attitude now and then, but I love her to pieces!

Look at those eyes...if only you could see his curls in the back too!

Grant loves his "sissy" so much! Especially when she has food to share with him!

My babies! I love you two SO much!

Lucky!

When I look at this family picture courtesy of MP Photography I think one word...LUCKY! I have a great husband, two beautiful healthy kids, and they make me laugh everyday!

Grant's 1 year stats

Grant had his one year doctor appointment last week.

Weight: 21.5 pounds - 35th percentile
Height: 30 inches - 50th percentile


Everything looks good, he's walking everywhere, clapping, playing, grabbing, eating, drinking, all like he should be.


He really is getting big, and it kinda makes me sad. I'm so proud of him, but he's also my last baby. Next week he will be leaving the infant room at daycare and moving on up to the wobbler room! Crazy how fast time goes!

Happy First Birthday Grant!!!

Happy 1st Birthday Grant! We all had so much fun at your party! It was a hot day, but we had a tent with tables and chairs underneath. You're lucky to have so many friends and family who stopped by or called you! I can't believe you're one, you're such a big boy. You're taking more and more steps everyday and we enjoy you more and more everyday too! Love you buggy!


Grant got lots of presents, now we just have to find places for everything!



He was not too excited about having to wait to dig into the cake until we got done signing Happy Birthday!


Cute Monkey cake, Grant LOVED it!


Yummy cupcakes


Wonderful Monkey cookies! Yum!


And...his first time eating cake was a success! He dug right in!


Yummy! This is good stuff!



What?! I'm not THAT messy!



This cake is making me thirsty!

Family photo, we're all kinda smiling, I'd call that a success!