Best Buddies

Best Buddies! We had so many worries when we were pregnant with Grant how Jenna would do. Would she be jealous, would she revert to acting like "a baby", would she get upset and act out...

I know in the years to come they will fight like cats and dogs...but for now let me enjoy their friendship.

She loves him so much, he's the first person she asks about when she wakes up, she misses him at school (he's literally 20 feet away from her in the baby room), she is always playing with him and cuddling him. She often asks to make sure that he is going to live with us forever!

Grant loves Jenna just as much. He's constantly watching her and she can always get him to laugh and smile. He already looks up to her. She reads him books and he just sits and listens.

My two little cuties! I love them so much, we are so lucky.

Dear Grant, 8 months

Dear Grant,

8 months! You are getting to be such a big boy! Mommy and Daddy are so proud of you. You are such a happy baby and love showing off your cute smile with those two little teeth! Although, seeing these pictures I don't think you like to smile for the camera. You're too busy looking at me like I'm crazy or trying to reach the camera to put it in your mouth.



Everything goes in your mouth these days. EVERYTHING. You love eating food and are now also eating puffs and the baby rice cakes in addition to fruits and veggies. We've even put a few of our meals in the food processor for you to try. You seem to like whatever you can get in your mouth.

size 3 pampers diapers

9 month clothes

2 bottom teeth

almost crawling - scoots and rocks, but not quite there

LOVES peek-a-boo

Still doesn't like the car

Talks all the time...sounds that are just like DaDa...no M sounds, looks like the word Momma is a ways off

LOVES big sister Jenna!

Usually sleeping through the night

Our lives are busy and hectic, but we wouldn't change a thing, who cares if sometimes we don't eat dinner until 8pm. You and Jenna make our life so enjoyable and fun! We're lucky parents!

You weren't sure about your first time out playing in the snow. Of course, I'm sure it didn't help that you were so bundled up you couldn't move.

Grant - we love cuddling with you! Especially when you're sleepy and will snuggle right in. You always sleep for the longest times on Daddy. It's a good excuse for us to sit down and relax while we cuddle with you. You're getting so big so fast, we really try to take advantage of that time.

We love you buggy! Happy 8 months!

Love always and forever,

Mommy

Out of the Mouths of Babes...

Jenna, Jenna, Jenna...
You are too funny! I could write a book, but I don't have the talent, time, or willpower to do that, so this blog will have to do. Enjoy! I swear, I can't make this stuff up!

(last night while I was giving Jenna a bath)

Jenna: Mom, I see lines on your forehead.

Me: (I said nothing, I was trying to ignore her and move on, UGH)

Jenna: Mom, I see lines, why are they there?

Me: They are wrinkles, thanks for your honesty.



(Erik was driving the kids home from daycare)

Jenna: Dad, you're a good driver.

Erik: Thanks honey.

Jenna: Dad, can you get me driving lessons?

Erik: When do you want to do that?

Jenna: Monday, Tuesday, or Wednesday would work best for me.



(Today she was talking on her pretend cell phone, which kept ringing)

ring ring

Jenna: Oh, it's my boss again.

Erik: What does your boss want?

Jenna: He's calling me about a meeting next week.

Jenna to phone: Why are you calling me, it's a stay at home day! Bye!


The next time her phone rang...

ring ring

Me: Who is it?

Jenna: Who's calling me? UGH - it's my boyfriend again!

Jenna to phone: Hello...why do you keep calling me?...Oh, because you're my boyfriend?!...Well, if you're my boyfriend I'm gonna smack you in the nose!...Oh, that's not nice?...Well, whatever, bye!

Dear Grant (7 Months),

Dear Grant,

You are now seven months old. Closer to your one year birthday than to your actual birth day. Since you're our last baby I try to enjoy every moment with you, but time still goes way too fast and you're still getting too big. I saw a picture of a newborn the other day and already felt like that baby was so tiny and you're so big, it was just months ago that was you. You're growing...at your 6 month appointment you were 17 pounds 5 ounces and 26 3/4 inches long. You're just a bit bigger than Jenna was at that age. You seem much more solid and chunky than she was, Daddy hopes it's because you are going to be a football player! You're so cuddly and cute with the softest skin and hair. I love when you fall asleep on me and we can just snuggle.


This picture cracks me up. Notice the soaking wet shirt full of spit up and drool, and the two different socks...Typical day in our house.

Just yesterday your first tooth poked through. You can't see it very well yet, but can defiantly feel it. You love eating food and show interest in big people food. Your sister, who loves you more than anything, teases you about her snacks. "Grant - you can't have this poptart...only big kids can. Maybe when you get some teeth." You are so loved by Jenna, she is very protective of you and would do anything for you.

You're not too excited about this birthday hat!

You're sleeping through the night, laughing, sitting and playing on your own, trying to crawl and climb, and you love noisy toys. You like books, especially when Jenna reads them to you. You really like to pull my hair and you're very strong. You love bath time and splashing and kicking your legs.

My sweetie...does it get any cuter than this?!

I love you so much and you complete our family. In the words of Taylor Swift's song...

Your little hand's wrapped around my finger

and it's so quiet in the world tonight.

Your little eyelids flutter cause you're dreaming

so I tuck you in, turn on your favorite night light.

To you every thing's funny, you got nothing to regret.

I'd give all I have, honey, if you could stay like that.

Oh darling, don't you ever grow up.

Don't you ever grow up, just stay this little.

Oh darling, don't you ever grow up

don't you ever grow up, it could stay this simple.

I won't let nobody hurt you, won't let no one break your heart

And no one will desert you,

Just try to never grow up.

Love always and forever,

Your Mom

True Life

Monday Morning...good to see you!

No, I'm not being sarcastic.

It's true, I feel like world's worst Mom, but I'm glad it's Monday. Having kids is the best thing ever, but also, truly the hardest!

Grant is teething and has a cold, and yesterday evening was one of the worst with him. Finally Motrin and teething gel calmed him down, and thank God, he slept all night.

I love him more than anything, but if you stop by my house you will see us in old lounge clothes with not just burp clothes, but BIG receiving blankets draped over us at all angles. Grant spits up...no I don't mean a little spit up now and then. This is crazy spit up. When he was a newborn, I was actually hoping he had Pyloric Stenosis and would need surgery just so it might get better. Then I hoped by 6 months it would be a lot better, then by the time he was sitting up, then when he was eating some solids. Well, all of those mile markers have came and went and it's not better.

I fear going anywhere with him because he will soak me or wherever we are. I fear anyone else holding him, I warn them, and they say it's fine, but they honestly have no idea of the magnitude of his spitting up. Even his big sister, who loves him more than anything, will tell him she's "frustrated" with him spitting up. It's bad if he eats 2 ounces, or six. It's bad if he just ate or ate three hours ago. It wakes him up. The poor ladies at daycare, they are sweet and say it's not a big deal, but it has to be. They walk around with a spray bottle of cleaner to clean up the floor, toys, wherever it lands. When he started at daycare I brought a bunch of burp clothes, and they said so innocently, "Oh, we provide burp clothes, 2 per child." Bless their hearts! I told them that was no where near enough.

Luckily, he's not in pain and it doesn't' seem to bother him much. Let me tell you, it bothers us and our water and electric bill from all of our laundry we have to do. It also bothers our carpet, couches, and clothes. Oh and even better, now it can be colored spit up! Isn't that great?! Maybe orange sweet potato flavored, or green beans...it's nice!

Yes, we've tried different formula, different bottles, rice cereal in his bottles, 3 different types of medicine, different feeding schedules...it's not getting better. His pediatrician is FINALLY referring us to a specialist. I think she thought it would be getting better by now. IT'S NOT! Every time we have a doctor appt. for Grant I pray he will spit up like crazy in front of her so she can see how much I'm NOT exaggerating. Isn't that awful? Last week he did it for the nurse, which is better than nothing. She's always said "some babies are just spitter uppers, he's growing well and doesn't seem in pain. He'll grow out of it." I guarantee if she came to our house for one day, she's be thinking differently.

I dream of the day I can hold my baby without being covered in burp clothes, without having to change my shirt or pants because they become a victim too. I dream of the day I can lift him up over my head and play with him, without getting a face mask of spit up.

Wow...my dreams sure have changed over the last 4 years.

Planning her escape

Jenna seems to be already planning her escape along with practicing her attitude. I LOVE this age, she is so funny and the things she comes up with really amaze me.
This is a recent conversation:

Jenna - If you don't let me eat dino nuggets for dinner I will NEVER EVER live here again!

Me - Fine, where are you going to go?

Jenna - I'm going to go to California.

Me -Good luck with that. Go ahead and go...

Jenna - But Mom, I'm not REALLY gonna go to California, I was just kidding. Can you drive me to India?

Mom - No, we can't drive to India honey.

Jenna - But I promise I'll be good in the car!


I love that kid!

Happy New Year!!!

Welcome 2011! I'm claiming this year as my year! I turn 30 in October of this year and I'm determined to look cute, be fit, and happy!

New Years Eve was low key spent with some friends and their little boy. The kids wanted to stay up so bad for New Years...and they DID! We couldn't believe it. We were prepared to do a pretend countdown, but they were troopers! We said Happy New Year,had a toast of champagne and sparkling grape juice, and Jenna promptly announced, "Ok, it's time for bed!"

Sorry these pictures are so small, they are from my phone.


Jenna and Bailey in their celebration gear



Jenna at about 10:30 pm, still going strong!



Erik and Jenna as the countdown on the TV was down to one...HAPPY NEW YEAR!!