Then... and Now

I was looking through all of our photos of Grady tonight, trying to pick out a few for his 1st birthday invitation (and torturing myself-as David said) and I came across this one.  Only days old, Grady already loved his binky and it was half as big as his head.  Now, nine months later, he shoves the entire thing in his mouth... for fun!  We have so much to be thankful for!  

Picnic Fun

Last night we were invited to a picnic at Jeff and Jen's house to welcome their new baby Audrey into the world.  Jen is the originator of the Mama's Club that I go to.  It was wonderful to see all the babies, Audrey, Elliot, and Ava and to see Sarah who is expecting in 3 weeks.  Grady loved being outside and at the party.  

I got to hold tiny little Audrey who is 8 pounds.  Oh how I forgot how tiny that was.  David and I were talking and Grady was 5 months old at 8 pounds!  Grady did not seem very impressed with Miss Audrey.  While I held Audrey, David had Grady right next to me and he could have cared less.  He was too busy watching everyone else.

Here are some pictures from the picnic last night.  One of Grady giving me kisses (he is loving doing that right now) and yes... gnawing on a pretzel!  

I LOVE this BOY!

How STINKIN' cute is this little boy of mine?  He cracks me up more and more each day!  Yesterday, I went to get him up from his morning nap and I picked the binky up out of the crib and Grady saw it and whipped it out of my hand and proceeded to put it in his mouth as pictured above.  I grabbed the camera off the table and set him down and began to snap pictures.  Thankfully he tolerates me and I love him for that!  

Friday's Trip to the Zoo

Friday, Grady and I had a date to go to the zoo with Kim and Ryan.  Here's the interesting story about how we know Kim and Ryan (and Dad, Todd).

Kim and I went to high school together and lived on the same street.  And we had not seen each other since then.  About two weeks after Grady was born, we got a new baby in our pod.  It was really interesting to watch the doctors and nurses work on the baby, because as a new parent, you are not allowed to see your baby until after they have the baby stabilized and have done a complete work up.  So, for me, I was really impressed with everything that had happened while the parents were anxiously waiting to see the baby. 

Eventually a call came back to the pod stating that the family wanted to come back.  The nurse said to send them back.  So, there I was sitting next to Grady's incubator writing in his journal and in walks Kim.  It's was bizarre to see someone you known from your past walking into your NICU pod.  Needless to say we were happy to see each other and this crazy NICU experience has allowed us to rekindle our friendship.  Kim and I spent almost a month together in Pod A.  We shared our days together.  Eating lunch together, talking across the Pod, and just going through the crazy NICU experience together.  Ryan was also chosen to be in one of the U of R commercials that aired during the Super Bowl.  

Fast forward 9 months later and Kim and I try to get together at least once a month for lunch and sometimes a little shopping at Babies R Us.  Friday we took the boys to the zoo.  It was so much fun to reflect on how big our little guys had grown and how much we love motherhood.  

How fun will it be that these two boys will be friends as they grow up and how amazing it is to think of how they came into the world and how wonderfully they are doing.  

Biter Biscuits Finally

On Thursday we got the go ahead from the Doctor to try biter biscuits with Grady.  I was so excited because I really was hoping that he would like them and they would help him cut his tooth.  Here is a picture of Grady when he first started eating his biscuit.  He seemed to really like it.  He would put in in his mouth and then take it out and look at it and then but it back in.  Then I offered him some water and after that things dramatically changed... he put it into his mouth and had the worst look on his little face.  He then proceeded to throw it onto the ground.  So much for biter biscuits... we will try again today.  

9 Month Check Up

This picture was taken a week or so ago.  YaYa (my mom) is obsessed with the banana curl.  Grady finally has enough hair to make the banana curl, so we (I) have been pacifying her by putting them in Grady's hair as often as I can (I actually think it is starting to get too long, but don't tell YaYa).  I had to put this onzie on Grady - it says "Bad Hair Day"... how appropriate!

Grady had his 9 month check up today and he is doing so well!  He weighs 17 lbs 3.5 oz and is 26 3/4 inches long.  We are thrilled as he is finally on the growth chart in the 4th (weight) and 5th (height) percentiles (it's only taken 9 months but we made it!).  Dr. Abell was thrilled with Grady's progress and has given us the "go-ahead" to move to stage 3 and even begin trying some real table food!  I know that he will be so happy as he wants our food so desperately! 

We feel so blessed with how well he is doing and are really enjoying every moment with him!

Giddy-Up YaYa!

This weekend while David was away, Grady, YaYa, and I went to the mall to do a little shopping.  On a whim we decided to go to Gymboree  (I never go in their because even the sale items seem expensive).  To YaYa's delight we found this awesome Cowboy Hat for Grady to wear while he rides his horse Jumperoo (another gift from YaYa).   Grady also got a pair of boots... stay tuned for pictures of the whole outfit later this week!  

Thanks YaYa!  

Daddy's Home!!!!!!

This picture was taken a few weeks ago at the Howie's picnic and I just love it!  I am so happy to have David home.  He arrived just before 3 am this morning and is taking the day off to be with us today... HOORAY!  We missed you Daddy!  

This One's For Uncle Bud!

Uncle Bud is Mathias.  He was my family's foreign exchange student while I was in high school.  He came in August of 1987 and left on July 4th, 1988.  It's alarming that it has been 20 years!  And while we lost contact for a few years, we are happily back in touch.  Uncle Bud's last visit was in May, when he came for a week to meet his little American nephew.

Mathias LOVES Thanksgiving.  He told us that he dreams of this meal, so every time he visits we have a traditional Thanksgiving meal-regardless if it May, September or November.  

Well Bud... I am pleased to report that Grady shares your love of turkey!  We miss you!  

Stupid Weight Watchers!!!!!!!!!

Ok... so I guess I got ahead of myself.  I so confidently got on the scale at Weight Watchers this noon and to my chagrin I had only lost .2 lbs.  That's POINT 2 lbs people... not even a pound!  I was so frustrated then discouraged as I had to fight back the tears. This whole weight loss thing sucks!  I am having a hard time understanding why the weight is not coming off this time. Yes, 6 years ago, prior to David and I getting together I had lost 60 lbs in 4 months.  I know I am older, but I am way more active taking care of Grady.  

I'm not sure if I am going to stay with WW.  I may try to do it on my own.  I am mad now-more determined to loose the weight--but I almost want to do it without them.  Especially since last week I was told that the program is designed for loosing 1-3 lbs a week.  Today, the woman who weighed me in told me that I should be happy for loosing less than one pound a week.  HELLO--I don't think so!  I'd be happy if I were cheating, but I have not been cheating!  Argh! 

Happy Friday!

Happy Friday!  I am so happy to see Friday this week as it means that we are closer to David coming home!  While we have managed just fine without him, it's not the same!  

Today is Weight Watchers.  YaYa and I have been doing WW for a couple months now.  She has been a rock star, but the pounds are not melting as quickly for me (and I have been following the plan not cheating!).  This week I changed things up a bit and changed to CORE.  I have found that I am less hungry and feeling better... let's see if the scales say the same thing.

YaYa is coming this afternoon to watch Grady so that I can go to an appointment.  Then this evening, Grady and I are going to have dinner with Auntie JoJo and to do a little shopping!  

I have a ton of things on my list to do before David gets home--hopefully I can cross a bunch of them off today!  

This picture is for Mrs. Mahon (Joe/Auntie JoJo's Mom) who got Grady the outfit--it's a sweet Classic Pooh outfit-size 6 months.  She brought it to us in the hospital right after I had Grady and I remember thinking that we might loose him and he would never wear it... but here he is healthy and thriving and looking EVER so cute in it!  Thanks again Mrs. Mahon (and Mr. Mahon too!).  

9 Months

Our baby is 9 months old.  Where has the time gone?  I look at him and am amazed that such a tiny little being has turned into my big, chunky, 9 month-old baby!  What a miracle Grady is! We are so thankful for how healthy he is and how well he is doing!

While every age has been fun, I am just loving Grady right now and I am trying to soak in every moment and everything he does!  If I could, I would shellac him and keep him at this age and size forever! Unfortunately, that is not something that I can do so I am treasuring every moment!

It seems like everyday Grady does more and more!  At nine months Grady....

• is 17 lbs 3.5 oz  and is 26 3/4 inches long (Whoo Hoo!  He is finally on the growth chart.  He is in the 4th percentile for his weight and 5th for his height.  And... oh by the way the 41st for his head!   That is a great sign!)
• is rolling over and moving across the floor via this method of transportation 
• is finally getting into a routine:  napping two hours after he has woken up and two hours after that nap
• is going to sleep most nights at 8:30 pm and is getting up around 8 am
• laughs and giggles all the time
• loves the words ZIT, SALAD, GUACAMOLE, and PO-TA-TO (they typically bring out the belly giggles)
• is getting a lot of strawberry blond/light brown hair with waves in it
• allows YaYa to put his hair in a banana curl
• LOVES food!  He is currently eating stage two food and wants whatever you are eating.
• is eating the puffs cereal like treats (his favorite is the sweet potato flavored) and is trying to drink out of a sippy cup
• loves his exersaucer, jumperoo and the floor
• is sitting by himself for short periods of time (unfortunately he gets distracted by his toys and takes nose dives into the carpet)
• is finally wearing 6 month clothing
• loves his Hippopotamus's he now has 6!
• looks at books on his own and loves to turn the pages
• loves music and will listen intently when sung to
• loves to snuggle with Mommy, Daddy, and YaYa
• giggles non stop when Daddy "gets him" by tickling his neck
• loves his toes and sucks on them frequently--even if he is in the car seat or his swing
• loves touching your face when you are holding him, he loves knowing that you are right there
• can take off YaYa's earrings with one quick swipe
• has developed a new fascination with cell phones and remotes
• LOVES his Buggies that were a gift from Suzanne and Cackle 
• fake coughs to get your attention
• has begun being weaned off one of his reflux medicines
• has been discharged completely from Pulmonary  
• stops everything and gets so excited when David comes home at night
• loves riding in the car 
• self soothes and groans to put himself to sleep while in the car or swing

.... is our heartbeat!  

 

Sausage Roll

David is leaving late tonight, early tomorrow morning to go to a convention in Indianapolis.  So, today we are running around doing errands getting him ready to go.  

While I am thrilled for him, that he has time to be with friends and have some down time, I will miss him desperately!  I am hoping that I am able to be able to spend some time with my BFF Joe and my mom.  I am sure that time will go quickly, but I will miss him.  I am afraid that Grady will cut his first tooth and as much a I am anxious for that tooth to pop, I am hoping it waits until next Monday! 

Here is a picture of our little sausage roll!  I was writing the blog yesterday and when I looked over, this is what I saw... our little guy rolled up like a sausage roll!

Back to Blogging

It's not that I am avoiding the blog... rather I have been more intimidated about what to write.  But, today is Monday and a great day to go back to blogging.  I need to be more focused on taking a few minutes to capture what is going on.  

We have had a busy few days.  Last Wednesday, Grady got sick.  It was his first time being sick since he was born.  One of my friends, Jen, told me how proud I should be that we actually made it almost 9 months without Grady being sick.  I had not thought about it that way... but that put things in perspective.  Of course Grady's sickness, coincided with our friends (Fabre and Larry) coming in from Boston.  We were going to spend the night with them at their house that they had rented in the Finger Lakes and leave Grady with YaYa over night (for the first time) but that did not happen.  YaYa still took Grady one day and we were able to go on a Wine tour with Fabre and Larry.  It was so much fun.  I love trying new wines and I am finally finding ones that I like!  Of course the sweeter the better!  

Grady is still battling the cold, but he had about two good hours yesterday afternoon when we thought he was over the cold so we took him to the park.  Here is my favorite picture from our 30 minute outing.  In hindsight, we probably should not have taken his as Grady has just woken up from his nap with a yucky crusty nose.  ICK-SICK!