October pictures are up!

We had some pictures taken in May around Grant's first birthday and thought we would share. Lori is amazing and we highly recommend her to anyone in the area. You can see Grant's shots at: http://www.lorivrba.com, enter the site, click on "clients" and the password is "grant".

Sorry it has been some time since I have updated things but it is a testament to how busy life can be with a toddler. Yes, toddler! Grant took his first unassisted steps on August 27th-- a few days after turning 15 months old. He went through a week or so of transition until he was really cruising around the house well. Then, he had a rough day or two of falls and had a fat lip to show for it. Since then, poor guy has been back to crawling for the most part! I try my best to encourage him to walk, knowing he can do it. but I think it will really take some coaxing to get his courage back again. This is really very in line with his personality up to this point. He has never been super physical and always preferred "the world to come to him" as his pediatrician puts it. It will be interesting to see how he develops over time, and if he will be as into sports as his dad! Too soon to say, but of course we love him just the same no matter where his strengths lie.
We have been keeping busy these days with playgroups and classes and library, as well as the hunt for a new house. We know we want to stay local to Carrboro if possible, and would like the house to suit Nona's needs for the long term...so we are likely custom building. Scary but fun. I have also been visiting preschools in the area, hoping Grant will go a few mornings a week when he turns two.
Next time we write it will likely be pumpkin season, then Thanksgiving and Christmas-- gosh time just slips away from us. All the best to you and your family.

Well, as of today Grant is 14 months old and I can honestly say being his mother keeps getting better and better-- something I thought impossible when I first laid eyes on him 14 months ago. Each day I marvel at how he is learning, interacting with his surroundings and coming into his own personality. I am enjoying it so much that we've made a big decision for me to continue to stay home with him full time, and I feel so lucky that I am able to do this.
At 14 months, Grant is walking everywhere-- holding both of my hands for support. He just hasn't worked up the courage to let go, but we are sure that is coming soon. For now, I am getting a daily workout. His words include mama, bye-bye, pool, car, and ball-- or sounds close to these words. He is also doing some signs, for more, star, flower, and ones he has made up for animals like elephant and gorilla.
He has just made the switch from two to one nap a day, which has been a major shift in our daily routine. We did have many activities planned for mid-day between naps, but now that is when he is sleeping, so we have been on the lookout for good morning activities and outings. We have been to the pool a bunch this summer and have had some good indoor time at places like Gymboree. We also got to spend some summer fun time on Fripp Island with family and friends, pictures to come in July album.

For his first birthday, Grant visited Mimi, Jimbeaux, Uncle Jame, Aunt Jessica, Mira, and Holt in South Carolina and went to the South Carolina Zoo. Grant is changing daily before our eyes. He is learning new ways to be entertaining. He can point out lions, dogs, elephants, and other animals. He knows what ball, floor, chair, truck, car, cup, spoon, etc. mean. He can make the sounds for a lion, monkey, and dog. He likes for me to crawl and chase him around, all while growling. We recently started taking him to swim classes, and he seems very much at ease in the water. Christine has had to take over all duties almost exclusively because I sprained my wrist a couple of weeks ago. He has also been attending his friends' first birthday parties. Next up: walking.

It is hard to believe it is May already. These days, Grant is looking more and more like a toddler. He is crawling and pulling to stand. He has been eating some different foods and more table foods. He loves taking toys in and out of bins, chasing balls and looking at books. He took his first plane ride to NJ to see Uncle Nick and Aunt Amanda get married, and really enjoyed looking out the window at the planes taking off and landing. He did really well during the craziness of the weekend-- he was typical Grant just soaking in his new surroundings. Enjoy the pictures!

Well, there are less pictures than usual for February, but it's not for a lack of cute picture opportunities! As a nine month old, Grant's newest accomplishments include scooting across the ground (not the traditional hands and knees crawl), eating three meals a day, 7! teeth, turning book pages, and flashing big smiles whenever anyone makes a loud kiss noise. No official "ma ma" or "da da" yet, but he is very good at babbling. What a fun age this is!

What a great year 2007 was for our family, and we are just as excited for a fun 2008. Grant had a wonderful first Christmas, with celebrations at home, in Columbia with his grandparents, great grandparents, aunt, uncle and cousins, and then time with Uncle Nick and Aunt Amanda. Around New Years he had 4 top teeth come in almost all at once, and was feeling pretty miserable. But, things changed around quickly after they broke through, and he has been a really happy guy ever since. At 8 months old, he is finally sleeping though the night, enjoying a wide variety of fruits and veggies, and even eating some finger foods. In January he started going to a music class. He loves being there so much that he starts bouncing up and down with excitement. He also joined a playgroup with other local children, and has been going to story time at the library. So, he has been out and about quite a bit. At the end of the month, he got his first haircut, which was badly needed. It was sad to see his two big curls by his ears go, though! He laughs and smiles, and growls like a grizzly bear--earning the nickname Grizzle. We enjoy every minute with this little guy. Enjoy the pictures!

I guess I had a rare burst of energy and got November posted already. For all of you parents out there with not so great sleepers, I now understand what you have been through. Although Grant is six months old, and the pediatrician says he should be sleeping at least 6 hours without needing to eat, he has been known to wake up 3 or 4 times throughout the night needing some attention. He will try to eat, but fall asleep trying, thus leading me to believe he wasn't really hungry in the first place. So, we have been working very hard on some strategies to get both him (and me) some much needed rest. I would say we are moving in the right direction.
On the eating front, we have moved on to sweet potatoes. Still, Grant is not too sure that he likes his food from a spoon, although his reaction to the potatoes was better than the gagging and dry heaving reaction from avocados. The boy doesn't know what he is missing! I am tempted to move next to perhaps ground up snickers bar or a cannoli to speed up this process, but will probably stick to the more traditional green beans or peas.
Finally, I am excited to report that we may have a left-handed pitcher on our hands. Well, this is Andy's guess. It is amazing to see him with a ball (or really any toy small enough to throw). You actually can play catch with him. You roll the ball over to him, and he winds back and shoots it right back at you. Although Andy was grooming him for a career in basketball initially, he has decided that baseball players have much longer careers. And since he is favoring his left hand, I have learned that lefties in baseball are a valuable asset to any lineup. Really, we want Grant to do anything he desires in life. But, a dad can always dream.

What is new with Grant these days? Well, as of November 26th, he weighs in at 17 pounds 12 ounces, and is 2'3". In the month of October, he traveled a lot, visiting family and going to Atlanta for a wedding. By the end of October, we noticed he was making that raspberry noise with his tongue quite a bit, and it has become his signature greeting, "I'm bored", "I'm happy", and sometimes "I'm awake in the crib, come get me" noise. By mid-November, Grant has gotten pretty good at sitting up on his own, although reaching for a toy could send him toppling over. He also has tried some rice cereal, and just recently avocado. He is not a big fan of either just yet (funny eating pictures to come next month), but we will keep trying and adding new and exciting tastes each week. Thanksgiving weekend we discovered Grant has a tooth coming in! He won't really let you see it (he sticks his tongue out at you when you open his mouth), but if he gets a hold of your finger, nose, whatever... watch out. It is a sharp little thing! So far, he has not gotten the urge to bite down during nursing. Bring on the steak!