Wow, its not so bad! It's 19 degrees out!

Craziness-the perfect word to describe the events this week! On Tuesday morning, I got up, as usual, at 5:00 to get ready work. I like to wake up this early, so I can get completely ready so I can feed and play with Grant before I go to work. At 6:00 I went and got Grant (he's usually cooing by now), and proceeded to the kitchen so I can start feeding him. At 6:10 my phone starts to ring. Who would call so stinkin' early in the morning?Well, its my school district warning us that there will be no school on this day, due to extremely cold wind chills, and white out conditions. James and I looked on the weather channel and discovered we were at -24. Wahoo!!! So excited to spend the day with my little guy, but I couldn't help but think about a few weeks ago when we had a school day, James and I were watching the weather, and we had wind chills of -20. Hmmm.... My question is what's the breaking point? -20 doesn't cause school to be closed, but -24 does? Cold is cold. Once you hit the negatives, it all feels the same! Anywho, extremely glad to stay home and be warm in our house. Then I was reminded that I actually signed up to take ice cream (of all things) to the church for a missionary zone conference. Thankfully, I didn't get stuck, but it was my first venture driving in blowing snow, that was so thick I could hardly see in front of me. And for some reason, Casper doesn't believe in plowing snow on residential streets, so driving on them is like taking your life into your own hands. We made it safely, and the missionaries got thier ice cream, so I need to be really thankful that we have the means to get around sort of okay in the snow.

But, our Snow Day doesn't end there. The next morning, I woke up at 5 am as usual, thought to myself, "for sure school is going to start today," got ready for work, was just about to see if Grant was awake, when I received yet another early call on the phone. This time they will be starting school 2 hours later than usual. Isn't that bazarre? So, school for us started at 11 am. And can I just say how hard it was for the kids? My goodness, those little souls just cannot handle a change in schedule like that! All about routine! It was a crazy 2 days, and the weekend came in snap!



Some Grant updates:

Grant is sitting up by himself this week. This morning I found him like this in his crib:


He is also belly crawling. At least we're finally going forward!



Grant also likes to make airplane noises. Here is the demo of what I mean:



He makes this noise almost all day long in the midst of his play. James and I will do it back to him, and he just does it all the more! Personally, I think it's pretty darn cute!



One of Grant's fave toys when the Physical Therapist comes is this rubber giraffe that squeaks. She has to pry it away everytime she wants it back.Whenever I ask her where she got it, she'd say she got it in a magazine or catalog.I wonder if she didn't want me to find one for him. Hmmm... I actually found it online and gave it to him this week. He loves it. After we gave it to him, he held on to it for a couple of hours before we had to take it out of his hands and put him to bed. It's called Sophie the Giraffe, but we think we will name him Jeffrey. Here is what he looks like:

Our temps are finally warming up on this Sunday morning. "Warm" for us these days are 30 to 40 degrees! Yeah, I think we have been finally desensitized from St. George's warm weather. James and I are finding ourselves saying, "Wow, it's not so bad, its 19 degrees out!" Truly, this was actually said this week.

Who Knew?

Grant of course had his physical therapy session on Wednesday. All is well, and she introduced a few new things that Grant should be practicing, so I thought I would share particularly with my friends that have had babies in the past year, but also if you have infants. I have to share! I know nothing about babies, and this lady knows so much! You might already know this, but its good for me to write down what goes on his sessions.

One thing she suggested my nine month baby start doing is coloring. Yup, you heard right. She pulled out a white sheet of typing paper and just encouraged Grant to color on it. He would rather eat the marker instead, but with more practice, and more yummy things to put in his mouth during this time, he will be more interested. So this week, Grant has been coloring with me (or just watching me color) and Grant has been following with his eyes, which is good for tracking. My physical therapist said that kids who color at an early age are better readers. You don't have to tell me twice! As a teacher, I really want all my kids to be readers. Grant and I have been reading books together since he was weeks old, and as a result, he has an interest in books that is above his age level. (He will actually turn the pages, and pat pictures, and look at both pages, etc.) So anything I can do to encourage reading, I'm on board.

Another thing she suggested I do, is start having him play with dolls. She pulled out a baby doll and laid it in front of him, and he was so enthralled! He was so intrigued with the dolls face which was so cute to watch! I wish I had pictures of this, but I don't! Maybe at next weeks session!

He is developing just as normally as can be, and she said the words I have been wanting to hear, since she first started coming. She basically told me that even if he hadn't have had the stroke, she suspects that he would be at the stage he is right now. He's acting normally, and developing at the rate he should be being the size of boy he is. I was thrilled. Grant is still trying to crawl, and we are constantly exercising those chubby legs to get underneath him and scoot forward. I think he will just get there in his own time.

Well, I certainly learned a lot from my physical therapist this week. I would love to hear from you moms tips and tricks that you did when your babies were little that you think really helped with their development. It can be anything! I have a long memory, so even if its something you did when they were getting older, just let me know! This is something I am constantly looking into, and since Grant is my first, I'm still learning!

Here are some pictures of our week!

So far for crawling we have two poses:

One on our tummy (called the airplane)

And one where we can't lift our bum up!

Grant's also in a shy stage. Our Physical Therapist has been coming since Grant was a month old, and he has always greeted her with a smile. This week, he gave her a shy smile and smushed his face in my shoulder! Something kind of cute too! Grant does not like when people laugh around him. So when the physical therapist and I giggle about something Grant does, he cries. She says that she "knows he's a sensitive boy, and I will try not to hurt his feelings." Hmmm.... whose son does this sound like?

Grant loves the crawl ball he got for Christmas, and it is a huge motivator for him to start crawling.

Something I am going to try this week-making Grant's baby food. He is such a great eater, but lately he has not wanted anything to do with the jarred baby food. I think he might be growing tired of it. I don't blame him. Some of that baby food is really gross! We have a baby food grinder, so I'm hoping that he will show some interest when its fresh instead of jarred. So more to come!

I hope you all have a great week, and don't forget to share your tips on what worked for your babies. I would love to hear them!

Dates, Doctors, and Due Dates!

K, this week was sooo ten millions times better! We have gotten back into the swing of things, and things have settled back into the routine! Physical therapy went very well this week. I am reminded again, and again, by every one how important it is for him to crawl, and to not skip this important step. I've heard of kids just crawling for one week, and then they were walking, but for Grant, its really good for his brain development for him to crawl. It's really fun watching him. He's so close. He gets on his hands and knees and will rock for a few seconds before his hands give out from underneath him. Lots of time on that belly! He likes to just be down on the floor with some toys surrounding him and roll around trying to get them. He likes to squat stand (is that a term? :) ) at his Winnie the Pooh table and just play and look at himself in the mirror. It's really fun to watch him. I love this age! Everything he does is just cute!

Nine month doctors appointment this week! I can hardly believe it! He's growing so fast! Grant weighs 23 pounds which puts him in the 85th percentile for weight, and 29 3/4 inches for height which makes him 90th percentile for heighth. Maybe its my first child, I don't know, but always at every doctors appointment, they ask if Grant is doing certain things, and most of the time I say yes, but when I have to say no, I get worried, and ask,"Why, should he be?" And almost always the doctor will say, "Well that's really a 10 month behavior, if he did it now he'd be ahead." I realize that doctors need to find out everything that Grant is doing, but can't they rephrase the question? Can't they say, "He'd be ahead if he's doing this, but is he...?" Just to save me some anxiousness? It's not just me, a couple of other first time moms have had the same experience with their doctors, but my question is, will I get better about this, the more kids I have? I hope so.

Some exciting and wonderful news!!! My sister who has had such a journey getting pregnant is finally expecting, but not before they went and filled out adoption papers. They found out this week that, through adoption, they are also expecting a BABY GIRL in April, one month before BABY BOY is to be born! That's right! Two babies! We couldn't be more happy for them, and I have been floating ever since she told us!

Dinner and a movie-James and I finally got to do this rare treat this week! We found a sweet girl in our ward who has a family of 7 kids, to come over and watch Grant while James and I went to dinner and saw the movie Marley and Me. Gone are the days of just dropping everything and going to do whatever! We honestly had to plan this a week in advance, and we both so looked forward to going like we never had before. I guess before you have kids you tend to take things like this for granted-well not anymore! We really had such a good time, and the movie Marley and Me is so cute! The book was better at describing Marley's antics, and the reasons he really was such a good dog, but it really portrayed the family well at loving this crazy animal! So cute, I just love dogs! Anyone who has ever had trouble getting pregnant needs to get a dog!They are the best! This movie made us think of Cooper, and all the crazy things he used to do!

Grant is really starting to notice Cooper, and Cooper is starting to be more tolerant of Grant. He will let Grant pet him, and Cooper is the motivation for Grant's rolling around so much on the floor.

Grant and Cooper like to play while Grant is rolling around on the floor.

I couldn't resist the two of them playing with Grant's ball. Someday we'll get hair on that head!

This is our Sunday afternoon. We love 9:00 church. Grant is so much more well-behaved in the morning, and in the afternoons we have naps, and he wakes up so much happier!

So, in short, much better this week! And I am still sticking to my resolutions! Usually I would have fallen off the wagon by now, but I am determined!

I hope you all have a wonderful week! Let us know how you are doing!

A Very Long Week

I knew when I took my tutoring job in the summer, that I would have to come back and do something that is called Winter Bridges with the kids in my school. Winter Bridges is where lower at risk students are invited back a week before school starts to sort of "catch up" and receive extra instruction. It's very laid back and its in a small group setting so it's actually kind of fun for the students and the teachers. It lasts only a half a day, and it started this past Monday and went till Friday. It appeared in my job description as something that all tutors would be responsible for. I found out in September that not only would we have to do Winter Bridges for a half a day, we also had to go to trainings every day until 4:00. I was a little bummed when I found this out. I know its only for a week, but I thought about Grant and how this would completely upset his routine. I kept putting it off, until it actually came upon me. January 5th. I scrambled all weekend before it started to make sure I had the books that I needed and the materials I needed (we did a recipe from each country every day of the week). Of course, I wasn't able to sleep very well the night before because I WORRY way too much about things that are new to me. In short, I didn't need to worry. The kids had a wonderful time and all went well with out a hitch.

I just really missed my baby.

I had to pick Grant up every day at 4:00 after all my trainings were done. The long days at James' work were hard on him. He wasn't able to take naps like he's used too, and his food schedule was all liquid since James isn't able to feed him proper at the office. So when I got home, I made sure he got his meat and veggies, and was able to squeeze in a little cereal before bedtime.

And that's another thing. I only got to see him for a few hours before bedtime. Not enough time if you ask me. The days seemed to D R A G by. It seems like when you really want something to be over, it just takes it sweet time to get done. And just the opposite. Things you want to last forever, are over in a snap. This past week just confirms the fact for me how blessed I am to only have to work part time. I don't know how I would be doing otherwise. This little boy we have is growing up so completely fast, it makes me breathless. He turned nine months on Thursday. Nine months. I did manage to take some nine month pics before bedtime.

I think Grant is also thankful for the week to be over. I think even little babies like their routines. So looking forward to next week. Grant has a doctors appointment, and his physical therapy starts up again. I think we're all glad to get this week behind us!

Grant's nine month picture. I had to move around a lot to make him smile, so the camera wasn't in its proper place. I guess that's why they invented tripods!

The end of an era. Grant was too big for his infant car seat, so we had to buy him a new one. Look how huge he looks!

This week should be tons better! Can't wait!

Resolutions

I know, I know. Every year the whole world makes resolutions to start the new year, and by the end of the year you either forget what your resolution was, or you knowingly "fall off the wagon." I thought for me this year if I blog them and make a record of them I might be better at keeping them for the whole year through. This year, I have to say how easy it was to set my resolutions. I usually go back and forth and think about it for awhile, but this year, my resolutions sort of found me. Here are my resolutions for 2009:

1. Getting my food storage in order. We all know that we have been commissioned by our Prophets to have at least a 3 month food supply (should something ever happen). And to not only have it, but to use it and rotate the food to keep it fresh. To help me in this endeavor, I want to learn how to can items and to cook using food storage items. My Relief Society has also been a huge help. They must have recognized a lot of people would be wanting to be better at this, and made a list of things to buy and can for every week of the year. It's perfect. So by this time next year, I should have an adequate food storage for my family. Way excited about this!

2. To read 50 books in 2009. This will be a huge task for me now, but one that I am looking forward too. I love to read. If someone could pay me just to read, I would be happy camper! I love, love, LOVE it! (I love teaching my little ones to read, though! So fun!) Anyway, I'm going to be counting each and every book I read as part of my 50. Picture books for Grant, all the way up to novels. I am so looking forward to this. I also want to read books that are a little out of my comfort zone. I have started Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice too many times to count, but I am going to finish it from cover to cover. I don't know what it is, I just have to be in the mood for it or something. I know, its classic literature, and I will read it by the end of the year.

3. To post our lives every week. I need to be better at documenting this time in our lives. Especially now that we have Grant, I need to be better at documenting all the wonderfully amazing things he does. So, by the end of the year, I want to have 52 posts that journal what is going on in our lives that particular week. My friend has a blog that she writes in everyday, as a family journal, and I think how lucky they are to have such a neat record of their lives. I think every day for me is a little ambitious, so I am just going for every week. I hope I can keep up!

Well I wish you all a Happy New Year!

(I just thought the pic of Grant was so cute, I had to stick it on even though it has nothing to do with resolutions!)

Our Merry Christmas

We had so much fun this holiday with it being Grant's first Christmas. We spent a week at Grandma Jeanne's. We had fun baking, running goodie plates to friends, doing last minute shopping, and of course, eating! Nothing like scotcheroos and sugar cookies to make the season bright! Here is what our week consisted of: Grant's big gift from Santa was a Disney Stand and Learn Table. Hopefully to get those chubby legs standing on their own!

Big THANKS! to all of the wonderful gifts we received for Christmas. Grant had a wonderful one which consisted of:
Grandma Jeanne: Squishy blocks and blue teddy bear
Aunt Kristin: Kitty toy
Aunt Steph: Barnyard Buddies
Grandma Shauna and Grandpa Robert: Crawl Ball

If there is anyone we forgot, huge thanks for thinking of us!

Our December in Pictures:

Grant got a sled from one of James' secretaries at work. Can't wait till its not that cold to take him out in it.

Grant got a sweater for Christmas. My goodness, he looks older in it!

What December would be complete without a visit from Santa? Grant tolerated his first visit pretty well.


I couldn't resist this picture of Grant by his first Christmas tree. I can't wait till our tree holds the ornaments he makes in school.

Till then bulbs and ribbon will have to do.

I bought Grant a little Santa hat. It barely fits his head, but he looks cute in it just the same.

Grant also turned 8 months in December. Every month on the 8th I take a picture of him so we can see his growth and put them in his baby book. I can hardly believe it! The time goes so fast. I invited our friend Lyndi and her daughter McKinley over to watch White Christmas-one of my all time favorite Christmas movies, and our babies sort of enjoyed each other's company. I say "sort of," because Grant is into squealing and I think it scared McKinley. I hope they will still want to come over! :)

Grant got to see people we just live too far away from:

Aunt Stephanie who we found out is expecting a little boy in May! We are so happy for her and her family.

Grandma Shauna and Grandpa Robert also got to spend some time with their newest grandbaby.

My parents also saw us, we just didn't get any pics with them this time! We remembered at 6:00 on the morning we left, and we just weren't ready to take pics at this time.

We had a great holiday, but among the hustle and bustle of the holidays, I also enjoy the warm spirit we feel around this time every year when we remember the birth of our Savior and think of all the wonderful things He has done and continues to do for us.

Thanksgiving Thoughts

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving this year. James and I were able to go down to St. George to visit our families for a nice long weekend. We had so much fun. We had our actual Thanksgiving dinner at James' parents house. James' favorite part of the weekend? The food. My favorite part of the weekend? The dessert! After our wonderfully delicious dinner, we headed on over to my mom's house for pie.

We also did something that was a long time coming. James and I actually went to a movie. Hallelujah! We left Grant with my mom and went to see the movie Twilight. Not a bad show, by the way, just I am a firm beliver, that in this case, as in most cases, the book was better. Better yet, the movie caught James' interest and now he is reading Twilight! It was also nice knowing that someone was taking great care of Grant while we were at the movie. This is how I left Grant at my mom's:

Who needs to babysit when you've got Kirk? Grant adored being around Kirk and his laughing is priceless. I am so thankful for family.

On Friday, Grant, James and I also went to Zion National Park with James' family. We hiked two trails: The Sinawava Temple and Weeping Rock. Both hikes were not strenuous at all, but we had Grant to push in the stroller, and James totally took over that part.

This is us a Sinawava Temple. A nice walk along the river.

Another fun part of this weekend is that Grant got to get a little more aquainted with his cousin Hunter. Hunter is about 6 or 7 months older than Grant, and pretty much has other things that interest him at this age. Grant is not one of them! But Grant lit up whenever Hunter came around. Grant loves other kids and he could not get enough of them this trip!

Christmas shopping has already found its way into our household. On Saturday, my mom and I took to the crowds and began the task of finding perfect gifts for friends and family. Something that was on my shopping list was a complete new wardrobe for Grant. He was completely out of everything. He's growing so fast and is already fitting into clothes I thought for sure he would fit into by the time he's walking. Not true. So this Christmas, Grant got clothes and he got them early since he was literally completely out of everything. I love Kohls! They were having a huge sale and I got onesies and pants for four bucks. Can't beat that!

Grand amidst his clothes. He looks thrilled!

So, in closing, I have a lot to be thankful for. I'm thankful that I'm finally a mom, I have a wonderful family, and a fulfilling job. I'm thankful for my knowledge of the true church and for the joy and the happiness it brings to me and my family. I'm thankful for good books to read, a warm house, and family that I can keep in touch with through blogging.

I hope you have a happy holiday season!