Monday, December 27, 2010

Christmas 2010

Here's a really long post about our holiday celebrations this year

Grayson loves our Christmas tree -- as soon as he saw it the first time after we put it up, he wriggled his way underneath it and layed there for a 1/2 hour just staring up through the branches. He turns the lights on every morning as soon as he gets downstairs. He also has fun rearranging the ornaments he can reach.

On Christmas Eve, we went over to Steve's parents' house for dinner and presents. My boys looked so cute in their jackets -- too bad Gray didn't want to cooperate for the photo-op.

Gram and Grandpa gave Gray a motorized Thomas train and track!

He loves Thomas, so he was/is super excited about it!

He also got his very own car! He calls it "sheriff" because it's black like Sheriff on Cars. He couldn't even wait til daddy was done assembling it to climb in.

That is one happy boy!

Here he is dancing -- he 'dances' with his hands mostly -- doing a happy dance.

Stealing some of Grandpa's milk.

Coming down the stairs at home on Christmas morning.

He was so surprised to see all the new toys on the table!

Gray loved the bucket of dinosaurs he got.

Here he is feeding the "big dinosaur" some trees. Guess it's a herbivore.

Giving his new "dragon" a big hug!

Trying out his new tools with Daddy.

A new train, too.

Helping Ollie open his present -- a new shoe to chew on!! (Ollie is so concerned that Gray is trying to steal the shoe)

Daddy gave Gray a model of an orange Mustang -- starting the boy young with the love of cars!

Then we headed over to my parents' house for Christmas breakfast and presents. The little boys were so good to sit at their table and eat (for a minute, at least)

Rowan and Grayson both got these music kits from Nana and Poppa -- but preferred to collaberate together on their jams.

Gray was a little confused as to what was his and what was Row's. He thought everything was HIS. We got it all sorted out in the end, though.

I made most every gift I gave this year, and JD's was the best.  A boobie pillow to snuggle.  I won't post the full-frontal pic, in case we have some sensitive readers here. But it's hilarious. Kenna's face says it all.

I made my mom a Dutch doll -- she got a little teary  :)

Grayson got a little overwhelmed by everything and disappeared into the next room for a while.  When he came back, he wasn't wearing any pants.  I guess that made it all better, and he was ready to open more presents. Of all the awesome presents he got there, his very favorite things are little figurines of a lion, tiger, and bear that my mom gave him. It's so funny how the littlest things can make kids so happy!

Gray loved helping me make treats this year -- because he got to lick the frosting off the beater.  He's doing his happy dance here while licking the beater.

Here are the yummy cupcakes I made.  So festive.

This is the only pic I have of me where I'm actually looking at the camera. My mom MADE this adorable clock for us! Cute, huh!  She also gave me a SEWING MACHINE!!! I didn't get a picture of that, but I'm way excited for it! :)  I also didn't get a picture of Steve in his new jacket from my parents -- you can kind of see it in this pic, but you don't really get the full effect of how incredibly handsome he is in it.  I will get a pic sometime, I promise :)

Random pic, but I think it's funny -- you didn't know there were sports cars at the Nativity, did you?!

Or a giant, clothes-free toddler stomping around outside the stable?

Here is the absolute best Christmas gift! My wonderful in-laws gave us a new fridge!!! It's awesome!

And my amazing husband bought the rest of the set for me as well! So I have a new fridge, microwave, oven, and dishwasher! Whoo hooooo!!! I know, I'm so spoiled!! :D

Christmas night we went over to Grandma Oka's house -- and I didn't get any pictures there. :P  But we got spoiled yet again there! Gray got a Dumbo stuffed animal from Aunt Mitsie that he carries around the house and has to sleep with, and an Elefun game from the Larson kids that he has to play with at least 3 times a day.

Thank you to all our wonderful family and friends for making it such a wonderful Christmas!!
Gray was a bit overwhelmed by all the present-opening, and even told us to "close" them up again. But these few days after Christmas have been more relaxed, and he's had more time to LOOK at all his new toys, and he's loving it!! I apologize to anyone that may have thought him ungrateful or uncaring as he didn't want to look at or play with what you gave him at the time.  Know that they are all appreciated and are definitely getting used and loved now :)

Thursday, December 23, 2010

The Hamper


Grayson loves small places -- just like his daddy. He'll climb behind chairs, under tables, etc -- anywhere he thinks he'll fit. This is how Steve found him the other night:

fast asleep all curled up inside his clothes hamper. First he put all his stuffed animals and blankets inside (even his giant elephant pillow), then climbed in on top of them all and went to sleep. That boy makes me laugh :)

Update 12/26: Grayson plays in his hamper every day now. The other night he fell asleep in his hamper yet again. This time sitting straight up.
Oh goodness I love this boy!

Monday, December 13, 2010

For Daddy



Gray's new favorite place to take his books to read. On top of his changing table.



This is how I just found Gray when I checked on him tonight.
Two funny things about this picture: 1. He's totally buried under his big elephant pillow.  
2. For some reason Gray has had something against wearing pants lately. Puts up a HUGE fight every time I put pants on him. And when I DO manage to get pants on him, the moment I leave him alone, he takes them right off. Silly pants-less boy.

At the Treehouse Museum's annual Milk and Cookies with Santa party -- my mom and dad took Gray so I could rest.
Gray's favorite place at the Treehouse is the train tables.  P.S. It's time to give in and take Gray to get a a hair cut. He's looking WAY too Justin Bieber-ish lately....
 
He loves the tunnels at the Treehouse, too. (Thanks, Mom for taking some pictures)

Gray also likes to get inside the dog kennel at my parents' house. Eww. 

Since his daddy hasn't seen him for weeks, I thought I'd load some pics of what Grayson has been up to lately so he can see :) I'm trying to upload a video, too, but it's not working for some reason. I'll keep trying, Steve-o!


Friday, November 19, 2010

Preggo Update

So I'm nearly 32 weeks now (HOORAY!), and just had my latest check-up! Baby Thatcher is growing great, and I'm still not gaining any weight. Weird.  My doctor gave me 'carte blanche' to eat whatever I wanted, and told me to 'fatten up' at Thanksgiving :)   I'm dilated to 1 cm, which is no big deal, but they did a FFN test just to make sure everything is okay. I got the results back today, and the FFN was positive. Ugh. That means I'm at a higher risk for delivering prematurely. So I got to go into L&D for a little while and get monitored (everything's great), and get a betamethazone shot -- have to go get another one tomorrow. Those things HURT! That's a steroid they give to 'boost' the baby's lung development, just in case he's delievered early.  Dr. Seale doesn't think I need to be on strict bed rest YET, and told me just to 'limit' my activity -- "if you don't have to be up, don't be up". Not sure exactly what that means, but I'll do my best!  Everyone keeps saying that since I delivered Gray at term, I have a better chance of hanging on til term this time, too.  I gave Thatcher a long lecture about not coming for at LEAST another 4 weeks. Let's hope he complies! 

Friday, November 12, 2010

This year's Christmas card!

With Love Chartreuse Christmas 5x7 folded card
Shop Shutterfly.com for elegant Christmas photo cards.
View the entire collection of cards.