Mine!

Wanted to share a cute little video of Molly and Grayson from a couple weeks ago. Forgot to mention another one of Grayson favorite words....."Mine!" Yes, everything is "mine!"

SHOOT!

I'm glad I don't a have to label this post "Shit!" because I very well could be, but luckily, to our surprise, we've all been trying a little harder to watch our language around Grayson, and needless to say, "shoot" has become one of his new favorite words! Every time he drops something now, it's "shoot!" He will even throw something purposely on the floor so he can say his new favorite word. And he doesn't simply say "shoot," but he says it with some authority and frustration, just like his adult peers would be after they stubbed their toe! I shouldn't be laughing, but I think it's adorable!

Another funny little thing he's been saying now is "mommy hold you" anytime he wants up. And if he's in a good mood, he'll add a "peas" onto that! It makes perfect sense because anytime he gets an owie or is just tired, I'll say "Do you want mommy to hold you?" I just think it's so cute and neat how they learn language. He does this with a few other things actually. A few months ago, it would just be "Daddy or Mommy help" when he needed help with something. Now it's "Daddy help you peeeeeeeas!" And he will say thank you, which sounds like "tank you," again only if you catch him in a good mood. He's also more likely to say it when you don't ask him. A little like his mommy may have been at his age we might say.....everything is "by self!"

Grayson is definitely talking up a storm these days and surprising us with a new word or phrase every day. And he has enjoyed being "papa's helper" and "daddy's helper" lately with several new projects we've had going on around the house. The boy LOVES tools! For Easter my parents got him his very own sandbox. And as if that wasn't enough, Papa built one in his backyard as well! The sandbox has definitely been a hit these days, as Grayson loves anything to do with the outdoors, trucks and dirt! We also have a park close by, where he likes to go and feed the ducks and the turtles. We had a nice morning with Becca and Molly today at the park.....although temperatures a creeping up fast and we had to head back to her house before long to go cool off. Not looking forward to the summer!

Anyhow, tried to post a few pictures from the past several weeks. I have really been slacking lately in the picture taking department, and have no excuse, because I even bought a new fancy camera like Becca's a few weeks ago! I guess I was just hoping it even took the pictures for you too!

Lastly, Happy Anniversary Grammy & Papa! 38 years today! Soak up the beach for us all :)

"Adorable!"

"Adorable" is one of Grayson's new favorite words. It sounds more like "dorble," but DeeDee would be so proud that her great grandson knows & uses the "D Word!" Below is a recent video of him saying the "D Word!"

Well this is what happens when I wait too long between postings....I have too many pictures to share and too many things to catch up on! I don't know where you guys find the time to do it! The first few pictures are from our recent trip to Brianhead, Utah. We left last Thursday, came back Sunday. It was an 8 hour drive, so one more day would have been nice, since 2 days were pretty much travel days. This was Grayson's first trip to the snow and Blaine & Kim's first shot at snowboarding. They did AWESOME, and although it had been almost 10 years since I tried it, it luckily came back just like riding a bike! My parents rented all of us a cabin for all of our February birthdays, which was an awesome gift and we hope to make it an annual tradition. Grayson LOVED the snow, had a ball sledding and couldn't get enough of his snowcones....he would bring you a cup and say, "More nooo?" We actually got snowed in on Sunday, so I've included a picture of what our cars looked like Sunday morning. I always dream of getting stuck on vacation and not being able to make it back to work on Monday, but when this became a possible reality, being back home suddenly sounded so much better.

Grayson is definitely talking a lot more these days. I have a quick funny story to share. The last night in Brianhead, Grayson was being very quiet in a corner (this is unusual!) eating one of his snowcones, so my mom went up to him to see what he was up to and he turned to her with a huge grin on his face, holding up a dead fly and said "birdie!" Grayson loves to wave "bye bye birdie" to the birds and I think he was so excited that he had finally caught one!

Snow Angels!

This is what our cars looked like Sunday Morning!

Sledding with Uncle Ra Ra!

These were just a few fun photos taken over the past month.

Although we are not to the potty training stage yet, Grayson apparently understands that this is what you do when you go to the potty.

We got rid of our coffee table after this booboo!

So I survived my 30th birthday! Blaine actually threw me a surprise birthday party and definitely had me blushing and completely shocked! He pulled it off to my complete surprise!

These were a couple pictures we had taken when Grayson was almost 18 months.

Just before our trip to the mountains, we through my Grandmother a birthday party. This was taken at her party.

Once the eye healed up from the first coffee table booboo, we had our first bar fight....yes, the same eye! All kidding aside, I think I cried harder than Grayson did with this one, but he is a tough cookie!

Looks like another accident waiting to happen!

This was one of those precious moments caught on camera. Putting Grayson down for his nap had never been easier this day! This was after a long day, his 18 month check up and those dreaded shots. I gave him a little snack before his nap and before he could finish bringing the cracker to his mouth, this is what happened!

Wearing mama's shoes!

Over the hill in only a week!

So I can't believe it's already February! Not only am I totally lagging in the blog department (no surprise!), but I am turning 30 in only a week! Boo Hoo! Grayson is definitely making me feel my age these days, as he is full of energy, very set in his ways (that's a nice way of saying he is completely STUBBORN!), and throwing temper tantrums like its going out of style! I laughed & sympathized when I read Michaela & Dustin's blog, with Landon & his "terrible twos" because we too are there and have been for a couple months now! No one can prepare you for the ups and downs of parenthood, but I wish I had a little more warning & experience in this stage of development! I had no idea it would start this early! There are definitely times when I would give anything for those sleepless nights with him as a newborn. Whether he is pounding his head on the floor or on a wall or dramatically flopping himself to the floor to scream and roll, I can't decide whether to laugh out loud or pull my hair out! Usually we find that walking out of the room or just ignoring his exhausting performance gets him to stop.....apparently he likes an audience! My mom likes to rub in the fact that I was the queen of temper tantrums at this age and apparently had a neighbor who referred one of my episodes to sounding like an "exorcism" in the backyard! I like to think that Grayson must have gotten at least a little of his stubbornness from his daddy! Needless to say, we are coping with this new stage the best we can and learning to laugh a little along the way!

Aside from throwing fits, Grayson is expanding his vocabulary and having lots of conversations with himself or whomever (most of which you cannot understand), but he definitely knows what he is talking about! One of his favorite words at this time is "Elmo!" He still loves his bubble baths at night and for the past month or so, he has really taken up streaking! Yes, streaking! Future star in Old School II! For whatever reason, as soon as we take his diaper off, but before we have time to pick him up and set him in the bath, this boy makes a mad naked dash down the hall and into all the rooms, laughing and giggling like crazy. He thinks it's hilarious! And it is, except for when he pees on the carpet! Below is a picture from one of his evening streaks. Lucky for him, he was off before we had time to get his diaper off in this one.

We rang in the new year by taking Grayson to Aso Sushi & Steak for dinner. He did really well at dinner (this has not been the case the last 3 times we took him out to eat!) and he really enjoyed watching the chef cook in front of us.

On New Year's day we took Grayson to this place called Jump Up, which only costs $5 and has tons of fun mats & trampolines for you to play on. Grayson had a ball!

Grayson with is cousins, Colin, Lauren & Reagan.

This is at the Fun Factory in Yuma, which has miniature golf, go carts & bumper boats.

Watching some football with his uncle RaRa!

Grayson with Great GranDeeDee & Great Grandma Morris.

Last weekend, we were crazy enough to hike telegraph pass with Grayson. The baby bjorn's weight limit is 25 lbs. and Grayson isn't quite 24, so we thought we'd be fine. The bjorn did it's job, but that was the hardest 5 miles we've ever hiked. The last mile is straight up hill. Our legs definitely got a good workout and Grayson was a great sport. I guess I would be a great sport too if someone was carrying me the whole time!

This was taken today with Miss Molly Mac!

Sharing his milk with his buddy Elmo!

Tomorrow's Friday! Hope everyone has a great weekend!

Happy New Year!

Christmas updates and more.....

I think its fair to say that Grayson definitely enjoyed this Christmas much more than last. Although he's only 16 months, he very much enjoyed tearing packages open and had priceless expressions opening every gift, even if it was clothes or something he's never seen before. Elmo, t-ball and his very own "big boy" chair were among some of his new favorite toys. Here are some of my favorite pics from Christmas:

These first two pictures were taken at the Morris Family Annual Christmas Eve soup exchange. These are ALL of Blaine's Grandma's GREAT grand kids! Needless to say, Blaine has a very big family!














Grayson with Grammy as well as with his Uncle Ryan and Aunt Kim. On Christmas morning we had everyone over to our house for breakfast/brunch. We then took a long walk later later that afternoon to gear up for more food & fun at my parents' house for Christmas dinner.

Grayson with is new buddy Elmo!














Christmas morning with Mama & Dada!

Sporting one of his new outfits from Great Aunt Annie!














Grayson & Rebecca Goodwin! We had the Goodwins over for dinner a few nights before Christmas. My first time cooking prime rib!















The weekend before Christmas, the three of us made crazy quick trip up to Visalia, CA to attend one of Blaine's cousin's weddings. Although we made the trip in just under 24 hours (approx 15 hours of driving!), we were very glad we made the trip to visit with a lot of Blaine's family whom we don't get to see too often. Grayson was an awesome traveler and slept the majority of the trip since we did a lot of the driving through the night.















This is Blaine's Nanny & Papa














I had to save my favorite pics for last. These are Grayson's "buddies" who are all watched by the same babysitter. We've been taking Grayson to this sitter for almost a year now and she is wonderful! Grayson still screams & pitches a fit every time I drop him off (yes, this still breaks my heart!), and yet she is so patient & kind and he always is in a great mood when we pick him up. She makes all holidays and birthdays special for the kids and these are just a few pictures that she gave us for Christmas. I just think it's too cute because she has ALL boys ranging from 7 months to 2 1/2. So here's a couple pictures of "the boys!" One of them was missing this day.

Well, I guess I had a lot of pictures to share....that's what happens when I go so long between postings. Hope everyone has a very Happy Healthy New Year!