For Daddy

Click here to view this photo book larger

5 months

Grant is growing to be a big boy! He is about 14 pounds now! A lot of changes have happened this past month. Grant is learning more and more every day. It is so much fun watching him grow. My love for him also grows every day and I want to cherish every moment that we have together--the good days make the hard ones seem so worth it. I hope I never forget how sweet these moments are.

Here are some fun things he is doing lately:

• Can roll over from tummy to back and back to tummy very easily


• Can push himself around in circles and move himself forward fairly easily


• Screams and shrieks in delight OFTEN


• Jabbers on to himself for long periods of time


• Starting to like his crib


• Getting used to a "schedule," sleeping at regular times (still not very long, but getting better!)


• Really enjoys chewing on things


• Likes to practice standing up while we hold him


• Is starting to grab his legs and feet


• Is starting to enjoy water (baths and pools)


• Has eaten rice cereal and oatmeal, and really likes oatmeal


• Rubs his eyes a lot when he's tired (so cute!)

Rice Cereal

So we have recently been practicing with some solid foods for Grant. We started with some rice cereal. It is actually a pretty funny experience. He makes the funniest faces that range from confusion, disgust, enjoyment, surprise, and happiness. Love it! Watch the progression:



New cereal taste...



Not impressed...



Spitting it out...



Happy again!

He has been liking the cereal more and more as we have been experimenting with it. It is exciting to see him doing new things but I don't know if I'm ready for him to grow up yet!

Pool Time

A few weeks back we got to take Grant swimming for the first time. We weren't quite sure how he would react but we couldn't wait to see what he would do. It was so much fun getting him dressed up in his little swimming outfit. The first time we stuck his feet in, he wasn't too impressed. He got a little whiney so we didn't take it any further.





The next time we took him swimming a week or two later, he had a much better time! It was warmer that day so I think it made it the water more comfortable. He still seemed a little unsure but at least he didn't cry this time. He let us hold him waist deep in the water while we walked around with him. We had a fun time having him in the water and watching his funny expressions.










Hopefully the next time he will enjoy it even more. I am confident there will be PLENTY of hot days waiting ahead for us to go swimming. :)

4 months old!

Grant turned 4 months old on May 23, 2010.



I always say this, but I honestly can't believe how fast he is growing. Time is flying before my eyes and it is bittersweet. On the one hand, I am sad with each stage that ends. He is not a tiny newborn anymore. Every single day is the last time I will see him that little. But on the other hand, seeing him grow brings so much joy! Every new little thing he does is SO exciting. I wonder if parents feel this way with every single kid or just the first one. It is just so crazy that one day they cannot do something-and the next day they can! My baby is growing up right before my eyes.

The biggest change is that Grant has become a lot more coordinated, mobile, and vocal. Here are some highlights:

Grant likes:

• BLANKETS! They are his favorite thing to play with, and can keep him entertained for a long time. He holds them, looks at them, tries to eat them, and tucks them slightly under his chin.


• To be sitting up. We will sit him up on our laps or against a pillow and he is as happy as can be.


• To kick his feet


• Stuffed animals and toys. He will hold them in front of his face and stare at them, and also grab them and try to eat them.


• To hold our hand/finger and try to put it in his mouth


• To put things in his mouth (as if you couldn't tell that already!)

Grant dislikes...

• Using his paci as often as he used to. He only likes it now when he is sleepy.


• Going to sleep. He fights going to sleep so much! It is pretty funny.

Other milestones:

• Grant is making more noises: happy shrieks, "talking" noises like bbbb, grrrr (kind of sounds like a growl, hehe), and wabamada sounds. It is so cute!


• Grant can move himself. He rotates himself 180 degrees in a circle pattern within no time.


• Rolls from side to side


• Picks up feet and tries to kick toys


• Can hold bottle of mama milk by himself

Here are some pictures of Grant's 4 month portraits that we got done!














We love you, Grant!

Congrats to Karyn!

In May, I got to go see my sister graduate! She earned a Bachelor's degree from Angelo State University and is pursuing a career in teaching. It was an adventure traveling out to San Angelo with Grant. He did very well on the long trip, though.

This is his second "road trip" in the past month or so. Last month we drove from Corpus to Dallas (approx. 7 hour drive, see pic of us at a pit stop below) to my friend Heather's baby shower. As long as someone sits in the back seat with Grant and pays attention to him, and we keep him well fed, he actually seems to enjoy traveling. It's been fun having little adventures with him.

Anyway, it was great seeing my baby sister graduate! It is hard to believe how fast time has gone by. It seemed like yesterday we were playing pranks on one another and pulling each other's hair. Now she is a COLLEGE GRAD!







CONGRATULATIONS KARYN!

Concerts

So I had the opportunity to go to two AMAZING concerts in May! Anyone who knows us, knows that we are pretty big country fans so this was very exciting for us. I always want to go to concerts but I always feel bad about spending money.

First, my sister calls and tells me that she got Carrie Underwood tickets for my birthday. I was ecstatic! A few weeks later, I hear about a special pre-sale of George Strait tickets. I started thinking about how much effort James always puts into special days for me and how little I seem to do for him. I thought this would be the perfect opportunity to do something really fun to surprise James for his birthday! So I went ahead and got 4 tickets because I knew they would sell out fast. James was excited to go to the concert and my sister and future sister in law came with us. We were far away but we had a GREAT time! It was a dynamite concert. We got to hear 4 awesome sets: Randy Rogers Band, Lee Ann Womack, REBA McEntire, and George Strait! It was 5 hours of nearly continuous, awesome music. I am so happy that we got to go. I love George, but Reba was my favorite, she ROCKS live!







Then me and my sis got AWESOME seats for Carrie Underwood-first row towards the middle/back side of the American Bank Center. We felt soooooo close! This is also one of the BEST concerts I have ever been to. After a semi-crappy opening band, we got to hear Craig Morgan sing some great songs. He put on an AWESOME show. I loved it! When Carrie came on, we were soooo excited! She is a dynamite live singer.



I couldn't believe how GREAT she sounded. She hit every note and you could clearly hear that it was 100% her live, real voice.



One of the most exciting parts was when she sang, "Country Roads," by John Denver. That song has a special place in my heart since I served my mission in West Virginia. She was lifted out across the audience in a blue truck and rode around in the air. She was literally right above us! It was awesome.



Thanks for a great night, sis!