Lately

Last weekend we met up with the Botterman's at Company Cafe to celebrate Bryan's 32nd birthday with a little family brunch

Kevin & Bryan with Grayson and Blake. 

Afterwards we headed to Patton's 1st birthday party! It was adorable!

Ryan loved the magician!

Grayson had fun too!

Balloons were made

Chowing down on some sweets

Just hanging around with a mustache

Headed home after having so much fun!

We headed to Grimaldi's for dinner and Grayson decided he would eat some as well. 

Of course this little guy loves Grimladis

Morning run...in matching outfits. 

Facetime with Gigi and Papa while they were in Portugal

Hanging out at Klyde Warren park eating a grilled cheese

Ryan playing in the water! 

Ryan and the Bobcat tractor we found in our courtyard yesterday...he loved it!

Giggle Monster

We all know little G loves to smile but his giggles are what get us! He is a ticklish little man and it's so adorable!

Building Vandy

So my last update was in February after they installed the wood floors. It's been a while. And thankfully there has been a lot going on. First of all, we have a move in date! Wohoo! May 17th is the BIG day! It is possible that it could be ready earlier but that is the day we decided to get movers. We are beyond excited!

So what's been happening? Well....
After the wood floors were installed the trim guys started working...I never realized how much work they would be involved in but they sure do have a lot including:
- door & window frames
- baseboards & crown molding
- staircase & railing
- fireplace mantle
- beams in grand room
- coffered ceilings
- wainscoting in dining room & boys bathroom room
- frames for mirrors in bathrooms
- shelving in all closets
- exterior trellis
- exterior backyard porch screen
- exterior balcony railing

Unpainted staircase

backyard wooden porch screen

Basically every time I think they are done they are back over there with another project. I didn't realize everything their job encompasses. So crafty. They do such great work - everything looks amazing!

Next up all of our built-ins were installed. Pretty impressive that it took about two days to get those in - they look awesome!

Built-ins in the living room

After the built-ins were installed the painters started and we are loving all the colors so far! Well, with the exception of the game room which was accidentally painted the wrong color - lol! We chose Behr Harvest Brown and they painted it Benjamin Moore Harvest Brown...which are incredibly difference colors. I was quite shocked when I saw it but it's not a big deal. I am anxious to see out dining room and Ryan's room - those were the two rooms where we took the biggest risks! The dining room is a navy blue and Ryan's is a bright green!

Master bathroom vanity

Our white kitchen!

And recently our countertops were all installed. Love love love. In order to get the kitchen ones in they also installed our sink and cook top - so fun!

While all this was going on inside there were also crews outside finishing up the stucco (which took longer than expected, but it was ok since it wasn't causing any delays). Our standing seam (metal) roofing. We also got our landscaping plans back and are so excited about the ideas for the courtyard. Anyhow, this week they are suppose to lay all the flatwork! Yay for a driveway and sidewalk...so tired of getting so muddy every time we go over there.

They also stained the cedar beams, front door and additional exterior wood out front.  It's been really exciting and I am honestly over there every day checking out their progress - they probably think I am crazy! I just love seeing everything they are doing. It's very exciting to be in the final countdown...lots of work these next few weeks!

7 months

Happy seven months little man!

I think we have finally gotten into a really good routine - meaning you are happy and mommy is happy. Yay! You are taking two naps a day and (knock on wood) sleeping though the night! Wohoo!

Although you are sleeping through the night you have been waking up quite early. You like to wake up at 5:30am. Yeah. Not a huge fan of that wake up time.  Dr N said to let you cry because if I allow you to get up then, then that is what you will always want to do. So I am trying to get you to sleep longer...you are consistent. You will cry for 45 minutes straight...some days you go back to sleep and some days you don't. The earliest I will feed you is 6:30 which I think might be confusing you. Basically because you cry for 45 minutes and then it's time to eat so I think you think if you cry long enough I will come and feed you. Goodness. I am not sure what to do here but I am hoping you start to sleep a little later....5:30 is too early for this momma! Other than this wake up time the rest of the day is pretty wonderful!

About two hours after you wake up you are ready to go down for your morning nap...which means you are ready for your first nap at about 8:30am. This is a wee bit challenging because on Monday's and Wednesday we have to take Ryan to school at 9:15. Gigi is always super helpful and on days when I can't keep you up she will stop by so that I can run Ryan to school without waking you. You really love your morning naps..sometimes you will sleep for three hours!

When you wake, you nurse and then we have about two hours of playtime/free time. We started going to music class on Wednesday and you LOVE it! I really would like to start you in Little Gym or something else but I honestly don't know when we could fit that in. Your afternoon nap is shorter - typically like 45 minutes and also interrupted on Monday's and Wednesdays but that's life as a second child. You love going to pick Ryan up so you are generally ok with a short nap.

Evenings have calmed down quite a bit but are still a little hectic. I nurse you one last time at 5:30, you eat dinner at 6:30 (real food), bath time at 7pm, take a bottle of 8oz breast milk at 7:30, and in bed at 8pm.  Basically you fill up mommy and daddy's evening...there is no downtime with you!

Developmental:
You can sit up by yourself and I have even seen you get on to your tummy from the sitting position (without falling) a few times.

You started pushing up to your knees and you will rock back and forth. You will be so thrilled when you figure out crawling but I think we probably have another month or so...I think.

You got TWO teeth over the past month! Wowzers! And I think it is possible that you are working on some more...the joy of teething! This teething has come with a runny nose and you HATE it when I try to clean it up.

You can pick food up and shovel it in your mouth.

Like:
- You LOVE playing in your jumper...bounce bounce bounce with the biggest grin on your face. I feel like you have really started to develop a little personality. Basically one happy dude. You smile for everyone and can be such a flirt.
- Bath time with daddy (lots of kicking and splashing)
- Being held - you are such a cuddle-er - we call you our little koala bear
Dislike:
- Cleaning your nose
- Getting your PJs on
- Laying on your back

What's been going on:
-Mommy's first trip away - I went to Napa for a Bachelorette party and you stayed home with daddy! He did such a wonderful job playing 'single' dad but also had lots of help from his mother and sister. Yay! You did not miss out on any breast milk - I had more than enough stashed away to get you through the long weekend!
- Easter
- Play dates at the Arboretum
- Eating all sorts of new things. You love cheerios and puffs...anything that you can feed yourself.
- You started your own music class (without Ryan) and absolutely love it. Everyone always comments on how happy you are. You are pretty darn cute!

What else?

You want to play with Ryan so badly but it just hasn't quite happened yet. One day. When you get close to him you grab him with all your might which results in him screaming because it hurts...and it really does. I know because you claw and grab me all day long. You have quite a grip.

xoxo - Mommy

24 hours in Houston

Last weekend Kevin took Ryan camping! Yup - Ryan's first time. They had a blast and Kevin agreed to guest blog about it. Hope to have his post soon!

Anyhow, since G was too little to go camping we decided to take a quick little trip down to Houston. We boarded a SW flight Saturday morning and were there in no time! G did great on the flight...lots of flirting, some puff eating, some drinking and then some sleeping. 

Mk and Brian picked us up from the airport and we headed back to their house to see the kiddos (my first time to meet Brooks!) and have some lunch. Once we got the kids down for nap time, the girls headed out for a little shopping. 

Around 6pm the Birds came over. 

Grayson was so happy with Jennifer! 

And Marc did a science experiment for the older kids. 

Mk arranged for a babysitter so we had a fun evening out with adults! I headed to Cru wine bar with the Birds and Meghan, while the Aston's went to her sisters baby shower. Afterwards we all met up at Americas for a yummy dinner!

  It was such a fun night...maybe a wee bit too much wine for me! Wasn't feeling wonderful the next morning...especially not excited about flying with a seven month old but it was probably better than driving back!

 Grayson LOVED playing with Caroline and Thompson. He can't wait for Ryan to start playing with him more!

And I swear G is usually super happy but he was not thrilled about this photo opt with his buddy Brooks. He was very upset. Maybe he was mad because we dressed them alike? lol

But he did find his hair interesting...

So much fun! Hugs and kisses to my wonderful friends! Such a fun 24 hours!

Sitting up

I forgot how awesome things get once your child can sit up on their own! I typically baby bjorn him but he is getting so HEAVY! I was so excited when I realized that he could sit in the cart with Ryan at the grocery store - hallelujah! And Ryan tolerated it! Double win!

Happy Easter

Of course the boys both slept in this morning! (Well, I knew Ryan wouldn't get up until after 8am but little G never sleeps late!) Anyhow, I got up a little early to get everything ready and then I waited...and waited. Since we were heading to church at 9am I decided to wake Grayson myself...after nursing him we woke Ryan too. Sometimes R is a little grumpy when we have to wake him but I reminded him that the Easter bunny had come and he was pretty excited to get downstairs!

Here they are with their baskets...still a little tired! And the flash on my camera was a tad too bright!

Goodies for the boys! 

The Easter bunny hid some eggs outside for the boys! 

Hunting those eggs before the rain started...

 After quickly hunting for eggs we rushed to get dressed and headed to church with the family. After church we were invited over to the Suns to celebrate with brunch. 

Ryan and sweet little Truman!

We decided to do the egg hunt first (in case is started to rain again!)

The kiddos love cracking the confetti eggs! So cute!

My handsome little man!

Trying to get a pic of all the kids (Grayson was napping) was difficult!

Happy boy after his morning nap!

Ryan loved wearing Truman's helmet and riding on his scooter!

Hanging with Henry!

Mommy and her sweet little baby!

We saved two eggs for Grayson...he immediately put it in his mouth (that's why it's red)

Such a wonderful day with family and friends! Happy Easter!