What a Busy Week!

Grayson had quite a week! On Monday, April 17th, he turned five months old. That same day, he got to try veggies for the first time. We started with green beans and he loved them. He loves to help me with the spoon and as you can see from the picture, he even tried feeding himself a few times.

The next day he attended his first playgroup with other adopted children thanks to Adoptive Families and Friends. Even though he couldn't play himself, he loved watching the other kids run around. I also enjoyed talking to other adoptive moms. On Thursday, Grayson got to take his first stroll around the Antietam Battlefield with me, his Aunt Linda, and his three cousins, Tevyn, Heidi and Brandi (and also Brandi's dog, Isabelle). He loved looking around and just seeing the countryside. He was also intrigued with Tevyn who is 18 months old. Grayson is really starting to love interacting with other children.

This weekend was also pretty busy for Grayson and for me. Friday night I attended my first "Mom's Night Out" with the other mothers from the same group that hosted the playgroup earlier in the week. It was my first night out all by myself and I had a blast. Grayson spent the evening with Aunt Linda and Brandi and he was on his best behavior, of course.

Yesterday after church, we spent most of the day in Baltimore. We drove a friend to the train station and then did a little shopping before we met our Social Worker at a coffee shop in our old neighborhood to do our third post-placement visit. Grayson was his usual socializing self - showing off his talking, as well as his standing and jumping skills. We now have only one more visit before we can finalize the adoption!!

Grayson's First Easter

Grayson definitely enjoyed his first Easter! He woke up to find that the Easter bunny had brought him a firetruck basket filled with baby food. He gets to start eating vegetables today so it was a timely gift. He also received five Disney DVD's (which his Daddy was very happy about) and a bounce and giggle cow. He was very intrigued with his new gifts as you can see.

Since both Dominic and I sang in the Easter Cantata, Grayson spent his time at church in the nursery with a bunch of other children - and some of the girls were flirting with him. Overall he did pretty well, but as I was waiting with the choir to walk into the sanctuary, I could hear him screaming. Poor little guy didn't get to have his morning nap and he seemed to be taking it out on the person watching him in the nursery.

The rest of the day was spent at his Aunt Lisa's house. Since he's still just a little man, he couldn't participate in the Easter Egg Hunt, but his Aunt Linda (who organized it) still made sure he got plenty of eggs for his basket. He also got lots of attention from the family.

At the end of the day, he was pooped!

Favorite New Toy

After reading about how wonderful the Jumperoo can be, we decided to pick one up for Grayson and I can't tell you how happy we are about it. He absolutely loves it and it's giving him some great exercise!! My favorite baby item is still the Bumbo Seat, but my new favorite baby toy (and Grayson's) is definitely the Jumperoo.

All Jumped Out!!

Grayson's Dedication

Yesterday was Grayson's dedication at our church. During this service, the congregation welcomes the child into the congregation and the service includes the consecration of the child, consecration of the parents, and the consecration of the congregation as the spirtual family within which the child is nurtured and supported. Grayson was intrigued by our pastor and wouldn't take his eyes off him as Pastor Dan walked Grayson down the aisle of the sanctuary so the congregation could meet him. During the service, Pastor Dan introduced us as Grayson's parents. He discussed that even though Grayson is adopted, we are his parents, nothing more nothing less. We then accepted the responsbility as parents to raise Grayson as a child of the church. The congregation was asked to do the same and then the service concluded with a prayer. Thank you to our family and friends who were able to attend. After church, everyone came back to the house for lunch. Poor little Grayson was so tired, but he fought sleep for hours and hours. Luckily he had plenty of loving family members who were willing to hold him!!