Discovering Playdough

I'm not sure of where to even begin since it has been so long since my last post. December has turned out to be even more hectic than November, although I guess I shouldn't be surprised. We are, after all, not only preparing for the holiday season but also remodeling our house.

This past Saturday Grayson went to a birthday party for two of his friends (they're twins) and while there he played with playdough for the first time. We actually have plenty of playdough which we have accumulated over time but we have never actually sat down and played with it. It was fun to watch him form it into shapes and then smash them just to start all over again.

As I watched him I discovered I need to be more like playdough right now. Life is crazy. The week prior to the party we were told by our contractor to plan to move to our basement by the weekend. We then spent the entire week packing and moving. At the end of the week I found myself very sick, so sick that had to ask my mother to come help me with Grayson for a little while. The night of the party, Dominic and I went to dinner to celebrate our seven-year anniversary and at one of my favorite restaurants, I couldn't enjoy the meal because I still wasn't feeling quite right. When we got home that night we found that it was raining in our house. I should clarify...it was pouring down rain in our house. There were so many leaks through the roof (or lack thereof) we didn't have enough buckets or trash cans to catch them all. And this continued all night long. After a rough night, I still made it to church and then to cantata practice afterwards. When I got home, our power went out for about 12 hours. So within a week's time, I found myself over and over again feeling good about the progress I was making only to be smashed down once again to face another challenge. I was being remolded, just like playdough.

I guess I can learn a lot from the new discoveries Grayson makes each day. I have learned to be more flexible and roll with the obstacles thrown my way. I'm going to do my best to look at each situation as a valuable experience. Hopefully, with each remolding I'll become a better person.

Whining!!!

Grayson is a pretty tough kid. When he falls down, he usually gets up without even a whimper and if he is crying, I know that means it must have hurt. A lot. But lately I've had to put up with a different type of cry, something I knew was coming, but I guess I wasn't prepared for it - the whining.

Oh. My. Gosh. I don't know if I'm more annoyed by the whining itself or the fact that it's coming from my son who is normally so verbally expressive. I'm reading up on the ways to deal with it and how to hopefully make it stop, but it's taking a lot of patience. Something I've been short on these days.

On a much happier note, Dominic and I decided to start decorating for Christmas yesterday. I really didn't think Grayson would "get into it" that much, but I was very wrong. He loved decorating the tree and his face would light up when we pulled out a new ornament. I just wish I had recorded it because it was so much fun to watch. Oh, well. Hopefully next year he'll enjoy it just as much.

Being Thankful

November is a rather important month in our family for obvious reasons. Two years ago at this time, Dominic and I were in New Jersey learning how to take care of our new baby while waiting for the phone call telling us we could head home. It was a crazy time since we hadn’t been prepared for a baby because we thought the process would take a long time – little did we know that our son would be in our arms less than a month after officially switching to domestic adoption – and we had no clue what we were doing. Everything we had with us to take care of Grayson was borrowed and we knew we were coming home to a house that was not ready for a baby.

So, when we reflect on Thanksgiving, not only do we think about the delicious turkey dinner we had eaten in the hospital two years ago, but we also are thankful for the family and friends who were, and continue to be, so supportive in our lives. We wouldn’t have been able to survive without them during those first insane months of adjusting to a newborn in our otherwise party-like lifestyle (at the time) and we know we continue to be lucky to have them in our lives now.

Now Grayson is two. He is a thriving little boy who we find incredibly intelligent and beautiful (or should I say handsome). At his doctor’s appointment last week, he has landed in the 92nd percentile for height and the 89th percentile for weight. The scale at the office said he was 31 pounds, but at the vet’s a couple weeks ago, he stood on their scale and was 32.5 pounds, so we’re thinking he’s realistically somewhere in between. He talks non-stop and is learning something new every day. I also enjoy watching him interact with his friends. It reminds me that he really is a little man with his own emotions, ideas, and personality and I thank God for him every day.

November is also important to us because it is National Adoption Awareness Month and November 17th (Grayson’s birthday) was National Adoption Day. I know I don’t often blog about adoption specifically, but it is obviously a key part of our lives. I try to stay active with our local adoption group, Adoptive Families and Friends, and I am always very willing to answer questions about adoption and/or the process we went through. So if you’re ever thinking about it or are just curious, let me know and I would love to talk about it.

I Will Catch Up Soon!!

This has been one crazy month!! I will post all the details very soon, but since it has been almost a full month since my last post, I wanted to go ahead and share Grayson's birthday party pictures. He actually had two parties again this year - one with his playgroup friends and one with our families. You can see the pictures from the family party here. The theme for both parties was dinosaurs and Grayson had a blast. I'm amazed at his interest in dinosaurs and we're going to continue to roll with it as we decorate his new room when the house is finished.

His two-year doctor's appointment went very well. Once again, he's very tall for his age. I'll be back soon with more information and more pictures.

So Very, Very Tired

I have now realized that the end of October and most of November is my busiest time of year. I remember last year, I was very stressed while trying to stay on top of things, and it has only gotten worse this year. It's all stuff I bring onto myself - planning Grayson's birthday parties, handling the publicity for my adoption group's National Adoption Day event, doing dictation for my sister, singing with the praise and worship group at church, dealing with house building stuff, keeping up with Grayson's schedule (which includes toddler time at the library, gym class, playgroups, parties, etc.), potty training, assisting with a baby shower, and trying to balance my own pathetic social schedule in the middle of all of it - but it still takes its toll. I'm not complaining, just sharing. I love my life. I love being busy. I'm just amazed at how busy I actually am sometimes and I'm now very, very tired.

At any rate, I mentioned that I would hopefully have some good pictures to share because this past week offered up some great photo opportunities. Of course Grayson was his normal "non-photogenic" self in that he refuses to look at the camera, let alone smile for me, but hopefully I think I was able to capture the moment in most cases.

Our first event was a birthday party for one of Grayson's friends. It was at a pumpkin patch and unfortunately, after many months of a drought, it decided to rain most of last week which resulted in some rather miserable weather for an outside party. Luckily the first hour was fairly clear, so the kids got to play outside. Grayson's favorite thing to do was climb on the haystack and here you can see his reflective look as he sits atop a hay bail.

Since the kids couldn't go out to the pumpkin patch on the hayride, they brought the pumpkins to them and allowed the kids to paint them. Grayson definitely enjoyed this and I had a blast just watching his concentration. His final masterpiece is proudly displayed on our porch.

Last Friday Grayson was invited to a Halloween party with his playgroup friends. This year Grayson dressed as a firefighter for Halloween. This was for practical reasons in that I purchased one of those fancy dress up outfits at an expensive kid's boutique a few months ago. The plan was to give it to him for either his birthday or Christmas, but when I started looking for Halloween costumes, it seemed rather stupid to spend the money on something else when I already had this. He loved wearing his costume and his friend Griffin gave him an early birthday present to go with it - firefighter boots - so he now likes to wear his boots all around the house. (The picture is from before we left for the party, so he's wearing his Chucks since he didn't have the boots yet.)

This past Tuesday we went to another pumpkin patch. We took Grayson's cousin, Brooks, and we also met up with a few of Grayson's friends there. The weather was much, much better than the previous week, so the kids truly enjoyed themselves. Grayson loved the giant "pillow" and he also loved going down the slides and through the tunnels.

On Halloween, we went Trick or Treating with his cousins, Tevyn and Trevor. This was not only Grayson's first time Trick or Treating, but also mine. We went to the local "neighborhoods" so the boys could be seen by people we know. It was a lot of fun, but a lot of work. Since we live out in the middle of nowhere, the houses are not very close together, so we did a lot of walking and after about an hour, Grayson was getting pretty tired and wanted to be held, which made it even harder on me. But we had a blast and Grayson brought home a ton of loot. And contrary to popular belief, I am allowing him to have some of it on occasion, but only after he eats all of his fruits and vegetables!!

Accident-Free

Yesterday we finally closed on the loan to remodel our house. It has been a very, very long road to get the loan thanks to all the recent changes in the market, but we finally succeeded. There weren't any "accidents" but it wasn't without some serious last minute kinks, but we were able to handle them and walk away with the construction loan we needed.

The contractor dropped off his equipment this morning and when Grayson and I got back from playgroup today, it looked as if he had already started working on tearing down the shed. The shed is going to be replaced with a two-car garage. This is where we'll keep Dominic's Jeep and all our yard equipment. It will also have a second floor for storage. Here's a picture of the original shed:
The house will also include a two-car garage, plus we are building off the back and adding a second story. Here's a picture of the current house:
I will start adding pictures to dotphoto soon just like I did for the basement, so people who are interested can watch the progress. I'm excited, but I'm also very nervous. This house was built by my parents 50 years ago. All of us grew up here and now I'm making some major changes. I know it is going to be worth it and we're also trying hard to include parts of the original house in the final plans, but I'm still anxious about the whole thing.

In other "accident-free" news, Grayson went without any potty accidents on Sunday - this was even with us going to church. He's doing a really great job so I guess he was definitely ready! Yesterday we were out on the road most of the day and the poor boy asked to go to the bathroom a couple times while we were in the car, but there was no place to go, so I'm going to invest in one of those portable potties for kids. Hopefully that will help with our long car rides. We have a pretty busy week ahead of us, which will allow for some great pictures (as long as Grayson cooperates), so I should have a decent update sometime soon.

We're Surviving

One puppy almost completely house trained, one who isn't at all, and a toddler who is being potty trained. Right now I feel like my life is all about "going to the bathroom." What fun. But, we're surviving.

Grayson is doing much better than Melah who is insistent on not going outside. Grayson's mornings go very, very well, but after nap he starts to go a bit downhill. I really think it's the use of his diaper during nap time. I was always worried I was going to send a mixed message this way and I think he's picked up on that, but I keep trying to reiterate that diapers are for sleeping and he needs to use the potty when he's awake.

I'm actually trying to remember what else we've done this week to share with you, but I feel like it's been all about the potty training.

I guess the other "big" thing is that I'm also working on Grayson's birthday party. He's really interested in dinosaurs (for those of you who know me from childhood, you'll remember this was a big interest of mine as well) so we decided to make that the theme of his party. I've been enjoying it. I have even tried to find some of my old dinosaurs. So far I've only found three stuffed ones - I think the rest are gone.

Hopefully the planning will continue to go well. I really feel like I'm just constantly on the go, but then when I look back on the day, I feel like I haven't accomplished anything. I guess that's how it is with Stay-at-Home Moms sometimes. There are days that feel like you've reached new heights and days where you feel like you're just surviving.

New Things to Share

Well, Dominic and I did it again. We got another puppy. After the loss of our last dachshund, Marie, our new puppy was all alone and we could tell she was lonely. Plus, we always knew we wanted to have two dogs at a time and I knew I always wanted to have a dachshund. So, last week we did a little research and found a few breeders in the area who had some available. That is how we found Melah. She is one of the most beautiful red dachshunds I've ever seen. Where our previous reds had black highlights, Melah has white, so her red coat is much lighter. She also has a red nose, which is just adorable. Sookie and Grayson are both happy to have her in the house.

As for the other piece of news, Grayson has decided he wants to be potty trained. This has actually been going on for months, but I kept putting it off because I thought he was too young. Well, this past weekend he stayed with his Aunt Maria and proved he knew what he was doing. He regularly asked and used the potty without any problems. So this week we've started potty training officially. Today he has been in "big boy" underwear and we haven't had any problems. I guess we'll see how it goes!

He's Not a Baby Anymore

Okay, so I guess Grayson really hasn't been a baby since he was about nine months old - when he started walking. Actually, my Mom and I were looking at his pictures and noticed how at that time his face really transformed from "baby-looking" to full-on toddler. But this post really isn't about his physical or mental milestones which seemed to come fast and furious. This post is more about the maturity I've noticed in him this week.

Our week has been a busy one, as usual, and it started this Sunday with a birthday party for one of Grayson's friends who turned two on the 22nd. At this same party last year, Grayson was the only child who was really walking around and the entire time I was running after him. This year, I had Dominic to help me, but I also noticed how well Grayson interacted with the other children, how well he listened to both Dominic and me, and how much he enjoyed the moon bounce. It was really neat to sit back and watch.

But it didn't stop there. On Tuesday, our playgroup was held at his friend Ella's house and it was a celebration for her second birthday. Ella's parents set up finger painting for the kids and Grayson had a blast, but was even cooler to see was how he would go to the correct color when I called it out and come back to his own sheet to paint. Also, each child was given a flower pot in which we planted seeds to bring home and watch grow. I was amazed at how well Grayson followed the directions as we put the pot together.

But the most obvious example of maturity occurred at gym class again. As I mentioned in my previous post, gym class has been a true learning experience for Grayson, but yesterday he was even better than before. This time, not only did he participate in the warm-ups but he was actually watching the instructor and doing what she was doing. He almost made it through the entire warm-up session without losing interest. Fingers crossed for next week!

Oh, and speaking of those mental milestones, here are a few to brag about - he seems to know all the basic colors at this point, he is able to identify half the alphabet (in no particular order, which I really appreciate), he can sing half the ABC song, and he can count to five. He also really, really acts like he wants to be potty-trained. Of course, this has been going on for a while, but I haven't really been doing anything about it. I'm starting to think I need to begin the process - something I'm not really looking forward to doing.

A Great Day in Gym Class

This fall many of my friends and I decided to try out a new gym for the kids. I was a bit apprehensive at first because I absolutely loved The Little Gym, but I also didn't want to go back and do the same exact class we've been doing. We decided to check out the Frederick Gymnastics Club and since we can't sit in on a class, we went to their open house. I was still a little concerned because I just didn't get a good "vibe" from them, but I really liked the variety they offered so we all decided to sign up with them.

Grayson's first class was the last Wednesday of August and it was terrible. We arrived early and had to wait in the viewing area until they called us into class where Grayson would not sit still. When class started, Grayson immediately started screaming and holding onto me. He refused to participate in any of the warm-up activities. Once he realized all the really cool things in the gym to explore, he decided he wanted to run wild so I was holding him down until it was time to move. After warm-up, he still wanted to run around and not actually go through the obstacle courses they had created for the kids. By the end of it all, I was exhausted. I got more of a work out chasing after him than he did participating.

Each week seemed to get a little bit better. The next week he still screamed through the warm-ups but was willing to do the obstacle course. However, in the middle of class he decided he wanted to leave so he began to throw temper tanturms. Last week he made me carry him during the warm-ups, but didn't scream and he didn't ask to leave. Then there was this week and it was great!

I figured out that part of the problem with his behavior was that he was getting his lunch later than usual, so yesterday I decided to give him some raisins and animal crackers before we left the house. When class started, he wanted me to carry him, but I refused and he actually started doing some of the warm-ups!! Then, he did the obstacle courses without any fuss. He even swung from the rings without any assistance. He also tried out the parallel bars and the horse. I couldn't believe it! I finally feel like I'm getting my money's worth and Grayson is getting to use up some of his energy.

On a completely unrelated note, thanks to Aunt Heidi for Grayson's awesome football jersey. I took a ton of pictures the other day to try to get that perfect shot. I don't think I actually got it, but here are a few:

Going Back for the Pass

Running for the Touchdown

In the Huddle with the Other Players

Reflecting on the Game

Wow, What a Trip!

I know it has been way too long since my last post, but Grayson and I were on the coast of Alabama last week visiting friends I have gotten to know over the years on IVF Connections. When we got back, I was in a lot of pain because I pulled my back out on the plane trying to keep Grayson on my lap (this actually occured on the way down), plus I was completely exhausted. And then yesterday I got very, very sick. So here I am. Finally. And I'm feeling much better.

As for the trip, it was incredible!! It was so amazing to actually meet the people I've gotten to know on-line. Grayson had a great time playing with the other children, although he tired me out. He wouldn't take naps and he stayed up late with the rest of us. Plus, he didn't want to sleep in his Pack-N-Play (I think this was more because he wanted to stay up rather than the PNP itself) so he slept with me. In a twin bed. And this is something we've NEVER done. Needless to say, given the fact that I had pulled my back on the plane, was sleeping in a bed with a little man who is squirmy, and the bed was a tad bit on the firm side, I didn't get much sleep. It didn't matter though, I loved getting to know the girls and their children. Plus one husband! I would do it all over again in a heartbeat.

Some of the definite highlights of the trip for Grayson were playing in the ocean, jumping off the side of the pool into my arms, and the boat trip. The pictures I took really don't capture his absolute joy, but you can take a look at a few of them here. He saw the ocean for the first time last year, but at that point he wasn't even crawling yet. This time he would run toward the water and throw himself into the waves. It was so much fun to watch.

As for the pool, we've been in my sister's pool a number of times this summer, but because it's an above ground pool, there's really no way for him to sit on the side and jump in. Once he discovered this was something he could do, he wanted to do it over and over again.

On the boat trip, Grayson had a blast. He loved standing at the front of the boat, but he loved to help steer it even more. Oh, and honking the horn non-stop. Unfortunately we didn't see any dolphins, but I don't think Grayson cared in the least.

I think we're finally back in our groove here. Grayson went back to his schedule almost immediately, thank goodness, but I've had a harder time as I mentioned above. I look forward to another get-together!!

I have learned that toddlerhood is not just an uphill battle. There are moments when you are struggling to make it up the mountain, but then there are times you get to go down into a valley or canyon. And then there are times you can simply hike along the bottom of that valley or canyon and just enjoy the scenery around you before you have to start making your way back up. Last week was a treacherous hike uphill, while this week was a leisurely stroll down into a glorious canyon!

I’m not trying to be philosophical or deep, I’m just trying to embrace what is happening and as I mentioned in my previous post, help Grayson learn through it while I’m learning as well.

So much happened this past week I really could have blogged each and every day about it, but we were so busy, I simply didn’t have the time. Not to mention that our Internet went out on us again and we’re still on dial-up so getting on-line is a frustrating experience.

Grayson was so good this past week it’s almost as if he were a completely different child, but I guess that’s the way it’s going to be. We went to two fun playgroups and he did great with the other kids. We took a trip down to Baltimore to visit Port Discovery and I don’t think I have ever seen him have so much fun. He climbed all over the jungle gym, which is three-stories tall, and generally had a blast running around. We went out to dinner with my parents on Friday night and he was an angel at the restaurant and afterward when we hung out in my parent’s backyard. He was great in the nursery at church, both during Sunday School and during the worship service. And we visited his Aunt Maria’s and Uncle Jay’s for dinner that night and he was great as he played with his cousin Paul.

Coming Down a Tube in Port Discovery - Three Stories Up

I guess I’ll just have to remind myself of these times when he’s completely disobeying me or screaming at the top of his lungs because he’s not getting his way or running around like crazy because he has more than enough energy to spare. It is what it is.

Playing on Paul's New Scooter

When Does Toddlerhood End?

This has been a challenging and emotionally draining week for me as a mother. Grayson turned twenty-one months old on Friday, but really, I think he's been in his terrible two stage since he turned one. The highlights of the week?? Let's see...Tuesday morning he learned to move a chair to our sliding glass door, climb up, unlock the door, open it and then run outside; that afternoon we had to leave our adoptive families playgroup early because he wouldn't behave and started running all around the coffee house; Thursday he tossed his hat into the river near my sister-in-law's house - it was not retrieved; Saturday he vomited all over himself in his carseat and in my truck, what a lovely smell; and today he had to be removed from nursery at church because he was throwing toys and hitting.

I'm starting to realize I have one of "those" children. You know, the ones you see throwing temper tantrums in the grocery store because their mothers told them they couldn't have something, or the ones who steal the toys from the other kids and think it's funny, or the ones who, like Grayson, run obnoxiously around the coffee house. The ones you said your child would never be like.

I guess it's a trade off. Grayson was an excellent baby, so toddlerhood seems like it's going to be a challenge. He loves to eat anything, so instead of the child who refuses to eat his vegetables, I get the child who refuses to take a nap. He's very polite, he says "please" and "thank you," plus he takes the time to say "bless you" after someone sneezes. So I suppose the trade off there is the continual energy he seems to have, constantly running away from me when I call him, giggling all the way.

I guess I need to get myself ready for what's to come. I know toddlerhood isn't going to end any time soon, so I might as well do whatever I can to survive the ride and do what I can to help Grayson grow from his experiences during this turbulent time. Like one of my best friends always says about her daughter, these qualities may be stressful now, but that independent, strong-willed nature will serve our kids well when they are adults.

Reading is Fundamental

That's what they always say, right? Well, I'm happy to report that it seems to be becoming fundamentally important in our home.

Reading has always been important to me and it's something I greatly enjoy doing. I have always wanted my children to feel the same way. I can remember begging my mother to read to me when I was little and I always hoped I would be on the receiving end of that begging when I became a parent. This has definitely become the case, but I have also noticed that Grayson enjoys reading books by himself as well.

When he and I are home all day, I try to split our time between his playroom and his bedroom. Lately I've been encouraging him to play by himself so he's not always so dependent on me for entertainment. Most recently he has started to go in his room and close the door. I'll usually allow him his "privacy" for a few minutes and then I go in to check on him. Well, today when I checked, this is what I found:He had pulled half of his books off the shelves and had them spread out all around him. As you can see, he's enjoying a good book in the picture. After I caught him, we proceeded to read a few together. Does it get any better than this?

Lazy Summer Days

Grayson and I have been pretty busy this week, so it was nice to simply take a break today. We didn't leave the house and since it was rather hot as well, we decided to stay inside all day. This meant we did a lot of reading and playing. One of Grayson's favorite things to do is read, so he decided to sit down with a couple good books on his own. He really enjoyed reading the story to me.

The day was also spent learning to count to three; learning the colors orange, yellow, and blue; and Grayson practicing to dress himself (that's why he's not wearing any shorts in the picture). So I guess "Lazy Summer Days" isn't really the right title because even though we didn't go out, we still stayed pretty busy.

Welcome Home, Sookie!

Dominic and I had always said that when all four of our dogs had passed away, we would wait for a while before we would get another one. Well, all that changed last week when Marie was at the vet's being observed, again, and for the first time in many, many years, I came home to house with no dog to greet me. It was rather depressing.

A couple days later I went back to the vet's to pick up a refill on one of Marie's medicines. While I was there, I noticed a flier on the bulletin board advertising the sale of Whippets. I had no idea what kind of dog they were, so I started asking questions. As the entire veterinary staff started to come out to talk to me, I found out they were great pets, good with kids, and that the breeder, Sleeping Fox Farm, happened to be the daughter of my vet.

So, I called her the next morning and Grayson and I went to meet her and the puppies. We fell in love. We had to wait a few days before we could pick up the puppy, which turned out great because Dominic and I were able to get things ready. Plus, I could read up on what it meant to have a puppy again. I hadn't had one for almost 14 years!!!

Sookie came home yesterday and she has been an absolute dream. She's very good natured and loves to snuggle - which is great because that's exactly what I needed. She had no problem sleeping with us last night and this morning, she's eaten some of her food and started playing with her toys. We also think Marie is happy to have another dog in the house. She had never been alone and after Madison passed away, we could definitely notice a change in Marie's personality. Overall, Sookie seems to be adjusting very well!!

For more pictures, click here.

The Other Five

It took me a little longer to get back to the blog than I planned, but here are the remaining five of my top 10 list:

Comfy Easy PC – Many of you who know me well, know my feelings regarding children watching television. Don’t get me wrong, I absolutely love to watch TV, but I’m pretty picky about what Grayson watches. I don’t want him turning into a couch potato. So, when I started searching for a game system (for lack of a better word) for Grayson I was very upset to find that most of them have to be attached to the TV. I wanted something that could attach to the computer so he would begin to relate learning with the computer, not the television.

And then I found the Comfy Easy PC. This is the one thing that can keep Grayson’s attention for up to 45 minutes. I’m amazed at how well he interacts with it and the things he has learned from it. I recommend this to every parent! My only complaint is that they don’t have more games available.

CDs with songs that include your child’s name – One of the things I wasn’t looking forward to when it came to motherhood was listening to children’s music. I always seemed to find it a bit cheesy. I have been able to find some great music, especially from Putumayo Kids, but Grayson’s absolute favorite is any CD that includes his name in the music. His favorite bedtime CD is from Sister Song called “Glimpse of Heaven” (actually, I cried the first time I heard it) and his favorite anytime CD is from Mediak called “Jesus Loves You.” This company actually has a bunch of CDs available, some in Spanish.

Straw Cups – Grayson stopped drinking from a bottle by around 11 months old and I think using straw cups really helped with that. I believe he learned to drink from a straw when he was about nine or 10 months old at my sister’s store. Even though he had been exposed to sippy cups from the time he could start holding things in his hands, cups with straws were a lot easier for him to handle because it didn’t require him to tip the cup. After we started using them, a bunch of his playgroup friends started as well, making it difficult to determine which cup belonged to whom when we got together!! I’m always on the look out for other versions, but so far our favorite is the Gerber Soft Straw cup. We also have a great cup from Catluna Enterprises, but I can’t find it on the Internet (it was given to us). Either way, neither cup leaks!!

Taggie/Lovey/Blankie, whatever you want to call them! – I don’t think there is any way to predict what will become important to your child, but my recommendation is that once you do, buy a back up!! Grayson received a taggie with his name embroidered on it at one of my showers. From that day on, he usually rested his head on it when he slept. I thought this would become important to him, so I purchased a back up shortly thereafter and started switching them right away and I’ve been doing it ever since. But, this wasn’t his most favorite “lovey.” That became Jerry, as we like to call him.

Jerry was also a gift at a shower and I started giving him to Grayson very early in his crib. Jerry was one of those Carter’s blankets with the knots at the corners and a giraffe head in the middle of it. Unfortunately, I waited a little too long to buy a back-up and Carter’s no longer made them, so I paid a small fortune for the one I found on eBay. Oh, well, it was worth it.

Wearable blankets – My final installment into the top 10 would be the sleepsack, or the wearable blanket. We tend to keep our home on the cool side at night, especially in the summer, and I was always concerned about Grayson getting too cold. Obviously you can’t put a blanket on a baby, so these were the perfect solution.

So, there you have it. Honorable mention also goes to the use of cloth diapers as burp cloths – don’t get the cheap ones, we recommend the ones made by Kushies Baby. These were critical to us when Grayson was a baby because he was constantly spitting up. We also love our diaper pail – buy one that can use any type of trash bag so you don’t have to get anything special. It probably sounds strange that I love a diaper pail, but I lived without one for quite some time and it was awful!

My Top 10

The other day, I was in Toys R Us buying some new toys for our church nursery when I noticed a woman registering for baby items. She had brought a friend along who was helping her decide what to put on the registry. I thought to myself, “Oh, how I wish I would have had that opportunity. The chance to think through the items I would need for a new baby and to have someone help me.” And then I heard the friend’s advice. It stunk. She was randomly having her friend register for baby rattles and toys – items she’ll get plenty of without the help of a registry – and seemed clueless herself, although her friend clearly trusted her opinion.

I was very lucky, overall. The day after we found out we had been chosen by Grayson’s birthmother, my nephew’s wife went out with me to Target and helped me get the basic essentials. She was an absolute blessing and gave me excellent advice! After we brought Grayson home, we were given three different baby showers and we received perfect gifts. I really didn’t have a clue what I would need and what I didn’t need, but I got rather lucky because I received items I would use later rather than those items you only use for the first couple months of a baby’s life.

So, I was inspired to put together my Top 10 Baby Item List (they aren’t ranked by importance). I didn’t include the basics like bottles or diapers because every parent and every baby has a preference for those. I just included those items I wouldn’t have wanted to live without, as well as those items I continue to use. I’m sure many of you will have your own opinions, and if you so desire, please share them with me in your comments. I’m sure I haven’t remembered everything that has been so helpful during these 20 months of motherhood.

And here you go…

The Maya Wrap – I always knew the Maya Wrap was something I wanted when I brought home my baby. Unfortunately, you can only purchase them on-line and I didn’t have the chance to do that before Grayson came home. I bought one a couple months later and used it continually. I still wear it every now and then, but Grayson is so big, it’s a little difficult. I definitely plan to use it with our next baby. Oh, and as an FYI, I got the adjustable pouch not the full wrap because I didn’t want all the extra material.

The Bumbo Seat – I really can’t rave about this thing enough. If you are short on space, the Bumbo Seat is the best thing to use instead of a high chair. And really, even if you have plenty of space, you really don’t need a high chair. We’ve never had one (see the Booster Seat). Also, I took it with me everywhere. Grayson sat in it at three months old and he sat at tables with us in restaurants, I used it at our church nursery, I used it when I made dinner and he watched, etc., etc. This was one of the best things ever!!!

A booster seat – It probably doesn’t matter which one you use, we have this one, but the booster seat is the greatest thing as soon as your baby can sit by himself. Grayson has always eaten at the table with us, a great habit to start early. I also have an extra one that I keep in my truck so he can sit and eat wherever we go. Having one on the go has really come in handy for me because it allows me to sit and eat without having to worry about him. As an FYI, my sister and I just discovered a very cool travel version. I can’t say anything specific about it since I’ve never used it, but I wish I had found it way back when.

Plastic bibs – Grayson was always in a bib when he was a baby because he was usually spitting up and when the spit up is only formula (or breast milk) those cloth bibs are just fine. But as soon as he started eating baby food and I needed something that actually protected his clothes from actual food, the cloth bibs were no longer any good. They stained very easily and since babies are pretty messy in general, that was a pain. One of my friends at church introduced me to the plastic bib. We have the Dura-Bibs. I can easily clean them and the ones I use have a fold down bottom, so you can get to all the food that builds up. I also throw them in the top of the dishwasher occasionally.

An Exersaucer – This gift was one of the best I received!! Its purpose is pretty self-explanatory, but Grayson was able to stand or sit in it and he played with all the toys. Even after he no longer needed it for support, he continued to play with it from the outside. Its “usage life” may not be as long as everything else I’ve mentioned, but it was still a great thing to have and I wouldn’t want to have a baby without it.

This has gotten a little long, so I think I’ll wait to post my other five. I’m sure you’ll be waiting on pins and needles!!

A Fun Weekend

Maybe I'm a little mushy right now because I just lost my dog or maybe it's for some other reason, but as I reflect back on the weekend I've had, it just brings a smile to my face.

When Dominic and I moved out of Baltimore City and into my parent's house (after they moved, of course), the only people we knew in the area were my family and a couple friends who were still here from high school. That's it. I was still driving down to Baltimore a few times a week to help at Legg Mason, so I was able to be with my friends regularly, but all that ended when Grayson came home just a few short weeks later.

I then felt very alone. Of course I had my son and Dominic. But suddenly I was staying home with a baby and had seemingly lost all contact with my previous "adult" world. It seems so strange to look back on that feeling now.

This weekend brought together a number of new worlds I have found since moving out of the city. On Saturday, Grayson and I went to the birthday party of a high school friend's son. Grayson had a great time, we even rode on a little steam engine train in the neighborhood, and he ate. A lot! It was great to spend time with my friend and to watch the boys play.

Sunday morning, Grayson, Dominic, and I were in church. Growing up, my church was a very important part of my life. I'm now heavily involved again, as a member of the board, a nursery helper, and a member of the women's Sunday School class. I'm so glad Grayson will be able to grow up in the same community - feeling very loved.

Last night, however, was the perfect ending. One of the friends I met through The Little Gym hosted a picnic in a park in Frederick as a thank you to those of us who had recently made meals for her and her family after the birth of their second child. I watched Grayson play with his friends and the rest of us just talk and I was very happy and amazed at how much had changed in just 20 months.

Do I miss my previous adult life? Sure, every now and then. I miss the freedom of coming and going whenever I wanted. I miss living in the city and walking to the restaurants and shops in our neighborhood. I miss sitting on the couch all day and watching Lifetime every now and then. But do I love my new "grown-up" life? Definitely!

Chilling in the Park!

All About Madison

Normally, this blog is completely dedicated to Grayson, but today I need to write about my first baby, Madison. Sadly, Madison died in my arms Tuesday night. She was a miniature dachshund who had been with me for almost 14 years. This post isn't about her death, however, it's about her life and how much she was a part of mine.

People who don't have animals probably think those of us who get so upset about the loss of a pet are crazy, but Madison was a part of my life for well over a decade and mourning that loss is perfectly normal. As one of my friends pointed out, I may very well have another pet who lives just as long or longer than Madison, but I will never have another one that was with me through so many changes in my life.

I got Madison when I was a sophomore in college. I had recently moved into a townhouse in Columbia with a few roommates and realizing I was on my own, I decided to get the dachshund I had always wanted. I fell in love with Madison the moment I saw her, she was so tiny and sweet. We had driven north of Baltimore to meet her and on the drive home, she slept in my lap.

Over the years Madison has lived in six different homes with me. She has watched me graduate from college, start a career, get married, finish graduate school, and start a family. She was with me through it all and she was the one consistent thing during those 14 years.

I will miss her dearly, but I'm so glad she was a part of my life. Madison, thank you for being my first baby!!

A Rough Couple of Days

Just last Sunday at church I was talking about how sick I was during Grayson's first year. I was constantly picking up something and feeling pretty miserable. I mentioned that since his first birthday I've been very, very healthy which is a definite blessing because I would no longer be able to just lie on the floor while Grayson played around me like I used to do since he is now such an active little guy.

Well, all that changed Thursday night when I picked up Grayson out of his crib to change his diaper and pulled something in my lower back. I've had minor back pain in the past, but never anything too severe. Until then. The pain was so awful that every move I made was pure torture. The next day I was still in tremendous pain but could still run some errands. When I got home and tried to rest Grayson wasn't going to have it. This had to be one of the most miserable days I've had with him and I could tell I was definitely not myself.

Since then, the pain comes and goes. I'll have moments when it feels much better and then moments when I'm in agony again. I've canceled a few plans, which is terrible for me because I hate being stuck in the house, but I thought it would be best to try and rest my back.

I did have a good day on Saturday morning, which was great because my friend Erica came to visit for a playdate with her son. Not only did we have a great time, but I actually got a picture of Grayson and me together - which so rarely occurs because I'm usually the one taking the pictures. So, here you go...

The Picture Says it All

Yep, that's Grayson sleeping in the pool. It has been a busy, busy few days. Including playgroup on Friday, a playdate and an afternoon party on Saturday, brunch with friends on Sunday, playgroup again on Monday, all day in the pool at Aunt Lisa's on Tuesday, and then another playdate in Baltimore today. It looks like things finally caught up with Grayson yesterday when he fell asleep in the pool. Up to this point, he had been rather grumpy about being in the water, but once he took his power nap, he was ready to go. He spent another hour and a half in the pool after he awoke and just loved it.

This picture was from Monday's playgroup. The kids had a blast on Griffin's new playset. Grayson especially loved the slide.

Going down slides is one of his favorite things to do, which thanks to our AFF friends who happily gave us some of their gently used items, he is able to do it at home now as well. He loves going up and down the slide we have in our backyard. We also want to thank our AFF friends for Grayson's sandbox and other outdoor toys. He now continually asks to go outside so he can play with them. We can't say thank you enough. We're so glad we can be a part of such a wonderful group!!

My Kid Still Loves to Eat

When Grayson was a baby, I was actually once told by one of the doctors at his pediatrician's office that he was eating too much formula. I had never heard of such a thing and didn't change how much I fed him.

Things really haven't changed much, even though people keep saying they will. When he was a baby "they" said he would slow down because no baby needs that much formula. When he turned 12 months old, the doctor said not to be alarmed if he didn't eat as much as he had been. It was perfectly normal for a toddler at that age to eat a lot less. Now everyone - including family and friends - say it will change when he turns two. We'll see.

What has prompted this post? Well, today at lunch Grayson ate an entire adult serving of macaroni and cheese with ham and peas. He then proceeded to drink two cups of V8 and eat a ton of blueberries. This evening for dinner he has eaten leftovers from last night - a cheesy chicken casserole. So far he has had two full servings of it, plus squash prepared with basil and garlic, plus Maryland Crab bagel chips. Hello?? Does this sound like a kid who is showing any signs of slowing down? No wonder my grocery bill is so high! That's okay, though, he's a very active kid who is already able to throw a mean football, so I'm definitely not complaining.

Here's a picture of him enjoying his dinner (this is after the two helpings):
On a different note, we went to visit my parents earlier in the week for Father's Day (we weren't actually able to make it there on Sunday) and try as I might, I really couldn't get a great picture of Grayson with my Dad. Remember the "active kid" comment above?? But, this one isn't too bad:
Happy Belated Father's Day to you dads out there!!

Three Glorious Hours!!!

Not too much to report at this point, but I just had to share that Grayson took a three hour nap yesterday!! I can't even explain how glorious it truly was. Don't get me wrong, I love spending time with him, but entertaining an 18 month old all day long since he usually doesn't take a nap can be pretty rough. We tend to keep pretty busy, but last week was his last day at The Little Gym until the fall which means we're home a little more often than usual and that can take its toll on both of us. He doesn't like to be stuck in the house and neither do I.

I have no idea why he decided to sleep so much, but I'm certainly not going to allow myself to get used to it because I'm sure it's not going to happen again any time soon. At least I now know what it feels like to have a toddler who takes a nap!! And I will continue to be jealous of all you Moms who get that every day.

Looking Good

Grayson had his 18 month check-up last Friday. I couldn't do an update at the time because our internet was out, but thanks to the miracle of tree and brush clearing our satellite is now up and running!! But, back to the point...

Grayson is now 34 inches tall and at least 28 pounds. I say "at least" because he wouldn't sit still to get a good weight so we had to estimate. I would guess he weighs somewhere between 28 and 30 pounds. He is in the 90th percentile for height and the 75th percentile for weight, so he's still a really big boy!

I also get to brag a little and say he is a bit advanced when it comes to his milestones. At each appointment, I have to complete a checklist of what he is able to do and according to the Nurse, I completed the 18 month list at his 15 month appointment so she had to give me the two-year old's checklist (and from what I can tell, that list seems to go fairly far up in age). By the way, the Nurse said "advanced" so those aren't actually my words but I'll happily take it!

The really neat part was that he was able to do a lot of the things listed on the two-year sheet as well. We obviously didn't get incredibly far, but he's able to put two words together like "no more," "one more," and "get it." He was also able to name all the animals pictured on the sheet and to be able to circle yes, he only had to name one. And he can also point to my body parts when I ask him. He actually says the body parts as well, but that wasn't part of the question.

Since his appointment we have been very, very busy. On Saturday we went to see a kid's band called Milkshake. I had never heard of them before but I had received an email from Enkore Kids which told me about the concert so Grayson and his friends got together to watch the show. They really enjoyed themselves and it was fun to watch them dance to the music. That night we went to visit an old friend of mine and he played with her two sons. He proceeded to dump sand all over himself so I had to hose him down before we went back inside. And finally on Sunday we got together we our local adoption group for a family dance party. Grayson was more interested in the piano at the hall rather than the dancing, but I think he enjoyed himself.

The Great Boonsboro Carnival!

When I was a kid, one of the highlights of the year was going to the carnival in Boonsboro and riding the rides and playing all the games. This year we decided to take Grayson because they had some baby animals the kids were allowed to pet and hold. Unfortunately it must have been too hot for the animals because they weren't out when we were there, but Grayson did get to play one game - the one where you take the huge sledge hammer and try to ring the bell. They had a child's version and I helped him pick up the hammer as we brought it down on the mark to ring the bell. Of course he wanted to keep doing it, but we only paid for one try. The good news is that all little children win a prize and he got a very large, blow-up hammer that he now loves. Here's a picture of him with it at the carnival:

Good Karma and a Great Weekend

Our weekend was jam packed, but before I get into that, let me address the good karma. Last Thursday I went into Shepherdstown to buy my favorite coffee and while Grayson and I were there, we decided to walk around and look at the shops. We found the cutest toy store way off the beaten path and there were so many things I wanted to buy, including a peg bench for Grayson to hammer since he seems obsessed with tools, but I controlled myself. I walked out of there without buying anything!! This was the second time I had walked into a toy store that week and didn't buy anything for Grayson. I was so proud of my self control.

Well, that same afternoon I went to visit my sister and I was talking about how Grayson loves to play with his toy tools (we only had one drill, a screwdriver, and a wrench, but they are definitely his favorites). She then asks me if I would want her son's tool bench and of course I said yes (he's much older and no longer plays with it). Not only is this one incredible tool bench that includes everything, she also gave Grayson two more toy drills, a chain saw, a hard hat, an awesome handmade wooden table for his playroom, a potty chair, Rock N Roll Elmo, Tickle Me Elmo, and a picture for his bedroom. This was one major score!!! And I attribute it to my self control, thus resulting in very good karma.

Grayson is now more obsessed with his toy tools than ever before. We took two of the drills with us everywhere we went over the weekend and he played with them constantly. And today he insisted on sleeping with them during his nap. I really wanted to take a picture of that, but he naps so rarely that I didn't want to take the chance of waking him. So, here are some other pictures of the great stuff we got from my sister.

As for the rest of the weekend, it was very busy. On Saturday we went to a picnic at my Aunt Dee Dee's and then watched the Sharpsburg Parade. It was a very hot day, but Grayson handled it well. That evening we went to my sister's house for a bonfire. Grayson hung out with us and then fell asleep at around 9:00. Luckily we brought the Pack N Play, so he slept right behind us while the rest of us enjoyed the evening.

Yesterday we went to the Caribbean Wine Festival at the Linganore Winery. We were originally going to take Grayson, but we got a babysitter at the last minute. He's not handling separation well right now because he's cutting five teeth (one on the bottom and four on the top) but his babysitter handled it like a real trooper!

Today we're just staying inside. It's pretty hot outside and I'm glad that we're just resting today. Later this week we're hoping to take him to the Boonsboro Carnival. We'll see how that goes!