Just Life

I thought I would share a few more pictures of Greg from the last few weeks; well, since he turned four months.

 Greg surprised us the morning he turned four months by pulling up to all fours and rocking back and forth.  I didn't quite catch it on camera; here he has collapsed a bit.  He gets so frustrated these days because he can't move around...though he is learning to roll to what he wants.

 I love his expression!

 A friend took me to a yard sale and I was able to find a few things very inexpensively!  The one thing I was looking for was a Jump-a-roo because Greg loves to jump these days!  I didn't find one, but I'm going to keep looking.

 I was folding laundry on the bed, and Greg decided to help me by unfolding all the piles he could reach. :)

 He likes to pull his knees up these days, or try to stick his feet in his mouth, or use his feet to propel him to places.

Smiles!

Growing Up

Greg is four months and charms us daily with his new skills and smiles.  He is a happy, content, peaceful child.  And yes, we're both biased and easily entertained. :-)  He likes to roll over and is working on sitting up.  But you don't want text, do you?

First, we took this crazy, but fun trip to TX so Greg could meet Brian's family.  We certainly enjoyed our visit, though Greg decided that crying for 20 + hours in the car was a good idea. 

Greg trying out the swing.

Greg and his cousins (minus baby Eden).

Granny and Greg

Doing what Greg does best: playing!

Playing with cousins--and Aunt Katie.  Jenny took a special interest in making sure Greg had his pacifier, toys, and a smile.

More cousins!

Like Father, like son...

Planting our balcony garden.  We planted a variety of flowers (pansies!!), zucchini, squash, lettuce, spinach, lots of herbs, peppers, and tomatoes.  We'll see what kind of crop our garden produces this year!

Brian's job was cleanup and heavy lifting while I put Greg down for a nap and made dinner.

Greg sitting up all by himself!  Looks more like the "Leaning Tower of Pisa."

My cute boy!

Greg loves to sit up on the sofa.  He has figured out how to sit up and roll to me on the sofa when he wants something.

There are lots more pictures to post, but I'll wait until later this week to post them (don't want to slow the internet too much).

Smiles!

Bath Time

One of Greg's favorite activities is bath time with Daddy!  It's gotten to the place where Greg doesn't want Mommy to give him a bath.  Once Daddy comes home from work, Greg has eyes only for Brian.

 Chillin'.

 The best smile I could capture on camera.  Usually there's lots of laughter, though.

 Squeaky clean!

So tired and all ready for bed.

Smiles!

We Love to PLAY!

Our recent life: 

German Chocolate layer cake I made Brian for his birthday.  I was going to make it from scratch until my husband requested a box mix.  It was easy to make and I added my super special ingredients to make it moist and delicious.

Greg loves his lion!  He likes to squeeze it, poke its eyes, and eat it up (before it gobbles him, which has been known to happen in the past!), and talk to it (but he doesn't like the lion's roar--especially when it comes with a scratchy beard; I'll let you guess the instigator of that trick).

All dressed for church!

Greg likes to play on his tummy.

 

 This onesie is one in a set that Brian picked out.  Greg has graduated into a bigger size and can wear it now.  Funny thing is, he's in 3-6 in everything but pants because he doesn't have the hips to keep them up. :)

 My happy boy loves to play and talk with you.

Greg has been practicing "airplanes" lately.  We're growing big and strong!

Smiles!

A Two Month Charmer

Yes, that's right!  At two months, Greg can be a real charmer.  His latest stats are that he weighs 12.9 lbs. and 23.5 inches long.  Greg loves to laugh and play, and play, and play, and play.  This little man loves noises, is easily distracted, and wants to be in perpetual motion.  (All boy anyone?!!?)  He is already able to roll halfway over and wants to be part of the adult world.  He doesn't cry for what he wants; instead, he'll focus on you, stare hard, and babble.  Each bit of "talking" and facial expression means a different thing--Mommy and Daddy are getting to be quite the decoding detectives!  He sleeps all night long, but likes to be very awake during the day.  He has recently learned to grasp toys and can make his playmat sing.  He loves to be read to and will babble along with you while you read.  Music is still another favorite activity, and so is the great outdoors.  (For once, I wish winter would go away so it would be warm enough to spend more time outdoors!)  A few of the latest pictures:

 "I don't like the game you're playing!"

 "Much better..."

 Such a ham!

 As Brian would say, "A face that only a Mother could love."  This was on a sick day where Greg had a fever and everything was just wrong.

 Greg likes to sleep all stretched out.  Funny thing is, he imitates his Daddy quite well.

 My little man!

Trying out the new play mat.

Smiles all 'round!  This is one of Greg's new outfits in the next size up.

Smiles!

Valentine's Day Gratitude

My tale begins with my Saturday laundry adventure.  Saturday is laundry day here at my house, and since I have always enjoyed doing the laundry and ironing, it is usually uneventful.  Since having a baby, the task has become a bit more time consuming because I have to cart all the laundry, keys, coin card, etc. up and down three long flights of stairs.  And this time with a baby.  Brian has been helping me with the laundry, and after this week, I think we’ll continue that; or at least have him stay with Greg while I make the trek to the laundry mat.

I started by gathering and sorting all the laundry, getting my supplies, and strapping Greg in the baby carrier, intending to get the first bit done before putting my son down for a nap.  I began the journey downstairs, dragging the stuffed baskets with me.  Once there, the laundry room door refused to open, and the baskets toppled, spewing laundry everywhere.  By the time I made it to the washing machines, I discovered that only one machine was available and it was the most cantankerous machine out of all of the finicky ones. “Oh wonderful.  Now I’ll have to make MORE trips up and down.  Oh well—getting my exercise in.”  My attitude at this point was still on the up and up.

Fast forward:

Several loads were washed, but I discovered that the washing machine had failed to do its job yet again.  It was snowing outside and the laundry room was freezing cold.  It was the towel load…and the washing machine hadn’t spun so that meant I had to hand wring everything.  Did I mention that Greg was hungry and was in the middle of a growth spurt?  Oh, and the laundry room echoes.  By the end of that session, my frustration level was pretty high: screaming baby in echoing room, hands stiff and sore and cold from wringing laundry, and upset that I’d have to spend more money to dry clothes.  AND I forgot the laundry card which meant more trips up and down the steps.  By the end of the day, I was rather frazzled—and then I remembered to pray.  Yeah, I should have been all along.  I saw the humor in the situation, and thanked God that I didn’t live in pioneer days and have to trek to a creek and wash my clothes there.  And, I had clothes to wash.

I don’t say all this to make anyone sorry for me or to complain.  I told this story because I just have to say how incredibly thankful I am for a number of things…and especially my husband.  Lately, there have been situations I’ve been struggling with, and recently, some sorrow for a friend’s situation.  Reading on Facebook today about everyone’s Valentine’s events made me stop to ponder.  You know, we don’t do a lot around here for Valentine’s.  Maybe that’s a bad thing.  But I don’t care.  Why?  Because my incredible, handsome husband does a remarkable job at being my Valentine all.year.long.  I would rather have that, than spend just one day celebrating.  So, for the record…

I am thankful for:

*A husband who daily tells me I’m beautiful, special, his best friend, and that he wants to grow old with me and hold me forever.

*A husband who arrives home after a hard, long day of work to help out with the baby, do dishes, and even wait for dinner if it’s delayed.

*A husband who goes shopping with me.

*A husband who changes diapers (!!) and plays with and comforts his son (and wife after a long day).

*A husband who listens to my endless ideas and dreams.

*A husband who loves to surprise me.

*A husband who day after day for 9 long months helped me through sickness.  Sitting with me after I’d thrown up for the 4^th time in an hour.  Helping me work through getting sick all day long, managing the house, and getting his own meals.  And rubbing my back endlessly.

*A husband who always takes time for me and gives really good hugs.

*For a good provider—going to work every day, whether he likes it or feels like it or not.

*For a tender, gentle, caring, faithful spouse.  A praying one.  A strong and protective husband. 

*For a husband who empties the trash (without me having to ask), vacuums, keeps his areas tidy, encourages my management of the home, discusses the hard issues with me, teaches me to do things, patiently explains mechanical stuff over and over and over again, and makes some killer coffee (among other things).

*I’d continue with the husband theme, but I think I’ll save that for a special note just for him.

*For a house, warm heat, sunshine, adorable little son, clothes, good food, friends, family, and all the little things I take for granted every day.

*For a God who cares, loves, and is there for me always.  For a God who gently leads me along even when sometimes I place other things first or treat him like a genie in a bottle.

*For good health.  I can’t even begin to describe how happy I am to NOT be throwing up all day anymore.  And yes, it was worth it.  And yes, I’d do it again.

I am truly blessed.  More so than I could even begin to describe.  And so thankfulness is how I’m celebrating this Valentine’s Day.

Smiles!

Our little man is 1 month old!  Okay, so he's 6 weeks now, but when I planned to do this post, he was a month.  In the first month, Greg increased his weight and length; in fact, he's already outgrowing some of this 3 month size clothes!  We're pretty sure that by the end of February (his second month) he will already be in the next size up.

Here's a video for you die-hard Gregory fans (here's the link because the video is refusing to embed properly):

http://youtu.be/fOLlxcd04x8

As you can see, we can be easily entertained for quite some time while Greg is either sleeping or awake.  He's growing steadily and it's fun to see his personality come out.  Greg loves a routine and for events to take place in an orderly, methodical manner.  He enjoys blowing bubbles, can hold his head up pretty well, and thinks tummy time is for sleeping.  He is a curious fellow, preferring to be held outward so he can watch the world around him--though he studies it very carefully.  He isn't a cuddly baby, but would rather be left to play by himself, though wants to be where either Mom or Dad are.  In fact, he becomes overstimulated pretty easily (like this weekend), which results in a fussy baby.  As soon as Greg is put down, he becomes cheerful and content (makes it easy for Mom to get stuff done!).  He's a good sleeper and a big (& slow) eater.  He's earned a number of nicknames (mostly from his Daddy): Little Buddy, Mr. Smackers, the Gregster, to name a few.  He winks his eye, adores music, and enjoys loud noises.  He doesn't cry much and tends to just ask politely for what he wants through a series of noises and facial expressions.  I could continue with this description, but I think only my journal would appreciate the details.  How about a few pictures instead?  These were taken by Brian one morning while I made breakfast.

 Greg's first snow!

 The cute outfit my neighbor bought for Greg.

 A typical Greg expression.

All dressed for our first trip to church with Greg's favorite person in all the world!  (I love to watch Brian with Greg--he's so good and patient with him.)

Smiles!