Grady- 8 Months

Monthly picture.  They are getting a bit harder...

This month Grady was much more interested in eating the calendar.

12 month onesie (a bit tougher to button this month) and a picture with his birth length golf club.

Grady @ 8 Months

Weight: I weighed him unofficially last weekend.  Mr. Grady weighed in at 22.2lbs on my parents' scale.  I was 22lb 4oz at my 9 month well check so we are still very similar.  I totally had my records released from my pediatrician.  Yep, I did and it is very fun to look back. 

Height:   27 inches (measured by me)

Clothes: Grady is mostly in 12 month and 12-18 month clothes. 

Diapers: Mix of cloth and disposable.  Grady was leaking out of cloth during the day.  I bought some diaper doublers to stuff into the diapers and have seen major improvement.  I haven't had one leak with the doublers.

Sleep: Remember my records I had released?  Well, at nine months, the doctor wrote, "sleep- poor, wakes frequently."  Yep, it is a month earlier, but the exact same words could be said about Mr. Grady.  We tried some different approaches this month but he still wakes up fairly often, but you never really know what the night will bring.  Some nights he is up three times, other times he is up only once.  Thankfully, Ryan helps a lot.  And Grady always makes us laugh with his big smile in the morning....he almost makes us think he had a nice full night of sleep :)

 Eating:  Grady is still nursing and eating more and more solids.  He picked up his first piece of finger food this past week.  I was very excited.  He is eating three meals a day with a mix of finger foods and pureed.  Have I ever mentioned Grady spits up a lot?  He does.  A lot.  It doesn't bother him one bit so he is not on any medication for it.  But he does typically go through three outfits a day. 

Likes:  Playing on the ground, kicking his legs, splashing in the bath, walking in the walker, Tupperware, grabbing necklaces, Layla's stuffed Cleo, Layla being silly with him and playing peek-a-boo, Pop Goes the Weasel

Dislikes: Rolling over on toys and not liking when I leave the room suddenly

New tricks: rolling, rolling, rolling (he is known to get stuck under our couches in a hurry!), scooting backwards on belly, starting to rock on knees and hands and playing with some toys independently (see video at the bottom), doing SO BIG with his arms

Updates: Grady's physical therapy is going great.  As long as he naps before the session, he is a happy camper.  It is an entire hour of stretching, tummy time, reaching and play exercises.  I feel like it is a lot for an eight month old.  But the hard work is paying off and Grady's neck is looking great.  The therapist said she would like to see him through crawling and then he will most likely be finished.  Other updates are that Grady has started a swim class and music class.  Both are free (gotta love free classes!) and Grady really enjoyed them both this week.  I will try to get pictures soon.

Monthly sibling picture

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Layla- 3 1/2

Layla's first dance recital.  She did awesome and loved it.  I felt a little like I was on an episode of "Toddlers and Tiaras." 

Layla's first musical...loved it!

Lunch at the American Girl Store.  Layla brought my Samantha to the restaurant.   A worker came flying up to me and said, "Oh my goodness...that is totally a pre-1996 Samantha."  Yep, lazy eye, over-permed hair and all...she is definitely pre-96!! 

For this year, this is how Grady and Layla play in the snow together.  Grady gets red-cheeked very fast outside!

Skyping with Shea

Layla is getting so big.  So big, so fast.  I cannot believe the developments that have come in the last six months.  I never could have pictured Layla wanting to go on a stage to do a dance, in front of a large group of people, with me out of her sight line.  She is a wonderful big sister.  I know this role will be more of a challenge as Grady starts moving, but so far, she has far exceeded our expectations.  She is successful at preschool and loves her teachers.  Layla is just getting so big.  But to bring me back to reality, Layla has been throwing in a little  lot of baby babble (lots of ma mas and da das) to keep me on my toes :)  Thankfully, there is always something!!  Happy 3 1/2 years, Layla!!

Christmas 2011

We had a nice Christmas this year.  Well, technically last year.  Yikes, I am way behind.  I wanted to blog about it anyway.  Here is a throwback post to Christmas 2011.

Layla loved helping with cookies this year.  She was actually a really big help this year but ate her fair share of cookies too.  We made all of our cookies two days before Christmas this year.  Next year, I need to start earlier.  Actually, I.must.start.sewing.wrapping.baking earlier next year!

 Cookies for Santa

Christmas Eve

We wake up at our house on Christmas Eve morning.  Santa comes to our house a day early.  Layla was so excited and pumped for Santa.  Grady actually opened some gifts and ate a lot wrapping paper.  It was a really nice morning.  

Layla was more than happy to assist Grady with gift opening.

Howie loves a gift.  Good thing Santa remembered him.

Christmas Eve Evening

We headed to Ryan's parents' house for the night.  It is always a fun night and this year was no different.  Katie and little Truan traveled back home for the holidays.  Big Truan could not make it home this year due to military obligations.

Grady and Truan (now 3!)

The Jeep Story:  Ryan's parents gave Layla a pink matchbox car (see left picture) for Christmas.  She LOVED it and was very hesitant when Ryan's mom asked her to put it in water to see if it would "grow."  But Layla put the jeep in water and we returned to the kitchen a short while later to see if the matchbox car had grown...it definitely had grown, into a Barbie jeep.  You think Layla was thrilled?  Well, not exactly.  Layla may have gotten a bit upset when the little matchbox jeep was gone.  Yep, she preferred the little, tiny jeep to the big one.  Ryan's dad quickly slipped the little one onto the seat and saved the day :)  Three year olds...you never know what to expect!

Christmas Day

We woke up at my parents' house on Christmas Day.  Layla had to be woken up a little before ten.  She went to bed late the night before and her body likes and needs twelve hours of sleep.  On the flip side, Grady was already down for his morning nap by the time Layla woke up for the day.  Such different sleepers, Layla & Grady.

Grady and Liam, the two early birds on Christmas morning.

Layla and Shea.  Shea had already opened all of his presents (very quickly!!) and was eating breakfast in Layla's new tent while she opened gifts.  Layla opened most of her gifts but saved one for later that night to open.  I think she didn't want it to be all over.  Oh, she is definitely my daughter!

My mom gets the kids matching pajamas each year.  These are our very unsuccessful attempts at a picture with the four kids in their pajamas.  Very funny!

 

I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas!