Our first Easter egg hunt!

 We had a great time this morning!  We went over to our friend London's  community and participated in our first egg hunt.   Let's just say it is very helpful that eggs kind of look like balls.  Grayson was all about it!  Above is an action shot of him getting his first egg!

 A pre-egg hunt picture.  Disclaimer: It was a perfect day to be outside but it was very windy.  I have no idea how this "flock of seagulls" hairdo happened.

 Whoa guys!  I got another one!

 He didn't so much care that there were little treats inside, but he did open it to check it out.

 Big smile! On the hunt to find another one!

 Daddy carried my basket around for me.  I put each egg inside.

 Mommy's attempt at a candid shot.

 Frontal view of the Easter egg hunt bend. :)

 I love Easter eggs!  Can we do this everyday Mommy?

 Of course impossible to get all the kids looking and smiling, but I think I got one with all the Moms!  What a great group of women.  I am so lucky!

 Eggs are awesome!

 When we used to ask Grayson for a kiss, he would bow down his head and "allow" us to give him one.  Now, when we say kiss, he plants one right on our lips!  I LOVE this new trick!

 All 7 kids stayed seated for more than .3 seconds!  I consider that a success!!  What a great day!  We can't wait for next year. :)

Winter and Grammie visit

 We have had some really cold days here in Jacksonville.  Some days have even been too cold for outside playing, so we have had to be creative.  We created a fort one day.  Grayson liked to play inside  with his toys and he also read some books in there.  We had a fun visit with Grammie.  Picts follow further on the blog.
Grayson continues to do well with play dates, outings, and eating.   We try to go out once a weekend to have lunch with Grayson.  He sits wonderfully in a booster seat as he eats his meal.  Even when there is no booster, he will sit in the booth next to one of us and eat.
We have switched his therapies and he is going to start receiving OT weekly and his developmental specialist monthly.  Mommy also fought to get a third provider added and we will now be receiving speech therapy once a week as well.   We will start that next week with a speech evaluation.
We are STILL waiting for the 4th and final 2 year molar to come in.  It still has one portion that has poked through and I can see the rest of it, but no progress yet!

 What a mischievous looking face.  What has he just gotten into?

 Daddy took a picture of Grayson and Mommy inside the fort.  We have had a lot of PJ days. :)

 Limbering up.

 Hello gorgeous.

 Grayson thought he needed to rearrange the dining room.

 We had a lot of fun playing with Grammie, both inside and outside.  She played the game "You better run" but with a twist.  Grayson loved her long nails, so at first he would run away, but then he would run into her legs for a back scratching session.  The above picture is part 2.  The below picture is part 1.

 A tried and true classic bath time game is dive bombing Goofy.  He hasn't cared for it in the past, but Grammie decided she would give it another whirl.  He LOVED it! Look at how excited he is for Goofy to dive bomb!  (Dive bomb- get dropped into the water after flying around in the air)

 We got a hair cut and decided to spike it.  How cute?!

February and Gramps comes to visit!

 Ahoy Ladies!   We are doing great with short playdates.  It is nice to be able to enjoy going to other people's homes. :)   He has started splashing in the tub again.  He submerges both of his hands and then throws them up in the air. He keeps them there  while the water drips down his arms. We are almost done teething....Thank Goodness!   3 of his 4 "2" year molars are almost all the way in.  One has popped through a bit but is moving much slower than the rest.   Been a little cranky and gnawing on his frozen chewies.

Gramps came for a weekend visit and we went to the zoo!  Again.  We love the zoo.  At first we thought this was the only way we were going to be able to get the two of them in the shot together.

 I do not need to hold your hand,  I am a big, independent kid.

 Gramps got to feed the lorikeets.  One landed on his hand to drink his cup of nectar.

 Happy to be in front of the fountain!

We had beautiful weather and spent a lot of time outside.  Whatcha looking at Willis?

 Grayson enjoying his nightly foot massage.   Just chillin'.

 Grayson has done a great job in moving meal times to the table.   We think he feels too constricted in the highchair so we have done away with it.  We now use the booster at home and when we venture out to eat.  He sits very nicely and eats his meal.  We bring a few toys to help distract him in between bites.  Below he is enjoying his lunch at the zoo.

 Well........nobody said anything about table manners yet.   That will come in time.

 He loves to sit on the window sill and play with the gate and the tree.

 My tired looking boy!  This was first thing in the morning with what we have been affectionately calling his "peacock hair."  Some days it is out of control!  We are hoping that our next hair cut is a bit better.  Maybe this is the look she was going for?

January 2013

  

January was again a very busy month for us!    Lots of new things going on here. Above was one of my attempts to take a picture of Grayson and I.  You'll see this little turd will not even humor me for one shot!  This was the best of the 4,562,421 that I took.

 Grayson has started using a fork when he eats.  He got the hang of it immediately.  I spear the food for him and he picks it up or takes it out of my hand, eats, and then hands it back to me.   We are still doing great with eating!  I am no longer making him a separate meal.  He is eating whatever I make for Adam and I. :)  This is one happy Mommy!  We were eating on the run or in front of the TV. I know I know, but I am trying to prioritize my expectations! For now I am thrilled he is eating.  After our therapy session on Thursday, we have set up his picnic table in the dining room and we are working on eating lunch and dinner in there.  Will keep you posted on our progress.

 

He still loves to play with balloons.   I get one at the Dollar Store each month.  Best buck I spend all month.

 We are starting to do some more "demand" play with Grayson.  At different points during the day we play with toys that I choose for him.   This was a great puzzle I found at an antique shop in Amelia Island.  It has  farm animals.  When you put the piece back on, it makes the corresponding sound of that animal.

 We also recently bought a kitchen for Grayson.  Right now he is enjoying opening and closing the doors and pushing the buttons.  We hope he will whip up breakfast for us really soon!

 Acting like any other man.....reading while he does his business.

 He LOVES this toy our neighbor got him for Hanukkah.  It is a fishing pole with a magnet at the end.   Each sea creature has a magnet on it.  We play with this MANY times a day. :)

 Look Mom, I caught one!

 We had a great visit with Nonny and Great Grandma JoJo this past week.  "They give me food.  They are good in my book."  We went for walks, played with toys, and read books.

 Nonny is feeding Grayson his lunch here.  Eating fruit off his fork!

 Playing pop up toy with Nonny!

 Grayson has definitely made the connection between the Dinosaur Train tv show, his book, and the figurines.  When the show was on he got his picture card for the figures.  He plays with them while watching them on TV.

 Feed me!  I will sit up on the couch and man the remote.  What loyal servants he has.

 Here is a picture of our toy picture cards.  I switch them out and change their order every few days just to keep him on his toes.  He has to pick the toy he wants and bring it to someone so they get it for him.  Daddy built another piece of great carpentry to house all of his toys.  We get the toy, show him the picture, and say one word to link the two together.  His therapists said that this is requiring him to request instead of just going to get it himself.  It also clears up the room so it is less overstimulating.  He is doing great with these cards.   We have just started to try some "people" picture cards. He doesnt seem to understand that nearly as well yet, but we will stick with it!