Rice Cereal and Sweet Potatoes!

And we have an eater!  That's right friends... my sweet not so little baby Cole is now eating solid food.  We started with homemade sweet potatoes and rice cereal.  Yes, you heard me right - homemade.  After doing this I have no idea why anybody wouldn't just make their own.  It's way cheaper, easier and healthier in my opinion.  That doesn't mean I will make everything(it's fun now, but wait until the new-ness wears off...), but I will make what I can and have time for.  Peas are next on the agenda.  Anyway, here are some cute pics! 

    Based on this smile... I think it was a huge success! 

INTERVIEW WITH GRADY...

So I stole this interview idea from a friend and decided to have a little bit of fun with it myself! 

What is your name? Grady
 How old are you? Four


What is your favorite color?  Blue and orange


What is your favorite animal? Elephant and panda


What do you want to be when you grow-up? A Paleontologist


What is your favorite Movie? Cars


What is your favorite book? Chester and the Bully


What makes you happy? Me and Bro playing together


What makes you sad? I don't know


What is your favorite food to eat? Pizza


What is your favorite song to sing? Jesus Loves Me


What's your favorite toy? Soccer ball


What games do you like to play? Hungry, Hungry Hippos


What's your favorite tv show? Wipeout


What do you like to do? Bounce balls

What's your favorite thing about Cole?  Snuggling him 


What's your favorite thing to wear? I don't know


Who's your favorite baseball player? Michael Young and Jackie Moore (who doesn't play but coaches and he wears the #4 which is G's fav #)


What's your favorite holiday? Easter


What's your favorite thing to do with Mommy and Daddy? Play

"Practice was AWESOME!"

Grady had his very first ever T-ball practice and this was what he said as we were leaving. Despite it being 106 degrees the kids did great!

Daddy is the assistant coach and Brody's dad Justin is the coach...

Which makes it super fun for the guys, kids and moms!

The team name is the Rangers, which just thrills Grady!

The boys rotated through 3 stations - batting, base running and fielding.

(Actually 4... taking 10 water breaks counts right?!?)

Poor guy got so hot, he had to sit down for some water.

Kate had fun playing and Cole had fun getting snuggled by Michelle!

I'm sure it will be a super fun season for all of us! 

Some batting tips from coach...

and a hit! 

Let's go Rangers!!!!!

My Grady-Goose...

Not sure if this will work but... here is Grady singing a song he learned in Pre-K last week!

You Are 5 Months Old, Cole Merritt!!!

So 5 months passed a while back and I am L-A-T-E... we took a last minute vacation, hosted a shower, had family in town, I started work and we took part in Uncle Brian and Aunt Christina's wedding.  Whew, what a busy last month or so.  We were very busy having fun but we didn't forget about you sweet Cole!  You have grown and changed so much it's amazing! 

Here are the 5 biggest things about you since you are a big 5 months old... 

You have become  SUPER roly-poly!  You prefer to roll from your back to your tummy but roll both ways easily and like crazy to get what you want or to see what you want.  You also have been getting up on all fours and rocking... mommy isn't ready for crawling yet buddy - slow down!  We find you on your tummy now in your crib... you sleep on your tummy with your sweet little buns in the air!

You have switched to the 4 hour schedule.  You are on the 7, 11, 3, 7 schedule and drinking 8 ounce  bottles.  You are super interested in food and we are planning to start this weekend!  You are still up for 1 1/2 - 2 hours and then sleep again until the next feeding after each bottle, and sleep through the night.  You are a  ROCK-STAR sleeper!!!

You watch your brother, the dogs, other kids and people, television (much to my dismay) like you understand everything that's going on.  You can see from across the room and turn to where ever the noise is.  You respond as well, and talk up a storm.  You are experimenting with your vocalizations big time and crack yourself up regularly!  You enjoy books and being read to. 

You have gotten really good with your hands.  They are in your mouth night and day, but when they aren't you hold toys, shake them and pass them from hand to hand.  You also grab my hair and RIP handfuls out sometimes.  Try for the gray hairs next time buddy...

You remain so laid back and super smiley.  I keep thinking that you are going to wake up one day and be a crank but you are seriously the happiest little thing.  Even when you do get fussy you just do this little whine.  This is after having no nap after 4 hours or mommy being an hour late with your bottle... Not something I'm proud of but it happens.  You also will lay in your crib and talk even when it is time to get up.  Your daddy and I mention every single day how easy and content you are.  (Knock on wood...)

Cole Merritt, we love you, you happy-baby you!!!

Love,
Mommy and Daddy           

Just one day at a time...

So this is my first week back to work... and so far, so good.  You see I have such mixed feelings on this.  I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE spending time with my own kiddos and being a Mommy.  It is the very best thing that I have ever been blessed with.  My family is my life, period, the end.  However... I LOVE teaching.  I love the kids, the families, my school, and my team.  I even love school supplies and my classroom.  I feel like the luckiest teacher around and again, feel so blessed to help grow and mold young minds.  I honestly couldn't imagine having any other job while being a Mommy too.   (That doesn't mean I think it's impossible, just not for me.)  I feel like I have the best of both worlds. 

That doesn't mean it's easy... I mean some days it's just downright STINKY (I hate to swear but imagine a really bad word here).  My first day back to work in 5 months was yesterday, it was Grady's first day at preschool, and it was my first day to be away from Cole and for him to go to our wonderful sitter.  People at work all asked how I was (which is so kind) but I think they could tell by the look on my face and the tears in my eyes that yesterday was HARD.  This week also happens to be parent orientation and meet the teacher, back to back nights.  Throw on there a rehearsal dinner and wedding (same nights as meetings) and that is my week.  Did I mention I have an entire classroom to get ready, lesson plans, etc.?  I am sitting here blogging with a "to-do" list 28 items long and I can't even get off the couch to refill my water.  When I think about it all I feel like I am in quicksand... but then I imagine my mom telling me "This too shall pass" or "Take one day at a time" or "Just breathe" and I feel a little better.  Then Richard says let's just go out for dinner... and again, I am not sinking as fast anymore.  We then go out for frozen yogurt to celebrate Grady's fabulously perfect first two days, and well I love ice cream.  Showers are done, lunch is made, bottles are washed and I feel even better.  Okay, I can breathe again.  Am I crazy?  No - well, just a little maybe!

I'm not writing all of this to complain or to tell you my life is any harder than anybody else.  I'm just having a little stressed-out and freak-out moment!  HA!  Let's keep it in perspective... we both have jobs, healthy kiddos (knock on wood), great family and friends, food and a nice house.  We are blessed, I AM BLESSED.  These are the life choices we've made as well, and at this point, today, I wouldn't have it any other way.  (Thanks for letting me vent.)  It also helps quite a bit when I get to enjoy these two precious, precious boys...

  

Moving on...

Grady loves school.  He loves his teachers, the kids, etc.  Everything basically, right down to his new shoes and backpack!  Notice the dinosaurs backpack and lunch box... thanks Gap!  Yesterday he cried when I picked him up because he wanted to stay... thanks Goose!  He talks non-stop from the moment I pick him up until the moment we get home about his day.  The kid has grown up in two days.  It's amazing!  I am so grateful for his sweet teachers and for all of their efforts to make this a wonderful year for Grady and the other kiddos!  I'd also like to add that three different teachers have stopped to tell me what a wonderful little boy I have and how they just loved him and thought he was sweet and smart and funny and polite, and well-mannered.  Jeez... that makes a Momma VERY proud!!!

Cole is also loving his day.  Have I mentioned before that he is the easiest baby on earth?  Ha - just a few times right?  Well, Mrs. Stephie adores him and I can tell he feels the same way about her!  He comes home happy as a clam each day!  He is rolling like crazy now and really pushing up and pulling his legs in... no crawling yet buddy!  He also likes to chew on his toes and is trying to hold his own bottle.  Tonight he helped me turn the pages in our book before bed.  His smile melts my heart.  

Well, this will be the craziest next few days so good-bye for a while!  Send us happy thoughts... and thanks for listening!                   

My Boys are Growing Up!

This week I took Grady to Meet the Teacher / Parent Orientation for the upcoming school year.  He will be an official "Pre-Kindergarten" student so this is a BIG deal!  He is super excited and I am excited because he is excited..... or at least that is what I keep telling myself.  This means our glorious summer is over and back to school we all go!  This also means that my first "baby" is growing up!  Here is a picture of Grady, Brody and Ava.

These three cuties all ended up in the same class, after being together the last few years at Mrs. Stephie's house.  Thank goodness because this makes the transition into real school all the easier.... well, probably more so for the moms!  HA!  Grady is thrilled because he is in the "Bears" class and he just happens to love bears!  I know these three will have so much fun and learn bunches and bunches!!! 

My little baby is growing up as well!  Sweet Cole is really teething now.  If I didn't know better I'd swear he was cutting all his teeth at once... wouldn't that be great to get it all over with at once... well, maybe not!  He is also rolling both ways all over the place.  That little roly-poly is just going to town.

I'm so glad that my precious boys are growing up... I just wish they would slow down a little bit for Mommy!!!    

Utah Vacation ... Mimi Surprise!!!

So about a week ago I was griping and whining and complaining mentioning to my dad that it was sure hot here, hottest I can remember and we were getting cabin fever.  Dad had the most wonderful idea... come to Utah where the lows are in the 40's and highs in the low 80's.  He went on to come up with a plan to surprise Mimi... and boy did we!  When Grady walked in that door Mimi was in shock!  Great present Papa!!!  We had the most wonderful 4 days and nights relaxing, enjoying the views and cooler weather, taking in the local rodeo, many scenic driving trips, yummy dinners and desserts, a trip to a dinosaur park and hanging out OUTSIDE as much as possible!   

 Aren't Mimi's flowers beautiful?!?! 

They have had bunches of rain this year so everything was soooo green!

 We spent bunches of time on their large patio that overlooks the mountains...

It was heaven!

 The hills were just covered with wildflowers... so beautiful!

 Mimi and Grady feeding "her" deer!

 Papa and Cole having some playtime

 Cole loves his Mimi and Papa!

 Each night Richard and G took a walk

to get Grady's boundless energy out look for wildlife!

 The Dinosaur Park was awesome...

 Cole enjoyed views from the stroller

 Grady was in heaven teaching all of us about each dinosaur!

 They had a great play area too

And he finally found his favorite...

drum roll please...

Brachiosaurus!

 Time for a little snack - thanks Mimi!

 Future Paleontologist at work!

 Mimi has bunches and bunches of hummingbirds that come to her feeder.

We had so much fun watching them!

Hot tub time!

 The most beautiful river and waterfall...  

Why not?  Take those shoes off, you only live once!

 Mimi and Papa are such a big help

 Some of my very favorite people...

 Cole did great in the carrier while we walked around Mirror Lake

 All week Papa and Grady set food in the trap to try to catch the pesky badger that has made his home in the yard.

The food kept disappearing until one morning the trap had a ... Skunk! 

Yuck... Papa released it with a pole through the window! 

Thanks mom and dad for the most wonderful escape from the hellishly warm temperatures!  We had a super time and can't wait to come back again!!!

We LOVE You!