It's a Bird...It's a Plane

...its Super Grant!!!

Mimi sent Grant a super-fun Valentine's Day package last week, and inside was a new pillowcase she made just for Grant!! I put it in the laundry so it would smell fresh to put on his pillow. As I was pulling the laundry out of the dryer, Grant wanted to "help." As soon as he saw his pillowcase, he pulled it out of the pile and wrapped it around his neck saying, "cold," like it was supposed to be a scarf. Then he figured, hey- a cape is much better than a scarf!! After a few minutes of re-tying the cape around his neck, Daddy found a binder clip to keep his cape tied. He wore that thing ALL morning long!! We had to take it off for lunch/nap time, although he was not too happy about that! As soon as he woke up from his nap, the cape went back on! He would run back and forth between the living room and family room saying, "ZOOOOOOOM!!"

I think he's been watching a little too much Wonder Pets and Team Umizoomi!!!

Here is a little video of Grant "zooming" around the house!!

My Funny Valentine

I was trying to do a little photo-shoot of Grant in his adorable Valentine's Day shirt from his Aunt Summer!! Let's just say it turned out less than spectacular! Grant didn't want anything to do with the camera, but I did manage to get a few cute pictures regardless! He definitely is my funny valentine!!

I love you THIS much!!

UPDATES

Just a few updates on what's going on in the Broeckelman household!!

First of all, we got some great news about Levi's deployment. As of last week, their deployment got moved from mid-March to mid-May, which works out PERFECT for us, because that means Levi will actually be around when Wyatt is born. Granted, it is the Navy and things can change in a heartbeat, but we're hoping this plan actually sticks!! We're also hoping that because of this change, their deployment will be shortened from 8 months down to 6 months, but that's just what we're hoping for- we really have no idea!!

Second of all, I've been having some high blood pressure issues. It's been quite elevated the past 3 weeks. I've had to go to the hospital for multiple checkups and spend some time being hooked up to the fetal monitors. So far, everything is looking just fine, and Wyatt is getting bigger and stronger everyday. I will continue having weekly checkups until Wyatt makes his debut! I will be having a scheduled c-section sometime around April 1st, but I should know for sure next week after my appointment. (For those who are counting, like me- that's only 7 weeks away!!)

Lastly, Wyatt isn't the only one getting bigger and stronger by the day!! I guess I should add smarter to the list as well because Grant seems to amaze us each and every day!! He is a total sponge these days, absorbing every tidbit we throw at him!! He's learned to count to 4, using one-to-one correspondence, which is AWESOME!! He knows 4 colors- blue, red, yellow, and green. He still confuses them, but it usually only takes him no more than two guesses when I ask him what color something is. He has learned how to sing along to his favorite songs, those being: Itsy Bitsy Spider, Wheels on the Bus, Twinkle Twinkle Little Star, and Scat Like That. He picks up other verses he hears on his Toddler Tunes CD as well. He has developed some great gross-motor skills- somersaults, walking backwards, kicking and catching balls.

Overall, things here at the Broeckelman house are busy busy busy, but filled with lots of happiness...and noise!!!

And if anyone is wondering- this is what a February day looks like in Jacksonville! I feel like we should be carving pumpkins or something...

Oh Grant!!

Oh Grant!! You never cease to amuse me!! He has recently started pointing out every little boo-boo, real or not, and wanting me to kiss it. I'm not quite sure where he picked this up because I try not to make a big deal out of boo-boo's so he gets over them faster. So who knows where it came from, but wherever it came from, it sure is cute! On the way home from the commissary this morning, Grant was sitting in his carseat and kept showing me his finger saying, "Boo-Boo," and then making a kissing sound. I kept telling him that I'd look at it when we got home. I asked him how he got his boo-boo, but all he kept saying was boo-boo, and making his kissing sound. He'd occasionally throw a fake cry in there too, just so I would know he meant business. It takes about 25 minutes to get home from the commissary, and this kept up pretty much the entire ride home. So we finally get home and I got to check his boo-boo.....yeah, some boo-boo... it was a dried booger on his finger!! I was like, "That's not a boo-boo, that's a booger." He just puts his hands to his face and said, "Silly."

Yes Grant, you sure are silly!!

Almost Two?!?

We've been making our to-do list of things to get done before Levi leaves for deployment and baby Wyatt makes his arrival. After looking over my organized excel spreadsheet, I realized I had forgotten a few things- Grant's 2 year old doctor appointment and his 2 year old pictures. So I added them to the list, and then it hit me- GRANT IS ALMOST 2?!?! Where has the time gone?!?

From this past weeks hospital visits I've had to make for some high blood pressure readings, I feel like I just did this a few months ago, right before Grant's arrival. It's so hard to imagine that was almost two years ago!! What a crazy, busy, exciting, happy, adventurous 2 years it has been!! Our little man sure is growing like a weed and seems to learn at least two new things every day!!

He is talking so much now!! You still have to have a pretty trained ear to know what he's saying, but he repeats EVERYTHING!! He is very into "retelling" his favorite episodes of the Little Einsteins. He likes to re-enact things he sees on TV (which is why we're only tuned into the Disney Channel). He likes to act really silly and tell you he's being silly. He's pretty much a walking laugh all day long!! He definitely keeps me entertained!!

Here are a few pictures of our almost-2 year old little guy!!

Mimi came to visit and lets Grant play in the sink while she's getting ready!!

Having lots of fun at the park!

"Driving" my car.

Making "Rocket Soup" in the bathtub, something he learned on a Little Einsteins episode!

Do-It Ourselves

Levi and I have been very busy with a few do-it yourself projects lately!! I have been trying to get baby Wyatt's room ready for his debut and before Levi leaves for deployment. Funny how one thing can spiral out of control and turn into many different things!! Yes, one project like getting the baby's room ready turned into this huge to-do list for both Levi and myself! It started with trying to find a place for all Grant's new toys from Christmas. That made me think we needed to move the "baby toys" into the baby's room, which meant we needed some sort of organization method, because that's how I roll!! Well that organization project turned into an organization project for Grant's room as well. Then I was out looking for decorations for the baby's room and came up with a fun scrapbooking-type project!! So, the past few weeks, Levi and I finished our projects and here's how they look:

I used different scrapbook papers on colored cardstock to spell out Wyatt's name! I tried to match the colors that will be on a quilt my mom is making for Wyatt!! Looks pretty good, if I do say so myself!! Total cost: $27!!

So I guess you might say Levi's project was a little more involved than my own! After looking around town for a nice, sturdy toy box for Grant's room, Levi decided it would be a good idea to just make one. I was a little skeptical- not in his skills, but with time, money, etc. Turns out- it was the best deal EVER!! He designed it to match Grant's exisiting furniture- style and stain color. It looks amazing!! Plus it only took him one week from start to finish!! Total cost: $78 (sure beats the $287 toy box that actually goes along with his bedroom furniture!)

Little Einstein

Grant has been extremely interested in watching The Little Einsteins lately. All day long, he'll come up to me and say, "Pat, pat, pat," which is what the Little Einstein's say when they want their Rocket to go fast. I think its a great show for little kids- they teach a lot of great concepts from counting and colors, all the way to art and music appreciation. I know Grant has learned a few things from this show already:

• He can recognize the Sphinx, tell you it doesn't have a nose, and lives where its hot.
• When we were at the book store the other day, he heard a classical music song over the speakers, and recognized it as one of the songs from an episode involving a train. He heard the music and said, "Pat, pat, pat. Choo-choo." I was in shock!
• He can mimic the hand movements and gestures they do with each song.
• He answers "Yes" or "No" when they ask questions.

So these things don't make him even comparable to Einstein, I know. After all, he still thinks glue sticks are chap sticks and drinking soapy bathwater is a good idea. But anything that gets him thinking, listening, and moving sounds great to me!!

Awwww

This was what I saw when I walked into the kitchen first thing this morning!! Isn't it cute?!

Levi left for work early this morning, so Grant wasn't up yet, which means neither was I. Funny thing though was that I was kind of ticked at Levi because he didn't say goodbye to me before he left, which he usually does if I'm not up yet. So, I heard Grant on the monitor, got him up and walked into the kitchen to get the little guy some breakfast. Needless to say, I wasn't mad anymore when I saw this!! It's still sitting on my counter as I type this because it makes me smile walking in and seeing it!!
I love you too Levi!!

The Time Has Come..

...to start Potty Training!! Dun, Dun, Dun!!

Thank you God for my beautiful, wonderful, perfect child whom I love and cherish.
Thank you for giving me the strength, patience and knowledge to care for my child and to teach him the things he needs to know to live a full and abundant life.
Thank you for giving me the power to speak words of affection and affirmation to my child at all times.
Thank you for giving me understanding, wisdom and mother’s intuition so that I know exactly what is right and good for my child.
As I enter into this period of specific focus on potty training and teaching my child to control his elimination functions, I thank you that I have the will and determination to stay focused on the training and to continue to have patience through this learning process. Thank you that I know there are no mistakes, but only opportunities to learn.
In my imagination, I see my child wearing only clean dry clothes and letting me know when he needs to use the potty. Diapers are a thing of the distant past. We are both proud of his accomplishment in learning this life changing skill of elimination control.
Thank you so much for the life that you have entrusted to my care and my training.
Bless this training session and keep us both in your care forever.

I found this prayer on a potty training website. At first, I thought-this is great, I need all the prayers I can get. But as I read through it, it just made me laugh more than anything!! Pretty sure I won't be saying these nice thoughts as I'm in the throws of poopy underwear and mopping the floor for the 83rd time! But hey, I'll take all the prayers I can get! Stay tuned...

SNOW!!!!!

While at Levi's parents house for Christmas, we got ALOT of snow!!! Grant had a blast playing outside in the snow for the very first time!! I was excited to see snow too and watch my little Florida boy act like he's lived in snow his whole life!! He absolutely loved it!! We didn't have all the equipment we needed to tackle the snow- boots, snow pants, etc. But we had footie jammies, overalls, and leather shoes and those seemed to work just fine!! He loved making snowballs, eating snow, and the most exciting part was riding on the tractor with Grandpa to shovel some snow!! The next few days after it snowed, it was waaaay to cold to go out and enjoy it, but we luckily had one more time to play in the snow before we left. That time, Grant made his very first snow angel, had a snowball fight with Daddy, and went for another tractor ride!! I'm so glad we got a White Christmas!!

When Grant got outside in the snow the first time, he picked up some snow and kept saying, "Cold, Cold."

Attempting to pick up some snow (it was really powdery).

On the tractor with Grandpa and Daddy
Snowball fight with Daddy!!!
How 'bout this one Mama?!?

This snow stuff is fun!!!!!

Making snow angels!

The finished product- my little angel!

Christmas in the West

After 6 days at my parents house, we headed West to spend Christmas with Levi's parents. We actually headed out a day early to beat the impending snow storm! It was a good thing we left when we did because the snowstorm hit hard!! Because of all the snow and wind, we had a lot of time to just hang out at Grandma and Grandpa's. Grant had a lot of fun exploring their house again! He loved going upstairs all by himself to play in his little playroom! Grandma even cleaned up the old Little Tikes Kitchen and Grant had a blast playing with that- he liked pretending to wash and dry his hands!! At our Christmas Eve gathering, Grant played Santa's helper and passed out all the presents to everyone there!! He did such a good job handing out gifts!! He even had a great time opening them!! Once again, he got some really great toys!! It was great that everyone from Levi's family was able to get together because that doesn't happen very often!! It was a wonderful Christmas!

"Washing" his hands at his very own kitchen
Being Santa's helper

Just hanging out, watching a movie with Flicker the Flashlight

Some new puzzles from Grandma and Grandpa!

Thanks Grandma and Grandpa for a very Merry Christmas!

I can't wait til Christmas next year!!!

Christmas in the East

We headed back to Kansas to celebrate Christmas! We spent the first week of the holidays at my parents house in Kansas City. We had a very busy, but very fun week with lots of celebrations!! Grant really enjoyed playing with his cousins and seemed to really enjoy Christmas this year! He really liked opening presents, and the lucky little guy received a lot of great toys!! Grant even got to wear a coat for the first time! That might sound a little crazy since he's almost 2 and has never worn a coat, but that's what happens when you live in Florida! He did amazingly well with his hat, coat, and mittens!! We had a wonderful time and it always seems to go by too fast!! I can't wait for the day that we don't have to fly home for Christmas anymore!! Maybe that's what I'll keep asking Santa for....

Drawing on his Magna-doodle, one of many new toys scattered across the floor!

YAY!! A piano- Grant would play the "air" piano at home a lot, so we thought he'd enjoy this!

Kissing his little Winnie the Pooh toy!

Home Depot tool bench- so cool!!!!!

Luke helping Grant become Handy Manny

Showing off his hat, coat, and mittens!!

Cousins- Mimi bought them all matching jammies and slippers!

Another cousin picture- Mimi got them matching shirts and sweaters!

Only at Mimi's house can you have popsicles in the bathtub!!!Playing with Luke's Handy Manny tool bench!

What Christmas is complete without some ice cream cake!! The boys sure loved it!

Thank you Mimi and PawPaw for a GREAT Christmas!!!

On our very last night in KC, we went to Fritz's for our last supper! The boys got to wear train engineer hats and were mesmerized by all the trains running around the restaurant!! What a great close to a great Christmas!