I Think I Need to Take a Class...

Does anyone else think Wyatt looks like he has a mustache in this picture?? Yeah, I thought so too!! I think I need to take a class on finding the right light in my photos. I was actually trying to take a picture of his spiky hair after his bath and you can't even tell he has hair!! Sorry Wyatt, for making you look ridiculous!! I promise I'll erase this picture (eventually)!!!!

Now, off to peruse the helpful hint sections of my scrapbook magazines!!

Definitely a Preference

VS.

Looks like Wyatt prefers "laying out" as opposed to "swimming." Can't say I blame him!

So Busy...ALL THE TIME!!

Grant has been super super busy since we stepped foot off the plane into Kansas City. He has been playing with his cousins, meeting new friends, spending lots of time with Mimi and PawPaw, rediscovering all of Mimi's toys, and taking lots of "field trips" with me and Wyatt!! We've been to the library, Johnson County Museum, a few playplaces, my aunt's pool, a few friends' houses, and spending lots of time down in the basement and in the backyard! Grant is just having a blast!! He's so busy- I almost can't keep up with him!!

Playing Playdoh- a favorite "after nap" activity

"Driving" the tractor at the Johnson County Museum

Making cookies with Mimi

A Twosie in a Onesie

I love that Grant can still wear a 24 month Carter's onesie!! Makes my little "twosie" not seem too old!

Home Sweet Closet

So this is Wyatt's room here at my parents house. Yes- its a closet!! First born Grant, of course, gets his own room!! He's got an awesome bed, dresser, night-stand, and even a custom made quilt. Second born Wyatt, has to share a room with his mom, has a hand-me down crib, my old baby quilt...and gets stuffed in the closet! This was my biggest woe when thinking about moving back in with my parents- I have to share a room with Wyatt- a noisy, sleepy baby!! So the solution was to use the big closet. Up until yesterday, Wyatt was sleeping in a small cradle, so it fit in there easily, and I could still use it for storage needs. Well, recently Wyatt has started moving about in his sleep, so it was time to move up to the crib. It fits in there, but not much else can! I honestly didn't want Wyatt to get comfortable seeing me when he wakes up, goes to sleep, etc. because it will NOT be like that when we get back home. So far, he likes it...and I do too! He's got a fan, a light, and two door that close!! Hopefully he won't have issues as he grows older about being confined to sleeping in a closet for 7 months of his life!

3 Months Young

I can't bear myself to say the word "old" when referring my little baby!! He can't be 3 months old already?? Well, I guess I have one more day since he technically isn't 3 months til tomorrow! Here are Wyatt's stats:
Weight: 11 lbs. 9 ozs. (1oth percentile)
Length: 23.5 inches (10th percentile)
Head: 16 inches (25th percentile)

So I guess he's still a runt!! One of these days, I'll look back and wonder what happened to my little little boy!!

Wyatt is becoming quite the strong little guy!! He can hold his head up very well when he's on his belly. He has even spent some time playing in his exersaucer and Bumbo chair! He still has a case of the "bobbleheads" every now and again, or as my dad likes to say, "He's doing his Stevie Wonder impression." He is a pretty good sleeper- at least at night! He goes to bed at 9, wakes up anywhere between 3:00 and 4:00, and if I'm lucky- will sleep until 7:00! During the day is another story- he will not fall asleep by himself! I have to hold him and bounce with him and the second I lay him down, he starts crying! So we're working on that!!! He is a very smiley guy and just loves watching people! He's even started watching Grant play and is very entertained - he will give him big smiles!! One of Wyatt's favorite things to do it sit in his chair outside on the deck and watch the leaves blowing in the wind! He also loves to suck on his fingers and chew on his fist! He is also finding his voice and makes the cutest little "goos" and "coos."

I just look at him and can't believe he's already as big as he is- I feel like I just had him last week! I love watching him learn and do something new everyday!

Wyatt- Mommy loves you!!

Looking like a little man

Big boy sitter!!

Such the Swimmer

Grant has become quite the swimmer already this summer. Lucky for us, my aunt and uncle have a pool, so we've already been swimming there 3 times in the 2 weeks we've been in Kansas! I thought Grant might be a little timid around the water at first, especially while wearing a life jacket. He's not too found of new things (ie, pools and and life jackets). But the first time we were there, I had to feed Wyatt as soon as we got there, so I sent Grant outside with Mimi. I looked out the window about 1 minute later and saw Grant already jumping in the pool!! He was loving it! By 1.5 hours in, he'd figured out how to kick his feet to keep himself upright and get to where he wanted to go! He had this huge grin on his face the entire time!! Yesterday, for pool day round 2, Grant could swim to the deep end- by himself!!! After he discovered Mason's water muscles, he was an even happier swimmer!! It's great to see him be so adventurous and just enjoying life!!! I think weekly pool trips will be a must for this summer!! Oh darn...haha!

Mimi and PawPaw and their big boys!
Oh so fashionable Grant!

The cousins enjoying a swim

Grant swimming with PawPaw

Excuse my shrill "Mommy" voice!

USPS

That's right- the title of this post is United States Postal Service. Weird, right?? Yeah, I know! But Grant LOVES the post office, mailmen, and anything to do with shipping packages. If you're a parent to a little one, you've probably seen the show Team Umizoomi. Grant's favorite episode is where Team Umizoomi has to deliver a package to a little boy's Grandma on Valentine's Day, but he forgot to put stamps on the package, so Team Umizoomi maneuvers through the post office to help find the package. Ever since Grant saw that episode, he intently watches for the mailman every day, can spy a post office a mile away, and loves looking for mail trucks as we drive around town! Well, today was a special day for him because we actually got to go inside the post office! We were sending our first care package to Levi and Grant was super excited!! As the mail clerk was getting everything written up, he noticed Grant's enthusiasm, so he gave him a piece of mail tape that has the USPS logo on it. Grant put it around his wrist (he always likes to put stickers on his hand or wrist), but since this was an actual piece of tape, it turned into more of a wristband, and boy did he think it was cool!! He was a little upset when we left the post office and didn't have a package with us, but he was comforted knowing the package was going to go to Daddy's boat. When we got home, I went to lay Grant down for a nap so I was going to take his "wristband" off, but of course, he didn't allow that. I wouldn't be surprised if he still had it on when Daddy comes home from the boat...in December!!!

He couldn't stop showing me his wristband on our way home (don't worry- this picture was taken safely while parked in the parking lot of the post office!).

Putting Grant down for a nap, still showing me his cool wristband!

Oh What Fun!!

We've been in Kansas now for 4 days, and boy have we been busy!!! Grant and Wyatt have had so much fun playing with their cousins!!! We've had fun playing in the slip-n-slide, sprinkler, playing baseball and having lots of picnics on the deck!! Wyatt has enjoyed the fresh Kansas air and the breezes that actually exist here! They both have slept like champs since we've been here, so that's awesome for me! We're slowly getting settled and finding a place for everything. If we've had this much fun the past four days, I can only imagine what's in store for the next few months!!!

Wyatt enjoying the Kansas breezes on the deck!

Baseball anyone?

Sprinkler fun with Mason and Luke (notice Grant is barefoot- that is definitely something we can never do in Florida- this grass is like carpet to us!!)

Picnic breakfast? Don't mind if I do!!

Getting ready to slip-n-slide!

Finally Smiling!

Go figure, Wyatt would start smiling the night that Levi left. I could tell the previous few days that he was trying to figure out how to smile, but couldn't quite get it. I guess he knew I would need some extra smiles that day!! I'd been waiting for him to smile for a good month!! Grant started smiling on April 10th, so I kind of figured Wyatt would start sometime around then too. But no, he waited til May 18th! He still isn't as smiley as Grant was, at least for now, but when he does smile, it sure lights up his whole face...and mine as well!!!

Whatever It Takes

Sometimes, you just have to do whatever it takes to get something done. I needed to clean/pack/organize/etc. and Wyatt was actually sleeping peacefully in the bouncy chair (which never lasts long) so I had to occupy Grant with something and quickly! He actually thought of this himself, so I went with it! He pulled a kitchen chair up to the sink to wash his "stity hands." While he was up there, he decided to play with the bottle brush and then went to find a car so he could wash it. So he was busy!! Unfortunately, Wyatt's little nap was just that- little! So not much got done...maybe if Grant stays there long enough he will wash those bottles for me and that will be one less thing on my to-do list!

The Road to the Boat

Levi becomes an Officer in the US Navy

August 29, 2005

The two of us after his commissioning ceremony!

Levi started Primary Flight School at Vance Air Force Base in Enid, OK. He flew a trainer jet, the T-6 Texan II.

February 2006 to September 2006

At Levi's track select at Vance AFB where he found out he would continue his flying career as a helicopter pilot.

September 5, 2006

On to Advanced Flight School at Whiting Field, Milton, FL. Levi flew the TH-57.

October 2006-July 2007

Levi earns his wings! He is the 29,015th person in history to be designated a Naval Aviator.

June 22, 2007

On to Mayport Naval Station to fly SH-60B Seahawk.

Part of HSL-40 from July 2007-March 2008.

Then to HSL-44 Swampfoxes from March 2008-Present.

As of May 18th, 2010- The USS Winston Churchill is what Levi calls home. Luckily its only 7 months out of the rest of our life, although it will probably be a long 7 months. But we know we'll make it through and we'll all be stronger when its over!

I'm so proud of you and know you'll do great out there!!

2 Months Already?

I took Wyatt to his 2 month checkup! Time has just flown since this little guy came into our lives!! The doctor said Wyatt looked great, even though he was 3.5 weeks early.

Here are his 2 month old stats:

Weight- 10 lbs, 13 oz. (25th percentile)

Length- 22.25 inches (25th percentile)

Head- 15.25 inches (25th percentile)

(Funny thing is, these were pretty much Grant's stats at 1 month! I'm sure he'll catch up eventually!!)

He also had to get his shots and he was sound asleep when we walked in. He screamed as soon as the shot pricked him, but stopped as soon as the bandaid went on. It helped that Big Brother Grant was patting his head and saying, "Shhhh" the whole time!! They were both super strong boys!!

Wyatt is a great baby! He is sleeping very well at night- goes to bed about 9:30, wakes up around 2 or 3, then again around 6 or 7. Last night he slept from 9:00-3:30!! He eats a 3 oz bottle about every 3 hours. He likes lounging in his swing, being held by Mommy or Daddy, taking warm baths, sitting outside, standing on my legs and looking all around!! He is a very alert little guy and loves watching Grant be Grant!! I'm enjoying watching him change day by day!

We Love You!

When I married that wonderful husband of mine,
there were some things I knew from the start.
I knew he was gentle and thoughtful and wise,
I knew that he had a big heart...

But I didn't know all the things I know now,
all the tricks that he had up his sleeve.
All the toys he could fix, all the swings he could push,
all the ways he could play make-believe.

The longer we're together,
the more I can see just what very good fortune I've had...
When I married that wonderful husband of mine,
I sure married a wonderful dad!

We love you Levi, always and forever, and we'll miss you like crazy!!

Love,

Laura, Grant, and Wyatt

Driving Mr. Grant

There comes a point in the day when I just run out of the things to do with Grant!! It's even become increasingly harder to keep Grant busy now that Wyatt is around and insists on being held 90% of the day. Grant has done a really good job keeping himself busy and adjusting to not having me as a playmate all day long. But sometimes both of us just get bored!! So today we ventured outside to play chalk and bubbles, and as I opened the garage, Grant said he was going to drive and started saying, "Bye." Grant always jokes when I buckle him in his car seat that he's going to drive instead of me. Well today he got his chance! I rolled the windows down in the car and he "drove" for a good 30 minutes! He pushed every button, pulled every lever, turned every vent, and opened every compartment!! It might take me 30 minutes just to get everything back to how it was!! But he sure enjoyed himself!! As for me and Wyatt, we just kicked back and enjoyed the fresh breeze from outside. I was holding Wyatt (as usual) but my arms got tired, so I buckled him in the stroller and he just relaxed!!

Check out the eyelashes on this guy!!

Regress Much?

Grant sure has enjoyed all the baby gear that's been pulled out these past few weeks!! He's reliving his "babyhood" and giving all the toys another go around! He eventually realizes he doesn't like them all that much anymore, but it doesn't stop him from going into Wyatt's room a few times a day to pull out a new baby toy!

This was right after Wyatt came home, but he still likes to get the crib and play with the mobile!

He found the johnny-jump-up buried in the back of Wyatt's closet. He put the parts that hang over the door molding to his ears because he thought they looked like a giant stethoscope, so I showed him what it really does. Of course, he had to get in. The second he got in, he realized he hated it (exactly like he did when he was a baby!).

This was also being stored upright in the back of Wyatt's closet. As we were getting ready to run errands one day, I heard a loud crash from my bedroom and ran in to find that Grant had pulled it out of the back and turned in upright and was having a good old time!

He also loves sitting in Wyatt's car seat. He pulls the sunshade down in front of his face and calls it his space shuttle!!

The Boppy is always good for watching TV!