Date Night

These will be the loves of my life for the next week or two, so the blog is taking a backseat. We're heading back to Florida on Friday, so I'll be having lots of date nights with my ump-teen space bags!

See you back in hot, sunny Florida very soon!

Decisions, Decisions

One of the firemen at the fire station asked Grant if he wanted to be a fire fighter for Halloween. Grant said, "Yes. No." See, I bought him a robot costume, but after seeing his cousin, Mason, in a Jr. Police Officer costume and his cousin, Luke, in a Jr. Fire Fighter costume its obvious that he's torn! Luckily, we have gear for whatever he chooses!

Oh, the decisions of a two year old are so overwhelming!

Visit to the Fire Station

This morning, we took a visit to the Leawood Fire Department with our good friends, the Yount's. I knew this could go one of two ways- Grant would be totally enthralled and cry when it was time to go, or he wouldn't set foot inside without screaming in terror. Surprisingly, it was parted down the middle- he enjoyed himself, but was a little overwhelmed I think. He just HAD to wear his fireman jacket, which I think helped him feel a little more "official." The firemen were amazing with Grant and his friend, Calem. They opened all the compartments to all the trucks and let the boys jump in the seats and check things out. After 15 minutes we were out the door. I still can't tell what Grant thought about it.  But I guess the fact that he hasn't taken that jacket off ever since means he must have enjoyed himself at least a little bit!

Grant and Calem checking out the backseat of the ladder truck.

Driving the ladder truck!

He was all smiles, giving the firemen high-fives!!!

Small Fry

Yep, Wyatt's still a teeny guy! He had his 6 month checkup today. He was so inquisitive with all the doctors tools and he was very calm while getting checked out. He cried for just a few seconds when he got his shots, so he was quite the trooper!! Here are his 6 month stats:

- Weight: 15 lbs. 12 oz- 25th percentile

- Length: 27.25 in- 75th percentile

- Head: 17in- 50th percentile

 Big Brother Grant was a huge help making Wyatt smile! Of course, had to step on the scale too and he was 29 lbs. (35%) and 36 in (50%)!!

Funny note about Grant and Wyatt in comparison- at 6 months, Grant was 19.8 lbs (4 pounds heavier than Wyatt) and 27 inches (a quarter inch shorter than Wyatt)!! Funny how two brothers can be soooo different!!

Love you both! XOXO

Happy Half-Birthdays!!

Tomorrow, my little birthday twins will be 2.5 and 6 months old?!? How is that even possible?! 

To both of my Bubba's- this post is for you!

My Big Buddy Grant,

You are completely amazing!! You are definitely the light in my life and the joy I feel each day! You are growing into such an incredible little boy, that sometimes I can't believe how lucky I am to be your mom!! You are talking so much now and always have something to say!! You are a little mockingbird and I can't believe how much you listen throughout the day! You are so well behaved, always saying "Please" and "Thank You." You love playing with me, and I love that! You're a great big brother, always tending to Wyatt if he's crying, and always wanting to know what he's doing. You are slowly branching out and trying new foods- the newest ones being pancakes, shredded cheese.You would still prefer chicken nuggets and crunchies everyday if I let you. You are still a huge fan of The Little Einsteins and The Wonder Pets. You love anything to do with Firemen and Policemen (we have your cousins to thank for that). You still love all things Robot. You've enjoyed playing mailman, McDonalds, cars, trains, musical instruments, and pretending to be Dixie. You recently learned how to pedal, so you've been a HUGE fan of riding bikes! You even will ride your bike all the way to park by Mimi and PawPaw's house! Sometimes you like potty training and do really well, and sometimes you have no desire to even step in to the bathroom, but I'm ok with that! You'll do it when you're ready! I'm so excited for your Daddy to get home to be able to enjoy you as much as I do!!

We are very lucky to have you in our life and we love you so very much and we always will!

Love, Mom and Dad

My Sweet Little Wy-Wy,

You are the sweetest, most lovable little guy and have made a perfect addition to our family!! You put a smile on my face every morning when you wake me up and I go to your crib and you smile soooo big! Your smile can bring to tears to my eyes- you are so perfect!! You are growing up before my very eyes!! I seriously think you grew 2 inches and gained 5 pounds just today! I even told Mimi last week that you can finally wear your 3-6 month clothes, but today I put a 9 month outfit on you and it fit!! You love eating cereal and food! You've moved up to Stage 2 foods and haven't found a food you don't like! The bottle has become a battle with you- you'd prefer to eat real food, even though you don't know how yet, so we're working on using a cup. You can't quite figure it out yet, but I'm sure it won't take long. You only like to take a bottle in quiet, dark places. You are scooting in circles and there really isn't much to stop you from getting something you see. You are a grabber and I can't even eat while holding you anymore because you grab the food right off my plate or out of my hand! You are still a particular little guy and prefer to be held over playing with your toys. You like to play by yourself from time to time, but being on my lap is your favorite! You do love your playgym, exersaucer, jumparoo, and rattles. You make all sorts of silly sounds and you ALWAYS have your hands in your mouth, making a big drooly mess!! You've been working on your two bottom teeth for a good 2 months now and I've been able to see them since the beginning of July, but they still haven't broke through. You are FINALLY sleeping well!! We had a few rough nights while I "trained" you, but you got the hang of it! You've even slept through the night a few times! You have a smile that lights up your entire face and you'll smile at the drop of a hat. You are ticklish and have the cutest little giggle!! Your daddy's heart is just going to melt the second he lays his eyes on you- even though you're a boy, you are beautiful!! You are everything I could ask for and I am so happy to call you my little guy!

Mommy and Daddy love you so very much!!

I'm in Love...

...with those eyes!!!

The New Face of Betty Crocker

Who can resist a cute boy in an apron?!?

Grant sure can whip up a good batch of cupcakes (ok, I guess with a little help from his Mimi.) What a great little baker he is! He put the cupcake wrappers in the pan, read the directions, poured in the water and oil, cracked the eggs, held the mixeer, and poured the batter in each cup. However, Grant's tray happened to be a little too messy to actually bake, but its the effort that counts!

I guess Grant has quite a few career paths to choose from...

To the Rescue!

Grant LOVES riding his trike in the garage pretending to be a fireman. I found these awesome jammies, so he can "officially" be a real fireman! He's so cute pedaling around, making a siren sound, putting out "hot fires" all around the garage. He likes spraying my car as well- there always seems to be lots of smoke and fire around there!

I have so much fun playing with this kid!

 

Notice the water bottle...that's his hose!

I even got to be a fireman!

One Kid's Unwanted Toys...

...are now sitting in my parents basement, much to Grant's excitement!

We went to Kids Closet Connection sale that happens twice a year in the Kansas City area. It's a huge consignment sale, and from what I read, over 550 families were involved!! We've usually gone on the last day, when the majority of the items are 50% off, but they are usually pretty well picked over. So we decided to go on the first morning to see what was there! We weren't looking for anything in particular, but these are the awesome finds we scored:

Two awesome mailboxes to feed Grant's "Post Office" addiction (the one on the left was $4, the one on the right was $2)- both came complete with their own kinds of mail!

McDonald's Drive-Thru, complete with food ($8). We already had a McDonalds cash register and a bag of food. I think Grant's already made me 209 Diet Cokes and 37 Happy Meals! He's very polite when taking my order, "What you order Ma'am?"

HUGE Garage/Race Track thingy ($10). Its about as tall as Grant and is perfect to use with the 158 Hot Wheels that are scattered throughout the house.

We also bought a fire truck puzzle, some small trucks, Little Einstein's DVD, a few items of clothing, and a fire truck book!! Definitely a successful trip!

Mailman Grant

You've probably read in another post that Grant likes all things related to the postal service. We have been sending Levi a lot of packages while he's been on deployment so we visit the post office frequently. He enjoys getting the mail with Mimi everyday when she gets home from work. He even picked out a Post Office video at the library. Now, Grant enjoys playing "mailman." I gave him a bag of mine to put over his shoulder. I cut out some foam core for his envelopes and found some little boxes for him to deliver.We made a little mailbox out of an old shoe box, but it didn't last long. So I went to the hardware store, picked up a $10 real mailbox and he's been delivering packages and letters ever since. I think he might have found his calling!

This was before we got a real mailbox. He lifted the lid and flag so many times on his "shoebox mailbox," that within 10 minutes, it was broken! (You probably also noticed the scrapes on Grant's face- the night before he took a tumble down the front patio concrete steps- OOPS!)

Playtime is Funtime!

Having two kids makes for a day without a dull moment!! Grant has been very into playing with me and usually decides to either cry until I have time to play, or be my shadow until I have time to play. Either way, we play together- ALOT! Luckily, Wyatt enjoys watching Grant and I play, plus he enjoys his own toys as well!! So here's a glimpse at the things Grant and I have been playing!

Color and Shape BINGO! Since Grant turned a year old, I've been working on colors and shapes with him!! A year and a half later, we're still working!! At least we can have fun while we learn!
Driving the Police Car! This was my nephew Mason's, Christmas present, much to Grant's liking! That's usually the first thing he asks about when we head over to my sister's house. Luckily its been nice so they can go out and "patrol the streets."


This afternoon, I took Grant and Wyatt to a park the neighborhood where I spent my early childhood- a park where I spent hundreds of hours playing. It's totally different now, but both boys enjoyed themselves! Grant climbed on every piece of equipment, made me diet cokes at his "nemonade stand," and met a new friend. Wyatt enjoyed sitting in the swing watching the leaves blow in the trees!

Grant enjoys painting with watercolors in the bathtub! He not only paints the sides of the tub, but his body as well! I think he even has some green paint behind his ears as I type- I always forget to check there, darnit!

Grant and I spent about 2 hours playing "fireman" yesterday in the driveway. We have 3 radio flyer trikes and each trike was a different rescue vehicle. This bike above definitely got its use- I drove (yes, I really pedaled that thing, not graciously I might add!) and Grant stood on the back ledge hanging on to my shoulders and made the (most obnoxious) siren sound over and over until every "hot fire" was put out!! Phew, that was an exhausting (and butt-breaking) game!!

And of course, playing fireman in the basement. Grant is all decked out in his mask, air tank (the backpack), boots, and hose (the flashlight). There was hot fire all around us so we were constantly putting out fires!!

I have so much fun playing with him and am sooooo lucky that I get to be the one he wants to play with!!

The Cutest Thing...

...about a sleeping baby is a tushy in the air!! Not to mention, sleeping on top of his lovey!! Just too cute!

Getting Closer

Wyatt thinks its a good idea to try and start crawling! I don't share the same sentiment, but more power to him!! He is trying to inch along and is starting to actually make headway! He's totally not coordinated, as he pulls himself forward and then sticks his little tush up in the air, usually face planting into the floor!! I know he'll get it one of these days!! I really can't imagine how life will be with 2 mobile children, and actually- I'd rather not know for a few more months!
But I'm proud of you little buddy for all the effort!!

Grantisms

I have to write down all these cute things Grant says and does before I forget:

- Since his baptism, he keeps saying, "In the name of the Father, and Mason, and the Holy Beer. Amen. All done!"

- He refers to me as just "Mom" or "Aunt Laura"(obviously confused from his cousins!) and most often, instead of saying "Daddy" he says"Levi." I think that's a sign Levi needs to come home soon!

- Grant usually likes me to kiss his boo-boos, but since he's been asserting his independence, he will say, "I do it myself." Yesterday, he bumped into the corner of the coffee table, so he licked his finger and touched his boo-boo and said, "All better now."

- We were playing "beauty shop" yesterday (yes, its ok for boys to do that!) and he got a little carried away with the brush and wound up hitting my lip with it. I said not to do that because it hurt Mommy. He took his little hands, grabbed my chin and said, "Sorry Mom" and gave me a kiss! So sweet!

- When he wants to do something and I tell him not right now, he usually answers with "In two minutes?" or "When I get bigger?" or "How bout Friday?"

- He loves thinking about Wyatt getting bigger and ALWAYS says, "Wyatt get bigger, he _____" and the blank is usually whatever Grant is doing at the moment! I love how excited he is to see his brother get bigger!

I think from now on, I'll carry a notebook with me at all times so I don't miss a moment!

You Make Me Smile!

Grant keeps me laughing all day long!! He is talking so much now and everyday, I'm amazed at the things he thinks of!!

- He calls a volcano a "hotcano"

- He'll put his finger to his chin and say, "Got an idea: _________ We've got a mission! To Rocket!" Then he'll say, "Mission Copeken (completion)"

-When he doesn't know what something is, he'll ask "This thingy called?"

- He likes to say, "Goodbye Honey" or "Goodbye Sweetheart"

- He is constantly pretending he is a character from whatever TV show he's watching and he'll tell me which one I am and which one he is

- He gives his brother kisses and says in a high pitched voice, "Hi Little Punkin!" (His Aunt Summer likes to call Wyatt that!)

- He can tell you his entire name- Grant David Broeckelman- and his brother's entire name- Wyatt Daniel Broeckelman.

- When he gets to crying over something silly, I tell him to go to his room until he can calm down. When he does, he'll walk up to me and say, "Calmed down now. Now crying. I happy."

I need to really start writing down all his quirky little sayings!! I know Levi will be AMAZED when he comes home to find this giant kid running his mouth a mile a minute, since Grant was barely talking when he left!! I'm lucky I get to witness it first hand :)

Baptism Boys!!

My boys got baptized on Sunday, August 15th!!! It had been a long time in the making for Grant. The churches in Florida were really hard to work with, so Levi and I agreed I would have them baptized at Holy Trinity while he was gone. Grant was, forgive the pun, a holy terror during Mass, but was a little saint during the baptism!! Wyatt was a little angel the whole time! It was a great day and we're glad we were able to spend it with our family, even though Levi wasn't there.

Wyatt getting baptized!

Grant getting baptized!

Sara and Eric, Wyatt's Godparents

Mimi and PawPaw, Grant's Godparents

Just Call Me Spike

Wyatt was born with quite a bit of hair. He's lost most of it, but it's starting to slowly grow in. What was left of his "baby fuzz" is so fluffy and sticks straight up! I just love his little "spike" of hair!!