Grady is 9 months!

Whoa, Grady is 9 months old!  How did that happen?  In some ways, it feels like it's been 9 months of a lot of crying, fussing and overall chaos.  In other ways, I feel like he is still my BABY!  A huge one but still my baby and always will be.  Whew last summer was insane thinking back to it.  

1. He is about 24 pounds right now.  He was about 24.5 pounds but then lost a little weight with having croup, stomach bug and the flu back to back to back this month.  This poor boy!  His well check is Wednesday so I'll know more stats then. 

2.  He got his two bottom teeth this month at the same time - his left bottom was very obvious coming in on January 18th.  And his right bottom was probably the next day.  January 24th is the day he finally decided to hold his own bottle and he did this at Ms. Becky's and of course she documented it by sending me a picture!  On the 27th he rolled over FINALLY, back to front over his left shoulder.  He also started picking up his own food this month and it barely gets in his mouth at this point.  Last weekend he fed himself a pouch and I was so excited!  He can do his own sippy cup too.  We're still working on waving and clapping.  One step at a time for little Grady!

3.  He is generally pretty laid back and lazy. I'm just saying!  But this month he has found his voice and to a new extreme!  He likes to play and babble and I swear he knows exactly what we are saying to him.  He'll hand me a toy when I tell him to and talk to me with open mouth kisses.  It's basically heavenly.  

4.  He's wearing 18 month clothes in separates like t-shirt and pants, 24 month in rompers and playsuits.  Ain't no shame in his big boy game!

5.  Speaking of no shame, there's none in my game - he loves some Mickey Mouse.  Truly I know what they say about no screen time and blah blah but let's be honest and get in touch with reality.  And let's also be honest that he isn't watching it for hours on end but for 5-10 minutes in the morning while I get dressed, everybody is fine!  Molly Anne is still alive and a pretty smart whip (if I do say so myself) and she watched it too!  Just saying.  

6.  He's in the tub at 6:15pm like clockwork then gets his bottle and bed by 6:45pm.  He sleeps until 6:30/7am but I never get him until 7am when his day begins (per Moms on Call!).  He just lays in there and babbles.  He has his 8 ounce bottle at 7am, breakfast at 8:30am-ish, nap 9am-11am, bottle at 11am, lunch at 12:15 or so, nap 1-3pm, snack at 3ish, dinner at 5:15pm-ish then tub at 6:15pm.  This past weekend after he was sick was when we dropped the 3pm bottle.  He was getting 4 a day, now 3 a day.  And three meals plus a snack.  The boy can eat!  Oh and in the last couple of weeks, no more cat nap!

7.  He's eating all of the food.  We're working more on pick up and put it in your mouth type food like peas, tiny green beans, puffs and things like that.  He'll eat anything you give him...have you seen him haha?!  I still make his pureed food but I wouldn't call it very fancy that I do that.  It literally takes no time.  

8.  Grady loves Mills.  Like LOVES Mills.  And the feeling is mutual.  Grady belly laughs at Mills and lets Mills lick him all over!  

9.  Grady loves to play peekaboo and be tickled...laughs at it all.  He's so cool and laid back.  He never minds going for a ride in the car and puts up with Molly Anne's and my music.  

10.  Still has his reflux and still on his prevacid.  I hope that ends soon for his sake.  And because it's not covered by our million dollar a month insurance but ya know.  

11.  He's still in PT for "low tone" although I think "low tone" in Grady's sense means lazy and he's a little large.  Although I'm still all over it to be sure he doesn't fall too behind.  We go every other week.    

12.  On Thursday morning this week I found Grady on his tummy!  Then on Thursday night he slept on his belly all night long and of course I was up all night checking on him but he loves it!  

We love our Grady!!

Amazing Weather

This past week has been the best weather and we've been outside constantly after school!  Grady is officially much more stable in the wagon which is going to make life a lot easier this spring! 

Molly Anne mailed Valentines that she made to her grandparents.  We talked all about how they go in there, she puts out the red thing and the mailman will pick them up.  Then to the post office and they get sorted.  And they'll arrive in their mailboxes.  My parents are going to FaceTime us when they get theirs out of their mailbox so she'll put the whole concept together!  These are such fun things to do with her!  

My friend Christine told me about these color catcher sheets and they saved a red bubble with a white monogram of Gradys.  The white monogram had turned pink from washing it and Christine said to re-wash with one of these and magic, it was white again.  Highly recommend for any striped clothes or things like that!


Brittany shared this recipe for a taco pie and it's delicious and low carb!  Highly recommend - easy and fast for a week night.  Even Molly Anne liked it!



Target haul this week.  I picked up that Barbie Mermaid Playground for Molly Anne for Valentine's Day.  She's going to flip.  I also got her a little candy, a tiny LOL thing and a PopTeenie which is her new favorite thing.  The pretzels are for a class party on Valentines Day because they're heart shaped!  PS - Key Lime La Croix is delish!

Isn't this Mini Boden swimsuit the cutest?!  I may have to get it for Molly Anne!

On Wednesday this boy had PT and that night he must have flipped over in the middle of the night because I found him like this on Thursday morning!  Then last night I was up all night because it was the first time he slept all night on his belly.  I checked the monitor probably more than hourly!  Now, I can calm my bones about that.  I remember I had a similar night when Molly Anne flipped over and slept like that for the first time.  

Molly Anne has been begging to get close and lay with Grady but he's had the crud for so long I've kept them separate.  Yesterday I finally let them play in his crib for a few minutes!

Mills got groomed yesterday and he's all frisky because he feels good now!

We had a chick fil a picnic yesterday afternoon because it was 78 degrees and sunny!  They played on their scooters, bikes and the Jeep.  Lots of chalk, wagon riding and all the things!  The 4 adults had some beverages!  It was good for the soul!  And my two went straight to sleep when they got in bed!

Check out those chunky legs!

They were all blowing bubbles for him!  This is his life!  And then there is Mills watching over them all!

This morning we stopped at Starbucks for a quick date.  My friend Ashley had sent me a gift card so we treated ourselves to a special breakfast, then got drinks for Molly Anne's teachers to pass along Ashley's thoughtful deed!  

Hope everyone has a nice weekend!

Recipe: Buffalo Chicken Dip

I already have posted this buffalo chicken dip recipe before but my friend Margot made this and it has since become my buffalo chicken recipe.  I made it for the superbowl on Sunday and didn't even take a picture so sorry about that.  Bad blogger!  Posting here so I can easily refer back to it for next football season!  Adapted from here. 

Ingredients:
1 8 ounce package of cream cheese
1 cup cooked chicken breast (I use rotisserie) (I'll double this next time)
1/2 cup buffalo wing sauce
1/2 cup of ranch
1/2 cup blue cheese
2 cups of cheddar or colby/monterey jack
Green onions if desired
Late July Scoops - best ever!

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees and grease an oven safe dish
2.  Mix all ingredients except the last two and put into dish, top with more cheese
3.  Bake then top with green onions

Basic but I think mixing it all together is different and what makes it especially good!  Also, double the entire recipe if serving for a crowd and put it in a 9x13!

Morning and Afternoon Routine

One thing I've never talked on here since going back to work after Grady is how our mornings and afternoons roll.  It's a true circus, let me tell you.  But it's somewhat doable, most days.  

Mornings - Kevin always takes Grady to Ms. Becky's unless Grady has PT.  This is a huge help.  I always take Molly Anne to her school.  On Monday and Friday's I take her on my way to work.  Tuesday through Thursday I take her then come back home and work.  We have some goooood conversation in the car!  And we listen to music and do all of the things!  This is precious time I have with her and I love it!

Afternoons - short answer - insane.  I pick both children up.  And they're at different places in completely opposite directions and not near home.  I really don't know what to do about this but it's a two year temporary thing.  Well then they'll still be in different places but Molly Anne will be in elementary school close to our home.  

This is the deal - I really love where they each are for this time of their lives so for now it's worth it to me to drive an hour or hour and a half every afternoon.  Ms. Becky is excellent and I'd really like for Grady to go through all of those hard things like hitting, biting, learning to communicate at Becky's.  It's a more casual environment than a real daycare.  I'm not saying he's going to bite and hit but you know what I mean.  18-22 months is a hard time...the hardest in my opinion.  

Molly Anne is excelling at her new school and goodness yall I can't even tell you all how fabulous everything is there.  They.are.wonderful.  Like WONDERFUL.  She has grown up so much and learned an incredible amount.  She came home counting to 6 in Spanish the other day.  What?!  Yes!  She sings songs, she has amazing manners (they demand "yes ma'am, no sir" from each child), she has the most fun playing and doing crafts.  She has Science, Spanish, Fun & Fitness, Math & Computer Lab and Drama class every week!  It's simply awesome.  So I know it's the right place for her and it's non-negotiable.  

As of now, I still have 7 more months of doing all of this driving and technically another year too.  I did sign Grady up to go to Molly Anne's school and I'm going to give it a fair shot by going to visit the toddler classes.  I've heard from other friends that they are excellent too.  I just only know Ms. Becky and we love her -- she's part of our family!  It would be so hard to leave her but I have to think about my sanity and my work, and she's supportive of that!  I really need to start traveling for work again and there is no way Kevin could do two drop offs and two pick ups every day.  So we'll see.  It'll shake out how it's supposed to and we'll cross that bridge later. 

For now, I'm so happy with where they both are every day.  They're safe, happy and excelling so really what more could I ask for?!  

Ballard Love

I went to the mall at lunch on Friday to meet a couple co-workers for lunch and as I walked past Ballard Designs I just had to stop in there.  I saw these orbs from the window and they drew me in.  And honestly, I LOVE everything at Ballard.  It's all SO pretty.  So yeah I completely impulse bought the larger orb because I really really liked it and it happened to be 20% off!  I think I'm going to put it on the drop leaf table in our main room but it could go so many places - dining table, bookshelves, anywhere.  Kevin of course thought he could make it out of coat hangers....#men.



These are two other things that I saved in the back of my head for the day I win the lottery.

Blue Seaweed Art - you know I love all the blue and white.  Even only two of these would be so beautiful to hang somewhere. 



And I think I need this side table and initially I thought for Molly Anne's room but I wouldn't hate it in our room either haha!

Weekending

Friday was wear your favorite jersey to school day so Molly Anne wore her NC State cheerleader outfit!  She said, "Mama take my picture while I hug my Millsy!"

After school I took the three stooges for a walk which is more like a circus than anything but always good to do, especially in sunny weather!   While waiting for Domino's to deliver pizza for dinner, Molly Anne and I set up the iPad with a YouTube tutorial teaching us the dance to Church Clap.  That was a hoot. 

Saturday morning we didn't do anything.  We were still in recovery mode.  Kevin cleaned off the porch and I cleaned up inside while the children napped.  Mills found his perfect spot.  We met Kevin's parents at Carolina Ale House for dinner and sat on the patio because it was so nice out.  And because Grady can't eat inside of a restaurant...he's so loud right now.  Kevin went next door after bedtime and I caught up on social media and laid low.  

Sunday morning with the boys.  

Molly Anne slept in until 8:45am.  She doesn't nap well at school so on the weekends, this girl plays catch up and takes 3 hour naps and sleeps from 7p-8:45a haha!

We went to the local elementary school playground to play for an hour before lunch and naps.  It was SO good for her to run around and play with Maggie and Greer.  

Kevin kept Grady and they had some guy time.  ;)

After naps on Sunday we played outside in the 60+ degree weather.  We went for a walk, Molly Anne rode her bike and scooter, we did chalk and hopscotch and she and Maggie rode in her jeep together.  It was a forecast to in 12 years when Maggie is driving her to school haha!  

At school on Friday they did lots of fun activities centered around Groundhog Day on Saturday and the Superbowl on Sunday.  We loved talking about that all weekend.  Here's Molly Anne asking me every 30 seconds when the football game was going to start!  

This boy and I stayed up watching the game only because I was in an office pool which I didn't win but it was the only reason I really cared to watch.  Well, and because I thought it would have been cool for a 33 year old coach to win!

Back to the grind today yall!

Back to Life and Milestones

Happy February 1st.  Whoa!

You know when they say that ohhh all of the Instagram photos are only the highlight reel of someone's life?  Well that's what these pictures are of this week because there were a whole lot more lows than highs.  But we are coming out on the other side...I think!  

Last Friday I told you all that Grady was sick with the stomach bug.  Well he also got the flu so yeah, on Saturday we were at the pediatrician's office that morning to find out that diagnosis and that night at the ER with a 104.2 fever which Motrin wasn't touching.  And yes I tried everything else known to man.  They double dosed him with motrin and tylenol which I had no idea you could do but evidently at the ER you can!  Then I got the stomach bug on Tuesday probably because I didn't take care of myself when I was taking care of my 8 month old.  And I got very dehydrated and needed two bags of fluid at the ER and a slew of zofran.  Bless my friend Shauna that took me.  A true friend.  Man, those are some hours I'll never get back in my life.  Probably top three worst I've ever felt.  I'd rather have a c-section any day of the week.  

It all makes me CRAZY because we hadn't been anywhere in weeks but #daycare and #infant with no immune system.  Thankfully as I'm typing this post, Kevin and Molly Anne are okay.  I hope it stays that way.

On to happier items...

Last week we took the safety rail off of Molly Anne's bed.  I put a small pillow under her sheet up by her head but I don't think she even needs that.  Big girl!

Grady started holding his own bottle last week at Ms. Becky's.  He still doesn't really care to do it but we can check this off the list for Mr. Lazy and Mr. My Mama Will Do It For Me!

Two teeth!

Taking Char Char for a little ride in the fresh air!



This boy needed a little fresh air but doesn't he look pathetic? Bless his heart.



Kevin took Molly Anne to our club for breakfast on Saturday then to Target.  He got to understand what it's like to take her to Target and not leave there without some silly LOL dolls or Hatchimals.  I thought the outfit she picked out to wear was adorable.  She didn't wear the socks but they're her fav to rock at home.  Thanks Mom for putting them in my stocking!  I think it's cute she took them and wears them!



Hanging at the ER when it was 26 degrees outside.  Fevers scare me.  So does not having a wet diaper in 7 hours.  

Making some valentines with her Dunkin which Daddy took her to go get on Sunday morning. 

Sarah dropped off a bunch of Trader Joe's goodies on my front porch Sunday.  It meant even more that she took her three girls in there to get these things for us to make my life with a sick baby easier!  That's a dear friend right there.  

This boy finally rolled over on Sunday, January 27th despite being a sick puppy.  

It was Mills' tail that finally got him!  Molly Anne picked out the fish rattle to entice him!

Yayyyy! 

Poor boy in pink pajamas.  He loved the Lilly pattern on this swaddle blanket!

She has loved watching this amaryllis grow that our Aunt Clo sent for Christmas!  She comments on it every day!

Anyone else read Shel Silverstein poems growing up?  Bear in There is my favorite and now Molly Anne loves it!  There's a polar bearrrrr in my frigidaire!  He likes it because it's cold in there!  She can almost recite the whole thing.  We have enjoyed calling my parents on FaceTime this week and reading it with them.  It's like a blast from the past!

Yesterday he finally stopped having a fever.  He had been fever free on Monday/Tuesday but it itched back.  I knew he wasn't 100% right but now I think he's truly on the mend.  I hope so at least.  I'm going to keep him home one more day because that gains us three days with the weekend and I'd hate to mess up any progress I've made getting him healthy!  And really what's another day when it's been 7?!  What's work?  AHHH!  

Hope everyone has a nice weekend!!