18 months

On Thanksgiving, Grant turned 18 months old. Granty loved spending the holiday with Grammy and Papa, his aunt and uncles and cousin, and of course his beloved bff, Daisy (my mom's dog). We had such a fun time. After our Thanksgiving feast, Grant graced us all with a mini talent show in which he demonstrated all his recent tricks for the family. At 18 months old, his talents include pointing to many of his body parts such as head, hair, ears, nose, teeth, arms, tummy, legs, and toes. That night he also pointed to his eyes for the first time (he was previously confusing them with ears). He also does "flips." I say "Granty, do a flip," and he bends over and puts his head on the ground until I come and help him through the rest of the maneuver. He also "spins" and "rolls." He does the motions for The Itsy Bitsy Spider, although he never sings a note, and also does the motions for If You're Happy and You Know It. He loves to give high fives, and while we were there he learned "knuckles" from his Papa. Here are the only pictures we managed to take that trip--at Zoo Lights in Tacoma.

I am in constant awe at the speed this little guy learns. He is constantly mimicking us, and constantly picking up a new trick or word. He now says "ow" really loud when things touch him (I'm embarrassed to say I think he learned that from me.) And will hold up one finger when you ask him how old he is. He leads the music whenever we sing at church or at home. He sits at the piano for at least 10 minutes a day (totally per his request) plunking at the keys, and bobbing and swaying to the music. He even turns the pages of the music, and will occasionally try and switch books. This kid watches his dad like a HAWK I tell you!

He really is following in his dad's footsteps when it comes to hobbies. He has a little basket ball hoop and can make non-dunk shots! (From like 3 inches away.) Speaking of basketball, Jared was THRILLED to hear that his 18 month check-up stats reported a growth spurt! He has been slowly creeping his way onto the charts from being below in almost everything, but this time the doctor was shocked to report that Grant's height has SOARED into the 70th percentile! His weight even made it onto the chart this time at a whopping 4th percentile! Nice--He truly is his dad's son.

I could go on and on about our special boy. He is tough to keep up with some days, but every night when he goes to sleep and Jared and I are enjoying our time alone, we miss him. He has so much personality, and is so funny! When we laugh, he laughs. He pretends to talk on the phone, and he jabbers away and laughs to whoever he is talking to. Yesterday when I was putting him down for his nap, he suddenly pinched his nose and started making snoring noises! Where on earth did he learn that?? I started cracking up and then so did he. He is seriously like my little friend. Love that little boy!

HGTV Dreams

So, I have been obsessed with HGTV for some time now. I dvr all the shows and watch them during Grant's naps while I clean (*ahem* craft). HGTV is gratifying enough for me on its own, but add John Gidding from Curb Appeal the Block to all that design goodness and it is a little dream come true.

And now, for your viewing pleasure, I present to you John Gidding and Aimee Barbosa Error--a long awaited meeting.

At the Utah Home Show 10/8/11

Extra, Extra!

I know the two of you who actually read this blog are the same two who probably already know the following. I have started a NEW blog. Just in case you haven't heard, it is called THE ELEPHANT OF SURPRISE. (As in, "If we get to the party before the guest of honor and jump out from behind a couch we will have the element of surprise." But change 'element' to 'elephant' and you have just taken the unexpected to a whole new level. (That is the first and last explanation of the name because it is just sad if you have to explain yourself all day long, and if nobody gets it, oh well.)) If you please, meander on over there and check out what I have going on. This blog will serve a variety of purposes:

1. A showcase of some of my party crafts for readers the world over (or just you same two) to try at home.

2. A collection of party inspiration I find around the blogsphere that I think others may enjoy.

3. A portfolio of parties I've done. Here, potential clients can decide if they dare let me anywhere near their next celebration, or if they would quietly and anonymously like to run the other direction. 

4. Yet another technology project for me to both shake my fist at in frustration, and feel pathetically accomplished when I figure out how to copy and paste some html code (like it's hard).

What a purposeful blog, am I right?

I would love it if you would take a look and become a follower. And, because I know so many of you are so much more crafty and creative than me, I would love to hear ideas for the blog, or to feature your projects. Share them with me! 

Grant's Birthday

I said I would be doing some summer recaps, but let's go back as far as spring for just a quick minute. I know it is just plain sad that I am posting about Grant's birthday five months late, but there you have it.

Five months ago my little baby turned a year old! There is something truly worth celebrating in that! As the months and weeks drew closer to his birthday I reflected on our first year together. I thought about all that he had accomplished in just 12 short months. I thought about the first time he laughed, rolled, crawled, stood. How he had changed, and developed, and grown. I thought about how we as parents had changed, and grown, too. I thought about all the sleepless nights, the messy diapers, the messy house. I thought about all the books and websites I had read about schedules, breastfeeding, solid foods, making baby food, baby sign language, sicknesses, teething, milestones. I thought about how I had never imagined falling this in love. Grant's first year was one of the most interesting and joyful of my life. I'm so glad I have him.

This is how we celebrated his birthday.

On the actual day of his birthday we met dad for lunch at Grant's favorite restaurant--Zupas. This kid can eat soup like there's no tomorrow. Unfortunately we forgot a bib, so the birthday boy kind of looks like a homeless child in these pics. He loved it just the same.

Later that day, we ventured out to the Thanksgiving Point Farm. I had a hunch that Grant would love it, and despite refusing to nap all day prior to going, he did! Grant's bff, Jack was there of course, and he brought his parents along for the ride. I love how Grant is finally old enough to enjoy these little pleasures in life--it makes life so much fun.

When dad got home from work, we gave Grant his birthday present--a splashy water table toy. This child LOVES water. He had so much fun dumping the water from the table all over himself. 

We probably should have had him play with the water table AFTER he destroyed his mini birthday cupcake all over himself. I wasn't sure how he would react to his first cupcake, but he knew just what to do--like he'd been doing it for years. Or maybe watching his mother do it too much. Who knows? He was a cupcake eating pro none the less. The happy story ends here for a while, because the next day he had to go to the doctor for his 1 year well-baby visit and shots.

Don't be deceived by poor Granty boy's look of distress. He had nowhere near gotten his shots yet. haha! This picture makes me laugh so hard. Dr. Zarbock has been Granty's doctor since day 1--and what a long way Grant has come since! From 5 pounds to 17! They really are buddies--Grant is just getting a little more skeptical with age.

Nothing that a little birthday party couldn't fix, though! That Saturday, we were lucky enough to have so many of our friends and family come and celebrate our sweet boy's first year.

Can't believe a year has come and gone already. Granty, we are all so lucky to have you!

Just in Case You Were Wondering

I do intend to blog again in this lifetime. A heap of posts and pictures chronicling our entire summer is on its way--brace yourself for the bombardment. But in the meantime, here is a little glimpse at what's been keeping me away from this darn thing.

Jared started Dental School! How does this occupy my time? you ask. Well, there was this White Coat Ceremony event I attended as the supportive wife. There's been dutch oven socials and boating activities to attend, new Facebook groups to join. Seriously. It's hard work.

Party planning up the wazoo. More on this later. In fact, a whole new blog on this to come later. For now I'll just say I'm taking my craft addiction to a whole new level. Hopefully a profitable new level. Stay tuned! 

And of course, this lovable rascal. He seriously became a little person this summer! Obsessed with the outdoors, water, dancing, stairs, running away from his parents, and eating, eating, eating. I'm so happy to spend my days with Granty J. 

May 24

It's about to start raining again, and I'm okay with that.

You may not remember, but on this very day last year it was not raining, but SNOWING. I remember it clearly because my feet were too fat to fit into any of my shoes and I had to wear flip flops in that wet, cold snow. To go prepare emergency sub plans at school, no less. While having contractions every 5 minutes or so. I pretty much HATED the snow that day. And I pretty strongly disliked this state where it is capable of snowing on May 24. I'm sorry, but it's true, and I can't deny it. Jared drove me to the hospital that snowy May morning where I was promptly admitted to one of only two remaining delivery rooms. It was only 10:00 am. The nurses said they had never seen the delivery rooms fill up that fast. You see, apparently something about the low pressure a sudden snowstorm creates can put women into labor. I still don't know what any of that means, but the nurses said it was true. They said so, and I tell you those rooms were full of babies making their way into the world in a hurry. One of those babies was mine. A whole month early.

By the end of that snowy May day one year ago, I heard the sweet, tiny cry of my very own son for the very first time. I held him in my arms, and I held him close.  I stared into his precious tiny face and marveled at every single finger and toe of his 5 lb 4 oz body. I kissed the perfect, soft cheek of this creature that belonged to me. I memorized everything I could about my perfect baby boy and kept his picture in my mind all night as I lay in bed. Long disappeared from my mind were my swollen feet, or my lesson plans, or the snowy weather. The snowy weather that those nurses said brought babies.

I guess what I'm trying to say is that sometimes good things DO come from stormy May days. Sometimes, even great things come from them.

   

Spring Photo Shoot

Saw the adorable pictures Suzana took of Lyndsey's fam, and had to get in on that action. Thank you. We are so happy with how these turned out, and so in love with our little boy.

Ode to a 10-month Old

To the most trouble-making, mischief-seeking, 

fastest-crawling baby in the world--

I love you. 

Your obsession with broccoli cheddar soup.

The way you fake laugh whenever we start laughing.

The way you crawl around the entire room

knocking down the block towers I build

one-by-one.

How you are FINALLY starting 

to rest your head on my chest.

Your single dimple.

True, we need to hold your ankles constantly while

you're in our bed because you're obsessed with trying to dive

off the edge.

True, you scream and cry and act like you can't get down 

when you stand up in your crib.

And it's true that you say "da-da" ALL DAY LONG 

and have yet to utter a single "ma."

But you are the cutest little bundle of ten-month perfection 

there has ever been.

10 Miles

Can't believe I ran 10 miles today and actually lived to blog about it. Talk about a major milestone for me. Not only did I not die, I didn't faint, fall, walk, or have an accident. Thank goodness for gas stations with potties and Gatorade, or else today's adventure might not have ended so pretty. I finished in about 1 hour and 50 minutes including my potty/drink time, which I was pretty pleased with. As I drove around late last night calculating my route, I cringed at how much distance 10 miles actually covers. 10 miles! Only 6 weeks and 3.1 miles to go before the Salt Lake City Half Marathon. Just FYI- the rest of my plans today include mostly eating and sleeping.

I Heart Valentine's Day

I love everything about Valentine's Day. The color pink, candy, crafts . . . What could be better? I knew it was going to be a fun Valentine's this year when my friend Lyndsey announced that she would be hosting a handmade Valentine Swap through her stationery blog. That got my craft juices flowing. Here's how the Valentine Swap all went down:

I made the following handcrafted little number to send out to a few cyber-friends that Lyndsey hooked me up with.

You can't really tell from the picture, but each letter was machine sewn onto its square with either pink or bright blue thread. This was my first go at sewing paper and I quite got addicted to it. Can't you just imagine all the cute possibilities of colored thread?!

And these were the adorable handmade gems that arrived in my mail box!

From top to bottom, Sarah from Things are Better With a Parrott, Jamie from My Lazy Apples, and Lindsey from la Georgia Paperie. Check them out--they are legit craft people.

I absolutely loved getting these! It is so fun to see others' talents and ideas, and it was so fun to get mail from all over the country! Thank you, ladies for your adorable handmade items, and thanks, Lynds for setting this up!

With the inspiration of the Swap still fresh, I sewed up a couple more cards and sent them to my sisters.

I recently caught wind of the fact that my sister-in-law is collecting owls. Incidentally, I just happen to be in the business of sewing owls right now since that is the nursery theme my expectant sister has chosen. Sooooo, I whipped up this little pink plush as another valentine goody for her and shipped that off.

And finally, this is the present I made for my valentine. I call it a "man bouquet." Full of all the manly treats he loves, but that are a little bit gross to me. (The slogan of David's Sunflower Seeds is "Eat. Spit. Be Happy.") He took it to work where he can spit and chew his little heart out.

While baby Grant would enjoy nothing better than a crafty little paper project to chew on for his first Valentine's Day, he got a book instead. This cute one.

Jared and I celebrated with massages and dinner on Saturday, and then he came home yesterday with roses, a sweet card, and chocolate covered cinnamon bears (my ultimate weakness). It was fabulous. Hope you all enjoyed a wonderful day of love and treats, too!