Answered prayers...

A month or so ago, I lost my wonderful babysitter, Angie, to the economy. She was no longer able to afford to stay home and babysit and was fortunate enough to receive a job offer she couldn't refuse. Needless to say, I was devastated. However, what I didn't know was that God was providing for a need that I wasn't even aware of yet. I called my mother that evening after receiving the news. Out of the blue, she says, "I want to keep him. I think I can do it." Needless to say, I jumped at the idea (cheaper daycare). Little did I know that a few weeks down the road Danny would have to take furlough days. The Lord shall provide...

Anyhow, during the day while mom has Grant she will talk to me via instant messenger to let me know how things are going. Here is today's conversation:


we have had adventures today

oh really?

yes

Larenda says:
we ate lunch and he was SO SLEEEPY, so we put him down after he ate - changed his diaper first

Larenda says:
of course we had an extended period of fussing

oh no
Larenda says:
not as bad as friday though

good

Larenda says:
thought i smelled something during the fussing period but didn't want to check him for fear of not getting him to sleep at all

Larenda says:
he finnaly fell asleep and all was well - i was trying to get my laundry done while he slept
and low and behold while i was hangingup clothes in my closet, i hear an alarm - a LOUD alarm - coming from his room

rofl!

Larenda says:
i come in here to try and shut it off before the damage was done - TOO LATE! then i can't figure out how to turn it off

oh no

Larenda says:
i finally got it off, but we were ready to get up and the shooey was really going on
so we get up and i change his diaper

oh too funny

Larenda says:
well, you know the term 'ring around the toilet' right?

um yeah

Larenda says:
well, your son has a ring around his butt
his shooey was bright green and smeared everywhere and I CAN'T GET THE RING OFF
so he has a green ringaround his butt - he will need a bath tonight

ROFL You are killing me! I love your stories with my son.

Larenda says:
well, we do seem to get into some predictaments

But they are so entertaining
Larenda says:
ya

Team Work

Grant has a little cousin named Braesen. She is one month and 1 day younger than him, but they are pretty much the same size. I love getting the two together to play. They are so fun to watch. Danny's grandparents have a golf cart that they use to get around the "compound" - as I like to call it. They take the babies for rides on it all the time, and they love it. Grant, Braesen, Memaw and I were sitting out in the back yard at Memaw's house. The golf cart was right there and the babies decided to crawl up on it to play. Thank heavens the key was out of it because the babies decided to work together. They were both sitting on the floor board of the cart underneath the steering wheel. Braesen had a hold of the throttle and Grant had a hold of the break pedal and they were jabbering back and forth as if to say "I know they push on these to make it work." So precious!

Labor and Delivery

My labor had to be induced. Needless to say it was a SSSLLLLOOOOOWWW process. I had been in labor about 20 hours when the midwife decided to have the OB check me. I had only dilated to a 4 and they were sure I should have progressed much more than that. So in comes Dr. Roger Cayer. This man is a hoot! He checked and then told me there was no way that I would be able to give birth to Grant. He estimated him at 8 and a half pounds. Then he looks at Danny and says to the midwife - while pointing at Danny - "Come on, Joney! You think a baby with a father whose head looks like that is coming out of this girl?!?" Poor Danny. I couldn't quit laughing.

So they have me in the surgery room all ready to take Grant out of me. They told me I would feel some tugging and some pressure. No problem... And I did feel it. Danny keeps looking at me funny and asking if I am all right. "Yes, why?" He says "just checking." It wasn't until after all was said and done that he told me that they were pulling on me so hard that my head was disappearing into the sheet and back out. No wonder he looked so funny!

The whole time I was pregnant, Danny and I had wondered what color Grant's hair would be. I kept teasing him that it was going to be red. Yes, Mr. Hyde, one of the few things I remember from biology was that if you get two dominant genes, one for dark hair and one for light hair, the result would be a red headed child. Well, Danny was convinced that Grant would have dark hair because mine is dark. After tugging and pulling me into the next state, Grant finally came out. The pediatrician says "Congratulations, Shelley, you have a beautiful RED headed baby boy." To which my loving husband responds with "WHAT!?!" I love that man!

They learn so quick!

The other day, we were at my parent's house. Grant had something in his hand that mom didn't think he needed to play with. She said to him (like she usually does in similar situations) "Come here, can I see that?" Without a second thought, he threw that thing as hard as he could and ran in the opposite direction! WHERE did he learn that?

He has also figured out that his Gerty(my mom) can not get in between the couch and the coffee table in her wheel chair. If he doesn't want her to get him he will go stand in between them and run back and forth from one end to the other all while remaining just out of her reach. Amazing at how fast he learns....

Son, say Daaa Daaa...

Grant has said (much to my joy) mama for a while now. I decided way before father's day to start working on teaching him to say dada. I had him sitting eye level with me. I told him "watch mama. Say daaaaa daaaaa." He was watching me and really concentrating. He takes a deep breath and blurts out "Mama" and grins real big - all proud of himself..... For months, no "dada" The other night Danny and I were sitting down eating supper. Grant had already eaten, so he was running around playing. He runs over to Danny puts both hands on Danny's leg, looks him in the face and says "dada" then runs off. Danny was so stunned! I don't know if he was certain as to what he thought he just heard. He was telling Grant "wait, come back, say it again..." Yep, you guessed it....no more "dada's" since that evening!

Some things never change...

I have 15 months worth of memories of Grant to put in writing so I will start from the very beginning. Just before I found out I was pregnant with Grant, my sister, Kim and I went on vacation to Colorado. On the way home we stopped at Arby's in Kansas. I remember being absolutely famished! I ate southwest eggrolls, a sandwich, fries and a medium drink and then inhaled what was left of Kim's meal all the while wondering WHY was I so hungry... I found out about two weeks later (after joining weight watchers, mind you). The entire time I was pregnant with Grant, when he got hungry, he was hungry right now and he wanted food right then! At 15 months, nothing has changed.... when he is hungry, he's hungry right now!

Also when I was pregnant (after I could feel movement) when Grant seemed less active, I could feel little tickles around my belly button, on the inside. I used to say he was tickling my belly button. Since he was born, when he is content, Grant will slowly move his little fingers around as though he is taking in his surroundings by touch. Now I KNOW that was him I was feeling tickling me from the inside.... Ahhhh precious memories!

Getting Started

Mickie talked me into this, so here we go. I have to admit that it's a good way to memorialize thoughts and events no matter how big or small they may be.... Thanks, Mick!