Grantham 5 months 17 days/Long Sleeve Weather

You are literally changing daily! This morning while I was getting ready for work, you were strolling/banging around the living room in your walker and the next thing I notice...is YOU! You had managed to toddle yourself into the doorway where I was getting ready! Our master bath is still under construction, so your bathroom is the only fully functional bathroom in the house. Garrity's is nearly done, but only the tub is functioning.

The weather has changed in the last two days and the days are cool! Yesterday I dressed you in a sleeveless romper with a fish on the side and Garrity in a sleeveless red and white striped number with denim shorts!? Today I opted for more weather friendly options and hopefully you two will be more comfy.

Last night your 6-12 month clothes arrived from J. Crew! Three little long sleeve onesies and one short sleeved onesie emblazoned with the phrase: THERE IS ONLY ONE. I knew when I saw it, I had to have it for you :)

Tonight is a home football game. Garrity loves the games (loves to socialize) so hopefully we will be able to enjoy the evening without foul weather...last weekend we tried to attend the game but never made it to our seat due to the threatening clouds in the west.

Life is good, you are sweet, and we love you so so much!

Grantham 4 Months/Walt Disney World

My first word of advice on taking a four month old and a four year old to Disney world: DO IT! There are so many misconceptions about flying with an infant. One of those misconceptions is that they will cry and fuss and be a nightmare to travel with...this could not be farther from the truth, in my opinion. We traveled with Garrity by plane when she was just four months old, and had a perfect experience. The same may be said now about Grantham...perfect flight. Both kiddos nursed and slept from takeoff to landing.

Our trip! We spent the first night with Tom, he has a great condo on the Plaza, and it made for a less early, early morning. Everyone had a blast except Daddy. I had to run to get formula (for said flight...just in case the nursing failed...) it was pretty late when I went out, and for some strange reason Daddy insisted on keeping Grantham. Turns out that 9'ish was the witching hour and the dreams Daddy had of snuggling with his son on the couch watching sports or whatever, apparently wasn't part of Grantham's plan. After several text from Daddy insisting that I return IMMEDIATELY, I returned to a docile and sleepy Grantham, and a  fussy and grumpy Daddy.

The next morning was early and everyone was excited and still grumpy. STILL GRUMPY. Once we arrived at the airport, we were face with the dilemma of all riding the bus from the parking lot, or Daddy dropping us off and Daddy parking the car on his own while we waited in line with two suit cases, golf clubs, a double buggy, and oh ya, two kiddos. Guess which one we picked?!

By the time we made it to the ticket counter, after winding through Southwest Air crowd control maze among the hundreds of souls also too waiting to fly to their vacations scooting our two suit cases, golf bag, and double buggy one inch at a time actually several people felt sorry for me and helped scoot our luggage caravan ..Daddy finally made it back.

This flight was a breeze! Grantham slept and nursed the entire time! Garrity had some trouble with her little ears and kept shouting in the cutest loudest voice imaginable! It really was adorable! She kept saying, "SOMETHING'S GOING ON WITH MY EARS, GUYS, I CAN'T HEAR ANYTHING, GUYS!" Explain ears popping to a four year old! Other than that, Garrity busied herself with the iPad and DVD player. We rented a van vs taking a bus...much cheaper. However we had to upgrade from a town car to a van due to the double buggy and the golf clubs. The van was great and for a $10 fee, they stopped at a grocery store and we got some snacks etc. for the week! 

We arrived earlier than check-in. We opted for a town car to Downtown Disney. By the time we go to Downtown Disney, both babies were asleep! Daddy and I were at a loss! We ended up sharing a huge chocolate shake from Godiva! We walked around the area and spent a ton of time in The Largest Disney Store in the World...and finally had to start waking up kiddos!

The entire trip was as smooth as anyone could have EVER imagined! I was even able to take both kids to Magic Kingdom one day and we had a blast! Grantham was a champ and even waited in line for TWO HOURS to meet Anna and Elsa!

We enjoyed the parks and the wonderful Hilton resort. I wouldn't have changed a thing! Such a wonderful memory and a trip I will NEVER forget!

Easter Eve 2015

Saturday was spent enjoying the wonderful weather, and dying eggs! Garrity requested to spend the morning at Gowah's versus running errands with Grantham and me...can't say I blame her. But after errands were taken care of, the Easter egg dying was a blast! Garrity loves anything and everything creative. We decided to forgo the water and just used the food coloring. We also couldn't wait for the eggs to cool, and the result was mermaid-tale looking eggs! It was nice out. So, we spent time on the patio in front of the house. Garrity, Bo, and I took turns hiding and seeking the eggs! It was super fun and relaxing!

Garrity and Gowah were playing hide and seek when Grantham and I arrived. Of course Garrity was wearing a costume! She wanted to pose in the flowers for a picture with her brother...this was the best I could get!

Hiding Easter eggs with a four-year-old is almost so easy...it becomes difficult!?

Wearing the basket...fashion accessory or tired arms?

Hooray!

Grantham caught on fast! He did not however, enjoy the feel of the grass, and if  when he fell, he would keep his hands up in the air! So funny!

Maggie was slightly confused...she wanted in on the action regardless of the oddity of the situation.

Found it!

Garrity insisted on using this ultra-chic Styrofoam egg carton...recycling at its finest!

A stick makes a wonderful toy!

The glorious eggs!

This was one of the first days in three years that we could do something like this as a family! Now that our remodel is 100%, we can spend time making memories together!

the big ONE: Grantham's FIRST Birthday- Ball and Balloon Party!

It's official: Grantham is ONE! We celebrated his actual birthday on Wednesday 3/25/15 in totally normal birthday party fashion. I got up early and got doughnuts, everyone was up and ready super early that morning, and we sang to Grantham as he gnawed on his sprinkle doughnut! It was magical and special, because we had enjoyed this special little guy for an entire year! First birthday's are so innocent and tender, so beautiful and surreal, so precious and intimate...which is why we try only celebrate with those most near and dear.

Such a happy little gentleman!

And then the weekend comes...and we like to PARTY! Grantham loves balls and balloons, so I scoured Pinterest and gathered several awesome ideas and adapted them to meet our needs! Overall, the party was a huge success! In reality, it only took about 10 hours to set up the balloons and balls, set up the food and the table decorations, including the banners etc. In total, with the construction of the invitations and the time online designing the drink labels etc. it was less than 20 hours total. This my friends, is nothing compared to some of the princess parties I've done :)

My assistant. Garrity was a huge help blowing up balloons and stringing together garland etc. She was so determined to help, and didn't want to miss out on any of the fun, that she made a little make-shift bed on the kitchen floor :) 

I wanted the party to evoke that little boy spark! Grantham loves balloons and balls! I think we were able to check off both boxes on the party requirements!

Tic-Tac-Strawberries! 

The event of the year!

The M&M's are displayed in recycled Voss water bottles! A few years ago, I was obsessed with Voss water...but more importantly the bottles! I drank my way to a set of 12, and scraped the labels off each one. I have used them nearly every single party I've hosted! The wide mouth makes them perfect for candy, flowers, or any other decor!

Much more pleasing to the discerning 1-year-old eye than (gasp) a meager bowl of grapes! 

Cherry Kool-Aid in the most lovely mother's day gift from G&G last year...Thanks Pottery Barn! 

The cake was made by a local cafe: Jenny's California Cafe, they have made all of Garrity's cakes and Grantham's Very Merry Half Birthday Cake as well! The card is from Pottery Barn Kids...I've had my eye on this card for years... I just can't forget to write in the card :)

Pinhole Press is my new obsession! I learned about their subtle-chic photo gifts and accessories from the BEST online premium photo gift boutique: PINHOLE PRESS! The photo gifts are super classy, and the quality of the products is superbly top-notch! 

Thank you Pinterest! 

Super easy and delicious! Focaccia bread with colby jack and turkey slices...made party-worth with colorful toothpicks and cherry tomatoes! 

Mini-sourdough rolls with ham and cheese!

Cheese Balls! So festive!

You can't have sandwiches without chips...I tried to be as theme-friendly as possible with the various colors!

For under $12.00 at Walmart, you can be the proud owner of 100 plastic balls! I used these for decor and the remaining balls were gifted to Grantham :)

The invitations were a spin off of one I saw on Pinterest... I added the red backing and also opted for a plain red balloon versus one with writing. For a fee...high school art students are willing to painstakingly handcraft invitations :)

I was obsessed with finding a perfectly over-sized and RED balloon! I scored this one on Amazon! 

The Man. Dressed in Janie and Jack!

Of course, his reaction made all of the balloon blowing TOTALLY worth it!

I was even able to corral the little guy for a few photos!

Grandma Madelyn and Grandpa Gary 

Us!

Gowah and Grandma Pat

Aunt Brooke and Cousin Callan (12 days older)

I love this photo...surveying the goods.

 Such a wonderful party and such a wonderful day!

Grantham: Crawling 6 months 2 weeks

Last week you started scooting, and then for real crawling at the end of the week. Over the weekend, you really honed in on your skills, and this week, you are officially CRAWLING! The videos below are  roughly one week apart!