The Second Time Around...

On The Move

I made a joke on facebook the other day about how it is easier to forget you are pregnant the second time around - so true! When I was pregnant with Grant, I taught boot camp in the mornings and some evenings, and hung out with Toby all day. We had full days of playing at the park, going for walks, taking naps and an occasional trip to go get ice cream (Toby really likes car rides). Basically, you have nothing to do except read articles and become a quasi-expert in everything and nothing all at the same time and watch the calendar.

The second time around, life is busy. I will be the first to raise my hand and say no, I did not have a full-time job while pregnant and I realize that is super duper busy, and I would never compare the two. Apples and oranges. However, with the addition of Ollie to our family and chasing Grant around, life becomes a bit more hectic, a bit more full, priorities change, and WHAM, you look at the calendar and you're 6 months pregnant. At my doctor's office, they see you once a month, then in month 8 it is every 2 weeks, and month 9 every week. Last visit I scheduled all my appointments through month 8 and had a rude awakening - What do you mean we are almost done? When did that happen? I remember this taking a lot longer the first time around. It's also interesting how if this were 50 or even 20 years ago, you may not know you were pregnant right away, so the waiting time may seem shorter. With both of our little guys, we knew at day 8 or 9, which makes 40 weeks CRAWL by.

And so begins the slow-motion panic attack of making a mental list of all the things you have left to do and squeezing them in the time you have left. Funny how for the brain of a pregnant lady, we wish calendar time could slow down just a bit, but the time it takes to get everything on our list needs to speed up and happen NOW. (Thank you to my husband for putting up with this speedy mental project manager who wants everything done yesterday.)

This week is week 26, but for comparison sake I pulled a picture of week 22 with Grant and this time around with little guy #2. Will take more pictures for next time.

 22 weeks with Grant

22 weeks with little guy #2

Pretty similar. Feeling good. No complaints. The aches and argues I got after week 30 the first time around started earlier this time, mostly in the round ligaments, but as my doctor (who I adore) pointed out - This is your second time around and you are 2 years older now, of course things are stretchy. Thanks doc! The 5 seconds after I wake up every morning is usually when it hasn't occurred to me yet that I'm growing a human. Then I try to sit up in bed and UGH. Nope. You have to do the old-timer roll over and sit up to get out of bed. My brain is very good at reminding the rest of me when I have aches and pains - when my hips are mad and my skin hurts, my brain says "DUDE, you are growing a human inside your own body, of course things ache a bit." Yup. Makes sense. 

Uncle Jason Was Here!

Uncle Jason came out to visit and play with us for a week. We had tons of fun going to parks, playing trains and dinosaurs, drawing chalk train tracks, and of course, the Science Center.

 Too cool for school. 

 There is an indoor bridge over the freeway and you can look down through the floor and watch the cars go by. One of the more popular places to lay on the carpet in public.

Catching the ball out of the air. The tube at the bottom shoots out a stream of air and you place balls above it to watch them "float". We could have stayed at that one exhibit all day long.

 Where to look?

If you know the Science Center, this is right next to the huge T-Rex and Stegosaurus. They are huge moving robotic figures where clearly there has been a fight and the T-Rex is about to have lunch on the Stegosaurus. We've been here for 5 years and that poor Stegosaurus has been laying on the grass with huge scratches in his side bleeding, dying and screeching for the past 5 years. We walk up to the dinosaurs, which for a little guy are still pretty big and loud, and I tell Grant the T-Rex knocked the Stegosaurus over and is going to eat him for lunch.

Grant doesn't blink an eye, just accepts info and moves on. The woman next to me walks up with her 5/6 year old daughter and tells her that the big one pushed the other one over and is waiting for him to get up. Funny how different we all are.

Sunny Days

The sun is out, warm weather is here, and we are getting out and about every chance we get! If we plan it right, we can be the first ones at the park, play to our heart's content, have snacks and be home in time for lunch and a well-earned nap. Now that Grant is a little bigger too, the playgrounds aren't as scary or difficult as they used to be, and he is also learning he can do more things. I wouldn't use the word "fearless" just yet, but let's just say we are full-steam ahead with a side of caution. 

Write it on the calendar - Friday, April 15th and we pulled out the water toys! Summer here we come.

Last weekend we stopped by a charity fundraising event to benefit the St. Louis Military Officer Support Foundation SLMOSF. They had a Ranger for us to sit in and see (think golf cart on steroids, plus bigger tires, bigger engine, and seat belts), a motorcycle, and a few military weapons and vests to check out. Grant was happy to say hi and make new friends, but not too keen on sitting in the Ranger or motorcycle. 

Here we are on a not-so-sunny day. 7:15am and it is raining, and I hear "Shoes? Outside?" Yup. Don't see why not. Rain is not a deterrent from playing with trucks.

New Parks

This week we joined our friends at a new park - well, new to us. I have a friend who blogs about all the parks in the area. If you live here I recommend you check it out and follow it. She tells you where the park is, talks about the playground, and how well her two boys like it. Very useful to the rest of us. You can find her blog at havesnackswilltravel.com, or go to the sidebar on the right and click on the link in "Other Fun Blogs to Read".

This time we went to Sylvan Springs County Park. It is a 70 acre park and part of the St. Louis County of parks. We saw just a smidge of what the park has to offer. There is a good-sized playground, tons of play space, OH, and a river, which is almost the best thing on Earth to stare at when you are 2.

Originally known as Rock Springs, this was the site of the first bivouac at

Jefferson Barracks. A temporary camp was established on July 10, 1826, by

four companies of the First U.S. Infantry Regiment under the command of

Major Stephen Watts Kearny. It was named Cantonment Adams, in honor

of President John Quincy Adams. In September of that year, a more

permanent camp was started upstream along the Mississippi. This new post

was called Jefferson Barracks in honor of Thomas Jefferson, who had died

just six days prior to Kearny’s arrival at Sylvan Springs. 

 Checking out the barges and tug boats as they move up and down the Mississippi River. 

Snacks. We always travel with snacks and water after a fun morning at the park.

Of course, we are also getting ready for our new little guy... more on that later, but I had to show you what we found on one of my new favorite websites.

Yup, a onesie polo. I found a great website that has infant/baby/kids clothes that are normal, don't say anything (like "little slugger" or "shopping princess"), don't have logos, and made of soft pima cotton. Lots of fun to check out: primary.com. That's all for now! More coming soon...

Until next time, keep exploring!

Love and hugs,

M, K, G, T, O and G calls him, "bebe"

BAM! Just Like That, We Are 18 Months Old.

I say WE are 18 months old, because well...first of all, our little guy is 18 months old, but our family is 18 months old too. AND if you can do math and read the previous blog, it has been 6 looong months since we last blogged. Apologies. We've been busy.

And really, now that I get this finally posted, we are nearly 19 months old...sheesh

January and February

January and February meant snow was still on the ground. We ran outside every chance we got. We became very fast at putting on jackets and shoes and grabbing Toby and heading out for a walk in the sunshine in the wagon.

Toby loves to ride in the wagon with Grant, right up until he sees another dog or person he wants to say hi to. Then he jumps out and saunters over. 

In Jan and Feb we weren't walking too much on our own just yet. We could couch-surf and get around, but I wouldn't say walking just yet.

This table was and still is our favorite place to sit and play with toys. It makes for a good cave and train depot. 

March

March brought us a huge 15-month-old growth spurt. Check out the picture of Grant in the back of the truck. (We loooove Dad's truck!) This picture is from the beginning of March, compared to the picture down the page at the end of March. I think sometimes we put him to bed and when he wakes up he is measurably taller!

Sweet sweet face. Watching our favorite monkey, Curious George.

Chair, milk, and George.  Don't bother me, I'm watching. And yes, yes you see patches on his knees. He wasn't totally walking yet and was still getting around on his hands and knees sometimes. He wore holes through his pants, but since he was so close to walking, I bought patches and patched up his pants as fast as he could wear them out.

I swear he grew a longer neck overnight. 

March also meant it was our 11 year wedding anniversary. We did what any couple would do and packed up the kids (biped and quadruped) and went to the park. 

Look how much taller he is, just at the end of March. Scroll back up to the picture in the beginning of March (I'll wait). Yup, we keep feeding him and he keeps growing. 15 months going on 10 years old. 

April

In April the sun came out, the flowers bloomed, baseball started up again, and all was well with the universe. 

Walking!!!! We started walking!!! Check out this link to see some fantastic walking, and one excited mom. https://youtu.be/FTRuqd-DjG8

Sunday night baseball, Cardinals vs. Cubs

Still loving to play in Dad's truck, and getting bigger by the minute! He has yet to actually ask to drive it, thank goodness. 

April's great weather brought us to the park on many occasions. Our after-park ritual includes everyone in the back of the car for water and snacks, and so mom can pick dirt, plants, bugs and whatever else off us before we climb in the car. I used to pack separate snacks for both the biped and quadruped, but since they share and share alike, now we just have group snacks for everyone. 

May

Along with May came the sun and heat. It still quite comfortable to be outside though. 

Grant quickly learned how to relax by the pool. We are now professionals in how to play with the water table and plastic pool in the driveway.

Uncle Jason came for a visit! We had so much fun hanging out with him.

We have also realized how much fun a shower can be. Mom likes it because it is much faster than a bath, and Grant likes it because you can run around under water and still manage not to get wet. Mostly he likes to close the door and then bang on the walls for a bit.

Big thanks to Kyle for building Grant a sandbox frame! 

I didn't really want a sandbox on the ground, especially between all the rain we get and the animals and bugs that could climb inside. I saw this idea to get a large tote box instead and build a frame for it. Thankfully, Kyle is a building genius and after I showed him a picture of what I was looking for, BAM! he built it. 

We get haircuts with Dad now at the big boy haircut place. Here we are having a snack outside waiting for Dad to arrive for our appointment. 

Warmer weather means lots of backyard fun. Grant took to the idea of bean bags fairly quickly, although his distance could use some work. He settled for carrying them all to the other side and dropping them in the hole.

June

 Grant surprises us every day with what he understands, what he can do, and how he communicates back to us. We were outside playing in June, and I was turning on the hose. I told him to grab the end and fill his water table with the water when it came out. I turn on the hose,turn around, and this is what I see. 18 months going on 10 years. 

Toby wasn't happy with the towel I set out for him, so he waiting for the proper opportunity to steal my chair.

Twice a week we have co-op babysitting at our house so another mom and I can go to boot camp together. We have a babysitter come over and Grant gets to play with his new friend while we work out. The babysitter taught them to put the chairs by the window to sit and watch the birds and animals in the yard. Now Grant does this by himself, and he always takes both chairs over. Sometimes he lets us sit in the empty chair, sometimes not. I wonder who he is saving it for - or who is sitting there already?

Grant loves Dad snuggles.

Grant truly has a love of life and fun. He is happy to entertain himself with toys and books, and loves to color at his table. He loves to be outside and to go the park, but also sit and snuggle for a good book or Curious George cartoon. He is a smiler, a giggler, and is starting to show that he is a funny guy with a great personality. Every day is like meeting an old friend and still learning something new about them.  I love spending every minute with my little guy.

More fun from July coming soon!

Until our next adventure, keep on smiling, snuggling and smelling the world around you!

Big hugs,

M, K, G & T

Best Time Ever!

7 months is the best age ever!  Wait, scratch that.
8 months is the best age ever!

Every day is now the best day ever.

What have we been doing lately?  Having fun! Grant is 8 months old and learning so much. I feel like we try something new every day. I can see him watching me or Kyle, see his wheels processing how to do it, and by the next day BAM!, he shows us he can do it. It seems like every time he wakes up from a nap he is older, wiser, and a little taller. A few days ago he got excited at something and started clapping his hands. I got so excited I cheered him on and of course scared him so he stopped. Lately, we have been mostly just playing with pieces of banana on our high chair tray - more like fingerpainting than anything else. Then all of a sudden, time stopped and he used his finger and thumb to pick up a piece of banana and eat it. I must admit I got teary-eyed and smiled at him and he looked at me like "Dude, mom, it's just a banana. Get a grip."

Family pic, July in CA

This summer we have been keeping busy with growing, seeing the world around us, visiting friends, swim lessons, library story time, and as always, playing with Toby. Grant changes so much every day. It's amazing what he picks up and can understand and then recall the next day. Just the other day at a friends' house Grant was playing with a ball with holes in it. The daughter picked up the ball and looked at Grant through the holes, which set him off giggling. Now, when he picks up the ball at home, the first thing he does is look at the world through the holes.

7 month Fun

Hanging with Dad at the beach house

Bath time!

The Grandmas bought him a new beach hat. He had to turn it around to be serious and play with his new toys.

Fun times with Uncle Jason.

8 month Fun

Good morning. I don't want to play. I'm just going to lay here for a while.

I reject your tummy time and play with my toes instead!

Why play with the mobile the right way when you can use it as a leg press instead?

The many faces of our favorite little guy.

I have 8 teeth now! 4 on top and 4 on the bottom. I eat the food mom gives me, but some times I am not too happy about the flavors. I have just recently figured out how to blow all the food back at Mom. I laugh and Toby thinks it's funny.

Toby is very interested in bath time. Clean babies are fun to give kisses to. Toby also likes to play in the water, and can jump in when the time is right.

This picture? It has no caption except ADORABLE CUTENESS.

As for Toby, here he is right next to Grant. 

Whatever Grant does, Toby is there.

Pulling the toys out of the toy box all by myself.

Where Grant goes, so does Toby.

Waiting patiently to steal some toys.

The toy battlefield is rough. Every now and then you lose a good soldier to the other side. Here, Toby has captured Sophie the Giraffe. Sadly, after several failed rescue attempts, she did not make it home.

Every now and then Toby takes a break. Usually, when Grant naps, Toby is right there with him. Not today. Today he took a break and jumped up in the adult chair and took a well-deserved rest.

While Grant is not crawling yet, he is doing everything but. He scoots backwards, spins around, and loves his saucer. He and Toby are now partners in crime and play games while Grant is in the saucer. Toby will come close enough for Grant to get him and then run away, or Grant will run around the saucer and stop in the same spot at every revolution just long enough for Toby to give him a kiss. When he spits out his binki, he has mastered the art of slowing down just long enough for us to hold out his binki and he will bite is as he runs by. We are having tons of fun with our little guy.

For some giggles, here is fun on a swing! Click here.

For more youtube fun, grab yourself a beverage, sit back and watch more videos. Search under "Mandi Comer Sabie".

Until our next adventure, keep on smiling, snuggling and smelling the world around you!