A very merry Christmas Indeed!

Every year, Christmas seems to sneak away just as fast as it arrives. Holiday mayhem comes and goes, and soon after all of the Christmas decorations are put away, the new toys have been given a new "place" in the house, and there are just a few Christmas cookies left on the counter.

Christmas Eve was spent with the Grays, Christmas morning was spent hanging out at home and then Christmas evening we went over to Kristin's house to have one final celebration.

As you can see by the picture, Adam love-love-loved his monster truck. Man, was he excited! Lucky for me, the buttons aren't pushed all of the time; miraculously, he polices himself and and knows not to push the buttons when Miles is sleeping. "Can I push the buttons now, Mommy?" Other popular gifts this year are his radio and kids CDs for his room (I now know the words to "The Grand Ol' Duke Of York," amongst other Kindergarten favorites), the Polar Express book (we saw the movie in Imax 3D earlier this month), and a new race track for Lightening McQueen. He had a great few days, remarking: "this is the Best Christmas Ever!!"

It was Miles' first Christmas, and I am so thankful that he is with us this year! It seems so long ago that I was pregnant and wondering if he was going to be a boy or a girl - how time flies! Everyone commented on what a good-natured baby he is, and they're right. He just goes with the flow no matter what is going on, and to him, the more people the merrier. He loves a crowd - especially when all eyes are on him! What a love-bug he is.

So, another Christmas spent with friends and family. If anything, the joy of the season reminded me that I have so much to be thankful for, particularly a loving family, our health and our many blessings.

God is good!

9 Months Stats...

Miles' 9 month well-baby check up last week went great. He's 30 inches long (95%) and 18lbs (15%). Long and lean! He was all smiles for the doctor, and would you believe he didn't even cry when he got his shot (just one this time!)? I was pleasantly surprised.

His top left tooth is now in, and so i'm certain the other one is not too far behind. Just when I think he's sleeping through the night permanently, he fools me. He slept 3 nights in a row, but then last night I was up with him for an hour - something wasn't just quite right with him, I guess. I finally crawled back in bed at 12:30am.

Regardless, he's my little lovie. He loves scrunching up his nose, thus making a silly face. He thinks he's pretty funny when he does this! He's discovered the exciting world of finger food - Cheerios are a hit! So far, he's not interested in cottage cheese or cheese in general. Can you believe that?

I cannot believe Christmas is next week...Adam is very excited! He saw Santa last Saturday and mustered up the courage to ask him for a "big monster truck." Of course!!!

Praying for a very Merry Christmas...

December already?

I cannot believe we're almost halfway into December. Time is just flying!

Miles will be 9 months old tomorrow. How can this be? He's not crawling yet, but he's getting up on his knees for longer and longer periods. He's making cute sounds such as "ba ba ba ba" and "ya ya ya ya." He just started putting puffs into his mouth this week. And finally, he's also working on getting his top two teeth in, which i'm sure is no fun for him at all! I'm excited to take him to his well-baby visit tomorrow to see just how big he's gotten. :)

Adam is getting excited for Christmas. Ask him what he wants for Christmas, and he replies "a big monster truck!" Now, he's been asking for this monster truck since his birthday. I keep hoping he'll forget about this toy, but alas, he continues to wish for it.

Now, about this truck. Those of you who know me, know that I don't do well with chaos/loud noises/etc. This monster truck is insanely loud, blasting obnoxious phrases and an awful tune. Basically, my worst nightmare.

Jeff and I were out shopping for Christmas presents last week when I spotted the aforementioned toy. I showed it to Jeff who sheepishly pushed one of the buttons (I'm sure he was thinking, "how loud can this thing be?"). We quickly looked to see who else was nearby and no doubt annoyed by the sheer volume of sound erupting from this beast of a toy, and just started laughing. Obnoxious? Yes. Soon to be irritating? Absolutely. Will it put the biggest smile on our kid's face on Christmas morning? You're darned tootin.'

Against our better judgement, we walked out of the store with the Rippin Monster Jams truck in our shopping bag.

I'm sure the novelty of this truck will wear off eventually. Until then, you can bet i'll be dying a bit on the inside every time I hear "Ready to Riiiip?" followed by the obnoxious guitar riff.
But hey. You're only three once.

My music man.

Adam has been fascinated by music since the very beginning. I remember playing a music box for him when he was months old, and the sound literally stopped him in his tracks. As he grew older, music always calmed him down. His mobile stayed in his crib far longer than it should have, simply because he loved pressing that button if he woke up and needed to fall back asleep.

He just loves music. A few recent examples:

• Last year at a local outdoor concert he stood near the stage dancing like a fool. Several people commented to me on a) his cuteness and b) his music appreciation.

• At Jeff's company picnic this summer, there was a live "band," which consisted of two ladies who were singing and playing instruments (guitar and bass violin). While the other kids couldn't wait to go outside and play the games, Adam was sitting front and center, mesmerized by the women playing their instruments.

• He begs to sit with us in church to listen to the music. Last week, his Sunday School class was full, so he was excited to hear that he would be sitting with us. As the worship part of the service was going on, Adam pulled a John Travolta in the aisles. Jeff told me after the service that he actually put his hands up "in praise" after seeing someone else do it. Awesome.

• His current dance favorite is Michael Jackson's "Beat It." Now, I love me some old school MJ just as much as the next guy, but playing that "Thriller" album several times a week is definitely getting on my nerves. Seeing him dance around the kitchen however, isn't. And when I say dance, I mean dance. The kid's got moves.

• His new favorite thing is to put together a "band" while the music is playing. He usually grabs his guitar, and sticks me with the drums. If Jeff's home, he's quickly handed the harmonica and becomes an (unwilling) participant in Adam's Amazing Band. I'll admit it: it puts a huge smile on my face to see him so excited at the cacophony of sounds. Poor Miles - I wonder what he thinks when all of this is going on? We must surely be a sight.

It will be interesting to see if this lean towards music continues. Will he be a musician? What will he play? Time will tell!

Sleep, glorious sleep!

I almost don't dare to write about this new development, for fear that I'll jinx it, but here goes.

Miles has slept through the night every night this week! This is amazing! Not only that, but he has also chosen this very week to nap! For more than 20 minutes at a time! Twice a day! Folks, this is fantastic! Better late than never, they say, and I feel like I've hit the mommy jackpot!

However, all is not quiet in the evenings. More nights than not, Adam wakes me up by climbing into our bed at night (why does he always come on MY side and put his knee on my head as he climbs in?). I usually let him move to the middle and if he falls asleep for a while, great. Bonus if I actually fall asleep as well. After a few hours, and before Jeff's alarm goes off, one of us carries his sleepyhead back into his room. And no, Adam, we don't want to lay down with you in your bed. Not if we can help it, anyways.

We have lots of things to be thankful over here on Thorncrest Drive, but today, for the purposes of this entry, I'm thankful for sleep.

Toothless no more...

My baby is getting so big!

At seven months old (!), Miles is now the proud owner of two bottom teeth! Unlike his big brother, he is a very crabby teether. After having a very uncharastically cranky day (October 25, to be exact), I spotted one tooth around dinnertime. I was actually relieved to see it, because then I knew what the problem was! Tooth #2 broke through a week later.

Somehow they don't seem as little when they have teeth, do they?

Nonetheless, he's back to his usual self. He's really enjoying eating purees lately. With the exception of bananas, he'll eat anything (I know, what kid doesn't like bananas?).

Have I told you that he's ticklish? It's awesome. Take off his socks sometime and tickle the bottom of his little feet. Sometimes he starts smiling his big, dimpled smile as soon as you take them off, in anticipation of tickling! Other chuckle-producing areas include his belly or right under his chin. Silly guy.

And a quick note to both Adam and Miles: On Tuesday, November 4, 2008, you accompanied me to the polls to cast a vote for what will be the first black President of the Unites States. This election was quite historical, and you were along for the ride. I pray that he leads this country in a positive direction and relies on God for guidance.

Ironic how someone who really doesn't like change voted for "Change!" isnt it?

Ramone to the rescue!

Yesterday our car was hit in the parking lot of Forest Hills Foods (which is a story in and of itself). Adam was quite concerned with the damage done to our car, and the notion of a car "accident." I explained to him that accidents happen, and that we will be able to get it fixed at a body shop in the near future.

At the mention of body shop, his eyes lit up and he said "You mean RAMONE is going to fix our car?!?"

Ummm, sort of. ;)

(For those of you unfamiliar with the Disney movie, Cars, Ramone is a favorite character that owns "Ramone's House of Body Art" and is quoted as saying "Don't scratch my paint!!").

Kids Say the Darndest Things...

October 17, 2008:

"Hey Mommy?"

"Yes, Adam?"

"When I grow up and get taller and a big fat belly, I want to go to work like Daddy."

7 Years!

Because we were at the Great Wolf Lodge for our anniversary, we didn't really "do" anything. 7 years is a big deal, and as such, I present:

Seven Things I Love About Jeff:

1. I love that he loves our boys. He's a fantastic Dad who is devoted, kind, doting, and above all, loving.

2. I love the way he smells in the morning.

3. I love how he falls asleep on the living room floor at night, wrapped up in the blanket - no matter how hot it is outside.

4. I love that he works hard for the family at a job he doesn't really love, which in turn pays the bills so I can stay at home with the boys.

5. I love his hugs.

6. I love that he is a mixture between braniac and scatterbrained. He can stub his toe a zillion times on the same step, yet plow through book after book that I wouldn't even dream about reading. Perfect.

7. I love that he loves me for me - many many faults and all.

And the people said: "Awwww."

Great Wolf Lodge recap

We just got back from a few nights at the Great Wolf Lodge resort in Traverse City, Michigan. For those of you that aren't familiar, GWL is a huge indoor water park - fun for all ages, with splash pad, a 3 story jungle gym of sorts, pools, lazy river, and various waterslides.

Adam had the time of his life.

We got there Sunday afternoon and met up with Kristin, Ben and Carter. What a blessing that they could join us - they always make things so much more fun, and Adam and Carter sure do love to run around together. We quickly changed into our bathing suits and went into the waterpark.

Kristin and I thought it would be a fun idea to send the boys down the waterslide. Now, keep in mind that both boys climbed up the waterslide and went down it willingly. (Un)fortunately, it was a wee bit faster than the waterslide they remember from the summer, and on top of that, they had to go down solo. As soon as I saw Adam going down, I hopped on and went down the adjacent slide, hoping to reach the bottom before he did. It took about 10 seconds for me to recognize that Adam's screams were not those of a happy camper. We got to the bottom at the same time and ran over to pick him out of the bottom of the slide. As he was crying I asked "was that fun?!?" and through his tears he replied "yeah!" The lifeguard and I just cracked up. Crazy kid. We couldn't get him to go on that one again, though.

Then, there was the bigger waterslides that you go down in inflatable rafts. Somehow, he was allowed to go on what we later learned is the fastest slide of the three "chutes" (I later saw the height requirement of 48," but no lifeguard stopped us from going down with him). Strike two in the parenting department. If the first waterslide didn't scare the bejeevens out of him, this one did. It was so much faster than either Jeff or I expected - and he screamed the whole way down. Sorry, kid.

Ever our brave and trusting boy, he agreed to go on the remaining two other slides with us, and it was a good thing - they became his favorites. Jeff and I spent many hours alternating between the blue and green slides and Miles duty. Hilarious. He giggled and loved every minute of every trip down - I love to see him happy like that!

He also had fun in the pool. He was pretty proud of himself for learning how to "swim" with the lifejacket on, and loved jumping into the pool and swimming from side to side. He had endless amounts of energy it seemed, particularly for a boy who was woken up several times in the small hotel room by his younger brother who wasn't such a good sleeper...

Other than water slides, there is an arcade, mini golf (too cold and rainy for that) and a craft room for kids. We were very fortunate to have visited the GWL at a time when it was very empty - quite often we were the only ones riding the slides or floating in the lazy river, so it was very nice. I wouldn't have liked our stay nearly as much had the waterpark been overflowing with people. It's hard enough to keep an eye on your roving 3 year old as it is!

I feel greatful we were able to spend time as a family and enjoy the GWL. I know both Jeff and I will cherish the memories of Adam and the waterslide adventures for years to come. We hope to return next year when Miles is walking and can join in on the fun!

Three?? How can he be?

Three years ago today, at 12:25pm we heard the words "it's a BOY!" - Adam James was here. When I think about the day he was born, lots of snippets come into my mind: I remember looking at his feet first, and so had to ask Jeff if it was a boy or a girl; I remember the exact way his lips were shaped as he was crying; I remember being amazed at how big he was - all 9lbs 15oz of him. Most of all, I remember swelling with pride and loving him instantly - a huge, all-consuming love that only a parent knows.

Fast forward three years. Adam is a smart toddler who is obsessed with all things that have wheels. Construction vehicles. Monster trucks. Dirtbikes. Tractors. ATV's. You name it, he knows what it is, and probably owns a few in miniature form. He's tall - most people assume he's 4 or 5 years old (actual stats will come when he has his doctor appointment this week!). He's sensitive. He's shy. He loves his family. He's cute as can be (most of the time, anyways).

We had a party for him at our house this past Saturday. Everyone was able to come, so that made it a full house - literally. I am kicking myself, however, for forgetting to videotape the exact part of the party that I had set my camera out on the counter to videotape: the singing of "Happy Birthday To You." Believe me when I say that he throughly enjoyed that part of the celebration - he was beaming.

Of course, he also liked eating cake and opening his presents (" I think there's race cars in here!") - you know, typical birthday party fare. He went to bed a very happy boy that night.

There's really nothing like seeing a kid enjoying himself as he's surrounded by those that love him the most in this world. No matter the age, may he always feel as happy, safe and loved.

Happy Birthday, Adam!

UPDATE: Adam measured 42 1/4 inches tall and weighed 37.6lbs at today's appointment. Big boy!

Miles at 6 Months

It's amazing that Miles is 6 months old already! It seems like he's been here forever, yet the past six months have gone by so quickly!

At his appointment this week, he weighed in at 16.1 pounds (26%) and measured 29 1/2 inches long (off the charts!). He found Dr. VanZee very interesting, and was quick to flash him his huge, dimpled smile.

His personality continues to develop, but has maintained his relaxed demeanor. He loves to watch Adam, and his eyes light up anytime he is in view. He can't sit up on his own yet, but he can roll - and roll, and roll. He loves grabbing for things and putting anything and everything in his mouth. Speaking of which, if he isn't chewing on a toy of some sort, he's probably got his fingers in his mouth. Sometimes I think a pacifier is the better way to go, because then you can actually take it away, but Miles never wanted anything to do with a pacifier. He much prefers the index and middle fingers of his left hand. Yum. He is very ticklish, especially under his chin. He's not big on naps, but when he is tired, he'll lay down on his belly without a fight.

In the coming days, we'll experiment with solid foods. Last night's introduction with oatmeal was met with a less-than-hardy welcome. Ha!

School's not in...

September means the start of a new school year. This week I couldn't help but think that this is probably the last year that I won't be getting Adam ready for school in the mornings. Can you believe it? Because he's so tall and therefore looks older than he really is, I often get asked if he's in preschool; To that I reply a) he's only 2 (ok, so he's almost three), and b) i'm not sure if i'm even doing preschool.

I once heard Dr. Laura say that preschool was created to make stay-at-home moms feel inferior - that there is nothing your child learns in preschool that can't be taught at home. Finally, she spouted that children should be enrolled in school no earlier than age 5 - for kindergarten.

I'm not sure I completely agree with her, but it did make me think a bit. I've heard lots of reasons for sending kids to preschool: moms with younger kids send their oldest to preschool because they need a break, moms who think they can't teach them as well as a schoolteacher can, and moms that just do it for socialization.

If we do enroll Adam to preschool next year (and we probably will...) it will be because we think Adam will really benefit from the structure of a few days at school, and want him to be familiar with the idea of a school day before he enters kindergarten (which, may or may not be all-day, depending on the school). Finally, I think he'd really enjoy the interraction with other kids his age on a regular basis.

For this year, I vow to enjoy having my little love at home with me in the mornings. Waking me up in the morning, instead of the other way around ("you up, mommy?"). Not rushing through breakfast. Watching a cartoon or two...or three.

Yes, these mornings should be treasured, because before I know it, i'll be whisking him off to school and crying in the car on the way home wondering where my little baby went...

3 boys and a girl at the beach...

Labor Day 2008

After Jeff came home from work, we scrambled to pack up for a late afternoon trip to the beach. 45 minutes later, the car was loaded up with our gear and we were headed out to PJ Hoffmaster State Park.

Adam was so excited! He was ready to take on the beach.

It's so great to see "old hat" places through the eyes of a child. Adam thought the "wavers" were hilarious. Each time a wave crashed into his little body, he would giggle hysterically. Awesome. God bless his dirtbike; his trusty sidekick with missing handlebars and chipped paint has become his constant companion and prized possession. On this adventure, it traveled through sand ramps and jumped over waves. It was buried in sand, lost, and then (thankfully!) found again.

And Miles. For a kid that refused to take any semblance of a decent nap yesterday, he did awesome. He fell asleep briefly while nursing on the beach, but other than that, he was as happy as can be. Laying on a beach blanket under the shade of Dad's MSU umbrella. Snuggling next to my body wrapped in the Moby. Having his toes dunked in the cool Lake Michigan water. He took it all in.

For us parents, these outings are far from relaxing. The payoff is seeing your kids happy and just really thrilled with their surroundings. Time well spent as a family.

The trip home didn't go as smoothly, but this scenario seems to be par for the course on any trip - no matter how distant the travels. Miles screamed the whole way home, and Adam was whining because he didn't want to leave the beach. A few "serenity now!" thoughts and we were home again, ready to jump back into the ol' "you take Miles, and i'll take Adam" routine of getting the two in bed for the night.

Thank goodness both were tired enough to actually fall asleep and stay asleep.

Labor Day, already?

How can it be Labor Day weekend already? Unbelievable.

I haven't updated in a while, but I'll give you a quick rundown of the happenings of August:

• Miles started rolling over (both ways) on August 10. Crazy enough, this kid actually likes to be on his stomach.

• Adam continues to potty train. Just when I think he's doing fabulously, he'll have an accident. Yesterday there was an unfortunate incident that involved my good chair. Pee on the leather chair, dammit!

• Miles grabs at anything and everything. He sees objects as something to be put in his mouth, come hell or high water. Awesome.

• Adam started calling Jeff and I "mom" and "dad." I don't know where this came from, but I don't like it - where did my baby go?

• Miles has started sleeping loooong stretches. The last three nights he's slept from 8pm until 8am. He'd sleep longer, but I usually wake him up because I *need* him to eat. Can you believe that?

Looking forward to September. Adam turns 3. A long weekend trip to the Great Wolf Lodge. Our 7th wedding anniversary. All good things!

Mild Miles...

My Mom prompted me to write this entry, saying that I need to "write this down." And since I always listen to my Mom, here I am...

Miles has such a sweet temperment. He loves to be held and cuddled. Lately, his favorite spot to hang out is on a lap, facing outward so he can just take everything in. Calm and quiet observation, completely and totally relaxed. He also loves to be held up on your shoulder, with his head nuzzled into your neck. He'll easily fall asleep this way if you stand up and sway long enough to let him. Along the same lines, he loves to be carried in one of my three carriers. It makes errand-running so much easier to have him strapped to me. He loves to hang out in there and most often ends up falling asleep, being lulled by my movements.

I love his sweet little temperment and can't wait to see how it changes as he grows...

Adventures in potty training...

It's been exactly a week since Operation: Potty Training began in the Gray household. Much to my surprise, it's been smooth sailing so far, as Adam has been peeing and pooping on the potty like a champ (save for three unfortunate accidents - only one of them on the carpet!). I think the timing was just right - he is more than willing to be a big boy and go on the potty.

A few funnies:

• He'll often say "I'm so proud of you!!" after going on the potty.
• "Can I get an M&M now, Mommy?"
• I was standing outside the door to the bathroom yesterday while he was trying to poop. I overheard him farting in the potty and then cracking up at the sound that it made. Repeat. I couldn't help but chuckle as well, but man - I guess fascination with farting starts young, eh?
• In order to keep potty training in the foreground of his mind, I frequently ask him if he has to go potty. I don't know why I do this, because 9 times out of 10 he'll reply "I DON'T HAVE TO GO POTTY, OOOOK???" He much prefers to go on his own terms.
• Jeff was walking out the door for work when Adam ran after him and said "Hey Daddy, don't go pee pee in the car, ok?" Ooook, Adam. Will do.

So yes. Much praise to my big boy, who can now be seen sporting his new Lightening McQueen tightie whities on his perfect little tushie.

It's seriously cute.

MamaGray: Superhero?

"I make milk. What's your superpower?"

I came across this saying on a t-shirt the other day and thought it was so clever. I was tempted to buy one, except it was a bit more than I would usually spend on a t-shirt, and chances are, it would be too short on me anyways.

But yes, I make milk.

Nursing has proven to be a challenging undertaking, but it is immensely rewarding. From a nutritional standpoint, it is very empowering to know that you are solely responsible for the growth of your child for the first 6 months of his life. You and only you made those chubby thighs possible.

Aside from providing round the clock nutrition, nursing fosters such a sweet relationship between a mother and her child. It is so wonderful to be nursing and have your son pop off and look up at you with wide eyes, smile at you, then return to eating. In fact, it makes my heart all melty just typing that out!

On the other hand, nursing is also a challenge. With your first child, you don't know what to expect - learning the art of nursing is not easy. Not only are you dealing with engorgement and sore nipples, but you have to make sure you're nursing properly. There are possible physical problems such as clogged ducts (been there, it sucks) and mastitis. And let's not forget: nursing is also very time consuming. I don't remember feeling as tied down with Adam as I did with Miles in the early weeks/months. With Miles, sitting down every 2 hours for 45 minutes or so while he nursed seemed like an eternity in part because I was also responsible for keeping Adam occupied at the same time. I remember feeling very trapped while nursing Miles, as it's hard to nurse when your toddler is getting into things he shouldn't be (he would frequently get into the fridge and bring me items like the eggs and fruit. Talk about testing my patience!).

Like most things, the good outweighs the bad. I am happy to nurse my kids because I believe it is the right thing to do, and for the most part, I enjoy it (Did you know that as the baby nurses, Mom's body releases endorphins that help the her mood? Isn't that amazing?).

It's not for everyone, but I do believe everyone should at least try. I was at a baby shower recently and was chatting up with two girls - one of them had a 3 week old, and the other was single and childless. As the one was pulling out her bottle she made several comments about nursing that made me sad. She remarked that nursing is "So annoying" because it takes so long to feed a newborn, and that her husband was upset because he couldn't help feed the baby. She quit nursing after a few days. Sadly, this is often the case. You cannot be selfish commit to nursing- it will not work. Nursing a newborn can be difficult in the beginning, but annoying? Yikes. What is annoying about cuddling with your new baby and knowing that at this stage of his little life you can give him everything he needs? And, husbands can help with the feedings - just make up a bottle of breastmilk. I felt sad for her, because I want her and every new mom to know what I know - that breastfeeding can be so great. Oh well.

I'll step off of my soapbox now and close with saying that God created a woman's body to do amazing things. I'm very thankful to be able to breastfeed and hope to continue doing so for a while longer...

Morning

"Standing by the window watching his father go off to run the world." - Storypeople

If Adam is awake, he watches Jeff get ready for the morning. Standing on the stool next to him in the bathroom, he peppers Jeff with questions: "You scruffy, Daddy? Are you shaving, Daddy? All clean now? You brushing teeth?" On and on, until they move into the bedroom where Jeff gets dressed, Adam pointing out that yes, he is wearing a tie, and yes, it is time to go off to work. "You going to the office today? To earn some money?" Yes, and yes, Adam. Daddy goes to work because he loves us...

And finally, Jeff kisses all three of us goodbye and Adam says "Honka horn, Daddy? You going to honka horn today?" Then he runs to the window and waits for the Subaru to drive by (Jeff has to go the opposite way up the street to do this every morning, so i'm pretty sure it's a goodbye that they both enjoy..). Jeff honks, they both wave, and Adam surely thinks that his Daddy is indeed, off to run the world...

Fireworks and the 4th

Thursday night, Jeff took Adam out to my Mom's house to watch the fireworks display from the boat. Feeling a tinge of jealousy that everyone was going to see the fireworks, and that Jeff was taking Adam for another "first" without me, I stayed home with Miles. I reminded myself that soon enough, Miles will be running around with the rest of the gang, but for now, what he needed was his mommy and his crib - bedtime for him is 10pm at the latest these days.

Adam loved the fireworks. I hear he covered his ears the entire time, which is so typical of his personality - very cautious, and not a huge fan of loud noises. He also enjoyed eating the chips that were up for grabs on the boat. So I hear.

For the 4th, all of us went back out to the lake and had a great time. As usual, Adam and Carter ran around like banshees both inside and outside. They sure have fun together! We had a great lunch, took a boat ride (both Adam and Carter attempted to swim in the lake with Grammie, but quickly opted back into the boat after deeming the water too cold. Brave boys nonetheless), went in the hot tub, and lounged around. Everyone was thankful for gorgeous weather!

We got home late, but Adam was still up and asking to do sparklers. Jeff indulged him, and thank goodness he was the one who burned his fingers on the fireworks and not Adam. Covering his ears once again, he stood back as Jeff lit off some bottle rockets and Roman Candles. I'm sure our neighbors apprieciated the noise...hee hee.

3/4ths of us were in bed by 11pm, exhausted. A great day spent as a family, with family, indeed.

A couple "firsts" this month...

Adam saw his first movie in the theatre this month. While "Kung Fu Panda" is probably not going to become a classic, Adam had a wonderful time seeing his first movie with his Daddy. He came back from the experience talking about "popcorns" (another first!) and big pandas. While he didn't sit through all of it (we didn't expect him to!), he did see about an hour of it before he started to get squirmy (note to self: don't sit through all of the previews next time). A wonderful way to spend a lazy Father's Day morning.

Another "first:" Miles giggled! I was sitting on the chair in the living room and he was sitting on my lap. I'm sure I was doing something completely ridiculous in order to engage him, but it paid off - a giggle erupted from his little body. More giggles soon followed, and it didn't take long before Adam was sitting on the chair as well and all three of us were laughing. It was a special moment for me - sitting with my two boys, having a great time.

Looking forward to more giggles, that's for sure.

Goodnight, Adam!

Putting Adam to bed is always bittersweet. By the end of the day, I'm beat and ready for some peace and quiet. However, he's usually on his best behavior when it's time for bed, and some of the sweetest moments are to be had.

Bedtime for Adam consists of the usual change into pj's and brushing teeth. Then it's time for a story or two (or three, if Jeff is putting him to bed!). Prayer comes next, and he's just now reciting our little prayer all by himself:

"Dear Jesus. Now I lay me down to sleep. I pray guide me through the night and wake me with the morning light. AMEN!!!"

Then we move onto thanking Jesus for people and things in our lives. "I love Daddy. I love Miles. I love Kristin. I love Carter. I love Uncle Ben. I love Uncle Allan. I love lawnmowers." Tonight he made sure to thank Jesus for lawnmowers. He's all boy, folks.

Hugs and kisses. Tuck Adam in, tuck Lightening McQueen and Dinoco goodnight (if they're not in bed with him, they're nearby). Turn fan on. Close door. Pray he stays in bed and falls asleep quickly.

Unless he's corrected, he completely forgets the "I pray the lord my soul to keep. May Angels guide me..." Nonetheless, his version of the prayer just as sweet. In time (probably sooner rather than later) he won't need to be reminded of the missing part. He'll do it all on his own. It'll be just one more thing that I won't have to coach him on - and with that comes the realization that he's growing up so quickly.

So quickly, yet he's still my baby. My afraid-of-pooping-still-wearing-a-diaper baby. So I guess he's not growing up that fast.

Straightjackets and Smiles...

I don't know what it is about my kids, but they love to be swaddled.

We tried a couple of swaddle blankets with Adam, but ended up using the Miracle Blanket the most. Adam, being a very high-strung, easily startled baby immediately loved to be swaddled.

Miles initially hated being swaddled, preferring to sleep with his arms above his head. However, after a few nights of off again, on again sleep, it was Jeff's idea to put him in the Miracle Blanket. After a few grunts and trying to fight it, Miles settled down and fell into sweet sleep. Relief for all of us!

At 3 months old, Miles has recently started sleeping through the night (usually 10pm - 6am). After our last nursing session of the day, I tiptoe him into his bedroom, lay him down in his crib and start the swaddling process. Lately, however, he's been wide awake during the wrapping and just looks up at me with a huge gummy grin, sometimes cooing as if to say "I'm alright now mommy - I've got a full belly, i'm happy, and I may just let you sleep tonight."

It really doesn't get any sweeter than that smile, that I know for sure!

You start at the very beginning...

...a very good place to start....

Me? Blogging? I never would have predicted I would start a blog. This year, however, we had a speaker at MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) encourage us moms to keep a journal - writing about anything and/or everything- from the mundane to the noteworthy. Often, i've thought to myself "I should write this down - I don't want to forget Adam/Miles doing/saying this!" All of this brings me to this place where I can reflect upon the happenings in the Gray Household: The funny things Adam says; The cute things Miles is just starting to do as a wide-eyed 3 month old; The tantrums and chaos; The quiet times, and maybe a little about me as well.

So, let's begin.

I love babies. What I really love, however, is when they stop being little baby who just needs to eat/sleep/burp all the time, and literally "wake up" to notice the world around them for the first time. In the last two weeks, Miles has made this exciting transition. He now follows us with his eyes, returns our ridiculously huge in-your-face smiles with his gummy baby smiles, and coos back at us. Interestingly enough, and perhaps not surprising, he loves watching Adam. When he watches Adam I wonder what he is thinking. Does Adam seem like the fun body that never stops moving? The little body that makes loud siren noises? Sings his John Deere song over and over and over again? All I know is that even at this young age, they make each other smile and as a mother, I wish them a lifetime of smiles.