Weekend Fun with Dad

Bumbo Fun

Story Time


Playing Video Games

Tummy Time

Using my hands

As an occupational therapist, one of the things I do is to help people who have had illness or injury use their hands again to do their daily activities. I think that it is my backgroud as an OT that has caused me to become mildly obsessed with Grant's ability to use his hands and grasp objects. I am amazed by all of the activities he can already do with his hands! In the past couple of weeks, he has started to love to suck on his fingers and thumb. He has also started grasping the rings on his own on his play gym. He also loves to grab his bib, grab my shirt when I am feeding him and pull my hair when I have him on my shoulder. He grabs our fingers and rattles when they are placed in his hands. He keeps his hands open more now instead of clinched in a fist. I love looking at and holding his tiny little hands and can't wait to see what he will learn next!

Just A Swinging

Grant loves movement and is a very active baby. He is constantly moving his arms and kicking his legs. He also loves anything involving swinging, rocking or bouncing. He loves his cradle swings that we have inside, but we haven't been able to go outside and swing on the porch as much as we would like because it has been so hot. Last night, Mary Ellen came over and we took Grant outside to swing. He loved it and it's a great way to calm him down if he is fussy!

Crooked Smile

I love Grant's crooked smile. It reminds me of my Granddaddy who also had a crooked smile. I didn't notice it initially until Mary Ellen pointed out one day that Grant has a "Granddaddy smile." Now when he smiles, I think of Granddaddy. Granddaddy was such a special person and I would give anything for him to meet Grant, but I know he is looking down on us and smiling. I can only hope that Grant will have some other characteristics of his great-grandfather.

First Tear

So we have been pretty busy the past couple of days. On Tuesday, Emily and Hannah came over for a visit. Grant played on his play mat and Hannah explored our house and was very interested in touching Grant. Grant watched Hannah as she walked around and we watched Hannah to make sure she didn't get too rough with Grant. Emily brought lunch and everyone had a great time!

Tuesday was also Brandon's birthday and we went out to eat at La Fuente with the Powells on Tuesday night. Grant got a little fussy because he was sleepy and we had to hold him during part of the meal, but overall it went well and it was great to have some friend time!

On Wednesday, Grant went to visit his new daycare for the first time. I have to go back to work exactly 1 week from today :( and Grant will be starting daycare full time at a church in Belmont. I met the director and his teacher yesterday and we all had a really good visit. Grant was awake and looking around everywhere and then he fell asleep. I have been really nervous and anxious about him starting daycare, but I have to say that I feel better about it after my visit yesterday. All of the teachers are really nice and have lots of experience. They were very reassuring that he will do well there. We also met one of the other boys in his class and his mom, who had great things to say about the daycare. On the way home, Grant woke up and was hungry and I think still tired and a little hot. He had a complete meltdown in the car and screamed most of the way home, which is how we ended up with Grant's first tear. I immediately fed him when we got home and Brandon noticed a single tear running down his cheek as I was feeding him. I have noticed that his eyes get more watery when he crys now, but we hadn't seen any real tears yet until yesterday. Although it breaks my heart everytime he crys, I'm sure we will be seeing plenty more tears over the years.

Grant will be going to daycare for a few hours on Monday to see how everything goes and will then start full time on Thursday. I know I will be shedding lots of tears next week.

Happy Birthday Hannah!

Hannah, Grant's first cousin, turned 1 on July 23rd. Her birthday party was on Sunday and we went on our way home from Blowing Rock. Kelli, Heath, and my parents did a great job with all of the food and decorations! She had a Tinkerbell themed party and dressed up like Tinkerbell! She was so cute! There were lots of friends and family and Hannah got so many new clothes, books, and toys. She especially loved her birthday cake as you can see from the pictures below!

We all had a great time celebrating Hannah's birthday. I can't believe she is already 1! It seems like only yesterday that I was holding her tiny little body in my arms for the first time, a proud aunt. I posted some of my favorite pictures below of Hannah with her aunt and uncle right after she was born.

Some of Hannah's first photos with Aunt Shannon and Uncle Brandon