Fun With Grant

It seems like everyday Grant is doing something new or different. Example A: Tonight before bedtime Ron and I were playing peek-a-boo with him and for the first time he was enjoying the game and cracking up with us. Example B: Yesterday he finally started jumping in his jumperoo! I've been putting him in it daily for two months now and all of a sudden, he just figured it out! Of course, the first couple of times he jumped we made a huge deal out of it and clapped and exclaimed, "Yay, Grant," he was all grins! Example C: Grant has a new ride, a walker. He has also figured out how to scoot around in it but can only go backwards. He amazes me everyday and I can't get enough of my little man. That why this post consists of lots and lots of pictures of my little one and the new adventures he embarks on daily.

Life is good.

Finally a break! Grant can hold his own bottle!

So far, Grant is a great eater. If, he can keep his hands out of his mouth during mealtime. He loves peas, green beans, sweet potatoes and carrots.

I adore this picture for obvious reasons.

New Videos

This was taken when my Mom visited us a couple of weeks ago. She just has an uncanny way of making him laugh uncontrollably! He thinks she is hillarious!

This video was taken the other night and I can't believe that of all the buttons to push on my phone Grant somehow managed to hit "End!" I guess he had had enough of that conversation with my Dad and wanted to move on to eating the phone...

Firetruck Parade

My sweet Valentine let me sleep in this past Sunday and took over baby duty for the morning. When I woke and walked into the kitchen I found valentine's on the kitchen counter from my two favorite boys and a spectacular BIG breakfast!

Sunday was a beautiful day and after church we opted to take Grant for a stroll to a nearby park where he had his first experience in a baby swing.
He was able to swing alongside Daddy and he loved it!

I love that Grant is looking at me in this picture with the expression that seems to say, "What? You've never seen a swing before?"

Included this pic just to prove, yes, I was there that day even though I loathe this picture of myself. No, I have not seen the sun in months!

After we played in the park we grabbed lunch at a nearby cafe and then settled in for another "kiddie" parade to celebrate Mardi Gras. The firetruck parade was full of all things that GO! Firetrucks, Boats, Schoolbusses, a child's delight!

Grant once again loved all the beads we caught. Everyone yells, "Throw me something, Mister" to the people on the floats and they throw incredibly generous gifts. I caught two stuffed animals that I ended up giving to a little girl beside me, one was a mermaid and the other was a flower. They throw moonpies galore, cups, beanie babies, toys as well as the beads.

The Loot:

We've been enjoying our moon pies a little too much this week!

Happy Valentine's Day!

Grant Valentine, originally uploaded by jenatutu.

Mardi Gras Madness

I'm not a stranger to Mardi Gras. Having a sister who attended Tulane University in New Orleans, LA for her Masters and Medical School I traveled to N'awlins several times over the six year time period she spent there. I even took a group of my closest girlfriends there our junior year of college for Spring Break and we shacked up with my dear sister and invaded every square inch of her rental. Mardi Gras in New Orleans was sheer madness and loads of fun. We went to parade after parade, party after party and had a BLAST. I wish I had more pictures to share, unfortunately, this is the only one I have scanned considering this was before the digital camera/picture revolution. I was explaining to Ron the other night when we left New Orleans after this particular trip all of us girls each had trash bags FULL of awesome beads. All different sizes, colors, themes and we all earned them the good girl way, with our southern charm! ;)

Mardi Gras, New Orleans, LA 2003

Fast forward to Mardi Gras present day:

When I first moved to the Mobile area I was intrigued to learn that Mobile celebrates Mardi Gras as well as New Orleans. Actually Mardi Gras originated in Mobile and on some accounts dates back to 1703. If you want more information on the history of the subject check out this website: www.mobilemardigras.com. For weeks now I have not been able to go anywhere without being bombarded with purple, gold and green. Mardi Gras paraphenelia is everywhere, grocery stores, gas stations, you can't escape it! Ron and I were floored to learn that the schools around here let the kids out early and close the schools completely on certain days of the week due to Mardi Gras parade schedules. Even in my yoga class this morning the instructor announced that the entire YMCA will be closed next Tuesday due to Mardi Gras. Mardi Gras Balls are huge around here and you can find all kinds of parades in different cities surrounding Mobile during the three weeks prior to Fat Tuesday. I realized I'm beginning to ramble so on with the story. Ron and I managed to attend a parade ourselves last weekend. Hold on to your hats for this one! The Mystic Mutts Parade featured all kinds of breeds of dogs dressed in their best Mardi Gras Gear. We figured this was a "safe" parade to take Grant to to save him and us from being wacked in the face with moonpies and beads. Plus, it was during the day on a Saturday. Most of the parades are at night and can draw quite the rowdy crowd. Here are a couple of parade onlookers that just happened to watch the show beside us and steel our hearts.
Ron, Grant and I gearing up for all of the excitement. It was actually really cold on this day which is rare around here. We've become such wusies now when it comes to cold weather! Grant could hardly contain his excitement about seeing all of the puppies!
I thought this little guy was festive with his top hat.

Couldn't resist taking a pic of the pom poms! Oh, how they made me miss my Riley dog!

These ladies went all out. I have been seeing more and more strollers for dogs. Have people gone crazy?!

We did manage to catch some beads. Grant loved them and tried putting them all in his mouth.

Mardi Gras Madness actually turned out to be Free Fun for a few hours. We hope to attend more parades this coming weekend. Hopefully a few with killer floats! Pictured below are my friends Emily and Kimmy with Brooks and Savannah Grace. Stay tuned for more updates on Fat Tuesday, the best is yet to come!

BIG DEAL...

Grandmama Visits!

How sweet it is to have your Momma visit when you live so far away! Grant and I picked up my Mom from the Pensacola airport early Friday morning. She was such a trooper, she woke up at 2:15 am on Friday to get to RDU in time for her 6am flight. She said she was running on "pure adrenaline" when she arrived. We enjoyed a fabulous weekend together and Ron and I enjoyed two fabulous date nights while she was here! Saturday night, Ron and I went to the movies for the first time since going to see The Hangover in June. We are officially the last people in the United States to go see The Blind Side and it was great! Mom and I enjoyed just relaxing, playing with Grant and doing a little shopping. After years and years of teaching my Mom knows the most nursery rhymes and songs and every time she's with Grant I learn a new song to sing or rhyme to repeat. Grant throughly enjoyed all the attention, he laughs whole heartedly when she's around, I think it's her big RED lips that have him so amused. It's always bittersweet saying "see you later" to Grandmama. It makes the time that we do spend with family that much more special. It's hard having a baby and being so far away from your parents, in-laws and family in general. I'll leave it at that.

Grant loves his Grandmama, come back soon! We miss you already!
He enjoys storytime...
and looking at himself in the mirror.

He loves the catapiller rocking horse Grandmama bought for him!