Easter

This last week marked Grayson's 7 months and Easter weekend...along with some significant exciting events with Jackson.  I can't believe the changes we've seen in Grayson.  He sits independently (still loses his balance occasionally, but he's officially a "sitter") and he's started to "crawl" although he only goes backwards at this point. 

I think it's about time for a new haircut...

 Watching the interaction between Grayson and his cousin John had all of us in hysterics.  Both boys were interested in each others pacifiers.

 Grandma had the wonderful idea of decorating some Easter cupcakes, however, Jackson didn't understand the concept of decorating a cupcake and not getting to eat the cupcake...so instead of helping he got a tasty treat instead.

Evan did a great job on the cupcakes!

Need any documents shredded?  We'll rent him out...

Hmmm...lets see if we can both chew on Sophie.

Ganging up on John

One of Jackson's favorite things is to watch me fold laundry.  He will literally stop whatever he is doing and sit and watch me. When I'm done folding...he gets angry and will sometimes try to get into the laundry basket or knock down the folded clothes so that we can fold them again.  His next favorite thing is to "do laundry" himself.  He will sit and shake out the clothes and then more on to the next article of clothing.

Folding laundry

Homemade bunny rabbit from Grandma

  Jackson has been so engaged in his flashcards, books, and signing.  It seems like overnight we finally saw him doing actual signs besides him clapping for "more" or "yes".   Below is a video of him signing "cracker" and "eat"...he's very food motivated...

 And here he is signing "banana"

Can't wait to update again...I'm hoping for some more fantastic signing and crossing our fingers that he gets his braces this week!

Happy Birthday Daddy

Adam is still in bed...sleeping in for his birthday morning.  I figured I would finish up this post that I started a week ago so he would have a blog update to read today.  Daddy is our number one fan of the blog.

Grayson turned 6 months about three weeks ago.  He is able to sit independently for a few minutes but is still best propped up with pillows just in case he falls over.  He has two adorable bottom teeth poking through and is overall a pretty happy baby...unless he wants food...and then God help you, you better hurry up and put food in his belly.

 Grayson is at the point where he does not want to lay on play mat.  He prefers sitting up and playing alongside his brother whom he finds to be absolutely hysterical, especially when brother engages him in whatever he's doing.  It is completely adorable.

 Jackson has been very into books and his picture/word flash cards.  He loves for you to say the word and hand him the card which he will orient in the proper direction and observe the picture for a few seconds until he wants the next card.

 He still loves to chase after his stacking rings which he throws around the room. 

 And loves to steal his brother's pacifier...

 A couple of weeks ago we went to a birthday party for one of Jackson's old daycare buddies at Hopper Zone.  We walked into the back room with all the huge bouncer gyms and he just lost his head.  The noise was loud due to the whirring of the air pumps and the bouncers were huge....some major over-stimulation.  So we found a patch of sunlight that trickled in through one of the windows and played catch with a ball for the entire birthday party.  We did not stray far from this patch of sun.

 Last week Jackson got fitted for his orthotics.  He'll be getting an orthotic that I think will look more like the mid-calf orthotic that you see in this picture.  He had to have both of his legs cast which he tolerated shockingly well.  I wish he was half as good when getting a haircut.  

Yesterday we saw Jackson reach a significant milestone.  He walked for the first time.  The video I got doesn't capture the best of his efforts...since he did it two more times walking a longer distance really quickly.  It was a really happy day in our house yesterday.  We might not need his orthotics very long at all!

Happy Birthday to a wonderful husband and father.  We love you!

Playing catch up...

This is the third time I've sat down to write this post...and since I have a few minutes uninterrupted without kids, I'm determined to get it finished (forgive the stream of consciousness!)!

My life these days feels like I'm constantly trying to catch up, constantly trying to juggle eight thousand things at once all before 8pm when my body says, "I'm done".  I feel like I always have the best of intentions, good ideas floating around in my head, whether it be about work, home, friends, or family, but the follow-through is not always there...hence the persistent nagging in my head that I need to get myself together...

For example, I still have yet to write thank you notes for Jackson's birthday gifts...from December...(I swear I haven't forgotten...we are very thankful)  I went to work with pee on my sleeve the other week..it was either that or be late to work...I figured it was just urine...it would dry...Seriously...I rationalized this in my head.  A few weeks ago Grayson turned 5 months old...I told myself I would update the blog and post pictures of everyone...and that was a few weeks ago.  So on that note, here you go...

Not in the mood for tummy time!

Getting that crazed look in his eye!

Grayson has grown so much, so quickly.  He's a very happy baby, a great sleeper, and loves to laugh.  He laughs when you tickle him, kiss his belly, kiss/"bite" his hands...and he's cute as can be.  He's enjoying trying new foods...we haven't done a whole lot...just cereal, sweet potatoes, squash, and carrots...but he's enjoying solids so far!  Unfortunately his head is getting pretty flat...not as bad as Jackson's was just yet, but pretty flat.  Adam and I are getting worried that we may need to pursue a helmet again and that's not an expense that we are looking forward to.  How do babies these days not all have flat heads???  I swear we have been super conscious about it since dealing with Jackson's plagiocephaly and don't know how to avoid this!

Wearing my hip helpers!

His new favorite napping place

Showing love to Uncle Josh's old band

We put Jackson in hip helpers to help keep his legs from splaying out.  I actually bought them a very long time ago but we didn't use them.  So when his PT recommended we start using them, I busted them out of storage and we got them on him.  It may be my imagination, but it does seem like he's standing up in new places and he has "cruised" a couple of times.  Progress continues! This was amongst the first or second round of posting attempts that needs quite an update.  Jackson was in the hip helpers for a good week or two and when I took them off of him to throw them in the laundry they disappeared...its been about two weeks and we have yet to see them.  I bought two new pairs so that we don't run into this problem again.  I think Jackson's fascination with laundry may have resulted in him pulling them out of the laundry and tossing them to a mysterious place in which we will discover once we pack up to move out of this house.

"Hanging out" at PT

 
Also in an effort to help Jackson walk, I just picked up a script to get Jackson orthotics.  He'll be fitted probably in a week or so and most likely end up simply wearing Sure Steps in his shoes to help provide more stability. Jackson is now doing PT twice a week...once at daycare with Infants & Toddlers and with Chris again privately.  Last week he did a great job doing standing play for a long time and "walking" while holding on to a rolling mat like the one seen here. He did this without any tears or fussing...so we'll see how today's PT goes this afternoon.

If there's a gate, he wants to be on the other side of it.

Jackson still absolutely hates having his hair cut...so I opted to cut his hair myself instead of taking him to Cartoon Cuts.  I figured he could scream and cry in the comfort of home or do it amongst the public.  I was pretty nervous...

Hip Helpers

The front turned out better than the back, but it served the purpose of getting his hair cut.  I figure I'll get better over time once he stops flailing his head around and I can use clippers and sheers without fear of stabbing him accidentally. 

Post-haircut nap

 

 

Not napping at Grammy and Pop's house

Kid went from hating to have his head wet/washed to handing us the cup to pour on his head "more".

Very much looking like brothers!

 As Grayson gets older, the interaction between Jackson and Grayson increases.  Jackson still finds it hysterical when Grayson cries, but now they both find amusement in each other.  Grayson already gets on Jackson's nerves if he touches him or reaches for a toy that Jackson is playing with...but its exactly what a sibling relationship looks like at this age.  Jackson gets a kick out of being near Grayson or "holding" Grayson when he is in the mood.  Its phenomenal how they laugh they exact same way.  Some nights I rock Grayson in their bedroom and Jackson will stand up and watch us, reach out to us and wave "hi".  This is a rare moment as he doesn't do this in other circumstances, but he always does it when I rock Grayson while Jackson is in his crib.  Its moments like these that warm my heart that I'll remember forever. 

I hope to post again sooner rather than later!  Grayson will be 6 months in 11 days...so perhaps I get in a new post then!  Happy weekend to all!