Wednesday, December 31, 2008

In 2008, You...

Started crawling and walking.
Said your first word. It was Dada. I cried.
Got your first and last tooth. Until the dreaded 2 year molars.
Saw snow for the first time. In March.

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Fell asleep in my arms.

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Stopped nursing and started drinking formula. I cried.
Decided who your very best friend would be.

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Shared your sassy and your blankie with Mommy.
Celebrated your 1st birthday.

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Walked in your first pair of shoes.

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Built you first fort with Mommy.
Drowned a very expensive remote.
Gave up your bottle.
Called 911. Twice.
Sent out 23 blank text messages from Mommy's phone. At the same time.
Became a handsome little dude.

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Learned to open and close doors.
Ate watermelon and loved it.

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Learned how to turn lamps on and off.
Began brushing your teeth all by yourself.
Celebrated your 1st Fourth of July.

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Began hugging and kissing all on your own without being asked.
Got into things you shouldn't.

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Time and time again.

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Started climbing on anything and everything.
Figured out that a black pen can draw pretty designs on things. Including my brand new calender from Aunt Laura, your brand new chair and our pretty white walls.
Became a little explorer.

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Figured out how to turn on the charm.

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Slept through TWO tornado sirens.
Helped Mommy decorate the Christmas tree.
Went to the ER with a 104 temp.

And became Mommy's best friend.

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Grayson, you are everything to me and your Daddy! We didn't understand what life was all about until you showed us through your eyes. You are one amazing breath of life and I am eternally grateful to Our Father for the gift of you.

So long 2008.......you were nothing short of amazing!

Christmas 2008

Well after celebrating three Christmas's (each one equally amazing), we are home and trying to get back to our everyday routines. We had our 2nd Christmas as a family on the 23rd, then we were off to Mimi and Pappi's for two days, and finally to Nana and Pawpaw's for three. We came home Sunday and just exhaled. All Done. I seriously don't think I got off the couch more than twice and that was just to pee! Kevin served me lunch and dinner so I didn't have to move. So sweet!

Christmas #1:

Daddy brought home a gingerbread house for us to eat, er...I mean make.

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Someone saw the candy and started bouncing off the walls. I think the sugar must have entered his veins through osmosis!

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Hmmmmm....we must have a little mouse that likes to eat gingerbread houses.

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We had yummy Pei Wei for dinner and then it was time to open presents!
Mommy got a new watch and pots and pans!
Thanks Daddy!

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Daddy got a new DVD player and a Wii!!
Grayson wasn't interested in opening his presents, he just wanted to cook for Mommy and Daddy.

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It was an amazing night to celebrate with my two boys!

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Grayson must have been envisioning sugar plums pretty hard because he woke up like this!

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We packed up and headed west for Christmas #2.

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Poor Bentley had to sit in back with all those presents.

Little Cousin Caleb was in the Christmas spirit when we walked through the door. He was ready to celebrate his 1st Christmas!

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Look at me Mom! I'm SO big!

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Grayson and Caleb sharing snacks:

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Mommy getting some love:

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Thanks Mimi and Pappi!

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We had stuffed baked potatoes and spinach salad and enough sweets to put us all in a sugar coma. We played "42" till midnight

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and slept soundly till Christmas morning. When we woke up, we had yummy breakfast casserole and stockings to empty! Grayson made out like a bandit! Aunt Emily was missed terribly this year....we hope you had a Merry Christmas in Cali!

We had an amazing time with The Richards' and we were now off to The Moody's for Christmas #3!

We arrived Christmas night and Grayson had a surprise gift to open....a teaser, if you will.

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He would have to wait until the next night to open Santa gifts.
He was a pooped little elf so he crawled up in Pawpaw's lap to rest.

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The next day was filled with excitement! We woke up to an amazing brunch and then the whole family came over. Cousins, aunts, uncles, grannies...you name it!
We spent the whole day playing games, but not the kind you're probably thinking! We had a Christmas scavenger hunt where we had to drive all over the town acting out our list while being videotaped. We played dress up.
These two were REALLY good sports!!
Oh Christmas Tree......

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And Frosty

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We played some tennis and bowling

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Then it was time to eat!

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Nana outdid herself this year! We had fried turkey, ham, dressing, sweet potato casserole, corn casserole, and so much more! We were all lined up and ready for a feast.

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After stuffing our guts, it was naptime and then birthday party time. My brother's birthday was the 23rd, so we had more celebrating to do.
I can now check red velvet cupcakes off of Grayson's "I haven't tried" list.
Thanks Uncle Scott!

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We played some outside games after dark with our flashlights and then SANTA CAME!!!
HO HO HO!!!
Grayson went into some sort of trance with all the excitement going on.....he just wanted to see what everyone else got first.

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He opened some gifts with Daddy's help and then ran out to the front porch with the other kids to see what Santa had left him.............

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A big boy tool bench!! It was just his size and had gloves and real tools and a tool box! He told Pawpaw that Frosty needed to be fixed so he used his new screwdriver on him.

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He ran around the yard "fixing stuff".

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We played with toys and got ready for bed

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But not before eating some sugary snacks (Uh oh...busted again, Pawpaw!)

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Overall, I am just one happy Momma with one amazing family! I am blessed beyond words and am so incredibly thankful to our Heavenly Father for all that He has given!
From our family to yours,

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Merry, Merry Christmas to you all and have a very Happy New Year!