A few random pics

Just a few random pictures from the first few weeks. The first is of Garrett with his buddy Joshua on the night Joshua and his mom came to sit for us so we could go to our murder mystery thing. The 2nd one is Garrett testing out our new inflatable kayak. We haven't gotten to use it yet, so we will use it for the first time in St. John, but we should have oodles of family fun with it when we get home too!!

A week from now . . .

Brad and I will be sitting in St. John, getting back to the business of simply being together. Its been a really, really insane year, with my Discovery Toys business, his job, my job, the dogs, Garrett, the house, and so on. With Brad's Coast Guard Auxilliary schedule, we have seen each other maybe once a week for more than an hour or two at a time. So a getaway is much needed. I am not looking forward to leaving my baby (ah hem, big boy) for a week, but I am at the same time looking forward to those small joys you take for granted before you become a parent, including (but not limited to):
-Not lugging a diaper bag everywhere
-Actually sleeping in
-Doing what I want to do on a plane!
-Having a peaceful meal, without spilled drinks, slung food, or all those other fun aspects of dinner time with a a toddler.
-Being able to actually LAY on the beach, and possibly even (gasp) take a nap.

The closest I have gotten to true personal time in the past year and a half is sitting in front of the computer or fluorometer at work running samples. Sad when that is my "time off".

Thank goodness for my inlaws. I am not at all worried about leaving my kid (or the dogs, fish, and turtles) in their capable hands. I really am not at all stressed about leaving Garrett. I am a tiny bit nervous about when we come home, that he will flip out when I have to leave him to go to work, and that he will be so clingy I won't be able to get any work done from home. But I am not at all concerned about leaving him with Sherry and Lynn. I know he will take comfort in having his puppies around for hugs and kisses, and for being in his own home. So I am super duper glad they are coming to us.

I ordered my Christmas Cards, and they have been printed. Now just waiting for them to come . . . It's been tempting to post the Christmas picture, because it is so cute, but alas, I just have to make you all wait to get your Christmas cards! I am still so proud of myself for getting everyone to pose together!

Not much else to report. Brad and I went to a one-person murder mystery at the local book store (http://mysteryonthemenu.com), which was nice. My awesome neighbor Garnet and her son came over to play with Garrett so we could go. It was a nice, if super short, break for us. But nothing at all like the break we have coming!! I will try to post a few more pictures before we go!

Christmas is almost here!!

We spent our nice, long weekend decorating. Garrett and Brad put up the Christmas tree (check out the cute YouTube video of that!!), they decorated outside, and I did some of the inside stuff. Garrett and I also painted the downstairs hallway and part of the stairs, a pretty, earthy tan color that both Brad and I are loving. I am so sick of white walls!! Most of my Christmas shopping is done, just a few more things to do here and there. We haven't bought Garrett's presents yet, but we know what we want to get him. A mower and a tricycle. Just haven't made it out to get them yet! Here are a few pictures of our much needed long, quiet weekend:

Something Silly

Garrett sporting his Christmas shirt from last year. Boy has he grown!!! We took our Christmas pictures today, you all are going to have to wait until you receive your cards. I WILL SAY that I managed to get everyone sitting still long enough to get the three of them together!!

Cutie Pie

Garrett in a cute outfit his Grandma Sherry brought him.

New Additions and Updates

Sorry for the lack of updates lately--things have been incredibly insane. Brad's mom just left from a 5 day visit (during which time I was in HEAVEN!), Garrett is getting his molars in and is therefore sick, and both Discovery Toys and the lab work have been completely insane. Throw in Brad's Coast Guard Auxilliary Training, and I can count on one hand the number of quiet evenings we have had. ZERO!

It was SO GREAT having Brad's mom her, she was such a huge help with Garrett. It reaffirmed to me that I really owe it to myself to get some help even one day a week for a couple of hours so I can actually get some work done. I got more done in the few days Sherry was here than I have in the past month!

Oh, and in case you can't tell by the pictures, our household has grown by two. I totally splurged on Garrett and got him 2 turtles. They don't have names, they are just "the turtles". Garrett adores them, he has to say Hi and Bye to them whenever he wakes up, leaves, goes down for a nap, etc. He will lay on his tummy and just watch them in their little lagoon. They are super cute . . . He'll say "ooohhh" whenever he sees them, and when I say "Turtles" he will say T T T.

And just so no one yells at me for posting a picture of the turtles, but not Garrett, here is a picture from Pinecrest Gardens. We were going there frequently, until things got so very crazy around here. Garrett loves to walk along the pathways with me. I have added a couple of videos to YouTube as well.

Finally, a beach day!

Last weekend, we actually managed to carve out a day for both Brad and I to be home AT THE SAME time so that we could go to the beach. Pictures are from 11.11.07. Garrett had a great time . . . the child has no fear, and would go running into the waves, laughing the entire time. The water was freezing, but he didn't seem to mind in the least. We have been going to the pool a little lately--I think he will definately be swimming by the time he is 2!!

Logan!!!

Finally, I can post pics of the neighborhoods newest addition!

Xander's little brother was born on

Monday November 5th, 2007

8lbs 1 oz

19.75" long

2:49 pm

How CUTE is he!!! Jess got to come home today, I can't wait to get over there and make myself useful!! Apparently he looks just like Xander did at that age, so he is gonna be another adorable little man!!

I honostly have no idea . . .

where the little tiny baby I gave birth to has gone. I have instead a talkative, social toddler who has no fear and is willing to try anything. Today was a busy day--we had My Gym, then lunch with daddy, then we played at Pinecrest Gardens and another park until Brad got off work. He and Garrett played for a couple of hours while I went to work, then we all went home together. Garrett loved being so busy all day. He WALKED all over pinecrest Gardens, enjoyed every minute of it. We talked about what we saw (ishie, ishie, ishie!!--lots of fishies in the water). He is listening so well these days, investigating everything, but still willingly coming when I call. It's just so amazing to me. We played in the slash park for a while, then went to the playground. Where Garrett proceeded to scare the bejesus out of me by going down a big-boy slide all by himself. He always climbs on the equipment, with me right behind him. Today he promptly plopped down and went down the slide, as I was scurrying to get behind him so we could go down together. He, of course, was fine, and did it several more times while I watched from below . . . he is so independent and adventurous, yet cautious at the same time. He knows his limits--what is too high for him to get off of without help, etc--but isn't afraid to push the envelope. I know we are going to have lots of bumps and bruises in our future.

He gives high fives to people he meets now, and shakes hands. He says "Hi" to pretty much everyone and waves when they leave. He has a new word, "puppy," and yesterday informed me that the ribs we were sharing were his . . ."Mama, MINE!" His first time putting two very clear words together! It is just so amazing to me that a year ago, he was just a tiny little immobile baby who was just learning to sit up without help!! His outlook on life is amazing, everything is approached with a smile and a giggle. He hardly ever fusses when he falls, just gets up and keeps going.

I have pics from today, but it's late and I need to get to bed. Just had to share the busy day and how BIG my little boy is getting!

Trick-Or-Treat!

We had a pretty short, wet Halloween here. Yesterday Jess and Xander came over for a little while and we passed out candy. Then the skies opened up and it poured, courtesy of Tropical Storm Noel. It was a short night, but fun!

Pumpkin Carving!

We finally got around to carving our pumpkin (there hasn't been a night we were both home in FOREVER!). Garrett had a BLAST! He thoroughly enjoyed all aspects of the pumpkin carving: removing the gooey insides, taking the lid on and off (repeatedly), carving, and beating the pumpkin. Oh wait, normally we do NOT beat the pumpkin! Anyway, he and I had a great time. Brad enjoyed watching and taking the pictures for a change!!

What is in the pumpkin??

Cleaning out the pumkin with a spoon!!

Garrett helping with the carving (don't worry, it was a child-proof carving tool!)

Garrett actually tried to eat the raw pumpkin. He then threw it back in the pumpkin and said "eww"

Finished product, YAY!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!!!

Pumpkin Patch

We went to the Pumpkin Patch yesterday with Jess and Xander--had a great time. The boys went to the petting zoo and rode ponies. It was Garrett's first pony ride, and he was certainly a natural. I brought his costume and we took lots and lots of pictures!!

Petting Zoo:
Garrett liked the piggy!
He was petting everyone (and trying to stand on the bunny, for some reason!)


Pumpkin Patch:

Silly boy!

Best buddies:

Playing on the fun things they had at the Little Farm:

Notice all the dirt on his face--all boy!

Pony Ride:

What a natural!

Xander and Jess during Xander's pony ride.

In his costume

Being a pilot is serious business!

Happy Halloween!!

Raining

It has been raining most of the day (and now most of the night) here. Garrett loves the rain, I have to fight with him every time I let the dogs out to keep him inside. I got him a rain jacket at Gap (or rather a windbreaker, but it works well with the rain), so we went out to play for over an hour today. He had so much fun splashing in the puddles and running around. I rather like having a good excuse to be splashing right along next to him!! This kid has no fear and is tough as nails. He would slip and fall occasionally, but didn't fuss and kept right on trucking. The only time he fussed was when he bumped his nose, he cried for about 2 seconds. He scraped it pretty good--I am trying not to be too overprotective, with the whole boys will be boys adage. Side note: I am loving our landscaping, its getting so FULL and pretty!! You can see it in the back of the first picture.

Halloween Craft

We did a fun Halloween craft with our playgroup on Wednesday. The bat's wings are Garrett's hands!! He had so much fun, we brought some Discovery Toys for everyone to play with and all of the babies had so much fun. I will post more pictures of this one later, when I get them off the camera.

My Gym this past Monday

Some cute pictures of the boys at My Gym this past Monday:

Mall Playdate

Went to the mall with one of our playgroups this past Tuesday. We had a wonderful time. Our neighbor, Spirit, and her daughter Infinity (Fini for short) came too, and afterwards we hung out and did some fun things of our own!Climbing the Dinosaur . . . he almost fell off once!

Garrett in the tunnel!
Xander hugging the dinosaur (he was tired!)
Haunted train ride!
Garrett and Xander on the train.
Cute Fini!
Everybody in carts

T-r-o-u-b-le

He was eating in his chair, I turned to the sink, and this is what I saw when I came back. Nice, huh? My kid is hell on wheels!!

Okay, Picture Catch Up

It isn't even remotely entertaining how far behind I am on pictures!! So here goes.
Starting WAY back in the beginning of September, when we went to Orlando:

Garrett playing in a water feature where we stayed.

Garrett playing in the water.

As I mentioned in a previous post, we met up with a friend from Babycenter, who also has a May 2006 baby. Garrett and Lolly had a GREAT time playing together when she came over with her mom and dad to our hotel room for lunch. Two strong willed babies. . . two times the trouble!!
Where's Lolly?? :-)

Garrett: "Lolly, WHAT are you doing to my chair??"

Garrett: "We can both sit here!" Lolly: "Nooooo!!"

Grrr!

King of the chair!!

Garrett getting in to all sorts of mischief the next morning in our room:


Garrett enjoying the valet cart as we were loading up the cart:

We went to SeaWorld on Sunday with April, Casey, Alana and Kristen. It was sooo much fun!
Daddy and Garrett waiting in line to feed the dolphins
Garrett and I feeding a smelly fish to a dolphin

Kristen, Casey, Alana, Brad, me and Garrett at the stingray touch pond. As usual, Garrett wanted to go swimming!

Garrett and I with some random people around us.
All of us EXCEPT April . . . I think it was a conspiracy that she be in no pictures!!
Kristen was great with Garrett--she is such a great kid. We had so much fun with the whole family, much better than going by ourselves!!

OKAY. Next event. My Gym with our playgroup on the 10th (!!) of September:
Garrett and friends stack things on the cones. Such a big strong boy!
Garrett on the down end of a somersault:

Next event: I bought a desk that is similar to the one at Jungle Jimbos that he LOVES. Here he is playing his xylaphone while sitting there. Video of this too, if I ever get it uploaded to Youtube!
Garrett's adorable friend Nyah, who I babysit occassionally.
Nyah and Garrett up to no good! Or, at least, Nyah and a pair of FEET up to no good!!
Where's Garrett???
There's Garrett!!
Garrett has been getting SO bored at home lately, so we started doing whatever we could to keep him busy for a while. Including playing Pots and Pans with a Spoon! (Thanks Uncle Ali for the drumming influence!!) :-)
Garrett officially feeds himself EVERYTHING now, with silverware and all. What a big boy. Eating cantalope here. We can't keep enough fruit in the house for this kid!
My artsy-fartsy picture for the YEAR. I love it though:

Loving playing with Bubba, as always:
Sweet grey dog:
"Shoes!" says Garrett

Next event: Birthday party with the playgroup at Dandy Bear:
Balloons!

Garrett and Xander in their matching shirts enjoying Dandy Bear:



Garrett and Xander at My Gym in late September

Okay, stopping here. . . consider me caught up! I have some videos and current photos. The sad thing is that I have taken no photos in October until this week. Too busy DOING to take pictures. But I will get the current stuff up soon!!