Basketball

Grant LOVES balls - basketballs, soccer balls, golf balls, baseballs, etc. We scored this outside basketball hoop at a rummage for $3. Best $3 spent so far this summer :) Gotta love RUMMAGE SALE SEASON! :) We don't have a basketball yet - so the soccer ball is filling in.

Jumping

Here is Alayna's attempt at jumping.

15 Months

Oh My! I'm 15 months already?!? Yup! I sure am!
Isn't it SUPER FUN!

As of May 15 - I am 15 Months Old! Is that a golden birthday? What have I been up to these days? Well - let me fill you in!

- Size 3 diapers

- Size 12-18 mo clothes

- I'm fully walking like a big girl now. I occasionally try to run...it's sorta funny :)

-Today I attempted jumping. My feet don't leave the ground, but I pop up on my toes a little bit. I learned "jumping" from my big brother! I pretty much like to copy whatever he does.

- I am pretty spunky. I let you know when something doesn't sit well with me.

- I'm letting go of always wanting my Mommy. Daddy loves it b/c quite often I want to go to him instead now :) and I even like going to my grandparents, aunts and sometimes uncles :)

- I love to play with my brother...and pester him too. I guess it's not nice to get real close and hit him in the face cuz I get put in my crib when I do it. You know - if he doesn't want me to hit him - he shouldn't put his face so close to me (or my hand). A quick little swat is just SOOOOO irresistible.

- I still sleep w/ 2 nuks. One in my mouth and one in my hand.

- Animal noises I know...Woof woof is for puppy, ba is for sheep, ah ah is monkey, arrr = lion and bear

- Words = Mommy, Daddy, more, no, yah, cheese, pretty, baby, uh-oh, all-done, ball, kitty, thank you...I have more too -I just don't remember right now

- I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE it outside. I LOVE the sandbox, I love slides, I can ride Grant's ride on toys (but if it involves pushing with your feet I generally tend to go backwards)

- Have 4 top teeth, 2 bottom teeth and my first 4 molars way in the back. Teething isn't fun - and we may be entering another phase, but nothing is showing through yet

I really like to put items in and out of things. Grass inside my cup...kept me very busy!

Ice cream with my OWN spoon

I just dumped a bucket of water on myself. Oh boy...lucky it was warm out :)

So I didn't like my 15 mo appt very well. Just walking in the room made me burst into tears. I weighed 20lbs 4oz which is the 20th percentile...right on track with past months. When I was measured however I was 31 inches - which puts me at 60th percentile on the charts. My Dr doesn't think that was a very accurate measurement (well - I was moving about just slightly while I cried) because that would mean I'm in the 60th percentile for height...which is much higher than in the past. So - we'll skip that one for this time :) My head is about 25th percentile - so I'm in good shape!

Waiting for the Dr to come in - I got a bit more comfortable in the room and started to "jump"

Grant had fun too...

Then...this nurse came back to give me shots. That was just plain mean! I knew it was coming when she walked in the door. I don't know why she was laughing :)

One down...one to go...they really hurt a lot - especially the one I am getting in this picture

But hey - I got this cool sticker and I guess those shots will help me not get sick...that's what Mommy and Daddy tell me anyway. Whatever - I just don't want to go back there any time soon!

2.5

On May 4, Grant turned 2.5. WHAT? I can't believe it! I didn't get a great picture of him from that day specifically (which is something I have always done in the past) but these are pretty close. What is he up to these days?

- His thoughts seemed to have taken a leep a few weeks ago. Bigger, more complex things coming out of his mouth all the time.

- He has started pretending. It usually one of two things. Either with Alayna's dolls and stroller - taking care of them (what he sees me do all day long) or he's grabbing some bags and getting on his bike to "go to work" - just like Daddy (however Daddy drives a big truck:) )

- He has great coordination.

- He loves balls...playing catch, hitting baseballs, bouncing balls, playing basketball, etc

- About a month ago he started stuttering. Usually when he is trying to tell us something - a thought of his own. Not when simply responding to a question. He little mind is moving faster than his mouth I guess.

-He is potty trained with the exception of nights and naptime. We're working on naptime a bit and are successful about a third of the time. Gotta start somewhere.

- Still not a fan of eating and is not gaining enough weight

- Still likes to wear hats

- Is actually quite funny and loves to act goofy. Some of his favorite words "watch diss (this)"

- Can't say his "k" sounds very well. Cookie = Tookie and Kitty = Titty

- Still sleeping in his firetruck toddler bed

- Sleeps with Spot (stuffed dalmation), Puppy (little blue dog), the puppies blanket, his blue puppy blanket to snuggle with and his other blue blanket to cover up with

- Has a sassy side to him, but around strangers hardly says a word (or moves a muscle)

- Can pedal a trike forward now

- Generally is a very caring, loving little boy

We love our little man!

Trying to add calories to strawberries - he's not a huge fan.

Last week was pretty rainy - so we wore boots outside :)

Helping Mommy in the kitchen. He loves to help.

Little Videos of Everyday Life

Grant on his scooter

At the playground - Alayna doing it herself. Listen for the weees on her way down.
Happy 2.5 to Grant on this day :)

Alayna's babbles

Pics Update

A long time overdue...some random pics from the past couple weeks.

A couple weeks ago we helped Daddy pick weeds out of the flower bed we planted for Briana a couple years ago. This bed could use some new flowers and those naughty weeds came back again!
Yup - can you believe it. First I pull weeds...then I swept the floor :)

The Sunday following Easter - Alayna and Daddy. Alayna had a high fever...still no pretty Easter dress for Alayna.

But I got to wear my snazy outfit.

Helping Daddy put together a Spiderman scooter for me :)

OK - so I'm not exactly the neatest eater...yup - that's mac n cheese on my head.

....ok ok and spaghetti on my face. But if you give me applesauce or yogurt - I do pretty good with a spoon!

Whew...OUT!

Trying to add calories to my fruit with a little fruit dip. I think it's OK, but could go without.

I on the other hand.....LOVE IT!

FINALLY! The pretty, pretty Easter dress I borrowed from our friend Lauryn. It was only a month after Easter when I finally got to wear it! I liked it, but this is the only picture I allowed in it :)

Happy... Mother's Day?

Well...it's Mother's Day. Happy? I wouldn't call it exactly that. For me, Mother's Day is the second hardest day for me of the entire year. The first is November 26th - Briana's birthday. And the one following that is - Mother's Day. Sometimes I feel like it's just not right. I should be "happy" right? I have two very beautiful and healthy children here with me on this earth and a wonderful husband to help me raise them. What more could a woman want?

Most days I think this way, but not today. Although I see and hear these two beautiful kids smiling at me and telling me "Happy Mother's Day Mommy" - it's like music to my ears. A few seconds later it hits me once again like a ton of bricks - but there should be THREE.

On Mother's Day I remember that first beautiful little girl that changed our world as we knew it. Briana Mae Meidam. I just wish for one thing to be different - I wish God would have let me "keep" her here. I know Briana is having a much happier time with Jesus in Heaven. She's a lucky little lady :) She's being cared for by someone who can do it WAY better than me. Someone who is more patient, more understanding, a better teacher and one who even loves her more than me (hard to believe that is possible). I know all of that, but it still doesn't change that ache in my heart. The feeling that someone is always missing is overwhelming today.

We went as a family to the cemetery today to "celebrate" Mother's Day. We brought Briana a pink rose (just like normal) and also found this cool flower with a glow in the dark ball in the middle of it. Grant and Alayna helped me put it in the ground and find the perfect spot for her rose.

Then I opened my gifts - a CD, book and wall hanging. Thanks to Grant, Alayna and Brian for the great gifts. Can't wait to listen, read and get the picture hung on the wall.

A big THANKS to Grant, Alayna and Brian for helping me through this day. I'm sorry that I was sad for much of the day. I LOVE hearing your laughs, seeing those big bright blue eyes, getting running hugs and lots of kisses. I wouldn't trade it for the world. But really - thanks for throwing a few extra hugs and kisses my way today - it was exactly what I needed and they helped me make it through. You guys are the best. Thanks for celebrating Mother's Day with me. I LOVE YOU!

Briana - I miss you more than words can say and think about you each day. I wish you were here but know you are Safe in HIS arms. I LOVE YOU. XOXOXOXO