Summer Trip

This past week we returned from our fun trip to the west. We first went to Idaho for almost two weeks and then down to Utah. In Idaho we went to Steph and Gregg's wedding (which was beautiful) and to the Wood family reunion. It was so fun to see everyone and spend some time together. Ryan and I agree that Grant had some sense of when we were about to get together with family and friends, he would then decide to become fussy. The 3 times he had big crying episodes over the vacation was during get-togethers...I think no one believes me when I say he's normally a very good boy :)

We took this picture before we left. Grant has got a great right hook so we decided to get him a boxing robe (which doubles as a bath robe:). We're considering embroidering a title on the back, what do you think: The Woodcutter, The Flying Wee-One, or Blow-Out Boy?

While in Idaho we got to help out Ryan's mom with her yard work (when I say we I mean mostly Ryan). We cleared her yard of crazy Idaho bush-weeds, put down ground cover and shovelled, carted and spread 10 tons of gravel. This picture shows the size of the pile of gravel after about 2 days work, imagine that pile times 4 and you can see what we were up against. Ryan made a promise to himself after this experience: he will never again touch a piece of gravel with a shovel. My back, neck and head hurt for a week after our gardening excursion, so I was beginning to think I had contracted West-Nile virus from my 50 mosquito bites. I guess it was just from the strain of trying to shovel something that will not be shoveled.

While we worked, Grant was entertained by Mister bear-head in his stroller. They have such a rocky relationship: one minute he's smiling and laughing with bear, the next he looks at bear with resentment.

Christine came out with the kids while we were in Utah. It was fun to hang out with her and Maddy and Mason. Grant loved having little kids to look at and talk to. He really liked Maddy, although you can't tell in this picture. Maddy's great at smiling on command, I think Grant likes to do the opposite. On our last day in Utah we all went to Thanksgiving Point and saw the farm animals and went on a wagon ride. It was fun, the animals were so cute and were trying to lie in any bit of shade they could find.

Here is Grant with Nana, his great-grandmother. He liked to talk to her and she even rocked him to sleep a couple times, she's had a lot of practice! While in Utah we also went to Jenna and Drew's wedding and spent time with the old roomies. It was great to see them, I hope we can have another reunion soon, I guess we'll have to wait for another wedding:)

Happy Boy!

So the bibs have come out of the drawers recently to help catch the excess drool and spit-up. Grant really loves this puppy bib, and he just looks so darn cute in it!

Grant is really enjoying his baths now that we are using a bath sponge instead of the baby tub. He prefers to lay on the nice, warm sponge instead of kicking himself all over his hard tub, and we enjoy the smiling and absence of screaming. I think Grant's favorite part of bath time is afterward when he gets to put on his Obe Wan Kenobi outfit.

In his spare time Grant enjoys a little reading.

Hair-twirling must be genetic! This is one of Grant's favorite positions: right hand in the mouth, left twirling the hair. At least Ryan doesn't suck on his hand while twirling his hair.

Rachael and Issac Hemmert came over and the boys had fun looking at each other, about the extent of their playing. It was cute to see them laying by each other and looking at the same toys.

Grant had his first real smile around 5-6 weeks and has since become very proficient at it. He loves when you repeat the sounds he makes and talk to him. Needless to say there are many baby noises being made in our house because we love to see him happy. Grant's blessing was the first Sunday of this month and some of our family made a long trip to be here for it. My parents, sister, niece and nephew came as well as Ryan's brother and sister. It was fun for them to be here for the blessing and to hang out for a little while.  

Grant is now basically 2 months old and has started to become interested in things beside nursing and being held. He has really started to enjoy laying in this play pen and looking at the hanging animals (thanks to the Robinson's for letting us borrow it!) He was even content to lay in there while I showered one day, enabling me to take more than a two minute shower!

We took a family picture before church today because we thought Grant looked so cute in his little overalls.

Grant loves to be held out like this so he can see what's going on. If you try to put him up to your shoulder he will just push back with his arms and squirm until you move him. I thought this was such a cute picture of Grant and Ryan, he just loves his dad.

I think he was dreaming about some delicious milk in this picture. Don't mind the diaper in the background, it was on its way to the trash.

He's a month old!

Here are some pictures from the past two weeks. Grant is getting big and starting to fill out more of his outfits. Life is getting somewhat less hectic as we are beginning the semblance of a routine. However, Grant still likes to switch it up a bit every day to keep life interesting. One very nice present Grant has given me is a 5-6 hour sleeping block at night. He will usually eat at around 9 pm and sleep until 2 or 3. It has been awesome, I hope he keeps it up, especially since he doesn't like to let mom take naps during the day.

Grant is looking for a way to get out of mom's grasp. He's certainly an active little guy, I have to hold on tight so he doesn't jump out of my arms.

Here's a funny face, it must have been a little gas...


Whenever I put him on his tummy, or even hold him up to my shoulder, he has to push himself up like this. He's just so "advanced for his age" :) he he

He has smiled for us a few times but right now he mostly makes different "o" shapes with his mouth. We still think just about any face he makes is cute...yeah, he's got up hooked.

This swing has two speeds, no swing and Pirate boat at Busch Gardens swing. He looks like he's about to hurl.

The past two weeks

Here's some pictures of the past two weeks. They have been fun but also exhausting. We can already tell Grant is getting bigger, even though he is still quite a long, lean baby. My parents were able to come down again for a few days this weekend, which was a great help. It's nice to have help who are more than willing to hold a crying baby! Grant is definitely past the newborn sleep-all-day stage, but he does pretty good at night. He will usually go 3-4 hours between eating, which gives mom a little sleep. I do admit I am a little loopy these days, Grant cried for awhile this morning before I realized it was him crying and not this annoying baby in my dream.

This onesie says it all. Grant will wait until you take off his diaper and then proceed to pee with impeccable aim all over your clothes. I've gotten pretty good at using his diaper to block the attack but he can still find a way around it

Grandma attempting to burp Grant, which he doesn't like to do.

This is one of our first family photos, taken a couple days after coming home from the hospital. This must have been when he was still a sleepy-head.

Grant occasionally likes to sleep all stretched out.

He already takes after his father, Grant enjoys a good hair twirling. Hopefully this won't lead to premature baldness.

Grant and dad, just hanging out.

This picture was taken after his second bath at home, I guess we made no improvements over the first.

Again, Grant enjoying a good hair twirling and some light reading.

Okay, enough with the pictures already!

Grant loves the nice infant seat Tracie, Troy, and Robyn got us. It is great, thanks so much!

Grant is here!

Grant Douglas Wood arrived at 11:08 am on Friday May 11th. Ryan and I went to the hospital on Thursday night so they could put in a catheter to help me dialate and which also started labor. At 5:00 the next morning they started the pitocin and he was here 6 hours later. He is completely healthy and we were able to go home Sunday morning. My mom was able to stay with us through this past Wednesday which was very helpful. Since then we've been taking it one day at a time, which mainly revolve around feeding, changing diapers and clothes, and trying to take naps. He is such a sweet little boy and we are completely in love with him.

Poor little Grant right after birth. He was slightly swollen and bruised and had the most perfect frown, it was pretty funny and really cute. I'm not sure he thought there was anything funny about it.

Here he is all cuddled and in his elf hat. He was feeling a little better at this time.

A happy mom and dad with an unhappy little baby.

Grant is enjoying the boppy while I try a firm burping hand.

Grant liked talking with Grandma and wishes she could come back.

Here is the cute crib bedding set I got from my work shower. We really like the little sheep jumping over the fence, maybe the little guy will learn early to count sheep and sleep through the night!

My clothes are running out of room!

Look what a good father he'll be, he's cooed that bear right to sleep! The Robinson's are letting us borrow their Bjorn to see if the baby will like it, I know Ryan already does!

We went to Weaver Dairy Farms to get some ice cream and hang out with the cows. They were right next to the fence until we came by and then they moved out of picture range. They don't cotton to no bipeds on their turf!

That tummy is not just from eating too much ice cream!

Today is actually Ryan's last final and then he has a two week break from school. We're hoping the little guy decides to join us in the next two weeks before Ryan starts back up again. I'm due in 9 days but it sounds like it's going to be up to the baby when he's going to come, the docs don't seem too keen on inducing. Until then, we're going to try to go out and do things we won't be able to easily do once the baby is here (even though there's not many things I can easily do now!) I'm sure the next post will have some baby pictures in it!