Visit from the Grandparents

With Grandma Linda and Grandpa Willy in town we had something planned, either big or small for every day.

Sunday morning we headed to Cracker Barrel for a great breakfast. You can’t beat their pecan pancakes! After that, we came home and played until the kids’ naps. After naps we headed to the mall for a bit. Samantha ended up playing more than anything while Travis, Blake and the Grandparents looked around a bit.

Monday was special Samantha and mommy time. If I have something to do that I can’t take both kids, I’ll often leave Samantha with Travis and take Blake along so Samantha and I never get to do anything together. We started off our morning with a trip to Starbucks. Samantha loves going inside, so we went inside and she got her special milk. We then ran across the street to Barnes and Noble. I had envisioned us looking at lots of books, etc. but we walked into the kids area and there was a train table all set up with lots of trains. Samantha absolutely loves those tables so we hung out there for quite a bit while I tried to entice her to look at some books. We did pick up a book about our favorite duck, Little Quack, and I got a couple of activity books for the winter.

After that I took her to the Gymnastics Center of Chattanooga. They have a Buddy and Me class that we tried. The kids started out by climbing through a foam pit then down a deep ditch and up the other side. While there Samantha balanced on a balance beam, swung from a beam, did a bear crawl on parallel bars, jumped on a trampoline and a couple of other things. She loved it and has asked to go back.

Tuesday we headed down to meet Travis for lunch. The kids were a bit off and we went to Panera which had just opened down in Dalton so it was a hectic lunch but we survived. Afterwards we showed the grandparents were Travis worked. Samantha begged to go in but we didn’t that day.

Wednesday Grandma Linda went with us to the zoo. Our mom’s group also decided to meet there so we visited the zoo with our friends. It was fun to show Grandma all of the animals that were there. Samantha was disappointed that the carousel was broken but she did get to sit on the animals anyways.

Thursday we started “Lap Sit” at the library. It’s a program specifically designed for kids 18 months-3 years. I think Samantha is going to love it. Teacher Shelley is very animated and brings lot of surprises for the kids. I only with the program was longer than 6 weeks! The theme for this part is the jungle and I know Samantha will love talking about all of the different animals.

After library time we went down a visited dad again. This visit went much better. The kids did great and we got decent naps when we got home.

Travis’s boss, Dennis, found out that his parents were in town for the week and that he doesn’t get to see them often so Dennis let Travis have Friday afternoon off. When the kids woke up from their naps, everyone headed out. Samantha, Travis and the grandparents went to Pump It Up while I took Blake to run a few errands. Samantha, of course, had a great time and I think everyone else did too.

Sabbath was a big day for Blake as we had him dedicated. We were so glad to be able to share the day with Travis’ parents and our friends. We just with the rest of our family could have joined us. Bebe and Papa had planned a vacation for this time over a year ago and it couldn’t be switched. The day was great. After church and Sabbath School, Scott, Christy and Kathryn along with Tracy and Cheryl were able to join us for lunch. It was nice to visit with them in the afternoon.

We were sad to see the grandparents leave this morning. The kids really enjoyed playing with them and getting to spend some quality time with them this week.

Special mom and Samantha day...

The zoo...

Blake's dedication...

Other shots throughout the week...

Here's a little video of Blake smiling and laughing...

To the Aquarium

Monday morning we got a phone call from Christopher’s mom, Aimee. She wanted to know if we would go to the Tennessee Aquarium with them. What a great opportunity!! Luckily we were almost ready to go so we met them downtown.

Samantha loved it! She talked about the penguins, butterflies, sharks, turtles, the divers in the tank and the water outside that she got to play in. This time I think that she really noticed the animals and took it all in. I took the stroller for Blake but Samantha walked the entire time and did so well. I was so proud of her because she stuck with me really well and I only had to remind her a time or two that she couldn’t run off. Thanks again for the invitation Aimee and Christopher.

We did a little extra housecleaning this week in anticipation of Grandma Linda and Grandpa Willy arriving. Travis always asks why I stress when people come and I think it’s partly in my personality but it’s also a good excuse to push myself to get some extra things done like washing the windows, etc.

Yesterday (Sabbath) Blake seems to have conquered sitting up. He has really come a long way even since last Sunday when he really couldn’t do it. Now he will sit up for several minutes unassisted.

It seems he’s really fighting those teeth. I’m afraid we’re in for the long-haul because I can’t even see any bumps yet. He is a bit more fussy than usual and has developed this high-pitched scream. It isn’t too bad unless you’re in church or a place where everything is supposed to be relatively quiet.

This past week he was waking up around 5 every morning. I was still fighting off the last of my cold and needed every bit of sleep I could get. Most mornings he would go back to sleep after I fed him but there were a couple where I worked on him for a bit and he wouldn’t go to sleep. I finally laid him down in his crib and wrapped him up and left him. He eventually went to sleep.

Samantha has had another pretty good week. We’re really working on a couple of things but I think that comes with each child. I was trying to take a video of Blake rolling over (he wouldn’t, of course) and she asked to see the camera. She wanted to take a picture so I let her. She would have gone crazy if I hadn’t taken it away from her but this is what she came up with…

For her birthday Tracy and Cheryl had given her a pair of dress-up shoes which she calls her Sabbath shoes. She was bound and determined to find them this Sabbath and wanted to wear them to church. I told her that she couldn’t but could wear them to the car and I would change them when we got to church. While driving there, she asked if I had on my Sabbath shoes. I told her yes. She asked if I was going to wear mine inside church. I told her I was. I saw where this was going right from the beginning-she was trying to convince me to let her wear her shoes in. Oh, the things that she thinks of.

Grandma Linda and Grandpa Willy came in on Sabbath and Samantha has loved every moment since they got here. She has successfully corralled Grandma Linda into spending hours playing outside, mostly in the sandbox. I’m sure we have a fun week ahead of us.

The Aquarium...

Sitting all by himself...

On a totally unrelated note--a shout-out to my brother, Paul, who we are especially proud of. He starts fire-fighting school tomorrow for the city of Madison, WI. It’s been a dream of his to be a full-time fire fighter (he’s volunteered for years) and a long road to getting accepted but he finally made it. Whenever we see a firetruck I ask Samantha who our firefighter is and she shouts, “Uncle Paul!” Good luck Uncle Paul.

Blake had his 6 month check-up on Thursday. We found out that he weighs 16 lbs, 4 oz and is 25 1/2" long. This puts him near the 50% percentile for both height and weight. The doctor was a bit concerned at first because this percentage was 25% less than at his 4 month check-up. After a bit of thought I mentioned that his 4 month appointment was actually at 5 months and she probably charted it wrong. That was the case which made him in the 50% percentile last appointment also.

He got another good, clean bill of health and we learned that his lower gums are swollen. It definitely gives us an answer as to why he's always got something in his mouth and he is constantly drooling. He got 3 shots but now we are 2 months behind on the HiB shot as they were out of them again. I need to start calling to see when they have another shipment so that we can get caught up on them.

While there the doctor suggested that Samantha go ahead and get vaccinated for the flu so she her FluMist spray.

That same afternoon Kathryn came over the play. The girls really enjoyed playing in the pool and sandbox. We even went down and fed Bell, the horse, some apples. We were so glad that they were able to stay for supper and have Scott join us. Unfortunately Travis had to work and didn't get home until 9:00 that night so he missed them.

Just this weekend Blake has really figured out the rolling thing. Today he rolled several times to get somewhere. He was really getting frustrated and not being able to do anything so I think it's given him motivation. This week he's also gotten his knees up and his bottom off of the ground so he's working on getting that down-pat to.

Samantha's had a great week-she has really become a little singer. One of her favorites is "Zacchaeus". She doesn't miss a word in that song. She also has several songs memorized from Sabbath School and this weekend was especially talking about Sabbath School, maybe because we missed it.

We missed Sabbath School because dad wanted to go on a hike and picnic. He loves Cloudland Canyon so we went there Sabbath. We went down to only one of the waterfalls but it was enough with both kids. I put Blake on my back and Travis ended up carrying Samantha most of the way both up and down. Afterwards we played on the playground and ate a picnic lunch. It was a great way to spend the Sabbath.

This week we are getting ready for company-Grandma Linda and Grandpa Willy will be coming into town next Sabbath and we're counting down the days.

Cloudland Canyon...

Kathryn came over for a play date...

Random shots...

BeBe and Papa sent a ballerina outfit for Samantha's new doll, Brianna so Samantha had to put on her tutu also...

It seems we are settling into a quiet routine now that Travis is back to work. We generally run to WalMart and the Post Office some time during the week. On Wednesdays we go to a mom’s group at our church. It isn’t anything structured but I love talking with other moms and knowing that I’m not the only one going through things. It has also helped me develop new friendships that I really enjoy.

We have been asking Travis when we could visit his work and he finally agreed that we could visit this week. The only day that worked out was Friday so we went a bit early to shop at a couple of stores then went to the nursing home where Travis is working. The residents were in love with the kids, of course, because they don’t get to see kids that often. Samantha was definitely out of her element and didn’t speak a word the entire time we were there but she did well. I am hoping it helps her know where Travis works because she is always asking where he is. After a short tour and meeting a few people we went out to eat. Afterwards we came back and used dad’s office to feed Blake.

Travis has been getting home about 5:00 every evening which allows us plenty of time in the evenings to do something together. We’ve been using this time to walk the nearby greenway. It helps us all get a little exercise and do something as a family.

The kids are doing great. We can’t believe that Blake turned 6 months on Sabbath. He is such a cutely and just started to blow “raspberries” yesterday. We are continuing to feed him solids and Thursday I gave him some green beans. Finally today he started to open his mouth for the food.

Samantha is a big help in the kitchen. She often helps me set the table for supper and if I’m cooking I will wait for her so that she can help me out. She loves dumping the flour, sugar, etc., into whatever we are making.

Cooking with mom...

Apparently the pancakes this morning were very bright...

Enjoying green beans...

Blake has found a new toy, he loves this little dog that plays "Old Mcdonald."...

Random shots...