Big Boy Bed

Miles has moved up to a big boy bed. I wasn't pushing the matter but we found a deal for a bunk bed on craigslist and had to seize the opportunity. Miles seems to like it but naptimes have been a struggle. He doesn't get out of the bed, he just plays in the bed. He doesn't even get out of it in the morning and still calls for us to come get him. I am sure that will change soon enough.

Miles' bed buddy, Dog. (I call him Yukon but Miles just calls him Dog.)

We have the top bunk installed now without a mattress. It will be a good place for storage until Grant graduates which might be another year or two...

Consider this your Hallmark card...

Today Mason and I celebrate 8 years of wedded bliss... well almost. I can't say that everything has been a cake walk, or pure joy 24/7, but it has been close. We have avoided a lot of hurt that many couples have to endure. I don't know what storms lie ahead but I am confident we can weather them.
How do I know this? A few reasons why:


1. Christ is the glue that holds us together. We may go off the deep end but HIS loving-kindness endures. Christ is my sustainer. He never said it would be easy. He did say you will not go through those though times alone. God's faithfulness is not dependent on our faith (or lack thereof.) We are standing on the same foundation and that makes quite a difference.


2. Mason is my best friend. Being friends before lovers is a great way to make a relationship work in my opinion. We were high school sweethearts. He knows me better than anyone else - well, except maybe my mom and sister. He has seen me at my best and worst, and if he can handle that, then we are good. If you count the time we dated, we have been together for 13 years. In a few years we will have been together longer than we have been apart. That makes me smile. I look forward to being old and gray with him. (The gray seems to be happening sooner than the old part!)


3. I don't know anyone who is of more noble character than Mason. He is unflinching in his pursuit of truth. He is loyal and devoted. I realized early on that I could not find anyone better. I knew that he would make a great husband. One of my favorite quotes is from one of my favorite movies, When Harry Met Sally. Harry says, "when you realize you want to spend the rest of your life with somebody, you want the rest of your life to start as soon as possible." When you are 17, that poses a problem BUT that is why I hung in there. Mason wasn't convinced quite as early, but I'm glad he figured it out when he did.

Happy Anniversary Mason. 8 down. Many more to go.

Happy 9 months!

Grant is 9 mos. I can't believe it. It has passed light-speed faster than Miles' first 9 mos. I also still feel like Grant is a baby, where as when Miles was 9 mos, I thought he was becoming such a big boy. Grant will probably always be my baby. But Miles is still my baby too. Now I know what my mom meant when she would tell my sister and me that we would always be her babies (though my sister would remind me that being the younger one SHE really was the baby.)

If you think this doesn't look like Grant, you are right. This is a picture of Miles at 9 mos for comparison sake. I've said this before, but sometimes I can't tell their baby pictures apart and other times I don't know who this other baby looks like. I think they will resemble, but I don't think anyone will mistake them for twins. I also did not realize it was possible for anyone's eyes to be larger than Miles', but Grant's eyes look bigger.

We visited Dr. Rodgers for his 9 mos check-up this week. All is well - his ear is healing fine from the ruptured ear drum. He weighs 22 lbs and 10 oz, and is 29 3/4 inches long. He is not crawling yet but doc says that is normal for bigger babies. I think Grant is a "man among babies" but he is only in the 75th percentile. I figured he was more like the 95th percentile since he is wearing PJs that Miles wore back in September.

Grant is sleeping through the night fairly regularly since switching to formula - finally. I was wondering if I was doing something wrong but I guess the poor thing was just hungry. He is starting to eat more table food and wants to feed himself. He gets quite upset at dinnertime if you feed him baby food and he doesn't have something to hold and put in his mouth, even if its just his own spoon.

Grant working on some pizza crust (he only had the crust, not the pizza). I was much pickier about what Miles ate than Grant though I am still terrified of him choking, which keeps me from giving him new things as early as I probably should.

His personality is starting to show more as he is developing into a little person. Grant is more reserved - not as loud as his brother, not as open to strangers, frightened easier, and needs his mama more - but he is just as happy as Miles. He is content to sit and watch and play with his toys and has recently started patty-caking. He also has a temper that is showing its ugly little head. I don't know where he gets that from. If he does not like what you are doing, or you do the opposite of his wishes, he will let you know with some feet stomping, hand slapping and red-faced screaming but that isn't the norm.

Grant is a very sweet, very lovable baby, and that is what he will always be to me - my baby.

What's new?

Occasionally people ask me what is new with us. I rarely can think of anything to say other than, "Oh nothing. Same old. Same old." So to combat that speechless question I am coming up with a few minor "eventful" occurrences here at the Hazelwood House. So if you ask me anytime soon the dreaded question, "What's new?", this will be the response.

Our little patio beds covered in phlox. We could never keep anything alive in them until we discovered how beautiful and easy phlox was to grow. I gave up with the annuals and planted a big bed of it. It is very pretty cascading over the walls.

1. Gardening season. Though it is quite small in comparison with either of our grandparent's home gardens in the past, I feel it is an accomplishment to be proud of. We have tried our hand at this 3 years in a row with questionable results, but I have a good feeling about this year. We have tomatoes - Better Boy, Sweet 100s, Arkansas Travellers, and Mr. Stripeys; yellow squash; zucchini; okra; pole beans; and a strawberry. I also have planted a larger herb garden this year: basil, oregano, sage, and cilantro. Right now the cilantro is doing the best. I have already had to replace the basil and the sage looks as if something is nibbling it. Ask us in a few months and we will see if my optimism is still full throttle.

Miles inspecting this year's plant selection.

I really want to pass on to Miles and Grant the understanding of where food comes from and the satisfaction that growing your own food fulfills. And it tastes better than the produce you buy at the store too. I'm hoping that will be an obvious one.

It must have been a great winter for bulb plants. My Irises not only bloomed but seemed to be larger than life. The blooms were as large as my head!

2. Tooth update. I've been saying for months that Grant was teething with no results. My children have a tendency to make a liar out of me. This past week I felt a little hard smooth tooth poking its way through. One down, quite a few more to go.

Grant outside in the swing sucking on his bottom lip because his paci was displaced.

Grant at mealtime. He is eating all baby foods and we are moving on to table food. I know that at 9 mos. Miles was eating mostly table foods. Grant may be a tad behind on his eating skills.
I know. You wouldn't know it by looking at him.

Where Grant may be behind on his table manners, he is going to make up in mobility. Though we aren't crawling or scooting yet, he is quite a reacher and has started the occasional rocking. Miles hadn't showed any signs of mobility at this point. But trust me, I am not pushing it. I just think he is going to be up and around sooner than Miles.

3. Juice and TV Detox. We have taken Miles off all juice (and milk now too) due to some unpleasant diaper issues. I will spare you the details. I know you are thinking , "Whats the big deal?" But if you have stayed with Miles for more than an hour you know that JOOCE is one of his favorite words and things. To him, juice is any kind of liquid refreshment: water-juice, moo-juice, and juice-juice. I thought it was going to be a painful transition but he hasn't questioned it once. As long as he doesn't see the pitcher in the fridge, or anyone else drinking it, he is ok. Now the real-deal juice (still dilluted) is a treat instead of the norm.

Our other issue with Miles is that the boy loves TV/movies. He will sit and watch a full-length feature cartoon. I even think I could take him to a movie at the theater and he would be content sitting and watching. For a 2 year old, I don't think that is common. Since we watch non-commercial programming, I do not have any real issues with TV other than I know that he should be playing instead of sitting watching the boob tube. And that playing is essential for him to learn pretty much all the skills he needs as he grows. He still probably watches more TV than he ought to, but I've gotten to where I turn it off more. It seems to be much more painful than the juice detox. There is wailing and gnashing of teeth for just a couple of minutes but then he finds something to play with and is content.

Wailing and Gnashing of Teeth? Really? With that face? (I am pretty sure he is watching Curious George here - hence the content and satisfied look on his face.)

Peek-a-Boo ("Boo Boo" as Miles says it.)

Post-spaghetti dinner with his water-juice. I have started adding ice to his water. As simple as that seems, it adds a surprise element to his drinking experience. Whatever works...

So that is what is going on at the Hazelwood House here lately. Our calendar is filling up quickly and maybe we will have some more interesting things to post in the near future.