First Time in the Ocean

Jennise's Baby Shower

Shawn, Graysen and I headed to East Bernard to enjoy a relaxing weekend at Nikki's Dad's house and celebrate the upcoming arrival of Hayden Joelle Richardon Lesak.

Nikki and I arrived at Riverside Hall the night before to start making food and planning out the decorations. We forgot a few things at the house so Shawn brought them to us and then nicely helped out.

 The next morning the rest of the hostesses arrived and we finished getting ready. 

 Aunt Jennise and I share a similar feeling on being the center of attention so Uncle Kyle came to help out with gift opening.

 After the shower we went to see Nikki's Dad at his field.

 We loved playing in the cotton.

 After that we showed G our Extreme Makeover house.

 

Play Date

Graysen had a play date with her friend Anna Claire today.

When your babysitter is from California...

your child learns things like dude. I love this video. And yes, she was out of her bath for one minute without a diaper and peed on the floor. Oh, that kid.

Dear Graysen,

Mommy intended to write this letter for the last 3 months. I have been keeping "cliff notes" in my phone and have just had a difficult time sitting down to actually write it. How can parents properly express the love they feel for the joy a child brings to them? How can your Mommy, who isn't a great writer, tell you the joy she felt just tonight when she walked by your little shoes on the counter and fought back the urge to rush upstairs and pick you up from your crib and give you the biggest hug? Just a picture from Stephanie when I am at work makes me want to rush home and smell your head and listen to your magical laugh. Our first year (14 1/2 months because I procrastinated) of your life have been beyond what I envisioned. I thought I knew what it would be like-I could never have predicted it all. I knew we would love you without condition. I hoped you would be happy and cute and love everyone like your Dad. I hoped you would have my determination and people pleasing. We couldn't have imagined how much of all of that you are. You love an audience. When you meet new people you are determined to make them happy. You will wave, and laugh, and politely stomp (or not so politely touch) until you get the smile you want. When we are at dinner you have more fun with the people next to us than you do with your actual parents. I love watching people smile at you.
Eating
You-my dear baby girl LOVE food-all of it. The only thing I have seen you turn down is avocado and occasionally eggs. I have lots of pictures of you reaching up at the refrigerator but will spare them in this post and save them for later.
Sleep
We are so blessed with your sleeping schedule NOW. Up until 10 months you still woke up twice during the night. One night you decided to sleep through, and since then you are a 7:45 to 7:45 sleeper. Listening to you wake-up is one of our favorite things. You spend about 30 minutes in your crib in imaginary land. There are some deep conversations that go on between you, blankey, and your sheep. I am pretty sure ya'll have solved the world economic crisis-you just can't express it. You giggle and talk and we sent at the monitor watching it all and laughing.
Teeth
We have something you are slow at. At almost 15 months you still only have six teeth. We had one week of bad teething and I am not looking forward to the future rounds.
Diapers
We think you are going to be an easy potty trainer. Thanks to your cloth diapers you have never had diaper rash. Also thanks to your cloth diapers (I think) you have pooped in the bath time..wait for it...8 times. I don't know anyone that has had a baby who has even come close to that number. You also pee on the floor if you are allowed more than a minute without the diaper on. I am hopeful that this, as well as your love of toilet playing, will translate into early potty training.
Activity
You took your first steps on your 9 month birthday and since 10 months you have been RUNNING. You only have one speed-GO. In the last couple of weeks you have actually paid attention to the TV for about 5 minutes a day. Apparently you share our love of the Olympics. It is exhausting to watch you in the living room. You rush from toy to toy with the occasional run to us to solve a problem. If I sit on the floor with you then you sometimes grab and book and back into my lap for me to read it to you. We last 4 or 5 pages and you are off again.
Health
We have yet to take the thermometer out of it's package. You are a healthy baby girl. The only time we have ever had to go to the doctor turned into a crazy ride down to Texas Children's, but you just had 24 hour bug. I realized the other day that I haven't had to call the doctor yet. Google has solved all my questions. What did our parents do without it?

You are growing and becoming a little person I could watch all day. Every hour awake brings new discoveries, words, and actions. My current favorite word is bubbles. You like to shake bottles until bubbles appear on the surface and then yell BUBBLES.

We are a happy little family unit. My heart bursts with happiness watching you and Daddy together. You are already such a Daddy's girl, and he is without a doubt, wrapped around your finger. On the days we are in town we have a schedule. I love the pattern of it. I wake up and can't wait to get you out of your crib and start a new day.
Love,
Daddy and Mommy

The Current Favorite Toy

We were over at a friend's house and Graysen played with their toy car for a long time in the backyard. She doesn't play with anything for more than 5 minutes so Shawn and I went to Toy's r Us to buy her one the minute we had a chance. While she was napping and I was reading, he put the car together in the living room, and then covered it up with a blanket so she could be surprised. I thought this was really cute, and it also gave me a glimpse into my future of how much Daddy is going to spoil her. He was so excited for her to wake-up so he could show her. As soon as she saw a wheel she started giggling.

A 4th of July Cutie

One minute alone and this happens...

 I wonder where this will lead?

How could I be mad with a smile like that?

I was just checking him out

Graysen hadn't seen her friend Connor in a few weeks.

 "He is still cute."

 "I really want to touch those teeth."

 "What just happened?"

 "I didn't mean to do it."

A Weekend with lots of Firsts

G had her first road trip across state lines. We left at 6 thinking she would sleep. This was the first picture. Total time slept in the car on the way there - 45 minutes. We had a fun time and I can't wait until she is older and we get to play road trip games and plan scavenger hunts 

 Shawn had the famous turtle soup for the first time at Commander's Palace. I tried a bite but couldn't get the imagine of a cute turtle swimming around out of my head.

 First taxi ride

 First carousel ride

 Her first visit to a museum - she clearly LOVED it.

 Especially when Daddy wouldn't buy her the jewels.

 First time getting Mardi Gras beads

 First time to try white truffle risotto

 and she clearly is our child-she LOVED it

 First time to order room service

 Our first experience with a spilled sippy cup of milk all over the diaper bag

 First buggy ride

 Our first time to see Graysen get scared. The culprit?  A large tyrannosaurus rex that swiveled his head and growled at her. I think she got upset because he reminded her of Chris Bosh.

First time to play in a fancy hotel

and play she did

 This bellman was her buddy - knew her name in the first 5 minutes and loved seeing her everyday. He gave her a rubber ducky from the hotel on the way out. The staff at our hotel really made our trip great. 

First (and last) time eating with bugs at our table

 Our first time in a butterfly garden

I had to share this video- she almost made it home without crying.