Sunday, September 15, 2013

Feed burner not working

Apparently, when you post too many pictures and words on an individual post...feedburner will not send out an email to your subscribers. This is a short post to test and see if it will send out an email to you all. Please visit the webpage by clicking the following link for the new update "41 weeks"  http://richardsfamilyreader.blogspot.com/

Also check out the updated picture of 365 shades of Gray :)
http://richardsfamilyreader.blogspot.com/p/365-shades-of-gray.html

Saturday, September 14, 2013

Week 41 Grayson is 10 months!!!

Grayson update:
Whoa! It has been nearly a month since I have last posted. I have been super busy since Grayson is now on the verge of walking. He has officially taken 6 steps on his own without falling. He is getting quite fast and moves around very smoothly. His little play area which is gated off with a door and couch. The gate is to block the TV, dvd player, and entertainment center.  It has been working out great since now this is his safe area and completely childproofed! The toy chest is covering the vent (Oregon is weird and has them on the ground). He was pulling the vent off and looking down the whole. We've heard people say that their babies have thrown toys, food, and about everything and anything they can down there.  He loves to walk along the couch, gate, walker, toy chest, toys, ...anything really. He can stand by using virtually anything that is slightly off the ground. It is amazing! He seems to change daily. 
Here are a few pictures of him playing:

 Enjoying my walker and his toy that he use to use when he was a little baby..it is not a walker toy!
 
 Fitting between the couches and coasters are ways G likes to have fun!

 
 In the collage picture Grayson is under the table, playing with a gatorade bottle and coasters! He also enjoys looking outside of the window!
 Just laying around and playing!
 Grayson loves to try and play with the computer


 These pictures were taken of Grayson by Stacey...the daycare person...She is so sweet and said this is one of his favorite toys!

Grayson is trying to grab something off the couch...he is on his tippy toes. He also enjoys banging his car on Matt's old toy chest!

Grayson was bending completely over and biting his leg and making noises on his leg...he is soo silly
 Playing with our neighbor, Van!
 looking out the window...so much fun! :)
Grayson was excited to see his buddy, Blake's new house

 
Cruising along the gate........................... and reading a trashy magazine...silly baby!

Eating
Grayson still thoroughly enjoys eating. He is starting to exert his independence and wants to feed himself with the spoon and just about anything. He is doing very well with eating his pouches on his own and spills very little if anything. He loves drinking water out of his sippy cups and does the best with the straw sippy.  He has 3 1/2 teeth going on 6. I have a picture below of his teeth. His top teeth are just about completely in. He is starting to chew and mash his food in his mouth. G and I are working on the spoon thing. I load it with food about 1/2 way through the jar (this is when he starts grabbing at it) and I hand it to him. Most of it gets into his mouth. We are giving him more and more table food as well. He really likes anything I am eating.
 



Helping...
Grayson loves going over to Doug and Leiloni's and helping them do things. I have a picture of him with Leiloni hanging out with her while Doug paints and a picture of his on the ladder looking at the paint brush wanting to help Doug paint...or eat the brush..who knows ;) 

We have said this many times, but I will say it again. Having such  great neighbors that are friends and are like family is just a huge blessing. Leiloni has watched Grayson for me several times so I can teach a couple of night classes (Zumba). She is the only other person besides Matt and I to put G down. It is so nice to know we have someone so close that loves G like we do and helps us out. It nice too because she is also a great friend to talk to and is also very crafty......something I aspire to be! Doug also decided to teach me to mow the yard..Yes, I am spoiled and have never mowed the lawn. In my defense, I have a dad and a brother that did it when I was growing up, and this is the first yard we have had. Matt had been taking pretty good care of it, but got very busy with work and was unable to mow for a while. It was really not as bad as I thought it would be, but he also has a power mower.



 Random, but fun pictures













Kisses
Grayson has learned how to give kisses. If you say kisses to him and make the kissing face and sound to him..he will come down and open his mouth to give you a big wet kiss. It is quite cute! He is also a pretty good little hugger :)


 

Mean Granny
This is a funny picture I took of Grayson Facetiming with my mom...He had just woken up and she had called us. She was really excited to see him so she said his name really loud. Since he just woke up he was feeling extra sensitive...He started crying so my mom made this face to mimic him. You can see what he thought of it! Poor sweet boy!
Tammy Update
 I am doing well. I am now teaching 3 Zumba classes a week. I have picked up a few subbing jobs and have taught as many as 5 in a week. My body was a little sore, but it is great to know I can still teach several classes and not die :) 

I am also starting to branch out and do more things. I am reading a book for book club and going to a scarf making night soon. There is also a Zumba class (3 hours) only for those who teach Zumba and going with a fellow zumba friend. It is at night so G will be asleep and Matt will be home :) Matt and I were also able to go to a Team Dinner, which we haven't been able to do for several months. It was very nice and we look forward to the next one :) I have taken over on planning them, since the person who was in charge of it is a resident, like Matt, and very busy!

Planning Grayson's birthday party is starting to happen. It will be Winnie the Pooh themed, of course.

I am still enjoying every minute of staying home with G. He learns and grows so much everyday and I am glad I get to share that with Matt daily with pictures and texts. I do miss teaching and hope to go back someday in one way or another, but for now this is more than enough to take up my time :)


  
G and I before some workouts after some good morning naps :)

Matt Update




 I have been working rather hard over the last month including 3 weeks in the intensive care unit at our university hospital which is one of the more mentally, physically, and emotionally draining rotation.  We take care of the sickest patients and also get transfers from other hospitals of their sickest patients for therapies that are only available at large medical centers or because the diagnosis is still unclear.  I felt much more comfortable this time around during this rotation in part due to one year under my belt but my prior rotation last year was very useful as well.  I had another standard week of clinic following that which was preceded by a 3 day weekend for labor day.  Currently, I am working on the malignant hematology and bone marrow transplant service as an elective rotation by choice.  As I am interested in malignant hematology and considering whether I would like to do bone marrow transplant, this has been a great rotation so far.  My rotation during 4th year of medical school at UCSD was very instrumental for this rotation as I already am familiar with some of the idiosyncrasies of this unit and the jargon associated with these matters.

Watching Grayson change is such an exciting time.  As Tammy wrote, he is walking a few steps now and every day seems to bring about a new "first" which is exciting.  I am so lucky to have Tammy who is the greatest mother.  She is constantly sending me pictures and videos of Grayson while I am working which lets me experience things that I am missing at work.  It is a welcome and celebrated distraction during the hard days in the hospital.  I do not know what I would do without her and I know that I would not have as happy and healthy of a son as I do, without her hard work.  We are starting to look forward to his birthday and a trip to El Paso over the week of Thanksgiving, which should be exciting.  Meanwhile, we will continue to enjoy the growing, smiling, babbling, and rapidly mobile baby boy.






Tammy growing

Tammy growing
4 months to 6 months

Baby Growing

Baby Growing
2 months to 5 monrhs