8 Months and 3 YO Check-Up

        Emory turns 8 months today! Since my last post at 6 months, she has learned to sit up and roll all over the place. She is just starting to try to put her knees under her or use her elbows to pull forward. She loves to try to stand and sometimes won't bend her body to sit down.

         In other news, Grady had his 3 year check-up yesterday. He was 31.5 lbs (45th %ile, but I think he lost a little weight being sick for several days before) and 37 3/4 inches (40th %ile- I think they measured him wrong last year bc he was 75th %ile then). Here is Grady on his first day of school.

Summer Fun Round-Up

  It is a full-time job to keep Grady entertained, especially in the summer! Here are some of the activities we did this summer:

Sir Grady and Sir Tyler at the Children's Museum.

A visit to Bear Hollow with Aunt Steph and Uncle Justin.

The mall playground on a rainy day.

The sketchy "festival" at the corner of Remount. We just rode this one ride. I was afraid of getting kidnapped, seeing how we were the only patrons and the carnies looked like, well,carnies. (No offense to any carnies who have happened upon this blog).

We visited our MS family and had to climb on the caboose at old train depot. Grady could not really enjoy this activity as he was afraid a real, loud train would come any minute.

We had friends come to visit!

We went apple picking.

3!

         Grady turned 3 last week, and we had at least that many celebrations. Ellen made this fabulous Disney/Pixar Cars ® cake.

          I, on the other hand, made generic "Karz" cupcakes for his other party with his friends.  

        First, the boys played at Monkey Joes...

           Then, we all went to Chick-Fil-A for dinner and cupcakes.

          On Grady's actual birthday, we had a special breakfast and then were excited to have finally gotten the 4wheeler a battery so he could ride it. Note the elation on his face. 

         I took a video, but I just kept saying, "He isn't smiling!?" Grady was a bit afraid of driving the 4wheeler and was not too interested in it. Later that day, he braved it again, and I couldn't get him off of it.  Almost every day Grady asks if he can have his birthday again and why isn't it still his birthday. 

Scenes From a Baptism

    We had most of the family in town last weekend for Emory's baptism. This is what she looked like before the bow fell off, into her spit up. 

 (Thanks for the great photos, Steph!)

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              Emory turned a half last week! While she has been working on those 2 front teeth, she has not been focusing on those motor skills. :) Still doesn't roll too much, but does like to sleep on her side. When she accidentally flips onto her stomach, you know it! She is sitting up with support and has started eating solid food. (Don't worry, we have included the exciting video below.) At her dr. appointment today, she was 26.25 in (66th%ile), 15lb 4 oz (38th%ile) and her head was 88th %ile. 

4th of July Fun!

       We spent the 4th of July with Nana and Pop and all of the cousins, aunts and uncles. Grady and Catherine celebrated their birthday early, as it is a tradition since they were born on the same date.

        Most days were spent out at the lake-- swimming, kayaking, fishing, pontoon-ing, and playing at the "beach".

     We also took Grady to Bull's Sluice to play in the river.

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       For the Fourth, we went to Hillbilly Day. The kids loved dancing to the bluegrass music. (See Nana and the kids in the background?)

So much fun together!

Look Who Found What

     Even though I just posted last week, Emory has some "new things", this week of her 5 month birthday.  First, what she learned from her brother:

           I was expecting her to wake up, but didn't hear a peep.When I peeked in her room, Houdini had escaped her swaddle and was wide awake sucking her thumb.    

     She also rolled over again, and is holding on to me (for dear life) when I hold her.  Mom says her hair is filling in a little-- I think it might be wishful thinking. She is also getting steady enough to sit up in the Bumbo. This past week she has also started becoming more distracted while nursing--wanting to see what's going on (like Grady talking, the TV, or some other noise).  
     In other news, Grady has been having a lot of fun at his first time in VBS!