Pictures!!

Dear Greyson,

So much has happened! We celebrated Christmas, we went to Florida, we missed Dada bunches! I don't think words can describe it, so here are some pictures instead!!

I love you buddy, forever and longer!

Love, Mama

Sleepless Nights

Dear Greyson,

I thought the nights of us having to get up throughout the night were past us. Your molars and other various teeth coming in plus your cold/cough had other plans. We spent about a week of not sleeping, which was awful for all of us. Thankfully you are finally back to sleeping better, but I have a feeling we aren't completely out of this yet. I will say, you now have a mouthful of teeth!

Speaking of teeth, your new favorite thing is a toothbrush! You won't let me help you brush your teeth though, which has become an issue. You need to have your teeth brushed!! Whenever I go into the bathroom, you follow me. So I set you on the toilet (lid closed) and get a toothbrush wet with water and give it to you. You will sit there are long as I let you just chewing on that toothbrush. I brush my teeth quite a few times a day now so I can model for you how to move the brush around in your mouth. You are getting much better about it. You don't just chew on the bristles anymore! We still have quite a bit of work to do on it though!

I now keep a toothbrush in the freezer. Sounds strange, but between your awful teething plus your mild obsession with toothbrushes, I figured a frozen toothbrush would be the best thing for you! Boy was I right! You can put the cold bristles right on your sore little gums. The only bad thing about it is, it doesn't stay cold for very long. You don't seem to mind too much though.

Words!! My oh my do you say a lot now! Not only are you just jibbering, but you jibber with purpose! You know where your nose is, and say "nooooooooose" while pointing. Something funny you do, we ask you where your eyes are and you would point to ears and say "iyyyyyyyys"! EVERY.SINGLE.TIME! It's really funny! Hopefully you figure out soon that your eyes are on the front of your face and your ears are on the side! You can say Sami (Mimi) and you say "eee eee eee" for a monkey. Your favorite thing to say is Big B! If you see a picture of Brenden you get so excited and say "Big B!!!" You also say eat, kitty, Digger, down, powder, what did you do, what dat (what's that), there, out and even more that I can't think of off the top of my head. It's so fun when you learn new words!

Bath time continues to be a favorite past time of yours. After dinner I'll say, "Greyson do you want to take a bath?" and you take off running for the bathtub! You love to dump water on your head, stick your face in the water and blow bubbles. You laugh so hard when we squirt you with water with the bath squirters! You have finally figured out how the bath squirters work and often get us back! But you always hand us one, too, so we can squirt each other. Getting you out of the tub is not so easy though. Literally you will play in that tub until all the water is completely gone, and then we have to wait a few more minutes while you flop around in the empty, slippery tub.

I love you buddy, forever and longer!

Love, Mama

Jibber Jabber Jibberish

Dear Greyson,

HSJdjwnodhfakjdnajkdafhejcnc;asjdfhnfnfakjsdn...This is what you sound like, all.the.time. And when you do it, you do it in the sweetest little voice. It's so cute! Dada swears you are trying to tell us something because a lot of times you will repeat yourself over and over, same random consonant- vowel combinations. This evening, Grandma was laying on the floor and you crouched down in front of her and got inches from her face and started "talking". She laughed so hard because you were so serious. When Jason and Libby took Brenden upstairs to feed him dinner, you went up to the opening from the basement and started yelling up at them. I can only assume you wanted your buddy to come back down to play.

Holy lots of teeth! On the top you have your left and right central incisors (front teeth), left and right lateral incisors (teeth next to the front teeth), and the left and right first molars. On the bottom you have the left and right incisors, the right lateral incisor is in the process of coming up and the left lateral incisor has broken through. You also have both left and right bottom first molars coming up. Poor guy! I don't know when all this happened, but it sure explains your mood swings lately. Here I was under the impression that teeth came up one at a time. You sure proved me wrong.

Hi! Hi! Hi! This is probably my favorite thing you do now. You say "Hi!" in your sweet little voice, lots of times waving when you do it, and with a big grin. We say it back and it becomes a game, saying it to each other over and over. We know when you are ready to get up from a nap or in the morning because instead of crying (which means you need to sleep longer) you give us a big grin and a "Hi!"

Go? This is also a recent thing you do. When someone leaves the room or you can't find something, you hold your hands out with your palms up and say, "go?" We are trying to get you to fill in the blanks by saying for you, "where did Dada go?" or "where did sippy go?" to help give you the words you need. You are learning so much so fast! It's so fun and exciting when you learn new things. We decided that you are ready to learn more signs, so we are going to teach you eat, which you are already starting to pick up. I think the next sign will be please.

Ohhh the bink. I cannot get rid of that darn bink. You want the darn thing all the time. You have even started getting into the diaper bag, where we have a paci pod, open it up to get one. When it's diaper time, as soon as we walk into your room you say, "beeeeenk!" I have no idea how we are going to stop using one.

Oh, something really exciting happened today! 2 out of the 3 times you pooped, as soon as it happened you pointed to your diaper and said, "uh-oh". Yes, recognizing poop is very exciting! Dada and I are toying around with possibly getting you a potty chair for Christmas. Not that we have ANY expectations of you using it yet, but we can have it around and you can practice sitting on it.

Cute story, you have been so goofy lately! Thanks to Dada, you think (and so does Dada) it's hysterical when you smack the sides of your head saying "ow ow ow". Awesome, I know. You also make us laugh when you walk around, waving your hands in the air, shaking your head from side to side, jabbering and yelling "baaabwaaaabwaaabwaaaa"! It's pretty cute!

I love you buddy, forever and longer!

Love, Mama

Belly!!!

Dear Greyson,

"Where's your belly!?" This is a new game we play and it is hysterical! We will say to you, "Where is your belly?" and you will get a huge grin on your face and lift up your shirt. Often times you want us to tickle, kiss or blow raspberries your tummy. I think the picture pretty much sums up how much you love this game!

I have officially accepted your sweet little head. It looks so much better than when we started. Some days I look at it and think it looks perfect and that there is nothing different about it. Other times, I still notice the slight irregular shape. Everyone tells me they don't notice anything, that I'm over-analyzing. So, I have decided to do my best to stop focusing on your head shape. I have decided to accept you just the way you are, which is absolutely perfect!

"NO" is still your favorite word. We can ask you pretty much anything and we always get the same response, which is no. Sometimes you mix it up and say, 'uh-uh". Regardless, it's pretty much 'no' to everything, be it a bath, snack, kiss, or drink.

We bought you an actual toothbrush. We couldn't use the one that fits over my finger any longer because you kept biting me. You love having your teeth brushed. Well, it's more you love holding and sucking on the toothbrush. You always follow me into the bathroom and demand a toothbrush. I gave you an extra toothbrush for you to play with in the bath tub, which you thought was terrific. You played with that more than you did your actual bath toys. You don't like it much when I take the toothbrush to actually brush your teeth, though. You got pretty upset with me this morning, but I will say, it was much easier to brush your teeth when you were yelling at me! I could actually see your teeth and what I was doing. I try and brush your teeth pretty quickly because I want you to enjoy this good habit. I definitely don't want to discourage your enjoyment in brushing, which is why I usually give you a toothbrush when we are in the bathroom. I let you watch me brush my teeth, too, while you are playing with your toothbrush. I'm hoping you'll mimic me the more you watch me.

You become pretty frustrated when you can't do something and when we can't understand what you want/need. I feel so bad, because I can tell you know what you want, but you don't have the words to say it. We try our best to help you out and give you the words, but sometimes we just can't help you. When this happens you get so mad. You throw things, hit, and cry. It's so sad. Luckily for us, you don't dwell on things, so most times we can put you in a good mood fairly quickly.

I love you buddy, forever and longer!

Love,

Mama

Holy Moly!

Dear Greyson,

Holy moly am I really bad at keeping this up to date. I think about topics and things I want to add all the time, but then I don't! Sorry bud!

Anyways, let's see...you have a whole host of new words! You can now say, go, hi, bye, ball, no, yeah, banana, more, done, milk, gone, bink, nigh nigh, woof, meow, peep peep (chick), snort (pig), mmmmm (cow), mama, dada, papa, and a few more that I just can't think of right now. It's so exciting and fun when you learn a new word. Gramma and I taught you peep peep just the other day, and when you say it, it's in this really high pitched voice. Sooo cute! Not only are you talking more, but you understand some sign language and use it yourself. Granted, you didn't really start using it until you were saying the words, but still! You know the signs for more, done, and milk. We use milk and any drink interchangeably. I don't know if that if correct, but it works for us.

You also got two molars in. Those were fun! You were a drool-y, crabby, feverish, mess. My last post was about having to pick you up from Cindy's because you were sick. I thought you had the flu, but the next day you were perfectly fine and that was when we noticed the new molars. I think you might be teething again, because you have been really drool-y again this week. Luckily there haven't been any fevers for you this time around.

We went down to Cincinnati for one weekend. We baby-sat cousin Brenden while Aunt Libby and Uncle Jason went to a wedding. That was lots of fun! You and B took a bath together. It was the first of many, I'm sure. We also got to spend some time with Uncle Dave and Andy. You just love them! They couldn't get enough of your cute little, "bye" and kisses. We'll get to see them again next week! The trip down and back from Cinci was probably the best road trip we've ever had. You watched Yo Gabba Gabba the entire time. I don't think we heard a peep out of you! Mama and Dada got pretty sick of listening to it, but you were so happy so we just dealt with it.

Gramma and Papa were gone most of October visiting Aunt Lindsey and baby Isaac. You missed them very much while they were gone. When they got home you were so excited and did a little happy dance and squealed when you saw them. You are very much a Papa's boy (sorry Gramma). Yesterday Papa was raking leaves out back when we got home from Cindy'sand you saw him and made a bee-line for him. I picked you up and carried you to the front steps and once I set you down you turned around and booked it towards him. I gave in and followed you to him. You kept picking up leaves and throwing them in the air. It was cute, but of course I couldn't get a cute picture because every time I would try you would stop.

Grandma and Gampa came to visit 2 weeks ago. They picked you up from Cindy's, at first you were a little unsure but you warmed up pretty quick. Once you did, you were Gampa's little sidekick. He would take you for walks, pick you up whenever you wanted and overall spoiled you rotten. Grandma tried to spoil you too, but unfortunately you pretty much only wanted one person.

You went through a phase of being terrified of the bath tub. It came about because you were in the tub with KB one night and he pooped in the tub. Of course it happened right after I had already lathered you all up, so Dada took you into Gramma and Papa's bathroom and put you in their shower. Bad idea. It was apparently a very traumatic experience with you because we went about 2-3 weeks of being terrified of the bath tub. That was a long 2 weeks because we still had to bathe you. Bath time went from being the most fun part of our nights to the most dreaded. We finally got you over it by Dada literally getting into the tub with you a few different times. It was so cute and I of course had to take pictures (don't worry, Dada was clothed, he just knelt down while wearing shorts). You still glance at the shower head sometimes with a weary look on your face, but overall you are back to enjoying the tub.

Halloween came and went. You looked so cute in your little lion costume. Grandpa Jon came trick or treating with us, which was really special. Dada and Grandpa took turns taking you up to the houses with your bucket. Lots of people commented on how cute you were and many many times you would wave bye and blow kisses as you were walking away from the houses. We also went to a Halloween parade in Rossford with Aunt Jenn and KB. That was just OK. It was right in the middle of your nap, in hindsight, we'd have skipped the parade and let you finish your nap, but what can you do? Needless to say, you did not enjoy the parade as much as I had hoped, but at least you got to wear your costume more than once!

Roar! That's also a new word/animal sound you do. We thought that since you were going to be a lion for Halloween you needed to be able to roar. You caught on really quick and love doing it. You laugh so hard at the exaggerated scared expressions we give you after you roar. Often you and I go back and forth, just roaring and giggling at each other.

One more quick story! Last night, you, Dada and I were playing on the bed before bedtime. You kept jumping on Milo and hugging and kissing him, which was adorable. At one point you reached out to kiss Milo on the nose and Milo sneezed right in your face as you were leaning in. You laughed so hard! It was disgusting and hilarious at the same time!

I love you buddy, forever and longer!

Love, Mama

MaaaaMaaaaa!

Dear Greyson,

Today I got the best thing ever from you. Today, for the first time when I walked into Cindy's to pick you up, you ran to me while yelling, "Maamaaa!" I was so excited! Best. Feeling. Ever. Sure, you always smile and run to me, but nothing beats hearing you say my name, too!

On that note, you have been all about Mama lately. I won't complain, though. I am totally eating it all up. Dada on the other hand, I think might be getting a little jealous. He got so used to you being all about him, and wanting nothing to do with me. He doesn't mind too much though, because he knows how much I am loving it. You reach for me, you wrap your little body around my legs, you say Mama all the time, you snuggle with me, I get lots of kisses, and when I'm holding you and Dada comes up and holds out his hands, often you say, "NO!" and turn towards me. I can't help it, I enjoy every second. It's been a long time coming!

Yesterday I got the dreaded phone call from the baby sitter. You had a fever and were throwing up. My poor baby! I rushed home and picked you up. We snuggled on the couch and took a nap. You didn't throw up again, but you did have a fever all evening. I was so worried about you. You woke up perfectly fine this morning and had a great day. Must have been a 12 hour bug.

You are now interested in the television. You have become obsessed with the show, Yo Gabba Gabba. When you hear the TV turn on you start shaking your fists and say, "gooooo" You also bring us the remote and shake your fists, or if the tv is on at all, you start shaking your fists and say, 'gooooo'! It's really funny. I am now slightly regretting wanting you to show interest in the TV, though because you want to watch it all the time. On the plus side, when it's on, you like to sit in my lap and lean back into me. We sing and dance together, which you finds hysterical. Dada and I get the silly songs stuck in our heads, so even when it isn't on, we're still singing the songs. It's really cute because I often hear Dada singing the songs either to you or along with the TV when no one else is around.

Gramma and Papa are in NY right now. Baby Isaac, your new cousin will be arriving hopefully tomorrow, so Gramma and Papa are with Aunt Little and Uncle Aaron to help them and play with Baby Isaac. You miss Gramma and Papa, and it's hard to remember you need to share them with your cousins!

A few weeks ago, you were looking through your photo book. You were pointing to everyone and jabbering (when we look at it together I point to everyone and say who it is), but each time you'd get to the picture of Grandma and Grandpa Williams, you'd point to Grandpa Brent you smile and say, DooDa. It was adorable. You did it probably 10 times. I had to call Grandma right away to tell her about it.

I love you buddy, forever and longer!

Love, Mama

Dipa dipa dip

Dear Greyson,

Dipa dipa dip, that is one of your many new words. Dipa dipa dip is ketchup, randomly enough. We gave you ketchup for the first time the other night and you loved it! I showed you how to dip your chicken in the ketchup (which is where dipa dipa dip came from, we sang it as we dipped) and then eat it, which you thought was the greatest. After you ran out of chicken you just started spreading the ketchup around with your hand and then licking the ketchup off. Tonight we had hamburgers. Normally you won't eat hamburger but I got out the dipa dipa dip and you chowed down. Granted, you probably ate more dipa dipa dip than hamburger, but it was more hamburger then I've even seen you eat. We have also been giving you a fork when you eat. You don't really know how to use it, but you sure do like having it!

You have a few more new words! A favorite of yours is NO! It sounds more like "naaaa" but you sure get your point across! We ask if you want to get out of the tub, "no," we ask if you want a sippy, "no", we say, It's bedtime Greyson and get, "no!" It's been fun! (Please sense the sarcasm). It's actually quite humorous this sense of independence you have gained. I have to walk away quite often because I start giggling. This isn't really a new word, but when we ask you what a dog says, you go "uff uff" and then start panting. It's really cute! We started working on kitty now. You were starting to catch on! You would stick your tongue out and make a high pitched "oooow".

Bedtime was really sweet tonight. Dada gave you your bath tonight and boy did you love that! You splashed and splashed as hard as you could! Dada and the floor were soaked. After you got out we let you run around naked for a bit. That always puts you in a goofy mood. Aunt Libby and Uncle Jason stopped by and you greeted Libby at the door, butt naked! She laughed and laughed at you. You ran out the door and waved to Uncle Jason, who also laughed at you being naked. When we made you go in you got mad at us, which made Uncle Jason really sad. They don't like hearing you cry. When it's a temper tantrum Mama and Dada just laugh though. Anyways, about your sweet bedtime...we got you in your jammies and then got out a few books to read in bed. You snuggled up against Mama while we read three books. The one book we ended up reading three times because you loved it so much. The book is called First Words and it has one picture on each page with the word written. When I turned the page to a ball, before I could say it you said, "ball". Same with orange and apple, which were both balls, and the car was a "brrrrrrrrr"along with the truck and boat! It was so neat. We showed the picture of the cat and dog and practiced our animal noises with those pages and Dada tried to get you to quack like a duck. That's a tricky one, but I think you'll get it pretty soon! Mama and Dada agreed that we really need to read to you more. You love looking at books, but normally you don't want us to read to you. Tonight you enjoyed it though! So we'll keep trying because it's so important for us to read to you and it's good bonding time! I loved that you snuggled up with me, that doesn't happen very often!

Dada is not going to like me calling you this, but you are turning into a little monkey. It's true and he cannot deny it. You climb on EVERYTHING! The couch, chairs, tables, stools, laundry baskets, boxes, you name it, you are climbing it! Cindy, your baby sitter told us that she can't leave you for a second because as soon as she does you climb onto the kitchen table! Crazy boy! What's worse is, once you are up there, you have no fear. You jump from the couch to a chair. If there is a stack of pillows nearby you just can't resist and jump on them! Mama doesn't help matters either because when you get on top of things, like the coffee table, I laugh and count to three and you jump to me. It's our favorite game! You are so smart too, because you always wait until I get to three before jumping! Sometimes you count after me and then jump on three. (No, it's not really counting, it's more of a high pitched, uhhh uhhhh huhhhhhhhhhhhh")Everyone keeps telling me, boys will be boys, welcome to the life of boys, but holy moly buddy! You don't need to climb on everything! Another super cute thing you do is when I pull out the camera to take your picture you get this goofy "cheese" smile and hold it until I snap the picture. You also like to see the pictures on the camera now after I take them and then laugh when you see the images. Silly, silly boy!

I am loving this stage you are in right now. You come up and give hugs, wrapping your whole body around my legs, you blow kisses on command, you give actual kisses and babble all.the.time. I love our little conversations we have on the way home from Cindy's. You 'talk' and then I talk back, you talk more and then laugh! Sometimes we just blow kisses back and forth the entire way home. It's the best! A super cute thing you do is when I walk in the door to pick you up, you run over to me and as soon as I pick you up you start waving and saying, 'bye' and blow kisses. It's so cute! I always laugh and tell you I need to still get all your stuff and ask Cindy about your day, but I love that you understand that it's time to go and to say bye!

I love you buddy, forever and longer!

Love, Mama