Reading & Kissing

We've established that books are Griff's favorite way to entertain and be entertained right now...here's a cute video of him last weekend at breakfast w/ Great Gma Lea, Great Gpa Henry and Grandma Cathy "reading" his new book of words...you can hear him tell us what some of the things are ("choo choo, etc) but you'll also hear a lot of his editorial comments, squeals, and singing.

And he's also big into kissing and hugging. If you ask for a hug, he will (usually) come over and give it to you, along with pats on the back, and he loves to blow kisses and say "MUAH MUAH".

Grandmas and a Grandpa

Last weekend Grandma Cathy and Great Gma Lea and Great Grandpa Henry came to visit...we had a great time. Griffin loved the attention and kept grabbing books and taking them to (especially Grandpa's) laps, climbed in, and handed the books over to be read.

Weekend Craft

Some changes are going to be taking place in Griff's day-to-day routine in a few weeks: he's going to be a pre-school dropout at a very early age. :) We've decided that instead of Goddard, we are going to go the nanny-route from here on out. And to make it even better, Griff is going to get to spend every single day with his best bud Ty, because we are going to nanny-share with the Lackes (only Ty, Luke is going to a big-boy program).

So we've been doing some preparing around the house for the big change...I'm ordering a kiddo table from Pottery Barn Kids to put in the kitchen area where the boys can eat and have art-time, AND I've been organizing Griff's toys. Because Griff's toys are primarily in baskets, I thought long and hard at how to best label them so that the boys can learn with the nanny how to help pick up, and that all of the toys have a certain place. After many trips to Michaels and Target, my final template was a plain wooden plaque that I painted, decorated, lacquered so nothing would peel off, and then tied on to each basket with suede strips. I was pretty pleased with the outcome and wanted to share. Below are a few examples of what I did...from dinosaurs to bugs, books, art supplies, and just general boy junk, now Ty and Griff have a visual of where to put the "stuff" after playtime.

Had to have a basket for miscellaneous boy stuff....

And of course Disney figurines...

BALLS!

Cars & Trucks

Books (and more, and more, and more BOOKS! Griff got even more this weekend and they are his absolute favorite way to spend time)

Dinos (another of Griff's current favorite subjects)

He Poos....

In Blue!

Great-Grandma Lea bought Griff a surprise treat today...the treat of couture diapers. :) The commerical is pretty hilarious (see it HERE) , and she wanted Griff to try these out!

His diaper is full....full of CHIC!

Griffin Walks

Finally got around to posting these videos of our little man walking. When you are bigger and read this, Griff, don't worry....mommy and daddy really didn't think that you'd crawl across the stage at your high school graduation. :)

More Pics from Weekend

Below are some more pictures of the weekend from Gma Kris and a couple of friends...again in no semblance of order.

And, on a very exciting current note: Griffin WALKED today at school (but I was there visiting at the time). He walked back and forth between myself and a teacher, repeatedly, as if he'd been doing it for years; this just gives more credence to my belief that he has had the ability to walk for quite some time now, he simply lacked the desire. Stinker. And of course we had a limited amount of time after we got home from dinner tonight, and we tried walking at home, but all Griff wanted was nigh-nigh. I will hopefully get some video to post soon.

Griff really despises it when we have to put his tube on him (he likes it when it's on, simply hates the process) but apparently it's much more fun when he puts it on himself.

He likes going to the side so he can attempt to laugh/escape

He REALLY thinks he should be able to swim around like all of the other kiddos and has absolutely no concept of the fact that he can't touch nor swim, so he'd sink if I let go

.


We also did a little GARAGE CLEANING these past couple of weeks; Ben and I both got new cars, and we have Ben's commuter car for sale as we have decided we simply don't need three cars (OR three car insurances). We traded in my Jeep Cherokee and Ben's Jeep-Jeep for a new Acadia and a new 4-Door Jeep. Which means that Ben's Grand Prix is for sale...anyone interested? :)

At Gladson's Friday night

Tradition Pics

Kris and Tom came in this week for the CLCC Tradition (Member - Guest) Tournament...I have a few pics (not a lot) from the weekend. They are in completely random order. I may get some more from Kris and post those later.

Griff after the pool and daddy after a day of golf

The BEAR walk. He no longer really crawls, but only does the bear walk...and today, he practiced his free-standing for longer periods of time. It's definitely a lack of confidence issue...but I think walking will come soon.

As Liz said, I think Griff and Claire were carving their initials into the tree here :)

Tried to get a pic of everyone around the pool one of the nights for dinner - looked like a scene straight out of a beer or Bacardi commercial.

Griff's poolside nap. Love that he does this for me still (most days)

And NO trip to the pool is complete without a BIG milkshake from the "magic window"

Grandma Kris and Griff getting ready for lunch

Auntie Honey stopped by to say hello and snapped this pic of Gma Kris, Griff, and Mommy in the pool

15 Months

Just a quick update on Griffin, who turned 15 months yesterday. We haven't been to his pediatrician for his 15-month appointment (that is in a week or so) so I'm not sure as to his weight and height, but in my opinion he's pretty darn tall and has thinned out quite a bit (not that he ever was a chunk). He is talking up a storm, I can't even remember all of the words he's saying now...but it's so cute to ask him what a monkey says ("ooo ooo ooo"), then what a lion says ("roooaaaaaaa"), then what a snake says ("ssss sss"). He got a new dinosaur book yesterday from Grandma Kris (mommy and Grandma Kris spoiled him a bit yesterday) and this morning he picked it up and ROARED at the dinosaur. His sharpness never ceases to amaze me. He constantly asks, "What's that?" and then repeats what we say (he gets fairly close most of the time). There's rarely a quiet moment in our house, and if there is and I run to check on him, I find him sitting by his books just perusing them slowly. Textures and flaps are his favorites.

Griff continues to love, love, love his "nigh nigh" and will take two naps a day (two good naps a day) if given the opportunity. He's having some separation anxiety now at night (around 2:30 am - 3:00 am like clockwork) and needs to make sure that mommy/daddy is still there. And, admittedly, sometimes he does come sleep with us around that time. I know, I know, not a good habit to start, but let's be honest, sometimes it's just easier! And it's not a bad thing to wake up to an adorable little boy cuddling next to you (and often he uses Tucker as a pillow, which is also pretty darn cute).

He's just as astonished as we are that the balloons from his birthday party THREE months ago still are flying high with helium.

Tea

Not that I (or anyone I know, for that matter) needs any more temptation, but I recently came across this site that sells baby and kiddo clothes: tea collection. I'm really liking their stuff. They've got baby stuff (maybe for my neice and nephew that are due on the same day by different sisters this October) and big kid stuff (for Griff!).

Just had to share so I'm not the only mom tempted!

Holiday Weekend Part III

Today we headed up to the Ladds to watch the CL parade on Dole...the weather held out all day (was supposed to storm off and on), and though Griff enjoyed seeing and hearing the parade, I honestly think he enjoyed his nap after much better! :) After his rock-star nap, we went up to the Club with the Atkinsons for some dinner, a quick dip, and the fireworks. And they just couldn't take one day off from gambling: there were bets on the exact time the fireworks would start...Ben had 9:24...they began at 9:22. Good effort, Daddy!

All in all, dinner was good as usual, the dip was short, and the fireworks were great (albeit BUGGY). We got home, took the world's quickest bath to wash off the icky bug spray, then Griff went to bed. And Ben then headed down to Bloomington. Again. There is an end in sight, however: next week! Whew.

Watching the parade from the best seat in the house

Brian had some tattoos left over from the games on the 4th...and thought Griff's guns (and I am not kidding you, Griff DOES have guns, you can actually see the definition in his arms, it's a bit scary) would be the perfect spot for this rockin' tattoo. He was eating shirtless, after all. And he was sportin' hummus in his hair and he was eating a strawberry whole, apple-style (this time I managed to get the stem off first).

All class, all the time when the Puccis are around!

Doing the bear walk. Pretty ready for the REAL walk, Griff....



We took a relaxing walk on the course after dinner/before fireworks, and saw a deer.

Trying our best to fight off bugs..and Griffin's extreme sleepiness (despite his lengthy naps today). We had minor success with both: I'm a little itchy right now, and Griff made it about halfway through before he dozed off on mommy...only to be awakened by the big booms of the finale.

Holiday Weekend Part II

We did some swimming at the Gladsons, and the guys played some pool bball

The girls had a LOT of glowy-items going on, and here is Ben twirling some of them (you can see his glow necklace in the background)

Some of the fireworks the guys set off...pretty impressive