Florida, Part II

Just a few more fun pics from Grandma Kris and Grandpa Tom's house.

Watching football!

After-bath mohawk

Ben had fun with the Legos. Above is his "robot" and below is his Empire State Building.

Crazy 9 Month Photo Shoot

Griffin turned 9 months old yesterday; thus I attempted taking some pictures tonight in his 9-month onesie. Griffin had other ideas. He wasn't fussy, angry or entirely uncooperative. Instead he was simply unruly! The minute I attempted to put the shirt on and sit him down he started cracking up...this is a trend with Griff lately. Everything is funny. We don't have to find the "trick" anymore to get him to laugh (wine glasses, peek-a-boo, etc). While riding in the car in Florida, I looked at him and said "Barack O--bama" which he thought was hysterical...no comment, however, on what that says about his political tendencies. :) And the past couple of days at school his teachers have been amazed at his demeanor, saying that Griffin was always very good-natured, but now he's just downright, insanely silly -- always laughing at something or someone. And he is moving even more than he was...oftentimes fully on his knees now when he crawls and he still loves to pull up and stand on anything he can (including, now, his crib -- he started this in Florida). He's the first in his class at school to get "the strap"...no, not corporal punishment, but a strap around his waist at the feeding table because he attempts to climb out (and is the only one in his class able to accomplish climbing out).

I'll post more Florida and Disney pics this weekend (still sorting them out -- we got some good ones and had the BEST time). And Griff has his 9-month doctor's appointment on Tuesday, so I will post some stats after (I can't wait to see what he weighs now that he eats anything in sight).

The bottom line? At 9 months old, Griffin is SO much fun to be around, and there is absolutely no way you can avoid catching his upbeat, innocent disposition after spending mere seconds with him. I'll say it again -- we are ridiculously lucky to get to be his parents!

Some of the decent pics:

And some of the crazy ones...attempts at escape...etc:

I also attempted to get some pics with some of his new stuffed friends from Disney...

Excited about his new feat: standing in the crib (makes getting him to sleep SO much more fun)!

PASTA!

Last night for dinner Griffin had PASTA (spaghetti with a little bit of Grandma Kris' yummy meat sauce)...and he was cracking us all up while eating. Not only would he suck the noodles in instantly, he would immediately switch to HAM-it-up mode when we grabbed the camera to document it. SO stinkin cute!

Immediately prior to the slurp

Another one bites the dust

Waiting for dinner with Grandpa

Griffin's new "face"...the open, waiting, impatient mouth. He has eaten more big-boy food (i.e. anything that's not formula) in the past week than I ever imagined him putting away. I am 100% certain that he's grown more in the past few days than ever.

LOTS of Laughs

One of the things Griffin has been doing during our vaca is LAUGHING. Last night on the way home from dinner (and he was SO good at dinner, everyone who was out with us commented that he is ridiculously laid back and an exceptionally good baby, which of course we already knew) he was laughing for no reason at all - simply because we were looking at him. One of his new favorite games is peek-a-boo (he really likes to play it himself with his blankets). Here he is today getting a kick out of me hiding behind a column.

Florida - Part I

We have been down in Florida this past week...and though it's been a little chilly (by a little I mean that Floridians are wearing parkas, if they dare leave the house)...but we have had some good weather. Let's be honest - we had to call a plow service to get rid of over 10 inches of snow from our driveway at home while we were down here, so we're winning the weather battle by being in FL! Ben has played golf with Tom several days, and I've been able to get outside and run (which is good, because as usual we've been eating GREAT food). Griffin has decided that it's a good time to grow...he has been ravenously hungry the past few days -- we even had to give him a full (8 oz) bottle at 3am this week, which he downed in about one minute. And he's been putting away the solid foods in very large quantities. Last night, he ate pasta (linguini) and actually sucked the noodles in like his daddy. It was adorable. We're set to have pasta again tonight -- and we'll try to get some pictures. I admit that when I looked at him yesterday I could actually tell his face had changed -- which doesn't happen very often. And when I put on his jeans this morning they were noticeably tighter. Look out!

We are going to spend a leisurely weekend and then head to Disney on Monday. We are all extremely EXCITED!!!!

The good old days...watching Ben's high school basketball games...Grandpa Tom's idea :)

Go daddy!

Griff loves scooting across the tile floor. He does get on his knees, but not for long, as he feels his worm-scoot with his back foot to propel him gets him where he's going more quickly

Griff headed outside for some rides

And even went for a long walk with Grandpa in his car.

Griffin took advantage of the great weather yesterday and headed out with Grandpa for a looooong walk

New Year at the Murphys

This year we decided to ring in the new year in Indy with Deanna, Pat and Connor! We went down on NYE and stayed through the weekend; NYE was spent in with homemade pizza and wings (both of which rocked, courtesy of D)...we played some games, had some drinks, visited with the McGowans who stopped by (Jack, your invite to Chicago does not expire!), enjoyed the entertainment (Maggie & Jack McGowan and Connor's awesome rendition of Jingle Bells - hopefully video will follow soon), rang in the new year with a toast...and of course started watching Hangover, one of the classics of 2009! The next day the Murphys had a New Year's Open House and throughout the day we chatted and snacked with a lot of people we don't get to see often, and we also met some new ones. On Saturday we headed to the Indy Children's Museum (SO jealous we don't have something similar close to us!!!) where Connor showed Griff tons of cool stuff. And on Saturday night Penny and Bob (Pat's parents) were so gracious to offer to watch the boys while Pat, D, Ben and I went out to dinner with the Barrons.

Thanks for the weekend, guys, and "Baby Griff" sends his love AND get-well wishes to Connor, who wasn't feeling so hot when he got up this morning.

Connor in his HAPPY NEW YEAR gear!

Opening gifts...Connor is so patient and helpful during this process...very un-two-year-old-like!

Griff got to see sweet Libby Barron

And Ben and I are learning that if we think it's hard to get one little one to look and smile for the camera...when you add more it's nearly impossible to get both looking at the same time!

Score. Who cares if we add a yawn and subtract some pants.

And before the Barrons left, Libby and Connor had a blast playing in Connor's new tents and tunnel. I will say that, at one point, Connor came out of the tent (which had tipped over) with one of Libby's hair bows stuck to his head...and still, as you can see, no pants. Just sayin'. :)

Griff and Connor at the Children's Museum

In the doghouse



I love this pic.

Took a couple tries!

Connor shared his conductor's hat with Griffin

And before we headed home this morning Pat made Egg McMuffins...which tasted just like the real thing. And the round metal ring used to make the perfect-circled eggs? An empty cherry pie filling can...something we thought of after some wine the night before (when clearly the best ideas come to light)!

Co-Counsel

Griffin's school has been on break since December 23rd...so this past week, Griff headed to work with Mommy for a couple of days. Griffin actually, on one morning, got to go to court with me! I walked in and was greeted by the other attorneys with two nods to, "Counsel. Co-counsel." Griff even went up to the bench and met the Judge. He adhered to courtroom procedure and refrained from talking (or babbling, or screaming) in the courtroom. And when we got back to the office I had a few appointments on one afternoon, so Stephanie (our receptionist) put Griff in a box and played car-wash...which he loved!

Griff will go back to school on Monday...but only for one day, as we head to Florida on Tuesday to visit Grandma Kris and Grandpa Tom AND head to DISNEY for a few days. We can't wait!

Working at the car wash....yeah...

Trashing mom's office is super fun!