Roll Over!

Last night, Graysen rolled over for the first time from tummy to back! Of course, when we tried to get him to do it again so we could video it, he was too upset.

Right after the action...

(Thanks Nana and Dada for the awesome UK sweatsuit, it was a big hit on top of his sports onesie my mom got him!)

Happy Thanksgiving 2009

The kids getting ready for the scavenger hunt!

Playing Pictionary

Ave & Evie - always laughing about something!

The boys playing kick-ball, trying to burn off lunch!

Evie & Avery

Thanks for inviting us, Kim!

Todd carving the turkey

Needless to say, we have SO much to be thankful for, we have been abundantly blessed over the past year. We have a wonderful home that we love, Ben is no longer in a job that requires him to be away all the time and we live in a beautiful area that allows us to go to the beach on a regular basis! But more that the things we have, we have been blessed with each other, two healthy children, and loving, supportive family and friends. We have also been so blessed by our church and the friends we have met here in Santa Maria, they have let us into their homes and lives and have given us family when ours is too far away.

Thanks to Todd and Ann for having us over for Thanksgiving, we had so much fun. Avery had a blast playing with all the kids and well, Graysen slept most of his first Thanksgiving!

Shoe Fetish

Who knew such a shoe fetish could start so early? Avery is in love with her dress-up high heels that Nana and Dada got for her. She has become such a stiletto pro that she can run laps around the house in them and she has even mastered the stairs. She lines them up and has each pair named, and even has a dance for each specific pair of shoes. It has been interesting the places I keep finding them lined up around the house!

Here's the shoes on my counter?!

These are her favorite pair.

And in my kitchen...

Bath Time

Graysen LOVES bath time. He does so well, he never cries (even when Avery is splashing water all over him trying to "help".) Well, he was three weeks yesterday, which seems unreal but true. He has grown so much already, I can't get over it!

Bonding...

Avery LOVES to hold Graysen, well until he starts fussing. Then, she looks at me and says, "Okay, I'm all done!". (Hmmm, she must get that from Ben?! Kidding!) We have really been enjoying them together, we really do have the best kids ever! We are so blessed!

First Day without Dad!

Yesterday was Ben's first day back at work. I think he had a harder day than we did! We had a great day, Ave and Graysen are so wonderful and I really enjoyed getting back into a routine. We discovered Graysen loves "tummy time", I still can't believe how laid back he is, he would be content to lay there all day. Needless to say, our first day without dad was awesome...even though we really missed him!

Nana & Papa's Visit

My mom and dad came two days after Graysen was born, which was a huge help! We really enjoyed their stay, especially Avery, she loves the attention. For most of their stay, we just played with the kids except Ben and my dad, they can't just sit around. So they painted my house and built a playroom under the stairs! It was GREAT!

Graysen's First Week

Considering Avery wasn't allowed at the hospital, she was so excited when we got came home on Tuesday. Since we have been home, she has been adjusted so well to having Graysen around. She doesn't seem to care too much as long as she knows where he is but she loves to hold him and help with diaper changes. Graysen is a so content, he only fusses when he is hungry or needs to be changed! He is so wonderful.

Graysen Alexander

Graysen Alexander is here and doing so well. However, we have decided he is going to be quite the procrastinator, as I went into labor Sunday night, 7 hours before I was scheduled to be induced! But it was a blessing and perfect timing, I was so relieved I did not have to be induced and my doctor got to the hospital right in time for him to be born! It was a wonderfully smooth labor and I am feeling great and Graysen is healthy. We are so blessed!

Graysen was a big boy at 8 lbs. 11 oz. and 21 1/4 in. long. Despite having jaundice at first, he is now healthy and a very content, wonderful baby boy. We are enjoying him so much and Avery is just thrilled with him! She absolutely loves him but just can't quite understand why we won't let her carry him around?!? But she is quite the helper.

Pumpkin Carving with Dada

Dada was the master pumpkin carver this year, and needless to say, did a wonderful job of it! Avery found the process to be very entertaining.

Halloween 2009

For Halloween this year we took Avery to the church's Harvest Party. They had all sorts of fun, creative games and treats, she loved the pumpkin bowling and potato sack races (which Ben was very good at himself). She decided she wanted to be a "fairy princess" and loved every minute of it!