Nummy Nummy in Adam's Tummy

For some unknown reason I thought my second child would be just like my first. I've always been a little naive. While Shannon never finished a single box of rice cereal, Adam's finished his first box in less than 2 weeks. He's also ventured into the world of squash and carrots. He's going to be my good little eater who's willing to eat curry and tomatoes. Definitely a Gruwell.

Shannon's been a wonderful help, but she's a little disgusted by his inability to stay clean.

Watching Adam eat reminds me of a hungry snapping turtle. Enjoy!

Frozen in Time

At enrichment, my mom won a photography session with our long time friend Amber Lockhart. She was gracious enough to come over the day before Christmas Eve and patient enough to capture the best family pictures we've ever had. The fact that there is a picture with all our eyes open is a feat in and of itself. Thank you Amber for giving capturing the essence of our family.Steve and my "cheez" face

Thank goodness for Modern Medicine

The black flag of quarantine has been lifted and we are so close to being back in action. The Gruwell holiday 2008 consisted of being sick, sick, and more sick. No one was spared, although some were worse for the wear. Adam ended up with bronchiolitis and a double ear infection. Here's what his week consisted of...

getting a nebulizing treatment every 4 hours, round the clock. Let's just say he wasn't THRILLED about it.

Lindsey was able to put her new nursing skills to work

Hacking and sneezing so much we ran out of pajamas and had to borrow some of Aubrey's. That's right, my 4 month old son can share clothes with his 17 month old cousin.

I added the bow to see if he would look like a girl...since most people can't tell babies' genders anyways. Melanie made me feel better when she declared that he "was not a cute girl."

Since Adam went to the doctor 3 times in December, we found that our 20 pound 8 ounce boy is in the 98% for weight. The constant ache in my lower back would have guessed more like off the charts.

Here's some randomness that I had blogged before the masses were hit with various bugs.

Parenting according to Melanie Mickey Mouse Clubhouse all the WAY!

Crazy Hair

Shannon's preferred style

Melissa's preferred style...polished

I wonder where she gets this "stupid human trick" from?

Home for the Holidays

Ahhh Lindsey's back = more relaxation

Aubrey's home = more craziness and more fun!

Zach's visiting = making fun of us.. "Oh, I think this is a blogging moment. Quick, get the camera." Zach wasn't such a willing participant for his own "blogging moment."TN for Melanie = spending hours in the sewing room making 3 dozen burp clothes, diaper wipes cases, rice heating bags, Martha Stewart paper Christmas trees, fabric owls, etc.Once we get some sleep and clean up, I'll post some more from our Christmas adventures! Oh and HAPPY NEW YEAR!

A GREAT day to start Twilight

I turned my sound machine onto thunderstorm for a little added drama and voila I was in Forks.

I was so distracted by my desire to get back to Twilight, that I didn't pay attention to the sugar cookie recipe and accidentally doubled it. Ops. The cookies were for the kids to decorate at a Christmas party. Once again Trisha pulled off a fabulous party complete with a cocoamotion (hot chocolate making machine = Mormon heaven)

Cookie decorating
Present pass

Happy Adam...his shirt says bah humbug but he slobber all over it so it's hard to see.
Ho Ho HoAdam's favorite pass time...chewing on his hand, but he sure was eyeing those Chick Fil A nuggets. Steve later dipped his pacifier in hot chocolate and he REALLY appreciated that. Forget the fact that he hasn't started on rice cereal yet.Adam's slept in his crib two nights in a row...a new record.Some daddy/daughter time. Steve feels the need to introduce Shannon to new electronic activities. The latest has been PBSkids.org. She's already a master at mario cart thanks to the wii at Best Buy.

He's a maniac

Just a day in the life of Adam

It's my party

AND I'LL CRY IF I WANT TO...

This was the theme for Shannon's 4th birthday. It was a week long extravaganza for various reason. It all started with her school party, Nov 20th, because it was the last day before Thanksgiving break. She insisted on a pink cake.

Cake #1Then on Saturday was her party at the clubhouse. Since we were leaving for Thanksgiving and wouldn't be back for her birthday, we had to have it a week early. What a mess! She cried. She whined. She ran and hid. She wanted to throw kids out. Two words...NEVER AGAIN! Unfortunately I'd already arranged a little cake and ice cream get together in Chattanooga on her actual birthday and it was too late to cancel. That went the best of the three.

I still can't believe I made a total of 5 cakes over the course of the parties. I was pretty proud of my "pink" themed food, which included strawberry milk, pink yogurt raisins, pink rice crispy treats, strawberry and white chocolate cookies, terra chips (the veggies chips, some of them pink/red), peanut butter and jelly sandwiches in the shape of crowns, crown sugar cookies with pink icing and pink "S" sprayed in food coloring, and last, pizza with "S" shaped peperoni's. I'm glad I went all out seeing as how we will NEVER DO THAT AGAIN!Cake # 2 and 3

Activities included relay races, a pinata, candy bar unwrapping contest, and sword shaped balloons for the boys and flower balloon corsages for the girls.

Someone told me later and rule that would have been helpful when planning the party...only invite the amount of kids as the age of the child. So for Shannon it would have been 4 instead of 13. Oh well, live and learn.

Cake #4 and 5 (I put my foot down and stopped with the strawberry cakes)

Shannon loved every present she received