11 months

I feel like I was just typing up the 10 month post!  If it's possible, the months seem to fly by faster and faster.  1st birthday party planning is well under way --- i keep telling myself I am keeping it small and low key, but for some reason, I am constantly finding myself ordering or buying something....yes, i really needed that 20 inch mylar rubber ducky balloon!  (we are doing a rubber duck theme!)   Grayson continues to gain independence each day --- I joked with steve today that she's going to be 1 this month and 18 the next!   Here is what has been going on:

• Trips to the swimming pool --- G is loving the baby pool and the fountains.  She also loves to float around in the big pool with us.   After swim time, is snack time where she eats her cheerios and drinks her water --- such a big girl!  
• Constantly on the move --- cruising along furniture, cabinets, with her friendly dinosaur (pictured below) holding our hands  --- no solo steps yet.  Personally, i think she still has at least a few weeks to go, but I guess you never can tell what they are going to learn to do overnight.   
• Eating -- sometimes you are such a big girl and make an entire meal out of table food --- other times you seem to only want baby food.  This in between stage is making it challenging on your momma, but I am patient and just try to be flexible and offer you both.   I stress out alot about what you eat and don't eat.  You love velveeta cheese and lunch meat....not exactly the meal of champions.  I continue to offer you peas and carrots and black beans ....I know you'll come around eventually.   
• Talking ---- you are constantly babbling and lots of mamamama and dadadada, but I am still not convinced that you associate this word with either me or your dad.   I am patiently waiting for that first word!!  You definitely babble on like you have ALOT to tell us...we just aren't quite sure what you are saying yet!   

1st Mother's Day

Becoming a mother was a very long and trying road for me, but I can say without a doubt that getting Grayson as my daughter was well worth the wait.   She is such a joy in my life and really puts everything else in perspective.  I really feel so complete now --- I couldn't be happier.   Having said this, mother's day was such a special day to get to celebrate not just as a daughter, but now as a mother.  We had a great day.  I requested a family jog and brunch with our friends, Kenna, Andy and baby Fischer.  Then we spent the evening at the Killeen's house, dining al fresca.  It was the perfect day with my sweet girl and my wonderful husband.  I am a lucky lady.

Love this guy!

Love this girl!

Louisiana Visitors

A couple weeks ago, my very dear friend, Amanda, came for a one night visit with her two boys, Henry (3) and Dixon (7 months).  They drove over from Shreveport and spent some time with us.  I was very excited because it was my first opportunity to meet sweet Dixon and I hadn't seen Henry in almost two years!   We had a great visit, having Lori and Carolyn come over for dinner, taking a morning trip to the park and eating some yummy burgers on the TCU campus and visiting the bookstore.  Here are a few pics that I got during their stay.

10 months!

We hit Grayson's 10 month milestone while we were vacationing in Florida, so I spent the one overcast morning, taking her pictures.   There was a wagon at the house we were renting, so I strapped her in and took her for her first wagon ride --- she loved it.  She is changing so much every day.  I can't believe that we are closing in on her one year birthday -- what a milestone!!     We went to the doctor for her 9 month check up a few weeks ago (we were behind schedule) and she had great stats.  Her doctor commented on how miraculous it is that she has only been sick once (double ear infection) in her first year...especially since she attends daycare!   Here were her numbers at 9 1/2 months (she is not a small baby!):

• Weight- 20lbs 9 ozs (90th percentile)
• Height - 29 inches (95th percentile)
• Head - 17.5 inches (75th percentile)

Here are some other month 10 highlights:

• She's up to 8 teeth and finally figuring out how to use them.   She has eaten sliced turkey, velveeta cheese, squash, peaches, and eggs among other small finger foods.  She LOVES cheerios and puffs.
• She pulls up and can cruise along holding onto the furniture or any of her push toys.
• She can stand on her own for a few seconds at a time...getting better and better each day.
• Still a CHAMPION sleeper.  Takes two solid naps a day (2 hours each) and sleeps for about 11 hours at night.
• Loves school -- is always very happy when we drop her off and pick her up.   
• She has found her voice.  She now babbles constantly in what sounds like to us full baby babble sentences!   Her teacher at school calls it "Grayson's japanese language"
• She loves to explore cabinets -- we have put locks on the dangerous ones, but i am constantly putting my plastic bowls and tupperware back in!  

Kruzel Family Vacation in Florida

We recently took a vacation to Florida with my parents (Nana and Papa) and my sister's family (Aunt Jaime, Uncle Chris and cousin Ryan).  We went to Seagrove, FL, which is in between Destin and Panama City, right next door to Seaside.  It was a beautiful coastal community with white sand beaches and crystal blue water.   The weather was amazing the whole time we were there --- just one morning with light rain and clouds.   It was a pretty chill vacation --- lots of sunbathing, walk taking and sitting on the patio enjoying the ocean view.   Grayson had a blast playing with her cousin Ryan, who is 5 weeks her elder.   It's so fun that they are so close together as they are totally into the same things.   It was a great opportunity for my whole family to be together -- such precious memories being made!  

Our wonderful home for the week!

Dad and Grayson in the ocean

Sitting in the bay with mom

Papa and Nana

Pool time!

Getting ready for our family bike ride

Sun bathing with mom

Cousin fun with Nana!

Sisters - 5 years apart, Cousins - 5 weeks apart

SOOO much fun!

We LOVE our Papa!

9 months

Ok, I know I am almost a week late with this, but with Easter, and a stomach bug and a busy, busy baby, capturing a few good shots is not as easy as it once was! So I cannot tell a lie, these pictures were actually taken a good week after her 9 month birthday. Here is what has been going on the past month:
- Standing is your FAVORITE thing to do....you will pull up on anything from the side of the tub (no - no - no Grayson!) to our bar stools to the laundry basket.
- You are also a VERY fast crawler now -- mom is constantly amazed at how far you can move in the time it takes her to turn around!
- You still love your baby food. We try to give you table food but so far, your main source of nourishment is us feeding you baby food. However, you were really interested in feeding yourself mac n cheese today at Easter brunch, so i am hopeful you might be turning a corner. (that was a mess by the way!) You still take four bottles a day. You love your sippy cup with water in it, but mostly you just chew on it -- you don't really seem to drink much of the water.
- You don't seem to have any stranger anxiety as of yet. We have left you with several baby sitters and you don't seem phased....mom is holding her breath!
- You have EIGHT teeth! (you'd think you'd be better at chewing table food!)
- We converted our home office into your playroom last week! We all love that you have a place that is all yours now!
- You light up our life everyday with your "talking," laughing and silliness.

Happy Easter!

We had a busy Easter Sunday. We went to 7:45 am mass (grayson did great!). Then we came home and G took a quick morning power nap. We went to brunch at Ridglea where we had this great family photo op with the Easter bunny! After G's afternoon nap, she opened her Easter basket and we got to Facetime with Nana and Papa in Scottsdale. Busy, busy day!

Checking out dad's picture on the wall --- he's a golfing celebrity around here!

Grayson's first Easter basket. It had a peek-a-boo bear from Nana and Papa, a duck and Rubber Ducky book from Grandma and Pops and some goodies from mom and dad too!

Wearing my ears and chewing on my "rabbit" rubber duck!

What a cute little bunny!