Dear Grant

Dear Grant,

Today you are 7 years old. SEVEN! In the words of your dad, when you were born we were "overjoyed and panicked".  It's really hard to believe how time goes by so quickly.  Not too long ago you were a baby... trying your hardest not to breastfeed and crying when you were picked up.  You have changed so much and yet, are very much the same.

I don't have to do much for you anymore.  You are old enough now to give yourself a bath, read, fix a snack, find something to watch on TV, and wipe your own nose.  Lord knows I've tried my hardest to wipe your nose recently, but you are so strong I can't even force my hands upon you like I use to.

You're not much on snuggle time these days (kind of like when you were a baby), and you probably get that from me.  But, every time we are in a parking lot or crossing a street, you still grab my hand.  I smile to myself knowing that you are big enough to walk by yourself beside me, but I love the brief moment I get to hold your hand.

You love your baby brother.  You were four years old when he was born, but I am sure you don't remember life without him.  I love watching you play with him.You guys have so much fun together chasing each other around the house and playing tackle.   You share your toys.  You let him ride your back.  He misses you when you are at school or at basketball games with daddy.

Your favorite person in the world is Daddy, and I'm ok with that.  You boys just have so much more in common... video games, cars, sports, numbers.  Soon enough, you'll be needing help with your science homework.  Don't go to your dad for help with that one.  I will be there. 

You love to go to school.  You make perfect grades and your teachers are thrilled to have you in their class. You are quiet and shy, but you have lots of friends and you're not afraid to ask questions or speak up when something isn't right.   Your favorite thing to do is practice baseball with Daddy followed by creating football schedules and acting out the plays for both teams.  You could care less for dinner, but you would never dream of missing breakfast. 

I cannot imagine my life without you. Seven years just goes by so fast.  We love the baby you were, the boy you are, and the young man you one day will be. We love you so much. 

Happy Birthday Biddy.

All I Want for Christmas...

With Grant donning a snaggle tooth smile this year, we made a joke that all he wanted for Christmas this year was his two front teeth.  As it turns out, all he wanted was some stuffed animal Angry Birds. 

Apparently, that's all Drew wanted as well.  Tears were shed on Christmas morning after Drew gathered up Grant's Angry Birds and said "my Angry Birds".  I think he was just a little overwhelmed after being awoken from his sleep, asked to skip breakfast, and check out the presents Santa brought him. 

Grant also got a Wii although he didn't notice it at first.  He said "I got Wipeout (game) for Wii! Except, I don't have a Wii."  

Drew settled down after he got to eat some chocolate from his stocking and Grant let him play with his Angry Birds.

After opening our presents and playing with a few toys, we ate breakfast and then got ready to host the Ladd family Christmas at our house.  The rest of the day consisted of plenty of yummy food, hanging out with our family, white elephant gift exchange for the adults and gingerbread house decorating for the kids.

Opryland Hotel

Christmas Eve at Mimi and Pop's

Photo Catch Up

3 day trip to New York City... Dinner at Carmine's, Wicked on Broadway, Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island, Carrie Bradshaw's apartment, Today Show, Magnolia Bakery, and VU Basketball just to name the highlights.

And here's some of my favorite pictures of the boys most of which were taken with my iPhone.  In attempt to make the graininess of the photos work, I edited them in Picnik using the 1960's effect.

I think I like the vintage look.

That must have been one really good nap to wake up with hair looking like that.

I believe this is his first smiling photo with Santa.

Posing for mommy.

Love Grant's snaggletooth smile.

Pottery painting

Showing some Vanderbilt spirit and brotherly loves.

Angry Birds

annual trip to the pumpkin patch

This year Halloween fell on a Monday.  Grant just couldn't understand why he had to go to school on a holiday.  I have never considered it, but it is a very good question. 

My goal was to have everything ready by 5:00pm so that we could get some good outside shots of the kids while it was still daylight.  Success!  I had chili on the stove by 4:00pm and the kids in costume by 4:30.  Grant's buddies came over for some shots too.

Well, Drew didn't want to put on his green pig costume to take his picture with the boys.  We thought maybe he was hungry and grumpy.  Or, maybe he was just worried all of those angry birds would get him. 

After dinner, he was ready for trick-or-treating and a picture with Grant. 

Nobody was sick this year. This hasn't happened since Drew was born.  For Drew's first Halloween he had an ear infection.  And last year, Grant had strep throat. 

This was also the first year that they had coordinating costumes.  I had high hopes in dressing Drew up as a cute fluffy lion.  But, after hearing that mommy was going to make Grant an Angry Bird costume, Drew decided that he would be a green Angry Bird pig.  I was thrilled with the way that they turned out.  In hindsight, I am glad that I coordinated them... it may quite possibly be the first and last time that I have that chance. 

They got to enjoy going door to door with their cousins, aunts, uncles, mommy and daddy.  Drew made it about a block and said he was all done.  He actually walked most of the way.  He quickly got tired of trekking up several steep driveways and yards for his treats.

I took him home while Grant and the others continued until their buckets were full.

After trick-or-treating, we enjoyed hanging out in the cul-de-sac with family and neighbors around the fire.

with O' Dad

Can't wait to do it again next year.