Monday, April 26, 2010

Spring is here

Super cool fly guy. This is what I think Grady would call himself when he wears his shades. He wasn't too sure about them at first; however now he loves them. Grady's favorite spring activity is going to the park. Thankfully we live by two different parks; one with a swing and one with a slide. Grady is absolutely fearless; he will go down the biggest slides without a qualm. He is almost 18 months old and he continues to get more of a personality; exploring and learning the world around him. I cherish his new smiles and discoveries daily. Here are some snapshots of our recent adventures.
Grady's favorite playground activity is the slide. We, as in mom, starts him off on the small slides, but he inevitably increases to the big boy slides. So cute in his camo crocs!This is one of my favorite pictures. Grady enjoys holding our hands while walking. Here are my main two men walking through the park. I just love the metaphor that is displayed here. If Grady grows up anything like his Daddy, I will be too blessed!Grady is so independent; he loves to push his own stroller! The tulips came really early this year and it was fun to help Grady discover beautiful flowers.
Grady is so crazy sometimes...he loves to attack us and crawl all over us. What a great joy at the end of a stressful work day to come home and enjoy big bear hugs from my baby. He looks like a little koala bear here
Grady would really like a computer of his own (hint hint grandparents!) He has learned how to open it and push the buttons. Here I caught him trying to get on the computer while I was cooking dinner.And for the final piece of news from the Blanchard household...Grady will become a big brother in October. We are all really excited. This was the way we shared the news with our families; some caught on right away...others took a minute!
















Sunday, April 4, 2010

Christ is Risen; Easter bunny visits!

Easter is such a wonderful time...a time to not only get together with family, eat great candy, and watch kids relish in the discoveries of the Easter bunny, but more importantly, it is a time to celebrate the greatest happening in the Christian faith - Christ's resurrection. I have been reminded lately how we take that sacrifice and blessing for granted. This Easter, I am challenged to allow the resurrection of Christ to impact me on a daily basis. The Blanchard family had such a fun Easter. Ben's folks and grandmother was able to come and visit, along with their little dog Rascal. It was so great to see family and Grady really shined up to them easily...especially Grandpa since he is so silly. Grady also got a needed haircut and in his Easter outfit, he just looked like a little man.
Here we are at church; Grady as crazy as ever. It is amazing how difficult it can be to get one decent picture! Grady received his first Easter basket; since candy is somewhat difficult, the Easter bunny brought him some fun toys and shoes. He loved his Easter basket!
Here he discovered that the eggs open and have fun surprises in them!

Grandma Mary, with the assistance of Great-Grandma Jones, made Grady is first bunny rabbit! It was so cute and Grady thought it was way fun to squeeze, throw, pounce on, bleed on, drool on, and pretty much anything else to destroy it within the first day! He really likes to hug it
Chillin with the Grandparents and the bunny. Grandma's keeping a good eye on him and that bunny!
Here's all the women in the house with Grady and his bunny.
Ben's parents were gracious enough to take us out for Easter dinner. We waited for a little while and Grady did an amazing job at the table. Here he is playing with Grandpa Chris's mustache! He thought it was really crazy.
We weren't watching football, but Grady thought it was really fun to throw his arms in the air. He was really entertaining to the other customers around. He is such a social guy and enjoys every second that he is awake!
Such a fun and exciting day...he was all tuckered out after the Easter festivities. He fell asleep in the car and took a great 3 hour nap. Which allowed his tuckered out parents a 2 hour nap. Yeah for awesome Sunday afternoons!