Places and Faces of Grady

It's been a while since I've updated the blog and Grady has been so many places and given the camera so many faces. He just turned 10 months old and he is crawling all over the place. Because of his constant movement, I have not been able to take his 10 month pictures just yet, but hopefully they are in the works. Here are some recent fun pictures of our little man.

Here is one of his fun faces after making a ton of noise. He really is getting expressive.

Since he can pull himself up, he thinks it is really fun to look out Chicago's window. He has fun talking to the squirrels and the cars that pass by as well as blowing spit bubbles.

Here he is with his "puppy" both enjoying the great outdoors from the nice air conditioned house.One Saturday morning, I needed to work on the computer so I decided to see what would happen if I put a Baby Einstein video on the TV...Needless to say, Grady was captivated. Over the Labor day weekend we went to SD to visit my family. We decided that Grady was old enough to visit the famous Corn Palace. So Ben and I went and did the whole tourist thing with our little guy. He seemed to love it, but of course who wouldn't love a big building made with corn!This is one of my favorite family photos. We all put on coonskin hats while visiting a souvenior shop. Daniel Boone, here we come!Grady had fun with his Papa Chuck on the farm. Here he is on his first 4-wheeler rideFamily picture on the SkidloaderPlaying on the hay bails with the cousins
Wrapping it up with the cutest face ever. What a blessing to be mommy to this child!

Update Already!

After much hounding from certain individuals (Courtney) I thought it necessary to update the blog before a linching was had! Of course I completely understand wanting to have the most recent photos and updates of one of the cutest little boys on earth! It is amazing how 3-4 weeks can change an entire household. Grady has become an expert crawler, puts everything in his mouth, can pull himself up on any surface (including the dog) and has learned that he can use his body and motion to resist Mommy and Daddy, especially when his diaper is being changed. But we wouldn't have it any other way. Everyday we get to watch the development and growth of a little one and how amazing God's design is for his creation. Here are the most recent photos of our family. Enjoy!

This is the latest family picture. On one of the most beautiful evenings of the summer, we went out to Raccoon River for a supper picnic and interaction with nature. It was an experience taking the whole family including Aunt Jen and Chicago in one car, but it was worth it. Aynsley, our cat, is no longer needed for a family picture, since he is so independent and does not do what a cat is supposed to do which is snuggle his owner! What a cute family!Grady is getting so big, he can actually ride the playground toys on his own!This was the scene in the backseat of the car coming home from Raccoon River. Chicago is obviously HUGE and he takes up a large part of the back seat. This picture kinda freaked me out since Chicago is sitting like a person!Grady is crawling all over. We remembered that his activity mat could be turned into a tunnel and he has enjoyed crawling through it and playing with the toys. Our cat also enjoys the tunnel as he sees it as his "hide-out" from the dog.Grady thinks it is so fun to crawl and play underneath his exersaucer. He bonks his head quit frequently, but it seems like it does not phase him since he continues to do it.Grady really enjoys "helping" Daddy out with the laundry. He especially loves taking clothes out of the basket after they have been folded. Here he is helping sort through the clothes. I think Grady sees the puppy has a big play toy. He crawls around him and uses him as a pull up prop as well as plays with his toys. Here he he sitting in between Chicago's paws. Thankfully Chicago is really gentle with our baby. I think Grady is telling us what he wants to be when he grows up....The hulk!Here is Grady again with the puppy. Ben absolutely loves to watch them interactThis is a video that I caught of Grady "playing" with Chicago. It made me a little nervous, but Chicago was a very good puppy.

Here again Grady is able to ride his big boy toys. He's probably getting old enough to ride a real tractor.

I am really into Grady wearing pajamas because he looks so sweet. The pj's were lovingly handed down to Grady from his friend in Cedar Rapids - Ty Walker. He just looks like a little man in them and of course I love them since they have a Koala bear on them.

What a sweet face

9 Months and GOING!!!

It's just amazing how quickly time goes by. Our little guy is already 9months old and he is growing and going by leaps and scootches! Some of Grady's major achievments this month include:

1. Learning how to crawl

2. Learning how to transition from a crawl to a sit position

3. Eating all sorts of table food (toast, potatoes, veggies, corn on the cob, pork chops, etc)

4. Learned how to suck out of a straw (yummy milkshake)

5. The discovery of 2 teeffers

6. Saying more "words"

7. Fascinated with sniffing

8. Sleeping better at night (Mommy is so happy about that one)

9. The newest discovery is starting to figure out how to pull himself up

These are just a few of the fun new achievements and discoveries Grady is making. One exciting aspect is that we have not had to increase his diaper size this month!!! He seems to be tapering off on growing like crazy. I can't say enough how much of a blessing he is to our lives. It seems like I can never get enough time with him.

Here he is showing how he can get in the crawling positionHere he is with his friends: Finnean Michael and Neva Ann. Mommy got together with her coworkers so Grady could have some playpals on Saturday. It was so much fun! But it looks like Neva was the only one willing to show it!He did not pull himself up here by himself but he is really good at standing on his own when placed in the standing positionGrady is showing off his Grandma Mary's handywork. She made this little "Cubs" outfit for him. Everyone at church thought it was so adorable.He just has the sweetest face. Every month he just keeps getting more precious...how is that possible? I might be bias but he should be the face of gerber!

Balloons!!!

We were able to make it down to Indianola, IA and experience the National Air Balloon Festival. Despite the traffic getting there, it was so fun to see the many differnt balloons and to watch Grady be entertained by the colors and action. Ben and I agreed that someday, we are going to go on a hot air balloon ride. It was a fun adventure for a Saturday family night! Here are some snapshots of the experience...

It was so sweet to watch Grady be captivated by the excitement of the hot air balloons. Here he is clapping with the audience for the recently launched balloons.

There were so many differnt balloons. It was amazing to see them be inflated and then to see them take off. Just seeing one can be a great sight, but to see over 50 all at once in the air was amazing.

Thanks to Daddy's strong arms, Grady was able to take flight with the balloons!

This is a video that I just had to post. It makes me smile and laugh every time I see it. It is amazing how a child's laughter can really brighten your day. I hope all are blessed by this video and are reminded of simple childhood joy.

So Big!!!

Grady is getting "So Big" which is a new game that he is really starting to enjoy. He is at such a fun stage right now where he is discovering his world through vocal expression as well as new body movements. He is on his way to 9 months old. He is really trying hard to learn how to crawl and he is finally starting to cut his bottom teeth. He says DaDA and BahBah perfectly; however we are not sure if he is actually attributing those words to the proper things. He is getting better at eating table food; however we are still working on not spitting it all over Mommy. He is such a joy and I cherish every moment I get to spend with him.

Here is Grady showing us how Big he is. He is really enjoying imitating us and getting praise for his accomplishments. Another great achievement is learning how to clap and working on giving high fives!This picture just melts my heart as he just looks like a little toddler here. He has such cute expressions and I think he knows how cute he really isGrady is really into crawling all over mama and daddy when we are on the floor playing with him. He is also having fun exploring the world and his face with his tongue. He desperately would love to make his little chunky body move from this position, but right now all that he can do is get up on all fours and rock back and forth. I have a feeling he is going to figure it out shortly. Here are some of his 8 month pictures. You can really tell that he is developing his own look and personality. He has so much hair right now it is ridiculous. But how could anyone resist this face!8 months - 28 1/2 inches and 22lbs 7oz

size 9-12 mo and 12-18 mo clothes and size 5 diapers

SO BIG!!!

Here is a great family picture. Some how Daddy and Grady tend to where matching shirts much of the time.Ben's mom showed us some pictures of what Ben looked like as a baby. Now there is no question that Grady really is a mini version of Ben. Here is Ben at 7months or so.I'm thinking that this will be Grady in about one year. No wonder Grady is so cute! Ben was asked to preach at his home church which provided us a great opportunity to visit Grandpa Chris and Grandma Mary in Cedar Rapids. Grady had fun playing with them both as well as acquiring a new wardrobe! Grandma Mary had fun making Grady some new clothes. Grady had fun pooping out of them the first time he put them on! Thankfully Grandma Mary was not offended!

Fun with family and friends

There always seems to be some form of excitement at the Blanchard household, with the main events culminating on the weekends. During the last weekend of June, my family decided to make a roadtrip and come to Des Moines and experience a little taste of our city.

Here is Papa Chuck and Grandma Janelle chillin at the aquatic center with their two youngest grandbabies.

Grady was fixated on pulling Papa Chuck's chest hair and let me tell ya...that boy has some grip. Papa Chuck is smiling just to hold back the tears!

Grady and Miley (Grady's cousin) washed up together, basically just to play with the bath toys. Interestingly enough, Miley just turned 1 year old and she actually weighs 3lbs less than Grady! Even though they are family, they have such different features; however both extremely cute.One of the fun reasons for getting together was to celebrate Miley's first birthday. This was the first one year old birthday party that the whole family was together for since Brooke (the oldest) birthday party. Grady's cousins just love holding him and carrying him around; however they can definitely tell the size difference between their sister and him.

What a great family shot! It was so nice to spend a part of the summer with familyAfter all the excitement of the family staying with us, Daddy and Grady had to unwind with introducing Chicago to his new role - Grady's pony! Chicago is so great with Grady; someday I'm sure Grady will try to ride this horse!

I just couldn't resist putting this pic on the blog...he is just so sweet looking. I can't believe how big he is getting.

We were able to relive a part of our college lives by waiting up until after midnight (never happens, even on New Year's Eve) for my college friends, Darwin and Nicole to arrive and spend the night with their little Miles. It was so great to see them and meet their little man even if it was just for a moment. Here Grady is playing nice with Miles; later on, Grady would try to eat that hand he is holding, but Miles did not seem to mind!

Here is Grady's surprised/excited face.

Grady's new trick is spitting all his food back at Mommy. This was taken just after one of his little episodes. Needless to say, this behavior will not be allowed for long!Who Me???

Just chillin on a lazy Saturday morning. This was the morning after Grady slept through the whole night. So refreshing to have a full night's rest and zero obligations. Happy 4th of July!I'll end this post with allowing everyone to witness Grady's new form of expressing himself....yelling!!! Enjoy