Random Pictures

Here are some pictures from the last several days...some of Garrett with his Uncle David (We enjoyed seeing you and Aunt Susan on Saturday--thanks for the birthday present!!), some of Garrett and his new ride-on toy, and a couple of others that don't fit into any category.

Uncle David and Aunt Susan's visit. Garrett started opening their present to him almost as soon as it was put on the floor. He actually climbed on top of it to get to the big beautiful bow!

He's loving the tools that came with the Handy Manny truck too!

Every time I tried to take a picture of the two of us, Garrett would throw his head and whole body backwards and giggle.

His post-cheeto face. He LOVED his first cheeto but refused to smile for the camera.

PS: Dear Teeth, please finish popping through my baby boy's top gums. You're driving us all crazy and not letting him nap well. I promise we'll brush you well. Especially after cheetos.

When Daddy dresses the baby...

...you never know what he'll end up wearing. The other day I took a shower while Russ finished feeding Garrett his breakfast and getting him dressed. This is how I found my little man.

Not exactly appropriate for going outside, but he was having a blast running around the house like this. The Top Gun looking jacket was part of a cute outfit set that his Grandma gave him for Christmas. I think he mostly loved not wearing any pants!

One of his new favorite games is "Opening the Sock Drawers and Pulling Them All Out." Thankfully, I snatched him away from here before he was able to complete the second half of that game.

My two boys...they can't dress themselves but they're awfully cute. :-)

Fun in a box!

Yesterday we went to Babies R Us and bought Garrett a new big-boy carseat. He can't face front for awhile but he was getting too tall for his infant carseat. When we got home Garrett fell asleep so Russ and I installed the new seat and left the box in the living room. You would have thought it was Christmas morning all over again the way Garrett got excited over this box. His toys started being dragged inside it, he pushed the box all over, and Russ and I both got in the box at different times. As I type this, Garrett is once again pushing the box across the room. :-) Below are just a few of the (surprise, surprise) many pictures I took of our fun playtime in the box.

Daddy in the box...Garrett had fun playing peekaboo with him.

He entertained himself with the box for quite awhile!

Lucy had to get in on the box party and leaped into the box after I ripped the edge on accident. She saw her opportunity and went for it! We didn't spend too much more time in the box after she hopped in. :-)

Valentine's Day

We enjoyed a low-key semi-sickish kind of Valentine's Day on Sunday. Garrett was still pretty snotty and congested with a cold (which he kindly shared with his Daddy). So we stayed home and watched a sermon being streamed live from our old church in Virginia (our poor friends in the DC area have had soooo much snow that they've been without their church for 3 weeks!). Russ made us some breakfast (see the pictures below) and later I made a heart-shaped pizza and cookies. We relaxed and watched a romantic movie that night too. All in all, a great family day...despite the number of times we had to swipe at Garrett's nose.

Yummy yummy yummy...there is an egg fried in the center of each piece of toast.

Garrett especially loved the cutout heart of toast.

He doesn't quite know what to do with this chocolate bear from his Nana and Papa...but Mommy and Daddy do!

PS: Do NOT let the pictures fool you...this little man was all kinds of cranky off and on all day. We only took pictures of the happy version of Garrett (because really, who wants to remember the crabby times?)

Happy Early Valentine's Day!!!

Take a break and enjoy putting together this cute kissy-fish puzzle!

Party Time!

On Saturday we had friends and family over to help celebrate Garrett's very first birthday. It was so much fun! Thank you to all who helped make it a very special time--you know who you are! :-) We enjoyed eating some grilled hot dogs and brats, salad, and guacamole. And of course, we had cake and ice cream. Garrett was so completely overstimulated and tired by the time we got to the cake that he just burst into tears and had to go take a nap. So, we tried again later with the cake and it was a better experience at that point in time. In fact, I was shocked that he wasn't up all night after the sugar rush! I think he was on his best behavior because his Grandma was still here visiting. Right? Here are some pictures from the party day and a couple of extra randoms from his Grandma's visit. We miss you already, Mom!

The morning started out so calm...relaxing with Grandma.

Then he had to show her how to work his Sesame Street pop-up toy.

A little pre-party drum practice

The main cake (Garrett had his own mini-cake to smash into pieces) that was baked and decorated by Grandma and myself. Not quite sure what caused the huge fault line running through the middle but it also caused landslides of frosting to fall off the edges. Note to self: Do NOT use the whipped frosting to decorate or stick together layered cakes.

Opening up his first birthday present...he got so many goodies! We are really blessed to have such generous friends and family.

The whole party (minus Russ, who is playing camera-man). Notice Grammy and Grandad on the computer to the left side of the gift-opening...Skype is a wonderful tool!

Before we even brought out the cake...he was just about at his limit here.

And here he is mere moments before Grandma whisked him away for a nap. Poor little birthday boy was pooped!

Trying out his new lawn mower.

Awfully proud of himself here. :-)

Playing peekaboo...that nap really re-energized our little man!

And peekaboo on the other side!

Our second attempt at cake was a success! He still only actually ate teeny tiny pieces at a time, but he loved smashing the frosting. (Notice the little CAT truck driver in his hand...he had to take a bath when Garrett did!)

What a gentleman, eating with a spoon.

Playing with Daddy. He's so cute in his "New Sheriff in Town" pj's. And doesn't Russ look cute, too, in his Garrett-sized cowboy hat?

Having fun with Grandma on the last day of her visit. :-(