Saturday, January 9, 2010

Life since November...

Well as you can see, I have been MIA since the beginning of November. Between wrapping up my grad class, a new job, keeping up with Brenna and Grant, and preparing for Christmas, blogging just hasn't been at the top of the list. However, I am posting a lot of pictures below so that you can see what we have been up to over the last few months.


There are long awaited Halloween costume photos. Grant was a duck and Brenna was a fairy from the Tinkerbelle movie. We also went to Boo at the Zoo with the Balls. It was rather chilly, but the girls got lots of candy and Brenna made friends with some of the characters there.

I also have pictures of Grant eating his first foods. In the beginning he wasn't a big fan, but he is now a champion eater. That has contributed to him being over 17 pounds and in the 85th percentile in both height and weight. He is almost sitting up by himself, and he has gotten up on his hands and knees a few times. He hasn't taken those first moves yet, but he now rolls everywhere to get what he wants. I will say, his baby period seems to be flying by, and I am trying to do my best to slow down and enjoy the moments as they go by.

Grant was baptized Thanksgiving weekend. Alex’s cousin, Kelly Maxey, is his godfather, and Devin Alvey, my cousin, is his godmother. Grant was baptized by Father Paul Etienne, bishop-elect of Wyoming, which is definitely a special moment. Father Paul is from our hometown, Tell City, and it isn’t everyday you get to meet much less be baptized by a bishop. Very exciting.

Christmas was great. We took Brenna to visit Santa (see pic below), and she asked him for a T-Rex dinosaur. The dinosaur he brought her is also pictured below. Santa was very kind to both her and Grant and they have plenty of toys to entertain them for the foreseeable future.

And, just today, I took Brenna to her first official extracurricular activity at Kay's Dance Studio. She is taking a 1 hour class on Saturdays, and the class teaches the kids tap, ballet, and tumbling. She had a wonderful time, and Kay said based on how she participated she would have thought she had been to dance class before. Luckily, she listens really well, so I think that helps her catch on quickly. At the end of the class, she gets a sticker saying she attended, and she was already asking if she could stay for the next class. I think it is really going to help with her flexibility (unfortunately she got my lack of), and I think it will help her learn to socialize with girls she hasn't grown up around. I keep telling myself that if she gets used to meeting new people then maybe the transition to kindergarten won't be as tough (but sometimes I think I am just preparing myself and that most likely she will take it all in stride).

So, we are now into January. I am starting my second to last graduate class, and this semester I will be completing my major project (mini-thesis). Wish me luck because I am surely almost out of motivation. And, Alex is tired of hearing me gripe, so I am crossing my fingers I can finish my internship this summer and graduate in August. Alex is playing in the Toyota basketball league again and pickup games on Thursday. Both of the kiddos are still thriving at the Toyota Children’s Center. My new job is going really well, and I am enjoying my new role. I will try to post more soon. Happy New Year!



Brenna in one of her many dress up outfits that she received from Aunt Sandy.  Brenna loves playing dress up, and she usually changes into an outfit as soon as she gets home from day care each night.

Getting a sticker for her first dance class.

Learning to do backward rolls with Miss Kay.

Pretending to be butterflies during the ballet portion of the class.

Brenna and Kendall dressed to go trick or treating.  Brenna was ecstatic to go get candy.  She definitely has a sweet tooth.

Brenna loves characters in costumes now, and this bird at the zoo was no exception.

Grant and Brenna on Halloween.  Dressed for day care and dressed for Trick or Treating.

The Christmas loot that Santa brought to Grandma Patsy's house.  The kids put out cookies and milk for Santa, and they were so excited he ate the cookies.


Grant learning to eat his food.  He has now outgrown the bumbo that he is sitting in here.  He has graduated to Brenna's old high chair.

Messy eater.

The much requested T-Rex dinosaur.  I love that my daughter can love dinosaurs, dirt, princesses, and dance class all at the same time.

Visiting with Santa.

Grant and Father Paul - my camera was having issues, so some are a little blurry.


He didn't make a peep when Father Paul sprinkled him with water.  It is definitely a sign that he is a little milder mannered than his sister.  She screamed her head off.

The whole gang.  Grant is very lucky to have such wonderful people for godparents.

Sunday, November 8, 2009

Rogier - Sabelhaus Family pictures

Amanda Walter, located in Indy, took our pictures in early October.  These are just a few of the wonderful results.  Anyone in the Indy area, let me know if you are interested, and I can give you her number.  She does an awesome job!

Alex and I thought we might need a picture of us together since the last formal one we took was at our wedding 8.5 years ago.

  Grant wasn't very cooperative, so this is the best we could do with just the four of them.

Brady and Brenna making funny faces.


Catching Grant with one of his few smiles that day.  He still wasn't quite over the colic stage.

I just think this one is so cute.


Wednesday, November 4, 2009

Grant rolled over!

Grant rolled over last week for the first time.  He shocked us and himself by quickly rolling from his belly to his back before work one morning.  He hasn't done it since, but I figure it won't be long before he is rolling all over the place now that he has done it one time.

Grant is also drooling everywhere and his gums feel like a tooth might being trying to break through.  Brenna didn't cut her first tooth until 5 months 1 week, but mom says I had my first tooth at 4 months, so we will see what happens. 

Brenna enjoyed her first birthday party for her friend, Kendall, at Pump It Up.  It is a place that you can rent for birthday parties that has a bunch of the big inflatables in it.  The kids had a blast, and Brenna took a 3 hour nap prior to Trick or Treating.  I will try to get some Halloween pictures out here soon.

Brenna and Grant's Fall School Pictures






Friday, October 16, 2009

Grant's 2 month Stats

Better late than never. Grant weighed 12 lbs. 14 oz. at his 2 month checkup. He was 22.5 inches long. That puts him at 75% for weight and 50% for height. Brenna ran around 25% in both categories at this age. Guess Grant may end up built more like his momma. He has rolls on his legs, and a double chin. He has also found his thumb, which also means he now (for the most part) sleeps through the night. Yeah!!!

Below are some pictures of Brenna and Grant at around the same age. Can you tell who is who?

Pictures from Vacation

Brenna modeling her brand new jammies from the Disney outlet.
Outside Hillbilly Golf

Grant spent most of our adventures in this front pack.

The Hillbilly Golf Course

At the top of the course...you can barely see the bottom of the mountain.

View from the car that took us up.

Brenna, Papaw Bob, and a girl from the Dixie Stampede show.

At the top of our resort after our tour with the salesperson.

This is where the bears swim at Ober Gatlinburg. I thought it was extremely funny that one of their "toys" was a beer keg.

A bear lounging around.

Brenna at the Ripley's Believe it or Not Aquarium

Ripley's Aquarium

Brenna holding Grant at the Condo - Look how big he looks.

The flowers in the botanical gardens at the Biltmore were beautiful.

Brenna posing by a fountain in the Biltmore gardens

Brenna posing as if she is smelling the roses. She loves getting her picture taken.

Posing again. The light was really good for this one.

The front of The Biltmore