Wednesday, January 30, 2013
Tuesday, January 29, 2013
Welcome Grey!
With great joy I introduce my new niece, Grey Rosemary Gresham!
7 pounds 10 ounces
20.4 inches
Here is a recap of her birth day, from Beau's perspective!
Showing Uncle Brandon the Leap Pad.
Just waiting and playing!
It is almost time!
Like any good dad, he is getting the camera gear ready!
A quick shot of the doctor and Brandon! It's go time! Yay!
She is almost here! Beau enjoyed reading a book with dad during the last few minutes of waiting.
She is here!
Raleigh's first time ever holding a newborn.
Beau was checking out the new baby!
A sweet, precious little girl who is already adored and loved my so many! We love you Grey!
Can you see Beau's sleepy eyes? In his defense, it was almost midnight his time.
Welcome to family Grey! We love you!
Thursday, January 24, 2013
Love Hate Relationship
I seemed to have developed a love/hate relationship with the post office. You see, I love the joy of giving and receiving handwritten cards and packages via the USPS. I love opening the mailbox to discover special treats. I love mailing special treats so that others get the joy of receiving them. I love the thrill of having a roll of stamps so that I know I can mail as many cards as I want. I love that our postal worker always waves at Beau and gives us a Christmas card every year.
but....
I HATE going to the post office. Take this week for example. I had a small package to mail. Everything fit into a gallon size bag. I was prepared for a quick trip to the post office. Upon arriving, I discovered that the flat rate medium box no longer has a self-adhesive strip to close the box. Well, that is no problem I thought. I can just buy some packing tape. (I would have brought my own tape had I known they changed the box.) Well, the post office didn't even have any tape to purchase. WHAT? Well, the flat rate box was $11.95, but I really had not choice other than to leave because I had no tape. And the employees at my local post office will not tape your package at the counter.
So we left and went to Target. I bought a box and packing tape for under $5.00. Went back to the post office and mailed my package for under $5.00. So in the end, it was less expensive for me to do it this way. I have to say that unless you are shipping something extremely heavy, the flat rate boxes can actually be a rip-off.
So, in the end I am left with the love/hate relationship.
but....
I HATE going to the post office. Take this week for example. I had a small package to mail. Everything fit into a gallon size bag. I was prepared for a quick trip to the post office. Upon arriving, I discovered that the flat rate medium box no longer has a self-adhesive strip to close the box. Well, that is no problem I thought. I can just buy some packing tape. (I would have brought my own tape had I known they changed the box.) Well, the post office didn't even have any tape to purchase. WHAT? Well, the flat rate box was $11.95, but I really had not choice other than to leave because I had no tape. And the employees at my local post office will not tape your package at the counter.
So we left and went to Target. I bought a box and packing tape for under $5.00. Went back to the post office and mailed my package for under $5.00. So in the end, it was less expensive for me to do it this way. I have to say that unless you are shipping something extremely heavy, the flat rate boxes can actually be a rip-off.
So, in the end I am left with the love/hate relationship.
Tuesday, January 22, 2013
All About Beau
It has been a while since I've posted an update on Beau, so I wanted to do that before too much time passes.
Beau at 2 1/2
Favorite TV Show: Watching football with dad....Curious George comes in as a close second place
Favorite Food: Chick-fil-a....but he continues to be an excellent eater and pretty much eats whatever we put on his plate. His favorite meal at home is probably grilled chicken. He also loves when we have fried rice! Also, he has started asking for lemon in his water because I usually put a lemon wedge in my water.
Mealtime: Shortly after Beau turned 2, he gave up the high chair. We did battle it for 2 nights, but then we realized it just wasn't a big deal, and not a battle worth fighting. So he eats all of his meals in a normal chair. He still drinks a sippy cup of milk right when he wakes up in the morning and when he wakes up from nap. During the rest of the day, he drinks from a small cup. He is transitioning from toddler silverware to regular silverware...well, at least the forks. It seems like the toddler forks have such rounded edges that sometimes they just don't work well. He does fine using a regular fork. The regular size spoons are still a bit wide for his little mouth.
Mealtime: Shortly after Beau turned 2, he gave up the high chair. We did battle it for 2 nights, but then we realized it just wasn't a big deal, and not a battle worth fighting. So he eats all of his meals in a normal chair. He still drinks a sippy cup of milk right when he wakes up in the morning and when he wakes up from nap. During the rest of the day, he drinks from a small cup. He is transitioning from toddler silverware to regular silverware...well, at least the forks. It seems like the toddler forks have such rounded edges that sometimes they just don't work well. He does fine using a regular fork. The regular size spoons are still a bit wide for his little mouth.
Bedtime Routine: Beau's new routine is to read books on our bed at night. He LOVES it when we are all three together on the bed reading books. When it is time to head upstairs, he picks out a few books and up we go. After reading for 10 or 15 minutes, we head to his room for teeth brushing, lotion, pjs, prayers and bed.
Sleep Schedule: Beau goes to bed with the lights out between 7 and 8 each night and wakes up between 7 and 8. He generally sleeps about 12 hours at night. He still takes a two hour nap each afternoon. Generally his nap in from 12:00-2:00, but this is flexible depending on our schedule for the day. Beau still sleeps on a mattress on the floor. At some point in the next month or two we will take the crib out of his room and move it to a room that will become the nursery. We will probably get Beau a big boy bed at that time. We plan to leave the mattress on the floor and let him sleep there until he is comfortable sleeping in a bed. For us, that is another thing that just isn't a battle worth fighting.
Diapers: We are in no rush to potty train, and plan to wait until he is 3 to start but Beau definitely knows when he has a poopy diaper. He will back up to you (as if to say check my diaper) and say "poo poo." He also likes to pretend "pee pee" at the potty and he thinks it is really funny. But he does not like to sit on the potty. He does however put his teddy bear on the toilet and say that he is peeing or pooping.
Playtime: Beau still loves playing outside, although we haven't been able to do this as much recently with lots of cold, rainy days in January. We are looking forward to warmer weather and longer days of sunshine so we can spend more time outside. When we are inside, his favorites are probably his riding toys, play kitchen, little cars, and books. He loves getting a big stack of books and reading them on the couch.
Special Item: Beau's special items are his teddy bear and his puppy dog. He could not sleep without them and they go most places with us. They have to be washed at least once a week because they get so dirty.
Favorite Places: Beau's favorite place to be is at home with me and Raleigh. He must have gotten that from me, because when I was a little girl, my favorite place to be was at home with my mom and dad. He also loves Publix. What's not to like about driving the buggy while eating a free cookie?!
Favorite New Word: Other than the word "no" which we are working on using appropriately and politely, Beau's favorite word right now is "help." If he hears someone unloading the dishwasher he will stop what he is doing and run to help. He will say, "help, help, help" to let you know that he wants to help! His favorite part is putting the silverware away. He also loves to help cook dinner. Most nights you will find him on a stool next to me in the kitchen as we prepare dinner.
Language: In the last 10 days or so, Beau has started using a few 2 word phrases. Previously, his only 2 word phrase was "one more." In the last couple of weeks, we have heard him say "Beau help," "read more," and "milk please." Progress is progress, people. :)
Size: We haven't made it to the doctor for a 2 1/2 year check up (oops) so I don't have exact height and weight. Beau is wearing 24 month shirts or 2T shirts. All of his footed pjs that he is wearing for winter are 2T. In pants, he mostly wears GAP size 12-18 month. Sweatpants are a little more forgiving and don't have to be an exact fit, so he has some 18-24 month loungewear pants that fit. His shoe size is 5 1/2. The fastest growing things on Beau's body are his hair and nails! I seriously cannot keep up. He could use a hair cut every other week....it really grows that fast. I have to cut his nails at least once a week because they grow so fast.
Favorite Songs: Deep and Wide, If You're Happy and You Know It, and The B-I-B-L-E
Special Item: Beau's special items are his teddy bear and his puppy dog. He could not sleep without them and they go most places with us. They have to be washed at least once a week because they get so dirty.
Favorite Places: Beau's favorite place to be is at home with me and Raleigh. He must have gotten that from me, because when I was a little girl, my favorite place to be was at home with my mom and dad. He also loves Publix. What's not to like about driving the buggy while eating a free cookie?!
Favorite New Word: Other than the word "no" which we are working on using appropriately and politely, Beau's favorite word right now is "help." If he hears someone unloading the dishwasher he will stop what he is doing and run to help. He will say, "help, help, help" to let you know that he wants to help! His favorite part is putting the silverware away. He also loves to help cook dinner. Most nights you will find him on a stool next to me in the kitchen as we prepare dinner.
Language: In the last 10 days or so, Beau has started using a few 2 word phrases. Previously, his only 2 word phrase was "one more." In the last couple of weeks, we have heard him say "Beau help," "read more," and "milk please." Progress is progress, people. :)
Size: We haven't made it to the doctor for a 2 1/2 year check up (oops) so I don't have exact height and weight. Beau is wearing 24 month shirts or 2T shirts. All of his footed pjs that he is wearing for winter are 2T. In pants, he mostly wears GAP size 12-18 month. Sweatpants are a little more forgiving and don't have to be an exact fit, so he has some 18-24 month loungewear pants that fit. His shoe size is 5 1/2. The fastest growing things on Beau's body are his hair and nails! I seriously cannot keep up. He could use a hair cut every other week....it really grows that fast. I have to cut his nails at least once a week because they grow so fast.
Favorite Songs: Deep and Wide, If You're Happy and You Know It, and The B-I-B-L-E
Monday, January 14, 2013
Dinner Time
We had hotdogs and tater tots for dinner. Don't judge, you know it sounds good! :) Beau wasn't so sure, so he asked for an apple.
Mmm...delicious!
What a ham!
Peek-a-boo!
He decided he liked the hotdog after all.
And why not a few grapes, too!
Drinking his water like such a big boy!
Squishy Face!
Sunday, January 13, 2013
Baby Update
I haven't quite decided if it is creepy or cool to post an ultrasound photo, but here we go. This is a picture of baby brother from our 20 week ultrasound.
We are 24 weeks along with baby brother and things are going great. At our last appointment the heart rate was 150 and he was kicking a lot. I had gained 4 pounds since my last appointment...for a grand total of 12 pounds. Our midwife said I should be gaining 1 pound a week from here on out. I have the glucose test and anemia test in 4 weeks at our next appointment.
I think I have decided on baby bedding for sweet boy. Beau's bedding is from Restoration Hardware and I really love it. I found a simple blue bedding that is really timeless that I think I will choose for baby brother.
Heirloom Quilted Voile baby bedding in cloud from Restoration Hardware Baby& Child
And a post just isn't complete without Beau, so without further adieu....
Sunday, January 6, 2013
Helping Mimi and Grandpa
The week after Christmas Beau went to church with Mimi and Grandpa to clean up a bit from Christmas Eve Service.
IMG 1349 from Raleigh Gresham on Vimeo.
First a quick stop at Starbucks was in order!
Beau apparently had a little work to do! :)
Loading up the cart!
What a big helper!
Funny story...do you see the map on the far wall in this picture? We were standing next to it one day and Beau tried to "pinch" it...like you would pinch a map on an iphone or ipad. Too funny!
Beau finally found buggy and did a little relaxing while Mimi and Grandpa finished working!
IMG 1349 from Raleigh Gresham on Vimeo.
Christmas Day
Christmas Day was a relaxing day of family, presents, and food.
Beau loved finding his stocking with his picture inside!
He even made himself a work table out of a bench in the kitchen.