A Reflection Back at 2010

2010 was a great year for the Stafford Family!  We received our greatest blessing Grayson and we are both overjoyed with love over the past year and the years to come. 

Don't get me wrong the prior years of our marriage were amazing too, but we prayed and dreamed of the year where all our dreams could come true and 2010 was that year.  As I type this post my heart hurts for those longing for a baby of their own.  I know many of you who read my blog have similar stories as ours and I pray that in 2011 that it is the year for you.  It is hard to understand why, but please remember that God has a plan for each of you.  You are in my prayers.  God will give you the strength you need for any battle just keep him on your side and have faith!

A Reflection Back at 2010

1.  Last New Years Eve we were in Bee Branch, AR spending time with our friends and this year we are doing the same thing, however they are coming to our house for a visit starting today through Sunday. 

2.  The biggest highlight for us in January 2010 was finding out that we were going to have a baby boy!  We shared the news with our friends and family with having a Gender Reveal Party.  The later part of January 2010 we spent registering and preparing for our little boy.  

3.    February 2010 was spent again preparing for Grayson, everything from clothes shopping to preparing the nursery. 

4.  In March 2010 we painted Grayson's nursery and had an artist come in and paint the dots and Grayson's name on the walls.  Late March Chad competed in a few races in NWA and we ended the month celebrating several birthdays.  As well as enjoying friends throughout the month with lunch/dinner dates. 

5.  April 2010 started with a celebration of our 4th Year Engagement Anniversary.  We also had family both sides of our family in town for our baby shower and to also celebrate Drew and Marley's 1st Birthday!  It was a little early, but most of my family was here so we decided to have the celebration.  We missed having Meahgen with us! 

6.  May 2010 was a big month for us.  We completed Grayson's nursery and on May 17th, 2010 at 9:50PM Grayson joined our family! 

7.  June 2010 we spent the month with family and friends visiting us at our home to see our new addition.  We also celebrated Chad's 1st Father's Day. 

8.  July 2010 we made two road trips, one to Bee Branch AR and another to Sioux Falls, SD for a visit with my family.   Chad and I both celebrated our birthdays. 

9.  August 2010 was a busy month of being a mommy and enjoying the final days of summer.  Plus Grayson started going to daycare at the end of August 2010.

10.  September 2010 I went on my 1st business trip and Grayson stayed home with daddy and our friends Mary and Greg.  I missed him TONS!  September was also a big month as Grayson moved to sleeping in his crib for all naps and bedtime. 

11.  October 2010 was the beginning of the Holiday Seasons starting with Halloween.  We also had a week of Halloween Outfits to wear to daycare and it was so much fun! 

12.  November 2010 we spent the Thanksgiving Holiday in Sioux Falls, SD and Grayson also got his 6 month pictures taken by his Auntie A (Amie Hansen Photography).  Grayson was so excited to have some play time with his cousin Aidan and Drew too! 

13.  December 2010 was a great month filled with the joyous season of Christmas!  We had a wonderful Christmas as a family of three, but we did miss spending time with both of our families.  (Unfortunately I had no vacation left so we had to stay home for this holiday!)

So that is a brief recap of our Amazing Year preparing for Grayson, welcoming Grayson into our family, and enjoying every moment we can with Grayson. 

We look forward to 2011!  I am excited to see what will take place in 2011, but for now we are enjoying the last few hours of 2010 at home playing with Grayson.

Be safe and Happy New Year! 

If You're HAPPY and You Know It

Grayson seems to feeling much better tonight and when I was feeding him dinner we played If You're Happy and You Know It.  It was too cute and I had to share with all of you.  Especially for our family to see! 

(I am not a great singer so don't judge)

Just love seeing my happy Grayson again :)

The only thing that we are concerned with is Grayson is not drinking much today.  He is eating his veggies and fruits at breakfast, lunch, and dinner.  I hope that tomorrow he will drink more of his bottles.  

Just in case you ask, Grayson's bib was made by SheShe Made.  Thanks girls we love it! 

Yesterday I did receive a comment about my gender reveal party that we had back in January 2010 and the hanging letters were made and all materials were purchased at Hobby Lobby.  I hope this helps you out Hannah! 

Little G's 1st Christmas

Our 1st Christmas with Grayson didn't go exactly as planned.  It started with us having to take Grayson to the doctor again for a recheck on his ears.  Sad news is that he still has his double ear infection and at our visit with the doctor they ended up cleaning out his ears.  Not fun for this mommy!  That was on Thursday morning and I had planned on finishing my Christmas shopping that afternoon with Grayson in tow.  However plans quickly changed when I realized Grayson was not doing well.  So we went straight home and Grayson took a good afternoon nap.  I hate these ear infections and the fact that Grayson can't tell me what hurts. 

Christmas Eve Day I spent the morning finishing my Christmas shopping while Chad stayed home with Grayson.  What a blessing!  I have never shopped on Christmas Eve Day and I don't think I will ever do it again.  It was not fun!  Next year we are starting early and I plan on doing more shopping online and shipping to family that live out of state.  It will just be easier for me.  Between not having much time to do it this year and getting to the post office a few days before Christmas I have learned my lesson. 

Christmas Eve we spent the evening with a few group of friends.  We had a great dinner, dessert, drinks, and gift giving.  We feel blessed to have such wonderful friends around us during the holidays. 

We had planned to start a few traditions with Grayson starting on Christmas Eve.  One is opening one gift on Christmas Eve and the second was going to look at lights around town.  However with Grayson's ears and his continuous crying as we drove home we decided to just put him to bed.  He is still young so we will start next year.  After our little guy went to bed for the night I finished up wrapping gifts and finally went to bed around midnight.  However an hour later I was up with Grayson bouncing and trying to get him to stop crying.  Finally around 4AM he fell back to sleep and slept for 4 more hours before getting up for the day!

Santa arrived at our house and Grayson was ready to open gifts and play with the bows and wrapping paper.  Grayson was spoiled and we loved seeing him react to his new toys.  He got some great gifts, the Elf on the Shelf, two books, Elmo, two new pacifiers, hat and glove set, Little People AnimalVille, and a little Fisher Price Play Phone. 

Chad and I opened gifts and I feel so blessed to have such a giving husband.  He got me some great gifts, a sweater and necklace from Ann Taylor Loft, a sweater dress from Ann Taylor Loft, boots from Nine West, new running shoes, a Nike outfit, a personal trainer (I did ask for this), and perfume.  I loved every gift!  Chad got some great things too, a Gap vest, sweater and jeans, socks, Converse Shoes, PJ's, and a Lewis and Clark gift card.  After opening gifts Grayson had breakfast and went down for his morning nap and Chad and I got ready for the day as we had a busy Christmas Day ahead of us!  

At noon we went to the Jolliff's house for Christmas Day Lunch and we feel so blessed to be invited to spend Christmas Day with them.  They spoiled Grayson too.  Susan made a great Christmas Lunch for us and we enjoyed conversing about each others Christmas morning.  Grayson enjoyed playing with sweet Avery too.  Grayson was not in the best mood and was really tired so we went home after a few hours and Grayson spent the rest of the afternoon sleeping.  Poor baby :(  

 

Christmas Day Evening we had our neighbors over for appetizers and drinks.  It was great to spend time with them, visit, and have a low key evening at home.  Grayson played for a few hours with their daughter Melania before he went to bed for the night...but it wasn't for the night we spent until 11PM bouncing and rocking Grayson before he finally went to sleep.  He was up again every hour starting at 1AM and finally at about 3AM Chad elevated his crib mattress so he would sleep.  It helped and Grayson slept until 7:30AM.  

On Sunday we went to church and tried to do some after Christmas shopping but Grayson was not happy and did a lot of crying so we went home and he spent the afternoon sleeping.  Poor baby is just not feeling well.  So on Monday Grayson and I spent the day at home.  He did a lot of crying over the holiday weekend and we think his ears are still bothering him, but I also discovered yesterday that Grayson got another tooth.  So Grayson did get his TWO FRONT TEETH for Christmas!

This Christmas will be one I will not forget!  It was wonderful (amongst all the tears) and I would not change one day!  

Our 1st Christmas together as a family of three!  

Since I have spent the past two days working on this post between naps and holding Grayson I am finally posting it.  Just one final update Grayson and I spent two hours at his pediatrician office yesterday and after doing blood work, urine test, and the flu test Grayson seems to have a fever virus because over the past two days he has had a fever above 102 and as high as 104 degrees.  This mommy was scared for her sweet baby G.  His last fever (hoping it is the last) was this morning at 4:30AM and it was 104 it finally broke and he hasn't had a fever since waking up this morning at 9:30AM.  PTL!  I hope he starts feeling better for the weekend ahead. 

Merry Christmas

Our Miracle Baby Wishes you a MERRY CHRISTMAS! 

Cherish time with loved ones and create lasting memories today!

Merry Christmas Eve

Merry Christmas Eve to All Our Family, Friends, and Blogging Friends!

I took these pictures yesterday as Grayson is still in his PJ's today.  We are just home relaxing before we go to Christmas Eve Service and to our friends house for Christmas Eve dinner. 

Enjoy your family and friends this holiday season!



Wordless Wednesday

This is the perfect Wordless Wednesday Picture

Pumpkin Cinnamon Chip Muffins

I have to share this YUMMY recipe with all of you.  They are so YUMMY and great for this time of year!  

I have made them for several people and every person that has tried them loves them...

I got this recipe from my friend Kim and have made them several times since Thanksgiving! 

It is so simple! 

Pumpkin Cinnamon Chip Muffins

1 Box Spice Cake Mix

1-15 ounce can of Libby's 100% Pure Pumpkin 

1 Bag of Cinnamon Chips or you can use chocolate chips if you can't find cinnamon chips

(I know our local Walmart does not have cinnamon chips I have to go to Harps)

Add the Spice Cake Mix and the Pure Pumpkin together and MIX

after the above is mixed add in the cinnamon chips

(please note that you do not need to add eggs, oil or water just the three items above)

Put batter in a muffin or cupcake pan and bake as directed on the Spice Cake Box

They are the best warm out of the oven... Enjoy!

Santa

Yesterday Grayson had his first visit with Santa and let me tell you the Santa we visited was great!  He looks like the real deal! 

Chad and I were both so excited to take our baby to go see Santa for the first time and start this tradition with him.  It was so special and I can't wait for the years to come to see what Grayson thinks of Santa, but for this year he was not shy or bothered by Santa. 

Grayson's shirt was made by SheShe Made

here is a link to the site

Happy Sunday!



Happy 7 Months

Today Grayson you are 7 Months and 1 day Old! 

Can you stop growing up so FAST!

This past month you have accomplished so much it has been a BIG month for you!

~You finally are officially rolling over from your back to your stomach with no problems at all...Yeah Grayson!

~You are sitting up all on your own

~You got your 1st TOOTH

and

~You got your 1st double ear infection

that is a lot of things for a little guy!

Now for your additional monthly highlights:

~You weigh 16 pounds (we went to the doctor last Thursday)

~ You are wearing size 2 diapers during the day and I put you in a size 3 diaper at night

~ You are wearing size 3-6 month clothes and we are just starting to wear size 6-9 month clothes

~ You wear size 6 month PJ's and mommy loves Children's Place PJ's

~ We just moved up to size 6-12 month socks as the size 0-6 month are getting small

~ You drink breast milk and love your baby food.  The only fruit you don't like are peaches and you love all the veggies

~ You just started noticing Bella (our weimaraner) and you laugh and smile real big...I just know you love Bella and I hope you two will be great pals one day

~ You still love your jumperoo and can play in it forever

~ You love to sit up and play with your toys...this is your new favorite thing to do

~ You love looking at books

~ You love listening to music and when we sing songs you just laugh and smile so BIG

~ You still hate getting dressed and changing your diaper is a challenge because you are constantly moving

~ You have become a challenge when it comes to drinking your bottles you prefer to be in your nursery, which makes it hard during the week when you are at school.  They now put you in the highchair to drink your bottles

~ You still love taking baths, but when we take you out you get upset.  I think you are going to be a water baby

~ You take a great 2 or 2 1/2 hour nap at home in the morning before we go to daycare

~ You still are not a great napper at daycare.  We think you are afraid you are going to miss something and you love looking and playing with all your friends

~You are a happy baby and smile all the time

~ You talk and laugh and it just melts our hearts

This month was a BIG month for you and we look forward to seeing what the next month will bring!  We are so excited to have our 1st Christmas with you.  What a blessing! 

Rudolph the Red Nose Grayson

Today Grayson had his 1st Christmas Program at his daycare!  I wasn't sure what babies would do during the program, but I do have to say it was the cutest thing I have ever seen.  Grayson is in a class with 7 other babies and today only six of his friends were there and I enjoyed meeting some of the parents. 

Grayson's teacher Miss Melissa did a great job and Grayson just loves her.  First she started by giving all the babies red noses because for the program they were Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer

Then she gathered all the babies together and put bells on their wrists and they played Jingle Bells

All the babies made plates (with the help of their teacher) that had their foot prints as Christmas gifts for their mommy and daddy

Here is a video of Grayson's class doing there best Jingle Bell Performance!

After the program we took Grayson to go and see Santa Claus and it didn't seem to bother him at all.  He looks really tired in this picture. 

Grayson worn out from his busy day at school

Just in case you ask Grayson's shirt was made by:

If You Say Sew here is a link to the site

Tomorrow Grayson will be 7 Months Old... WOW I can't believe it!