Kelly in NC

Grayson,
Only31 more days and you will finally be two! Who would believe that you would grow so fast? Certainly not me. It’s funny how I spend each month looking for milestones and yet I am still amazed at how quickly time seems to pass. This month was especially fast since it included a trip to Florida and had the Easter holiday included in it.
On the 13th of March, we flew down to Tampa for Carter and Wendy’s wedding. I am pretty sure that you had a great time- eating loads of junk food, missing naps, going to bed late, and oh yeah- participating as the ring bearer! And of course you also had Nagy and Pop Pop with us, who catered to your every demand. You were a hoot at the wedding, dancing like a machine, and even throwing in your newest move- sliding on your knees and then hoping forward on them too. (Think John Travolta!) The trip also included a visit from your Aunt Jennifer and Maw-Maw (thank you both for driving down) and a sleep over at Uncle Joe-Joe and Aunt Amy’s house. You were able to visit your new cousin Adler again and maybe next time you’ll find him a bit more fun. Right now he’s still to small to play with.
More recently, you celebrated your second Easter. You didn’t mind visiting the Easter Bunny at the mall and you were very excited about the basket that the bunny left on our hearth- especially the choo-choo and Blue. You were a champ at hunting eggs and actually won this year’s family contest…of course you were the only one hunting this year. But a win is a win in my opinion! It’s amazing how much you have changed since last Easter. Last year, you had just learned to walk and this year you went running from one egg to the next. Once you realized the game of looking for eggs, you had no problem spotting the next one.
Now this month hasn’t been all laughs and giggles. Unfortunately, this has also been the month that you have really gotten to know “time out”. We haven’t had to use it much at home, but after Daddy and I were asked to pick you up early from school for hitting your friends and teachers , we requested that they start really enforcing more severe consequences. After one week of using time-outs consistently, the hitting went away…at least for now. I know that you are almost two and that the spells will come and go. Our friend Katie (who is an expert on child development) says that the hitting is just a sign of you trying to communicate. So I am hoping that as your expressive abilities continue to grow that the hitting (and any other negative communication strategies you may aquire) will disappear! This month you started speaking in 2 to 3 word sentences most of the time- so I believe that we are on our way!
Going to the movies was another exciting adventure you experienced this month. Now we haven’t gone to the movies since Happy Feet when you were 7 months old. So this was something of a test to see how well you would do at the theater. You really enjoyed the previews- especailly the one for Speed Racer (imagine that- you watching fast cars!) and you did watch the first 20 minutes of the feature film- Horton Hears a Who. The truth is that you LOVED the popcorn. Once your little belly was full, you then lost interest in the movie. So you spent the next 70 minutes poping up and down in your seat, saying “hey” to other people in the theater, walking up and down our aisle to see Aunt Renee’ and Ella, tapping Kellynn on the shoulder, requesting other snacks out of our bag, throwing your “blankie”…and on occasion remembering to watch the movie. Whew! It was quite the experience for Mama too! I think that we may wait a little while before trying the movies again. Although I must admit that you did better that I really expected.
Now next month is sure to be another full one! We will be celebrating your birthday a little early with a combined party for you and Ella. (That way MiMi will only have to make the drive to NC once instead of twice in only a few weeks.) I can hardly believe that you will be two. So much has changed since you first entered my life. Its funny to compare the dreams that I had of you before you were born and how much my dreams have changed now that I see you little personality, your strengths, and your weaknesses. I love everything about you and can think of nothing that I would change. You are the perfect mix of both me and daddy combined in such a way that is uniquely you. You are the apple of my eye and the most wonderful gift I have ever received.
I love you more and more each day!
Love,
Mama