Rhett's first haircut

Although my heart was a bit sad, I knew it was time to face the music and get Rhett's hair cut when I realized that from the back he looked just like the little girls in his Bible class... only they had big bows. It is always a little sad to me when my kids have their first firsts. Rhett has had some major ones recently, including walking, so adding his first haircut to the baby book made me a little emotional about the quick passage of time, but he sure did look handsome when he was finished. No more mistaking him for a little girl or a boy with a mullet. I figure he would appreciate it if he were aware of his hair issue...

BTW: For your child's first hair cut, take him/her to Cool Cuts for Kids. They give you a little certificate with a snip of their hair, and they take a picture of the finished product. Great for the baby book.

Before

During

After

Where did all of my hair go?

Grant loves to read!

Grant has always loved books. Perhaps it is because he has never known life without them. Sure, there are certain types he loves: tractor books, science books and human body books (nonfiction), and he also loves fictional stories as every child does. In these two pictures, however, he is "reading" his beloved "Dobdon Books" (Dobson books). Who doesn't enjoy reading on their motorcycle while sitting on the books you plan to read first thing in the morning??? He must have gotten his love of reading from his Daddy's side of the family,

or maybe from my mom/dad. He sure did not get it from me!

This morning he placed himself on the kitchen window seat with a pillow, blanket, puppies, a small fan (not sure why the fan... is it because the blanket he chose is super thick???) and of course, he is again "reading" his "Dobdon Books".

Since he really can't read (don't tell him that though - it would really upset him), he is sure one of the books is about animals, and one of them is about trees, and another is about cars based on a few pictures the books have... I don't have the heart to tell him he is waaaaaaaaaay off.

Favorite Grant Photos

Very artsy picture of Grant. Love it! Photo by Aunt Kelly.

Beautiful boy. Disclaimer: I know it appears that the boy's hair is NEVER done. Not true. I wet, style and put heavy wax in his hair every morning... this is what it looks like five minutes after that...Photo by Aunt Kelly.

Picture taken over a year ago at the Houston Zoo. I thought I did a pretty good job taking this one!!!

Not exactly a "favorite" photo of Grant, but it is the photo that serves as the visual scrapbook of the day Grant stuck a cooked green pea up his nose and we spent the day in the ER...

Okay, so one day last summer Grant said he was going to go play outside. This is what I found when I went out to check on him: He had moved our lawn mower over to our neighbor's front walkway and was pretending to mow. (no - he did not start the motor) Now are you seeing how busy the child keeps me!!!???? Are you feeling sorry for me yet?

Grant, an old soul: drinking milk and rocking on the front porch one morning. This was all totally HIS idea. Reminds me of an old man drinking coffee watching the day begin from his front porch...

I like how this picture shows his free spirit. Photo by Gramma.

I love this picture because it's the expression of "wonder" that Grant often has. He loves his world, and he loves experiencing it. Photo by Aunt Kelly.

Yet again - another picture of Grant being Grant. Photo by Aunt Kelly.

Someone's in trouble... again...Photo by Aunt Kelly.

Favorite Rhett Pictures

Sweet reflection. Photo by Gramma. I treasure this picture because it's the exact expression I'd been trying to capture on film for a while. This is Rhett's "silly face" , and it just melts my heart.
Beautiful baby (and cute mohawk).

I love this picture because it shows Rhett's beautiful eyes. Photo by Gramma. This very newborn picture of Rhett brings back sweet memories of the day he was born. Photo by Aunt Kelly.
May be one of my favorites of all time!!! My sweet Mohawk Baby. Unfortunately, the mohawk has grown out, but I will always look at this picture and remember the precious first moments we held our new baby and admired what God had given us (and God's sense of humor... baby mohawks - so cute!!) Photo by Aunt Kelly.
Small - sorry. Rhett and Daddy having a "welcome to the world" talk. Photo by Aunt Kelly.

My failed attempt at a teachable moment

While driving down a road near our home yesterday, I became a bit appalled at the trash that had recently found its way into the median of what is usually a sweet grassy area with delicate wildflowers growing through it. I decided this would be a wonderful moment to teach Grant about the importance of taking care of the Earth:
Me = Oh my! Look at that trash on the side of the road. Maybe we should pick it up!
Grant = What!!?? I did not make that mess! I am not picking it up. (Now, it is important to note here that this is something I tell Grant every day when it comes time to pick up his messes. He always wants me to help him, but I always respond with, "I'm not picking it up. I did not make that mess." As you can see, it came back to bite me in the tooshie.)
Me = We did not make that mess, you are correct. But, God tells us to take care of what He gave us, like the earth, and since no one seems to be concerned about this mess, perhaps WE should be. Wouldn't that be a great thing to do?!
Grant = I am pretty sure God does not want us to pick that mess up. (Nice try, Dude!) Besides, where would we park the car? Someone could get it!

Making Progress

Look at how much better Rhett has become with his walking! Sure, it's a bit Frankensteinish, but he's just chuggin' right along as proud as can be. Disclaimer = I never dressed Grant in onesies to play in. Grant was "perfectly dressed" at all times. With the second baby, however, I could care less. If it's clean, Rhett wears it! Let's take a vote: Is that a bird or elephant noise he is making?

Flying Grant Video

Quick video of Grant "flying" at Bounce U. Ya know - this brings me to an interesting point: Safety has been an unexpected switch in roles between Kerry and myself when it comes to the boys' rough housing. I tend to be the one that is laid back about the dare devil stunts boys pull. Kerry, on the other hand, would prefer the boys' world be surrounded with soft pillows and that no dare devil stunts of any kind be performed. I really imagined it being the opposite since Kerry is quite the dare devil himself... Not that this video is exactly "dare devilish", but you get the idea. Oh, notice that I count him off before he jumps, "On your mark, get set, GO!", but if you listen closely you can hear him recounting for himself, "One, two........ free (three)!!" I guess my counting did not meet his performance requirements...

No, Grant did not intend to jump on top of the tall rectangular wall. He very much planned on smacking himself into it. Doesn't that sound like fun? Oh, to be a boy!