Oopps... We're back!!

So, I haven't quit blogging. Just super busy. But I promise I'll be back up this week to catch you all up on Christmas and there-after! Grayden turns 1 in just 2 1/2 weeks!! I can't believe how fast he's grown.... He's not quite walking yet, but pulling up and walking up and down the couch. He's so mobile, and FAST! We'll be in the kitchen and I turn around, and he's already in the bedroom. He's hilarious. He laughs all the time and his new favorite food is graham crackers and black beans. What a combo. And my favorite, we catch him singing. Not real songs, but he does like to make up his own tune. I can't begin to tell you how much fun we are having with him and how much we love this little guy! Every day is a blessing!

Here are some pictures to get you through until I have time to really sit down and blog...

With his cousin Luke and Mamaw.

Grayden and cousin Blair at Christmas

Buckeye Fan!

With Grandma at Meagan's wedding

CHRISTMAS!

And here's a recent one of all of us together:

Catch Up! Thanksgiving Part 1:

So I'm WAY behind on my blogging. I guess I'll have to post multiple posts this week to catch everyone up. Let's start with our first Thanksgiving....

Rob, Grayden, Riley, and I drove to Rob's parents for Thanksgiving. We left on Tuesday night- and got to spend Wed-Sunday with everyone. We had wonderful thanksgiving with D, Phyllis, Randy, Lynsi, Gr'ma and Gr'pa! Phyllis did a great job with her cooking- the homemade sweet potatoes and stuffing were awesome! (we have to give her praise, because the boys always mock her cooking). Grayden even enjoyed his Nana's cooking-

He really did love his first Thanksgiving. He seemed to understand the concept of Thanskgiving really well for a 8 1/2 month old. He ate... ALOT, (turkey, green beans, sweet potatoes, cranberry sauce, mashed potatoes, and Gr'ma's famous yeast rolls). And after his huge feast, he took a nap. (Typical boy on Thanksgiving).

Friday- we did our black- Friday Christmas Shopping EARLY in the am. We almost lost our minds and bought a 50 inch plasma just because it was on sale and we were there early enough to buy one. After standing in line, getting the ticket, standing in line again to get everything else we needed- we somehow came to our senses. (i'm not sure if it was the fact that we realized it wouldn't fit in our car, the fact that it was 6 am and we were finally awake, or the fact that we realized that we had just bought a house...whatever it was, reason finally set in.) We gave the ticket to another woman who wanted one, and ran out. I'm so glad we didn't buy that plasma, but it was REAL pretty...

Later that morning, we got to spend some time with Mamaw and Aunt Peggy. AND Aunt Peggy's new beau!! (who is NOW her fiance!!) We had a great day with the family, and even managed to get some xmas shopping done.

The Saturday after Thanksgiving, the brothers and sisters and Grayden drove to Westlake to see the newest Hartman, baby Luke!! (we got to see Danny and Jenna too!). We had the best visit with them, and are so excited about our new nephew, who is SOOOO cute! Luke and Grayden seemed to enjoy each other... (well I guess I'll let the picture speak for themselves.)

I hope they'll like each other more when they're older... Anyway, our 1st thanksgiving was so much fun, and I'm glad we got to see everyone!!

Thanksgiving Part 2: TO BE CONTINUED...

October Recap: So much fun, Too little time.

So, this post is a little overdue- but better late than never! October was a busy month for Grayden. And we have a lot of pictures to share! Both Grandma and Nana came to visit and help out for the the last week of October, because Rob was planning to substitute teach for the week. We had a great time, and Grayden was just a wee bit spoiled (new clothes, bibs, ATTENTION, field trips, and warm oatmeal). He even got to see his Uncle Randy and Aunt Lynsi for a quick dinner!


Grandma with Grayden.




Uncle Randy and Aunt Lynsi with Grayden! He really enjoyed their visit!

Other news: Grayden went to the pumpkin farm for a second time, went trunk or treating for the first time, and wore his costume on Halloween (for the 7 or 8th time). He's crawling very well now, and it's hard to keep up! Rob followed him one day and Grayden led him out to the deck and down the steps into the yard. (I'm still not sure if I agree with letting him crawl down the steps.) Not only is he crawling, but he's standing! He has to have something to hold onto, but he's doing really well, and I predict walking in the near future... scary I know.

Solid Food Update: We've started some finger foods: cheese, cheerios and toast. He's also had some yogurt. Other new foods: blueberries (mixed with apples) and mango. He still hasn't had any meats... (baby meats look and smell like dog food.) But we may try to introduce that sometime soon.

Speech Update: So Grayden babbles here and there (laughs ALL the time). He's said mom and momma, but hasn't said it as much as he was. I think we've heard him say Dada, but it's unclear. But I'm positive he's been saying Riley! HA! :) At least it sounds like it. Sometimes he says "hi". But again, it may be accidental. But, it's fun either way. Right?

AND my favorite! Grayden has a tooth!! It just started to sprout, and you can't really see it, but you can definetly feel it (it's really sharp!). It's his bottom front tooth. So, hopefully by Thanksgiving, he should have a nice pretty white tooth!

Enjoy the pictures!
Rob, Jen and Grayden on their weekend getaway trip.

Grayden at the pumpkin farm.

Grayden and Jen at the farm

Grayden all dressed up for trunk or treat


Grayden and Riley waiting for trick or treaters. We had them sit inside the front door!

Trips, Juice, Mom, Pumpkins and ROAR!!!!

Since our last post, Grayden has taken another trip to Marblehead, met lots of new family, had his 6 month (even though he was 7 months) check up, started drinking out of a sippy cup, went to his first "sick" doctor visit", went to a pumpkin farm, learned to army crawl, and say MOM!

And it's only been 3 weeks since our last post??

Rob, Grayden, Riley, and I packed our bags two weeks ago for Marblehead to see Grandma, Uncle Brian, Uncle Jason, Aunt Mandy, and cousin Blair. But that wasn't all! My cousin Meagan is getting married December 6th, so we had a bit of a party (shower) for her, so Grayden got to see his great aunts Lori and Nina, and see all of his second girl cousins - some whom he had never met before! He was a real trooper, because he was the only boy at the girly girl shower.



Here's Grayden with Gr'ma. And here's the whole family for Meagan's shower.



And what's new with Grayden? Well, he went for his 6 (7) month check up, and he was 15 lbs, 6 oz, and only 24.5 inches long! He's a short little man. His cousin Blair (only 4 1/2 months) is actually taller than him. His check up went well, he hated his shots, but can you blame him? We got the go ahead from the doctor to introduce the sippy cup and some juice! So, we've started him on some prune juice! Okay- I've had enough of the "PRUNE JUICE??" response. Yes, we started with prune juice. He's had some issues with constipation- and besides he likes it, okay?


Solid food update: he's tolerating the oatmeal well *he actually likes it mixed with prune juice*, we've also started pears and bananas. Although everytime we give him bananas, he coughs- I'm not so sure he likes them. His new favorite vegetable is squash. YUM!


So- other news with Grayden. He's crawling! Okay- not on your hands and knees crawl, it's more like an army crawl, where he pulls with his arms, BUT it works. AND my favorite news of all!!!!! He's saying Momma and Mom! I'm not sure he knows what it means, but when he says it I yell "That's me! I'm mom!", and I point to myself. So I think he's getting the point! He also says "bababahaha". I don't know what that is supposed to mean.

And Grayden went to the pumpkin farm last night for the children's ministry. He loved all the animals and he looked SUPER cute in his halloween costume: Okay here's the pictures!!






He's a dragon! ROAR! He loved petting the goats and had a fun time in the corn maze too!His first trip to the Walden Pumpkin Farm: Success.


We'll try to do a better job at keeping you updated next time!

S'mores, Family, and Campfires.

You guessed it! The Oberst Family had their 2nd annual camping trip. It was a bit of a challenge this year with 2 babies, 2 dogs, and leftover wind damage. We went to Hueston Woods in Cincinnati, OH- and to accommodate the babies we borrowed Mandy's parent's camper- (we just weren't sure how the babies would fare in a tent....). We weren't sure how all would go, since Cincinnati had just been through a big wind storm from the hurricanes passing through- and had lost all power. I know what you must be thinking- "we're camping- why are we concerned with electricity??"- Well, I'm not going to waste time defending ourselves, because the power was actually back on. (Okay- so we weren't actually camping...we had power and a camper- if it helps any- the boys slept in the tent).

It was an overall good time, we didn't get to hike as much as I had hoped- the trails were all closed due to wind damage. We did attempt and succeed in one hike- there were only 4-5 trees blocking the trail that we had to climb over. Grayden did great, strapped onto daddy and enjoyed watching Fred and Riley take off through the woods. Blair didn't make it this time; maybe next year.

We went to the beach after our strenuous (ha) hike. Rob, Brian, and the dogs had a good time swimming in knee deep water. And we all waded out to the picnic table in the water for picture time. It may not have been the most adventurous camping trip (and we weren't exactly roughing it)- but we had a good visit. The cousins (Fred and Riley) had an awesome time together. Oh- and Blair and Grayden seemed to enjoy each other too!!

Happy Cousins!

So, we survived year 2 of the Oberst Camping Trip and I'm already on the planning committee for the 3rd annual trip: I'm thinking we go back to Hocking Hills...

Solid Food Update: Grayden has moved to green beans!

Other News: Grayden has a Halloween costume!!! He wore it this weekend to stay warm, but no pictures yet... I think I'll keep you all in suspense. :)