Wow…I have dreaded blogging again because so much has happened. I’m not sure where to begin. I guess I’ll start with this…

My Parents Come to Visit

Yeah! My mom and dad (a.k.a. Nana and Papa) arrived with all kinds of presents for the kiddos in hand. Mom made lots of clothes for both of them and brought material to decorate Hayden’s room. It was so great to see them and watch them interact with the kids. We miss them because they live so far away…

Dad brought his new awesome camera. I had so much fun using it while they were here. Most of the pictures on this blog were taken with it. I do miss it now that it’s gone.

Hayden’s Birthday

We decided to decorate Hayden’s room for his birthday. Bob and Larry are his favorite, so we Veggie’d his room out! Nana, Papa and I traced the characters on the wall and then we all (including Scott) painted. It turned out very cute. I had ordered some posters on line, along with a Larry Boy pillow buddy. Nana made him sheets and pillow cases for his bed and Aunt Jaye sent a Veggie fleece blanket she made. (Nana also is making curtains for his room…when they come I’ll take complete pictures.) Hayden loved his new room!

We had a big party for Hayden on Saturday. We rented a big Spider-Man jump house and grilled-out hamburgers and hot dogs. Nana bought one of those helium tanks and blew up tons of balloons. (That was a party in and of itself for him!) Among the guests were Nana and Papa, Grammy and Grandad, Mamaw and Papaw, Aunt Charis and Uncle Caleb, Uncle Blake, Cousins Morgan and Carter, and his friends from church Catherine and Easton, Dru and Belle and their families. He got all kinds of great gifts and had such a fun time. He was exhausted afterward and took a super nap! I’d say it was a success!

The Papa Projects

My dad is a force to be reckoned with. No one gets down to business like he does. Within 24 hours of them being here, he had pretty much mapped out his time – what projects he was going to accomplish during his visit, the tools he needed to complete them and then had purchased everything he needed. It was awesome! He did everything from installing towel racks and toilet paper rolls, to switching out door handles, to gluing our table together, to cementing our mailbox in the ground, to caulking our windows, to fixing our computer (that took hours upon hours in itself), and that was just day one! And how do I repay them? I back out into their rental car. Nice. We also got our fence installed while they were here! (Praise God!) It was a great two weeks for the Grimm household!

Laney is Eating!

I took Laney to her 9 month check-up only to find out that she had not gained a pound in two months. The doctor said to just skip the baby food and try table foods. She still wont eat much, but she does enjoy yogurt, the occasional mashed potatoes, crackers, pretzels and spinach (go figure). And, of course ice cream, but what girl doesn’t?

Mother’s Day

This was a sweet Mother’s Day. Hayden and Daddy went to the store and picked me out some gifts. I received flowers, chocolates and a movie, Just Like Heaven (I love that movie!). Laney was dedicated at the Mother’s Day service at church. The picture below was the one they used for the service. Isn’t she so stinking cute!?! Of course, we had an incident after church. Laney had fallen asleep in her car seat because she was so tired, and Hayden thought it would be fun to wake her up by reaching over and scratching the fire out of the entire right side of her face. She cried so hard she couldn’t even cry anymore. Her face bled and I had to wash it with peroxide and put antibiotic ointment on it. Hayden was, of course severely dealt with and really felt bad about what he did (I think). At least it all happened after the dedication and the family picture. Ugh.

Puzzle Man

Hayden’s new favorite thing is puzzles and he’s really good at them! He has several of them and he can do them all by himself. And he does them…over and over ALL day long! My boy is SO smart!

Fun in the Sun with the Slip ‘n Slide

Hayden got a slip ‘n slide for his birthday from his friends Catherine and Easton. We couldn’t use it right away because it was raining here for days. Finally, we got nice weather and we took advantage of it! We had a picnic in our newly fenced backyard, played with the bubble machine that cousins Gabe and Ella sent and then got drenched on our elephant slip ‘n slide. What a great day!

So, I guess that pretty much catches us all up. I’m sure I’m forgetting something, but I think I’ve about written a book, so I’ll be done. I'll post more pictures later. Good night.

George was Curious

We usually have to fight Hayden to go to sleep each night because he just wants to stay up and play. When I put him to bed, I do not let him keep any toys with him because the outcome is never pleasant. Scott, however remembers what it was like when he was a kid playing with his toys at night and wants Hayden to have fun like he did. So, he gets to deal with late night disciplines. Last night we actually were impressed because he had some toys in bed with him, but he was completely quiet once we tucked him in. I thought for sure he was asleep. Until about an hour later, his door slammed. Scott went in to check on him and came back out laughing. I of course grabbed my camera and headed in his room (you never know what you're going to find). He had gotten up to get his toothbrush out of the bathroom. George wanted to his teeth. He is so cute!


Another cute one was last night. We finished praying with him, tucked him in and were out in the living room when we hear Hayden shouting about something. I was trying to make out what he was saying. It's usually "DRINK" or "BLANKIE" or "MY BALL." But this time was different. Scott figured it out. He was shouting "JESUS FOR LANEY..." He had forgotten to pray for Laney. He opened his door and came running down the hall to where we were. "Jesus for Laney...Jesus for Laney." So, we went back in his room, prayed for Laney and then he went to bed. What a sweet brother!

Laney got her first splinter today...and a mother of a splinter it was! Ouch!

Happy Easter!

I had such high hopes of getting cute Easter pictures of the kids, but it just did NOT happen. They looked so cute in their outfits. Laney was wearing a sweet little dress that my mom made her and Hayden had on a little black velvet jacket with a purple tie to match her dress. Hayden was in a crazy mood (maybe from all the Easter candy) and he would not behave for a picture. Laney was screaming because her brother was annoyiing her. As soon as as I went to take the picture, this is what I got...


Here are some other Easter pics of the family...


And just for laughs, I'll add this one...

Of Course It Would Happen This Weekend, Right?

We have been preparing for Easter for quite a while (I say we, really I mean Scott) and I am supposed to sing the lead on this big song with the choir. We have services on Saturday night and Sunday morning and yesterday, I lost my voice! What?!? I never lose my voice like this. Anyway, I went to the Doc this morning and he put me on some quickie meds. He said they should help and hopefully I will be alright by tomorrow night. We will see. I am praying he's right.

Here's A Sweet Story...

We pray with Hayden every night and recently, he's started praying too. He thanks Jesus for ALL of our family and friends. He'll say, "Jesus for Mommy...Jesus for Daddy...Jesus for Laney...Jesus for Uncle Micah..." and so on. Really, we do ALL the family and friends. Then, of course, we thank Jesus for Bob and Larry...his frog...his blocks...you get the idea. Well, the other night, Scott was praying with him and he was very distracted because he was holding his little toy horse (which is actually a rather large fox). Scott took it from him and told him it was his turn to pray and he could have the horse back when he was all done praying. Hayden folded his hands, closed his eyes, waited a few seconds and then boldly said "AMEN!" Ha! So funny. He's a smart boy!

Since I Last Blogged...

Laney got two more teeth! She cut one on top and her second bottom one. And, she's not been too happy about it. She is very clingy and just wants constant attention. When she's getting it though, she is very sweet! She still will not eat for me. She's a stubborn one, I'm afraid.

We Finally Got Our Couch!


Well, here it is. I love it! And it matches the chair perfectly. We have yet to find pictures to go on the wall above it...but we will get there. Here is a picture of my favorite chair...


Here are a few pictures...

This was a day last week. We were not having a very good day, so I decided to throw the kids in the bath for a while...and it worked! They came out happy and still (probably because they were cold). They love their towels that Aunt Jaye made them, and I do too! They are so cute!


I thought I'd try to get a cute picture of the kiddos. Well this...

turned into this...

which turned into this...

Ok, I give up.

A Day With the Doc

Ever since Hayden was a little baby he has sometimes gotten a croupy sounding cough during the night. The last couple of nights however, it has gotten significantly worse. Last night, he woke up around 3:30 am with a horrible sounding cough. I heard him crying and coughing, half asleep trying to make it to our bedroom. When I brought him in bed with us, he was gasping for air. It was a horrible loud sound that scared both Scott and I. It reminded me of how I used to sound when my asthma acted up as a kid. For several hours he sat with me. We tried everthing to get him to calm down and go to sleep but every time he would try to lay down, his coughing and breathing would get worse again. He sat in front of me on the bed and lifted up his shirt so I would tickle his back. It was so sweet! He finally fell asleep at the foot of our bed and I called our Pediatrician this morning. After a visit to the Doc, we are on steroids twice a day for 5 days. Hopefully that will help to clear his airways and rid the inner barking seal. I only wish his medicine tasted better. It is not fun trying to get an almost 3 year old to swallow something he doesn't want to swallow!

A sweet little moment during the day...We were in the car on the way home from the doctor visit and I started singing the itsy bitsy spider song to keep him awake until we got home. Only, he corrected me. It is NOT called Itsy Bitsy Spider, the correct title is Bitsy SpiderMan. We laughed and then proceeded to sing about the itsy bitsy spiderman who climbed up the water spout!

Mmmm, Mmmm...Good!

I knew there was a reason we don't do chocolate pudding very often!

Naptime is Over!

Both Hayden and Delaney took good naps yesterday. We timed it perfect and they both slept at the same time - that is the best! I heard Hayden making some noise in his room, so I knew he was up from his nap. I waited a few minutes and then went to his room to check on him, only he wasn't in there. I found him in Laney's room, in her crib. They were both smiling and playing together. It was so cute, I had to snap a picture. Nice tushy, Laney!

My Guestbook!

I should have done this long ago...I added a Guestbook to my Blog. It's right below the picture of Hayden and Delaney. I put it on there so those of you who visit my site that don't have a blog of your own can still leave me a message. And for those of you who do have your own blog, well you are welcome to sign it too! Thanks! I look forward to reading your notes to me!

An Evening Walk

We went for a walk this evening. Laney has not been feeling good the past couple of days and I thought we ALL could use some fresh air! It was nice. It was about 67 degrees out and so quiet. I love our little neighborhood. Not a lot of people live here yet, so it is very peaceful. This was the first time Laney got to ride in the wagon and she did great! We will definitely be doing this a lot!

A few weeks ago, Hayden planted some grass seeds in a little pot and decorated it with stickers in his Sunday School class. We have kept it in a window in the dining room and have been watering it every day. I was shocked, it actually grew! He is very proud of it - he loves to show off his grass!

She's Crawling?!?

What a big couple of weeks this has been for Laney. She got her first tooth, started sitting up and scooting around and now SHE'S CRAWLING! She has been changing so quickly, we can hardly believe it! She loves beinig able to get around by herself. And, I love it too because she stays content for much longer...although, now I really have to make sure I pick everything up because it ALL goes in her mouth!

Grandma made this sweet dress for Laney. She has become quite the smocker...we look forward to many more clothes made with love from her! There is a little bonet that goes with it. It is so cute! And yes...that is a barrette in her hair! I know she's not quite ready for them yet, but it's so fun having a little girl!

I tried getting a cute picture of both the kids and this is as good as I got. Hayden was in a very goofy mood and did NOT want to pose for a picture. Every time I sat her next to him, he pushed her over, face forward into the carpet. He is quite the character these days! He was such a nice big brother last night, though. He was in his room for the longest time and we kept hearing loud crashes of toys falling over. Next thing we knew, he had a bunch of his little toys that he brought out and piled up next to Laney for her to play with. It was so sweet!

Tragedy Strikes!

It is a somber week in the Grimm household. Tears have been shed, sleep has been lost. How will we go on? Yes, it's true. Wednesday, the beloved Captain America died a tragic death and now all hope seems lost.

Scott Grimm, reportedly Captain America's greatest living fan made this official statement:

"The incredible sorrow I feel as an American and avid comic fan is impossible to describe. Just when we need him most, our beloved Sentinel of Liberty has been taken from us. Who now will find Osama Bin Laden? Who will defend American ideals abroad and at home? Who will convince Americans that Hillary and Barack Obama are lousy choices to run the country?

I hope to visit the capitol rotunda where he will undoubtedly lay in state before his body replaces John F Kennedy's at the eternal flame in Arlington National Cemetery. I call everyone to fly their flags at half staff for the next year or until the new "Captain America" movie comes out, whichever comes first."

So that, Ladies and Gentlemen, is it. We bid farewell to this great leader and defender of our nation. Goodbye old friend...we will miss you.

Delaney's BIG Week!

My little girl is growing up SO fast! On Friday, she got her first tooth! It didn't seem to bother her at all. I wouldn't have even known except she started gnawing on my finger and and I felt it. She chews on everything these days...and hard! And, this week she started sitting up...what a big girl! She is so happy now that she can sit up. She likes being a part of all the action! She'll sit by herself for a long time and play with her toys. Hayden is so cute...he loves to be a helpful big brother. He likes to bring her toys to her...only, then he realizes her toys do cool things and wants to play with them too.


She doesn't always like that too much. But, she does love him. He can make her laugh just by looking at her! Altough...some days he can make her cry just by looking at her, too. They are a good pair...and who can resist their cuteness?

Hungry??

Okay, I need some help. Delaney is 7 months old and still will not eat. We went for her 6 month well-check and the Pediatrician said I could start feeding her anytime, if I wanted. So, I have tried giving her cereal three times and every time, she tightens her lips, rears her head back and uses every method she can to get that spoon away from her mouth. She hates it! Hayden was NOT like this. He loved to eat and was always ready with his mouth wide open! Is she just not ready? I think she is because she is waking up during the night hungry. I want her to eat...mostly because I want my sleep. Any ideas out there? I have tried giving her a bottle and she will not take that either. Anything that is not ME is not good enough for her and I don't know how to change that.

A Few Pics...

Hayden and his friend, Jessie Stanbery playing the keyboard in Daddy's office after spending the day at Kids Day Out














The Family all together on the couch (a.k.a. mattress) in our new living room watching TV after a long day




Our Little
Princess

















Am I a good wife or what?!? Yes, I bought these for my sweetie...

Perfect Day!

It is a beautiful day today! Around 70 with clear skies and no wind. Hayden, Delaney and I took a stroll over to the park and Hayden played for a while. How nice to get outside! Laney took a sweet little nap and I just enjoyed the feel of the sun. I look forward to more days like today.

Finally!

Good grief, where does the time go?!? I have to think about what has happened since I last wrote. We are slowly settling in our house...and I do mean slowly. We still have a mattress on our living room floor that we use for our sofa. It was fun for a little while, but I am ready for a real couch. Although, it comes in handy when I make Scott "sleep on the couch." Not so bad for him. Ha! Just kidding. But, he did sleep on it last night because I've been sick and he didn't want my germs. Love ya, too! We did finally get our chair, which I love. Our couch will be red to match the red in the chair. We still do not have a fridge. (We have our old one in the garage, but the freezer in it is broken.) Our oven does not heat. I tried baking salmon (yes, I know...I tried to cook), and after an hour in the oven, we were still able to take the cookie sheet out with our bare hands. Now, it wasn’t my fault that meal did not turn out. Our washing machine does not work. We thought our dryer was going to be the big problem because we had to change the plug out (from a three prong to a four), but that was easy compared to the problems our washer has caused. It was just one thing after another with it. We'd fix one problem and then something else would go wrong. And those of you who know us well, know that neither Scott nor I are really "fixer-upper" people, so really, it's amazing we've done what we've done.

I bought a dimmer switch for the dining room. I really wanted one because the house we were renting when we first moved here had one. I thought it would be no problem switching the old one out, boy am I a moron! Scott and the kids were in the living room watching a movie and I was in the dining room thinking I would get this all hooked up and Scott would be so proud of me. And he probably would have been...until he heard me scream from the sheer trauma of an electrical shock running up my arm. Yes, I'll say it again, I am a moron. #1 on the directions says MAKE SURE YOU TURN OFF THE POWER SOURCE. I did not do that. I let the switch hang from a thread for a couple days before I got up the nerve to try it again. Actually, I was on the phone with my dad (the genius) and he talked me through it. It works perfectly now. Thanks, Dad!

Last Sunday, Scott and I took a trip with Josh and Angela to Orlando for the Metro One Music Conference for Worship Pastors and their wives. Delaney came with us and Hayden got to stay here with family. We had a good time and met some great couples that I'm sure we will keep in touch with. It was really helpful for us to meet other couples who are doing what we are doing. I know Scott really enjoyed just brainstorming and bouncing ideas off all of them. I enjoyed talking with their wives and getting to know them and what their life is like. By the end of our trip we were sure missing our little boy. It was good to be back home with him.

Blog, Blog, Blog

So, I wasn't going to blog today. Not because I didn't want to, but just because I really don't have anything to say. But, then I read Nobody's last blog and decided not having anything to blog about isn't such a bad thing! And really, I have a lot to blog about - we are in our new house! Praise God! Finally, we have a place of our own to call "home!" It is so nice...even through all the MESS at the moment, I still love it! Hayden had a rough couple of days while we were moving, but he has been doing great lately. He loves his new room, which at the moment is just toys, toys and more toys! (No wonder he LOVES it!) We haven't gotten any blinds or drapes on the windows yet (luckily there is no one living in the houses next to us, so we don't have to worry about peeping Toms) so Hayden is sleeping in our closet until I can get something up on his windows. Otherwise, he'll be up with the sun and anyone who knows me knows I am NOT a morning person. If he'll sleep longer in the closet, than that's where I'll keep him for now. And Laney finally has a crib! Uncle Blake and Aunt Sandy loaned us theirs...and what a deal, it matches all her furniture! We don't have bedding yet though, so she has yet to have her first night in the crib. I am looking forward to that! It's been hard keeping her on a normal schedule while she's been in the same room as us. But, it's time!

I love my little boy. Yesterday, he was playing by himself in the living room while I was making his lunch. While he was in there, I heard him start to sing. He was singing Jesus Loves Me. It was so sweet, and he knew the whole song. It was completely recognizable and he even sang the tune very well. It was a proud mama moment! I wished he never stopped. I love listening to him! Of course, once he finds out I am listening he gets embarrassed and starts goofing off. It’s those sweet little moments when he's off in his own little world that I love to spy on him!

Back to the house...we bought a dining room set! I am excited to get it. It is so nice! We still need to find living room furniture. Right now, we have our extra mattress on the living room floor and sit on that to watch our TV. It actually makes for a fun little transition time...we have it piled with pillows! It is the only piece of "furniture" we have in there. I think we might try to brave the cold and snow tonight and go look for some furniture. I can't wait to get his house in order! Once I do, I'll post pictures. It may be little while though...