The Killpack Clan: November 2008

Sunday, November 16, 2008

Fave Five...or Six?

Lots to be thankful for this week! I hope I remember them all, and I hope I can get them down to just five. It'll be hard, but here's my try:

1. Play Dates. When we moved to Casper James and I didn't know anyone at all. We were just here by ourselves hoping to make new friends...well you know how it is if you've ever moved away. Well, the school I was hired to teach first grade at also hired a second grade teacher. I heard about her, and I heard she was really nice, just moved from Utah like us, so I was really anxious to meet her. We became fast friends and even went shopping for our classrooms together. So fun! Her name is Kerrie and she just had a baby in February, so we were pregnant together. I have to say how fun it was to have her go through everything first. She was grilled by me every time she went to the doctor. She's a great friend. Every week we try to organize a play date with our babies at each other's houses. The babies just sit and play, but Kerrie and I have so much fun talking! Its nice to have friends here when everyone else is so far away. This playdate was one of the first times the babies actually noticed each other and tried to share and play together. Aren't they sweet? This is Callie and she was extra sweet on Grant in this play date!

I'd also like to draw attention to their pants. They were a gift from a sweet second grade teacher at school at our baby shower. So cute!

2. Long lost friends...I am so thankful for this blogging thing. One of my good friends that I had from childhood found my blog, and we've been keeping in touch. Her name is Angi Scott (well, its Pelissie now), and we have had so much fun catching up. She was my first friend that I ever made in St. George when I was nine. So fun to think about all the things we used to do together like swimming every day, marathon sleepovers, swapping Baby-Sitter Club books (don't laugh, that's how I became a reader :) ), and baking cookies that never quite turned out for some reason. And our families became friends as well. So glad I have found her and can't wait to hear more about her and her family!

3. Sundays...I am so glad for this one day that is not like the rest. Heavenly Father totally knew what he was doing by giving us this one day to rest. Sunday just feels different and its so nice to just take a break and leave everything from the week behind. I love having James home and we just relax and rest. I don't know how people make it when they observe Sunday like every other day of the week. I need the rest!

4. Morning cuddle sessions with Grant. Early in the morning, before it is too early to get up and start the day, I will hear Grant starting to coo and stir. I know from his little noises that he is still tired and just needs that extra little bit of rest before I get him up for the day. So I will pick him up and he will nestle right into my shoulder. I will walk over to the rocking chair and slowly rock him back to sleep. I love, love, LOVE this time. I love feeling that little bald head on my cheek and how he will rest his fingers on my neck. I absolutely adore this sweet little baby boy!

5. Jam. I have found a new love. I am so loving jam and toast in the morning. One of our neighbors made fresh peach jam for us, and oh my goodness! I have been eating jam ever since! So good! I think one of my New Years Resolutions, besides reading 50 books, is to learn how to make yummy jam. So, mom, if your reading this, break out those recipes, cause I'm rarin' to go!

6. James is always so super nice and sweet and I couldn't make it through each day with out him! He helps out so well with Grant, and has taken on so much more since we had him! He did a lot to begin with anyway, and so it still amazes me how much he does for us. Laundry, cleaning, running errands in town is no match for my sweetie! I so appreciate all that he does for us.

So there it is. So hard narrowing it down. I feel super blessed, and very fortunate.

Friday, November 14, 2008

7 Month Milestones!

Grant's amazing milestones:

Rolling over from back to tummy (doesn't quite like the tummy thing so much, I have to really have an amazing toy to motivate him)
Can eat squash, peas, mixed vegetables, sweet potatoes, green beans, and carrots without any coaxing
Likes to shake and bang his rattles (we have a song: Shake, shake, shake! Shake, shake, shake! Shake your rattle!
Has taken an interest in Cooper and will pet him gently
Responds to funny noises by laughing endlessly (it's super cute to hear him! )
Can sit unassisted
Has shown an interest in books (Yea! Our months of reading books must be finally paying off!)
Has protective reflexes on either side of his body (can catch himself when he starts to fall to the side)

We are so proud of our little boy and the accomplishments he is making. Seven months ago we weren't sure how the stroke had affected him and how he would develop, but he's meeting every milestone just as normally as can be!

Monday, November 10, 2008

You've Been Skunked!

We had the most fun for Halloween! Our ward in Casper really goes all out and makes it fun for the kids! They had a chili cookoff and a carnival with games and booths. Now these booths that they have must take forever to prepare. It really looks like a carnival when you go inside. It was so fun to see all of our cute primary kids all dressed up in their little Halloween costumes.

Sort of a milestone this Halloween....James actually dressed up! Not in the Jolly Green Giant costume I've been wanting him to be (or more likely, teasing him that that's what he should be), but he did go as a basketball player. It was so fun dressing up Grant and taking him to school and the Halloween carnival. We ended the night early (Grant has his "Sour Hour" at about 6 o'clock), so we ate, saw a few people and came home. Not so many trick-or-treaters this year, but that's okay. More candy for us!