Workin' Mama!

Next Tuesday I have to go back to work... Ahhhhh!!!! It is only for 7 days (with kids, 1 without) so I think I can handle it. I am starting to think about having to go back full time though - YIKES! Good thing I have the whole summer to put that off. One positive is that I don't have to change classrooms this year, so that will give me extra time at home instead of setting up my room. *Thanks Ms. Brown!*

Last week I went in two days... one to sign my contract and the other to attend the staff meeting for teacher appreciation. This week I will be there another two days... both for placement. Yesterday I gave my class to their new teachers, and Wednesday I will get my new class. I hope next year's group is as good as this years. I was pretty lucky!

Next week my mom will be here Tues. - Fri. to watch Grady. The following week Eric's mom will be here Mon. - Wednesday. I hope they're ready to play!!!! Grady is definitely NOT much of a daytime sleeper. Although - I think he's going thru a growth spurt because Sunday he slept most of the day and night away! That was nice for Eric because it was his only day off!!!

6 Weeks - A Big Boy!!!

Look what I can do!!!!

At six weeks old Grady is smiling often! He also holds his head up for longer periods of time (he's really good in the bumbo, and in his swaddler... weird). Most importantly though - he is sleeping through the night! 7-8 hours straight! YEAH!!!! What a champ!

Grady's First Getaway!

Last weekend Grady packed up his bags and headed to Summerville. Of course, mommy did the packing, but Grady supervised! I was totally stressing because I knew I was going to forget something critical. I actually did forget something, but Aunt Emily saved the day with an emergency trip to Wal-Mart for a swaddler.

We celebrated my sister's graduation and Mother's Day. Grady got to see so many people who love him, and didn't get put down all day. We all had a wonderful time! Grady even slept his longest stretch (up until then) of 5 hours and 45 min. on Saturday night. Monday was a bit rough getting him back into his routine because he wanted me to hold him all day... but we got through it. The next day (Tuesday) he slept a lot during the day, and made it 7 1/2 hours sleeping straight through the night. Wednesday he made it 8! SUPER!!!!!

Grady also got to meet Madison, our friends Craig and Sarah's baby. She is just 6 weeks older than Grady. Madison weighs about a pound more... Grady is a little bit longer.... but they are pretty much the same size. They were absolutely adorable together. She is too cute! We can't WAIT to get together and play again soon!

Oh yeah, and Jackson got to meet Cooper (Emily's new kitty). It was a social event for everyone!!!!

Best Buys for Baby!

I'm a bargain hunter. In fact, I think if I was a millionaire I would still shop the sales! You call it cheap - I call it frugal! Everyone knows babies are expensive... but until you're going through 10 diapers and 25 oz. of formula a day, in addition to $150 a week daycare, you don't quite get how expensive!

When I stopped breastfeeding, I called Grady's pediatrician (whose wife just had a baby) and asked the nurse what formula I should start with him. She recommended Enfamil Lipil to begin with, and said that Target makes a store brand version of it. She also said that's what the doctor is using for his new one - so I should be confident that it is just as good. Soooo, Grady is on Up & Up's version of Enfamil Lipil... a savings of $12/25 oz. can! I buy the big 40 oz. can for an even bigger savings!

For one of my showers, a friend gave me the Up & Up (Target) brand of diapers. I was REALLY skeptical of these because when I opened up the package they felt super thin. So to put them to the ultimate test I put Grady to bed in one. Five hours later - no leaks. The next day he wore them and still no leaks! I actually have decided I like them better than Pampers because they are so much thinner. When I put a new diaper on him it isn't so bulky.

The last best buy I've found is knock off butt paste! That's right... there's a cheaper alternative to the $8 tube of butt paste. Big Lots has a tube of cream for $1 that looks, smells, and works just like the pricey version!

So shop smart, and remember these great buys! You. Are. Welcome. :)

Graduation Celebration!

This weekend we are taking our first trip! I have been making 10,000 lists to make sure I pack everything we're going to need - without OVERpacking. We are going up to Summerville to celebrate my sister graduating from Clemson. I can't wait for her to see Grady's special outfit he's wearing just for her! Congrats Aunt Emily!!!!!!

We are also very excited because on Sunday we're heading over to Sarah and Craig's house to meet Madison! I can't believe she's almost 3 months old and we haven't seen her yet - but that's what happens when you have a 5 week old! Can't wait!!!

Happy Mother's Day!

Today I am celebrating my very first Mother's Day! It has been so wonderful! First thing this morning, Eric and Grady surprised me with a gift from Markel's. It was a beautiful Willow Tree figure that has Mommy and Daddy hugging with Baby in the middle. It is on one of the shelves in our living room so I can enjoy it all year! Then, we all got dressed and headed to the beach! Grady got to put his toes in the sand and take a stroll in his jogger - another first! We decided we would wait to do the feet in the water because it was a little chilly and windy today. I'm not sure he was aware of his adventure, because he was asleep for 99% of it!

1 Month Old!!!!!!

Shutterfly Photos!

I was uploading some photos to my Shutterfly account when I saw they have a "share site" option. Soooo, I put up the albums I have posted of Grady this month, and now you can access and order the ones you'd like! We've had so many requests for this picture file, and that picture file - now you can go on and pick the ones you want... and place your order! So much easier than emailing the files!!!! We will continue to update them as we take new pictures, so check back each month to see what's new!

http://andgradymakes3.shutterfly.com

The share site is password protected so if you'd like the password, email me!

LizaTheiling@yahoo.com

Enjoy!

4 weeks old yesterday - 1 month tomorrow!

WHERE does the time go?! Let me be the first to tell you that 4 weeks while you're pregnant CRAWLS by, and 4 weeks with a newborn FLIES!

This month Grady has gotten used to life on the outside! He has already been growing and changing, and developing his personality. He is starting to smile (randomly) and even makes laughing sounds from time to time. He weighed 7 lbs 6 oz. at his two week check up, but I know he's even bigger now. I bet he has gained a pound! We won't know for sure until his two month check up in June. Eric and I are already getting spoiled because he's only getting up once during the night (at about 3 am), and he even moved from his bassinet in our room to his "big boy bed" up in his room. We still get to keep a close eye on him on the video monitor! Can't wait to see what the next month has in store for us! He's getting more fun everyday!

Happy Birthday, Daddy!

Today was Eric's 28th birthday!!! What an old man! Grady gave Daddy a new shirt - in his favorite "golf" fabric. He loved it! And Mommy gave Daddy some new board shorts.

**This is really a gift to myself because I am constantly washing bathing suits for us during the summer so that we always have a clean one! What can I say? We love the water!**

The true gift for both of us last night was that Grady slept in his big boy crib for the first time! It was time for him to move out of our bedroom, up the stairs, and into his nursery. He went to sleep at 10, woke up at 3 to eat, and went back to sleep until 6:30! The best part was when I woke him up at 3 to have his bottle - he went straight back to sleep. This has been the hardest part of our schedule to nail down because usually he wants to hang out for an hour or so in the middle of the night - NOT so much fun! Fingers crossed that tonight is just as great!!!!!!!!

Happy Birthday, Eric!!!

The Bare Necessities...

When we registered for baby stuff we scanned, zapped and tagged everything I thought I might use in the first year of Grady's life.... Yeah I think we went a bit overboard! Thankfully we have great closet space in our home because our amazing friends and family truly went above and beyond helping us get ready for the big arrival. In fact, at one point I had to go re-register because our Target one got almost completely bought out. We are SO blessed!

Now that I have all these wonderful things to make caring for Grady easier, I thought I would make a little list of the Bare Necessities that I have found to be truly essential during those first weeks at home with baby. That way when you're registering or purchasing a gift, you'll know what those priceless items are! I call this "Liza's Favorite Things," only... you don't get a free one like on Oprah!

10. Dr. Brown's bottles - do not fool yourself... there is NO substitute. Especially when you have a gassy baby.

9. A portable changing caddy. In those first few weeks we had Grady downstairs with us, so we used a canvas diaper caddy with a handle. We could change him anywhere without having to hike up and down the stairs.

8. My Little Lamb cradle and swing. Seriously like Ambien for babies.

7. A pack n' play with a bassinet. This is especially handy since our room is down, and his is upstairs. We are keeping him in our room until he sleeps for longer periods.

6. A baby sling. This is the only way I can get makeup on and my hair done when he wants to be held! He is content - and I have my hands free!

5. Boppy's newborn lounger. Baby lazy-boy. It is literally a baby beanbag chair. Grady loves it, and will even take his naps in it... even though the label says not to :)

4. Video monitor. There is NO substitute for being able to see your baby when he's away from you sleeping. We also have a 2 way monitor that we can talk back to him on - both have saved us many trips up and down the stairs!

3. Pampers Swaddlers. Huggies leaked for us, but they were great when he still had his bellybutton raisin because they have the cut out part for the cord.

2. Good quality cloth diapers to use for burp cloths. The cheap ones aren't thick enough and your clothes will thank you for spending a few extra bucks.

1. Kiddopotamus swaddlers. Grady wouldn't be able to sleep without these because his arms wake him up when he waves them around. When he's in his burrito he sleeps like... a baby!

**Side note: EVERYTHING for baby runs on D batteries. Save yourself some money and invest in some rechargeables and a charger. More money up front, but a savings in the end. Plus, when the baby is fussy, you want to be able to use that swing to calm him down!