Quasi Christmas

We are so fortunate that both of our parents live relatively near each other.  A 6 hour drive is really a breeze and we love to split our time and see everyone when we fly west.

This year, all of the Grady children spent Christmas with their in-laws and then gathered for what Kevin so aptly named (during a prayer, no less!) "Quasi Christmas" on Dec 29th.  Artis and Lionel went all out, as always, and we loved sharing Mock Christmas Eve and Quasi Christmas with the Grady clan.

Colin can hold his own bottle but chooses not to when he can sense that the person holding him is a softy 

(he pulls this stunt with Kevin too!)

Colin has gone from "Cah" to "Cahn" by Lydia...they had so much fun playing together!

Grandma Grady

The start of Colin's string!

Lydia found a baby crib at the end of her string...both she and Colin loved playing with it all week!

Ahem...yeah, Kevin still demands his own string too despite his ever increasing age!

Working on daddy's string

Now, I am going to warn you that I took a TON of pictures because I was playing with my new toy - a digital SLR camera!  Merry Christmas to me! (thank you Kevin, mom, dad, Artis, and Lionel!)

Colin was clapping as everyone opened their presents :)

Grandma got an iPad!

and daddy got the globe he's been asking for!

Oh goodness, the stairs!  We spent SOOOO much time going up and down the stairs.

Hanging with Grandpa

and Leslie

Playing with his new toys...

I LOVE this picture because it looks like Colin is actually reading his new "Stories about Jesus" book...how righteous!

But then he is bored with it...

and is totally over this whole Christmas thing!

Colin's Birthday Bash

What is it they say about the best laid plans?  

Oh yeah...they often go awry.

Colin kind of had a bummer birthday.  The birthday cake was baked and the decorations were ready for his party when the stomach flu hit me and Kevin.  So we cancelled the party and tried to ignore Colin as much as possible so he wouldn't get sick too.

We felt so guilty, but in the end he didn't get the flu so being "bad" parents won out.

Thankfully we were able to celebrate the big 1 with my family in California...and we did it in a restaurant so we wouldn't have to clean it up!  No, that sounds awful.  Really, we just had to fit in the traditional cake eating sometime and this is just were it ended up.

First, the attendees:

Mark and Shana

Colin's original uneaten cake was one of those giant cupcakes.  Thankfully my mom was able to improvise last minute!

My dad

Nana and Colin 

Stacie and Mitch 

Steve, Tracy, and Cody 

 

Silly Nana!

Now let the fun begin...

Not quite sure what it is... 

They are forcing me to eat again!

Come on Colin, it's good!

Mmmm! They weren't poisoning me after all!

Jabba the Hut Baby!

 

They've been holding the good stuff out on me!  

We had to strip the poor kid down in the restaurant bathroom just to get him clean enough to leave!

While the bday party didn't quite go how I had planned, it was great to share all the messiness with the family!

A big thank you to my brother Mark for taking the pictures :)

Colin's 12 Month Stats

Weight: 24lbs 7 oz (70th percentile)

Height: 32 in (95th percentile)

Developmental Stats:

• Colin is not quite walking but he is very close...he walks along furniture and while holding our hands
• Colin has sworn off all pureed baby food and is only eating actual big people food.  Of course, he still isn't getting enough swallowed because he gags and spits out most of it, but at least it is progress!
• His favorite words/sounds include: ma ma/ da da, unnnn gah/dah, and whispering pa pa
• Colin can clap, wave, and put his hands above his head when we say "So Big!"
• He plays peek a boo with his blanket
• He loves to shake his head when we say "No!"
• He can go up and down stairs very quickly (a big thank you to my sis-in-law Leslie for teaching him to turn around be fore he descends the stairs!)
• And he's the best baby ever :)