Little Rascal

We've certainly got a rascal on our hands. It's so funny to watch what Griffin gets into. At this point, he's still pretty predictable, but we can just see the wheels in his head turning...I'm sure he'll be pulling fast ones on us in no time.

He really likes getting into bags and pulling everything out of them. I keep the diaper bag and my purse on this chair in the dining room and G goes through them at least once a day. I've learned to keep things I don't want him playing with out of his reach, but since this occupies some time and seems to hold his attention, I let him do it.

He has also figured out how to open our storage ottoman and knows that his toys are in there! It's really funny to see him lift if because he gets down low to push up with his legs and grunts like a body builder. Once he gets the lid up, he loves to pull EVERYTHING out of it. Rather than walk around to reach the toys on the other side, he climbs up in there and struggles to get what he wants.

"Mom...a little help here?!"

(He got stuck with his legs down between the side and the basket....I had to help him wiggle his way out of there.)

My wallet has proven to be G's favorite item in my purse (foreshadowing?). The leather must feel good on his gums because he loves to chew on it. Sometimes if we're out shopping and he's really fussy (making a scene), I give that to him because it shuts him up pretty quickly. My money is usually a little soggy afterwards, but I figure that it's pretty harmless.

It's so fun to see what this little rascal gets himself into! I'm sure we'll have to start keeping a closer eye on him as he gets more and more adventurous, but it's so fun to see how that brain is working and how he remembers everything! We've got a smart boy!

Snow Bird

Seeing as though we live in Atlanta, a place that gets snow (or a wintry mix) maybe once a year, I think it's funny that in Griffin's short lifetime, he's seen snow 3 times! The first was the day we brought him home from the hospital, the second was Christmas, and now on his 11 month birthday! This time we saw a pretty good bit and even took the opportunity to go out and play in it.

When G woke up that morning, we took him out on the back deck to check everything out. Chad and I were both surprised at the amount that had fallen overnight! We got about 5 1/2 inches.

I swear, this kid loves cold weather. Or else, he just loves being outside so much that it doesn't bother him. Once he woke up from his morning nap, we decided to bundle him up and head outside so he could really check out all that white stuff on the ground!

Please mom, can we go?!

We were hoping he would be able to push his dinosaur though the snow, or that we could build a snow man or something, but it turns out that on top of the snow was a sheet of ice! Not very good for "playing", but G had fun anyways.

As I'm writing this post, it is three days later and there is still a good bit of snow (ice) on the ground. We've pretty much been trapped inside for the past 3 days due to dangerous road conditions. Today we are making it a priority to get out of this house! I think Griffin and I both are about to go a little nuts from cabin fever.

Griffin, your dad and I are glad you like the snow and cold weather so much. We think we could handle taking you snow skiing at a young age because of it (though you should have seen us trying to get all of your "gear" on you. I know I was in a full-on sweat after getting you ready to go!).

Best Year...Ever!

I think it's safe to say that the year 2010 has flown by faster than any other year of my life. I also feel confidant in saying that it has been the BEST year of my life. I know that's a bold statement, but I've thought it through, and I really believe it.

The year started like this....

...and very quickly moved to this....

...and in the blink of an eye, ended with this!

So many awesome things have happened this year, the obvious one being Griffin, and, I'll admit that most of the other things have revolved around him, but that's normal, right? Outside of the sheer joy I've had watching him grow and learn these past 11 months, having him in my life has also made my love for Chad grow stronger and my appreciation for my parents and family shoot through the roof!

With G's one year birthday quickly approaching (can you believe it?!) I'm trying to not be sad about how fast this year has gone by, but thankful for all the blessings this year has brought us. We are so excited that our little man is growing and developing as he should be and is becoming more and more fun to be around (and more and more of a rascal, if we're being completely honest).

So, here's to an unforgettable 2010 and hopes for an equally awesome 2011.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Oh What Fun It Is...!

As I predicted, this Christmas was so wonderful. It's amazing how a baby can make everything so fun and new (and honestly, I don't know what we'd all sit around and talk about if Griffin weren't there to entertain us).

The holiday started with Christmas Eve lunch at my grandmother's house. We ate way too much food and opened gifts.

The stockings were hung by the chimney with care, and there was a new one up there this year for Griffin! Gingi makes a good stocking and has made many over the years.

A new cell phone from Aunt CC was quite a hit! Griffin is still enjoying it...and our phone bill is through the roof! (I kid, I kid)

We had a little accident, which is why G is bottomless in a lot of these pictures. I wasn't prepared with extras in the diaper bag this time.

This is my favorite family photo from Christmas (maybe because it's one of the very few we took!).

From Gaga's house, the three Herring's left to go to the Christmas Eve service at our church. We listened to great music and were reminded the real meaning of Christmas, which is often lost in the attempt to get everything ready and "perfect" for the big day. When we got home, Chad and I had fun getting things ready for Santa's big arrival the next morning!

Here's Griffin and Dada on Christmas morning! G had his bottle and then was ready to head downstairs to see if Santa brought him any new toys.

It was fun to see Griffin and how he reacted to his toys. We thought he would immediately gravitate to the big, green dinosaur (his "big" gift), but he was more into the dinky little cars. We basically had to "introduce" him to the dinosaur! haha.

I think G and the dino got off to a rough start, but now he LOVES it and is doing a great job walking behind it like a big boy!

Gigi, Charlie, Ramsey and Jenna came over later that morning to see what Santa brought and to exchange gifts between us before the great grandparents, aunt Cindy and Gram and Grandpa came for Christmas brunch. It was a great day with family!

Gram and Grandpa got Griffin a rocking horse!

....and, of course, Griffin enjoyed the bows and such just as much as the presents themselves. Although, he really needs to work on unwrapping his own gifts. My bet is that by next Christmas he'll be tearing into those packages all by himself.

Oh, did I mention that we had a white Christmas?! It was so cool. We actually had a few inches on the ground (nothing stuck on the roads). It was beautiful. Griffin has seen his fair share of snow since he was born, especially considering we live in Georgia.

A few days later we rounded out the Christmas celebration by heading down to Hilton Head to spend a few days with the Herrings! Natalie, Jake and baby Blake were there, and we got to see Grandma and Grandpa Herring and Uncle Tom and Aunt Sherry. Of course, Griffin got more gifts (I think he's already looking forward to next Christmas...he likes all these new toys!).

I love this picture of the cousins. I know these two will get into some real trouble together in a few years!

Nat Nat gave G a fun new activity table. He LOVES it and plays with it every morning!

This was such a special Christmas, spending it as a family of three. We can't wait to start some traditions of our own and make Christmas something that Griffin not only looks forward to each year, but something that he truly understands as a time of celebrating the birth of baby Jesus.

PS - I just have to brag for a minute here. Besides the typical baby blabber of dada and mama, we're convinced that Griffin's first word was JESUS. (no joke!) We've got a little stuffed animal nativity scene that we were playing with in Griffin's room one morning and we were talking about Mary and Joseph and the animals and baby Jesus. More than once, Griffin repeated the word Jesus. Ask Chad if you think I'm lying. Just saying....I knew we had a special boy on our hands.