Pumpkin Fun!

 The boys love pumpkins...seriously, you should see them play with them like they are toys meant for them to
entertain themselves with!  They liked them so much, we went back again and did the hayride and all.  Needless to say, I have too many pumpkins at my house, 6 last time I counted.

First steps

It has happened!  At 16 months, Gunner too his first unassisted steps.  This has not occurred since, but on Friday, October 9, 2010, Gunner took two steps to Mommy and two steps to Daddy.  He does a lot of standing purposefully, squatting to standing, but not much of the walking stuff yet.

This of course has been on the back of my mind.  Wondering...when?  I say this for a few reasons, one due to mommyhood, we all compare our kids.  Greyson was walking by the time he hit 10 months.  Yes, 10 months.  And that was the first time I captured it on camera.  Doing what Gunner is now, he was 9 months.  Then the other reason, the prematurity and adjusting ages and all that.  I just wondered when.  Don't get me wrong....I have enjoyed every moment and never really wanted to push him thru any milestone (except the sleeping all night one).  But I was starting to get a little concerned, because they said at this 15 month check-up if he wasn't walking by his 18 month, we would get referred to EI.  So, I was starting to get nervous.

Now I am not nervous, but worried about keeping up with TWO BOYS.  Yikes.  They say you don't get what you can't handle...hope they are right.

Bad Mommy (about blogging that is)

This summer I got caught in a whirlwind of enjoying my boys...so much that I haven't even bothered to blog about it.  Truthfully I miss it.  It is my quiet celebration of all of their accomplishments and mundane day to day cuteness that makes my world go around.  Stay tuned for some "retro posts"!

Beach 2010

We made our annual trip to Myrtle Beach this year and it was amazing, just like all other years!  I just love comparing one year to the next and seeing how the boys grow and change.  Here are some amazing pictures of the guys that will tell a story of their own.

 These are my beachy boys...all three of them absolutely love the sand, sun, and surf!

The boys in the pool...we have our hands FULL with these waterbugs!

 

 I think that Greyson's transformation from last year to this was just amazing.  Heck, even just 3 weeks before we went to the beach, he was afraid to go under water and jump off the side of the pool.  You cannot get him out of some kind of water when we were at the beach.  Jumping off, going under water, riding the waves, he was unstoppable.

 Late night crabbing with the Daddies!  They were gone so long that we thought something bad had happened, when in reality, they were just having a BLAST!

 Cousins...best friends or bitter rivals?  How about both, depending on the day or moment!  Keegan and Greyson so close in age make for interesting play!

 Last year, Gunner was 12 weeks actual, 5 adjusted when we went to the beach.  The closest he got to sand was on the balcony of the 14th floor in his 50 spf tent. This year, the boy played in the sand, pool, and water, ate sand (much to my dismay), toddled with hands through the surf.  His change from last year (sleeping thru anything fun) to this year was nothing less than amazing.

 Always have to make time for some arcade play, even if it is blazing hot in there...the kids (and big kids) love it!

Allergries stink...

Today, we did our annual allergy testing for Greyson and initial testing for Gunner.  Greyson has been allergic to milk since his first birthday.  The nasty reaction seen below was the result of a cheeto innocently shared by his older cousin.  This was how we found out he was allergic to milk...well something and it prompted our getting him tested.

So, what did we find out this year?  Greyson had a skin test for just milk.  They tested with the extract and fresh milk, which is supposed to be more reactive.  He had a little itching at the site, but no noticeable reaction.  They actually deemed it a NEGATIVE reaction, which means he shouldn't be allergic to milk. 

So on to the food challenge.  This entailed dipping a tongue depresser in milk and touching it to his tounge.  They wait 15 minutes to see what happens.  At about the 15 minute mark, Greyson starts itching his eyes and I notice a little puff in his upper lip.  They give him some benadryl.  We are waiting for our paperwork and I notice his cheeks under his eyes are puffing up.  This earns him an epi-pen injection and a dose of a steriod to counteract the allergen.  So, despite the negative skin testing, a positive food challenge, told us he is still allergic to milk, but outgrowing it.  Maybe next year.

Gunner had his first test.  They did the traditional 6 panel test, which tests for the most allergen prone foods.  He had a significant reaction to eggs, but no milk.  This actually doesn't surprise me, as Greyson was allergic to eggs his first year too.  So, I have wearily started introducing milk to him to see what happens.  I am mixing a 1:4 ratio on the milk and thus far no reaction.  He has also had some yogurt melts with no reaction.  I don't know what to do with a child that is not allergic to milk!

My little firecrackers

On July 3rd, the boys and I enjoyed one of my childhood traditions....the Schoolcraft 4th of July Parade.  Greyson focused on all the activity and thought that the candy collection was a great sport.  Gunner, strapped on me ala Moby Wrap, danced and clapped and babbled the whole time.  He absolutely loved it and was very content...not that you can tell by the above pic. :)

Greyson had his first pony ride...up till now he was terrified of most animals in cages, so this is a HUGE step.  The fair might actually be fun this year!

After the parade, we stopped at the UMC in Schoolcraft for a hot dog...Greyson mowed his down!

Here is the boys waiting for the parade to begin!

Food Exploration...

Little Gunner has been quite the pioneer in trying new foods lately.  He has had a ton of "big people food" mostly pureed, but some have been finger sized for self-feeding.  He has eaten (not all at one setting) pasta salad with broccoli and cucumber (puree), baked beans, sloppy joe meat/sauce, pasta, kiwi, spaghetti (puree), the list goes on. His favorite has to have been the avacado/guacamole and celery sticks that he loved gnawing on at Chili's!

I think he is going to be a good (not picky) eater like his brother.  He still loves his milk, but he is opting for lots of real food too!