Reflection

I'm sitting here, on New Year's Eve, thinking about all that has happened this year.  Right now, you are in your bed, drifting off to sleep as the new year approaches.  So much has changed this year since the beginning of January.  Your dad and I became your parents, as was always meant to be.  Here are some of the things that you taught me since we met on May 16th, 2011.

* Your smile can make anything right in the world.  When you smile, my heart melts.  Your smile tells me that happiness lives in you and you were meant to spread that happiness to everyone that you meet.

* Laughter IS the best medicine.  I cherish those fleeting moments when your giggle comes out in full force. (Usually because of something silly your dad does.) No matter how uncertain the future may seem or what worries may be creeping up, your laughter helps me live in the present.  If only for a moment. 

* No matter what anyone says, families are created by love.  That love grows stronger each and every day.  When I hear your voice, when I look at that silly snoot face, when I see you learning something new, when you dance to the rhythm of the music...my love keeps growing and growing for you.

* I've learned that, more often than not, you are full of surprises.  I am constantly surprised by everything that you understand, even if you can't quite tell me what that is.  I was surprised that, at such a young age, you had such a strong personality that poured out in everything that you did...your passions, your fears, the tasks you accomplished.

* I also learned that I was always meant to be your mother.  You bring out the best in me.  You help me become the person that I want to be and need to be. You inspire patience, love, understanding, empathy, and living in the present.   

I can't wait to see what this next year holds for our family. I do know one thing for sure...you will continue to bring love and joy to those you are surrounded by and we will continue to show you those things in return. Happy New Year, Grady Jin Kimmel!

December 31, 2011

  

Merry Christmas!!!

Well, morning came and you were up early ready to see what Santa left you! You found your first present under the tree in Aunt Nikki's room where you were sleeping.  When we went downstairs, you couldn't wait to open all the ones Santa left under the big tree.  (You had a lot of practice opening the night before.) Once we got downstairs and started opening, however, you decided to take your time.  When you opened the first one, you just wanted to play with that one and leave the rest!  We finally coaxed you to open a few more as time went on, but you still left a few even into the next day.  You did take time to help others open their presents even though you didn't want to open yours. It was so exciting to see you enjoying the gifts that you received! 

Taking a break to play with Molly.

Watching closely as Grandma and Grandpap open their calendar.

Helping Aunt Nikki open the necklace that you got her!

After we opened most of the presents, we had Christmas breakfast and got ready to go see Mim, Pap, and the rest of the Kimmel family. 

You eating breakfast with your new buddy, Tucker!

They were so excited to see you!  Santa came at their house too!  When we got there you started opening presents and did the same thing that you did that morning...after you opened one that you loved, you ignored the rest for a bit.  The first one you opened was an airplane!  Then a dump truck, then Sesame Street with all of the characters (one of your favorites!), a Sesame Street bus, and Elefun!!! After you opened all of your presents you played with them and ate yummy lasagna for lunch.  Mommy and Daddy played Apples to Apples with the big kids while you kept playing with Elmo!  It was such a fun time, even if you still weren't feeling that great!

Mim helping you put Elefun together!

Aunt B, Aunt Julie, Daddy, and you!



You and Aunt B watching Daddy load up the car.

After we left the Kimmel's we went home and opened a few more presents.  Then you played with your toys and showed them off to Great Grandma Liptock and Aunt Debby!

Here we are trying to get a picture of you in your new Steeler hat with Grandpa, but you thought it was too funny!

It was such an amazing day and visit.  There are so many more pictures and memories, but we can't fit them all here in this short blog.  You are such an incredible gift, Grady.  The best one that we could have received for an early Christmas present.  Your smiles and laughter warm the heart!

 

Christmas Eve

Our first Christmas Eve together has come and gone too quickly.  We decided to head up to PA and share in our first holiday with our family this year. It all started on December 22nd when you woke up with your first cold!  Even though you weren't at your best, I think you enjoyed the celebrations with everyone.  Every Christmas Eve we have dinner at Grandma Guappone's and we get to see the family.  You got all dressed up, but decided that you didn't need socks since it was a little warm from all of the cooking!
You couldn't wait for us to fill up your plate with dinner! You loved the spaghetti and fish that Grandma made, of course!

Finalization

I was so excited to get a call yesterday from the court house.  Do you know what that means Grady?  You are now an "official" member of the family!  I didn't think that I would be as excited as I was.  You see, you were already an official member of the family when we got a call in March saying that a little boy was waiting for us in Korea.  Even before I saw your face in the pictures that they sent us and even before we brought you home in May, you were in our hearts and we loved you so very much.  However, since we got the call saying that the papers were signed and your last name is now Kimmel, we figured that it would be a good reason to have a special dinner - with cake, of course.  

Since you love cars, I attempted to make your favorite one!

You weren't too happy about the pictures because you wanted your pizza!

Much better now that we let you eat.

Yay! I'm a Kimmel! And I'm eating pizza!

Very excited about trying this cake!

The icing is too sweet!

 

However, you learned to love it very quickly.

Smiles and Frowns

Each day there is something sweet or wacky that you do to make me smile.  Every few weeks, however, you always tend to have a phase where you repeat something over and over again. When you were turning one it was the "snoot face." (Sometimes you will still break that one out.)

For a couple of glorious weeks you were all about giving hugs and kisses.  Now, however, you have graduated to blowing your kisses and mostly only giving your stuffed animals hugs.

This past week or so you have taken to punishing...in a cute way.  As you may know, you tend to slip, slide, or bonk your head on something each day.  When you were smaller, Mama would try to stop your crying by making you laugh in the form of smacking whatever you bonked your head on and saying "bad!"  Well, you have now decided you can do your own punishing to the guilty object.  I have to say, it is quite hilarious. (As long as you didn't actually hurt yourself.)  Rarely does a day go by where you don't smack your table when you slide on it picking something up.  Or if you miss your mouth with the spoon and it hits your forehead, the spoon gets a smack and a serious "baa." (Which is Grady talk for bad!)  Anything that does not do exactly what you want or gives you a tiny hurt is now bad, thanks to your mother.  I don't know whether to be proud that you are identifying that things can hurt you and that they shouldn't or be worried that I taught you how to hit something.  Oh well, I guess I will just have to trust in your lighthearted, joyous nature. 

Holiday Weekend

This weekend we tried to celebrate the holiday as much as we could! It all started on Friday evening when we went to The Santa House in Newton, NC.  This is a small house where Santa comes to stay during the holiday weekends while he is getting ready for Christmas.  The first thing we did was make reindeer food to put out with the cookies and milk on Christmas Eve.  You held onto the measuring spoons and poured all of the food into the paper bag! Outside they also had a small petting zoo where you got to feed a goat! You were so excited when he took the food right out of your hand! 

After we fed the animals (and the camel scared you) we went in for the tour of the house. We met Mrs. Clause (who also scared you a bit) and had a cookie.  You loved the sugar cookie, of course.  You looked at all of the lights and trees around the house, enjoying the decorations in each room. 

Next we went into Santa's bedroom that was decorated like a safari.  There were animals everywhere and some of them moved.  I think that was one of your favorite rooms.  However, the room after that was hard to beat: the workshop.  It had a beautiful train display that kept your attention.  Every time the train went past, you waved and blew the passengers a kiss.  There was so much to look at in that room!

Finally we made it to see the big guy.  You REALLY weren't sure about him.  You wouldn't let go of Daddy at all.  You tried to crawl up his chest and flee the scene!  We did manage to get a picture of all of us with Santa - even though you were flailing your arms and legs in protest (just a bit).  All in all I think you did enjoy yourself. Even though you were ruffled a few times, you loved looking at all of the toys and lights!  You even stopped by a tree at the end to pose with Mama.

The next day we went Christmas shopping in Charlotte.  There was an ice palace in the center of the mall that we could walk through and meet Santa.  Needless to say, you did not get near Santa, but you liked the trees and the snow that was coming down in the center of a huge snow globe.  We managed to snap a few pictures before we got to the end. 

          

On Sunday, we took it easy.  Mommy baked Christmas cookies and Daddy took you on a short trip to town to try and finish up a bit of the Christmas shopping.  He said that you loved riding in the cart (as usual) and he let you grab things off the shelf this time.  It was a wonderful weekend that we will always remember.  Your first Christmas is off to a great start!

  

Cookies straight from the oven...

Well, Grady, we've done it.  We have let sweets into your life.  So far, we have really tried to feed your only healthy meals around the dinner table- fruits, veggies, pastas, and more.  Occasionally we let you have a taste of a dessert for a special occasion, like your birthday.  However, with Christmas coming soon, I have been in the kitchen baking yummy cookies as often as possible.  Daddy and I decided to let you have your first Christmas cookie, fresh from oven. (Cooled, of course.)  At first you were so excited, you just wanted to look at it and savor the fact that, indeed, you had your very own cookie.

Ohh! Ahh! A snickerdoodle!

Then, after a bot of coaxing from me and your dad, you finally decided to partake in this sugar-filled substance.

Yum! Yum!

Needless to say, your were thrilled about your first Chirstmas cookie! 

You had such an enjoyable time munching and smiling.  When you got up, the chair and your pants had tell-tale signs of the cinnamon and sugar that covered your treat! Ahh, it's the simple things in life that make us happy...and watching you gobble up your cookie made our night.   



And we're off...

Well, the holidays are just around the corner and time is moving so quickly!  Grady, you are growing and changing so fast that I wanted to record as much as I could so that I wouldn't forget a moment!  I thought this blog would be the best way to tell you how special you are to us and a way to add some of your funnier episodes that make us giggle.  Since this is the first post, I thought I would make a list of the things that you are doing and accomplishing during your 15th month.


* Right now, you are waving "bye" all the time.  Every time you get on your fire truck, when you crawl down the hall, or when you see someone on TV riding somewhere you begin to wave and say "bye".  You love to be moving and don't mind leaving Mama and Dada in the dust.

* You are also blowing kisses to anyone that you deem special enough.  Especially Alfredo the Elf. 


* You love to eat! This morning I asked you if you wanted a waffle and you nodded your head "yes" with excitement. Your favorite foods are strawberries, blueberries (practically any fruit), pasta, goldfish crackers, and peanut butter sandwiches.  

* You also treasure your books.  Each morning we sit on the couch (your new favorite place) and we look through and read your books.  Mama can't read her Harry Potter books beside you without you grabbing them to look at for yourself.  The books with the flaps are also great...you love surprises! 

* You love playing with your farm and kitchen toys.  You can tell us that the cow goes moo, the duck goes quack, and that the sheep goes baa.  Whenever we get the kitchen toys out you use a spoon to stir your plastic fruits and veggies in a big bowl.  It is amazing to watch you try and figure out how to get the lids off and on Tupperware or any other tubs we give you.  You are very determined and an intelligent little man. 

We can't wait to see what you learn new in the coming days.  You are so close to walking and even able to go backwards using your walker.  I think that you just want to make sure it is perfect before you try to venture out on your own.  We also hope that you always keep that bright and sunny smile on your face.  You are the most happy-go-lucky toddler and your smiles warm our heart!