Christmas Wishes from Grant

Grant has enjoyed his first Christmas season and wishes all his family and friends the best in the coming year.




As Grant approaches ten months of post-utero age, he has learned to squirm.



He's becoming very cultural.



He's gotten into the spirit.




He wishes you a Feliz Navidad!







WHEN it was over, Grant was ready for bed. Look at him, looking growner than ever.

A Seasonal Grant

Grant has been chillin' these last couple of weeks, but that doesn't mean there hasn't been anything blog-worthy. He enjoyed a great Thanksgiving with the Walters. And now has been really getting into the spirit of things, trying to make his first Christmas a good one. He's gotten his tree up, his lights up, and even started on his Christmas list, what a responsible little boy. Since you've been missing him, here's a top ten list of things that you didn't know about Grant:

10. He doesn't like when people sneeze.

9. He's now been out of the womb as long as he was in it.

8. His stats are, as of 9 mos., 30.5 inches and 19.8 pounds. This puts him in the 97% in height and 35% in weight for babies his age.

7. He loves strawberries and bananas, but can really put down the hummus.

6. His favorite place is the grocery store.

5. He makes it a point to make one friend in every place he goes.

4. He will stare at a person until they give in and become his friend.

3. He had his first cold last week.

2. He's working on crawling.

1. His first words have been "ba-ba" and "ma-ma".

Here's a couple of pics from Grant's trip to the sculpture museum where he heard a bell concert;



see how he's so into art:





We spent today at the mecca for toys--Toys R Us--which got us thinking...Please vote in our new poll!!



What should Santa bring Grant this Christmas?

1. A sweater.

2. An educational toy.

3. A tickle me Elmo.

4. Thomas the Train.

5. Another dog.

6. A video ipod.

7. A new car.

PS. Emily the Bomb please see the response to your recent post.

Yes He Can: A Menagerie

Grant went on a safari this past weekend, through the country of Africa.





He rode on horses to get there, which he didn't like at first.



Then, on zebras.



Then, on gorillas.




Then, past the alligators.



He met a bee, not a bumble bee.




He saw monkeys.



He rode atop a triceratops.





He went incognito as a lobster.



And then he rode home refreshed!





Congratulations! Sarah and Lino!

Happy Birthday Littleleblogski!

Yesterday, our Little Leblogski turned one year old. At that time, we were just experiencing the first movements of our little Grant. We didn't know what he would look like, who he'd be, or how we as parents might handle all of it. We just knew we'd love him. And now he's a growing happy boy, and on the move, as you can tell.

As a family, there have many great moments: packing our old home, seeing Grant into the world, a new job, a new city, seeing new places, and many memories with friends and family. Guess that's just how the whole thing keeps perpetuatin' itself, the human (and dog) comedy, that is.

A Fall Harvest

The family went to Colorado this past week to remember Iris Helzer, Grant's great grandmother, who recently passed from this life to the next. She taught her family the virtue of selfless love. Though Grant only met her once, please click here, Iris's spirit will live with him, as it does with the rest of her family.

Here are a few more videos and highlights of the weekend:



OOH-EEE He loves the swing!



Grant's a zebra! What do zebras say (make sure to scroll down to the bottom of the left column where it says listen to a zebra)?



Dad and Zebra



Grant's too cute

Amarill-a by mornin

Down from Denver, we are halfway home. We had a great time, and we're happy we had the chance to honor Grant's Great grandma Iris.

Grant loves the swing

Grant got to go on a walk in Denver

One Diaper at a Time

Grant's stock tip of the day: diaper commodities and stink bonds

Cool Joe Grant

In these days of recognizing what Joe six pack and Joe the plumber want, let's not forget our little Joe Grant. Just keeping the economy floating one formula can at a time.

Autumnal Grant

Fall is here!

Party Time

Grant had the best weekend of his life, so far. As you can see, he's quite the ladies man. He traveled to San Antonio to get baptized. Getting there, we stopped in Waco for a picnic at the Texas Ranger Museum. He endured the six hour trip in the car, with a stop in Austin, which meant traffic. In San Antonio, we went out for his Uncle Matt's birthday. He was up late, but did not fuss.

Saturday, Kelly and I, like other parents, cringed when we imagined how our child might react to sitting through the hour long mass only to have it culminate in a personal bath in the waters of life, in front of a live audience. We were surprised when he took to it so well.




He'd had practice, though. Earlier that day, Grant got in the hotel pool.




So with that experience, Grant was ready for Baptism. The Godparents, Matt and Whitney and also Christopher, Sarah and Lucy came down from Bellville, Texas and helped us welcome Grant into the Christian community.



Grant was in a great mood, considering how late in the day it was. He smiled through the whole experience, kicking his legs in delirious glee.



Afterward, we celebrated by first getting Grant out of his Baptism dress, a must for all neophytes. Then, we went to "Taco de Jalisco" for dinner, a little place I know of, which had actually changed its name to something I already forget. Never mind, its right across the street from the Witte Museum on Broadway.

A harpist, Rene Devia, entertained us. He serenaded Grant, who was mesmerized by the sounds and movements of the strings. Grant got to dance. We had a great time with friends and family.



On Sunday, a breakfast with friends and a visit with Grandparents, and we were off back to Dallas.



Many thanks to everyone for a great weekend!

Matt, Whitney, Sarah, Lucy, and Christopher
The Brandts, Bob and Pat
Sarah and Brianna
James
Emily and Brian
Amirra, David, and Gabriel
Jean Marie (Pronounced in the French)
Father Thaddeus
Grandparents Terri and Mario
Uncle Mike and Aunt Shayne
Uncle Matt

You Missed the Tiger

A rainy day in Dallas turned into a trip to the Dallas Aquarium, which is like an indoor zoo--of both people and animals. We wound through the narrow paths and made it to the aquarium part of the aquarium where Grant got to feed among the sharks and sting rays. He still struggles between his animal part and his human, and this outing didn't help any.




Along the way, we found a TIGER! Or should I say a jaguar. Sorry, jaguars, no disrespect.



For Liz and Marie, thanks for the comments. To keep you further educated on the subject of colliding objects and in keeping with today's animal theme, please check out this http://www.bbspot.com/News/2008/09/squirrel-smasher.html.

Finally, we leave you with a diversion of sorts...



We hope and pray all our friends in Houston safely saw Ike come and go.

LHC

Our little hot child had a good weekend; he enjoyed a nice evening in the park, the Nasher Sculpture Center.



Good thing considering the impending tests going on at CERN. We should be con-cerned!! The mysteries of mass may be revealed, but does it really matter?



Grant has his rapping shoes on, and is ready for whatever might happen.

Unvetted

This just in: there is a scandal at the House of Grant.

No, he doesn't have a teenage pregnant daughter; he didn't forget how many homes he owns (1, a rental); he didn't kill an Alaskan moose illegally; he didn't call Janet Reno Chelsea's dad; he didn't fist bump Michelle; he always wears his flag pin, but he's got a past (in his six months); something we, as parents, failed to vet.

Grant has a stand-in. Below, you can see photographic evidence that Grant has been employing a stand-in, often for attending and participating in undesirable events such as doctor visits, sweet potato feedings, formula feedings, listening to velcro, clothes changing, fingernail cleanings, bedtime, and press conferences.




He has fooled the American people by replacing his cute self with an equally cute stand in, to take some of the pressure off of being so cute.

At a recent doctor visit, however, justice caught up to Grant, and his stand in, who we now know as Brandt Bilson Wenavides. Apparently, Grant's secretary had mis-scheduled a gum cleaning so that Grant showed up to the doctor's appointment (and VACCINES) meant for his stand in, Brandt. Grant and Brandt were surprised when the papa and mama -razzi showed up with cameras. Quickly, the photos you see were sold for a profit, and justice ran its course.

In light of this scandal, we, the parents, have fired Brandt. No longer will Grant shirk his duties to you, his audience, and the American people to be the cutest guy he can be. Brandt is looking for a good home, though.



Photo Above: Brandt Bilson Wenavides at recent rice cereal feeding. Where will he go? He can't hold his cup right side up, though.

Sweet Potato

Today is Grant's SIX MONTH BIRTHDAY!!!! What did he get? A new chair and new food. Here's a video of his first try at sweet potatoes.



Congratulations Liz, you are our most recent winner in the Grant Photo sweepstakes.

Grantus Homunculus: King of Frogs

Wild beasts cannot get him and bees cannot sting him;
Our little man is soft and cuddly,
But his cries are strong and
Without waver.



The family made it home back to Dallas. We had a great time and thank everybody for staying tuned.

Government Grant

We made it to the Capitol after a long ride on the Metro (Grant's introduction to public transportation). He fell asleep for awhile and then woke up refreshed and ready to hit the campaign trail. Instead, he got the gravel path to the Capitol from the Washington Monument. When will our tax dollars get us a paved path?



Kelly and I had sandwiches on the Mall as we watched people play kickball, soccer, and baseball.

After the long walk, we made it to the Capitol just as the sun set over Washington. The reflecting pool reflected nothing as it was currently being cleaned and had the neat fence around it you see.



Grant, for the record, favors Phelps's decision to endorse Frosted Flakes and win gold medals.