Little VanDeGrift

Tuesday, August 30, 2011

A few more recent photos

A happy Joel (seven months)

Luke playing with some construction toys

At the UP - WA St. soccer game

Joel getting his second hair cut

Friday, July 15, 2011

Wow, the summer is already halfway over. We have been busy during the past month. Grandpa VanDeGrift came out in mid-June to visit and see Joel's baptism. The following week was Tammy's birthday, so we enjoyed the celebrations. Uncle Doug and his girlfriend came from Chicago to visit us for the long fourth of July weekend, so we spent a couple days at the beach with them. We spent last weekend at Grandma Eileen's house, so Luke could "camp" in her backyard by sleeping in a tent.

Meara Kelley (Joel's sponsor) and Joel getting ready for the baptism

The baptism

Family who witnessed the baptism

Luke enjoys a popsicle in the bath

Luke went strawberry picking

Having fun with Uncle Doug

Playing in the sand with Diana

Walking on the beach with mom

Joel likes Uncle Doug, too

Good follow through, Luke

Hanging out with his friend, Anna

Playing in the tent

Swinging in the bungee at the Marion County Fair

Joel is "reading" the newspaper

Enjoying the frog hopper at Oaks Park

Wednesday, June 1, 2011

Joel is four months old

Joel turned 4 months on May 20, and we celebrated the occasion with a weekend away at the beach. Luke enjoyed hunting for seashells on the beach; Joel liked the wind in his face.

Joel is growing well and his weight is actually on the growth chart (Luke did not make the chart until he was about a year old). Joel is 25.5 inches long and 13 lbs 3.5 ounces at four months, but he feels much heavier as I carry him around most of the day. Unlike Luke, Joel is a "contact" baby. Joel likes to be held or carried in the Baby Bjorn, so my back aches more than it did when I was pregnant. It's ok; I enjoy my cuddle time with Joel.

Luke with the mussels

Cool barn you built, Luke

Working on a sand castle

Daddy and Joel

The boys

Joel enjoys bath time

Tuesday, April 26, 2011

Easter fun

We had a wonderful Easter celebration with my extended family. Joel slept most of the afternoon and Luke enjoyed collecting eggs and playing with his cousins.

Easter morning

Easter egg hunt at church

Dads and sons

Family egg hunt

Joel liked Aunt Anca

Luke, Maddie, and Mark

Thursday, April 14, 2011

Almost three months

Joel is almost three months old already. The time has certainly passed quickly for us. Joel has learned a few new tricks this past month. He can find and suck his right thumb now. He is also technically sleeping through the night (around 10 pm to 5 am for the past two weeks), so I am getting more continuous rest. However, the motherly instinct still wakes me up around 3 am to check on Joel when he starts grunting in his sleep. Joel likes to kick and look at toys now; it's so much fun to see him smile.

Here are a few more recent photos:

Luke playing with Joel

Playing airplanes with Uncle Wayne

Going for a walk

Smiles

Luke and Anna going down the slide

Friday, March 18, 2011

Joel's first Disneyland trip

Our family just returned from a trip to Disneyland. We had a good time and are especially grateful that grandma Eileen could join us. Luke enjoyed the rides. His favorites were the monorail, the train, the goofy roller coaster and the bus ride to and from the Embassy Suites. Joel was a perfect baby on vacation. I want him to be on vacation all the time. He liked napping in the carrier in the warm sunshine.

Disneyland was busy, but we managed to see and do quite a bit: train, monorail, ladybugs, bumper cars, chew chew train, flik's fliers, rockets, carousel, ferris wheel, the bakery and tortilla factory, wilderness trail, autopia, innoventions, it's a small world, goofy roller coaster, Alice in wonderland, adventures of Winnie the Pooh, Minnie's house, Tiki room, and the Matterhorn. I also got to ride Thunder Mountain while Luke napped one day. I really liked the shows we saw: Aladdin musical, Crush the turtle, the fireworks, and the world of color.