Papa and Nana Come

The end of a long, snowy Midwestern winter brought the return of grandparents to central Texas. Papa and Nana Jasper arrived first in mid March. After a week of cool, rainy weather, the sun reemerged upon their arrival and really signaled the beginning of a beautiful spring in Austin. The boys spent lots of time out on the deck with them - telling stories, playing in the sandbox and just taking in the sunshine. It was great!

Papa started telling Jasper stories of when he used to be a bus driver, and Jasper latched on to that like it was gold. He would ask papa for the rest of his visit to "tell stories about the bus." Seeing as how the elementary school is one block away from our house, Papa was trying really hard to sell the idea to Jasper of walking to school. Unfortunately, riding the bus is way too interesting to him.



Benjamin is our outdoor boy. Jasper loves to play outside where he can run wild and free, but Benjamin truly chills out when he's outside. I don't know what it is - the sunshine, birdsong, breeze, tree movement, but something about being outside really delights him.

Nana's birthday was just before they arrived in Austin, and Jasper had decided that we should have truck cake to celebrate. He helped Nana decorate with his "Cars" vehicles.

Benjamin is growing stronger, more alert and interactive every day. He liked playing with toys with Nana and Papa.

This picture makes me feel like I've been transported back to my childhood. We were having a major thunderstorm and hail storm one evening while Papa and Nana were in town. It was just before dinner (rush hour for those unlucky travelers who lost windshields). Jasper had his rainboots on to go outside, but he was restricted to stay inside ... because those hail pieces were very large and would have hurt him. He's glued to the front door because Papa is outside on the step. Papa watched the hail storm come down with great force. He also ran out into the yard a few times to retrieve pieces of hail. I cannot count all the times in my childhood that there was a storm where my dad would be standing just outside watching things or running out into the maelstrom to grab things and bring them back to inspect. My mom was always keeping us out of danger, pacing the floor or asking my dad to come inside. Oh how many memories I have of that scenario. And on that March early evening, Jasper got to live that.

Daddy came home after the storm was through. He and Jasper looked around outside a little bit. Here is a piece of hail Jasper picked up off the sidewalk and subsequently broke by throwing it on the ground. This is at least 1.5hrs after the storm - and look at the size of it! Also, Drew thought it was cool to see the layers of ice that build up as hail (apparently) bounces around in the clouds and adds more and more ice to itself. Pretty cool!


Call me silly, but these are my favorite pictures from when my parents were in Austin. Papa and Nana were talking about exercising, and Jasper wanted to get in on the fun. I don't remember how they all got to this spot together. I think Jasper heard Papa and Nana talking about exercising, and before we knew it Jasper was lying in the hallway between the bedrooms, near the wall, raising his leg in the air saying "I'm doing my exercises." Nana looked at me and said, "Is this what Drew was doing for his physical therapy?" And yes, it was. That kid is like a SPONGE! So I think from there, the three of them gathered in the living room to do exercises together. It's such a simple thing, but they were having lots of fun and lots of laughs doing these together.

Dinner at Rudy's: this is a compulsory activity with both grandparents. It was a two-tripper while Nana and Papa were in town. Jasper has just recently joined the rank and file cream corn eaters, and he likes it!

Benjamin wants some BBQ, too! Poor thing, he's going to have to be satisfied for now with his super yummy.

One of the last activities Jasper got to do with Papa and Nana is visit the fire station! Firefighter Mr. Cory kindly showed them all around the pumper truck, let Jasper climb all over it and even let him (and Papa) spray the hose! The ambulance was not in the station when they went to visit, so it was just Engine #25 they got to check out. But, oh what fun it was. Jasper still talks about Mr. Cory.

Nana and Papa with the boys. It's always sad to see grandparents go.

Like Father Like Son

Earlier this year at Apollo Endosurgery, the employees were requested to submit a childhood photo for a competition. The photos were posted for all the employees to guess which photo belonged to each person. Drew submitted the following photo:


As it turned out, he fooled NO ONE. Not even the guys who got nearly no photo identified correctly missed on Drew's photo. I guess it's because he has a resemblance to Jasper.

Check out these photos taken at the exact same spot this winter when we were visiting grandma and grandpa Gant at Christmas.

Golfing with Papa

While Joe and Diane were here, Joe bought Jasper his first set of golf clubs. Here are some pictures from the fun event. Jasper really enjoyed "smacking the ball." Yes, that is how he referes to golf.

5 months old

This is the only 5 month "couch" photo I have of Benjamin. I snapped it quickly before he had a meltdown and didn't get back to taking more photos later after he had calmed down. I don't recall why - perhaps Jasper woke up from his nap and then Benjamin had to go back down. It's a three ring circus nap schedule around here.

This photo is a little more personal ... definitely more "up close and personal."

Ok, had I actually started this post a couple of weeks ago as I had planned, I would be telling you that Benjamin is doing all sorts of fun things:

he's found his feet,

likes his jumpy seat,

Spontaneous dance parties erupt in the presence of a 2-year-old, despite how much Drew detests that sort of thing in musicals.

And, it appears both boys are looking to their father for dance moves. hmmm ...

Benjamin loves watching his brother do just about anything.

I don't recall what exactly was going on here. Jasper went through this phase where he was excited (over the moon so!) about Benjamin's feet. I don't remember exactly what he said, but it crescendoed into "... and Benjamin SMILE!" He was doing that here,

... and then he looks all demure, doesn't he?

Ah, such is life with a two-year-old.

I have no photos of this item, but Benjamin is rotating himself in bed. In the beginning, it's just 90 degrees.

He sits in his bumbo seat or exersaucer a fair amount, especially when there are not extra hands for holding him. What amazing inventions!


And he is always full of smiles

... and drool! Oh man is the faucet turned on! And beware ... everything goes in his mouth these days.

... everything goes in his mouth!

So, now that it's close to the end of the month and weeks are like lightyears of time in infancy development, I must inform you that Benjamin has not only found his feet but fallen in love with them,

He can spend so much time trying to eat his toes that his actual lunch, 2nd breakfast or 2nd lunch can get squeezed out of him. Spit-up happens, but he keeps smiling through it.

He rolls around on the floor with complete purpose. He has not yet found a good reason to roll onto his tummy, but he gets the job done without having to go that far.

He still finds watching Jasper to be the most fulfilling form of entertainment.

This has major benefits. As long as I can trust Jasper not to smother his brother when I leave them alone temporarily (which sometimes is an issue; he loves Benjamin so!), Benjamin is more likely than not to be satisfied just sitting/lying watching Jasper. He does not tire of this activity like he does of being in the jumpy seat or the exersaucer. The one drawback is at bedtime. When I need Benjamin to be winding down, and Jasper is still going strong, having them in close proximity has negative side effects. I cannot then get Benjamin settled down for sleep. I can't get him to fall into the "going to bed" routine. He's just too distracted.

I got him out of bed in the middle of the night this week (yes, we still have nighttime feedings) only to find him rotated 180 degrees from his initial position. It's always unsettling when I come upon a helpless infant and find him in a different position than where I left him. I have a moment of panic and think "how did you get there???"

Apart from the nighttime feedings and having not gone to bed well tonight, Benjamin is napping like a champ. Weissbluth is our friend. I'm sure I might trash talk him later at a weaker moment, but for right now we're flying high on consistently long naps (1.5-2hrs) and no crying when he goes down. I don't know what the "switch" was, but every week day last week his naps were "perfect." That is sort of ridiculous when I consider how much work was involved before.

I started this sleep training hoping for (1) sleeping through the night, (2) consistent bedtimes and awakenings and finally (3) ease and consistency of naps. Funny, but it appears to be working out in the reverse order. So much for my scientific plan. :)

Speaking of sleep, I need to get some myself. This kid wins me over every day with how lovable, happy and cute he is (not to mention chunkalicious). But sleep is good.