Five Months

I should have done this post about a week ago! But between our routine with Grant, work being busy, both of us getting the stomach flu, and family phone calls I just didn't...well, want to. I think this is where I'm supposed to say that hate how fast Grant is growing up. And part of me does, I won't lie. I am going to miss his him being tiny. But I have to admit...he's so much fun! He's always doing something. Which can, at times, be tiring but he's also incredibly entertaining. He is now constantly implementing what I like to call Volunteer Tummy Time because he's never on his back anymore. If you put him on his back and then turn your back to him by the time you turn around he's on his tummy and scooting himself toward some toy (and eating dog hair in the process...it doesn't matter how much we vacuum).



He's on his belly when we stick him in his crib...no matter how briefly...

And when he's playing in his gym...



And even sometimes when he sleeps (it's hard to see, but his little bum is in the air)

 So Grant's pretty much holding up his end of the bargain. Eating - check, sleeping - check, pooping - check check, peeing on mommy & daddy - check, outgrowing clothes at an alarming rate of speed - yep, that too. He takes his jobs seriously.

He's so much fun to watch when he plays. He loves the jumperoo that he got for Christmas and seems to think that jumping is required of him - jumperoo or not. After naps, his legs are immediately moving like he just can't miss a minute of play time.



Loving his jumperoo (or his jumpy as we call it)

But sometimes he just can't handle all the playtime and gives in to temptation:



Usually at this point he's good for at least an hour nap.

 We haven't weighed Grant yet but he's definitely packing on the poundage. He's indulging frequently in cereal and veggies. We've done green beans, carrots, and squash. Squash was not as well recieved as the others but after a few first spoonfuls he didn't care as long as it was in his mouth. He's wearing mostly size 6 months now but his 3 month onesies will fit him a little longer if he doesn't sprout an inch any time soon. He seems to be getting the hang of sitting up and his muscles are definitely getting stronger. And to watch him on his tummy you'd swear he's just going to take off crawling...if he'd only pick up his head. But he's evidently using that has a kick-stand. And we seem to think he may be sprouting his first teeth...he was sure acting like it tonight. Maybe if I ever end this post then I can get some sleep in case he wakes up crying!

I will leave you with some cuteness :)

5 months old!

His Nana was a big Syracuse fan.

So handsome in his big boy outfit!

He'll put his paci in his mouth...but it doesn't always go in right side up

Evidently it was a tough day at daycare



It was cold when he came home from his Grandma's, so she put this hat on him. So cute!



Grant's day of hockey on Sunday tired him out

 

But he woke up in time to watch the All Star Game with Daddy



Fan Fair!

What a weekend! Husband and I have been looking forward to All Star Weekend since they announced over the summer that it would be held in Raleigh this year. Since we couldn't get tickets to the game (because we aren't season ticket holders...and even if they were offered to us, Husband would have to pimp me out to pay for them) we decided to make the most of All Star festivities downtown. We planned to be downtown every day this weekend.

 So, Friday morning Husband went home sick from work and proceeded to throw up all day. Then Friday night I woke up from a sound sleep and proceeded to throw up all night. We spent the whole of Saturday glued to the couches and finally managed to muster the energy to watch the skills competition on TV...but we weren't really into it.

We woke up this morning feeling less like death than we did yesterday so we decided to check out what was left of Fan Fair. Which wasn't much...but at least we made it! They had most of it at the Convention Center in downtown Raleigh which was the only thing going on by the time we got downtown. And they had all kinds of things to do...if you wanted to spend most of the day standing in line. It was nice to get out of the house though and at least we can say we went. GO TEAM STAAL!!! :)

Entrance to the Convention Center. A lot of the buildings downtown were
decked out with some kind of All Star sign.



A giant picture of Eric Staal in the windows of the Convention Center.



Team flags and what-not



Ha! I couldn't resist.





A giant Stanley Cup replica. If you wanted to spend the rest of the day in line you could
get your picture taken with the real thing. I've already done that :)




Eric Staal's feet. Isn't that weird? They had a display of a bunch of players footprints. Why?




Grant's first hockey event!



Husband doing some card trading



Family pic!



Grant and a giant goalie mask



The place is kinda huge

 

Nate and his brother Scotty




Awww...me and Husband



New Recipe: Creamy Chicken Pot Pie

I tried another new recipe last night! I've made chicken pot pie before, this is just a different version. I got this recipe (like this recipe) from the little pamphlet stuck to the top of the Philadelphia Cooking Creme container. I am loving that stuff! This recipe only had 4 ingredients and was quite tasty. The recipe can be found HERE.



Cookin' the chicken




Addin' the veggies



Mmmm...and then the sauce



Put in a pie plate and put a premade cust on top...



And Voila! Chicken pot pie.



There was some crust over-hang so I decided to play with the dough. Husband told
me that the decoration was pointless...but I thought it looked pretty




What are you going to do with it? I'm gonna EAT UM!!!!! (That's for my sis)

 Notes/Suggestions:

• The recipe calls for 2 cups of frozen vegetables but I used 2 cups canned vegetables. I don't like to use frozen vegetables in dishes like this because, to me, they usually taste like rubber.
• This is a great recipe if you're looking for something comforting but not too filling. For a more complete meal, I'd suggest serving it with a salad.
• Do not be scared by the "savory garlic" cooking creme! It was yummy and I didn't find it too garlicky.

If you decide to try the recipe, I hope you enjoy it!

Solid Food: Week 4

Just a few short weeks ago I was throwing baby spoons across the kitchen and declaring that Grant would never eat anything other than formula. And here we are on our second vegetable: carrots!



Since I tasted the beans, I decided to taste the carrots. Not bad!

I gave Husband the choice: carrots, squash, or sweet potatoes? He chose carrots and pointed out that Grant is likely to like the sweet potatoes best so we should probably try those last. The carrots were a hit! As with the beans, he was unsure with the first bite but quickly asked for more. His veggies are making him so big and strong!




Ummm...what is this?

 

Oooh...I think I like it.




More, more!

 

He insists on grabbing the spoon. So I let him. Then he shoves it down his throat
and gags on it. And then it ends up all over his little face.




Ha!




Carrots, carrots everywhere!




How cute is he?


Grant seems to have picked up yet another cold from daycare. So, even with that giant smile on his handsome face, he wasn't in a very good mood last night. He was quite fussy after he ate. He usually acts like that when he's tired. And guess what? I was right.

He passed right out. You can't keep this kid on his back anymore. He rolls right over...
which makes his daddy very nervous at night.



Boldt Castle & the 1000 Islands

If Husband and I ever win the lottery, this is the first thing I'd buy:


Comfort Island in the 1000 Islands; currently for sale at the bargain price of $1,495,000

Or maybe this:



I love this place. Carlton Villa at the head of Carlton Island (have no clue who that man is in the picture). This place, as you can see, has been left to rot for years. But with work (lots and lots) it could look almost as good as it used to.



There is always an island for sale in the 1000 Islands. Most people who know me know that I love it there. It is quite possibly my favorite place on earth.

I don't consider myself "well traveled". But I can't imagine ever going somewhere as unique as the Islands. It's like being at the beach and being in the mountains at the same time. Only better. Yes, it has tourists - like the beach. And it has a woodsie feel and homes that I'm sure feel as warm and inviting as they look - like the mountains. I've taken the boat tours there more times than I can count and I see something every time that I didn't notice the time before. The 1000 Islands make every where else that I go seem generic.

For years I self-toured Boldt Castle just about every summer. The main attraction for the tiny town of Alexandria Bay. And I went every year and took the same pictures. Like so many other structures throughout the scenery of the Islands, it is a beautiful, ornamental home with a story attached to it. It's everywhere. George Boldt, a man who came to this country and worked his way from nothing, bought Heart Island (was Hart Island when he bought it but he changed it). He made plans to construct a castle on the island with several other buildings scattered on the island as a gift to his wife Louise to be presented to her on her birthday in 1905 - February 14th. A year before the completion of the castle he got word that his wife had died and he ordered all construction to be stopped and he never went out to the island again. The island and buildings were abandoned for years. I remember going as a kid and being able to look straight up through the roof of the place. It always just felt sad.



Boldt Castle on Heart Island

 

Taken from the balcony of our hotel during our trip for a friend's wedding in 2009


 

Taken by Husand during our 2007 trip



Again taken during our 2007 trip...it should depress me how much thinner I am here!



The Alster Tower but most call it the "Playhouse". The Boldt family used this as their residence during contruction of the castle.

  

The Boldt Yacht house.


 

The dome inside the castle.


 

View from the second floor looking down to the main entrance




Mom & Dad during our 2003 trip



Me & Nate (before he was Husband) during our 2003 trip

I think it may have been our 2003 trip when I bought a copy of Bold Castle: In Search of the Lost Story by Paul Malo (who died in 2008). I know you can't believe everything you read, but I honestly believe this man loved the 1000 Islands and was in search of the truth. He stated in his book that Louise Boldt took her own life at her townhome in New York City. He also stated that the castle isn't being restored according to the original plans - which the Thousand Islands Bridge Authority (the current owners) does have.

During our 2007 trip, after having read that book, the island was sad for other reasons. It still retained the "love story sadness" but when you look at after reading what should be done differently it becomes a new kind of sad. The structure was never finished and yet several rooms and the elevator now give off the impression that they looked that way in 1904. There is a study or library that has furniture in it that looks like it arrived from the Pottery Barn yesterday. The fountain pictured above was not in the original plans, it was made because they found that shell on the grounds. So, even though they are keeping it from ruins it doesn't have the appeal that it used to when it was just a crumbling monument of love.

However, on a brighter note, our most recent trip to the islands in 2009 was for my friend Jen's wedding. She and her hubby were married on the island and it definitely didn't feel sad that day. They've been happily married for a little over a year now and are expecting their first baby in July :)