In my bouncy chair

OK, so I'm a cluster blogger! By the time I sit down to update the blog, I realize I have a month's worth of pictures to share. So, here are three posts in one day! Grey has had a lot of "firsts" lately, here is the first time in his bouncy chair . . . now when we put him in it, he bends his knees and actually does some jumping! really cute!

Grey is getting better being on his belly . . . now he'll prop himself up on his arms and look at his toys. Not rolling over, yet, much to his father's chagrin, but it's sure to happen soon!

Grey had his 4 month doctor appt today, with two more shots, and he sure didn't like them! His bottom lip puckered right out, and big crocodile tears! poor little guy. He weighed 14 lb 2 oz and is 24 1/2 inches long, just under the 50th percentile for both catergories. Head circumference was 16 1/2 inches, which was right at the 50th percentile. Our doctor said he is growing really well and that we can start introducing fruits and veggies along with his rice cereal (but get ready for some stinky poops!).

First time with a spoon!

It was a messy endeavor, but the first time with a spoon was a success! Of course, as much of the rice cereal ended up on the front of Grey as it did down in the tummy, but such is life when you've never eaten anything before! Last picture is a video of Grey eating.

Doctor in Training

A couple weeks ago we had Halloween (and a rather warm Halloween it was, too). Our neighbors all got together that afternoon to take pictures of the kids and commemorate the first Halloween at Briar Chapel. We dressed Grey up in the scrubs that his Aunt Becca got for him. Everyone loved it - future surgeon, Dr. Grey!

Picture of the neighborhood kids - Pooh and Tigger live beside us. The rest live within a block of us. Lots of friends for Grey!

Grey doesn't know what to make of everyone's costumes! Everytime he saw Emily's headband with bouncy balls on top, he broke into a huge grimace!

Briar Chapel dads and their kids . . .

Cate and Myles are our next door neighbors . . . Myles is only 6 weeks older than Grey!

Tummy Time

Grey's pediatrician says we need to give him tummy time, and not just at night when he is sleeping! So, much to the chagrin of Grey, we have been giving him playtime on his belly (which lasts about 5-10 min before he gets really frustrated!). Here are a few pictures of Tummy Time:

Last Saturday, Matt's relatives in Clinton (his dad's side of the family) hosted a lovely get-together for us, including a baby shower. This was the first time many of them had met Grey, and I do believe Grey enjoyed it as much as they did! Here are a few pictures from the trip to Clinton:

Grey, almost asleep in the car, after mauling the poor frog toy . . .

Our family (me, Matt & Grey, Shelton & Sally [Matt's parents], and Becca & David [Matt's sister and brother-in-law]) . . . Grey was tired of pictures and letting us know about it . . .

Matt and his cousin Cody . . .

Four generations of Raynor men . . . Matt (who had his eyes closed in every picture I took of the four of them), Grey, Matt's granddad, and Shelton . . .

Grandpa and Grandma Raynor . . .

Aunt Becca and Grey . . .

Aunt Delores and her new puppy (Wall-ley, I think) . . .

This is my last week off, before I start back to work on Monday (Nov. 2nd). We have found a wonderful nanny, Stephanie, for Grey, and she worked with us some this past week. I feel much better about going back work knowing that she will be here with Grey. She was truly an answer to prayer, and I am so blessed to have found her! We'll keep you posted about my job in the upcoming weeks!

Mr. GoodTimes

Having a 3 month old and a brand new house is keeping me extremely busy! So, I apologize for not writing in so long. We closed on our house 9/9/09 and moved that weekend. Our new house is awesome, and we've already made a lot of new friends in the neighborhood. Grey is now 14 weeks, and full of personality! My parents and Matt's parents are in love with him (as are we)!

Last week, we had lots of company. My sister and her family, my parents and grandmother, my Aunt Diana (from NY), and Matt's parents were all here on-and-off through the week. "Mr. Goodtimes" was the name coined for Noah by Aunt Diana (in appreciation of his never-ending search for the next good time)! Here are some pictures from last week, in no particular order:

Here is Grey, feeling the excitement that only family can bring . . .


Aunt Diana and I, enjoying a glass of wine in my new kitchen . . .



Grey, laughing at his cousin Ian (who is only 3 weeks younger) . . .

Sally and Grey . . .

Connor (Jackie's husband) and Ian . . . (classic Ian face!)

Grey, laughing hysterically at his "nanny" (my mother) . . .

Nanny and Ian . . .

Grey and Ian, best buds already . . . (we now keep a bib on Grey d/t his constant spitting up)

Our family . . .

Jackie's family (minus Mr. Goodtimes, who is, without a doubt, having a good time somewhere else) . . .

Mr. Goodtimes, himself, and his mother . . .

Movie of Grey (7 weeks) & GG

To Grandmother's House We Go

Matt started work on Monday at UNC Hospitals, and so he has temporarily relocated to Southern Pines to be closer to Chapel Hill (an hour commute to work). Therefore, Grey and I spent the last few days in Southern Pines with Matt and Grandma & Grandpa Raynor. The car trip to SP entailed 2 1/2 hrs of screaming crying, but then Grey slept for 6 hrs that night (hmm . . . is 6 hrs of sleep worth 2 1/2 hrs of hysterical crying? that's a tough-y!)
We celebrated Matt's 33rd birthday on Tuesday with gingerbread cake and lemon sauce! Here are a few pictures from that night . . .

Here are a few shots of Grey at 6 weeks . . . at this time, he has spent half of his life in NOLA and half in NC (half Cajun & half Carolinian!)

Here, Grey is sporting his Budda onsie (it says, "I am here to teach you . . . patience")

Great-Grandma (GG) and Grey

A few pics of Grey and mom, back in Gastonia . . . luckily, the trip back to Gastonia was much quieter!

Baltimore trip & the Family Reunion

Last week Matt and I travelled to Baltimore for 3 days and then to Charlestown, WV for my family reunion (actually, my mother's side of the family). Traveling with a 5 week old is really not that easy. We packed 3 bags of stuff for Grey, and Matt and I put our clothes in one suitcase! Not to mention, the pack'n play and car seat . . . it's really a lot of stuff for one little guy! In addition, because our Grey is a 'spitter' (to say the least), we had to do laundry every other day.
Anyway, a few pictures from our trip . . . Matt and Grey at my sister's house in Baltimore (both are very excited to be there, obviously) . . .

Jackie's new little one . . . Ian Russell Bates at 2 weeks old

Trip to Charlestown from Jackie's house . . . Grandma ("Nanny"), Noah, and Grey in the backseat

Grey in the car, on the way to Charlestown - Grandma is trying to appease him during the ride with the binky

Grey's first dip in the pool . . . he didn't seem to enjoy it so much . . .

Friday night, at Valerie's (my mom's cousin) big victorian house in downtown Charlestown, we had a big cook-out with burgers and chicken (great food). Here are some photos from the front porch . . . . first, the Bates family . . .

Jackie and Ian, me and Grey

Jackie with my cousins Kristen and Kim

Jackie with her snug-bug

Picture of Grey at Val's

Grey, passed out at the hotel . . .

Grandma with Ian on her shoulder . . .

Grey, Grandma, and (great) Aunt Sheila

Aunt Sheila, Aunt Donna & my Grandma (sisters)

Me and cousin Sara (actually my second cousin)

Matt and Grey at the reunion . . .

My Aunt Diana's family (from left to right, top row then bottom): Mike, Paul, Matt, Paul's girlfriend Brittney and her little girl, Uncle John, Aunt Diana, and my Grandma

So good to see all the family, and Grey was a big hit! Everyone loved meeting him, and baby Ian. I am so glad I got to spend some time with my new nephew - Ian is just precious. Visit my sister's blog to see more pictures of him.