Our Very Patient Patient

Sweet little Vivi Leigh started showing signs of an upset tummy Saturday evening. When I walked into the girls' room on Sunday morning, it was di-stink-tly (HA!) evident that there was sickness in the Grover home. I stayed home from church with the girls while Dennis went to do set-up and stayed for the service. We spent the rest of the day at home changing Vivien's diapers and serving up the Pedialyte.

On Monday, it appeared she might be ready for a regular bottle and we met Becky and the kids from some MOPS craft shopping and then a Boss's Day lunch at Applebees. GG and KK arrived late afternoon and we all sat down to dinner (minus Dennis who was working a game).

Shortly after Vivien tried some food, it came right back up and landed all over KK and Paco and herself. Paco was sent outside, Vivien was put in the bathtub, KK helped even while wearing Vivien's dinner, and GG cleaned up the kitchen and entertained Amity. Just as we got Vivien cleaned up in the tub, her little tummy got sick again...from the other end. We scooped her out of the dirty water and put her in the bathroom sink where we cleaned her up again. Eventually, KK and Vivien got cleaned up and GG gave Paco a hose bath outside. Thank goodness for God's provision of grandparents at the perfect time!

Vivien received lots of TLC from GG and KK on Tuesday and Wednesday. When she was still sick on Tuesday, the nurse suggested by phone that we give her soy formula for a few days. By Wednesday, she was fully recovered.

I took these pictures on Sunday when she was in the midst of the sickness but you never would have known it. She was just a little more cuddly and sleepy but all around a perfect little patient!

Eddie Coker & Cousins

We visited the Aboretum's Pumpkin Patch for the second time this fall and this time took Aunt Becky, Eli, and Eiley with us.  It was a wonderful crazy adventure including a concert by Eddie Coker!  Apparently, Blogger sensed the craziness and doesn't want me to display the pictures in any sort of sequential order.   So, behold our fun day in a mixed-up way and don't forget to notice Amity's pony tail.  It might never happen again! :)

Precious

Hi Vivien! It's your Mommy! I apologize that I have not kept up with your monthly updates. Someday, when you read this (because you will read this...many times, right?), I want you to know that the lack of updates in no way indicates your lack of preciousness to us. Just to prove it, let me tell you some of the ways that we prize you!
I could just stare for hours at your profile in the picture above. Your little bald forehead from rubbing your face in your lovies as you sleep on your tummy. Your squishy round cheeks that have been kissed thousands of times already in your short little life. That scrumptious little nose. Your eyes always alert and taking in the world. Those chubby little arms that are very good at grabbing anything within reach.

You are a wonderful sleeper and still nap a couple of hours in the morning and a couple in the afternoon and then sleep hard from 7-7 at night. But, whenever you are awake, you are A-W-A-K-E and full of energy. Those little arms at your side are always in motion and, sometimes, you shake them and let out a noise that sounds like you are frustrated that you can't do more, say more, show more excitement. Is this an indication of what your high school activity schedule is going to be like?

You are a happy baby at home and out with family but get very serious when strangers talk to you. You have been this way from Day One with your ability to wrinkle that Bounds forehead.

You have had two teeth on the bottom for quite a while and one top tooth has broken through. Several more appear to be on their way. You love to chew on anything you can get your hands on.

I love to lay a toy down a little ways away from you and watch you take off to get it. You are very intentional about your crawling and you seem to love this new mobility and ability to follow your sister.

You have yet to stand up on your own but you are always trying to put weight on those little feet and you often get in this kneeling position. I love your little tongue that hangs out as you concentrate!

We are always standing you up on toys and you love to hang on and look like such a big girl. After a few minutes, we will hear you start to whine because you haven't yet figured out how to get down gracefully. However, the few times that you have just fallen down, you have rarely cried. You seem to be one that thinks falling is just a part of the process. That is a good quality to have in life!

I can't tell you how much you weigh or how long you are right now but I can tell you that listening to you breathe is one of my favorite sounds in the world. At night, you can go from 90 to nothing as I pick you up from playing in your bedroom with your sister and hold you tightly in my arms for a few minutes before I put you in bed. I thank God for you and pray for you and I pray for my dear friends that wait for a precious one of their own to hold. You are precious to me!

I love you!

Mom

Partners in Crime

This little girl has become quite the entertainer at mealtimes lately. She loves to tell stories and just laugh and stall eating her food.

Of course, this little person ADORES her big sister and thinks everything she does is just hilarious!

With Dennis's games and my evening classes this fall, one of us is often doing the dinner routine by ourselves. We have confessed to each other that we sometimes feel outnumbered! I have a feeling this is just the beginning!

Her Own Little Person

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We've had a feeling every since she was just weeks old that little Miss Vivien was not going to be an exact replica of her big sister. The above picture is a perfect example! This has become Vivien's favorite thing to do anytime she is near her pack and play (from the inside OR the outside). She sticks her little teeth into the holes on the sides and pushes her head back and forth. I don't think this ever even crossed Amity's mind! Why do we already feel the need to pray for prevention from emergency room visits for this little one? :)

We're Back!

We renewed our membership to the Arboretum this morning and it was so good to go back! What a beautiful day...sunny and temperatures in the 70s!

Movin' On Up!

Look what we found after naptime this morning! I think Amity's Daddy has a new project to finish before the next naptime!

Thank you...thank you very much!

Amity is so blessed to have such a wonderful family (both related and adopted) that continues to love on her! I can already tell that one of the greatest joys of being a parent is seeing others enjoy your child.

We didn't expect Amity to be very aware of Christmas presents this year but she seemed to catch our enthusiasm and made some pretty cute expressions (watch for the eyebrows and wide-open mouth)! Some of you didn't get to experience her unwrapping of your gift in person, so we are posting the footage here for you to enjoy!


Thank you, Nana Norma, for the super-soft lamb and the beautiful books (and the snacks for the grown-ups, too)!



Thank you, Noni Diana, for the Leapfrog train! I am working on crawling after it but when that it too much work, I like to push the buttons and chew on it!



Thank you, Lolly and Pop Pop, for the Grover puzzle, the Grover and Elmo trucks, the teddy bear, and the new outfit!



Thank you, Uncle Dylan, Aunt Becky, Cousin Eli, and Cousin Eiley, for the piggy bank and book!

Thank you, Nana, for the bath toys! I am already enjoying them!

Thank you, Aunt Elaine, Rachel, and Lindsay, for the cuddly teddy bear!

Thank you, Mary, for the super cute outfit to match Cousin Eiley!

Thank you, Uncle Brent, Aunt Jenni, and Cousin Griffin, for the books! I love tags and touchy-feely books!

Thank you, GDaddy and KK for the pajamas, baby doll, Winnie the Pooh, and new outfits!

Day at the Museum

Our first full day in Plainview, we travelled 45 minutes to Lubbock for pizza and an educational excursion...two things I have learned are favorites of the Grover family! I should add that I am glad that Amity will not lack for either! :)

Of all of the things to do in the Science Spectrum museum, Amity's favorites were the bubbles and the mirrors. As you can see below, it is a toss up to tell if dad or daughter is having more fun!


What could be better than just one Amity? Nine Amities! That is, of course, how it would be spelled!

These next three, well, we just couldn't help ourselves!

Thank you, Pop Pop and Lolly for a fun first trip to the museum!

Here Comes Santa Claus...

Here comes Santa Claus! Right down Bass Pro Drive!
After several weeks of asking experienced moms for their Santa suggestions, we found Santa at Bass Pro this afternoon! Thanks Val and Natalie!

Amity would have preferred to stare at Santa's beard rather than pose for the camera. We think her PopPop did a good job of breaking her in to the idea that bearded men aren't necessarily scary! While a big Amity smile would have been nice, we were just thankful for a very short line, no tears, and a free picture.

Of course, in planning our trip to Bass Pro to see Santa, I hadn't thought through the fact that Dennis would want to show her some of the finer aspects of such a fabulous store.

Back at home, while exploring new territory beneath the coffee table, Amity found her Daddy's socks (holes not pictured).

Then, she enjoyed the first few minutes of the last Dallas Cowboys game in Texas Stadium. Her Daddy was just a little bit pleased!

[She's got] chills...

they're multiplying...with every new bite of kiwi! I decided to break out of our Cheerios and Puffs rut and move into some other finger foods for dinner tonight. We began with kiwi. I thought Amity would love the sweetness but evidently she found it a little more tart than sweet.

Does it make us bad parents that this is the third time that we saw this routine? We just had to go through it once more for the camera. Of course, the doctor did say to offer a food at least ten times. Stay tuned for more potential episodes of kiwi eating!

Let's hear it for the boys!

Let's give the boys a hand!

It's official! Amity is a basketball fan. She attended her first game tonight and thoroughly enjoyed it. We left at the third quarter but it appeared that her cheering was helping the Agnew Trojans towards a victory.

An added benefit was getting to spend some quality time with her Auntie Angela and, for the record, there were no tears! Angela, we would trust you any time with our baby girl!

I don't know if it was just a coincidence but Amity appeared to be trying to clap for the first time tonight. We didn't catch her best clapping attempts on video but Dennis did catch a little bit of her enthusiasm and concentration on the game.