G.Cary Updates

OH my, I'm behind the times on this...

I did NOT mean to leave on such a bad note. I'm back, but I don't have pictures from Birthday #1! They will get on here, promise.

In the meantime, here are G-man's latest:

-First off, new caretaker update. G is enjoying his new set-up with Miss Susie. She is our new in-home nanny who watches him and 4 other little babies/kids during the day at her house. I looooovvvee her. She's been doing what she does for 22 years, and I'm learning quite a bit from her. I could go on and on about how happy I am, so call me if you care to hear, but the point is: we're in a good place (as of, day 7 with her)!!! yahhhooooo


-"mamamamamamamama" all the time. That's really his only word for anything. Occasionally we get a "dada", "dahdyee" (daddy) or an "ah-yi" (Kali), but he's working on it.

-walking alllll over the place. he's got his little wide stance down, and loves to show it off.

-he is starting to follow directions, i.e. "Graham, bring me your other shoe please" and he brings it to me! He loooves putting his shoes on. Just around the house, and he will bring me a shoe, make me sit down so he can sit in my lap to put his shoes on....then run around in his diaper and shoes! funny little man.

-he also loves to watch the big kids and do what they do. YIKES. but in many cases thus far, it's funny! for instance...watching the big kids go off the diving board. The other weekend at a pool party at Jenna's, he saw the big kids lining up to go off the board, then walking to the end, and jumping in. So naturally, he proceeded to do the same...holding our hands of course. But he wanted to do it over and over! He was 1 year old and 1 day! Whhhhaaaat? I think we will have a fearless one on our hands. Momma's a little scared.

-12 month old stats: 31.25"H, 22.7 lbs (90% percentile for height, 40% for weight)

-loves hugging his sister-dog, loves to snuggle with us, loves to find his belly button, loves to sit on daddy's shoulders, loves any dog in general, loves riding his new red wagon from his Noni, still loves spaghetti with a passion, loves playing in the dog bowls, loves bathtime, doesn't love sleeping through the night (STILL), also still loves a good bottle, paci, and has a new found love for his blankey (and it's harder for me to make him let these things go after all of this recent change for him), loves going on stroller walks, LOVES them. Loves skyping esp with Aunt L. Loves bananas. Loves playing with cars. What else, he's a pretty happy kid all in all! We have seen a few temper tantrums (with arched back and head on the floor), but I guess that goes along with turning one and into the toddler stage! LOVE HIM!

checking out the penguins at the zoo on his 1st bday

(my mom says he looks like a teenager in this pic..haha...it's just too hard to pass up a polo onesie)

at the zoo with Pops!

long legged baby

nothing like a good Texas Ice House on a HOT not-quite-summer day

wonder where he gets his long legs from??

Speaking of dad, I forgot to give the final results of Mark's new job. At Looney & Associates...with me! He's back in the swing of hospitality design again.We are having fun working together...and even get to enjoy some lunch dates regularly. Nice!

We are all happy and getting settled into our new routines. Deep sigh of relief. Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhh

not good news

 As my dad put it, we got the worst gift and the best gift on Graham's first birthday on Friday. I will post good news and happy pictures in a separate post, but wanted to get this out there...it's good for all to be aware. This is the second life event for me that being more aware might have prevented something like this from happening. (the first being held up at gunpoint and robbed, by answering my post-college apt door without checking to see who was there first.) UGHGHHHHHHH.

Friday evening, after a fun-filled day of Graham's first birthday festivities, we received a knock on the door from a neighbor. She told us that her nanny, who hangs out with our nanny during the day with the kids, had alerted her that our nanny has been hitting (hitting!!) Graham on the backside of the head, as well as using foul language/names directed toward him. (if you want exact examples, call me...there are more instances than one.) Oh my God, words can't describe the rage we have felt. I won't get into those details, but after looking into this further and getting the details straight from the source, I'm saddened to say it's true and our sweet, precious, happy baby boy has been a victim of this ridiculous nanny "discipline" - that I only thought you could read about. Never did I think it would happen to us. How any human being can treat a BABY in the ways she did is beyond me and my wildest imagination. (I don't mean to make this sound more dramatic than it is, but any form of touching MY BABY to discipline him is UNACCEPTABLE.)

He has not been injured, thank you God, and we are so fortunate that this was caught and reported. Of course I wish I knew sooner, I wish we had a nanny cam, I wish I wasn't so trusting, I wish I was more aware, I wish there weren't people in the world who seem so loving on the outside didn't have a hidden evil side. We are beside ourselves with disappointment and can't even fathom why a person could even think to act this way to OUR beautiful baby boy. Needless to say, she's out of our lives forever.

It really sucks that I am writing about a mother's worst nightmare on Mother's Day, hello Debbie Downer, BUT I'm so grateful to our neighbor who told us even though she was shaking in her boots and it was so hard for her to do (we didn't know her before this), and very grateful to her nanny who is looking out for our son that she barely knows. I'm also happy that this has made me more aware, God forbid that anything like this or worse should happen again. Lastly, I'm blessed with a happy, well-adjusted little man who is the joy and love of my life.

Despite the dispicable news, we did have a fun weekend of birthday joys and mother's day happiness! Fun pictures to follow!