Greshams - Est. 2007: November 2013

Goodness... I have lots of catching up to do! Sometimes when I go a few months without posting, I debate about quitting altogether, but then I read back on things I would've forgotten had I not written it down. I'm always glad in the end that I take the time to make note of our special memories.

First of all, Luke started preschool and is really enjoying it. He's going to Levelland Christian School, and it's for half a day on Monday, Wednesday, and Fridays. It was fun to shop for school clothes and shoes with him and get him all pumped about going. Since he's our oldest, I was proud of him for choosing to be brave about going. Luke was very unadventurous in his infant and toddler years, to say the least! ;) He walked in on the first day of school without hesitation, and he hasn't skipped a beat since! I love picking him up and hearing about his day at school. He's memorized two verses so far. Makes me one proud Mama!

Luke has also started soccer this year. We managed to get on a team with his cousins, Miley and Jaxon. He's one of the youngest on the team, but he didn't mind it! He was happy to be out there with his friends and cousins. It was fun to watch them all play together! At one of his practices, a little feisty boy on his team was punching him in the stomach. Fighting is foreign to Luke, so he was shocked that someone would be mean like that. Since the little boy's parents weren't doing anything about it, I told Luke after practice he should hit him back next time. The look on Luke's face was priceless! I mean, I'm all about being nice, but at some point, he's gonna have to defend himself! On the way to the next practice, he double checked with me... "Babe (as he still calls me), if that boy hits me, I just punch him, right?" Ha! - So, he got a trophy at the end of the season and was one proud dude for it.

And Landry.. our Nanny girl! She turned two! We had a Minnie Mouse party for her here at the house the day before her birthday since her actual birthday was going to fall on Labor Day weekend. We had mainly family here, and a few close friends, too. She got all things Minnie Mouse for her birthday, and quite a few baby things, too. She loved all of her new gifts! We were lacking in girl toys around here before her birthday. We filled her closet up after that, and she has loved having her own "big girl" toys. We finished off her birthday night with her first hair cut/trim. We took more video than pictures at her birthday party.

So, at 2 years old, she is sleeping 10-12 hours at night. She goes to bed after a book and a few minutes of rocking, praying, and singing. She LOVES reading books, playing with babies, and bothering Bubba. As I type this, he's sitting in the recliner begging her not to turn the lever to raise the foot rest up! She loves going to church, and is already begging to go to school, too... "Me cool, too, Mama?" She's still pretty fond of oatmeal, fruit, pizza, and yogurt. She loves playing peek-a-boo. She'll cover up her face and say, "Mama, Nanny doe?" (Mama, where'd Landry go?) I'll ask, "I don't know!? Where DID Landry go?!" And she'll pull the blanket off and say, "Ight deah!" (Right there!) She loves to chew gum, and she'll put her charm on from the back seat to ask for a piece... "Mama (or Daddy), bum pee peeeeas??" (Mama, gum pretty please?)

As far as her eating progress goes, we have good days and bad days. I'm a lot more familiar with "sensory processing" and how to manage it, so we are no longer doing the clinical therapy. She's still doing hippotherapy, but I have actually been able to catch up on things around the house! I'll never forget how terrible it felt pulling up in the parking lot to Covenant Neurosciences for the first time, and leaving there this last time, it was very bittersweet! Since January, her therapist, Alison, has been the bad guy, and I've gotten to be her "savior". It's taken the strain off of Landry and me because Alison can push her beyond her limits, and I get to "rescue" Landry. I was afraid that I would turn into the food monster I was to her before therapy once we quit going. Alison is very reassuring and is willing to see her again if she ever regresses. I am so thankful for "Allie"!! -- We are still taking her to the chirpractor, too. I swear this has had as much of an impact on Landry as the occupational therapy has. Landry has been more willing to try new foods since we've been going, and she voiced being hungry for the first time after seeing Dr. Hillman. She, too, is a God sent to us!

We managed to squeeze in a little fun before harvest hit in full force, too.

- We spent several days camping in Grapevine with Heath's parents. Keetha tore her ACL early this summer and had surgery in August. Hence, the the sleeve on her leg!

- The kids got to swim a few times before fall, at least! To say everyone has been "busy" is an understatement. Keelee battled pretty severe pre-elampsia throughout her last trimester, but she took it like a champ, and I got a new healthy, sweet nephew, "Baby Gray". It's been a tough year for the Greshams... one we'll always remember, I'm sure!