Aunty Chrissy comes for a VISIT

I've said it a thousand times, but now its even more evident. Not only were Devan and I blessed with the most amazing baby boy, but with that we were blessed with the most amazing Birthmom, Chrissy. We were so excited to have her come visit last week for the first time since Jamis was born.

We had a blast on the beach

Learned how fun throwing leaves can be

and how to heckle Tennis players
and not swim with Alligators!

We were so glad to have Chrissy come visit and can't wait to see her again!

What a beautiful DAY!!!!

Spring has finally sprung here in good 'ol Wilmington. Jamis and I spent the entire day outside. First we attempted to tame our jungle of a backyard. As I weeded, Jamis discovered the joy of mud, freedom, rocks, and pure boyhood.


Nothing is as exciting as a doggy door though.

Now I've known for sometime now that my yard is completely out of control, but it went to a whole new level today. As I was prepping my garden area I came across two, what I believe, to be eggs.

OK, so I know they look like rocks in this pic, but seriously they're not. They are soft and mushy and really terrifying. So I've spent the rest of the day trying to determine there fate. Now if they are turtle eggs, great hatch and join the Griner Jungle, but if there not....well that posses a much more gruesome future. Me, I think they're alligator eggs, but I know the likely hood of a gator jumping my 6 ft fence, laying two random eggs, jumping back over the fence all while dodging Max, is pretty much out there, but hey gators most lay eggs where they were born right??? So, in the mean time I put them safely in my newly weed-free garden bed and will spend the rest of the night deciding who and what they are and weather or not they belong in my back yard.

After that fun adventure we packed up and went to the beach! To my great disappointment it was 10 degrees cooler there, windy, and not too beach like. It was great to run on the sand though. Jamis loved it until he touched the water and then he wanted nothing to do with the rest of the day. To keep up his image though he had to double up on the "Cool Dudes" (as we call sunglasses).

Yes, he really did this all by himself. He's been wearing glass, I mean Cool Dudes, everyday lately.

Valorie is always a Jamis fav.

All Boy and part Monkey

All of a sudden Jamis is a little boy. He tries to help dress himself, he gets himself in his chair to eat, he shows me what he wants to eat (or more what he doesn't want to eat), he tells me when its outside time and when its inside time, he tells me when he's ready to leave a place, he makes sure I notice all the cars when we're driving somewhere (I think his daddy has been telling him to watch out for mommies driving), he helps sweep the floor, do the laundry, he has friends that come over everyday to play, he tells me what songs to sing him and what books to read him, and I could go on forever. It really is amazing how fast kids grow up. Everyday though I look forward to bedtime. Not cause I can finally check my email and go to the bathroom with the door shut, but because its the time when he becomes my baby again. Its pretty much the only time in the day when he'll let me snuggle him and rock him. I've found the more independent he's trying to become, the longer our bedtime routine becomes. Why can't they just stay little forever?!?

We are big fans of the park now.


Jamis is never found without a car nearby. "CAR" (caaaa as he says it) was the first word he picked up on his own without any outside help. One day he just started saying and now its said at least ten thousand times a day!


We puppy sat for some friends last week. Jamis and Sidney became fast friends. They would not leave each other alone. When Sidney had enough of the little hands all over him, he would kindly remove Jamis from the area, which of course Jamis thought was fun, and round and round we went.

Jamis has also discovered shoes lately. Any shoe left out will definitely be tried out.

He also has become quite the little ham. The other day he was eating pasta and decided he wanted to play cars at the same time. Being the terrible mom that I am, I wouldn't let him. He looked so cute with the saucy face and the dramatics, so I grabbed the camera. This is what I immediately got....

Pure trouble I tell ya. Pure trouble.

He's also perfecting the "Oops the evidence is on my face isn't it" face.

Swings are the best!!!!

Just call me Monkey Man

It's a Caaaaaa mom, it really is.

In Non-Jamis news, Devan is continuing to interview. He's really enjoyed every place he's gone and we're getting excited to start another chapter. He had an interview in Chapel Hill today (which is only two hours away) and my girlfriend was really sweet to take Jamis for the night so I could go with him. It was Sooooo great. I got an amazing hotel off of Hotwire for a third the normal price (score!!!), so after I got Devan off in the wee morning hours, I got to actually sit and eat breakfast, watch TV, and fall back asleep until LUNCH time!!!!! Can you believe it, I still can't. Oh, the little things in life. The interview went great and off he went to the airport for two more. The anticipation for knowing where we'll match is already getting to me. Its kind of like waiting to see if you won the lottery (not that I actually know what waiting for the lottery feels like that is).

Other than that, I've been keeping busy with Primary. I sewed my first cape (or really my first anything) last weekend and Sis Super Scripture made her first appearance during Super Scripture Sunday (I can't say that without hearing an echo after sunday-ay-ay-ay). The kids were all able memorize our monthly scripture (John 3:16), but Devan definitely could not resist to point out that I, I mean Sis Super Scripture, was a little more excited about the whole cape/alter ego appearance than the kids were. Kids these days. They just don't know good Super Heros when they see one.

The Weather Man was actually right this time

A couple times this year they have forcasted snow and the city freaks, school is canceled, and then....Nothing. It will turn out to be a beautiful 60 degrees. If you predict something enough though, its bound to happen eventually. What a beautiful thing to wake up to though.

First thing this morning Jamis stared out the window with the most amazed eyes I've ever seen. I was SO excited to take him out to play and so was he, until we actually got outside that is.

Despite the snow melting temps, he was frozen solid. He didn't know what to think of all that white stuff. Now he saw snow when we were in Utah, but this time it was in his yard and he didn't care for it. When I finally convinced him to leave the doorway, Max was so excited he knocked him over and that was it...game over. Hopefully later today we'll have a little more fun in our winter wonderland.

Do you think my palm tree is going to make it???

Max loved playing in the snow.

Bamboo trees were not meant for this kind of weather.

What a perfect way to begin the Winter Olympics

Boy Instincts

Wednesday night I had to go to Ward Council, so Devan and Jamis had a little father/son boys night. The next morning little man had a new trick.

Natural boy instinct or copy cat instinct??? You decide.

Jamis is in full on discovery mode. This week it was the wonders of wearing a "cape"

And learning where mom keeps all the treats

This area gets "rearranged" multiple time a day. Definitely need a new system to my non pantry bearing house.

Happy Brithday DEVAN!!!!

Every year Devan pretends he doesn't have a birthday. He doesn't want to do anything big or really anything at all. Well I don't like this and since his birthday is obviously about what I want, every year I do something, and every year I get all sorts of fun looks and sighs from our birthday boy. Well this year was no different, though I did have a little compassion and scaled things down a bit.

Since our life is Hospital #1, Life #2, we celebrated Devan's birthday the day before and the day after (you have to love being on call). So on the 1st we had a family party complete with a candle lit enchiladas, sparkling cider, and cheese cake dinner. With Jamis mesmerized with the firelight and Devan amazed at my cooking, it was a fun night.

On the 3rd we went out to Dev's fav restaurant, TGIFridays, with the Arne's. Beckie surprised him with a scandalise bikini cake and I was successful in my promise NOT to tell our waiter it was his birthday.

Devan's first solo reduction.

Though he was reluctant about even admitting it was his birthday, Devan actually admitted to having a good time. I hated to break it to him but once again, I was right!!!

January--the month that lasted 2 minutes

I know time is supposed to go by faster the older you get, but seriously this is ridiculous, I'm really not that old. January is already gone and I didn't even realize it started. So here's a quick recap of what I'm told happened in January.

For those of you who didn't know January has officially been changed to MANuary. All the residents celebrated the beginning of the new year by showing off how manly they can be, with a variety of stashes. This is the look Devan was most fond of.


Jamis and his love of boxes continued


Jamis is also learning that he is Independent and can do things all by himself. The other morning I got him out of bed and then went back into my bedroom to freshen up. In the two minutes I was out of sight he fixed himself some breakfast. Nothing says nutritious like waking up to Gingersnaps. Since he was trying so hard to be grown up, how could I not let him finish them.

Why take one, when you can stuff three in your mouth at the same time?
"I think I should fix breakfast more often!"

Later on that day I was doing our regular clean up routine, when I turned around and couldn't find him. Right when the freak out was setting in, I here him talking and what do you know, he was IN the dryer. He saw Buddy in there and decided to go on a rescue mission. I tell ya, this kid has to stop learning new tricks.

This month also started the Plastic Surgery Interview season. So far Devan has 13 interviews from Maryland, to Texas, to Utah, Florida, and everywhere in between. Interviews go until April and then we find out our destiny in May. Until then I'll be working as a travel agent and Devan will be looking sharp, jet setting around the country.