January thoughts...

It's been awhile yet again in my blogging world, so here are some of the highlights from the last month...

• The holidays were quiet, toy-filled, and very snotty.  Let's just say that the year 2010 will forever be remembered as "the year of the doctor" for the Schmidt family, and late December was no exception.  Since Grayson was born, I've become pretty knowledgeable on childhood illnesses, but I learned a new one just after Christmas - "parapertussis"... it was kind of humorous to have our boys on the same medicine within two weeks of eachother, as well as the fact that we have a very close relationship with all the people at our pediatric practice.  Here's to hoping we don't max out our copays so soon this year...
• My medicines are working pretty well - my hives are minimal, and I am tolerating the world better now.  I feel a bit like a marshmallow at times, and have to work a bit harder each day to get dressed in my multiple layers, but I am warm.  I'm not feeling the desperate need to move quickly, though the opportunity did present itself just over a week ago.  LifeTime has a parallel position move open in Austin, TX for Russ, but the timing is not right for us.  Though I need some hive help, and don't love being drowsy all the time, we aren't ready to uproot yet.  My job is awesome and there are some promising things coming down the road.  I also can't overlook the investment I've made in my job as I've been in White Bear for 10 years now!!
• It's hard to believe, but Nolan is 9 months old now!  He's such a delight; he is perpetually happy, and adores everything that Grayson does, both good and bad.  He is a babbler, and is becoming a mover and shaker - he's finally begun to roll, spin around on his tummy, and army crawl when he wants to get at something (especially power cords - why is that?).  He also has begun to sign for us - he knows "food", and "all done".  Nolan is also beginning to be a bit of a stinker on the changing table - he wants to do anything else but keep his body in place to put the diaper on...

• Grayson is growing so quickly in his skills!  We've been playing many card games with him lately; he loves Garbage, Uno Attack, Go Fish, and Blink!, and he's very good at playing them.  We are working on being a good loser, though.  He is very compassionate and caring toward everyone lately as well - he's always ready to dole out hugs, and his conversations with us are filled with reminders of his love for us.  Even in his hardest moments he seems to find a way to make us love him more and more! 
• My reading-teacher mind went crazy the other evening.  Russ and I were spelling the word "bath" to one another in deciding the evening roster.  Grayson asked, "B-A-T-H" - what does that spell?"  I asked him to provide the letter sounds for me, and he did so correctly.  I didn't think he could blend the word together as "th" is a digraph with a different sound when used together, but all of a sudden he said, "Bath?  Is it bath night? Yay!"  Our jaws dropped.  I was thrilled!  I tried it again the next morning with some success - he is beginning to develop some higher-level phonics skills!  Bring it on!
 
• Russ continues to work both positions at LTF, and his schedule was a bit hairy for the last month.  However, they brought in another person for sales, which has stabilized his world a bit again.  We've also enjoyed spending a bit more time at the club as Grayson's been in U Swim school for the last 6 weeks.  His swimming skills are coming along, though he says he doesn't like to float because he sinks.  :)