Grandma's Visit to Colorado

We had the great privilege to have Grandma Garner spend two weeks with us to help with Oliver during Kellan's arrival and help us adjust to life as a family of four.  Her help was invaluable and we have missed her every day since she went back to Grandpa in Washington.  He missed her too and said we had to let her go home.  Grandma is in high demand!  I'm sure Rio would agree.

This post contains photos from Grandma's four memory cards.  Wow!  We sure were camera happy around here.

In the days before Kellan's arrival, we made sure to spend extra special moments with Oliver.  

Keith and Oliver were out checking on the fountain, having a chat.

The first moments that Grandma saw Kellan in the hospital, shortly after delivery.

In our recovery room, where we spent the next 24 hours.

We see this face often, typically every three hours.  This is the "I'm hungry and ready to eat" face.

Ahh... happy and cozy on Mom's lap.

Oliver meets Kellan.

Oliver showing Dad and Kellan the dinosaur's that Kellan gave him.  It's amazing that Kellan knew Oliver loved dinosaurs.  Good think Oliver told Kellan about it when he was in Mommy's belly.

Oliver still looks at his baby brother with this adoring look.

Oliver was very concerned about what was in Mommy's wrist. As far as he knows, it's a very fancy and fragile bracelet (AKA  the IV).

Kellan, fresh from his first bath.

Family dinner time.  Oliver is having my cake and eating it too.

Mommy and her two boys!

The first family photo.

This photo makes me laugh.  HA HA!!

Oliver and Kellan's first ride in the car together.  Oliver is so sweet.  He reached over to hold Kellan's hand to let him know everything was OK.  

As you may have seen in the past post, Oliver is a puzzle whiz kid.  Here he is, satisfied with his accomplishment, again.

Kellan's first bath.

Warming Kellan up after his bath before lubing him up with lotion and putting on his cozy PJ's.

Ahhh... so comfy and cozy he's throwing out a leg.

Our first walk and visit to the park.

Happy to head home from the park.

Ooooo.... may this be a little relief?

Save Yourself!  This one is a stink bomb!

Oliver continues to attend school, just like any other time.  He loves school where he is mentally and physically stimulated and he gets to pal around with his friends.  Typically when I pick him up, they are outside playing.  Since Mom was in the car, she was like the paparazzi and captured a few photos.

Let us out, Grandma!!

Oliver and Kellan on the floor gym, which Oliver calls "the tent".  

There is no shortage of Love for Kellan from Oliver.

A little play time for Mommy and Oliver.

The boys!

Grandma and Kellan

Oliver running and running and running.  The other day at the park Oliver came down from the slide and took off running around the play structure saying "Mommy, I've got to run".

Very brief pause for a photo.

Catch me if you can, Grandma!

Baby toes that are not so little.

Keith and Oliver chatting about life in the backyard.

Shawna came down from Fort Collins to meet Kellan.  It's crazy to think that we met 17 years ago!

Oliver and Keith discovered puzzles on the computer.  They are a HUGE hit!

Oh ya... two days after Kellan's birthday was my birthday.  Keith and my Mom made it a special day with flowers and balloons.  Thanks :)

This was such a sweet moment for me.  I had been holding Kellan and Oliver was watching one of his shows. He was a little under the weather this day so we were taking it easy.  He looked up at me longingly like he wished he was the one I was holding so I invited him over for a cuddle.  Within minutes, he fell asleep, just as Kellan started fussing.  Keith was out running and my Mom was outside.  I managed to calm Kellan while encouraging Oliver to fall into a deep sleep.  By the time my Mom came in both boys were happy and cozy with Mom.  She took a quick picture and then took Kellan so I could take Oliver upstairs for a nap.  Right here I knew, I could indeed handle two boys.

Three of the many faces of Kellan

Picking Oliver up from school on another day.  

With Oliver's love of puzzles, we found this big floor puzzle at Barnes and Noble.  He exclaimed to Keith several days later (after Keith had been mumbling that it was in his way) that he LOVED the puzzle.  He puts it together several times every night.

Ahh... another satisfied puzzle solve.

Story time in Oliver's room before bedtime.

Grandma and Kellan on the last night.

Both Kellan and Oliver were born with very strong necks.  It is tough to capture Kellan with his head up, but we did get this photo.  Whenever he does this it makes me laugh since it reminds me of a turtle.  A very cute and cuddly turtle though.