The story behind Gray.

Allen and I were talking tonight about the name Gray and what it means to us.  I wanted to write this down while it's fresh in my mind, and before I forget the details.  We decided on the name Grayson because Gray is a family name (and should technically be our last name).

Allen's grandpa, Clair Wilcox, was born as Clifford Gray to Harlan & Amy Gray (Jones).  Shortly after he was born, his mother passed away.  When he was 4 years old, his father remarried and his new wife convinced him to give up Clifford (Clair) and his two older sisters to an orphanage.  This was a very traumatic time for Clifford, as you can imagine.  This orphanage split up the boys and the girls, so Clifford was separated from his sisters.  Later, he had memories of being in the yard and holding hands with his sisters through the chain-link fence, crying.  Shortly after, Clifford was adopted the by the Wilcox family.  William Wilcox had no sons and wanted a son, so he adopted Clifford and renamed him Clair Wilcox.  One of his older sisters was also adopted by another family.

I don't know HOW anyone can convince you to give up your own kids! :(  Harlan & Amy were very much in love, and I'm sure it broke him when Amy passed away.  I imagine he had a lot of emotional issues at the time, and was unwell. The Wilcoxes were good to Clifford/Clair and loved him and treated him like a son.

Shortly after I married Allen his family contemplated changing their/our name back to Gray.  Obviously, we didn't, but we wanted to honor the name Gray by naming our son Grayson.

"Little" Gray.

Is getting so big!  I can't believe how many milestones he has hit in the past 2 months!  At about 6 months he learned to sit up, crawl, and pull himself up on furniture (or whatever he could reach).  Between 7 and 8 months he has learned to stand without support (for up to 7 seconds), clap, dance, wave, and sign "milk".  He got his first two teeth (bottom middle), and it I swear he has said a couple of words--"yuck" and "yeah."  But they could have just been perfectly timed, random noises.  :)  WHY does he have to grow so fast? :(  He will be 8 months old tomorrow.

Torrin

We had Torrin's speech evaluated (again) with the school district, and he passed.  They said he is using all the sounds they want him to be using by 4 years.  The problem is, we can only understand what he's saying about 70% of the time.  A few weeks ago it just dawned on me that the problem is his tonsils.  They are huge, and even when he says everything correctly, it still sounds like he has marbles in his mouth.  The ENT doctor agreed, and he will have them removed on Thursday.  I'm so nervous, but hoping that this is the "fix" we need to be able to understand him better.

First "Book Report"

Since Hayden can already read well, his teacher, Mrs. Hinckley, gave him a special reading journal to take home.  I think this is great since he needs more practice writing and drawing.  I'm amazed how how far he has come since starting school 3 weeks ago.  It used to be that he wouldn't even TRY to draw something.  (Because he always wanted it to be perfect and would freak out if it wasn't).  Now he is able to draw and write!

He finished his first his first "book report" today and is learning to sound out the words and write what he hears.  (Mom is learning a good lesson in patience with this.  The English language is difficult!  ay/eigh/ai? ow/ou?  ee/ea?  It's all very confusing.)  Anyway, here is a picture of his "book report".  

In case you can't read it:  "Custrd Supris is ubwot tuw chkns whth a restront.  The goat ate the menu.  The fox trid to eyt the chkn.  The animls dmpd custrd supris on him."
  
Translated:  "Custard Surprise is about two chickens with a restaurant.  The goat ate the menu. The fox tried to eat the chicken.  The animals dumped custard surprise on him." 

And here is a picture of the fox with custard surprise all over his head.  Isn't he cute?  

I love that Hayden loves to read.  He is going through chapter books like crazy.  (Pretty sure he can finish a book faster than I can!).  He is reading the Lucy books right now.  There are only 4 books in the series-- "Absolutely Lucy," "Lucy on the Loose," "Look at Lucy," and "Lucy on the Ball."  He is reading the 3rd book now.  The first book is about a shy boy who gets a puppy for his birthday (Lucy), and she helps him make friends.  I think we need a Lucy around here for our "shy" Kindergartner.  :)  

I had to add this picture he drew for me in the doctor's office.  It says, "Hayden loves Mom."  :)  

Kindergarten!

Hayden:  Gosh, I love this kid.  Yes, he causes me a ton of stress, and I wish he didn't "have" to do everything in his power to annoy his little brother; BUT I sure am proud of him.  He started Kindergarten a few weeks ago and he LOVES it.  He is still struggling a little with making friends.  He is afraid to talk to the other kids. :( This is something new within the last year or so, and I'm hoping that it changes as he gets to know the kids in his class  (Though, I somehow doubt it because he still has a tough time talking to the kids in his primary class, and he's known them for 2 years).  


This week his teacher said this to me about Hayden in an email:  "Thanks for all you do for him.  I can tell that he has someone working with him at home.  He's a great kid!  He's always so respectful and polite."  Aww.  That made me feel really good.  I know I can't take all the credit, though.  For one, he is VERY smart and has an excellent memory.  I haven't had to "work" much at all.  I have seen him with other adults in situations outside of home, and he really IS very well-behaved.  He's not terrible at home, but I wish he was as quick to listen to me as he is other adults.  I think part of that is that he is a little shy, but he also has a strong desire to please.  It makes me feel good that I don't have to really worry about him getting into trouble (yet).  It's kind of scary to send him "out" into the world, but it's nice to get little reassurances that he's doing ok (and not causing too much stress for someone else). 

My Silly Boys!

I have to write this while it's still fresh in my mind.  I'm sorry if it makes you feel awkward, but I want to remember it because it's hilarious & made me laugh out loud.  Last night Torrin found my breast pump and was playing with one of the pieces (the yellow part that you see in the picture--looks like a cool toy, right?).  Anyway, Hayden asked what it was, and I answered that it was for pumping milk and left it at that.  Well, this morning Allen came up and said that Hayden & Torrin had a gallon of milk out and were "pumping" it with the tubes from my pump down inside the gallon.  They'll love it when I tell their friends this story when they're older.  ROFL.

Grayson's room and some wishful thinking.

I know we probably won't live here much longer--only a year, unless Allen gets a job here when he graduates in April.  But this is the first time we've been able to paint and have an "official" nursery, so I've enjoyed decorating Grayson's room.  Here is the (mostly) finished product:

I love that Winnie The Pooh quote!  The grass and quote are vinyl, and I got the letter blocks from a gal on etsy.  The pictures came with the bedding.  They were originally stuffed cloth "pictures", but I framed them and painted the frames green.  I think it turned out cute--thanks to my friend Denise who gave me some great ideas.

I have been dreaming a lot lately about our future home and how I will decorate.  I have a whole folder on my computer full of decorating ideas.  I love my sister Stephanie's home and how she's decorated it.  I have to admit sometimes I'm a little envious of other home owners, but I know we'll get there someday.  I would LOVE to be able to build a home someday.  This is a floorplan that I really like.  I realize we may not be able to build it for 10 years, but a girl can still dream.

(This is the same floorplan, just flipped).

These cute babies are home!

I'm SO excited to announce that my niece and nephew are finally HOME!  Hailey went home last week and her big brother, Jesse, followed her yesterday.  I'm hoping this means some nice "relaxing" time at home for their mom & dad.  I say relaxing because I'm sure it will be compared to the daily back and forth between Vancouver and Portland.  I'm sure they will have their share of sleepless nights, but who doesn't with a baby? I love these kids!  Wish I could go visit them again.

HAYDEN

I'm just going to brag a little about Hayden here because I CAN.  :)  I've just been thinking a lot lately about how SMART this child is.  We like to tell the boys bedtime stories (though, recently we have switched to reading chapter books instead).  On some nights I'm not feeling particularly creative so I'll try to tell a short "story" about the boys going camping, having a good time, and then coming home.  When this happens, Hayden will often say, "Mom, there needs to be a problem!"  He already understands that good stories need some sort of conflict.

A few months ago I started teaching Hayden to read.  Really it didn't take much teaching.  I worked with him for one day (Green Eggs & Ham, a book he knows well).  Within a couple days, he was reading other Dr. Seuss books.  He is now reading at a 1st or 2nd grade level.  It's so fun to see him reading books on his own and enjoying it.  I've never been a big reader.  I wish I was, and maybe someday I will be, but now I just don't have the time or ability to focus on reading. Anyway, I'm glad Hayden got his dad's brains.

I think Hayden will also be good at math.  (This is one thing he gets from me).  He's able to add and subtract pretty well in his head and he can count past 100.

Hayden is SO good with Grayson.  He just adores his baby brother and thinks he's the cutest thing EVER.   This is a big change from when Torrin came and all Hayden wanted to do was hit the baby.  Of course, he was two then, and now he's 5.  Hayden & Torrin are good buddies, but they also have VERY different personalities and fight a lot.

Hayden has a strong desire to do what's right and please others.  He still has his sneaky 5-year-old moments, but I can see him learning to distinguish right from wrong on his own.  The other day Hayden was telling Allen something his friend told him.  He said that if Hayden doesn't want to sleep at night he should pretend to sleep walk and go play the Wii because "that's what (he) does".  LOL  Hayden told Allen this and then said, "But Dad, I'm not going to do that."

This fall Hayden will start Kindergarten.  I came very close to putting him in preschool or pre-K this year, but decided not to.  I don't regret my decision to keep him home.  I have enjoyed having him here with me and will miss him when he starts school.  I know he will do well and thrive.  I am just so proud of him.  It's hard to believe that in August it will have been 6 years since I held a little 8 1/2 lb baby in my arms for the first time.  I remember a strong feeling that Hayden was a very special spirit, and that is certainly true.  I look forward to seeing what kind of man he becomes someday.

Four reasons today was extra special for me.

A lot can change in seven years.

Update on my cute niece and nephew.

They are doing great.  Both babies are over 5 lbs and off oxygen and breathing help.  I was able to travel to Portland to meet them.  When I got there they were both in separate beds.  Jesse was still on CPAP and Hailey was on a nasal canula.  On day two, Jesse was off CPAP.  On day three, the babies were moved to the same bed and "graduated" to the other side of the NICU (for more stable babies).  It was fun to see them make such progress in the few days I was there.  It's so hard being away from my family, so it was especially nice to spend time with my sisters and Mom.  Hopefully both twins will get to go home this month and my boys will get to meet their new cousins this summer.  I know Hayden is especially excited to meet them.

I'm an aunt!

Again.  But this time on my side of the family.  Stephanie gave birth to boy/girl twins last Saturday.  Jesse & Hailey were born 11 weeks early!  They have had a couple of rough patches, but are both doing well despite being born so prematurely.  Hailey was 2 lb 12 oz and Jesse was 2 lb 9 oz.  SO tiny!  I can't believe Stephanie and Jay are parents now!  It's so exciting!  I know they will do a wonderful job and be the best parents.  I love these babies so much already, and I haven't even met them yet.  I can't wait to meet them in April.

Jesse Jay

Hailey Jane

2 months already!

Grayson is already 2 months old!  I can't believe how quickly time has flown.  :(  I love seeing him reach new milestones, but can't time just slow down?  This week I'm packing away the newborn clothes.  Grayson is already 14 lbs (according to the home scale) and growing out of the newborn sizes.  He's even getting close to growing out of some of his 0-3 month stuff.  I do have to say that I LOVE this stage, though.  Over the past week Grayson has become a lot more social.  He is smiling at us a ton, and just tonight he started cooing and "talking" to me.  I was holding him as Allen and I were watching a show, and I'd look down and he'd be staring up at me with a big grin on his face as if to say, "Come on, Mom. Play with me."  I love the cute little sqeaks and squeals he makes and wish I could record everything.  Before I know it he'll be 3 years old!  Here are some of my favorite pictures.

 Grayson with his Grandma Wilcox.

 Grayson with his Grandma Williams.

 Grayson with Great-Grandma Williams

He learned a new trick!

Introducing Grayson Daniel Wilcox

Grayson Daniel was born on January 18, 2011, at 4:18 p.m. He weighed 7 lbs 6 oz and was 20 inches long.  This was my 2nd VBAC, and was a lot harder than the first.  Here is his birth story.  Don't read if you don't want to know the details. ;)

My mom came from Seattle on Monday afternoon.  I had been telling Grayson that his Birthday would be Monday night or Tuesday, so I guess he is a very obedient baby.
Tuesday morning at 8:45 a.m. I rolled out of bed achy from a long night at 9 months pregnant . I went to the bathroom and saw blood, so I knew something was starting. Called my midwife, Gretchen Faucett, and she said to wait around and see if any contractions started. By about 10 a.m. I was sure labor was starting--I was getting contractions about 10 minutes apart that didn't feel like my normal Braxton Hicks contractions.

Allen and I showered and got ready to head to the hospital (about a 40 minute drive). I got to Labor and Delivery and they put me in a closet. LOL Ok, not really, but it was not one of their regular L&D rooms, it was just a tiny monitoring room. Pretty sure they thought they'd be sending me back home. I was checked and 3-3 1/2 cm (same as I was at my appointment last week). DH and I walked the halls for about 40 minutes and they checked me again at 12:45 p.m. I had made some progress (though, only to about 4 cm), so they admitted me and gave me a "real" L&D suite.

Around 2:45 they checked me again and the nurse said I was still at 4cm. My midwife "agreed" with her at the time, but told me once she left the room that I was more like 6 cm.  She broke my water at that point and the contractions started coming stronger and closer together. And boy, were they intense! A little before 4:00 I called Gretchen in and told her I was feeling more pressure and thought it would be time to push soon. She stayed with me through a few contractions and agreed that he would be here soon. I started pushing at about 4:00 and he was born at 4:18 p.m. on 1/18/11. He weighs 7 lb 6 oz and is 20 inches long with lots of blonde hair. I think he looks like Allen.

I had absolutely NO pain meds this time. No epidural, not even stadol/nubain like I had with Torrin, and believe me it was HARD. With Torrin I remember feeling little to no pain while pushing. It actually felt good to push (of course that was only for 7 minutes). But this time, pushing was TOUGH and I still felt the contractions through the pushing. My mw said he was kind of at a weird angle and it took a bit for him to get under my pubic bone. I ended up with only a tiny tear or two, so I just needed a couple stitches for that.

Grayson and I are doing well.  He is a little jaundiced, so we've had to go in for some heel pokes, but his numbers are stable now and should be dropping soon.  He is nursing well and is already starting to get chubbier.  Though, he still has those cute scrawny little legs.

Pile o' Wilcox Boys

We added Grayson to our little family this week.  I'm definitely outnumbered around here.  :)