Daycare, First Vaca, Sick, Boat

Ok Grayson fans-here is what you've been waiting for...

My maternity leave ended on May 12 and I had to return to work. Grayson started with Missy-his daycare provider that day. He had been a few times prior to starting the full day so that he could get used to it and so that I could get used to him being there. So far so good. He LOVES it there-and Missy loves having him. She puts up with me checking on him at least twice a day-but I can tell that they really love each other. Work is good. Working is overrated-and I think that everyone should be independently wealthy so we can all stay home with our little ones! Let's work on that...

Gray is doing lots of new stuff now. He's getting to be so big! He likes to lay on his back and bring his toes into his mouth and rollover on his side. He looks like a rolly polly. He's started to like being in his jumperoo and will watch the lights and the sound for quite some time.

We took Grayson on his first vacation a few weeks ago. We all went to Arizona for Memorial Day weekend. He did fabulous on the airplane. Gray and I flew out with Sara, Jennifer, Doug, Michele, Lucy and Olivia. Dad and Becky were already there and Rob was in New Orleans for work-he was coming later. I was nervous to bring him on the plane-and was afraid that it might upset him-but my little guy doesn't let anything phase him! And the one thing that I had been looking forward to for so long-getting to board the flight first because I had a baby-doesn't happen anymore! Ugh. Oh well-we all sat in the back of the plane-all together.
Here he is with Aunt Sara stretching out before his 3 hour flight

Here's Lucy showing off her new Hannah Montana outfit for the flight
Here's Gray when we first get on the plane while I was wiping down the arm rest, tray, window and everything in the area with wipes and sanitizer-Rob's request.

When we got to Phoenix it was 7:00 PM AZ time-which is 9:00 KC time-which is Grayson's bed time. We get off the plane-it's about 95 degrees-and we have to wait for all our luggage, etc. It took us almost 2 hours to get our things-and get to the hotel. And he was doing awesome during the whole thing. He loved staying in a hotel. I wasn't sure if he would like their crib-but he didn't have a problem with it. Plus when he would wake at 4:00 AM to eat I would put him in the king size bed with me to go back to sleep. Which was a real treat since it was just Gray and Mommy--no daddy or puppies.
Here he is while getting his sunscreen on to get ready to go into the pool

Introducing the newest swimsuit model-Grayson John Swindle! Sporting some sweet board shorts and a new SPF hat.

Here's Gray and his cousin Olivia. She was born on December 30. Gray is long and thin-and Livy is short and a little round. But she is pretty stinking cute

He really wasn't a big fan of the swimming pool. The water was a little chilly. I put him in with his feet first-and he started crying. So we didn't go in anymore. Maybe in a few more months he'll be more willing to try it.
While we were there-Gray got to meet his GG-or Nana as we like to call her. She thought that he was fabulous-and vice versa. This picture was taken by Lucy-which actually isn't that bad

We also spent lots of time sitting out on the patio having cocktails and just spending time with all the babies. Here's Aunt Sara and Baby GrayFor Becky's birthday we went out to Little Bite of Italy and sat outside. They had a Wayne Newton impersonator that was singing some tunes. Are you digging his eyeliner??? He's like that guy from American Idol.

It was really hot-and of course I was freaking out because he wasn't drinking-which he probably wasn't hungry-but he was also sweating so I was afraid he was going to be dehydrated. Which in reality-I'm sure he wouldn't have. But I took his shirt off for himThe Swindle clan ended up leaving early that night because I was worried. So we got our food boxed up and went back to our hotel and had a quiet family dinner in the A/C.

Here's Gray and Livy on the last day relaxing in their poolside bed. They had it made laying in the shade with all the fans on them-they loved it! You can tell by the look on Livy's face

Well-we have our first sickness with the little guy. He had been congested and snotty before we left for Phoenix-but was better when we got there. Then when we came back it came back. So after I spoke with Missy-since she's been around babies for quite sometime-she suggested that I take him into the doctor. I took him this past Friday-and low and behold--a double ear infection and a throat infection. We got him the bubble gum medicine and have been given it to him twice a day. You couldn't even tell that the little guy is sick-he's been taking it all like a champ. Right now it seems that the antibiotics are working-we have to continue them until Monday-so hopefully by then it will be done.

This past weekend Aunt Gail came to visit. She was in Topeka for work. She was super excited to see Grayson-and I guess Rob and I too-but mostly Gray-and who could blame her??? By having her here it allowed Rob and I to get some things done around the house since it's on the market now.
We all went out on the boat on Sunday-Grayson's first. He had quite a time. He napped on the back-and with Aunt Gail.Here he is right when we got home from the lake-you could tell he had a good timeAlso this past weekend Aunt Sara moved 4 blocks away from us-so we are really excited about having a built in babysitter and dog watcher right around the corner!
All in all we have been pretty busy here-just trying to get into the swing of things and getting a routine down with drop off and pick-ups. So far so good!
And finally-another bunny towel photo-who knew JP that your present would make such cute photos? Have a great week-we are going on Friday to have more pics taken with Gray-so I'll be posting the link