Halloween Costumes

We decided to try to get some pictures of the kiddos in their Halloween costumes before things get too crazy on Friday. Of all things, Garrett wanted to be a pumpkin for Halloween. I don't know if it was because Gaitley was going to be a pumpkin too or if he really just wanted to be that. He didn't really want to have his picture made and poor Gaitley was burning up in her costume. We changed her clothes halfway through. I have realized it is very hard to get two kids to look at the camera and smile at the same time.

Pumpkin Patch

We visited the Pumpkin Patch on Tuesday. Garrett loved wearing his new John Deere boots from Nanny and Papaw. He decided that this was the perfect time to start walking. He just took off as soon as we got out of the car. He still prefers to crawl because it's faster, but he is walking a lot more. He picked out two pumpkins while we were there; a little one for Gaitley and a big one for me. He already had one and decided we needed one too.

Gaitley and Colton

Colton Barber came over to play today.

Update on Garrett

Garrett has been out of the cast for three days and is doing really well. He has taken a few steps while holding onto something. He is in such better spirits and is much more fun to be around. We have already been to Target and the grocery store. He loves being able to ride in the shopping cart, which is something he never really cared for before. He is sleeping great too. He's always been a stomach sleeper and with the cast on that was impossible.

No more spica cast!

What doesn't kill you only makes you stronger. That's what they say anyway. I know that having a newborn and one in a spica cast sure did make us stronger as a couple and as parents.
Well, five long weeks have passed and the big day finally came. Garrett got his cast off this morning. He wasn't sure if he really wanted it off. It's kept his leg safe for so long, so when we asked him about it on the way to his appointment he said he wanted to keep his cast on. Mom and dad were not about to agree with that. We got to Children's about 9:30 and it didn't take long for them to call us back. They used a saw attached to a hose to cut off his cast. It looked and sounded like a vacuum cleaner. He was great the entire time they were cutting it off. He did get upset when it finally came off and he moved his leg. His hip was so stiff. After the cast came off we went down the hall for x-rays. More tears - he had to move his leg several times to get the correct picture. Next, we met with the doctor. His leg looked great. It is 95% healed. We just have to watch him for the next month to make sure it doesn't break again. He did put a little weight on his leg for a second while holding on to Britt. He was very unsure of himself. Then we left. We don't even have to go back unless we are concerned about something. That seems crazy. He was thrilled to ride in his carseat again and be able to see out the window. When we got home he went straight to the tub. He stayed in there for about an hour. He was really moving his leg well in the water. The only reason he wanted to get out was because his hands and feet were really wrinkly. He told me they were rusty. He had a great rest of the day. We played and he scooted all over like he still had the cast on. He did get brave and start bear crawling and tonight he stood on it for a minute with support. The doctors said he would start walking in a couple of days. The only thing that is really bothering him is the dead skin still on his legs. The night of the bike wreck we put a band-aid on his leg because he thought it would make it feel better and for some reason they didn't take the band-aid off when they put his cast on. The skin under the band-aid looks terrible. Hopefully this will be the one and only broken bone.

A few things we won't miss about the cast

Dirty feet and blisters from scooting.

All the diapers - Garrett had to wear two diapers and anytime we went outside the outside diaper always looked like this.

Washing his hair in the sink - this picture captures Garrett's mood perfectly. He hated it.

The harness - Garrett couldn't fit in his carseat, so the only way he could travel was lying down in the backseat.

Tomorrow's the BIG day!

Well, tomorrow is the big day. After five long weeks, Garrett gets his cast off. I am very excited, but a little nervous at the same time. I don't expect him to take off running, but I don't know if he'll be able to walk or even stand on his own. It's going to break my heart watching him struggle with something that used to come so easy. I do know whatever happens it will be way better than having that thing on. There are so many things I'm looking forward to.
*Holding him without that bar in the way.
*Giving him a bath - he's pretty smelly.
*Taking him to get a haircut - it's out of control.
*Sitting at the table like a family again.
*Running errands when I need to - I can't really take him and Gaitley anywhere by myself.

Standing in Spica Cast

Garrett has figured out how to stand up in his cast.

Gaitley is two months old!

Two months old!

I'm getting chubby legs and cheeks!

Look at me holding up my head!

Brave Boy

A couple of days ago I was sitting on the couch feeding Gaitley and Garrett decided he wanted to join us. I told him to wait, but he wanted up there right then. He crawled over to the couch and grabbed onto the cushion. He put his right knee on the couch and his left leg on the coffee table and somehow managed to push himself up onto the couch. I couldn't believe it. I helped him turn around so he could sit with us. I got up to change Gaitley's diaper and told him to wait for me if he wanted back down. What was I thinking? When we came back he was already on the floor playing. I couldn't quite figure out how he did it, but today I finally saw what he had done. He put all the pillows on the floor, good thinking on his part, and manged to slide down onto the floor. All he said was, "I okay!" I couldn't help but smile and be proud of him. When the doctors told me four and half weeks ago that he would be getting around I didn't believe them, but now he can do anything he wants.

Bath Time

Gaitley loves taking a bath! She's already kicking and splashing in the water.

Fun in the Cast

Garrett is getting used to the cast. He can move around by crawling or crab walking. It's a little scary, but he likes feeling independent. We took him to the park to swing and fish. He loved being outside. Daddy carried him all over the park and even took him down the slide.
Gaitley has started smiling and laughing all the time. All you have to do is look at her and she gets the biggest grin on her face. So fun!