Summertime Whirlwind

We have had a rough and tumble couple of months! Achilles had to have an emergency splenectamy in June and we learned that he has some pretty aggressive cancer. However, he has recovered great from the surgery and is doing well for now. We feel lucky for any additional time we get with him.

Great Grandma Purbaugh passed away on June 27th, one week shy of her 87th birthday. She had lived with cancer for 40 years and got to have SO many more experiences than if she had succombed long ago. We were very fortunate to be with her in the last couple of days before she passed. She got to see Grady and even picked him up!

Ever since I found out I was pregnat, I have had a very strong... pull for her to meet Grady and know him as much as possible. I guess it's the instinctual "family tree" gene kicking in, but it has always been very important to me. I'm sad that she, or his other grandparents won't get to see him grow up, but I am very thankful for the time we did have and those last couple of days will always remain a precious memory.

Grady is growing and developing in leaps and bounds! He can pull himself up to standing and "shimmy" across the furniture - one day Stewie was sitting on the arm of the couch. Grady saw him, pulled himself up at the other end of the couch, and stealthily shimmied (is that a word?) himself over to Stewie, giggling all the time. Every day is something new and fun - it's amazing how Justin and I can just sit and play with him for hours and not get bored. I love how the world is such a new and exciting place for him, and it makes me happy.

He is eating mostly "real" foods now, with just a few baby foods here and there. With 4 teeth (2 top and 2 bottom) it really helps him to bite foods... not to mention his dad a few times!