Labor Day with the Gahans!

Wow, can't believe it has been that long since my last post. I'm so sorry! Summertime is always crazy and my work schedule has been insane for over six months now. I can finally see the light at the end of the tunnel though, and I can't wait until I can slow down a bit.

We had a great Labor Day this year as most of the Gahan family made the trek out to the East Coast! We used to go home to Michigan for this weekend, but the last few years we have been blessed to have our family come to us in Maryland. Just like when the Kearney's are here, our place turns into a madhouse, but it is so much fun to have everyone under one roof.

To the zoo!

You would not believe the noise! These kids all bring something different to the table, and the decibal level just before dinner time was absolutely unreal. Here are a bunch of pictures from the weekend. We went to the zoo on Friday, and hung out at our place on Saturday to watch Notre Dame notch a victory over Purdon't. Some great pictures here...

1st skinned knees and first haircut...

I call him the Calamity Kid...you never quite know which wall he's going to bounce off of or which way he is going to topple over...you just know it's going to happen...

He will start off walking in a certain direction, and then it's like a switch is flicked. He sprints into action with a penguin-like gate in a race with his brain...the brain being faster of course, and THEN HE GOES DOWN ladies and gentleman!!! Here is some proof:

Yes...we had to cut the hair...it was hard to do, because this kid can grow some hair!! His mullett was approaching awesomeness by Michigan hockey fan standards...so you can see why we had to do something...

You can also see that he's an interested eater! We love the fact that this kid eats whatever we do. He likes food Ally and I would have never dreamed of eating....even spinach...

Here are some random pictures from this summer (I swear, he smiles...sometimes...:)):

Beach Week 2010!!

Well, it was more like Beach 1/2 week 2010 unfortunately! I had a conference to attend the first part of the week and Ally doesn't have many vacation days left this year so we couldn't join the rest of the Kearney clan at Edisto Beach, SC until Wednesday afternoon. It made the trip fly by, but it was still fun to soak up some sun, play in the waves, and enjoy a few cocktails with family ;).

We got some great shots of Grayson along the way, but the sun and constantly playing with his cousins really took alot out of him on a daily basis. He was taking three naps a day and sleeping through the night as well.

The little brave boy actually didn't mind going in the water either (the fact that it was very warm made a huge difference I think). He was walking along the waters edge letting the waves run over his feet and we were able to take him into the water up to chest level on many occasions. Very cool to see him be that relaxed (unless a stranger tried to hold him and then WATCH OUT!).

We went to Edisto this year (instead of the OBX) because Allyson's cousin Tyler got married at his Bride's beach spot. The wedding was held on an old southern plantation under a ginormous tree with spanish moss hanging everywhere. Very serene. The reception was held by the water's edge on a river at the plantation so you can imagine how beautiful it was.

Happy Birthday Grayson!

Wow! One year later and our tiny, helpless bundle of joy is now walking, talking, and wants to be involved in everything going on...:) It is flat out amazing to see how much he is learning right now and every day seems to bring a new advancement in his development. He is just so much fun to watch, whether we're at home winding down for the night, or sitting in the waiting room at the mechanic ...and while some of his antics hurt our ears or make us wince in empathetic pain, the moments of laughter and hilarity are overwhelming as he inches his way skyward.

We hosted much of Allyson's family in town to celebrate Gray's 1st Birthday over the Memorial Day weekend, and threw a big party in his honor as well. Thank you all for your gifts, cards and clothes as well! Playtime is as fun as ever as Grayson "has a brand new bag."

Aunties in full tickle mode...

We've got so many great pics that I don't really know where to start...

He looks like such a little boy in this picture instead of a baby...:)

Amazing Mom...

It was one of those phrases that was heard a million times growing up in the Gahan household with 4 boys running around:


"Someday you'll have kids of your own and then you'll understand!"


Since we've had Grayson I must have said to myself a thousand times..."How did my mom do it?" Gray isn't even able to talk back yet and he certainly doesn't have three brothers to add to the mix, so it makes the fact that my mom survived raising four kids even more incredible to me...

She covered all the basics with military-like efficiency...a GREAT cook with a diverse menu, a time-management extraordinaire that got every one of us to every practice, meet, match, recital, etc...did laundry for the whole family and still managed to keep our kitchen floor clean enough to actually eat on it...I could go on and on. Really...she did it all, and she did it all WELL.

Lucky for me (us), she had way more than the basics covered too though... Unlike some of my friends growing up, I had a great relationship with my mom. I was never afraid to confide in her, even during my adolescence, is which pretty rare I think. I remember crying my eyes out on her lap after I screwed up a relationship with my first love. She was there supporting me in every situation I can ever remember, and I credit her with teaching me that I need to be myself to be happy, and that other people's opinions don't matter as much as I thought they did. If something made me feel good (like singing in choir and dancing or whatever), then I should do it, regardless of how "uncool" it was...that is a lesson that I've been able to apply in life over and over again, and I am a better man for it today.

While I was able to keep that relationship strong for so long, it did start to wain as I moved on into college and even afterwards. I mostly believe that it had something to do with me wanting to assert some independence, so I would be short with her or became easily frustrated when she pushed to help with something. From what I can tell now, it was for me at least, another phase of maturity that I had to travel through. Having a son/daughter of your own tends to make you reflect about certain things, and finding the perspective of a parent has been a big deal for me. It is the perspective that my mom warned me about on so many times ;)

I regret that I stepped away from you for that period mom, and while the geographical distance remains to be greater than either of us desire, I look forward to being able to talk to you when Grayson (and maybe someday his brother/sister) causes me to think..."How did my mom ever do it?"...

Love you,

Happy Mother's Day!

Blue and Gold Game at Notre Dame!

Tickets to game...$12...South Bend Souvenirs...$100...plane tickets to Michigan...$200...watching your son break down in tears every time Papa enters the room...priceless!

Well, I had a great time in Michigan visiting my family with Gray! Watching him play with Kennedy was awesome, but the other cousins proved to be a bit bigger than little man was ready for...:) Something tells me he had a great time playing with all their toys though...;) Look who's starting to pose!

It was great that my mom got some time with him, and he seemed to be ok with Jackie too. Unfortunately my dad and brother Kevin didn't get the same treatment, as Grayson hid his head in my chest or broke down in tears whenever they got too close. I felt so bad! I know it probably doesn't make you feel any better Pop, but Ed Kearney doesn't fare too much better!

Grayson got his first opportunity to hang at a tailgate and then see the good guys in the Golden Helmets come running out of the tunnel. Although it was just an intersquad scrimmage you could see some significant changes in how this Fighting Irish squad will be run. Plays zip into the huddle and then are executed much more quickly than in years past and it was fun to see a fresh offense. Although there is alot of inexperience on this team in places you would rather have none, I couldn't help come away excited and impressed with what I saw.

Here is Gray in a car seat that he saw way too much of on this trip...

I wish I was better with my camera on this trip!