Reading

We haven't read as many books as I'd like to lately, but that doesn't mean we've stopped! We checked out some Thomas the Train books from the library. She loves Thomas!

This was what I found when I went to check on her a few nights back...

and the pile at the end of the bed. Love it.

I just threw these in for fun. She's "sleeping mama"

And here's Mr. Right catching some real zzzs!

Heartbreaker

He is the new love of all the ladies in church. I love it. And not just because people are ooohhing and aawwwing over my baby.. It means there's always someone who wants to hold him which give me a break. :)

It's Halloween Fun!

Lions and tigers and bears (and giraffes) oh my!

My little poodle skirt girl (not sure what to call her?) and giraffe went trick or treating tonight.

Graham was thrilled!

These pictures were from our church's trunk or treat. Grace had a ball. And let me tell you. She's eaten her weight in candy! I put quite a bit up for later.

We made chocolate covered cookies and pretzels to take to the neighbors. I think next year we'll stick with just that and the church thing... A little too much for now. She had a near meltdown at the end and told me to "leave her alone" and not talk to her. (ha!) When she's older and can get super excited and not lose it we'll go more.

Leaves

Pretty sure we have the best of all worlds.. We have three tiny little trees in our yard... so no leaves to rake, but that also means no leaves to jump in.. UNLESS... you live right next door to a camp where there are beautiful trees with leaves that change color and fall. Then you can rake them in a pile and play and jump to your hearts content. And when you're done? Someone will come along and munch them up with a great big mower- love it!

Thankful Thursday

Today I'm thankful for:

• MOPS. I really enjoy having time with other moms and getting creative ideas of what I can do with Grace. We made homemade silly putty today.
• A successful Upward registration! I have the privilege of co-directing the league again this year. It's so much work but once you see the kids having a great time and all the church taking part-it's worth it.
• Grace. She's becoming my little helper. I love her creative mind and her willingness to help her mama. Yesterday she "made dinner" with some dry rice and a few bowls. What a mess but she had a great time!

• This little man who is giving me smiles every day and getting me up only 2-3 times a night!

• Siblings. I love how Grace talkes to Graham and loves on him. I wasn't so fond of her dragging him across the room on his playmat yesterday (he wasn't either, really) but her heart was in the right place- she just wanted to play. :)

8 Weeks

Graham turned 8 weeks old on Sunday

At 8 weeks he:

• is stretching out one of his night sleeps- 7 hours last night.. too bad it starts before I actually get to bed!
• smiled for Daddy and Grandma Shirley over the weekend
• likes his playmat. He stares up at the toys and moves his hands around. He sometimes even bats them!
• Had blow outs 1, 2, and 3 this weekend! I have lots of disposables to use up but am looking foward to cloth if only for the reason of no blow outs!

I don't know what he weighs but it seems quite a bit! We go for his 2 month check up soon.. :)

Grace Lilian

Grace is growing and changing so fast... I wanted to write down some of her funny sayings before I forget

• She loves to pretend. Right now she's walking around talking to her babies.. (said in a high pitched voice) " you crying baby? oh no, you gotta sit. come here baby. Here you go baby- eat you food!"
• She also is into pretending that she is her cousin Hannah and either Shane or I are Aaron. She runs through the house going "A-ron A-ron!!!" Yesterday she said "Mom, you Aaron k? Aaron? What's your name Aaron? What's your name?"
• She's adding words to her sentences. Lately it's been -really. "Mom, I really hungry" "Mom, I really done (eating)" "I really hurt"
• She says she needs a bandaid (she calls it a ban) for everything. Last Sunday we went to the park and she kept getting shocked from the slide. At first she gave mea dirty look like I did it. Once I explained what happened- she tried the slide again. She got another shock. Got mad and said she was done and wanted to get in the car. Once in the car she told me she needed a bandaid on her belly where she got shocked.
• "It's too early" If she doesn't want to do something she says "it's too early". Like going to bed. "too early mom". Or if we need to get ready for church or to leave the house. She gets this from us telling her it's too early to get up in the mornings!
• Flip flops. She loves her flip flops. They are the cheapest things and her feet are pretty much falling off them. She wants to wear them ALL the time. I hid them in the closet because it's getting too cold... yesterday she found them. She had them on before 7 am this morning
• And last.... my parents will love this one. She throws fits and fusses when her socks aren't on right. I remember doing that when I was little. Kicking and crying on the floor... it's come back to me. :)

Stuff...

She was making a funny face here, but this face also is a bit of how we feel! We're been so busy.. busy with life, church, work, etc... It's been crazy!

But there's been time for fun as well... Grace was copying Graham.

And some of us have found time to rest... some more than others! :)

And I needed to get this one in somewhere.. My cousin Amy is VERY creative and an amazing knitter (is that what I would call someone who knits?) She made this outfit along with little booties for Graham. LOVE IT!

7 Weeks

Graham is 7 weeks old!

At 7 weeks-

• He's found his hands and is starting to look at them!
• mostly just gives little grins, no real all out smiles
• is awake for much more time and is starting to be much more alert
• likes to keep his head up and look around- he does a lot of head bobbing too!
• Eating every 3 hours at night and 2 1/2 -3 during the day

This is Grace wanting to get in on the action, then wanting him to "eat" his monkey. That's better than her choking him I guess!

First Flowers

Here are the first flowers Grace gave me. She's picked flowers but never to give me. Never mind that they were weeds. :) I loved them!

Thank you

Grandma Sue- the kids jammies are great- thanks!!!

(yes, she's practically choking him-this photo session ended quickly)

Pumpkin Patch

This was our day at the Fashion Farm. I didn't have my camera for the first half... But Grace has a great time. She went through corn mazes, had a donut and cider and went on a hay ride

But can you see her face? She was not loving the bumpy hay ride. She kept saying "hold on guys" and "let's go home, we're all done" ha!

Graham however was very content on the hay ride. :)

Can you see Graham's face [eeking out?

Thanks Grandma Sue for the glasses!

6 weeks

This smiley boy is 6 weeks old.

At 6 weeks Graham's big news is that he smiles!

He's also going through a growth spurt.. he's eating every 2 hours or so and gets so hungry!

Graham's been getting so fidgety and squirmy lately.. He wants to be on the go! When I go to feed him in the middle of the night he's often scooted himself up and sideways. He's growing so fast!

Are you ready

To see something awesome?

Ok.. here's a teaser... See those eyes lighting up? He's getting ready to impress you all....

Yes! That's one of Graham's first smiles! And if you missed it....

Here it is again.

And one more.. He's just being so generous!

Such a giving little boy to share so many sweet smiles with the world.

If you thought there was a lot of googly baby talk going on before- you should come and listen now. Anything for me to get another smile out of him!

Want to see for yourself? COME VISIT! :)