Christmas Day

Grace woke up around 6 on Christmas and went out to the living room. I wish we would have went with her but we stayed in bed. We heard a gasp "presents!" She was thrilled.

She opened her stocking first. Santa gave her lots of jewelry and some chocolate.

We didn't really monitor this because I think she had like 5 pieces down before we knew it and all before 7 am!

Graham woke up a bit later to join the fun.

See her face? She got her own "castle" (note that she's already in a princess dress!)

(graham didn't get this for Christmas but we did get it down on Christmas day!)

Playing with her castle.

And then she got this castle! The funny part is that after we put it up she went inside to unwrap the rest of her presents. We didn't get to see any more! ha!

New Year

I write on a blog for our church (did you know that?) It's meant to encourage women and to share what we are learning on our journeys.... I wrote yesterday about sharing what I'd like to do for next year.. Here is the link. ( I just realized how cool it is to link things in my posts.. love it-ha!) So go to it and read what my plans for next year are. What is on the list for you for 2011?

Happy New Year!

Love,

Shane, Shannon, Grace and Graham

I'm not against ...

bribing... Here is a bit of what it looked like.

It started like this..

"Grace let me take a picture of you and Graham. No, No honey, look here. Look at Mommy.. Grace GRACE! Hey! (snapping fingers)...

Grace, look at mama please. Say Cheese. Please. Puhlease!

Grace... want a treat? Want some chocolate? Say cheese and I'll find you a treat. Come on, look here!

Close enough"

Could that be why she woke up the other day at 6 am and asked for some "chockit? :)

Four Months

Graham is FOUR MONTHS old!

At four months he-

• has found his voice! He coos and oohs and aahhs a lot. I think he has a deep voice! He has this shy little grin that he will give freely, but he saves his best ones for his Daddy and he's starting to share em with Grace too.

• Got a new bib from Santa! He is a drooler. I don't see any teeth coming in yet so we may just have months of bibs ahead of us!

• takes naps best in his carseat. I just pop it in his crib. :) Otherwise he only sleeps like 30 minutes. At night he sleeps in his crib with no seat. He goes down around 7ish, but lately has been fussing for a long long time. Once he's asleep he is good till midnight/one-ish. He eats and then once more around 3 and he then sleeps till 7 or so.

• Just has his first "work day" in his office! Shane brought it down on Christmas day. He likes it!

• has a fondness for things over his eyes! He has his own chi-chi (like Grace) and he likes it near his face to snuggle up to.
• eats about 7-8 times a day
• wears a size 2 diaper but we are moving to a size 3. (and we are using cloth now too)
• likes to hold my hand when he's eating (I love that!)

His Happy Place

*
So, anyone remember this post? Yes, I do believe everyone has his/her "happy place". Well Grammers has been struggling a bit lately with some constipation. Poor little guy can hold it for a long time.... He's usually ok but ends up getting fussy after a few days. I've had to do some, let's just call it.. "work" on him a few times.

Last week I put him in his bumbo and after a few minutes he let loose. And I mean LOOSE. As in, change his clothes, and get a bath loose. A few days later, same thing. His bumbo is his happy place!!! Yesterday he was fussy and I counted the days since his last major dipe. Yup, he was in need. So, I took him to the living room, sat him in his bumbo and sure enough a few minutes later he let loose- happy as a clam again! Ha! I was pretty proud that I knew he'd do that. :)

* This pictures was not taken on a day when he let "loose" :)

Christmas with the Hartmans

We had the Hartman Christmas last weekend in Muncie. It was so fun to watch the girls play together. Grace had a ball with Rilee and Reese. She talked about them for days afterward.

The girls got to eat at the island- she loved being a "big girl" with them

Opening presents- Graham couldn't get his paci so he settled for his thumb, sucking like it was going to be gone- so cute!

She doesn't stop to pose very often these days!

I believe this was princess jammies from Uncle Shawn and Nicki and girls. We opened it and in about 2.5 seconds she had her shirt off to put them on. Ha!

Graham was my favorite Christmas present this year. (his Daddy said he didn't like the bow on his head, but I did!)

We ended the evening playing a giant (sized) game of sequence. I don't know how they did it but I am sure Shawn and Nicki rigged each game! :)

Christmas Lights

We've had a busy few days around here! (I have lots of Christmas pictures to put up but for now these will have to do) We had the Hartman family Christmas and then we went to Michigan for a couple of days.

Graham went with Mama to be with her Girlfriends and Dad and Gracie went to my sister's to visit for a bit. We had a great time! Today we did some shopping and then decided to go to see some lights at a nearby park tonight.

We got in the truck and turned on some Christmas music and set off... and then... both kids fell asleep! By the time we got there they were sound asleep! Sooo... we got some hot chocolate and sat in the silence, enjoying the lights! (I love these baby legs on Graham- his Daddy? Not so much!)

Grace woke up when we got home and was like.. "where are the lights you promised?" Ha! (this was her first sled ride of the season)

I made the greatest snack/treat today- I put peanut butter between two ritz crackers and then dipped them in almond bark. YUM! I could eat the whole plate- they are so good! (I added this picture because I like it and it's Christmas-y)