The post where I make up for 3 months... with 50 pictures.

 I've debated whether or not to continue the ol' blog, simply because I have zero desire to keep up with it. However, now that we're living across the country from family and friends, I really should. So, as penance, here are the last few months.

Graham is no longer the baby on the King side! Melynne and Brigg welcomed Bridgette in April and Graham was in love. 

 At Maddie and Morgan's high school graduation. Paul was a saint and took him without me; our 6th grade graduation was the same day, same time, so the moment it was over I bolted to UVU just in time to take some family pictures!

 

 On the last day of school Graham joined us as we said goodbye to some great friends. My dad also came and made pancakes for my class. I am so sad to leave Mt. Mahogany Elementary behind. I have some incredible memories and friendships that I'll take with me. It's weird that as August rolls around I'm not stocking up on notebooks and school supplies, but I'm excited to start my new job- Mom at home!

 

 Graham just being handsome. He does it well, wouldn't you say?

 The Birthday Party

For Graham's first birthday party I really wanted to pull out the stops. Paul would say that I went a little overboard. However, I knew it would be the only birthday that Graham would be celebrating with family for probably a decade, so I wanted to make it memorable. Plus, it was his first birthday, so hello! Make it count!

 Some of the birthday prep pictures. We went with a circus theme, so here he is as the ringmaster :)

 

 

Our friend Nick generously agreed to come and celebrate with us, and took some great pictures of the party! 

The birthday kid enjoyed all of the sugar splendor. He took one look the goodies available and never looked back. He inhaled oreos, cupcakes, corndogs, snow cones, animal crackers; you name it, he ate it! He was the perfect party host, and even acted excited with he opened his gifts. We followed the festivities up with a dip in the pool and called it a day. Our family and friends were so great to come spend their 4th of July with us!



July came to an end and it was time for us to leave for Pennsylvania. These were taken the night before Graham and I flew out to meet Paul who had driven the moving truck with a friend. We had been missing our Daddy! He quickly hits his limit in these pictures...                

Now that we're here in PA, we're finding lots to do!

Crawling everywhere. Usually without clothes on.

Enjoying the easy accessibility of the "babas"

                          

His absolute first love. Blocks

Eating popsicles. Once again, with no clothes on.

"Stirring"

Finding that he loves Elmo

"Fast shoes" and driving his cars e.v.e.r.y.w.h.e.r.e.

Aunt Leigh, Uncle Brian, and Nixon sent us a package... Graham was a little excited!

This monkey was in the package. I put it around his neck and he left it there for close to an hour. He only knows the monkey sound (despite many many attempts at teaching other sounds) and he'll say it all the time.

Finding snacks left over from our morning walk. Gross.

We've found some pretty decent farmer's markets that make us feel like we're still at home eating Harward Farms corn!

Paul has since started school, but before the actual school part started, he had what was called the "White Coat Ceremony." It's a cool little ceremony where the students get their first white coat (it's a short one- once they graduate, they get their long coat)

I thought we were going to be safe, because as we pulled up, Graham had fallen asleep. I got him out of the car carefully enough that he stayed asleep. Until the ceremony started with an applause for the pianist. This is what we spent the remainder of the ceremony doing after the 20 minutes where snacks and books entertained us.

Practicing his spell casting

Practicing the worm dance move

The quick crappy shot I got as Paul got his coat. This was mid-Graham-wrestle.

Making friends with random ladies out in the hall.

Congratulations Paul! Here's to 4 more years of school!!

Don't let the smile fool you.

We love you Daddy!!!

"Better out than in, I always say..."

I can't believe Graham has now been with us longer than I was pregnant with him! The nine months I was pregnant seemed like an eternity- this nine months has gone by so quickly! The end of the school year couldn't have come with better timing; Graham has recently taken up whining at every turn. He wants his mom ALL the time, and makes his dissatisfaction known any time someone else has him. It certainly makes leaving in the morning difficult! We've been so fortunate to have family members close by that are willing to watch him when I am at work and Paul is at school- but it will be nice when we don't have to ask people to put their days on hold to take him!

New this month- Graham has decided to graduate from the army crawl to the full-fledged crawl- finally! He was starting to worry me with his insistence of dragging his right leg and arm around.

 

 He continues to love the sound of his own voice, and is putting sounds together to make it seem like he is trying to say words. He also loves to shake anything and everything, especially eggs!

  

Graham loves going on walks, swimming, reading books (he crosses his legs while he's being read to- so cute!)

    

 

When Bridgette was born, he suddenly took great interest in the small creature in the house. He would stare at her (an take an occasional swipe at her face- out of curiosity of course)

Graham is such a ham- anytime we pull out the camera or laugh, he makes his "cheese" face or fake 

laughs.

Lately, when he gets really excited, he clenches up his fist and "bleats" like a goat. It's as if his little body can't contain all of his excitement... it is just about the cutest thing ever!

Graham really gets a kick out of my dad- he loves his shiny watch especially! He's usually the only person Graham will willingly go to if I'm in the room. When he was on my dad's shoulders, Graham couldn't figure out why his head was bald and kept slapping it to hear the sound it made.

 

Graham and Brox got along fairly well when he was here- Brox loved to be helpful and try to put Graham's paci back in  

Graham in his Easter duds

 

  

Papa, Nana, and the Paci Crew at Bridgette's blessing (all 1+ hours past a nap)

 

 

I just love my little sidekick- he's my best little buddy and I can't wait to stay home with him!

Hey guys!

Hey guys! I'm 8 months old!

The next few pictures should give you an idea of what Graham has been like this month. He continues to get better and better! Lately he has become really social; smiling and crinkling his nose whenever anyone (especially girls) talk to him. He makes great faces, loves to scream and yell (obviously) and is finally getting close to crawling! 

On the other hand, he is just about the sweetest boy there ever was. He is completely un-swaddled now, and usually sleeps really well (unless he's teething.) He is not a great teether; he is currently getting a tooth, although we don't know which one because he won't let anyone touch his mouth. He got his first buzz cut and looks more like a little boy.

He waves hi to people, wears 12-18 month size clothing, and army crawls using his big toes. He loves Gerber Puffs, frozen Go-gurt, and sweet potatoes. This last week I caught him sucking out the insides of a 3 Muskateers bar (he loves to hold shiny things. I looked away for a second and he had ripped it open and sucked half of it out within seconds.)

Some more things from 8 months:

 He clearly misses meals. All the time.

 At the park with Mom and Dad- trying the swings for the first time!

 Reading with Brox-we're so happy he's home for a little bit!

Celebrating Cousin Nix's first birthday. 

I know I say this every month, but he gets better and better all the time! Now if that tooth would come in and let us sleep at night again, that'd be awesome!

7 months of Graham

Ahhh! This little guy is over 7 months old! I can't believe how big he is getting, and what personality he has! He is so fun to be with, and really, I can hardly get over how dang cute he is. I love him so much I want to just eat him.

 He loves eating. *Also, I realize the Bumbo is on the table... he's never left unattended:) His absolute favorite foods are sweet potatoes and pears. He has yet to try something he doesn't like. He eats between 2-3 meals of solids a day.

 Graham is over 20 lbs, 28 inches, and has a huge head. He sits like a champ, but still refuses to roll or shown any signs of crawling. He lives in a house of 5 girls (and 3 boys, really) who dote on him, so why would he need to crawl? He hardly goes ten minutes without being passed around.

 He loves playing the piano. He looks like a little Schroeder.

 He has one tooth so far (and another dangerously close) and sucks his paci just a little too hard:)

 He's learning how to clap and thinks he is just so great. I love that he's got a healthy little self confidence already:)

 But seriously. That face.

 Yes. He is chewing what you think he is. Those happen to be his number one thing in this whole world to snuggle with. Don't worry. They've been "un-holied."

Graham loves to talk, yell, growl, laugh, scream, and anything else loud. He love to play with Duplo blocks, canning lids, measuring cups and anything else loud. He loves biting (and being bitten, strangely), bathing, standing, reading, faces, mirrors, and fish tanks. He was still being swaddled until last night... he has loved it, but I think he was ready- he has transitioned great so far! We can't wait for summer to be here so we can spend time outside!

Valentine

*Thank you, brilliant person from Pinterest. I'll never have to think of my own clever sayings ever again!

*Also, as a side note, Graham got his first tooth  :4 (Get it? That's him with a dagger for a tooth, which is exactly what it feels like!)