Saturday, August 22, 2009

INEXCUSABLE!

So sorry for how long it's been since our last post, we've got lots of excuses, but none interesting enough to articulate here.

So with no further ado ON TO THE PICTURES!!

I'm starting school up at William and Mary this coming week, and we've come to like gallivanting about campus from time to time. Graham's favorite part is the cannon which sits outside the Wren Building.

























































We also recently got a bike seat which he loves to ride around in. At first he was a bit tentative, but now he grabs his helmet and yells, "Hat! Bike!" when he wants to go on a ride. Today we went on a long bike ride to the grocery store and back, and as soon as he got down he grabbed his helmet again and yelled, "Hat! Bike!" with a huge smile on his face.
















His vocabulary is expanding at an amazing rate, and everyday he picks up a couple more words which he'll throw into conversation every once in a while.

If you'd like to commune deeply with Graham's innermost spirit, please watch the following video on youtube and try to relish it as much as he does:

Fire Trucks!


We'll do our best to keep up more regularly on here.

Thanks for checking in.

Tuesday, July 21, 2009

Manni, Daddaddy and Emlaerley

Graham saw some of his favorite people this weekend and had an amazing time with them. One of the memories captured in photos is Graham being awoken from a nap by Granna, who he now calls "Manni" or "Manna":


































And I nearly forgot a wonderful one: Graham "sharing" a corn on the cob with Aunti Em:
















Thank you so much Brandons for spending the weekend with all of us.

I was just watching this video clip I'd recorded of Graham earlier in the day, one in which he is throwing a wet pair of his shorts (from an impromptu swimming adventure) at Kate and I and laughing and laughing when it hits us, and part way through his gales of joy I had to stop watching it.

The intensity of emotion that stuck me while thinking about what a wonder and magical delight this boy is, the sweetness of him, that toe to head tension of his little body when he is hugging me with all his might, overwhelmed me, and the thought of him feeling any pain, or not feeling loved, or feeling lonely--all these human things--was so painful. Too painful.

It's hard to be a parent, even this early, because of the fact that you can't always be quick with a band-aid, and realizing that someday when you snuggle him tight as his eyes brim with tears that love just won't fix it, whatever "it" will be.

It's hard to realize that from the second Graham was born, eyes open to the world, he was ebbing ever so slowly, but relentlessly, away from me. Into his own family, into his own life, out of the fullness of my arms someday, into this world so full of the chaos and confusion of being human...

To think that I will someday lose these days, this particular moment of Graham's life, is heart breaking.

But the amazing thing is that I find I somehow enjoy him even more the next day, and that delight is not a finite thing when it comes to loving my son; that I can somehow love this small man with even more of a full heart tomorrow, and the next day...

and the next.

Thursday, July 16, 2009

Is this too high?

So Graham and I love to play a game where I throw him in the air and catch him. Often when I do it Kate gets very nervous, but I've never really understood why until I saw this picture that Debbie (more about her in a moment) took of us at the beach:




















Yikes! That does seem a bit too high!










Just kidding, that was photoshopped, but the real one is a bit alarming to me anyway:




















I'm reconsidering whether that height is necessary to provoke baby giggles. More experimentation seems in order...

Anyway, we've had a wonderful few days with one of Kate's very best friends, Debbie Head:















Graham really loved Debbie a lot, and one highlight was a trip to the beach, were Debbie took some pictures so I can prove I am actually Graham's dad and do spend a bit of time with him as well:












Anyway it was an awesome time with her and we miss her already, but we're so excited about seeing Grandaddy, Granna and Aunt Emily this weekend. Yipeee!!

Saturday, July 11, 2009

a special message from Graham

1r555rtrtrt4544444ztxstttttttttcttttttttttt10141362t
j vjj aaaaaaaaaazzv v v vz hnbyggg[-03

love,

Graham

Wednesday, July 8, 2009

Phrases!



Hello Everyone!

Just wanted to do another update with some fun new details: Graham said his first 3-word phrase today! He has been putting two words together occasionally (his favorite "lights out" started maybe 2 weeks ago) but today he repeated "that's the ball" many times. Very funny! He's actually pretty good at the "th" sound, it sounds somewhere between a "d" and a "z". It is SO much fun to hear his vocabulary expanding, and to watch him realize that he can communicate.
This has, of course, brought its own challenges as well. Graham is now aware that he has an opinion, and that if talking about it doesn't work crying might be worth a try. He is already pretty responsive to reasoning, unless he's tired or hungry. In fact, today he made his first really obvious positive decision to behave; when asked whether he wanted to put on shoes and go outside, or else stay inside (this was after throwing a brief fit about having to put on shoes), he went over and chose the shoes! What a smart boy...
The above pictures are from a few days ago, we were filling up water balloons for our Ridley Soccer Team's cookout (we coached 7-9 yr olds, which Graham LOVED). We looked up from our balloons to find that Graham had taken the opportunity to make leaf soup, and then pour it over his head. He loves to be dirty!

Thursday, June 25, 2009

Some writing at least!


Hello All!

Amazingly, time seems to be going by even faster lately, and somehow it's been forever since we've posted some new details about Graham's life. He continues to grow and change so rapidly, it's hard to know where to start. Sometimes I wish we could freeze these moments in time, because it is such fun, and he is still so innocent and sweet, I can't believe some day he won't want to hug me and kiss me in front of his friends. I guess that's all part of growing up!

We've had our dear friend Mike here with us again for the last little while which has been great. Graham really loves him and thinks he's so much fun to climb on and play with. He is so much more aware now of what's going on in conversations and situations, he loves to watch the guys work on their computers, and of course tries to push all of the buttons (Jon is learning the hard way to SAVE OFTEN).

Graham's vocabulary also continues to expand--I couldn't count how many words he says now, and can locate an almost endless number of things on the pages of his books when asked. He still loves to read, and will sit for many minutes to do so; this is pretty much the only time he will sit for many minutes. He has recently learned how to run, so will zigzag back and forth across the room, arm swinging, head down for the thrill of it. He also likes to "hide" behind his hands now and then peek out at us--I think the concept still eludes him that just because he can't see us doesn't mean we can't see him.

Graham continues to relish long hugs and wet kisses, and we are fortunate to get lots of those each day. Every time he falls down now or drops something, he says a rather matter of fact "Uh-Oh", if warranted adds an equally stoic "Ow", picks himself up, and runs along his merry way, sometimes leaving us gasping behind him. Although today he did have a short cry; he is learning to throw things, so decided while we were outside to throw a rock as straight into the air as he could. You guessed it, it came right back down onto his nose, Poor Graham! We gave him lots of comfort, but it was a little hard not to laugh, too!

There are many favorite foods now, although in general he eats just about anything. Watermelon, tomatoes, and grilled sausages have been some summer faves so far. He has a sweet tooth like his mother, but also eats veggies like a pro.

It's getting harder to catch him on camera because he is so interested in the apparatus he stops what he is doing. He absolutely loves to dance and will turn on music himself and try to get us to join in, so hopefully Jon will get enough on video soon to share some.

We miss our dear family, and have also really been pining for our home in Washington lately. It feels so far away and we wish we could get back for a visit. Know that we are thinking of you and miss you!

Monday, June 22, 2009

Quick One

So, sorry for the lack of updates, but we're working on a music video starring Graham and he's been reticent to put his dancing shoes on when Dad pulls the camera out.

We'll get it one of these days, but here's one from a couple days ago while you wait: