January in May

This is so embarrassing. 2+ months since you've seen an update on our little man who is NOT so little anymore. 

So even though all I want to do is post pictures and videos of him walking and pointing to his head on command, we must stick to chronological order since the point of this Blog is to someday be able to look back on G's life in order. 

And so. Even though it was 75 degrees in Fargo today, I'm kicking off this post with Graham's one and only sledding adventure from January. Consider it a reality check. 

 

Even though he's beaming in these pictures, I admit he was only moderately impressed. Likely because we were hell bent on getting him in his sled on the ONE DAY it wasn't frigidly cold out (yeah, remember January? And December, February and March for that matter?) even if it meant delaying the nap he so desperately wanted.

What a trooper. As usual.

Dad pushing. 

Mom pulling.

Dad pulling (I'm sure these labels are so helpful to your comprehending what's happening).

Happy camper pleading that if he smiles for one more picture he can get a nap. But of course, Graham. Thanks for playing.

Random bath time. He loves his baths and loves to splash around.

Oops. Fell asleep while having a snack. I swear, we do actually allow the poor child to nap. It's highly encouraged even. 

In January he started getting into this train toy more. Saturday morning PJ entertainment.

 Focused.

Whoa. Graham's parents. This was technically December at a wedding, but we need to stay on our toes and remember where G-unit came from.

Actually it's a test to keep up on Aaron's facial hair levels (reffing season threw him back and forth on the beard). Here we are at the Brewery watching the Bison national championship football game. Graham was totally impressed.

Digging for toys. This must also be a Saturday morning since he's in his PJs. My absolute favorite time with him, even if I'm only half aware of what's happening this early on a weekend. He is the.happiest.baby (pretty much all the time but) especially.in.the.morning. 

And this is what Graham does in church. We go to The Gathering where kids are not only welcomed, but provided a caged area (with couches for the parents) with a big box of toys and of course other kiddos to interact with. We love it--and so does Graham!

Digging for the next cool thing.

We had a quilting day at grandma's. When Graham wasn't busy helping by tearing apart the laid out fabric/blocks, he was playing with one of grandma's cool toys, including this mobile that was mine/my brothers' when we were little. Wind up music still works. Of course.

Winning the "most fun January activity award" (sorry, sledding) is our visit to the MN Children's Museum in St. Paul.

I masqueraded as an "urban mama" while Aaron had to pour beer at an outdoor (yep - outdoor) event at the state fairgrounds one cold Saturday in January. With a Starbucks, a mini van and our trusty Siri navigator, we found our way to a parking garage and walked the remaining blocks to the Museum. Mildly stressful, but totally worth it to get to check out this infant/baby area. Graham LOVED it!!

Who is that good looking baby. Oh it's me!!

Yes, mom, this is cool.

Oooh, even better if I eat the railing.

These spin and make noise. I'm sold.

What a view.

Doing some ice fishing.

Mat on the floor. Not an exhibit. Doesn't matter, just as fascinating.

For the weekend in the cities, we stayed with Aunt Ann and Uncle Doug's. Graham was mastering his stair-climbing skills and enjoyed his view from waaaay up top.

And that's January in May. I bet you can hardly wait for February in August. (I hope I'm kidding).

Nursery

So....I took some pictures of the nursery. In October. And decided I should share them on the Blog. In March.

We'll take a quick spin around the little room first and then go back for a few details (if you're still interested). And as soon as I finish posting this I'll have to go take more pictures of a few updates. Because it has changed since October. Maybe not as much as Graham has, but still. It has changed.

Upon walking in the door, visitors quickly know who they're looking for with Graham's name boldly labeling the wall.

 Turn to the left and we see the snuggle/nursing/reading/mom's middle of the night sleeping corner.

 And spin a little more to the left and it's Graham's changing and dressing station.

 

Keep going and you're out of the room in no time. 

 

So back to the beginning with some details: 

• The letters for his name are from Hobby Lobby and then painted blue. 
• The green and white lamp shade is from Target; the lamp itself is from Aaron's college dorm room, spray painted to oil rubbed bronze to bring it back to life. 
• The mobile is a functional addition from when Graham was 5 or so months old to help him get to sleep. It's from a second hand store in Fargo and I was pretty happy to get one that sort of matched the room and played music to serve a (sleeping) purpose.  
• The growth chart is homemade from our good friend Kris. It's actual barnwood from her family's farm!
• The Hungry Caterpillar quilt is the handiwork of Grandma Ange and adds lots of fun color to the room (when Graham's not sleeping in the crib). 

Over to the left, we've turned the stubborn corner with the utility box into a great opportunity to showcase more of Grandma's quilting skills.

 

I had a fabric-covered canvas in this spot before - which achieved the purpose of covering the box. But when Grandma Ange and I saw a fun, modern pattern for a wall hanging, we knew we (we means she) could turn the utility box eyesore into something much better. I had the fabric from Graham's monthly photos and Grandma had the skills to transform them into something great. I love how it turned out and as it's directly behind the chair that Graham and I spend a lot of time in, I can tell you he definitely likes it too. He loooves to look over my shoulder and smile at all the colors and shapes.

• Also to note here is the blanket over the chair which is gift from Bobcat with Graham's name and birth date on it.
• The table with his books is an old IKEA table that I painted white and then added some fabric to.
• And for anyone keeping track, you might notice the window treatment is a different color than it was pre-baby. Once we added the wall hanging to that wall, the old orange fabric competed too much with it since it wasn't the same orange. So I covered it up with more of the same blue that's in the hanging. Now it complements instead of competes! 

Over to the changing and dressing area, I love all the details, but will just mention one thing -- the frame with expressions in it is a gift from one of the agencies I work closely with. They sneaked onto my Pinterest board before Graham was born to get an idea for colors and sayings I liked. They surprised me with it the Friday before Graham was born (perfect timing!) and it has served as the starting point for little man's room.

Since you can't really read it that well from my distant picture, the sayings are:

• From small things come great love
• Together we make a family
• You are my sunshine
• Our sweet baby
• First we had each other, then we had you, now we have everything.

It has been a great little nursery for the last year and hopefully Graham still likes it now that he will start having an opinion about these things.

Stay tuned for a few updates....(hint: one includes how we made even more use of the monthly photo fabric). You're on the edge of your seat ... I know. If you're lucky I'll post it within the next 4 years.

10 Months Old

Graham is 10 months old!

Except that he's actually a year and we had his birthday party this weekend. But the rule is that I don't get to post about it until I'm caught up on everything else. Here's Graham telling me to follow the rules. 

 

Let's do this!

 I'm gonna get you Mom!

Always moving.

Which is hilarious.

Happy BIG boy!

We're still doing this?

But I don't want to!

Oooh, a butterfly.
 

 But seriously, this is boring.

And awful!

 

Let's just get the quilt pic over with. I'll smile for ONE.

Chair pic wrap-up.

Things to note at 10 months old
Holds his own bottle
First cheese (hated it)
First visit to the Wiggle Room at the library.
First yogurt (loved it!)
Got Hand, Foot and Mouth AND infantigo. Thank you, Daycare.
Pulled himself up on his own for the first time on December 17.
Loves to clap his hands!
Shakes his head "no" and knows what it means.
First Christmas
Loves Patty Cake
Started to "creep" along furniture.
Getting so much hair!
Transitioned out of the baby room on January 6. Now in the "mobile to 18 months" room (Huggable Hippos).
First tooth started popping through on January 8!
Started Kindermusik. He.Loves.It.So.Much!! (squeals and laughs the whole time!)

Oh how we love our little Graham cracker.