He's not a Little Caterpillar Anymore!

Get ready for an explosion of pictures. I've kind of already done two birthday posts for Graham (I can't help it, my baby is one!), so I'll try to keep this post less wordy. In bulleted fashion for your easy reading, here is a summary of Baby G's first birthday party starting with the night before.

• Graham goes to bed at 7:00pm. Instead of sleeping until 7:00 am, he woke up at 12:00 am and continued to scream until 3:30 am. (NEVER HAPPENS!)
• Parker wakes up at 3:00 from hearing lil' bro unhappy. Parker pees on himself and has issues until 5:00 am. (NEVER HAPPENS!)
• David and I wake up to start our day at 8:00 after 3 hours of sleep. Yay!
• Bake, to the store, clean, decorate, set up tents, etc.
• Baby Graham takes a good nap and wakes up just in time for the party.
• Everyone begins arriving at 4:30.
• Everyone eats, chats, and has a grand time...until...
• It starts to rain.
• 37 people must pack themselves in my living and dining room.
• I have a mini panic attack. I love people...not in small spaces.
• I regain composure in time to enjoy watching "Pin the Caterpillar."
• Dylan cheats for a tie victory with Brooke. (His mother is competitive, he can't help himself.) It really was the cutest thing ever.
• We play "Parker or Graham?" and realize how much our children really do look alike.
• Birthday Cake time. Though I already knew what the outcome would be, I indulged in the tradition of letting my one year old eat cake. He got a little between his fingers, tasted a bit, and started screaming. He was NOT into cake. I could have told you that.
• Graham and mommy opened presents next...super cute stuff.
• Hung out a while longer and watched Graham snuggle with Mallory. 
• Graham tuckered out and went to bed at 7:00.

Thanks to everyone who helped make the day special and memorable for us while we celebrated Graham's first year of life!

My boys loved this book, so I used it as inspiration for Baby Graham's party.

Helping daddy clean before the party starts.

Strawberry cupcakes with cream cheese frosting and chocolate cupcakes with swiss meringue buttercream.

Table packed with all the food from the book. Apples to cherry pie.

Sugar cookie caterpillars too!

Did not want pictures taken.

They did this the whole party. Little love birds.

Socializing going on.

He did not want to eat the cake. Oh well.

Madeline loves her some icing.

Birthday Day

Graham's birthday fell on a Tuesday this year and you know what's special about Tuesdays? Nothing. However, we made a non-special day super great. Unfortunately, David couldn't take off work, but he did get home a little early. The boys and I just hung out during the day. I tried to be more fun and "present" as they say. I didn't clean, cook, or spend time on the computer (much). Sometimes, the second child (and all future children) get the short end of the stick.  We simply have less time and energy for them than we had for our first when it was only one. I do my best to give Graham the same quality of care (sounds like i'm running an assisted living like David) as I did Parker with the understanding that with two, some things have to give. I let Parker go to Nana's in the afternoon so that David and I could spend a little personal time with baby G. Here are a few pictures from his actual birthday. Love you, Bug. You make your crazy momma proud.

Opening his first present.

Trying it out.

Birthday Lunch with mommy and bro. Menu? Wheat shells with marinara and steamed green beans. Yum!

Anything marinara requires a BIG clean-up. His hair is fab after getting all the noodle chunks out.

Papa and Baby G. before birthday dinner.

And momma too.

Loving some rice.

Walking with Daddy to bed. These pajamas are the cutest things ever. They are true vintage Carters. Nana gave them to us after she found them at Nina's (Graham's late great-grandma) and believes that they were David's when he was a year. Look how high they come on his waist. I guess that was the style. I adore the little bicycle print.

Ham.

All ready for bed. Being one is exhausting.

Summer Lovin'

I'm getting antsy. I see kids going back to school and the past few mornings there has been a slight coolness in the air. Some of you like these signs, and I'm trying to appreciate all seasons (with very little effort), but when I feel and hear Fall approaching....it's translated in my brain as "Winter is almost here!!!!" I'm not into it. I don't like cold weather (except for some of the super cute clothes and scarves) after Christmas. So, on my quest to be a more positive person, I've decided instead of complaining (though some will escape) about the inevitable coldness that's about to take the breathe right out of my lungs (feeling slightly dramatic this morning), I'll soak up the last few rays of summer sun and be outside as much as possible. The boys love it too. We don't have a pool membership, but don't tell Parker and Graham. We can turn on a sprinkler, get out the hose, blow up the inflatable pool, or even bust out Parker's first baby pool and we have a grand 'ol time.  I'm going to appreciate being able to just throw on a summer dress and sandals instead of having to layer myself to death. I told David just last night that I think I'll try to wear a dress every day until it's no longer (intelligently) possible.

Here are my handsomes enjoying a simple baby pool.

Baby G is 1!

Sweet Baby Graham,

Mommy and Daddy decided we were ready to have another baby in November of 2008 and found out one month later that we were expecting! I was so happy...until the hormones kicked in. Mommy was soooooo sick for the first few months, but thankfully by 16 weeks I was feeling much better. Though I would do it all over again to get you, mommy did not have a very good pregnancy compared my first with your big brother. When we found out that you were male, I couldn't imagine life with three boys. Now, I can't imagine my life any other way. I kind of feel like a queen with three guys to adore me the way you all do. Though mommy still dreams of a girl to doll up, I am completely enjoying my life of three boys and a girl.

Today you turn one year old. I seriously cannot believe it. This time last year, you were born at 39 weeks and gave Mommy and Daddy the scare of their lives. Due to an unknown infection mommy had, Dr. Lao quickly decided to do an immediate C-section when your heart rate showed extreme distress. A few times they even thought we had lost you. However, you were a fighter and made it through the surgery. Daddy said the two minutes you didn't cry after birth were the longest minutes of his life. You were such a sick baby when you were born, but the doctors and nurses took good care of you and you came home one week later. Bringing you home was one of the best days of my life. The trauma of your delivery and the helplessness of watching your little body fight some mean bacteria enabled mommy to grow so much as a person. I learned to trust God more because their was nothing I could do. You are a very healthy boy now and I can truly say that I do not take that for granted.

The first 6 months of your life were both beautiful and difficult. You were just a laid back baby who let mommy do anything she wanted. You would go anywhere, sleep anywhere, and hardly ever cried. Night time was a whole other story. You struggled with some pretty serious acid reflux. When you laid down, you would start coughing and throwing up. Mommy cried more these six months than ever in her life because I didn't know what to do for you and because I was so tired. The first medication they put you on didn't work, but at six months they started you on Prevacid. I like to call it the miracle pill. We had you prayed for at church at 6 1/2 months and that night you slept 10 hours straight. I'm not sure if it was God or the medicine or both, but you have been sleeping 10-12 hours a night since that day. Mommy was able to be herself again.

You continued your laid back self until about 10 months old. The past two months mommy has called you a spit-fire, whatever that means. Compared to your big bro, you are still pretty chill, but recently you have showed that you have an opinion, and a very strong one at that. You definitely know what you like and what you don't like. Be patient with me, I am learning. One thing is for sure. You have the the biggest most beautiful blue eyes that have the ability to melt mommy's heart. Your smile is adored by everyone who sees it. You have brought lots of joy to your family in your one year on this earth, and we are so excited to watch you grow and change. Though I won't always get it right as a mom, know that I am trying to do my best. I love you so much. You are truly a blessing and a gift.

Love,
Mommy


First years Stats:           Weight           Height
Birth-                               8lbs 7oz          21 in
1 month-                       10lbs 3oz          21.5 in
2 months-                     12lbs                 23 in
4 months-                     13lbs 11oz        25 in
6 months-                     15lbs 13oz        28 in
9 months-                     17lbs 10oz        29 in
11 months-                   19lbs 9oz           30 in
12 months-                   ? (doctors visit next week)

Firsts and such:
First solid food: pears and carrots at 5 months. (he eventually liked everything-yay for me!)
First tried formula and a bottle-3 months (did not like it.)
First fed myself: 7 months
Drank from sippy: 8 months
Went to sleep with: my beloved passy
Slept all night (10-12 hours): 6 months
First tooth: 6 months
First hair cut: 3 months (I couldn't handle his rat tail)
First smile: 6 weeks
First lol- 8 weeks
Rolled over- 4.5 months
Sat upright-7 months (I told you he was chill)
Crawling- 8 months (army crawl) 9 months (hands and knees)
Pulling up on furniture- 10 months
First step-10 months (still not solely walking)
First word-"dada" (we don't really know when it became official...he's made the sound since 6-7 months but now says it to David when he wants him.)
Clapped hands-10.5 months
Weaned-??? (hoping this week)
6-12 month napping schedule: 3 times a day (he has always put himself to sleep)

Things Graham likes/loves
"Itsy Bitsy Spider" song
That's Not My Bear book
Passies
Feeding myself
Making car noises while pushing them around
Blowing slobbery lips
Watching Parker do anything
Stroller rides
Music-you dance and bob your head a lot!
Sprinklers
Animals-not an ounce of fear
eating grass and flowers

36 weeks in Utero:

Birth:

10 days:

1 month:

2 months:

3 months:

4 months:

5 months:

6 months:

7 months:

8 months:

9 months:

10 months:

11 months:

12 months:

We are having Graham's first birthday party this Saturday, and I'm super excited! (We all know the first b-day party is all about the parents anyway, right?) Both of my boys loved Eric Carle's The Very Hungry Caterpillar, and since Graham never seems satiated, we chose to wrap the party around the book.

Happy birthday Baby Graham!!!