2008 recap

What a year it has been! Just days into the year Chris and I visited my doctor for our first official OB visit. Befor the end of January, we had our first ultrasound and it all became real. Of course, not feeling well and being tired had made it real before we saw our little guy, more like a tadpole at that point. We began to spread the news and began to prepare for the big life change. In March we had what is commonly referred to as the 'big' ultrasound. They check to make sure everything is in the right place but if you want to find out the gender that is your opportunity - we opted to wait.
Pregnancy wasn't the only event in our life. In March, Chris completed his conversion to Catholicism. It was a long process but a very family building event. My family came for the event and so did Chris' mom, brother, and sister-in-law.
In April Chris and I took off for Asheville, North Carolina. We drove to add to the adventure. It was still a little early to take the full advantage of spring but I didn't want to be too pregnant riding in the car. Along the way we stopped in Louisville, KY. Chris and I had visited Lexington in 2006 and tried some of the local bourbons. Driving allowed us to purchase the ones we had liked from our previous trip. Of course Chris was able to enjoy the purchases when we returned to Des Moines. I have only sampled recently. In Asheville, we stayed on the Biltmore Estate visiting the mansion and touring the winery. It wasn't as much fun to only drink grape juice - soon we will have to open one of the bottles of wine we purchased. It was a good trip, a long drive, but great to get away and see different parts of the country.
Travel for my job had naturally slowed down. I had trips in February and then in May. May's trip was to Amelia Island - a nice place to visit if you have to be working. It was also good to see a lot of the people I had worked with the last three years. Knowing there was only a slim chance that I would go back to work, it was nice to see them for what could be the last time - at least professionally. At the end of October when my maternity leave ended, I resigned my position. President of Bagby Family keeps me busy!
Chris' job continues to be busy. He was named Vice President in June. We are both proud of this promotion. He has had some special projects on his team - never a dull moment!
Of course the highlight of our lives arrived in August, it is amazing the little guy we brought home in August now lights up when he sees us, jabbers, 'dances' on his playmat, sticks his toes in his mouth, and is becoming a proficient cereal eater! It is so much fun. We feel truly blessed to have him!

An opportunity arose in the fall to purchase a wooded hunting property. It is 22 acres just south of Osceola. Chris is in heaven and has been scouting the best tree stands to see the most deer. He plans to find the big buck!
What will 2009 bring? We will soon find out! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

4 months old!

Graham was four months old last Saturday. He is really becoming a little person. He will smile back at people and has become very vocal. He has a soft cooing, chatter voice as well as a 'I can be loud' voice. Of course he wouldn't be a baby if he didn't have the 'I am not happy' cry and the 'I am downright mad' cry. He is an active little guy. When on his playmat he will flop his legs around so he scoots around the mat. He also moves quite a bit in his sleep!
Monday was Graham's 4 month appt with the pediatrician. He is 26 inches long which puts him in the 90 percentile. He weighed 15 lbs 9 oz putting him in the 65 percentile and his head was at the 75th percentile. He smiled, jabbered, and showed how active he is. The doctor said that is probably part of the reason he doesn't nap long - he wakes himself up! Mom has new tricks to extend his naps - so far it seems to be helping some. Hopefully it continues! Now if he would sleep longer at night!

Graham is a lot of fun and just warms our hearts. We love to see his personality emerging!

Boy have I been busy!

What a busy week I had last week! I saw all kinds of people. Mommy's friend Sara came over on Sunday - she babysat me a few weeks back. I tried to flirt with her to make sure she would babysit me again. Wednesday Mommy and Daddy loaded me in the truck and I took a long nap. When I woke up we were at Nanny's house in Kansas City. I had been there before but I didn't remember it. Thanksgiving day Uncle Brad and Aunt Lisa, Nan (great grandmother), Great Uncle Doug, and Great Aunt Cheri, and Counsins Dylan and Brandon came to Nanny's house. I entertained them all while sitting in my exersaucer. Sure glad that Mommy and Daddy brought it along. It is so much fun to sit in it!!! Friday we went to Grandpa and Susan's house - once again I did my best to smile and entertain. It is a lot of work though - Daddy and Mommy brought me back home. I was SO tired!

Saturday I saw more family! Grandma was in town. She and Uncle Greg stopped by, then later Aunt Deb, Uncle Tim, and Cousins Sam and Kayla came. Sam, Kayla and I went to Mommy's friend Judy's house. The rest of the family went to Great Aunt Marian and Great Uncle Eldon's anniversary party. Me and Mommy had lunch with Aunt Marian the week before - we had a good time! Anyway Judy took good care of me and I think I was a good boy so hopefully she will watch me again some time. Aunt Deb and family left Sunday. As you can see above, I was just exhausted! Grandma came over Monday to help Mommy and play with me.

Like I said at the beginning - I have been so busy. Beyond all of the people I have seen, I rolled over last week. Now it is old hat - I am an expert tummy to back roller. My other areas of expertise include drooling, jabbering, grabbing things and holding them and standing up when someone holds me. It is just lots of fun at our house!