I LOVE SUMMER!

Hey Graham Fans! I love summer! I have been so busy having fun and learning new things! I don't know where to start. Guess I will just jump in which means water fun! (Get it - 'jump in', water fun?) You might be surprised that I am learning to swim! Mommy and sometimes Daddy too take me to the pool at the gym for water babies class. I am learning to kick, reach and pull, hold onto the wall and blow bubbles. So far holding onto the wall is the only thing I have mastered. Mommy moves my legs to kick, my arms to reach and pull, then she blows the bubbles. This will all come in handy because Daddy surprised me with a pool! Mommy and Daddy took lots of pictures. They really seemed to like it - gosh, they even got in with me (not both at the same time fortunately - there might not have been room for me). Mommy and I has taken me to the big pool at the gym so she can move my legs and arm in hope that I will do it myself. I just like her to hold me!

With the nice weather, I have been able to get out the sticks a few times. Mommy had a garage sale and I was able to get some practice in that day. There have been some other days that I have gotten out. Check out my form in the pic - I think I will be a contender in that big US Open tournament that Daddy watched over the weekend.

I am really getting smarter now. We go to the library now twice on Mondays. Mommy and I go for songs and stories before lunch. Then Daddy, Mommy and I go back for sign language class after dinner. I enjoy both classes. There are SO many kids at the sign language class, plus so many mommies and daddies. Last week I kept walking in the middle of the circle smiling at everyone and checking out a few of the kids. This week Ireally wanted to check out the kids and there were a couple of the mommies that I thought might want to play with me too. Don't get me wrong, I like to play with Daddy and Mommy. I kept going back to them and giving them a hug so they wouldn't feel bad. Mommy was waving her hands all crazy so I thought she was having her own fun. She does some of that at home too.

Gosh what else is new? Oh yeah I went to Kansas City with Mommy and Daddy this past weekend. We stayed at Uncle Brad and Aunt Lisa's house so I could play with cousin Benjamin. I really like to touch him. There was one time where Mommy got really excited when I patted him, maybe another. Most of the time she said I did good. We even went to the park to swing. Since I am so much older than him and more experienced, I got to play on the slide too. We went to Nanny's house and Grandpa and Susan's house too. Daddy and Grandpa smoked a bunch of meat to practice for some contest. I ate some of the chicken - I think they will win their contest.

Check out the pic below with my gift to Daddy for Father's Day. Mommy and I made it together. We also got him a book to read to me and we included this apron in the package too.

Keeping us on our toes!

Graham let Mom have the computer for an update. I know for most things his view is more entertaining than mine and Chris' but he doesn't realize how impressive some of his actions can be. He is becoming more and more entertaining. He is constantly on the go. He plays with his toys some, but is just as likely to be entertained by a non-toy (see spatula pic on the right).

We can't believe how fast Graham is. He will be in a full out toddler run soon - he is almost there already. He can stand from a sitting position without crawling to something to help him pull up. We try to keep him contained in the family room for as long as he can stand it. Once he is loose he is all over the kitchen and living room. He will do hot laps between the kitchen, living room, and entry way. Speaking of the entry way - Thursday night last week, Chris and I were sitting in the living room and Graham was toddling around. I heard something around the corner that sounded like feet or hands on carpet so I rushed to the stairs. Sure enough there he was on the 3rd or 4th step proud as can be. Time for a gate! Until it is up, we really have to stay on our toes. If he is going to climb, someone has to be there to prevent the fall.

Graham is getting smarter all the time. He is giving kisses now. Sometimes they turn into bites! We think he talks to the dog and calls her something that is a combination of dog and God. When she barks, sometimes it sounds like he is giving her heck for barking. Apparently copying what he hears from Mom and Dad! Over the weekend we were in KC visiting the Bagby clan. I was trying to entertain our nephew Benjamin who is 5 1/2 months old now. I was pretending to chomp on his leg while saying yum, yum, yum. Graham went up to Benjamin and tried to do the same thing while saying num, num, num. Monkey see, monkey do! One more reason Chris and I have to stay on our toes!

Well I have to keep it short. I know Graham wants to post an update too. I best not steal his thunder. He will include more pics of all his recent activities.

10 Months and into everything!

Hey! Can you believe I am 10 months old? Life is just so much fun! The older I get life just gets better! Getting teeth might not be the most fun, but once they are in there are definite benefits. In the last week, my other top middle tooth came in and one of my side teeth on the bottom. That makes 5 teeth! What fun things have I been up to you ask? I have fun when Daddy chases me around. It makes me giggle and squeal! I like to ride on Mommy's back like she is a horsey. I pretend that her hair is the reigns on the horse. It is really fun when she bucks! Now that I walk I spend a lot of time trying to get to the things I want to play with - the dog bowl, the window cranks, the doors, toilet paper, the blinds. Mommy does her best to prevent me from playing with all of those things. Of course, I work very hard to get around her. Sometimes I need to get away from Mommy but other times I really want to be with her or Daddy. I can just walk up, pull on their legs, and look up like, "pick me up already". I like to hug and snuggle them. Sometimes I squeeze them really tight!

So what has been going since my last update? Mommy's friend Judy (sometimes referred to as Aunt Judy) babysat me last Saturday. We had a good time - I tried to impress her with my foot work. She impressed me with how she could put me to sleep in the stroller. I try so hard not to fall asleep unless it is absolutely necessary, somehow my eyes just went shut. Anyway, I guess Mommy and Daddy had fun on their date.

Mommy took me to the gym with her a couple of days. It isn't really with her. I go to the nursery and she goes and works out by herself. I am still not used to all of the kids. It is more fun to be home playing. Speaking of playing Daddy and Mommy took me to the park twice - actually two different parks. Big fan of that. I like the slides and cannot WAIT until I can go down by myself! Almost forgot - I have TWO more teeth, my left middle top tooth and my right bottom side tooth (Auntie Sara, I don't know the right names, sorry!)

Nanny was here from Kansas City this weekend. She was really impressed with all of my fancy footwork. I really wanted her to see I am a big boy and I think she agrees with me that I am not a baby (never mind when I cry and I still take a bottle and wear diapers). She thinks I am smart! :)