Saturday, December 18, 2010

We saw Santa!

Hey this is Graham and Caroline today.

Graham:

So the day of nokey (music class),Caroline took a nap beforehand. Mommy got me dressed up in my snow boots, snow pants, coat, gloves, and hat so we could play outside! Yeah! It wasn't long enough since we had to go to nokey class, but fun all the same. We get there and I see Daddy's truck. He was there to surprise us! Mommy and I were really excited! Not only was Daddy there but it was our turn to bring treats! We had a good time!

Mommy and Daddy have been reading The Night Before Christmas to me so I have been learning about him. The other day after nap time and while I was watching Bob Biller (Bob the Builder), Mommy starts trying to get us ready to go somewhere. Then she says we are going to meet Daddy at the mall to see Anta Caus. She told me I would get to sit on his lap and I could tell him what I wanted for Christmas. Wow how exciting. She gave me some ideas of what I could tell him. We had to wait in line and there was some stuff to look at while we waited. The line wasn't bad and before long it was our turn. I forgot to tell Santa what I wanted, but there were some crayons and color books by Santa so I guess he already gave me a present.

Caroline:

Well you know I am usually just along for the ride. I go wherever and hope to be amused. I was looking exceptionally cute that day and kept my adorable pink hat on to add to the picture. I have to say that Santa Claus is fascinating! I really like that guy. He gave me some crayons too, though I don't know what to do with them other than try to eat them.Graham:

They also had a train to ride. I really wanted to ride. We had to go eat before Daddy would take me. We left Mommy and baby sister to finish eating and off to ride the train we went! They put some other boys in the train car with me. I was kind of scared. (Per Daddy he cried the entire ride.)

Mommy didn't get to see me ride it, so she wanted me to ride it again. It looked like so much fun that she rode along. (From Mommy: I wanted him to actually enjoy it and not cry. He did enjoy it more, but really hammed it up evrtime we passed Daddy.)

It was more fun with Mommy, but they went around one too many times if you ask me. What a fun day!

Caroline:

I didn't get to ride the train. I don't think I missed much. What I missed out on was dinner! That Chipotle place has some good looking burritos! All I got was some mushed up sweet potatoes. Yummy, but definitely not as appealing as that burrito. On the way home, I held my bottle all by myself and sucked that thing dry.

Just when we thought we had all kinds of fun, then the next day came. We went to the mall and met some of our Brighter Beginnings friends.

Graham:

Baby Sister - my turn! They are my Brighter Beginnings friends. Anyway I got to run all around the play area, then Mommy and I shared a pretzel! (From Mommy: That kid tells all my secrets!) After Daddy got home that night, they were getting us ready to go again. Apparently to Mommy's side of the family - Aunt Marian, Cousins Steve, Rhonda, and Suzy had a party. Daddy said Santa might be there! We get there and I see lots of things to check out, but before long Santa walks in the door! He brought Mrs. Claus with him!

Caroline:

My turn! We got to sit on Santa's lap again. That guy is just so interesting!

Then all the people at the party told me how pretty I am! I couldn't get down and move around though so I wiggled a lot while people held me. I think it delayed me perfecting my crawl a day (yeah that means that now I crawl!)

Graham:

Sister, it isn't nice to brag Santa won't bring you any presents! That party was fun - it was at a body shop so there were ALL kinds of things for me to check out!

What a fun couple of days!

Caroline:

I agree! Brother, I wasn't bragging, just sharing my news!

Graham and Caroline:

Merry Christmas everyone!

Wednesday, December 15, 2010

On the go!

Hey to my peeps! How is that? Do you like that opening? Graham has his standard "Hey Graham Fans", but I just have been able to think of one. Let me know if you have suggestions.

I experienced my first Thanksgiving! I visited Nanny's house and Uncle Brad and Aunt Lisa's house for the first time. We were on the go! It wore me out!

We also went to Andrew and Nicole's house, visited Nan's new apartment and went out to eat. I have a lot to be thankful for, but with all that running around, I was thankful we had Mommy's car! We were at Nanny's house while she was working on her Christmas decorations. Somehow I ended up as a decorations.

I have been on the move myself - literally! I roll over a couple of times, then kind of scoot, then go in another direction. I don't necessarily get where I want to go:
Somehow I ended up under the train table. Graham tried to get me out from under the table. Mommy had to intervene.The Christmas tree is a big draw for me. Mommy doesn't leave me under there for too long. I am so close to crawling, I just can't quite get everything moving in right sequence. I can move the legs and my arms, but not yet at the same time.

I also like to pull myself up. Mommy tries to get me to sit and I will refuse to bend. Why sit if I can stand.

Speaking of Graham, I am sure you can imagine Mommy has to protect me quite often. That kid seems to think my head is too tempting not to swat. My hands like to grab things particularly hair. I have gotten Graham's hair a few times - he's got it coming if you know what I mean.

We are still working on new mushed up foods. I really like ones that are sweet - sweet potatoes, squash, pears, peaches, apples, you get the picture.
Overall life is good for me. I like to go to music class and watch the other kids. We go to the Y and their are other babies my age. It is nice to connect with them. No one at home really gets it when I do have troubles. They just really get how frustrating it is when you cry or fuss and Mommy can't figure out why. They know how tough teething is. It is just really a great support group for me.

Well I hear that Christmas is coming so we will see what that is all about. I have heard about some guy with a bowl full of jelly like belly coming down the chimney. Gotta admit I am skeptical, but hopeful!



Sunday, November 21, 2010

Pumpkin = fun

Hey Graham Fans! I have been wanting to share some of the fun I have been having and finally sat down to share.

A few weeks ago it was Halloween. I am not sure this is right, but it went on for DAYS! Daddy and I carved our pumpkins. I helped clean out the 'goop' from inside. We also roasted the seeds - all good stuff. The next night Daddy, Mommy, Caroline, and I went to Living History Farms. They had trick or treating on the main street, popcorn, wagon rides (we skipped that), marshmellow roasting, and a story teller (it wasn't a story I was interested in). Two thumbs up from this monkey. The next day I got to go to work with Daddy. He had to deliver donuts to his team members. When Daddy got the dounts, I said "ippee! work!". I know why Daddy goes to work all the time - they eat donuts everyday! After dinner, I had to put the Monkey suit back on and walk around. I wasn't that excited to put it on, but I liked getting the candy. Caroline went along to a few houses, then she and Mommy went home to hand out our treats. When Daddy and I got home, I handed out the treats - that was as much fun as getting the treats! The next day we went to Grandma's while Daddy was hunting. Once again Mommy put those costumes back on us and we went to town (a new concept to me 'going to town' and I kept talking about it). We visited the Shettlers. Mrs. Shettler took our pictures so we have proof we were there. Believe it or not, once again, the next day we put those costumes back on - this time at Grammy's house so she could see how cute we were. I have to say I think Mommy got her money out of those costumes!

So I mentioned we went to Grandma's. Uncle Greg was there when we got there. Guess what, he gave me my first ride on Grandpa Dennis' old tractor. I had sat on it before, but never actually ridden on it.
I watched what Uncle Greg did so when I sat on it after he left, I pulled the choke too - guess that is what you do to get it to start. I need to practice so someday I can drive for real. Grandma took me on her tractor too. She needs me to help her steer so while I know I am helpful, it is fun too.I played with Grandma's toys, one of my favorites of course is a tractor. Caroline got her hands on it for awhile. She better not be thinking she can play with it everytime we go to Grandma's - that is for ME!Grandma and I made cupcakes! I love to cook and you know Grandma is always needing my help for one thing or another. It just happened that I LOVE cupcakes so I was happy to help!

Mommy and Daddy celebrated an anniverary a couple weeks ago. We all got to go out for sushi a couple of nights later to 'celebrate'. I like sushi. I also got to eat edamame - I love me some edamame!!!! They can take us out for sushi again - anniversary or not. I think they need to have 'birday cake' for their anniversary however.

Nanny came to visit a week or so ago. We played and played. We did stickers, played with my train set (she put it all together), read books. She always has pictures in her purse that I like to look at. We got donuts too! I was surprised Daddy wanted donuts since he has to eat them everyday at work.

If you know me well, you know I am not the best sleeper. I crawled out of my crib before my birthday and would not stay in after that. I have been sleeping in the guest bed, but Mommy and I went shopping and picked out a bed just for me. I call it my baseball bed, though it has other balls on it as well. Daddy and Mommy hope that someday I will sleep all night in it. I could, but I think they would get lonely in their room without me. Mommy tells me that big boys sleep in their own bed and that I can still come in in the morning to snuggle. Maybe someday, but they would miss me too much right now. It is fun to snuggle in their room. If Baby Sister is up, she might come in so she can snuggle in the morning.


I am sure you will hear from Caroline soon...

Wednesday, November 3, 2010

Two teeth

Hello - Can you believe I am 6 months old? I am SO old! I have experienced so much. Gosh, I thought entering the world was an experience (well, I still think), but there are a lot of things out there I need to conquer. I know in my last update I talked about how I sit up. Well now I can sit up for 30-45 minutes and play with my toys. We went to the Y the other week and I sat on the carpet playing with toys the entire time.

I have started eating. Rice cereal is still my main food, but I also eat oatmeal and have started on veggies. I watch Mommy and Daddy eat, but they don't seem to want to share the good stuff with me. Graham doesn't even always eat his food, but he doesn't share it with me either. What a waste!

I now play in my jumperoo. THAT is a fun toy! It is addicting too! I find myself trying to jump sitting on Mommy's lap or sitting in my exersaucer. Perhaps I am part frog!I do still like my exersaucer. I do like to just sit on the floor or in my pack and play and pick up toys. I chew on everything now. I guess that is because I am getting teeth in. Mommy said one tooth came in one day and the second came in the following day. She says I really wasn't too bothered by them. I have had a brother beating on me for the last, er, all my 6 months so I have to be tough!

I might be too little to do a lot of the things that Graham does, but I like to go along. I went along to the pumpkin patch. It was fun to get out and go along, but hey I am really just along for the ride whether it is fun or not.


As you can see I was a bee for Halloween. I don't really get why I went along. I didn't get candy - it was really for Mommy and Daddy's amusement. I smiled and Graham took the candy how does that work???


Gosh what else do I like to do? Oh yeah, I love to giggle! The funniest person at our house is Graham. He loves to make me laugh - he says it 'waugh'. Mommy and Daddy make me laugh too. My biggest laughs though are for Graham. He likes to kiss me and hug me, help give me baths, feed me. He still waps me on occasion - give me time, I am sure I will get my waps in as well!

We all went to the doctor the other day, but for some reason I was the only one that got any attention. I was so good. Those shots however just break my heart and hurt! How could the nurses make me hurt like that after I was such a good patient?!? Mommy says I need to share with you my stats: height - 26 1/4 (70th percentile), weight - 17 lbs 1 oz (75th percentile), and my head was in the 75th percentile. One thing the doctor said made me self-conscious. She said 'my rolls were even'. Do I need to start working out already???

Signing off for now!

Saturday, October 23, 2010

Hey Graham Fans! Long time since I updated you on my activities. I am trying to think back to what we did last. Caroline shared with you that we spent the day at Grandma's awhile back. Mommy and Daddy went to an Iowa football game. I had a good time and was a good boy. Grandma let me play with Grandpa Dennis' Amana semi-truck. Good thing Mommy wasn't there - she gets nervous that I will break things that Grandpa collected.

The next weekend Mommy and Daddy went to the Ankeny-Dowling game. Caroline and I visited Miss Judy. She has LOTS of nieces and nephews so she has some good toys at her house. I had fun. I keep asking Mommy if we are going to 'Dudy's house', but we haven't made it back yet.

We went to Ankeny again - the following weekend. This time one of Mommy's cousins hosted a party for all the Peiffer ladies in the area. I was the only male there. It didn't bother me. I managed to keep myself and the ladies entertained. It was a busy weekend because we went to the 'punkin patch' the next day. That was a good time! I saw some animals, played in a corn box, rode some pedal tractors (boy are those things heavy!), rode some goofy thing, picked out my punkin, sat on an old tractor, and sat on a horse.

I think I have mentioned we joined the Y? I like it, though we don't go wimmy enough. I did just start Tiny Tumblers so that kind of makes up for it. It is really fun - they have a trampoline my size, a balance beam, a bar to swing from, and a mat for somersaults. Like everything else I go to, there are a couple of songs. Fun, fun stuff!
The other weekend we all went downtown for the ALS walk. There were so many people there. It made Mommy really happy to see so many people there to raise money for such an awful disease. Grandma and Greg were there. It was a nice day. Grandma took me to get a balloon. We had to wait in line. I was so patient.

Then Grandma came to our house, Mommy and Daddy got all dressed up, and they left. Caroline and I hung out with Grandma. I guess one of Mommy's friends got married. The next night we had dinner at Uncle Greg's. I had a good time chasing his cat and playing with his toys. Caroline took a bath in the sink while we were there! The next day Grandma came over and Mommy left. She said she had errands to run. I don't know why she didn't want to take us along....

Grandpa and Susan were just here too. I did my best to show them 'my stuff'. Daddy's football team played in the championship. (Editor's note: Chris was the 'line' coach for one of St. Francis' 6th grade teams). Grandpa and I watched the game.

We played outside. Grandpa threw pitches to me and I hit them with my big bat. I really think he and Susan were impressed with my skills. I don't have pictures of that, but I do have one showing my batting stance when we were still playing inside (a flute CAN serve as a bat).
The weather has been pretty nice so I still get to play outside. Sometimes it is too cool for Caroline so she stays protected in the garage. The picture below shows one of my new skills.

I think my tennis shoes give me the extra length to reach the pedals. My steering needs some work. Mommy will have to let me ride in the basement this winter so I can perfect my skill.

Have a Happy Halloween!

Tuesday, September 28, 2010

Time flies!

Hello! Time for Caroline to check in! Can you believe I am almost five months old?!? It has been awhile since my last update so a lot has changed. I started sitting in the bumbo. It was okay for awhile. I could watch things easier so that I liked. It makes me feel stuck so I would try to arch out of it. I rarely sit in it now and only for short periods. Mommy got out the exersaucer. I really liked that. At first Mommy would put a towel behind my back, but before long she didn't have to support me. I can stand in it and there are all kinds of toys to keep me occupied. I still like it. Sometimes though I need a change. A girl can only be entertained by lights and music and spinning toys for so long!
Mommy caught me sucking my thumb. I do like it but really haven't gotten hooked on it. I chew on my fingers, but when it is time to sleep I usually take some pulls on my paci. We will see if I go to the thumb more regularly.
Graham mentioned in his blog that we went to Ames and Kansas City to see Daddy while he was in a couple bbq contests. I really couldn't do much. I sat in my carseat, Mommy held me, Uncle Greg held me in Ames, Nanny held me in KC, and that is about it.
In the afternoons, a lot of times we go to the cul de sac to play. I ride in the stroller. A couple of weeks ago, Mommy noticed I was mostly sitting up. The neighbors noticed too. Aunt Deb and family were here that weekend and as you can see I showed them that I could sit up. I am still wobbly but I have been doing it for like a week and a half, almost two weeks!I am growing like a weed! I had my four month appointment the other week. I weighed 14 lbs 15 oz putting me in the 75th percentile. I was 24 3/4 inches long putting me again at the 75th percentile. My head was at the 50th percentile. I did really well at the doctor but when they stuck those needles in my legs it hurt my feelings (and my legs)! Oh my goodness was that not fun! Speaking of growing, my hair is getting thicker! Yes I have been told that Graham had his first haircut at 3 1/2 months. My hair is getting thicker and before long no one will remember that my hair wasn't the mop that Graham was born with!

The weather has been great on many days. After lunch, we either sit out in the garage as Graham rummages around or somedays we sit on the deck. We all like it! Dakota gets to go out too and doesn't bark incessantly like she does when we are in the front yard.
Next time I check in who knows what new tricks I will have learned.

























Graham has updated you on a lot of our events.