Standing and cruising

Hey Graham Fans! It has been awhile since I have posted. Mom has dominated the computer lately. I have to admit I have been busy, like really busy. My FAVORITE thing to do now is to stand. I pull myself up using the couch, the ottoman, my jumperoo, my exersaucer, Mom's leg, my basketball hoop, my Bumbo (I wondered what that thing was for), the coffee table. Hey, speaking of the coffee table, it seems to have disappeared. I stumbled all the way around it and was hoping to do some hot laps this week. I hope someone didn't steal it! Oh, back to all the places I stand I almost forgot - my crib! Mom thinks it is interfering with my naps... I also enjoy pulling on the door stop in my room - I like the noise it makes. I just found the vent in the living room - it is fun to strum, which is practice for when I learn to play the guitar.

I think my mom told you that I was sick. Darn ears. It hasn't interfered with my playing - not at all. I like standing and army crawling too much. We are hoping that the gunk in my ears is going away. Mom thinks that was interfering with my naps too... I have been a little frustrated that mom and dad eat all of their big people food and don't share some of it. Mom will give me graham crackers, small slices of apple, and dill pickle spears. Those pickles are really fun to eat but boy that first bite makes me pucker!

We have been on the go more lately. We have gone to the fish fry at church a few times. Daddy always has an apron on - I haven't figured out why, something about he is cooking at church.Last week I went to my friend's Ethan's house. I sure like his dog - he is even bigger than my dog. We also went to the Haselby's - I think I was the main entertainment, but did hear Dad mention March Madness. Grandma, Uncle Greg, Mom and I went to a lawn and garden show where I road in the stroller until Uncle Greg carried me. He even sat me on a tractor - I tried to get it to move but none of the levers seemed to work, darn it! The break at the library is finally over. There are some new kids so I can make new friends!

Other than that, things have been pretty routine. I like to put lots of things in my mouth including Dad's nose. Dad saw me crawl the more traditional way - briefly. So far the army crawl seems easier. Time will tell if I decide to crawl the other way.

Well, bath time and I don't want to cut short my time playing with the little fishies in my tub!

Poor little guy!

At 7 months, Graham reached another first - his first illness. It started with a cold and then became an ear infection. Poor little fella! I think we caught it fairly early and he seems to be improving. While at the doctor's office, he was weighed - just over 20 lbs! He may be only 7 months, but there isn't much baby about him! Last week he got his third haircut. With his hair and his size, he looks out of place in babyish looking clothes - Mommy had to change an outfit last week because it just didn't look right on him!

Graham is very adventurous and doesn't know his limits. Two weekends ago, we visited Grandma's house. She wanted to see what he could do when he was standing. Holding on to her fingers, he put one foot in front of the other. He has the confidence he can do it with one, but doesn't have the balance. This past weekend Grandma, Aunt Deb, Uncle Tim, and Cousins Sam and Kayla were in town. He got lots of practice at walking. When we sit by him he is always grabbing for our fingers so he can stand. On Sunday, he pulled himself up to standing using the ottoman. I guess he will start walkin around the furniture sooner than we would like. :)

Graham's adventurous spirit means he likes to get into things he shouldn't. If Dakota's ball is in his sight, he will army crawl to get it. Dakota is so anxious for someone to throw her the ball that she will let him have it. He has a fascination with electrical outlets and power cords - he unplugged a lamp the other day. I am researching how I can get eyes in the back of my head. So far I haven't found anything. Mommy and Daddy need to do more baby proofing!

Change seems to happen in clusters

As a little guy, Graham is constantly changing, but the big changes seem to happen in clusters. Last week, we finally saw the first tooth. The first indication was how much he was sticking his tongue out. Sure enough, he was rubbing his tongue over that new tooth! By the end of the week we could see the second tooth.

Graham continues to roll around but has been getting less satisfied with it as his mode of movement. From the sitting position, he will lean forward, have one knee, one foot and both hands on the ground, but has not yet figured out he can move. Tuesday he did a brief army crawl. Wednesday he was army crawling almost as much as he rolls.

Paper seems to be as much fun as any of his toys. I caught him reading the paper the other day. Chris was pleased to hear that Graham found an issue of Bowhunter magazine and tore some of the pages out. Chris took this as a sign that Graham will also be a bowhunter!

As you all know, Lent just started. Graham is still trying to decide what to give up for lent. He is trying to decide if it would be better to give up naps or toys in the tub. He was leaning toward the naps. Mom says naps are not an option, and he doesn't need to sacrifice his tub enjoyment. He did get his first ashes!

Graham is a good eater - he has yet to try anything he doesn't like. He watches us eat and wants it. We try to tell him he is too young for coffee, but he really wants what is in our mugs!

Last week was Daddy's birthday so we e-mailed him a picture with birthday wishes. It took a few shots before Graham would hold the paper at the right angle so Daddy would see it. It made Daddy's day!

I may need to get a blackberry!

Life is so busy, I seriously may need a blackberry. Maybe I can persuade Mommy and Daddy into buying one for me. I know I talked about my social life last time, but it has REALLY picked up! Last week I saw Uncle Greg. He was impressed that I reached for him to hold me. Then over the weekend we went to Kansas City. The biggest event of the weekend was meeting my new cousin Ben. He didn't seem too impressed to meet me. He slept a lot. I will have to teach him how much fun it is to be awake and all that you can do. We also hung out with Nanny and Nan, Grandpa and Susan, and of course Uncle Brad and Aunt Lisa along with one of their friends.

Now back home Mommy joined a new group and we went and had coffee with a bunch of moms and their kids. I was the youngest, but not the smallest. They were all impressed that I would just sit on the floor and entertain myself. There was another little boy that was older but smaller than me - he was moving around on his hands and knees. I need to learn to do that. It looked so much faster than rolling! Daddy and I have a playdate on Thursday night with my friends Ethan and Eliana. Ethan is older so maybe he will teach me new tricks. We both will have to teach Eliana tricks - she is way younger, like 2 1/2 months.

As you can see below, I have learned to jump in my jumperoo! It is way fun!

6 months old

Hey Graham Fans - Thought it was time I provide an update. I need to speak for myself! Being 6 months old is a lot of fun. I have so much more to learn and try, I can hardly wait! For example, eating. I have eaten carrots, peas, sweet potatoes, green beans, squash and now peaches. I like them all and want more! Mommy has let me suck on some of her food - apple, banana, graham crackers. I wish she would share more. I watch Mommy and Daddy eat stuff that looks really good and I want some too! When they feed I try to grab the spoon. I am pretty strong for my age so do my best to hold on to it. So far they win.

BTW don't think I am bragging about being strong. I have really been working on my core. When I am laying down or reclined, I do my best to get myself up. If Mommy puts her fingers above me, I can pull myself up. Gosh, once I am sitting I can then pull myself up to stand. I have been lobbying Mommy and Daddy to put little handle bars around the house so I can build more upper body strength. I haven't yet convinced them. I will keep working on them.

Mommy and I are still going to the library for story hour. We sing songs and read books. Last week, some girl pulled my hair! Mommy said she was flirting with me. She was like 9 months so WAY older than me. I like seeing the other kids.

Dakota and I are becoming good friends. When she is really, really tired, she doesn't care if I touch her. I keep my eye on her. Actually I keep my eye on everything. If I am in a new place, I have to check it out. I don't like to miss out on anything.

Someone asked me what my favorite toy is. I don't know that I have a favorite. It just depends on my mood. Toys do get bonus points if I can put them in my mouth. Momma keeps asking me if my gums hurt and trying to see if I have a tooth. I chew a lot and drool a lot - apparently that means I should be getting a tooth. If it is something that helps me eat more stuff, I am all for it!

Love,

Graham

Note from Mom: Graham had his 6 month appt. He continues to do well. He weighed 18 lbs 9 oz putting him at the 70th percentile. He is 27 inches long - 75th percentile and his head circumference put him in the 75th percentile.

Working on a social life

Last week, Daddy and Graham had their first play date with Eric and Ethan DeVries. Graham seems to like other babies and isn't afraid to touch them (grab a facial appendage). It is interesting to see how Graham compares to other kids. Ethan has almost 3 months on Graham so he was more mobile than Graham. Graham likes dogs more than Ethan, so Ethan's dog was a little surprised that this new baby wasn't afraid to touch him. Our dog, Dakota, can empathize - she wishes Graham wouldn't touch her! Mommy and Graham are still having their weekly story time at the library. Graham likes the other babies and you can tell he would love to be able to somehow 'get' to the other babies.

We continue to try new vegetables. The first was carrots - those were okay. Next we moved to peas. He seemed to like peas. We just tried sweet potatoes. Those went over well too. All in all he seems to like to eat. We have to limit the first few servings of each veggie to make sure he doesn't have a reaction to it. Graham would prefer to eat as much as he wants, but doesn't get frustrated either.

Graham likes to stand more and more. He can pull/push himself up as long as he has something to hold on to and pull himself. He is a strong little guy.

Graham is working on sleeping better. He has really gotten better. We suspect he might be working on a tooth which might be interrupting his night. He is a busy guy so he needs the sleep but once he is up those eyes are wide and he checks out the world to see what is happening!

Grandma was in town to celebrate her birthday. It was a good chance for Graham to experience someone other than Mommy and Daddy to put him down for nap and bedtime. He wasn't phased by the change in routine and of course loved playing with Grandma. Everyone took a turn at feeding him his cereal or veggies including Uncle Greg. As long as you keep it coming, he doesn't care who feeds him. The bottle can be more of a challenge - he will pause to see what else is going on or assert his authority by pulling it out and putting it back in his mouth. He is a strong little guy!

Change is a constant

It has been another big week in Graham's life. He started showing increased interest in the dog. Chris decided it was time for Graham to find out what Dakota feels like. Dakota wasn't in agreement, but Chris held Graham so he could pet Dakota. Graham liked it, Dakota didn't. Dakota will position herself for you to pet her but if you grab Graham so he can pet her, she will shift herself away. Graham gets really excited when the opportunity arises. It doesn't matter that Dakota is 4 times his size.

The below zero temps kept Mommy and Graham homebound for a couple of days. Since we didn't have to take him out, we thought it was best to keep him in his warm home! When the highs finally reached the teens, Graham made a trip to Cost Cutters for haircut number two! It is a little shorter than the last cut, more of a little boy haircut. He did pretty well when the lady used the scissors, but once she turned on the clippers he whimpered and looked scared. Mommy and Daddy keep telling him how handsome he looks!

Graham ate his first vegetable - carrots! He did pretty well. The first few times we will give him a partial jar to make sure he isn't allergic. He might appreciate it so he doesn't get too much of a good thing! After several spoonfuls, he started making a face like they were bitter or tart.