the season

This Christmas has come rather quickly.  So much has been going on with Graham coming....many many friends....planning our trip out of town....it's easy to get caught up with all of the hustle and bustle and not really reflect.

And so I reflect now.

I love Christmas.  I love giving gifts to those that I love.  Not just the actual giving, but the build up....plotting what they might enjoy, searching high and low for it...then seeing their face when they open it.  It's so much fun that I start begging Matt if we can do our Christmas early around mid-December.  Yes, I'm a nerd.  

Anyway, there is so much more to this part of the year...like celebrating the birth of Jesus.  What an amazing event!  After just having a baby myself, I can now relate to Mary's position and the events of the night in a totally different way.  To think that little Graham entered this world just like our Savior is truly amazing.  I see how the feelings of Peace and Joy apply to this time of year more than ever.  Peace in this eternal gift.  And Joy in our Redeemer.  Because Jesus came, and lived the perfect life we could not....we will see Glory.  Joy can't even describe the emotion that evokes in me.  I fail everyday.  Not for any  minutes in the day do I deserve that Glory...but it's mine because of Him...and there is nothing I can do to lose it.  What peace.

But this year has been a little different.  I mean, it's always easy to get caught up in all of the gift giving, the Christmas cards, the family time...but this year has a slight shadow.  Jesus came, to save us, to redeem this fallen world...but that doesn't mean that there will not be pain or sadness.  And this year there is reason for sadness.  But I'm so glad that there is more than the gifts, the surprises, the family....because those things will fail.  Praise the Lord for the perfect gift of His Son.  May I be reminded of the eternal Peace and immeasurable Joy that is mine in Him!

an update from the doctor

So, sorry it took me so long to update after the doctor's visit....a little holiday planning got in my way!

Graham was such a stud during his shot!  He let out a huge wail (but who wouldn't if you were pricked by surprise, right?)...but then went right back to eating.  I was able to be feeding him when they did it so that he might not freak out as much.  Anyway, he is right where he should be developmentally...and he's continuing to grow just right!  He is now 10 lbs. 4 oz and 22 in. long.  His head is 15 in around (it had a growth spurt).  He is consistently in the 10-11 percentile with his weight and length.  We love our little peanut!

He is just talking (cooing) and smiling more and more each day.....could I love him any more than I do now?

milestones

10 weeks.  That's right, Graham will be 10 weeks on Wednesday.  

Some milestones he's enjoyed these last 2 weeks (since his latest little growth spurt) are:

1. LOVES his hands.  He clasps them together as well as moves them in front of his face.  I know, seems small, but when all I do is look for new things he's doing....this is huge!

2. Bubbles.  He blows little spit bubbles all the time!  Oh, and his tongue.  He must have just discovered it because it's constantly moving in and out...really cute!  He's also talking and making new sounds every day.  He is even making really loud ones as he's learning to use and control his vocal cords.  The morning is his favorite time to talk and I just love spending that time with him right after he wakes up.  We usually spend at least 10 minutes just smiling and talking to each other.  It's times like these that I'll only get to do this once with him!

3. His vision is greatly improving.  He can follow me across the room, and turns to interesting sounds.  Loud and high.  Those are the kinds of sounds that really get his attention.

4. The other night, Matt decided to sit him on his lap and let him face out.  Big hit.  BIG.  Apparently with his improved vision and hearing....facing out gives him more opportunity to see what's going on around him.

5. He can focus and has reached or batted at his little toys that hang in front of him on the bouncy seat.  It's so funny to see him go cross eyed and be so intently focused on a little turtle or something...and then to ever so slowly try and touch it.  His depth perception isn't quite there yet, so he usually misses...but he's trying! 

6. We left him alone.  Ok, not really alone, but not with us.  Matt and I each had our work Christmas parties this past weekend, and so we had to leave little Graham for the first time.  Obviously a little apprehensive about how my little screamer would do....we were thrilled to hear that he behaved himself quite nicely for our dear friends who let us dump him on them at the last minute and for my mom the second night.  (Thank you Foxes and momma!)  This was the first time for him to use a bottle and he didn't have any problems and apparently never really "lost" his temper.  Maybe he doesn't really need Matt and me after all?  Just kidding.  I'm excited that he was so good for them...and that at the end of the day, I'm still his mommy and he can't eat without me!  Matt and I had a great time, but of course, mostly talked about the little cub.

7. Tomorrow is his 2 month doctor appointment.  Yep.  Time for the dreaded immunizations.  We're spreading them out so as not to overload his little system...so he's only getting one prick tomorrow....but it's still a shot.  He's probably going to be a bear afterwards...and I'll probably be a mess.  Thankfully, my sister is going to go with us in case I need some emotional support (and someone to ride in the back seat, thanks Laura.)

Next post.... immunization update.

well said.

"I'm sorry, I was busy picking my boogers instead of choosing my words"

 

This is what actually came.out.of.my.mouth yesterday on the way to church when Matt was trying to have a conversation with me and I wasn't so much carrying my side.  Wow.  Somehow I put that sentence together just fine.

 

**note: I was picking with a tissue, NOT my finger.  Gross.

boring

This is how I would describe my cooking lately.  I don't know what happened!  Wait, yes I do.  In a word: Graham.  I mean, my cooking time is limited to like an hour MAX when he's asleep sometime late in the afternoon - for me to find what I want to cook, locate ingredients, prep, cook, and have basically ready to eat for when Matt gets home.  Lets just say that that's not so much happening these days (so sorry Matt!)  What have I been cooking (from scratch that is...I've found some pretty cool pre-cooked things at Trader Joes, but those don't count - we can't eat them every day)?  Well, Chicken Noodle Soup and Chili come to mind.  Probably like 3 times each.  So yes....lots and lots of soup.  Oh, and eggs.  We also eat eggs like twice a week.  Love me some breakfast for dinner!  I think some of my anxiety has been because of what foods I've been avoiding for Graham.....so no onions, peppers, super spicy, and dairy.  That seriously limits my skills.  Any suggestions?  Matt will probably be very grateful.

what are you thankful for?

We have so much to be thankful for this year.  Praise the Lord!

if only there had been a county fair

My Apple/Cranberry (Crapple) Pie.  Delish.