Christmas 2008

Christmas this year was so fun Garrett had a blast!!! After he opened Elmo and Wall-e he just wanted to play in the tree house with them we had a hard time getting him to focus on opening the rest of his gifts. Our play room is over flowing on to the stairs and living room. Graham had no idea what was going on he kept entertained by crinkling wrapping paper. I would have taken more photos but I had to feed Graham so I posted what I took.

while I was showering.....

Garrett decided to get himself breakfast he ate 6 dark chocolate Lindt cadies and two peppermint cherries well he ate the tops off and left the cherries yuck those are nasty. I asked him what he wanted for breakfast tomorrow his answer "more chocolate please"

Santa and the gang

The nursery by our house had Comet, Cupid and Santa and Mrs Clause so we stopped by and Garrett got a cookie and met everyone. I thought it would be good practice for next weekend when we go to sit on Santa's lap and get pictures taken with both boys. As you can see Garrett was not happy he tried giving Santa his cookie so he didn't have to climb on his lap. I hope next weekend goes better I want a cute photo of the boys.

4 month check up

Today Graham turned 4 months old we had his check up here are his stats Height: 25" 25-50% Weight: 15p 10oz 25-50% Head Circumference: 44.5cm above 95% His eyes are also still blue his pediatrician thinks they will stay blue but I'm still not sure I think he may still go brown. Graham has a little flattened head syndrome on the right side you can barely tell and I think it's looking better than it did. We have to start doing neck therapy to strengthen that right neck muscle. We also have to get tummy time in every day (errrr he doesn't like it) and I will have to start carrying him in his sling more often so he can get that neck moving. Other than that he is looking good I think he needs to be eating more he is looking thin but maybe that's because Garrett was so gigantic.

Bath time

Decorating the Tree

Miah is 6'1" so that's a tall tree I love having vaulted ceilings!

Elfed

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

15 weeks

Here is a picture of Graham at 15 weeks old I will post some pictures of Garrett when his nose isn't running all over the place.

Graham's First Real Laugh

Today at 3 months 1 week and 4 days old Graham did his first "real" laugh it was adorable! He has been doing these wheezy laughs for a month and smiling but all of a sudden he just started cracking up I can't wait to get it on film.

Garrett is sick

with a cold poor guy he is congested, snotty and not fun to deal with. He has been sick about once a month since August. My guess is he is picking stuff up in nursery. We have been to one play date since the baby was born and stopped going to story time when Graham was a month old because it's just too much work getting out. I'm afraid to keep him in nursery now with it being RSV season I really don't want him to get sick anymore or him to get the baby sick.

Do you think they look alike?

Graham 3 months Garrett 3 months

Garrett Being Silly

I think he was just being silly because he never did go poo. He also didn't eat just cake for dinner he had some Chicken Parmesan, noodles and some veggies.

Update

Graham is 12 weeks old now his umbilical hernia is about half the size it use to be which makes me happy it still fills with fluid and pokes out some but the intestinal sac is no longer coming through. It does go down sometimes and looks like a normal little button with a bit of extra skin his doctor says he will grow in to that and he probably wont even have an outtie.

Graham Playing

Ravioli Soup

This recipe is from "Dinner is Ready" A complete Guide to Freezing 30 meals in just one day. 1/2 lb ground beef 1/2 lb ground pork- I use Italian sausage 1 cup chopped onion 2 tsp minced garlic 1 (28-ounce) can Italian tomatoes 1 (12-ounce) can tomato paste 2 (14.5-ounce) cans beef broth 1 Tbs sugar 1 tsp Italian seasoning 1/4 cup dry bread crumbs 1/2 cup shredded fresh Parmesan cheese 1 (12-ounce) package frozen ravioli Brown beef and pork with onion and garlic. Combine tomatoes, tomato paste, beef broth, sugar, Italian seasoning and dry bread crumbs, Bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer 30 minutes. Stir in Parmesan cheese. Allow to cool. Place in freezer bag or container. Freeze ravioli separately. Label and freeze. 8 servings. To Serve: Thaw. Cook ravioli according to package directions. Heat soup just to a boil. Add cooked ravioli. Serve with garlic bread and Parmesan cheese.

Freezer meal mess!

Yesterday, I made ravioli soup enough to serve 48 people and it wasn't easy! I am in a freezer meals trading group this months theme is soup that's why I was making so much. Browning 6 lbs of Italian sausage and hamburger with 6 cups of onion and 6tsp of fresh garlic was a hassle all by its self. The real mess didn't come until the soup was done and cooled and I was putting it in freezer bags. I wanted them all to have the same amount so I was pouring it in a bag and setting it off to the side without zip locking the top so I could add some later if I needed to. The first 4 bags filled nicely then I filled the 5th and propped it up how I'd done the others and started on the 6th. I'd gotten a cup full in the 6th when I felt soup splatting all over me and my wood floors. To make matters worse here in CO they put the air shaft vents on the ground and wouldn't you know that just happened to be where most of the soup went. It took me a half hour to clean all the soup out of the air shaft and mop up my giant mess. I do have to say that the soup is very tasty and now there is only soup to feed 40.

Smile

I finally got a pic of him smiling I had to take it with my cell phone though my camera always flashes red indoors and then he gets mad.

Graham's Two Month Check up

Today we headed over to the Pediatricians office for Grahams two month check up he is 24" (70%) long he weights 13p 6oz (70%) and his head is 42.5cm (90%). Does his big head mean he is going to be super smart? Our Pediatrician is going to contact a specialist to see if we need get Grahams umbilical hernia looked at it's measuring 3cm in width and height they don't like to see them past 2cm. Graham got two shots one was a 3-in-1 and Garrett got his thermasol free flu shot. Garrett was a tough little guy he kinda fussed for a second when she pricked him but he didn't even cry. We stopped at walgreens on the way home and when I got back to the Car Garrett had a bottle of water and was calling it agua. My baby is going to be bilingual and know sign language I wont understand him.

Halloween CostumeTest Run

The reindeer aka Graham is a nice dinner for the tiger aka Garrett. Graham was hungry and not so happy in his costume but he was smiling in it this morning. Garrett on the other hand did not want to take his off and cried when we changed him into his PJ's

Got Milk Shake?

Here are some cute photos of the boys and Gus

"Good Boy"

Here is Garrett calling Graham a "Good boy" when I ask him what brothers name is. I also love how Gus is sitting in the background like a person!

7 Weeks Old

Graham was 7 weeks old Sunday Its hard for me to believe he will be two months old next week. He still isn't doing much mostly sleeping, eating and pooping. He has started to smile when you smile at him or when I make funny noises and he can hold his head up pretty good. Garrett isn't adjusting to little brother he is getting more and more jealous now that Graham is awake more and wanting to be held. Garrett's nights are progressively getting worse the past two have been terrible he wakes up screaming and wont stop crying he also acts terrified to go to bed when its dark in the house his Night light isn't enough light for him. We don't know what to do It breaks my heart to see him really sad and scared like that I know he isn't doing it to get what he wants our pediatrician mentioned the possibility of it being night terrors. The only way he will sleep is if Miah sleeps next to him so he will put him down then come to bed and about the time Graham is waking up for his middle of the night feeding Garrett starts crying so Miah moves back in with him so he can get some sleep while Graham is awake and crying. I pray this all ends soon I am moving Graham next month to his crib and I don't want Garrett waking him up.

Read this before you Judge others!

"If you judge people, you have no time to love them." -- Mother Teresa "Judge not, that ye be not judged." --The Bible, New Testament, Matthew chapter 7, verse 1 “Remember that I’m Human. Before you judge me or decide how you’ll deal with me, walk awhile in my shoes. If you do, I think you’ll find with more understanding we can meet in the middle and walk the rest of the way together.” -- Eric Harvey and Steve Ventura: Walk Awhile in My Shoes "When you judge another, you do not define them, you define yourself." -- Wayne Dyer (Psychotherapist, Author and Speaker) "You can't depend on your judgment when your imagination is out of focus." -- Mark Twain

Graham's Blessing Day

Our Trip to AZ

Graham and I had such a good time in AZ visiting my side of the family. We Stayed with Grandma and Grandpa Horne while we were there it was nice visiting with them when I didn't have my face planted in a book. I was reading the last three books from the Twilight Saga I finished the first one the day before I left and the other three on my 5 day trip. Jene surprised me when she walked into the room looking amazing she had lost 100 lbs of course I had no idea I feel like such an outsider here in CO. Friday Jene, Graham and I went over to Scottsdale Mall and meet Annette and her daughter Ava, Ashlee and her kiddo's Faith and Jaxton we walked around talking and having lunch I miss them all so much!!! Saturday we headed over to the Mesa Temple (our whole purpose for going out to AZ) Jene went through for the first time it was so spiritual I was in tears before we even got dressed in our temple clothing. Jene looked so Beautiful all dressed in white of course I started crying again I blame it on my hormones adjusting ;?) I just want to say how thankful I am for my BFF and Cousin Jene her love, strength and testimony were what got me through the hardest time in my life and I have my Eternal family because of her never ending Faith she is my rock! I love you Jene! Now I am crying again great! We made it home safe from AZ Graham did awesome on both flights and I am glad to be home because I missed Miah and Garrett. If I could have one wish it would be that Miah got an amazing job offer in AZ so we could move back to my Home! Photo is of Graham and his Great Great Grandma

Went to the Doctor

Sure enough Graham has an umbilical hernia he isn't concerned he said most likely it will be mostly gone by age 1. Graham is a few days shy of one month and he weights 10lbs 14oz.

Graham may have an umbilical hernia

When he cries or strains his belly button sticks out about half an inch I pressed on it gently yesterday and it had fluid in it that squished back into his tummy. It was so weird I would compare it to one of these (see picture above) it felt so weird. I am going to call his pediatrician and schedule him an appointment it doesn't seem to bother him and everything I have read says they are harmless and usually go away on their own by age two. I will keep everyone posted.