Monday, November 21, 2011

Happy 4 years to Griffin!

Its hard to believe that our second born, Griffin Patrick, has just turned 4!


Griff started walking at 10 1/2 months old, and hasn't slowed down since!! Physically active and 100% boy are both understatements for this child. I must admit though that over this last year, Griffin has become way easier to manage! He no longer needs 24/7 supervision and can be trusted to play out of my sight!

Griffin is in school 3 mornings a week again this year and absolutely loves it. He enjoys the time with his new friends and the "autonomy" and "independence" that comes from doing something separate from Avery. His favorite thing about school is that he goes on the playground twice each day and that he has music each week. Griffin can write his name now and is attempting to work on writing some other letters as well.



Griffin loves to play outside - making traps for animals, playing games with Avery, and riding his new bike. He has also taken on a new love for working in the yard with Brent. He is very diligent and never lets Brent work alone! Griffin also really loves building things - lego blocks and trio blocks are a daily activity. Superheroes are a part of our daily conversations and activities. Griffin has found a new love of reading - he would not sit through a book for the past 18 months until recently - and now he loves to be read to! He also enjoys coloring with Avery and I am impressed with his sudden interest in drawing as well as the huge leap in his "skill. "


We gave up his afternoon nap about 2 months ago, largely because Griff was starting to wake up between 5:45-6:00 AM each morning! This picture shows that the transition hasn't been easy! Here he is out cold in the middle of his floor! He is still our early bird, up by 6:30 most days...but very ready for bed by 7:30 each night. He still manages to sneak in a little nap about twice a week...

Although we have made major strides in Griff's eating habits over the last year, we still have miles to go. He seems to like most things once he actually tastes it - but he just isn't interested in eating! (better things to do, right?!) At his MD appt last week, Griffin weighed in at 36 pounds 6 oz, right at the 30%; and his height was 39 inches, right at the 50%.




Griffin is super soft hearted - full of hugs, kisses, and smiles for those he encounters each day. He is sensitive towards others most of the time. It is not uncommon for him to recognize when someone gets a haircut (ie: "Ms Patti, did you get a haircut? It looks beautiful!") or announce when he likes what you are wearing (ie: "Dad, is that a new shirt? Lookin' good!") Griffin has wonderful manners and almost always uses please/thank you/ mam/ sir.


We have been blessed tremendously by our little man over the last 4 years. Can't wait to see what all God has in store!

Sunday, November 20, 2011

19 months and counting!


Our little man turned 19 months old today! (I normally do a 18 month post but somehow never got one together!) Hard to believe this guy is already one and a half - and it makes me wonder how I survived having Griffin when Avery was 2 months younger than Graham is now!


Graham is currently a handful! He is following in Griff's footsteps in terms of his activity level - he's full steam ahead 24/7! He runs constantly; climbs everything in sight (including tables, counters, etc); takes something he knows he shouldn't have and runs away with it laughing; is proficient at climbing up and going down the slide by himself; can go up stairs easily but needs to be reminded to come down on his belly...


Graham loves to be outside - playing ball, digging in the sand, going down the slide, going on walks, collecting sticks...He is very amused by both Avery and Griffin. Avery is good at taking care of Graham and making sure he is "obeying." Griffin is good at entertaining Graham and they already rough-house together. Graham LOVES music and LOVES to dance! I absolutely love to see his little booty shake!


Graham is pretty smiley. He's mostly over his major stranger anxiety - sometimes he takes a minute to warm up - but he only cries about 25% of the time when I leave him at school or in the church nursery. He loves to wave and flirt with whoever is around and paying him attention. Graham still loves his momma and loves to hold onto her hair, but this little guy also loves his daddy! He holds onto Brent when he is attempting to get out the door to work in the mornings and squeals and runs to him arrives home from work. Graham definitely has a temper but it seems to be diminishing some as his communication skills are increasing.


Graham still doesn't have many words - momma, dada, down, done, juice, and I can't think of what else! But he has learned to communicate well with pointing, nodding yes/no, taking my hand and leading me to what he wants, patting on the fridge when he wants a drink, etc. This little man wants to do, eat, have everything the big kids are doing/eating/having. He has had more juice boxes, Popsicles, and sweet stuff than the other 2 had in their first 3 or 4 years of life! Thankfully, Graham is by far our best eater. He loves salty, tart, spicy and all the things the others still don't like!


We gave up the morning nap about 3 months ago and I think he's finally adjusted. Hard transition - wanting to be asleep by 10 but then couldn't make it until bedtime at night. Most of the time, he can make it home from getting the big kids from school (around 1:15) or he crashes in the car on the way home...He goes to be around 7 but wake up varies greatly - anywhere from 6:15 to 8:00! Totally unpredictable!

We had Graham's 18 month MD appt this week - he weighed in at 24 lbs 13 oz, right at the 30% for weight and he is 32.5 inches tall, right at the 50% for height.

I am so thankful for this little guy, even during this exhausting season of his life! He makes me laugh daily and keeps my love bucket full of cuddles!




I noticed a sudden "silence" in the house yesterday when just Graham and I were home - this normally means trouble...but he had gotten into Avery's room and was sitting quietly in the doll crib - talking on the "phone" (AKA calculator)!

Saturday, November 19, 2011

Fall Leaves

Brent spent several hours in the yard this morning - raking up leaves and pinestraw. Avery and Griffin helped and were super exciting to play in the leaves!


getting a running start


shower of leaves


this is what graham does when tickeled too - he just giggles and curls into a ball!



griff and brent did the backyard themselves...so here is griffin enjoying the fruit of his labor!


smiley boy




and our sweet sissy!

Friday, November 18, 2011

Thanksgiving Feasts at School

Avery and Griffin are out of school all next week so their classes celebrated Thanksgiving today with "feasts." I helped out in Avery's class this go-around so much of my pics are of her...


Avery and Lola (her friend that she talks about 24/7)


This is both K5 classes. Avery's class dressed like Indians and are lined up down the right hand side. The other class dressed like Pilgrims and are down the left side of the "table."


My little Indian girl!



Enjoying her food!


Here is one of Griff...he wanted to wear his Pilgrim hat and Indian vest and necklace...this dude is so PC!

Wednesday, November 9, 2011

Griffin's Birthday Party

We celebrated Griffin's fourth birthday on Saturday with Bricks 4 Kids (www.bricks4kidz.com) Lego party. We had several of his best buddies from school and 2 family friends over for the party. The kids got to play with tons of Lego's, do an obstacle course in the back yard, and play several "Lego" games. They also built a little Lego car that they could keep.


enjoying her Cars cupcake


the birthday boy!

While eating his cupcake he called me over and whispered in my ear, "Am I 4 now?"


building their cars - the pieces were a little small for 3-4 year olds so the parents had to help



waiting for a relay race to begin


racing cars with Noah


even Graham enjoyed some Lego action!

Sunday, November 6, 2011

Fall Parties at School

The kids had their fall parties at school last monday. I had volunteered with Griff's class to help with their fall walk and their party...so I have lots of pics of it. I did slip out long enough to get a pic of Avery in her class though.


frosting a pumpkin cookie and about to use candy to turn it into a jack-o-lantern



Avery's class decorated pumpkins with stickers and stuff...and she's wearing a pumpkin shirt that she made at school

her final pumpkin



We read a book about fall leaves and then the kids used leaf stickers to decorate their own fall tree.


enjoying lunch...and trying to figure out how to eat an orange that's cut like this...


the fall walk...we collected sticks, acorns, leaves, and various other treasures.
(Griffin and Halle)

Thursday, November 3, 2011

Halloween 2011

We spent our last 3 Halloweens in Durham eating pizza and trick or treating with a big group of friends....so this year was a little different for us.

After dinner, the 5 of us headed out into our new neighborhood, wagon in tow and pumpkins in hand. The big kids had fun, got lots of loot, and had remarkably good manners. Graham made it half way up to one house but bolted when someone opened the door! He spent the rest of the evening working on a sucker and enjoying the wagon ride.


this was towards the end was Griff was pooping out!

Ironman and Rapunzel, headed to the first house


And superman was not happy with mommy so he wouldn't even look at me!


getting ready to go



Overall, Halloween 2011 was a success!

Tuesday, November 1, 2011

Visit to 5098

We spent this past weekend in ATL with my family. Our main goal was to get our first ever family pictures taken! My friend from growing up (Kelly Turner Cavin) and her mom have a photo business and took our pictures in Mom/Mike's pasture. I've seen some of the pics and think they turned out wonderfully!

We made the most of our time there. Griffin got an early birthday present from Nina and Big Daddy - His very own wheelbarrow to work in the yard with!




The girls went to Tea Leaves and Thyme in Woodstock and had a tea party. Avery was a little hestitant for some reason - only mom and I wore hats and jewels - Avery refused to participate! But she loved the scones and thought she was big stuff pouring her own tea...and the highlight for her, was the little tongs and sugar cubes!







Brent and Mike broke in the Big Green Egg with some kickin brisket and sausage...and the kids swam in the hottub for an hour! It was a fun weekend with family!