10.14.2013

Graham at 10 Months and the Shutdown

At 10 months, we already find ourselves saying "remember when Graham did _____."  We can not believe how fast 10 months have gone and how much G has changed.  He seems to learn something new every day. He is a happy, confident boy.  He is now playing games with us. If he sees the bathroom door open he will crawl there as quick as he can. However, he will look back at us and laugh as to say "I am going to beat you there."  He loves to play chase.  Peek a boo is also a favorite past time that makes him giggle and giggle.

G is crawling and climbing like a pro.  He also learned how to bend his knees to get down...he is unstoppable and literally climbing up the walls.  He is a busy, busy explorer.  He loves to take things out of the cupboards: taking out the spice jars, unrolling half of the paper towels, and always, always reaching up to pull down the dish cloth hanging on the oven door.  I tend to call him by his middle name when he is getting a little too busy: Conrad. He really lives up to this name.  To be brave.  Whenever he gets scared of something, he will be reserved but will always go and discover the new thing/experience.

He is eating finger foods well with his cute little pincer grasp.  Every time he gets a bite in he is pretty proud of himself and lets us know by humming and grunting.  He is decidedly left handed like Trent.  Trent is pretty happy about this.  His favorite food right now has to be a smoothie.  He learned how to use a straw last month and loves to practice it. He gets pretty upset when a smoothie is taken away.

G has also learned how to shake his head no.  When you finish reading a book, he will shake his head no to tell you that he wants another.  (That kid can sit through book after book)  Shaking his head is so cute.  I am sure that will change.  I love that when he shakes his head no it is not mad but more like saying "no thank you."

We dressed up for talk like a pirate day for free donuts.


I could not resist.

Some good friends are letting us borrow this firetruck after G loved it while visiting their home.  He was so sad when he was off it.  He would sit there forever just hoping that someone would push him.  I guess one day he was too tired of waiting so he just started to push off with his feet.  Now he goes back and forth around the living room.  Note: monkey man is always a good bud that G uses as a pillow, biting toy, and confidant.
Trying to get on it by himself.  He will also push it but it gets going a little too fast for him to walk with.

Trent has been home for a few weeks due to the government shut down.  We are using up this time well by spending a lot of family time and having a staycation.  We have attended a few museums and gone on many outings.  It has been fun for Trent to see G's day to day activity.  G is going to miss him when he goes back to work.  Trent is sporting a shutdown beard.  He will not shave until he goes back to work.

Playing in fountains at the National Geographic Museum


Picketing the capital and house buildings



Picnicing






National Building Museum
The Building Museum was providing free admission for federal employees during the shutdown. We decided to attend. They had a fun room for young children to build and explore.  We may have had more fun than Graham.







G - 9 Months

Graham is just getting bigger and bigger.  As he gets bigger, we just love him more.  

G's Favorites:
Foods:  the kid loves combos and eats much better when he has many different options at the table.  He is such a foodie.  He loves to eat broccoli and apple sauce as well as yogurt.  He could eat yogurt all day.  He is also a loud eater.  No really.  Most of the time he sounds completely angry due to his growls as he is eating.  
Personality: playful, curious, and serious in public
New Firsts: This month he began to skooch around on belly.  He would sweeps his arms in the same direction and propels himself forward. He became very good at this skill especially on the wood floor.  He also got his first hair cut. He also went on his first road trip and BYU game. He started to climb!
Activities: We attend a baby rhyme time at our local library.  He loves to be sung to and is starting to make singing sounds.  He loves when you dance for him and with him.  

First Hair Cut
Before:


After:


First Road Trip

We made our way to Charlottesville for a three day trip to watch BYU play UVA.  On our way down we stopped at an equestrian event.  We read that there would be food available.  When we asked about purchasing food, we were told that it was a free luncheon...not bad for the $5 admission price.
Free lunch...there is such a thing...well almost free.


Graham liked to watch the horses as they would run and jump in front of us.


We stayed a few days in an apartment in Charlottesville.  The apartment was amazing as it was furnished wonderfully and came stocked with juice, water, croissants, hot chocolate, and cookies. We marked our BYU pride on the town chalkboard.



G sporting his ear muffs.  I love how they pushed his cheeks in.  Adorable.
G starting to climb at the apartment.
We drove through some small towns on the way home.  We stopped at a few town squares.




G started to climb while we were in Charlottesville and when we got home he was climbing everything in sight.  He loved to climb up our stool chairs. Getting down has been a little more difficult.  He would either cry until he got put down or he would let go and hope for the best.