Sunday visit with Nan, Maddy, Ganny, Gamps, Nana and Papa

Graham knows that keys are part of the good-bye routine, so we always get the keys out when we're preparing to leave or say "good-bye." It helps him mentally prepare for a ride in the car. Plus, he is the keeper of the keys until his seatbelt is fastened and he likes having his own duty. He is such a big boy!

Grahamy's in his jammies and making his final rounds before we make the drive back home. He's most likely saying, "bye-bye, Nana" and "bye-bye, Papa" right about now!

Grahamy's playing "giddy-up" on Dad's knee while Ganny pulls the reins...
By mid-day, Graham was belting out "Mad" (for Maddy) and "Nan," chasing after his cousin and barely aware of his Mom or Dad's presence. Best friends!
Someone's happy to be Center of Attention!!!
Cousin Maddy and Grahamy share their love of goats! Maaawwww!!!!
Maddy and her favorite goat...
Of course, as soon as Graham discovers dirty water, his interest in the goats fades. Water tops goats.
The girls gabbing...
Graham loves his cousin Maddy!!!

Maddy and Grahamy sharing a story...
Hmmm... Lemons or balls?

Welcome October!

Graham picked out his own little pumpkin at the market the other day and takes great pride in it!

Sticks, along with acorns, rocks, bark and dead bugs (eeek) occasionally find their way into our house even though we have an outside-only policy for all such objects. Here are a few pictures of Grahamy showing off his stick and attempting to hide it in his bathroom.


Here is some footage of our extremely silly boy! He doesn't eat sugar and he doesn't watch TV. He's just silly! We are so blessed!!!

Graham's 16-months old today!!!

Graham is living up to the nickname "Monkey" these days! He tries to climb everything in sight. Most of the furniture is safe, but my heart almost stopped the other morning when I walked into the kitchen and found him standing on the kitchen table. He is obviously NOT allowed on the tables, fireplace or a few other danger zones around the house, but we're expecting another round of bumps and bruises while he explores the house on a new level.
Graham is grinning here because he scaled the sofa like a big boy, but he immediately wants to climb back down so he can do it again...
This puppet was Cousin Maddy's when she was little and now it is Grahamy's. He loves Piggy and gives it kisses all the time. He is quite an affectionate boy, and gives sloppy kisses to all his stuffed animals, the animals in his books, the pictures on our fridge, his blankie and of course his shadow!
GOING UP...
UP...

So proud!

Hot, sweaty and quite content from all the activity...

MAMA'S BOY

Here are a few pictures of Graham cuddling with Mama in the hall this past evening. He's extra rambunctious these days and extra cuddly as well.

A few pictures to pass your way...

What's a day at the park without sand?

QUACK QUACK!!! As soon as Graham hears the word "park," he starts quacking like a duck and chanting "wa-wa," because there's a large lake at this neighborhood park.
Multi-tasking...


We get to Graham's Toddler Reading Hour 15-minutes early because he likes the library fountains. He still has Mama's keys in hand since it is his task to carry them to and from the car. Being silly with a coffee-ball...
"Peek-a-boo-bum"...

Graham obviously loves coffee breaks!
I keep trying to capture him in action, but he's just too swift. Here's a picture of Graham's smug look of satisfaction AFTER he climbed up on the sofa all by himself. This is why we call him "Monkey!"
Now that he has mastered this step, Graham is obsessed with climbing up and down it over and over again...
It looks like he's lost in the woods, but Grahamy is actually playing in our front yard...
After being trapped inside for two days thanks to some thunder storms, Graham is happy to clean up the yard...
Our outdoor boy!
Mama's little helper!!! Not only does Grahamy love to empty out the dishwasher, but he also puts away his laundry, cleans up his toys and unloads the groceries. Anything Mama and Dada do, Graham wants to do too!

GRAHAM'S NEW THRONE

After his recent appointment, Graham's pediatrician agreed that Graham is ready for a potty training "trial." He is still rather young, and heading into a heavy-clothing season, but we are going to give the BIG BOY POTTY a try for 2 weeks and see what happens. Graham picked out his own potty at the store and decorated it with stickers. We're allowing him time to adjust to it's presence, sit on it, play with it and look at it before we move it into the bathroom.

It is really difficult for me to capture him in action, but Graham does like to sit on his potty (fully clothed at this point). Don't worry, we won't continue posting potty-training pictures...
And here's a picture from last weekend...