Catch Up

Once again, another period of silence here on the blog. Now I am here to play catch up with probably a couple dozen posts to summarize what has gone down the last year with our family!

First things first, I changed the blog name. But this time I think it will stick for a while :) 

It seems like updating the blog is a task in its own sense, but it is so benefiting! Most of the work is organizing the photos. But it is actually why I blog in the first place, to record our memories with the photos that correspond! It's great for remembering, and also for nostalgias sake. I'm super sentimental. 

Well it's been 4 months and these months have been pretty eventful. So here we go!

Our Days These Days

It seems like its been a while since I've blogged last. Probably because things have been pretty slow around here lately. But why not talk about the down times as well as the ups? That's what this blog is for, to get me to document our lives as this little family. So lets get to it!

June is almost done. Psh! How is this summer flying past me so much?? It feels like it hasn't officially started yet. I am trying to get to the pool more often while we have one right outside our apartment door. But with a baby, things are so different! It's either nap time or something in the way. I can't seem to get out and enjoy the sun, but I should try and work on that! I think it would be so good for Graham to enjoy and explore the outdoors too. He is so alll over the place, and wants to put everything in his mouth. I definitely get really paranoid about him playing on the ground when we are not in our apartment. And being outside, I can't control whats on the ground and what he will find! So I feel like I need to watch his every move wherever we go. One of these days he's going to eat a leaf or a bug or something. Haha! Like I said, your life changes when you have a baby!

Steve is going through a slowww phase at work right now. At this point we don't know if we are staying in Dallas or not, because they still haven't got the contract for the bid. We have waited so long to find out and it's getting strung out even longer! Wahh. Steve and the other people in the office are trying to keep busy as best as they can, but really there is just not a whole lot going on. He has been free enough to come home early some days, and hey I'm not complaining about that! 

We have been making big lifestyle changes lately! Like, seriously. We are attacking our student and credit card debt, once and for all baby!! But I am going to write a separate post about that topic, because it would flood this one haha. But all I will say for now is that we are so much happier now than we have ever been before! That should be a good enough teaser, eh? 

I have made some personal changes too! I really want to live a more spiritual lifestyle. I just haven't taken the time to focus on that, and I know that when I do there is a significant difference in my life. Life seems to be put more in perspective. There has been a lot happening in the world lately, and being a sensitive person, it can bring me down sometimes. I know that if I refocus myself and my priorities, those feelings of sadness and hopelessness disappear! I am truly so grateful for that! 

It has been so long since I have ready The Book of Mormon the whole way through. But there just doesn't seem to be enough time in the day for me to get through it! So I have come up with a way to fix that :) I downloaded the LDS Library app and I'm listening to the Book of Mormon! I seriously love love love it! It is so perfect, I listen non-stop. Graham probably gets ignored a little more than usual because sometimes I am so invested in listening to the stories! Just kidding. The main thing is that I can multitask. And multitasking is key when it comes to juggling life with your little ones!

Texas is starting to feel like home to us now, and we are getting to know and love the people in our new ward too! Yay for making friends!! We miss our families a lot though, it's so hard sometimes for me. It makes me feel better that we will see them soon, and the fact that Brittany is so close is so comforting too! Haha it's like I can reach out and almost touch them from here, but they are still a little too far away. Poop! 

Okay, one more thing! Steve and I just so happen to love anything that involves a project! Us working on a project together is cute to us. Haha, I'm serious! It's like when you see that couple that's disgustingly adorable when playing basketball with each other. Yeah, that's us! Working with each other is one of the things that brings us closer and helps us loosen up and have fun! Right now we are working on a big project, and we are refinishing a set of tables and chairs! It's a lot of work, but I am excited to see how it will look in the end!! 

Muddy Mississippi

Well holy cow, I did it!

If anyone reading has been thinking about doing this, or something like this, DO IT.  It is so worth the money and even more worth the self empowerment! If this postpartum girl can do it (whose muscles were like, non-exsistant) than you can too!

When we got official word that we were moving down south, I immediately started thinking of a good weekend to drive and see Brittany and D' in Clinton! She had been thinking about signing up for the Warrior Dash with her friends for a while, and we thought it was a great incentive to get us out to Mississippi in April! So we signed up!

How long does it take to get there? 6 hours. Thats it!! They have never lived super close like this, it is such a treat!

We are here!

The night we got in Clinton, the kids were well asleep, and I guess Hudson was very upset that we didn't drive in during the day and that he had to go to bed and wait till morning to see us! Haha!

It was well worth the wait because seeing those kids was so stinkin' cute the next morning! A couple of them tip toed in, whispered about Baby Graham, and then ran out. I woke up, snuck out, and there they were waiting outside the door for us! haha. Those hugs were so sweet! And I couldn't believe how old they had gotten! I love that they are so outgoing and chatty. They are so different, but their personalities are still the same. The two oldest seemed they had matured a lot, and the two little ones just grew up! Case was in copycat mode when it came to feeling comfortable around me. If his older siblings were cool with me being there, then he was too! Haha he actually warmed up to me pretty quick, but that could be because he thought I was Ashley who had just visited them for a week.  I love these kids XOXO

I don't think I have seen any kids be more enthused over Graham. He is their long awaited cousin, and they wouldn't forget that he was coming to see them! Right when all the kids met him they had huge smiles, and they all wanted to play with him. I loved it! He may have been smothered in love a couple times during our stay, but I don't think he minded it too much.

To prepare for the race, I joined Brittany and her friends in their daily morning HITT class at the Y for a couple of days. It's basically hardcore, painful, tough women's cross fit. And they do it every day together! My face was lobster red from the first day of the workout (can you say out of shape?!) One of Britt's friends teaches it, and the rest come with smiles and a lot of silly too. They are all good buddies and it's so cute to see all the camaraderie Brittany has in Clinton. Those are some hilarious women, and they kick butt!

Aw we're cute! 

Now were even cuter! 

Oh man! This was SUCH a blast! We had our epic moments of course. Like Stephanie getting literally stuck in the mud pit. It took three military men to pull her out. Oh and how I lost my shoe countless times but I still managed to find it again. And also Brittany getting dirt in her contacts after going down the slide of death into the water hole. I had to save her by running to the nearest water station that was pretty far back, to get water to clear her eyes.

Haha I can see it again. My dear sister dripping in mud, waiting patiently with her eyes squeezed shut on the side of the course. And me, slowly running through sloppy mud with two tiny dixie cups of water, yelling, "I'm coming to save you Brittany!" That is love guys.

We also can't forget the random loving shoves into the slop, and handfuls of mud to the face! Fun. So fun!

To be honest, this was a whole part of me that I really missed while being postpartum. I felt so fierce and unstoppable! I have always felt like a strong woman, but since going through pregnancy and trying to recover, I was in a place where I couldn't recognize myself. Physically yes, but mostly mentally. How could I have given up on myself so fast! I was reminded that I can do anything and I am totally worth the time and effort! That is what I got out of this run most of all.

The rest of the weekend my family just took it easy, we played, ate ice-cream, and enjoyed each others company!

Graham Bradley: 6 Months

This darling boy is 6 months old!

He's soft, very squishy, and smells absolutely delicious. Plus he is constantly grinning which makes him even more adorable! Sometimes I cant even stand it. 

His big shiny eyes light up when he sees something that pleases him. I cannot even say how adorable it is! Graham will smile at just about anything. He has definitely become more sensitive to loud noises and also new people. I don't think he has hit the stranger anxiety stage yet, but there have been several instances that tell us we're getting there.

His eyebrows continue to give us a whole range of emotion. From up and down in delight, to a perfected "furrow" when he's mad. They even tilt upwards like his Dad's when he's desperate for something. Those two share a lot of similar emotions. It's so fun to notice yourself in your own children. My favorite is when his eyes are focused on something...and his left eyebrow will just lift up for a second. (which is funny because my left eyebrow is the more animated for me too) It happens daily and I love it. 

This baby has the roliest-poliest neck. The rest of his body is pretty slim with also some chub. But his neck is the one place he's got the rolls. People don't notice it, because his neck is covered in baby fat! It almost looks like he is sitting there with his head resting on his shoulders with no neck haha. I count 3 neck rolls when he stretches it out to reach for things. That is the one area on his body that I really need to make sure I clean well when he is taking showers. The baby double chin came from my side of the family I'm afraid haha!

His personality is very happy, and as of a month ago, we are adding extremely inquisitive. Graham is literally into anything he can get his hands on.  Which makes life 108,986,987 times harder for us. He wants to chew on eeevvverything. If there is nothing around, he will go for our toes with out question. The picture above a pretty good example of my view on some days.

"I want the strap. No, I want the lens!" 

To us, he is growing so fast physically. These developments happen so sudden and they are unexpected! We are just enjoying the current stage he's in, and forgetting to be prepared for a new one. Around 5 months he was rolling all over the place. It surprised us when he was able to roll from one end of the room to the other. You can only imagine our thrill when he started army scooting soon after!! He has officially become mobile...

Of course, we got it on tape and we screamed like crazy when it was happening. Like any proud parents would! :) 

A month later here we are. He has mastered the scoot, by throwing his hands high up in the air, slapping them on the floor, and lunging his body forward. I have no problem watching him play on the floor all day, just to see his face light up! And now with the help of his bending legs (oh no) he is even faster than before. Just this last week we've seen him up on his knees a couple times...it's very awkward looking and I don't think he gets it yet. But at the rate that he is growing, we could have a crawler soon. Too soon, too soon!! 

Anything in his path is sought after with fervor! Remember how I said that his eyes light up when he sees something he wants? They really do, and it melts my mommy heart! Changing his diaper has been the biggest change in his inability to sit still.

He loves getting nakey! I mean...really! He knows when the shirt is about to be pulled over his head, and that's his favorite part! 

It will be followed by the biggest smile in the world, and him waving his hands up and down super fast out of pure joy! I'm telling you, he loves being naked!

Often when I hold him, he will wrap his hands around my neck and squeeze me tightly. It's the closest thing to a hug and I just fall in love..... But really, he is just feeling around for something to grab/pull/feel/chew. And like the photo above, it is my poor poor hair. 

It gets yanked constantly. My hair is up most days to avoid this inevitable stage, but he still manages to find something! The little hairs on the back of my head suffer the most. OW-EE. Regardless of the inconveniences, I really love the feeling of being so needed by your baby! 

He loves his daddy.  A lot. Normally, only Steve can get Graham to laugh hard! And it's pretty hard for some reason! He will squeak one or two giggles for me. And I try everything! But for some reason his Dad is hilarious to him and he will laugh. Guaranteed. 

That said, he is nothing close to a silent baby. Oh yes, he babbles, blows spit bubbles, screams, coo's, you name it! He is not afraid to gather attention. The other day was painful as I was feeding him and he was literally screeching at the top of his little lungs. It seriously made my ear ring a little bit. It's a good thing that he is vocal, but man it hurts sometimes :) 

Something that makes Steve and I laugh, is how Graham holds his right arm when he is being held. It sticks straight out and he just keeps it elevated....just because. Haha and it's only his right arm. All babies have something that is cute and goofy about them, and this one is his.

Solids! He was eating rice cereal at 4 months but the last handful of weeks we have been giving him vegetables! It was awkward to spoon feed him at first, but now he opens up his mouth nice and big for a bite. He doesn't seem to hate the veggie flavors, but he scrunches his nose at the taste of cold refrigerated solids. Every time haha. I can't wait to introduce him to the sweet, succulent, delicious taste of fruit. Maybe this week is the week :) 

We also desperately need a high chair. Pronto. 

BOOM WHAT?! Teeth my friend. Those two little pearly whites popped up out of no where at 4 months. One day he was a gummy baby, and the next I saw two white teeth just barely about to break through the gums. And then the next day, they had surfaced. We were surprised because I had the idea that he wouldn't get them until he was at least 6 or 7 months. He wasn't even fussy or anything, prior to our discovery.

(I just now found a 3rd tooth on the right coming in!! This time he's not to happy about it. Poor baby!)

He has learned to protest! He's old enough that when something isn't going his way (ex. when we take things away from him, or if he bonks his head) he will give us a world class pout. And it's just marvelous! Bravo baby, bravo!  

This little lip of his. I don't think I will ever stop laughing at it! I'm so sorry baby, but it's so endearing to me when you look at me with those glossy eyes and your face all scrunched up! When we are with family, they always get a huge kick out of it too. He's just so sweet!! Sometimes when I play peek-a-boo, I scare him and that will even trigger it. And I can hardly keep it together! One of these days he is going to find it offensive haha. I'm so mean! 

We are definitely struggling with sleep in this house. It's our "thing" that we are trying to work on. Naps are consistent and he sleeps in his crib great! We struggle with bedtime the most though. The lack of sleep we get at night is hard on both of us, and nothing can soothe him other than nursing. We don't think he want's to wake up, but he just does and we are awake constantly. It's very exhausting, but we are trying different things to see if they help!

I look forward to the days where Graham will sleep through the night! They seem so far away sometimes, and it's easy for Steve and I to get discouraged. But it helps to see Graham as an individual who has individual needs. We have come to learn that if we listen to what our baby is trying to tell us, he is happier and that in turn that makes us happier too! 

To my baby: 

Thank you for being such a joy in our home!! Even though you don't like it when we take dangerous objects away, and sometimes I call you "Graham-ma" by accident (true story), you have been the most patient baby for any first time parents! You have only been on earth for 6 months. But already, you have made us happier than we have ever been the 23/28 years of our lives! Keep the smiles coming Grahmers! We love you! 

Diapers: in 4's now, he's got a big cute squishy bum. 

Clothes: in 6-9 month for a while now, 9 month is coming soon I predict! 

Hair: grows at different speeds all over the place, I am constantly evening it out. 

Eye Color: still slowly turning brown in the center, they look greenish/blueish overall. 

Likes: pacifier, playing in water, chewing on ribbons/drawstrings, watching daddy dance silly, listening to mommy sing.

Dislikes: getting stuck when exploring, long car seat rides, when mommy and daddy tickle each other! haha! 

Flub Ups: fell off a mattress sitting on the floor at auntie Brittany's house...twice! Under the supervision of his cousins (kidding, it was us ;) 

On the Way Over

Last day living in this beautiful place...

The night before we left Seattle we had just so happened to be staying at Joel and Abby's so we could have a place to sleep. Up until this point we had wished that Abby would go into labor and have her baby so we could at least see her before we move far far away! Obviously Hattie was listening...and being the sweet angel she is, she decided to come that same night we were staying at their house before we left!!!! We were all asleep when they rushed to the hospital. When we noticed that Joel had texted Steve that they were in the hospital I nearly jumped out of bed in happiness! It was too perfect that we were already there to watch the kids too! And we were more than happy to do it!

Steve conducting a relaxing morning of yoga. It was a hit! Right after that they insisted on a Karate video haha. 

We had a meeting in the morning with the kids and we made a schedule for the day, we had the time down and everything! Wyatt volunteered to write it for us :) He would make a great secretary. 

Lucky us, we got to stay an extra day longer to see the baby :) That girl had hair. Like no one's business. She is so so so precious, I miss her already!! It was almost cruel that we had to see her and then leave :( When I held her it shocked me again at how tiny and light they are! How could I have forgotten, I just had one afterall?! When Joel came home from the hospital to get the kids, he looked so incredibly happy and proud!  New Dad happy is best kind there is. It really is different and special! And Abby being the mega champ she is at child birth, came home less than 24 hours later after delivering. She seemed so relaxed and calm, maybe it was the exauhstion kicking in haha. But there was no doubt that she was so happy too! It was very special to be there with them!

On the road! 

My loves. So sweet!

On the road to Texas we stopped in Salt Lake! Steve was going to continue the drive to Dallas while Graham and I stayed in Utah with my family. We figured the drive was going to be too rough on the baby. So flying would be a better option for the two of us. We planned on me staying for about a week and it just so happened to be the week my Dad was visiting Jonny and Ash! Steve had only one day to spend in Utah and then he was back out on the road. We made the best of it, filled with good food and even better people!

Morning time with our cousins :) These babies get along so well!! This morning Landan, Corin, and Tammy made us the french toast they sell on his food truck. Steve wouldn't be able to visit the truck since he was only there for a day, so they just made some specially for him to try. Steve is such a foodie, so he was in heaven talking about and tasting the different menu options with them. It's so cool that Landan is making his dream a reality!! 

Lunch at Pretty Aunt Lori's. We had the hit the jackpot with traveling this week because guess who else was visiting...Todd and Ann!! They had been seeing Lori, Jim and Nan that week and we caught them on their last full day visiting. Lunch with them was so much fun and it was delish. It really made us miss Steve's parents!!  :) 

That night we had dinner with some really fantastic friends and then we had a game night at Amber's house!! It was a really fun day for us! 

Here are some pics of what Graham and I did for that week in Utah.

Ashley and I really wanted to try out the new Provo rec center pool! Amber came with us too! So fun!!

Cute boys loving the water!! For this time swimming it was really easy to tell that Graham enjoyed it! He was waving his arms like crazy in the water! So cute. Killer cute!

Hangin' out with GG-Ma! I love seeing that beautiful smile!

Trent being a good babysitter for Beckham and Graham while the rest of us played games :) perks of being Ashley's boyfriend, you get put on babysitting duty! Kidding :) He had a good time just playin' with the babies. On the road Steve texted me for a picture of the the baby. At that moment Trent was playing with Graham, so I asked him to take a selfie haha!

This was the priceless picture that we sent to Steve haha!! 

It's the pretty truck!! I love it and love what comes out of it...

But most of all I love who's inside it :) Hey look Dad's here!

The "photobombed by a moose" pic!

Jonathan was pretty busy so he wasn't totally available that week. We got to see him a lot though still! BYU finals week was coming up, and he was going to choir rehearsals to sing in GENERAL CONFERENCE!!! I gave him permission to be busy in that case :) 

Being scared of this bear.

I really was kind of uncomfortable though...it was alive once afterall! I've always been a little uneasy when it comes to being in the wild and possibly meeting a bear. Especially where we used to live, the chances of seeing bears are pretty high when your out walking the trails. They even walk into your backyard regularly! This never happened to us, but a lot of people in my ward talked about bears walking in their yard. When I was pregnant and had crazy weird dreams, I would dream about bears getting us! So I figured I should put those fears to rest. I stepped up to this bear and examined it pretty good. It kind of helped! But then I stood in the middle of it's paws and I felt a little vulnerable again. Ahhhh. 

We were about to head to the airport, but I guess Graham wanted Grandpa to come with us! He stole his ball cap. I think Graham might need one of his own.

There was this awful terrible flu bug that plowed through the whole house around the time that we left Utah. Ashley had it first, the night before we flew. Amazingly she felt good enough to play tennis with Dad and I the next morning so it was a short virus. I got sick when I landed in Dallas, and by that time everyone back at Tammy's house was throwing up too! Except for Landan and Corin. But it's okay. They spent their anniversary throwing up together a couple weeks earlier, so I guess it's fair haha! 

And then I gave it to Steve a day after I arrived....love you sweets! XO