The best present

As my brother so eloquently stated, on Christmas Day (and for a few days afterwards if we are being honest), it appeared as though "Disney capitalism threw up" in my living room.  Graham received every Jake toy known to man and then some, and everyone's love of Mickey was passed on to Elliot!  And while these clothes, chair, toys, books, and games were very much appreciated, Graham is apparently like every stereotypical 3 year old.  His favorite present and that which kept him most entertained for the last month was the extra large box in which Chris' parents sent their gifts.

Check out all the fun!

Somebody's got the giggles!

I mean really, is there anything better than baby giggles?  Especially, baby's first giggles?!

Grahamisms

Graham's vocabulary never ceases to amaze me.  He is growing in leaps and bounds in the thoughts he puts together and the sentences that come out of him.  A few of my recent favorites:

Graham:  "Mommy, I just don't like sleeping!"
Me:  "Honey, I know...the whole neighborhood knows!"

Graham:  "Will you please look at my beautiful, twirly princess dress?  Mommy, you dance with me.  I am Belle, and you can be the beast!"  (NO comments, Uncle Brian)

After spending half of an evening pretending that an empty laundry basket and foam clock were a race car, he awoke the next morning to find the basket no longer empty and in the same place.  He asked Chris, "Daddy, where's my dinghy?  I was going to go for a ride in my dinghy!"  (Thank you Jake, Peter Pan, and Captain Hook for that piece of nautical vocabulary!)

In keeping with the Disney theme, he is fascinated/borderline obsessed with the movie Frozen and the soundtrack.  He goes around singing and asking Elliot, "Do you want to build a snowman?"  He also asks repeatedly for the "Crazy" song (Love is an Open Door), and wants me to channel my inner Idina Menzel to sing "Let It Go".  I am actually more than happy to oblige on that one (See previous post about my thoughts on Superheroes).

One of my all time favorites:

Me:  "Graham, when we get home, do you think Elliot will say, 'Oh Graham, I have been missing you so much today'?"
Graham:  "No."
Me:  "Why not?"
Graham:  "He doesn't have any teeth.  He can't talk without teeth!"
A little later in the conversation...
Me:  "I know Elliot can't talk, but you know that he loves you, right?"
Graham:  "Yes."
Me:  "How do you know?"
Graham:  "Because he smiles at my face!" (cue teary Mommy!)

Hello World!

Checkin' out the world from a whole new angle!

My Present meets My Future

I had been debating whether to take Graham to see Frozen.  I really wanted to see it, and thought he would probably like it, but I just hadn't summoned up the courage.  Nor had I mentioned anything about the movie to Graham.  On Thursday, he came home talking about his buddy Fisher and how Fisher had gone to see "Frozen, like a Disney movie".  I asked if he wanted to see it too, and he enthusiastically said yes.

So, today, I got brave and took Graham to see Frozen.  It was a special surprise, in that I wouldn't tell him where we were going.  On the way there, he kept guessing Target!  However, he was very excited when we pulled into the theater parking lot, and he exclaimed that this was where we had seen the "Planes Movie"!  He was sure we were going to see it again.  He was really happy, though, when I told him we were going to see Frozen.  He proudly announced to the girl at the ticket counter, "We are going to see the Frozen movie.  It is a Disney movie.  It has princesses in it."  (Thanks, son!  There went my chance to sneak you in for free as a 2 year old!)

In the lobby, Graham happily presented the usher his ticket, repeating his whole spiel about going to see Frozen, Disney, etc. when he stopped mid-sentence and screamed out..."Look!  It's Batman!" while pointing to an ad for the upcoming Lego movie.   And in an instant, my heart fell a bit.

Maybe it is a girl thing, but I am so not into the Superheroes!  I can identify the major ones (Spiderman, Batman, Superman, and I think I have figured out Captain America), but I don't really know anything about them, nor do I really care to learn.  However, Graham has been coming home from school talking about all the superheroes for the past few months, and not getting the cape he wanted for Christmas, hasn't stopped him from tying various aprons, towels, blankets, stuffed animals, etc. around his neck and running from place to place yelling about being a superhero.  Fortunately, in the next minute, the said cape has become a princess dress or a tutu for dancing, and we are back in my comfort zone.

So, here I stood in the lobby of the theater headed to see a Disney movie and being exposed to a superhero ad.  My present met my future, and while I may not be excited about the Superheroes, I know they are the next big thing.  In the meantime, I will take solace in the fact that my little man LOVED Frozen and was very excited to tell Daddy and Elliot all about it, while acting out some of his favorite parts.  Maybe I can convince him that Buzz Lightyear and Peter Pan are Superheroes, too.  At least for a little longer...

StickerDoodle

Graham has been into stickers lately.  He likes to look at stickers, play with them, and share them.  Fortunately, we have an abundance of stickers that are stuck to various surfaces around the house.  The latest surface...his brother!

It started innocently enough.  Chris was busy making supper, and I was working on some laundry.  Graham was supposed to be playing and "watching Elliot".  We knew it was too quiet out there, but I could not have imagined what Graham meant when he proudly walked into the kitchen and announced that he had made Elliot a "StickerDoodle".  Poor Elliot was literally covered from head to toe in stickers, so I did what any self-respecting and exhausted Mommy would do...I laughed, hysterically.  Then I took pictures and got on facetime with my Mom and Dad, while Chris did the same with his parents!  Chris even managed to get Graham's explanation on video...

It does make me wonder, though, given Elliot's patience and lack of tears or crying, if he wasn't in on it.  I can just hear him saying, "Quick, put them on my head.  It will be great!"

Best Buddies

While I always knew that the love in my heart would grow exponentially with the birth of my second child, I was not prepared for what that experience would be like for my children.

From the moment we told him about being a big brother, Graham was extremely excited about having a sibling (although he did think it would be a sister!).  He loved to talk about all the things that he would help the baby do and all the fun they would have.  So, really his response to Elliot has been no surprise.  From day one, he has LOVED his brother, as in he is over the moon for him!! 

Love at First Sight!

Everyday, Graham will come home from school, bypass whichever of us didn't pick him up and go straight to Elliot, giving him hugs and "brother mooches" and exclaiming, "Elliot!  I have been missing you so much today!"  He has been doing this nearly everyday for almost 2 months, and it does not get old!  It seriously melts my heart!  Alternately, if I have brought Elliot with me to pick him up at school the instant Graham sees us, he will literally drop everything in his hands and run to him saying, "Elliot, you came to see me today!"  He is so proud to introduce him and show him off to all his friends!  One of the girls in his class has commented to her mom that she is so excited that "Graham has a Carter (her little brother) of his own!"

At Graham's Christmas party at school

Graham can't wait until Elliot is old enough to really play with him, although he asks everyday if he wants to come and play with him in his pirate room.  Graham has loved their matching big and little brother shirts and outfits, and this weekend, when Elliot was dressed in a cowboy onesie he got for Christmas, Graham ran to his room and changed into his Buzz Lightyear pajamas, just so they could be Woody and Buzz!

Woody and Buzz--BFFs

While all of this is completely adorable, I think even more amazing is Elliot's response to Graham.  I have known since before he was born that Elliot was fascinated by Graham.  Two days before he was born, Graham spent the day with Natalie and her family, and I had very few contractions.  However, the minute we picked Graham up and he heard Graham's voice, Elliot started kicking and moving all about.   Elliot clearly LOVED Graham, and this love affair has definitely continued on the outside.  Elliot can be perfectly content with Chris or I, but the minute he hears Graham's voice or sees Graham enter the room, he is so focused and intent on him.  He watches his every move, smiles, at everything he says and does, and just genuinely loves being with him.

So cute, with his arm around Graham at bedtime

Needless to say, I get a little teary every time I see them being so sweet to each other!  I can only hope and pray that this early bond will continue to grow and thrive as they grow up together and for the rest of their lives!

Elf on a Shelf

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There's no room!

For the past few weeks, anytime I have picked Graham up from school, he has stopped by the two nativity sets in the foyer and launched into a routine of identifying each of the animals and people:  "There's the sheep, the shepherds, Jesus' mommy, Mary, his Daddy, (Whose his name again?), and the baby Jesus, just like Elliot's a baby."  Next, he would say, "Why are they in the barn/farm?" and without waiting for an answer, he would reply "Because there's no room!".  I don't know if they read a specific story at school, but his answer was always the same and delivered almost like the punchline of a joke..."there's no room, get it, ha ha!"

Fast forward to our Christmas eve service at church.  My mom and dad went along with Chris and I and the boys for our second attempt at a family worship experience.  Goodness knows we needed the help...do you remember the camel incident from a few weeks ago?  Graham is definitely not used to being in church during a worship service, and was a little antsy to say the least.  He kept getting up from the chairs and walking back to the wise men statues.  He would sit by them and/or place his candle in the crucifix holder, like he was the 4th wise guy!  Just as I was about to lose my mind, Pastor Marda started the gospel.  Graham was still not paying attention, and at the beginning of a meltdown when all of the sudden he stopped, looked up, and said, "Hey, I know this story...there's no room!"  I love that boy and his genuine spirit!

Merry Christmas

From our family to yours...

We wish you a Merry Christmas!

Oh, brother!

It is really too bad that these two don't look anything alike, right?!  

I am in so, so, so much trouble!

Grumpy Camel

Today was the Sunday School Christmas program at church.  We don't have a lot of children in our church, so the nativity story has to be rather carefully planned and orchestrated.  The older ones are assigned to being Mary, Joseph, and the shepherds, while there are just enough little ones to have one angel, one sheep, one cow, and one camel.  This year, Graham was the camel.  And what a camel he was!

It started when he wanted to sit by Elliot and me, and not the rest of the Sunday School crew.  So, Elliot and I moved to the front row.  Then, he sat on the floor next to me, refusing to move closer to the "manger" in front.  His teacher, Andrea and I both tried to coax him a little closer, but he was having none of it.  Instead, he opted to take off his adorable camel hat and proceed to throw it up in the air!  Although I managed to catch the hat, avert a camel crisis in the middle of the program, and get one picture of the complete ensemble, Chris and I told Graham later that camels are supposed to be humpy, not grumpy! 

Heaven help us if he is ever assigned to be an angel!  I am having visions of the youngest Herdman, Gladys, screaming "Hey you!  Yeah, you!  Unto you a child is born" and halos flying everywhere!  Maybe if there was a pirate in the Christmas story...

Welcome, Elliot!

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Happy Birth Day!

In our family, we have a lot of fall birthdays.  And I do mean, a LOT!  As in 1 in August, 5 in September, 2 in October, and now 2 in November.  For Graham, this was most convenient because we learned that when you have a 3 year old who has just come to understand what birthdays are all about (cupcakes, balloons, and parties) and has celebrated that many birthdays in a short period of time, it is convenient to explain that the new baby that is about to arrive will have the next "birthday". 

Shortly after we told Graham he was going to be a big brother, we overheard him in the backseat, talking to himself, saying "We'll go home, eat supper, put jammies on, and then the baby will come."  Umm, buddy it's June.  The baby is not coming yet.  So, we decided to tell him that the baby would come after his birthday, constantly praying that the baby would really wait until after October 26.  Graham caught onto this and once the fall birthday season arrived, he was always asking to "talk about birthdays" and for us to identify "whose birthday comes next".

Needless to say that by the time Elliot's birth day actually arrived, Graham was all ready to celebrate!   The morning that we were in labor, Chris' parents took Graham to Publix where he chose a special birthday balloon, party hats and napkins, and cupcakes!  He even drew a picture for Elliot.  The party planner and his "party in a box" arrived at the hospital on the afternoon of November 14 and it was game on!  Let the birthday celebration begin!
 

There was a balloon,

party hats for EVERYONE (check out how many Graham has for himself!),

 birthday and big brother cards (and presents, of course!),

 

N

singing (he is my child, after all),

and cupcakes!  

Unfortunately, we were all so busy eating said cupcakes and cleaning up the chocolate aftermath, there are no pictures to be found.  Which, let's face it, is probably a good thing.  Have you seen a 3 year old eat a chocolate cupcake or any cupcake for that matter?!  It is not a pretty sight! =)

All this partying led to a worn out first "birth day" boy and a sleepy big brother/party planner extraordinaire!

 

I was so impressed and proud of Graham.  He was so excited about his little brother, and he certainly though of everything.  What a wonderful welcome to this world and our family!  Suffice it to say, Graham has set the bar pretty high.  I can only wonder what I will be able to come up with next year for Elliot's first birthday!

 

It's a...

BOY!!!!!

We are proud to introduce you to Elliot Warren Reece!  Elliot was born at 10:24 am on November 14th (a few days later than expected, but well worth the wait)!  He weighed in at 7 lbs. 15 oz., and 19.5 inches long.  For those of you keeping score at home that is a full 2 lbs. 2 oz. heavier and .4 inches longer than his brother!  In keeping with being as unlike his brother as possible, he has a head of dark hair.

Like his brother, Elliot's arrival came after a few trips to the mid-wife's office, ultrasound tech's office, and a trip to TMH (just for good measure).  Although we had hoped to be induced earlier in the week, we had an induction scheduled for Thursday.  However, the threat of a forced eviction was apparently enough to motivate the little man, as I went into labor on my own on Wednesday evening, and Elliot decided it was time to make his appearance on the coldest morning of the season.

In ways like his brother and ways all his own, Elliot, in an instant, changed our lives for the better, and introduced everyone in the family to a level of love that we didn't even know existed.  He has made our family complete and we are over the moon for our newest bundle of joy!

Anytime now...

OK, baby!  Today is your very cool due date, and we are ready for you to come.  Truth be told, I am beyond ready for you to come.  Over the past few weeks, I have tried coaxing you out in several different ways...

A bumpy hay ride...

hugs from your big brother...

going down the slide at the park (after walking there and then walking the long way home)...

and I even resorted to this today...

You better come quick.  Who knows what I might do next! =)

Graham's 3!

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Happy Halloween from the Neverland Crew

As you may be aware, Graham is obsessed with all things Peter Pan and all things pirate.  We have about 4 different copies of Peter Pan books, each just slightly different from the others, and Graham has each memorized.  To the extent that he informed me one day that a dog in the neighborhood was "licking his chops for more, you know like the Tick Tock Croc in Peter Pan".  He is too smart for his own good!  At least, the obsession is fun and for the most part, appropriate!

Graham decided very early on that he wanted to be Peter Pan for Halloween this year.  So, one youth sized green shirt from Target, one pair of green pajama pants, a rope belt from one of my maternity dresses, and an authentically purchased Disney Peter Pan hat complete with a red feather later, voila, Peter Pan was ready to roll! 

Initially, the plan was only to have Peter Pan represented in our house.  However, after talking with some friends from church, Chris discovered that he could have access to a Captain Hook costume.  This was all well and good, and Graham was thrilled to find Daddy dressed as Captain Hook! 

However, Graham then turned to me and said, "Who are you going to be, Mommy?"  I couldn't come up with anything fast enough (espeically since we were supposed to be leaving to trick or treat in about 10 minutes), but Chris saved the day, remembering that I had a striped maternity top.  Pairing that with my non-maternity shorts allowed baby to be a part of the Mr. Smee costume as well since it is a requirement that Mr. Smee's belly hang out! 

The costumes were the hit of the neighborhood and everyone loved how even baby was included...Now, what will we do next year when there are actually 4 of us?!

Big Brother to Be

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A BIG announcement!

 

Someone is a little excited, don't you think?  Actually, 3 of us are really excited!!   The cats aren't so sure about adding another one to the mix...