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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