Wheezy

Graham was having some tummy time yesterday. He's just recently started to grab toys and play with them while on his tummy. He also has begun to pull his legs up towards his body, he seems to understand how to move. He's just not quite strong enough to do it, yet!! :) In this short clip you'll hear him wheezing throughout. He seems to wheeze constantly unless he is sleeping. Thankfully he isn't in any distress, but we can't wait for the day until this sickness is 100% gone!

Sitting Tall...Kinda!

Graham is just learning how to sit by himself. He's not completely sturdy yet, but he can sit for a little bit without any help. He's close to realizing that he can hold himself up with his arms. Only a few more tries and he'll have it figured out! He's pretty close to rolling over from his back to his tummy. He keeps thinking about it, but hasn't decided that it's worth all the work yet. He's pretty happy to lay on his back and swing his legs up and down.

Oops...He's falling down!! :)

Lessons From a Child

Graham is currently fighting his first real illness. Yesterday the Doctor stated that she believed he had bronchiolitis. She explained that this usually will show up in older kids as just a common cold, however with younger babies it comes on a lot stronger since their bronchial tubes are so much smaller. Graham has had a lot of wheezing, coughing, a slight fever, runny nose and watery eye. I can tell that he's not feeling his best. He struggles to nurse since he finds it hard to breathe & nurse at the same time. However, through all of this he continues to give me constant smiles. What an example my child is already being for me. He must feel pretty poorly, yet he seems content. It reminded me of Ephesians 5:20 ' giving thanks ALWAYS for ALL things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ'. How many times do I mope around when I'm not feeling well...complaining about my illness? I pray that Graham will continue throughout life with a positive and cheerful spirit!

On a side note, Graham is doing ok. We have the humidifier running constantly in his bedroom, his crib is elevated on one end, he spends some time each day in a steamy bathroom followed by 'pounding' his back to break up the mucous. He has had a few rough nursings, however we're making it through and he is getting enough fluids. Unfortunately there's nothing they can really do for this illness. It just has to run it's course. I was told that if he starts to really not be able to breathe or his fever would spike that we are to take him to the ER. We're working towards those two things not happening!

Here's a picture of Graham this morning as he spent time in the steamy bathroom. As you can tell he's not letting this illness get the best of him as he easily smiled for the camera!

Big Boy

We have officially pulled out and started using Graham's 6-9month clothing. He still wears some things that are 3-6months, however some of the outfits are starting to get tight. Graham likes his new sport oriented onesies that Grandma & Grandpa got him for Christmas. It's hard to believe that my little boy is getting so big! Boy does time fly!!

New Blanket

My sister-n-law's mother, Suzanne, is an excellent crocheter. She made a really beautiful blanket for Graham that she gave me at his baby shower. This past weekend while we were visiting my family, Kathleen (my sister-in-law), brought me a gift from her mom...this new blanket. It's absolutely gorgeous! Thank you Mrs. Kirwen!! Graham loves his blankie as you can tell from the pictures!

Four Month Pictures

Today was Graham's 4 month check-up. We were getting curious as to how much he had grown as we had been seeing big changes in him each and every day. Graham is now a whopping 15 pounds 7 ounces and 26 3/4 inches long!! The doctor decided that we would not use the preemie growth chart anymore, since he was off the charts. He is in the 75th percentile for weight and 97th percentile for height on the regular growth chart! Way to go Graham!! Mommy and Daddy are so happy with how well you're growing!

Our days are now filled with constant baby talk while Graham's awake. He loves to play with his toys, watch anything that moves near him, laugh while his Mommy tickles him and he smiles up a storm! He loves to stand while being held and thinks he's pretty big stuff when Mommy helps him walk over to Daddy! It's amazing how quickly the past 4 months have gone....Graham has been such a joy to have in our lives and we can't imagine even a moment without him! We love you buddy and thank God everyday for this blessing from Him!

Grandma Time

Grandma got to spend some quality time with all of her grandkids this weekend. She loves spending time with each of them, and they love that time as well! I'm foreseeing future summertime weeks with the grandkids staying at Grandma & Grandpa's house. What fun they'll all have!! :)

Here's a clip of Graham playing in his exersaucer. He loves to stand in it and play. He can entertain himself for about 20 minutes at a time. He will talk up a storm as he plays as well. Thank you ladies of the Fostoria Baptist Church for his fun toy!

Relaxing with Daddy

Now that Graham is able to 'sit up' a little bit more by himself he has found that he would rather be up watching everything that is going on around him. He's spending more and more time in his exersaucer or wanting to 'stand' while being held. His legs are getting stronger by the day and he continues to grow like a weed. He has his four month checkup on Wednesday and we'll then know exactly how big he has gotten. By the way his clothing is fitting, I know he's going to be big!!

Snow

This past weekend we went to my parents house in Northwest Ohio. They had gotten a decent amount of snow recently, however on our drive up we wondered where all the snow was. Well, when we pulled in my parents driveway we found out! Unlike in the Cincy area, NW Ohio is super flat, so the snow blows like crazy. They had huge drifts all through their yard. It brought back memories of my brother and I building forts in the drifts! Here's a picture of Graham & myself by a big drift.

Bumbo

Graham has been sitting in the bumbo seat every once in awhile. A friend from our Bible Study insisted we borrow theirs since Graham was at the right stage, Thanks Katie! He enjoys it for the most part, but always gives us this funny look when we first put him in the seat. He was playing nicely today with his keys and elephant for quite awhile.

Playing With His Keys

Graham likes to play with his keys. He's usually very content to just lay on the floor and play. In this clip he is starring at the light from the window. I didn't want him to see me or he would have just laid there and starred at the camera. He always stops what he's doing when the camera is around.

Playtime

Eric was playing with Graham on the floor and Sam wanted in on the action. He stayed for a decent amount of time and purred for awhile as well! He's really warming up to his brother.

Naptime

On Sunday when we put Graham down for his nap, he was busy talking away in his crib. We enjoyed listening to him, because it was just so sweet to hear his little coos. I finally went in to video some of it. He quickly realized I was there so he wasn't quite as talkative as he had been since he was watching me more, but this gives some idea of what he was up to. He continued talking for a few more minutes after I left the room and then quieted down for a nice long nap!

Superbowl

Thanks Cousin Tim, Kaylee & Kathleen for Graham's Colt's outfit. It came in very handy in getting ready for the big game. We went to a Superbowl party with some friends from our church. Graham enjoyed the party, although he got pretty sleepy as it was past his bedtime. Mommy didn't mind, because that meant that he feel asleep on her shoulder! He enjoyed sporting his cool outfit and cheering for the Colt's!

Winter Hat

As many of you know, I like to bargain shop. I'm all about buying a season ahead when things are on sale and getting good deals. Today I stopped at Children's Place to check out the sales I heard they were having. They had a lot of winter clothing on sale, however we are pretty well stocked with clothes for Graham for next winter. I did find however winter hats & gloves. They were marked down to $0.99 each. I picked up this hat for Graham and a pair of mittens to go with it. They are for next winter, although he had to try it on when we got home! He thought it was kinda fun to wear a hat....although he lost interest quickly as sucking his thumb was more exciting!

Wiggleworm

Graham has started to wiggle a lot more during the night. One night I had placed him in his crib facing one direction and the next morning he was facing the other direction all the way at the one corner of his crib. I kept on questioning whether or not I really remembered correctly which direction he was facing when I laid him down. Well, I did. Here's the next morning where he was about two-thirds around from the direction I had laid him down. I can't wait to see who much he wiggles about his crib after I stop swaddling him!

Reading

We received a good number of books as gifts for Graham before he was born. We have been trying to read to him a little everyday. He seems to be noticing the pictures in the books more and more and loves the time spent with us. Here he is having reading time with Daddy!


This picture is priceless. The flash on the camera scared him...I think he looks adorable though.

Happy baby!

Cool Kid

Graham wanted to try his Daddy's hat on for size. It ALMOST fit! :) He thought he was pretty cool stuff wearing the hat!

All that posing for pictures wore him out...time for a nap!