We forgot to add some videos to the update. Here's a couple to delight our friends and relatives.
Tuesday, December 27, 2011
Family Fun in December
December has been a fun and busy month. Marie and Joe and baby Max came in town for the holidays....5 whole weeks in Utah!!! Marie came in a week early with Max to make my Grandma Maxine's funeral. They stayed with us until Joe arrived and it was so fun! You just don't get to spend from morning til night with a new mom and baby, so it was a special experience for us to share so much time with them and be part of their routine. Max is amazing and we love him so much. They are still in town and we've spent a lot of time together with my family. It just feels right to have Joe, Marie and Max around! :) Sam learned a lot from Max while they stayed at our house. Max is much more vocal and active and Sam really stepped it up a notch in those departments once Max showed him the ropes.
Simon's back went out again :( he has to be confined for 8 weeks, which he hates, but he is already doing a lot better. What a fighter!!! We love you Simon!
Sam is growing like a weed and such a mellow, happy, smiley baby. He is holding his head up now. A few weeks ago Stu did a raspberry on his belly and it opened the laughter and smile gates. Ever since then he has been smiling like crazy. His whole life, all he knew was concern......until now!!!! :) And he LOVES his Daddy!! He breaks into the biggest grin whenever Stu talks to him. Maybe because Stu showed him how to laugh :)
Burke is repeating everything we say. Guess I can't be a swear bear anymore. wink-wink ;) He is the best big brother ever and loves to play with motorcycles, balls and ride his new bike. We think he is the cutest little guy ever!
We raked up 70 bags of leaves this year. yep, you read that right...70!!!
Sam being adorable.
We had a triple date at our house with Abe and Vanessa, Joe and Marie, and Stu and I. Of course all the kids were there too. We watched Louie C.K.'s new comedy stand up.... awesome!
Baby Max. The most adorable thing ever!
Sam smiling again. His jowls continue to grow on a daily basis.
Mom and Burke chillin' on the couch.
Dad and the boys playing around. I am pretty sure Sam sees something that no one else can see. Check out the look on his face. :)
Christmas Eve dinner at my Mom's house.
The whole family was there!
Christmas morning. My favorite decorations on the tree this year are the hand prints of Burke and Sam's hands. So cute!
Christmas morning.
Dad and Burke putting Burke's new pedal-less bike together. Burke was in awe of the whole process and we can't get him off of it.
I took about 10 pictures of the boys on the couch and this was the best of the bunch. Burke wouldn't stop making funny faces and sliding down the couch. :)
Sir Burkeshire on his new bike!
Hello world, here I come!!
The first time meeting Max!
Sam helping Mom trim the tree.
Burke helping Mom trim the tree.
Simon's back went out again :( he has to be confined for 8 weeks, which he hates, but he is already doing a lot better. What a fighter!!! We love you Simon!
Sam is growing like a weed and such a mellow, happy, smiley baby. He is holding his head up now. A few weeks ago Stu did a raspberry on his belly and it opened the laughter and smile gates. Ever since then he has been smiling like crazy. His whole life, all he knew was concern......until now!!!! :) And he LOVES his Daddy!! He breaks into the biggest grin whenever Stu talks to him. Maybe because Stu showed him how to laugh :)
Burke is repeating everything we say. Guess I can't be a swear bear anymore. wink-wink ;) He is the best big brother ever and loves to play with motorcycles, balls and ride his new bike. We think he is the cutest little guy ever!
We raked up 70 bags of leaves this year. yep, you read that right...70!!!
Sam being adorable.
We had a triple date at our house with Abe and Vanessa, Joe and Marie, and Stu and I. Of course all the kids were there too. We watched Louie C.K.'s new comedy stand up.... awesome!
Baby Max. The most adorable thing ever!
Sam smiling again. His jowls continue to grow on a daily basis.
Mom and Burke chillin' on the couch.
Dad and the boys playing around. I am pretty sure Sam sees something that no one else can see. Check out the look on his face. :)
Christmas Eve dinner at my Mom's house.
The whole family was there!
Christmas morning. My favorite decorations on the tree this year are the hand prints of Burke and Sam's hands. So cute!
Christmas morning.
Dad and Burke putting Burke's new pedal-less bike together. Burke was in awe of the whole process and we can't get him off of it.
I took about 10 pictures of the boys on the couch and this was the best of the bunch. Burke wouldn't stop making funny faces and sliding down the couch. :)
Sir Burkeshire on his new bike!
Hello world, here I come!!
The first time meeting Max!
Sam helping Mom trim the tree.
Burke helping Mom trim the tree.
Saturday, November 5, 2011
October Adventures
October was a wonderful month. Sam is now 8 weeks old and sleeping through the night, yep, 7 hr stretches for a week now!!! Hats off to the BabyWise sleep training method we used with both Burke and little Sam, it worked wonders for both boys. I feel like a new woman with more sleep and life seems to be getting into a better rhythm all the time with the kids. I was holding Sam the other night just staring at his beautiful, chubby face and body, wondering how I got so lucky to have 2 healthy, happy, handsome boys and the best husband in the world. He seemed to read my mind and smiled back at me.... then pooped the mother of all loads in his diaper. I couldn't help but chuckle. :) Burke is repeating everything we say and is so fun to play and hang out with. A few days ago, he and I were out in the front yard enjoying one of the last days of fall this year. I took a break from raking the leaves and watched him as he ran up and down the sidewalk. He likes to run as fast as he can for about 20 ft. then stop and turn around and wait for you to say 'more' then he runs as fast as he can the other way. He'll repeat this about 10 times. It is hilarious! I wanted to get the video camera to record how adorable it was, but I knew he'd just follow me inside so I drank in the moment and tried to burn it in my memory. Having kids is the funnest and most rewarding thing I've ever done in my life. Especially with Stu as a partner. :) Enjoy these pics. We love and miss you all!
p.s. woke up to 3 inches of snow this morning. Winter is here. :(
Happy Fall Time, Burke LOVES pumpkins!! Or as he says "pumins"
Sam couldn't miss out on the fun. :)
Burke and I finger painted. He decided to do 2 paintings and also paint his body, oh and of course taste it too!
Happy Halloween!! Stu and I were X-ray techs and Sam and Burke were our little skeletons.
I took the boys to Ruthie's house a few days ago to take some pictures. We got a few winners. :)
I don't know if you can see the blue on Burke's lips or not. We were bribing him with M&M's to get him to lay down with his brother. :)
p.s. woke up to 3 inches of snow this morning. Winter is here. :(
Happy Fall Time, Burke LOVES pumpkins!! Or as he says "pumins"
Sam couldn't miss out on the fun. :)
Burke and I finger painted. He decided to do 2 paintings and also paint his body, oh and of course taste it too!
Happy Halloween!! Stu and I were X-ray techs and Sam and Burke were our little skeletons.
I took the boys to Ruthie's house a few days ago to take some pictures. We got a few winners. :)
I don't know if you can see the blue on Burke's lips or not. We were bribing him with M&M's to get him to lay down with his brother. :)
Sunday, October 9, 2011
Life is fun
Life with 2 kids is a lot of fun and easier than I thought it would be. Sure it's busy and freaking exhausting and tries your patience to new degrees, but Stu and I have both expressed that our level of joy has increased a lot. And we were pretty darn joyful before kids. :) Burke is the best big brother ever and so far really only wants to kiss Sam and point out his 'toes' and 'nose' and 'eye'. I think he is just too young to know that he was the only fiddle before Sam arrived, so maybe it will work out pretty good that we had the kids so close together. Things seem easier with Sam than with Burke. I think because we aren't so freaked out about every little sound or rash or surprise that comes along with a baby like we were with the first one. Thanks Sir Burke for breaking us in as parents! Sam is almost 5 weeks old already. He is a really mellow baby overall. He's sleeping 2 1/2 to 3 hours at a time at nights, and that's getting longer all the time. Stu is good about giving me breaks on the weekends and I try to let him get the majority of the sleep during the week. I've had a few breakdowns, but after a good cry in Stu's arms I have been able to pull it back together and keep going. So far, so good. I'd recommend 2 kids to anyone. :) With that said, Stu and I would like to plan an overnight getaway in March to celebrate our 5 year anniversary, since we were both too sleep deprived to celebrate it in September, and yes for the sweet taste of waking up on our own, taking a nap WHEN WE WANT, and being kid free for a day....any volunteers to come and watch the boys? :)
Stu's parents came in town for 9 days to visit and it was absolutely wonderful! They are the best guests ever. Seeing Guy and Sue with the boys was so fun. We love you both and it was sad to see you leave. Burke woke up the morning after they left and went to the window saying 'grandma....grandpa'. He misses you guys too.
Enjoy the photos of our latest adventures and give yourself a big hug from the Graters!
Don't bother me, I'm playing.
Samuel chillin' at the table with the fam.
Burke could read until the cows come home. And his latest love is the stuffed pig that's in his arms. He sleeps, eats and plays with it all day long. He calls it 'Piiii'. He can't say a G sound yet so he drags out the 'i' sound instead. It is so stinking adorable. :)
Burke in his castle out in the backyard. Of course with his blue ball. The blue ball comes in a close second to his stuffed pig.
Big yawn from Sam. Its exhausting watching my big brother Burke play all day.
Feed me, I'm starving!
Sam has so many cute expressions.
Chillin' in mom's lap.
This is to prove that Simon still exists. He hardly gets any attention at the moment, but he's still a handsome, great dog and we love him all the same. Good boy Simon! The vet says that he's 5 lbs overweight! So he's on a diet right now. 1/2 lb a week is the goal and so far he's doing great. He hates it of course and is bewildered every time we eat and don't give him scraps, but in the end I think he, and his bad back, will thank us.
Dad and Burke on the Honda70.
Sam is chunkin' up big time! We don't go in to have him weighed again until Nov, but its obvious that he's growing like a weed.
What an angel face!
Visiting with the grandparents, riding dad's motorcycle. Life doesn't get much better than this. :)
Sue, Guy, Stu, Burke and Simon. It's good to have the gang back together again. :)
Vroom-vroom. That is what Burke says non stop, literally, every time he sees or rides on a motorcycle.
Spending time with the folks.
Grandpa and Sam. Two peas in a pod.
Burke up Big Cottonwood Canyon.
Sue and Guy at Brighton.
Me, Sam, Sue, Guy and Burke.
Burke wasn't too happy about getting a family photo.
Our little vagabond. We weren't expecting it to be so cold up the canyon so we didn't bring coats. All we could find was an extra shirt I had brought along so we put it on Burke. He managed to get his arm out, just before he set off into the woods. :)
Mom and Sam.
Picnic in Sugarhouse Park with the Landies. It was so fun hanging out with everyone. From left to right, Burke, me, Sue, Guy, Ruthie and little Dylan in front.
Don and baby Cali. Cali is 11 months and started walking just a few days after this picture was taken!
Burke and Mom eating yummy food.
Jake and Burke.
Grandpa and Burke at Gardner Village checking out the sights during the witch festival.
Dad and Burke saying goodnight and goodbye to Grandpa and Grandma.
This is the night before Guy and Sue left. Goodbye Gma and Gpa, we love and miss you!
Not the greatest picture of Sam, but I had to document the enormity of his cheeks!
While Sam slept this afternoon, Stu went on a walk with Burke, then we switched and I went on a walk with Burke too while Stu watched Sam. It was such a beautiful night and the perfect temp for a sunset walk. Not too many days left like this one before the winter comes. We thought we'd snap a pic before the sun set.
That's it. Until next time. :)
Stu's parents came in town for 9 days to visit and it was absolutely wonderful! They are the best guests ever. Seeing Guy and Sue with the boys was so fun. We love you both and it was sad to see you leave. Burke woke up the morning after they left and went to the window saying 'grandma....grandpa'. He misses you guys too.
Enjoy the photos of our latest adventures and give yourself a big hug from the Graters!
Don't bother me, I'm playing.
Samuel chillin' at the table with the fam.
Burke could read until the cows come home. And his latest love is the stuffed pig that's in his arms. He sleeps, eats and plays with it all day long. He calls it 'Piiii'. He can't say a G sound yet so he drags out the 'i' sound instead. It is so stinking adorable. :)
Burke in his castle out in the backyard. Of course with his blue ball. The blue ball comes in a close second to his stuffed pig.
Big yawn from Sam. Its exhausting watching my big brother Burke play all day.
Feed me, I'm starving!
Sam has so many cute expressions.
Chillin' in mom's lap.
This is to prove that Simon still exists. He hardly gets any attention at the moment, but he's still a handsome, great dog and we love him all the same. Good boy Simon! The vet says that he's 5 lbs overweight! So he's on a diet right now. 1/2 lb a week is the goal and so far he's doing great. He hates it of course and is bewildered every time we eat and don't give him scraps, but in the end I think he, and his bad back, will thank us.
Dad and Burke on the Honda70.
Sam is chunkin' up big time! We don't go in to have him weighed again until Nov, but its obvious that he's growing like a weed.
What an angel face!
Visiting with the grandparents, riding dad's motorcycle. Life doesn't get much better than this. :)
Sue, Guy, Stu, Burke and Simon. It's good to have the gang back together again. :)
Vroom-vroom. That is what Burke says non stop, literally, every time he sees or rides on a motorcycle.
Spending time with the folks.
Grandpa and Sam. Two peas in a pod.
Burke up Big Cottonwood Canyon.
Sue and Guy at Brighton.
Me, Sam, Sue, Guy and Burke.
Burke wasn't too happy about getting a family photo.
Our little vagabond. We weren't expecting it to be so cold up the canyon so we didn't bring coats. All we could find was an extra shirt I had brought along so we put it on Burke. He managed to get his arm out, just before he set off into the woods. :)
Mom and Sam.
Picnic in Sugarhouse Park with the Landies. It was so fun hanging out with everyone. From left to right, Burke, me, Sue, Guy, Ruthie and little Dylan in front.
Don and baby Cali. Cali is 11 months and started walking just a few days after this picture was taken!
Burke and Mom eating yummy food.
Jake and Burke.
Grandpa and Burke at Gardner Village checking out the sights during the witch festival.
Dad and Burke saying goodnight and goodbye to Grandpa and Grandma.
This is the night before Guy and Sue left. Goodbye Gma and Gpa, we love and miss you!
Not the greatest picture of Sam, but I had to document the enormity of his cheeks!
While Sam slept this afternoon, Stu went on a walk with Burke, then we switched and I went on a walk with Burke too while Stu watched Sam. It was such a beautiful night and the perfect temp for a sunset walk. Not too many days left like this one before the winter comes. We thought we'd snap a pic before the sun set.
That's it. Until next time. :)
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