Two and A Half!

It's hard to believe that Graham turned two in a half years old today.  It seems like it was just yesterday when he was born and other moments I look at him feeling like he has been that perfect puzzle piece in our family forever.  

Graham has definitely changed and grown up a lot in the past six month.  He went from speaking single words to now having a vocabulary we cannot keep up with.  One of his favorites is asking "why?" Be for warned no answer is good enough and he will keep asking until his focus shifts to a passing digger:)!

 His personality has also exploded.  He is outgoing, sassy, passionate, and beyond funny.  The minute he knows he has our attention, he 'commands the floor'.  All the while in new situations he wants to still be held and needs a little bit of time to warm up before leaving his mark.  Graham is a climber, jumper, runner, and all boy.  At the same time, he is incredibly sensitive especially when someone gets mad/upset.  His immediate reaction is to throw something, ekkkkkk (something we are working on)

(Graham's first time skiing.  Much like everything he does he jumped right in and didn't want to stop!)

 Graham loves his big brother, Beccie, like something fierce.  Graham thinks he is also eight years old and can run, jump, and play any sport just like Reece.  However, he also is strong willed and wants to be left alone to figure things out on his own!  Watching their relationship blossom makes my heart skip a beat every time!  

Graham is a great eater and very rarely complains about food.  We have eliminated all dye from his diet.  He now even understands when we tell him he cannot eat something and responds "why?, has dye".  

While this was a bit of a transition at first, we have really noticed a huge difference in Graham.  He sleeps great and is much more level with his personality. Gregg and I can tell within hours if he has eaten something he isn't suppose to because he become defiant, angry, and very aggressive, not to mention he will wake up in the middle of the night uncontrollably crying.  So dye free we are!  

Some of his favorite food are fruit bars, blackberries, cheeseburgers, lettuce (yes lettuce!!), donuts, and yogurt with Kashi (granola).  

Graham loves to read, play with any and all transportation equipment, look at pictures, and dance.  Boy does he have some moves.  The minute he hears a song he likes, he is shouting "Turn it up, turn it up"!

Graham has no interest in potty training.  He wants to wear 'underpants' and even says he will get a chocolate but when it comes down to it he won't sit or even stand at the potty.  So this will be a bridge we will keep working on crossing.  We are also working on getting rid of his binki.  I know I just need to cut the cord, but gosh it is a hard thing to do because it offers him so much comfort.  So keep working we will...

I couldn't have asked for a better way to celebrate our little man then spending the entire day with him today because of the MLK holiday.  As a full time working parent, I often feel like time is fleeting as the boys grow up faster and faster.  We had such a blast just the three of us today, while Daddy is out of town.  We ended the day by celebrating with our best friends complete with ice cream and candles to blow out.  Definitely feeling extra blessed after today!

So while Graham is growing and changing before our eyes, I know with all certainty  that this little man has stolen our entire heart in his short two in half years!  

Our Girlie

Pressley 

April 15, 2002 - December 26, 2014

 I have struggled so much with the words to say which is probably why it has taken me almost three weeks to even begin to express our heartbreak.  Presley was the first member of our family.  I remember picking her up prior to marrying Gregg and it was at a time when I completely unsure of our future.  From that first moment she curled on my lap on our car ride home her gentle, kind, and loyal spirit became irreplaceable.  Sadly she is now "with Jesus" (Graham)

Pressley was the one constant in all the chaos of our growing home.  She had a true smile on our face ever time we returned home after the few times we had to leave her.  She never said no.  She knew when I was putting on my running clothes and she was ready.  She was at the door the minute we started to back a boat bag or heard Gregg pick up his keys at 5 am to head to the golf course.  She was the first one up to alert us that one of the boys was up in the middle of the night.  She helped us take out the garbage, she loved dropping the boys off at school, or just hang around as we did yard work, knowing exactly when we needed a break to throw her the tennis ball;)!

She loved to chase the tennis ball, or any squirrel within her sight ( she even caught one once and gently put it down as not to kill it)  She would stand on the edge of the greens and wait for Gregg as to not damage any soft turf.  She would be up in the back of the car before we could even tell her she could or couldn't come with us.  She waited for permission to jump up on the couch or the bed, all when knowing exactly when to nudge my hand to remind us that she had yet to be fed.  She loved nothing more than just to be with us!

After 13 years , we often spoke about that someday Pressley might no longer be here, but I never imagined what life would be like without her.  Pressley was never the dog who made her presence well know, yet at the same time was always there and made each memory that much sweeter with her loyalty.  

When we spoke to her, we just knew that she understood.  From the first moment I became so sick when pregnant with Graham, she never left my side.  All the while Pressley was making sure to never be in the way. She had no problem taking a back seat as we became parents to Reece and Graham, but was their first line of defense as she was being the protective big sister.

 Pressley loved the boys like I could have only wished and they loved her !  It really was a magical relationship to witness.  She was beyond special and we miss her tremendously!!

It is hard to imagine life without Pressley and sometimes I still feel like I am going to walk in the door to her greeting us!  So while we are on a new  bumpy path of dealing with explaining loss and grief to Graham and Reece, I hope that someday our tears will be replaced with smiles when we talk about her!  

 Until then, I cherish every picture I have which offers a small glimpse into her heart!

She sure was something remarkable and I feel so blessed that God blessed us with her for thirteen short years.

Thank you so much for teaching us the meaning of unconditional love Girlie, we will forever miss you!