My ladies, some ducks, and more Graham

Well, I can't forget my ladies! Kona and Molly are LOVING the nicer weather outside. And, they're anxious to start swim season. (I am, too. But, the pool is currently 60 degrees - not my cup of tea.) So, we also have ducks in our backyard. I saw them the other day and called out to Kyle - I could have sworn they were fighting. Strangest thing I'd ever seen! Kyle comes over and thinks they're doing something other than fighting. Perhaps baby ducks soon?

Our girls are big (Molly - while skinny is 75 pounds and has a large frame. Kona - while low to the ground can look a bit tough.). To "soften" up their look, Kyle bought them pink hair ties that are now attached to their "necklaces" (AKA collars). They also have new tags on their collars - to go with the FOUR other tags they have?! - that say "My name is " ___". Please protect me from cars. I'm nice. You probably think we're paranoid. Maybe we are!

Molly - all 75 pounds of her - she looks skinny. She's really tall...
My sweet lady Kona - always wants to play!


Molly's Bling!

Kona's Bling!

The infamous "fighting" ducks

Waddling away..

One more of Graham - he LOVES sitting in his Bumbo chair looking outside. He especially loves watching our girls chase each other around the yard

Easter 2009 - He Is Risen!

Easter has always been an important day in our lives. All of a sudden it has more meaning - not because we believe more or have more faith, but because the importance of teaching Graham about the Lord is so great. It was a wonderful celebration this year. We had a great morning at home with Graham, our church service was beautiful, moving. And, we had a delicious lunch with our family (Gigi, Papa, BeBe, Buddy) and friends at my parents' house. I bought chocolates for my mom and dad to thank them for having us over (Fair Trade chocolate as my friend Robyn has taught me - so important). We had yummy food, and the company was great. My grandad came over for lunch, we all ended up taking naps at some point, and I was able to read my book for a bit - before I dozed off. A perfect, truly relaxing Sunday.

Graham's Great Grandpa -we all napped at some point during the day!

Kyle...

One more of Graham - couldn't resist! He laughs and smiles all the time. He's just addictive to me! I know one day he will tell me to stop kissing him. Until them, his skin will be almost raw from my kissing. I just can't resist!

A Garden For Graham....(And me!)

We've started feeding Graham rice cereal! He ate that for a month, and then we started him on veggies...so fun! His first veggie was a sweet potato, and we just tried peas for the first time this evening. We're making his food from fresh veggies (which I must say is ridiculously cheap and super fun!). I highly recommend the BabyCook from Williams Sonoma. It's not very budget friendly, so I asked for it for my birthday. I tell you, it makes food-cookin' for baby super easy. Steams and purees all in one. And, we're also trying our hand at a garden this year (veggie) for the first time. I always have lots of fresh herbs but have never taken the time to grow vegetables. My brother and his wife, my grandmother, and my aunt are all avid gardeners. They have amazing crops every year. From brussel sprouts to nectarines, to fresh tomatoes. YUM! I thought it would be fun to grow our own food for Graham. So, Kyle built me a "rooftop-style" garden for the driveway - where we have the most sun. It's done, and I've planted my seeds. Since I've never done this before, I figured I would try both seeds and some plants to see what works well this year. I bought $30 worth of seeds from Park Seed (Highly recommend). If all of my little sprouts (below) actually take, we'll have about 8 plants of each of the following: 4 kinds of tomatoes, butternut squash, hybrid squash, frisco squash, sweet peppers (red, orange, yellow, white, and purple), sweet peas, red leaf lettuce, and green leaf lettuce. I've also planted the following herbs: dill, basil (lots!), parsley (the caterpillars LOVE this!), arugula (great on sandwiches), chives, cilantro, mint (this comes back for me every year - MUST be planted in a pot unless you want mint from here to Timbuktu!). My sunroom has become a greenhouse until the seedlings are ready to go in the ground - this weekend. I'm so excited! And, I'm really excited for Graham to help me with this for summers to come. Cool project for us - I'm hoping! Some pictures are below...

We planted these about a week and a half ago - the butternut squash is about 6 inches high. We can watch it grow! It really grows lickety-split!

Tomato plants on my side table

My garden - the gate is so my ladies (Kona and Molly) don't help themselves...

Barrels for my tomato plants - to be planted this weekend

My peas will sprout later this summer, my lettuce is already going strong

Herbs are growing like mad!

Five Months Old

Everyone told us how time would fly once we had Graham. How true. I find myself trying to freeze frame his life. He's already so big to me! We were just visiting with friends who have a newborn, and it's so hard to remember Graham being that small! This past month has just been a blast with him. He laughs so hard when we tickle him, he gives us the biggest grins when we go get him from his crib, he has started eating rice cereal with a spoon - irresistible! - and he loves to watch the dogs wrestle and play. We just pulled out his bouncy seat that hangs from the doorway. He wasn't a huge fan at first, but now he just giggles all the time while he's in it. He's also really into his exer-saucer. When we first started using it, his feet didn't quite hit the floor, so we put a pillow under him. Now, one thing you may notice is that Graham isn't smiling in most of these pictures. For whatever reason, whenever I take his picture he begins to stare down the camera and almost always stops smiling! I'm trying to sneak up on him these days...

Summertime is almost here, and the pool is already clean and open. Heater will go on in about a week or so, and Graham will have his first experience in the pool...more to come!

Kyle the sea monster. (We went to the Eastern Shore this day to watch him kiteboard.)

Graham on his throne (our bed) reading one of his favorite books

Kyle, Graham, Papa (my dad), Grandpa (my grandfather)

Graham LOVES mirror time!

Need I say more? Erin - thanks so much for this shirt! He wears it all the time!

Graham has a thing for Kyle's listerine bottle. Every morning our routine is to come into our bathroom while we get ready. he likes to sit with his legs in our sink and knock over the listerine bottle. It's the bright green that he seems drawn to. Kyle bought some small water bottles, dumped out half the water, loaded them each up with a different color food coloring, and super-glued them shut. Now Graham has his own "mini" listerine bottles.

Kyle thinks this hat is red-neck. I love it. I won - Graham wore it most of the winter.

Graham - very interested in what Mommy was doing at the computer.

More mirrorr time!

Going on a walk with Papa and Gigi

Getting ready to go to bed...

Graham LOVES balloons! We went to his cousin's birthday party and snagged a few balloons. We tied them to Graham's hands so he could move them. He cried when we took them off his hands! He had a great time laughing with Uncle Bear!

Graham's cousin, Lila

Graham's cousin Evelyn (Evie) - Graham attended Evie's birthday party - his first!

Tickle Time!!

Graham with his great-grandpa