Graham--5 months!

unofficial weight: 16.1 pounds
teeth count: 2

Sweet Graham has TWO teeth that just add to the cuteness of his smile and to the aggressiveness with which he can chomp on his toys.  He is quick to smile--especially for his siblings--and is also quick to complain if he feels he's been wronged. :)  He's had his first road trip and his first Halloween.  Here's what he's up to these days:
• Figuring out how to grab toys and bring them immediately to his mouth.
• Rolls from back to tummy and tummy to back.  Hangs out on his tummy happily and pivots and scootches around enough to make his way off whatever blanket I put him on.
• Getting more and more playful and interactive. Laughs and smiles lots.
• Spits up frequently. Especially when he's tired.
• Is generally a decent sleeper when it comes to naps (though Daylight Savings has thrown a wrench in that this week). Nighttime is unpredictable.  Usually he's up once around 3 or 4 am then goes back down til 6 or 7 am.  But sometimes he sleeps all night and sometimes he's up a couple of times.  I truly have no idea what time it will be when I check the clock.
• Has completely rejected the pacifier--MUCH to my chagrin. Fingers are all he wants/needs, which definitely has its pros and cons.
• Spends a lot of time blowing raspberries and spitting.
• While nursing, his free hand is usually stretched up, rubbing his face and the top of his head.

Graham--4 months

weight: 15 pounds 2 ounces (40%)
height: 25 inches (39th)
tooth count: 1

At four months, our Graham-babe is spending time on his play mat, blowing bubbles and drooling.  He has an ear-to-ear grin (which we love) that his face can barely seem to contain. He's a full-time tummy sleeper and is sleeping pretty well at night (up once for a quick feed then back to sleep).  He loves bath time and giggles afterward when I rub lotion on him.  His love for momma and momma's milk is contended only by his fingers, which pose frequent and irresistible temptations during nursing sessions. Also, he has a tooth!  Popped up exactly on his 4-month mark.  My earliest teether.

Baby Graham--3 months old

(unofficial) weight: 14.5 pounds

Three-month-old Graham impossible not to love.  His dark eyes get so excited, his face lights up and his legs start kicking when you come up to chat with him.  He's starting to giggle and definitely has a few tickle spots.  He'll let us know when he's upset, and he's happiest when someone is talking and playing with him.  He almost always has his fists or a finger (or two or three) in his mouth, he's got a hint of a dimple in his right cheek, he holds tight to my finger or shirt while he nurses and he loves bath time (he's graduated to the big tub!).  He's called a variety of names these days:  Graham the Man, Mr. Graham, Handsome Grahamsome, Grahamy Graham, to name just a few.

He was a great traveler on our recent trip to Utah where he got to meet great grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins.  We had a lovely double baby blessing with his cousin, Baby Ty, on a beautiful Sunday morning in my parents' backyard.  It was sweet and simple with lots of family and followed by a tasty brunch (peaches and cream, cinnamon rolls, and egg, sausage & croissant casserole).

Graham may be spitting up more and sleeping less than he used to, but we love him as much as ever!

 1 finger

 2 fingers

  The full fist requires lots of concentration.

 Chub.

 Brothers.

 Sweetness.

 Say what?

 Visiting Grandpa Schmutz.

Just staring lovingly at his mommy.💕

 Hanging with Baby Ty in orange and grays.

 Twinning at the wedding reception.

 Blessing Day • August 26, 2018

 

 The circle.

 Uncle Kent

 That face. 

Emmett--7 years old!

weight: 42 pounds (6%)

height: 3 feet 8.5 inches (4%)

Our Emmett is a pretty delightful child, and we sure had a fun time celebrating his seventh birthday.  He's a toothless wonder right now, missing both his top teeth and one of his bottom.

He is such a creative boy.  He still impresses us with his drawings, but his creativity expands into writing little comic books (The Adventures of Little Clone), mapping out video game adventures, making Perler bead creations and making impressive Etch-A-Sketch drawings.

He loves school.  He's gone to school and come home happy every single day of second grade with Mrs. Pendley so far (it's been a month now).  He enjoys all subjects and is an avid little reader.  I can hardly keep up with book series for him to read.  Currently we are reading Harry Potter aloud at night, which he is loving (as are we).

He loves being active.  He's been swimming a lot this summer and is now completely comfortable in the water.  Tennis and soccer are favorite sports that he spends time practicing as well.

Clark is so proud that he's raised Emmett to be a Radiohead fan.  Emmett can name the members of the band and has favorite songs and music videos.

A few other things about Emmett:  He always wants to have something to do, read, draw or play with in the car--even if it's only a short drive.  He always eats his food "worst to best."  Even with his lunches at school, he doesn't eat his cookie until last!  He loves burgers most of all and also Chick-fil-A. He loves to put pjs on as soon as he can in a day.  Pjs usually consist of an old soccer jersey and shorts.

Emmett's 7-year-old birthday interview:
Q: What is your favorite color?
A: Blue and gray

Q: What is your favorite sport?
A: Baseball, tennis, soccer and bowling

Q: What do you want to be when you grow up?
A: In a video game company

Q: What's your favorite thing to do with dad?
A: Play video games and wrestle.

Q: What's your favorite thing to do with mom?
A: Play games and maybe go somewhere like to the library so I can get some books.

Q: What's your favorite thing to do with your sisters?
A: Play.

Q: What's your favorite thing to do with Baby Graham?
A: Talk to him.

Q: What's your favorite food?
A: Chick-fil-A

Q: What's your favorite book?
A: The (13-Story) Treehouse series and the Dragon Master series

Q: What's your favorite song?
A: Just by Radiohead

Q: What's your favorite thing about school?
A: Math, science, stations and specials. And reading!

Q: Why are you excited to be seven?
A: I don't know, I just like birthdays.


How we celebrated:
First of all, Emmett had it all planned out to wear his favorite shirt (a hand-me-down yellow tie-dyed Easley shirt with a stretched out neck) on his birthday.  It took much mother's love to let him wear it. :) Graham and I met him at school for lunch. In the afternoon we had a family celebration with Grandma Gayle and Grandma Moulton (who Face-timed in). He requested a donut cake (with specific donut flavors) and very much enjoyed opening his stack of presents.  This year he got a few things that he's been wanting for months: a rubix cube and a Deluxe Pokemon book (he pronounces it Doolux).  He also got some legos, a pair of pumas and a couple of other books.  He was pretty pleased with it all.
In the evening we enjoyed a Chick-fil-a dinner at the pool, then Emmett headed to his first soccer practice of the season and some of his tennis practice as well.  It was a happy day for this boy!
The next day was early release, so we did a little party at a local bowling alley.  The kids all had a really great time.  Emmett actually bowled his best game ever (2 strikes and a spare!) and took home the high score of 96!  He was thrilled.

 Starting in on the birthday loot.

 The grandmas!

 Happy 7-year-old!

Lunch date at school.  Post recess, thus the sweaty head. :)

 Bowling!

 Love the anticipation here.

 High five after a strike!

 Always requesting to take pics of Graham or with Graham.

 Emmett does a selfie.

 Love the exuberance of this little man!

Graham--2 months

Weight: 13 lbs, 2.9 oz (62%)
Height: 24 inches (88%)

There are so many things to love about this two-month-old darling!  First and foremost, he has slept through the night for the past four nights in a row.  Bless him!  [Update: that was short lived, but he's still not bad--usually waking up once somewhere between 3:30-5:30 am.] Secondly, we have the sweetest conversations.  Usually a little eye contact and a hello is all it takes to get him cooing.  He seems pretty pleased to have found his voice and his words are just so melodic and sweet.   Graham loves sucking on his fists and napping on his tummy.  He often finishes up his naps in his baby swing.  He loves bath time.  We recently had to move the baby bath from the sink counter to the bath tub because he was making such a water mess with all his splashing.  He spits up some, but not nearly as much as my other kids (yet).  He gets lots of kisses and affection from his sisters and plenty of praise and attention from his brother.  He's filling out nicely and has a the cutest yin yang shaped belly button.  Oh, how we love this scrumptious, growing babe!

 Evening bath

 Fist munching

 Tummy naps

 Swing naps

 Hanging with mommy

 Zonked.

 Cute outfit from Great Grandma Monson

 Southern babe, ready for church.

 Yin yang belly button.

Grandma Gayle with the newest Schmutz baby cousins