Graham is 21 months old TODAY! Wow! Hard to believe that he is almost TWO! But, he is becoming such a little boy and not a baby anymore every single day! We had a busy week this past week, after several days of trying out new cars, we traded in the old blue Jeep for a 2008 Volvo V70 station wagon. It is very roomy and very very nice on the inside. Dean will primarily drive it to work and then we will take it on family outings on the weekends and such. Graham was a little angel at the dealerships we drug him too and especialy at the volvo dealership. By the time we left there Wednesday night, we had him saying Volvo as clear as day!

So, I got to drive the new car on my bday on Thursday, so that was fun. Michelle took me out to lunch and then I got us take out from Carabaras for dinner. I got lots and lots of cards and emails, so that was nice. On Saturday, we headed to Wythe County for a full day of visiting. First, we stopped and picked up Mama and then went to the nursing home to see Granny and meet up with Daddy. Granny was in good spirits and very much enjoyed seeing Graham (and us.) He entertained her a good bit, especially when we went outside in the park area for a little bit. He even brought her a flower that she put in her hair.

After lunch and naptime, we went and visited Stacy and the girls at their new house, so that was fun and Graham and Jordan put on a dance show for us! He was loving all the new and different toys that they had and made himself right at home playing with them.

We went back to my parent's house and Dean's parents and Kenneth and Danah joined us for a cookout and birthday celebration, mine on Thursday, Mamas on Friday and Cal's on Saturday! Lots of celebrating! We had a very good time and Graham played very hard and wore us all out chasing him. It was also fun to see Kenneth and Danah and talk "baby talk," as they are expecting a little one the first of January. We took them a fun bag of goodies (including an "I love my auntie" bib.) We are very excited and happy for them and look forward to Graham having a little cousin! We got home very late and Graham slept all the way home, didn't wake up moving to his crib and slept until almost 8am Sunday morning, VERY LATE for him!

On Sunday at church, Dean sang a special solo for the summer service, so that was nice. Graham continues to be quite vocal during church, and now he is very in tune to when to say Amen. After everyone says it, he clearly says it. We also say prayers at mealtime and bedtime and he listens intently and then adds his amens. It is very very sweet.

Graham is continuing to really develop his vocabulary and it is so fun to listen to him, he is stringing lots of words together and making little phrases and sentences. He really seems to be able to understand and carry out most anything that we say too, well, that he wants to of course! His activity level continues to be just as high. He is still constantly on the go!

On Saturday, I went to Chartlottesville for a girls weekend meet-up with Kelly from Richmond and so Graham and Dean got some good bonding time! They played and read and had lots of fun on Saturday, had a good night Saturday night and then I got back home before lunch on Sunday. It was a fun fast trip, but I was very glad to get back to my boys too!

Later in the day on Sunday, we went out to run some errands and decided to have mexican for dinner. Instead of ordering Graham his standard chicken tenders and fries, we got him a child's order of taco, rice and beans. He got as much food as we did! He couldn't eat anywhere near all of it, but the cutest thing that he did was to take a chip or piece of shell and scoop some beans on it and then lick it off the beans. We were very entertained watching him. He was a big flirt with all the waitresses too!

My birthday is this Thursday, so next weekend we will be heading to my parents for our annual family bday celebration, so lots of pics to come!

Graham started running a bit of a fever on Thursday at daycare and they saw some drainage coming from his right ear. So, I took him to the doctor and he said that the right ear had a minor ear infection, but that the tubes were doing exactly what they were supposed to be doing with the fluid draining out. He gave us some drops, but said we didn't need to use them unless we saw more drainage, and so far we haven't. He said to just give him tylneol and motrin for the temp and otherwise his tubes looked great!

So, Friday, Dean and I are were both off and we were going away for anniversary weekend. So, since I had the day off, Graham and I went to visit the old Honeytree. I have been sending them pictures regularly and they always ask when we are coming to visit. At first, Graham reverted into a little clingy mode, as if I was going to drop him off and he didn't want to get down and play. But after a few minutes, I think things started to look familiar and he saw that I wasn't going anywhere and so he settled right in and played and entertained and had a big time. It was a great renioun for him and Payton and they were very affectionate and sweet. He gave lots and lots of hugs and kisses as we told everyone goodbye.

But of course, we did miss Graham an awful lot and called to check on him and Grandma and Grandpa pretty regularly! He had lots of fun with them, as did they with him. He really liked naming all his letter for them over and over, he really has them all down now! They headed home after we got back on Sunday and we had a great day together and finished celebrating Father's Day with Dean. Graham accidently carried his present to him the night before we left, so he already got his present.

Well, warm weather turned into hot hot weather! We didn't get to do much walking this week between the 90 plus temps and then evening storms. On Wednesday evening, our power went out during dinner and stayed out until 11pm, but minus the bath, we got Graham put right to bed just like normal! Thank goodness it came back on pretty quick!

On Friday night, we rode over to the new Smith Mountain Lake Community Park. Graham had lots of fun on the playground, we walked down to the beach and threw rocks and then checked out the pier. It was a lot of fun, but very very hot!

On Saturday, we went to my company picnic. It was really neat, but again very very hot. We played on the playground, had lunch, walked around a bit and then headed home. Graham fell asleep on the way home and slept for another couple hours after we got home! He was worn out!

I finally got the photo albums caught for the first time in awhile, so be sure and check those out, lots of fun pics! Our three year wedding anniversary is Wednesday, so next weekend we are heading to Afton Mountain Bed and Breakfast. Mama and daddy are coming to our house to take care of Graham. So, it will be a fun weekend for everyone!

Graham passed the 20 month mark this past week, hard to believe he is approaching the big two! We are working with him on numbers and letters and even "some" reading, he is really getting the hang of recognizing his letters, so that is neat to watch! He is still super active, his teacher told me that he is the most active one in his class, that he is in constant motion! I believe it!

We did go back to the lake on Memorial Day, it was a good bit warmer and so we did venture into the pool. Graham seemed to have fun and really liked playing with all the other kids toys and balls. I got him his own pool toys and a couple a new floats for next time! We motored around a little bit more in the boat and he definitely seems to have his sea legs. He really likes watching everything that is going on around the lake from the boat.

It seems to have finally gotten warm and we are getting to spend tons of time of outside, so that has been great. Graham LOVES being outside and it isn't always easy to convince him it is time to come in!!!! This summer is gonna be lots of fun!

On Saturday, Graham and I went with my mom to visit Granny in the rehab center. We got to watch her have her therapy session and Graham had a blast in the therapy room playing with all the balls, steps, platforms, pegs, etc etc. Granny enjoyed watching him as did lots of the other patients that he entertained! He would just wander up and down the halls telling everyone hi and bye! It was very cute! After lunch, mama took us out to lunch so that was nice.

On Sunday, Dean and Graham were both battling their allergies, so after church, we just stayed in and will have to save the new pool toys til next weekend. We did manage to squeeze in a walk and a little outside time though!