Morning Coffee

Graham couldn't make it out of his crib this morning without his morning coffee.

Fifteen month check-up and celebration

Is this thing right?

Waiting with Mommy

There's always time to play

Whaddya think, doc?

15-month birthday doughnut

Yup, it was good

Playground time

As the weather's gotten nicer, and Graham's become more mobile, we've gotten the chance to spend some time at local playgrounds.

No baby gate in front of these stairs

Not as easy as it looks

Mommy gets into the act

Frozen yogurt is a great post-playground treat

Recent "firsts"

First dentist visit - March 14, 2012

First haircut - March 30, 2012 (Before)

First haircut (during)

First haircut (after)

Show us how you really feel

There's something to be said for consistency.

Christmas 2011

Easter 2012

Mount Olive Pickle Festival - April 28, 2012

Good with directions

Graham is getting pretty good at communicating what he wants. Take, for example, his recent request for some peanut butter crackers.

Okay, that's what I want.

Did you catch that?

That right there.

Glad we're on the same page.

Fun with the Fuquas

Although I'm a few weeks late in posting this, I wanted to provide an update on our fun weekend with my sister and her family in early March. They typically come while my niece and nephew are on spring break, and we definitely enjoy having them. They arrived on Friday evening and stayed through Tuesday morning.

We created lots of new memories during the weekend, as we had good meals, went to fun places (Cornwallis Road Park, the Museum of Life and Science), and shared lots of laughs. Of particular note was the "Just Dance 2" competition we had, as it prompted more than a few chuckles (no videos will be posted to protect the innocent). Ryan was as entertaining as ever with his "Rasputin" routine, only to be topped by Brent as he spontaneously joined in the fun. We also had quite a bit of fun playing Boggle, from the interesting words that popped up to the creative spelling used.  We also had a couple of memorable dinners by candlelight/flashlight in our dining room, thanks to our breakers being out during screened porch construction. 

It was clear that Graham really enjoyed the weekend. He had fun playing all kinds of games with Ryan, and he was smitten with Rachel. His big cousins took extra special care of him throughout the trip, so much so that we didn't really have to worry about him when he was with them. Everyone--especially my sister--quickly adapted to his vocabulary, and became as attached to his word "Aboo" as we have.

Although, as always, the trip was far too short, it was wonderful to have everyone with us.

Pajama Baseball

  

Just a Swingin'

Jump (out of the swing) and Catch

Aunt Renee and Graham at the Museum of Life & Science

Graham Loves Bubbles!

BIG Bubble!

The Cousins

Traditional 8107 Photo (minus working Uncle Matt)

Baby Shaq

I happened upon a toy basketball set last night as I reached for a wash cloth on the shelf in Graham's bedroom . I'm not sure where the toy came from. We have all sorts of little surprises like these tucked away in drawers and on shelves; many are baby shower gifts that we couldn't use until Graham grew into them.

Since Graham enjoys the toy hoop we have in the bath tub, I assumed he'd also like having one - a simpler one, granted, but a fun toy all the same - in his bedroom. In my estimation, he had grown into it.

I carefully placed the basket on Graham's closet door, selecting what seemed like an appropriate height and ensuring the backboard hung evenly across the top. Next, I took a few shots to demonstrate how it was done. Then I let my little guy go to work.

After a few seated one-handed dunks (I'd like to see an NBA player do that), Graham changed the game. Perhaps he was bored. More likely, he was giving in to the increasingly evidenced destructive instincts that are emerging daily from his male DNA.

Graham's new game provided further evidence that 1.) He's all boy, and 2.) My effort to hang the basket just so was a laughable example of new dad naivety.

Watch the video below to see Baby Shaq at work tearing down the backboard.

Alarming Behavior

Some occasions are easier than others to figure out what Graham wants. He has developed a habit of pointing in a general direction and uttering a sound that suggests he wants something. The sound becomes more insistent if you fail to understand what he's "asking" for.

There are certain go-to items that Graham consistently enjoys and which therefore offer a quick resolution: the phone, for example, or car keys. The problem with the latter is that our key fobs inspire Graham to push buttons.

Graham's now at the point where he not only wants to push a button, but he also anticipates the outcome of that action. So whereas he once was content simply to push buttons on the remote control, he now looks at the television to see what happens when he does so. He's no longer satisfied with simple cause, he wants the effect as well.

When it comes to our key fobs, there's a common effect that we captured in the video below.

Gone Fishin'

Already a fan of Cheerios, Graham has now developed a taste for Goldfish. Actually, it would be more accurate to say he has developed a full-on appetite for Goldfish.

Earlier in the week, Graham discovered an empty Goldfish bag in the trash can in the bonus room. Nothing I did could convince him it was empty, so I ended up getting a new bag for him from downstairs. (Don't judge me.)

Here's a photo of Graham with his arm buried in a bag, or as I like to call it "Gone Fishin'." Video evidence of him having Goldfish by the handfuls is below as well.

Gone Fishin'

A brief break from the action

Date Night

Dad and Denise visited in late February so we could attend Durham Academy's annual benefit auction. Those plans fell through, however, so we instead took advantage of the date night package at the Siena Hotel in Chapel Hill, which included a nice dinner in their restaurant, Il Palio.

It was a rare night out on our own. We enjoyed ourselves, and Graham of course benefited from some quality time with Mimi and Pop-Pop.

Victory Doughnuts

UNC beat Duke on Saturday to clinch the ACC regular season title. We visited Franklin Street the following day to enjoy a victory doughnut at Krispy Kreme. During the second half of the game, I promised Erica we'd pick up doughnuts in Chapel Hill if the Tar Heels held on for the victory.

Graham enjoyed a sugar rush from the free doughnut hole the cashier gave him. He also took home a UNC balloon (you can see it behind his head in the photo above), which was likewise a gift from the kind cashier.

Face Time with Graham

Erica and I often use Face Time on our phones during the week to catch up quickly while I'm at work. Graham is regularly the star of these brief shows. Here are a couple of screen shots of our calls.

I found the first instance of Graham laying his head on Erica to be adorable, so I did a quick screen grab. Meanwhile, the second, more recent image had me laughing (as you may be able to tell). Graham repeatedly went from being off screen (stage right) to the middle of the screen (center stage) as Erica and I chatted. I guess he wanted to make sure I knew he was still there.

Graham's first text message

We've been chronicling many of Graham's "firsts" during the past 13 months. It only seems fitting that we include among these his first text message given how much he enjoys playing with our iPhones. Graham has learned how to slide the bar across the screen to unlock the phone, and what happens from there is anyone's guess.

Here's the first message Graham typed with his little thumbs back in January.

I've opened my phone many times to find this kind of undelivered text message, email or Tweet. Nothing had been sent before now. That changed this morning when Graham typed a two-letter message - "Gi" - and discovered the Send button. Shortly thereafter, I received a reply from my work buddy who wondered if I had "butt texted" him.

If you receive any jumbled messages from the Taylors, it's safe to assume our son had something to do with it.

Our Polite Little Guy

Graham is growing his vocabulary every day, but there's one surprising phrase he's been saying for a few weeks now. And it melts our hearts every time he does.

More Laundry Tales

As I mentioned in my last post, Graham has become very interested in the laundry. He has especially become fascinated with our laundry closet. The other day, our creative little guy turned the space into a game area.

Mommy's Little Helper

Graham has become quite the helper these days, especially with the laundry. I never put a load in anymore without having his help. You see, he's a very good "button pusher" (in the best sense of the word).

He also loves to help me "sort the laundry." Above is Exhibit A of my proof.

Watch out, cows!

Today, we hit a crazy milestone in the Taylor household. Graham had his first tastes of whole milk! After our pediatrician gave us the all clear yesterday, we got Graham his very own gallon of milk today. And based on his first tastes--and the "glug, glug" sounds we heard, we think he's a fan. So, watch out, cows!

The Tigger Test

Graham has been doing a lot of growing the past several months. We only need to look to the Tigger Test for proof.

Graham in July

Graham in January

Buon Appetito

Graham had his first restaurant food last weekend. He went the Italian route with pizza on Saturday afternoon and pasta on Sunday night. Both were well received.

Graham shows his eagerness to sample
his first pizza at Pepper's.

Giving it a try.

Pasta at Pulcinella.
Who needs utensils when you have hands?

Holiday Adventures with Graham

Of all the new dad duties I've carried out during the past year getting Graham from his crib on Christmas morning ranks among my favorites. As you can see in the photo to the left, our little man was up and ready to experience the magic of the holiday by the time I arrived in his room.

Christmas day was the midpoint of two wonderful weeks away from work that allowed our family of three to relax and enjoy lots of quality time together.

We spent the first week at home finishing up shopping and soaking up the experience of Graham's first Christmas by, for example, listening to holiday music while sitting beside the finely decorated tree (which is to say daddy had little hand in the effort).

We traveled to Catonsville during the second week to visit loved ones and introduce Graham to extended family and friends he had yet to meet. With many eager babysitters on hand, we snuck away for some rare time on our own that covered matters practical (visits to the gym), romantic (a date night at Catonsville Gourmet) and traditional (our annual visit to Nacho Mama's and Vaccaros with Pete and Michele).

Along the way we experienced a post-Christmas miracle in that we actually made it on to our 6:05 a.m. flight to Baltimore despite unexpectedly long ticket and security lines at the airport. It was as about as close to a near-miss as you can come; Erica (and Graham) waited anxiously for me at the gate and urged me to run the final steps once I came into sight. It provided some exciting - and totally unnecessary - early morning drama for passengers at RDU airport. The experience scared us straight as we arrived shortly before 5 a.m. for our 6:15 a.m. flight back to North Carolina.

But who am I kidding? You don't want to read about us, you want to see pictures of Graham. Here they are:

Family photo on Christmas morning

 Graham with Mimi

Graham with his cousins/gift-opening assistants

Graham's Christmas shirt and hat

Graham meets Aunt Gin for the first time

Graham and Emily

A pre-Christmas trip to Krispy Kreme

Mommy and Graham on Christmas morning

Madelyn and Graham at the train museum

Graham and Lindsay

Emily and Aunt Erica acting less than serious

Taking a carousel ride with Pop-Pop