Oh Alexander!

There are days, lots of days, when I am pretty sure this kid is going to do me in. He is, literally, the most stubborn child I know. He puts his dad to shame. When he makes up his mind about something it's over. He has spent 3 hours in his room simply because he didn't want to apologize to a babysitter. Not sure what is more impressive, his will power to stay in his room, or the follow through of the babysitter. Maybe his most notable feat is bearing the freezing cold simply to prove a point... he didn't want to go to coffee, he wanted to go home.  He sat outside with teeth chattering and lips blue without so much as a blink of his eye despite the nice warm cup of coco that waited for him inside.   There is no bribery, threatening, or tricking him into anything. This kid doesn't fall for it. Someday this stubbornness is going to bode him well... If he makes it to someday.

It's a darn good thing he is so cute.

18 months and counting...

Graham Cracker, as we affectionately call him, is growing by leaps and bounds.  He, we have decided, is our busiest little guys yet.  He is always in on whatever it may be his older brothers or cousins may be doing.  He has earned the nickname Trouble from Grandma B, which I have to agree, suits him well.  Despite his busy nature, his words have not quite caught up.  He has a few frequently used words including, mama, dada, aaaa (which means Alex), shoes, socks, ball, boppa, and ju (for juice).  Being his momma I can decipher many of his noises into words he is trying to make but I wouldn't quite call them words.  I can't help but wonder if his cleft has delayed his speech, but at this point I am not too worried about it, nor is his pediatrician.  I only wish, for his sake, that his words would come.  Ok, for my sake too.  He is frustrated, and therefore whines and cries, A LOT.
This boy can eat!  On any given day he will out eat both of his brothers.  Some of his favorites right now are... Who am I kidding, the kid eats just about anything!  His newest and best trick is drinking his milk from his cereal bowl.  Monkey see, monkey do!  He doesn't quite get that he should eat all the cereal first though.
Sleep.  While I can't complain about the very average sleep patterns he has, it is tough following his older brother who was a sleep champion.  Graham usually wakes when the house gets going, around 0730.  He has recently fully transitioned out of his morning nap and is on to one nap.  He goes down at about 12 and sleeps any where from 1.5 hours to 2.5 hours.  Then it is on until bedtime between 7 and 730.  When he is awake, he is going at full force.  There is no stopping, no resting, no watching a program, just pure energy.
Graham takes everything in.  There is not a day that goes by that he doesn't amaze me with his antics.  The other day he found boppa's coffee mug, put it on the counter next to the coffee maker, went to find his stool, climbed up and placed the mug in the maker, all ready for boppa to make his coffee.  He sees everything!
Graham, you challenge me each and every day to be the best mom I can be.  You make me smile, you make me laugh, and yes, sometimes you make me cry.  You are such a joy to have in our family.  I couldn't imagine life without you.  Thank you for being you!  I love you to the moon and back.



This is the epitome of you... So anxious to get in the bath, you climbed in fully dressed while I was getting towels. Ugh!