Joshua's 33rd Birthday

So for my 33rd birthday Erin wanted to bake me a special cake. A carrot cake shaped like a pumpkin. We also had bible study that night and it was our turn to provide the snack. Before we headed out the door, Erin was quick to snap this shot. The cake was delicious and everyone enjoyed it.

The group gave me a singing card, which Matthew has been enjoying all week. He has even created some new dance moves. Watch him teach some of those moves to you in the video.

What's up Duck?

Teeth!

Matthew's bottom two front teeth have erupted. He is growing so fast I can hardly stand it! This is the best shot I could get of his pearly whites. If you see him in person he will gladly show you how sharp they are by gnawing on your finger.

Surprise!

On the last day of our visit Jackie suspiciously sent us out of the house. We went to check out my brother's new home and give the boys some more face time.

We returned to a surprise "little get together" for my birthday. Jackie and Aunt Beth had made little foods of all kinds - brussel sprouts, Cornish game hens, mini cupcakes, you get the idea.

Family photo op! My little cousin Shannon (now a towering 5'7") got cut off on the left.

California Part 2

Friday night we went to my dad's place for dinner (Vince's Spaghetti .... yuuummm!) Caleb enjoyed playing the piano while Matthew sat there looking frightened.

Ah, the Matthew Grahams all together: Caleb Matthew Graham, Gary Matthew Graham ,and Matthew Graham Hardwick. Cute!

Grandpa with Matty.

What a day! Matthew went out as soon as his head hit the pillow. Don't worry, we didn't leave him sleeping on a pillow on the couch. It just made a cute photo!

Matty's first trip to California part 1

Matthew was terrific on our first ever airplane trip. I requested that we sit next to an empty seat ti give us a little more space. The gentleman at the window seat was a sweet old man with multiple grand and even great grandchildren. Matt and I read books and played quietly. He filled his diaper, so i had the pleasure of using an airplane bathroom changing table. Super! He fussed a bit on the descent, so I tried feeding him. He did better with a pacifier in his mouth. We arrived on time and had a few hours to visit before hitting the hay. Here is Matthew being adored by his Uncle Gary and Aunt Jackie.

On Friday I got to visit with my dear friend Patty and her two darling girls. My indecisiveness surrounding car seats arose again as I watched Patty bring in her one year old still fitting nicely in her carrier. Arg! We had a great time catching up and seeing how our little ones have grown.

Matthew spent most of the 95 degree days in just his diaper. He LOVED that! His first two teeth have broken through (early, I know) so he was chomping everything he could. He fell asleep while chewing Grandma's fingers that evening.

My little brother cracks me up. Two short years ago he was a young kid always looking for ways to shock and go against the norm. Now he is a husband and father full of advice and baby stories to swap. I really took note of the changes in him when he casually wiped a booger from Matt's nose. :) My how times have changed. This is one of Matthew's favorite cuddling poses - cheek to cheek.

Just like Dad

How big is Matthew?

So big!

Is he ever big ... tall that is. He has outgrown his infant carrier at 26 inches, but at 15 pounds he isn't ready for a booster. He isn't even 4 months old yet!! We bought a convertible made for 5-40 pounds, but it does not fit securely in the van. Now I'm thinking we may get another infant carrier that will last to 30 inches and as many pounds. What an ordeal! Any moms have good advice?

In other news, Joshua and I celebrated our fourth anniversary last week. We lumped it together with both of our birthdays for one big date night. We had a lovely dinner overlooking downtown Tacoma and the bay. Then we headed off for Tango lessons. Alas, the dance class had been cancelled for the evening. Not to worry, we both wanted to get home and see Matty anyway. :)

Today I had my first chiropractic adjustment. I was so pleased with Matt's doctor and his progress, I decided to give it a try. I am hoping it will help relieve my migraines.

Matty is getting closer to sitting up, loves reading books, chews on anything he can, and is very ticklish. Sometimes he giggles, but more often just grunts. He is so like his daddy. This week the two of us are leaving Joshua on his own and heading to California. Matthew can't wait to meet his Uncle Gary, Aunt Jennille, and cousin Caleb!

Can you say THREE ZERO?!

That's right people ... today I turned 30! It was a lovely day indeed. Joshua and Matty each wrote me a card (we are celebrating next weekend, so no gifts). Actually, I chose my own gifts while at Costco last weekend - pj's, slippers, and a robe. Then my colleagues sang happy birthday after devotions. Next, my darling students showered me with gifts - special cards, beautiful flowers (even hydrangea, my favorite!), treats, coffee cards, candles, the works! Then there was a special announcement over the intercom about my special day. All day teachers and kiddos were wishing me birthday blessings! Matthew was particularly adorable today. He is in a chubby phase right now as you can see. That means he is getting ready to grow again!

I had to get a close up of his hairdo. Joshua says he looks like "Matthew Graham Who"! I think he has his mommy's curls!!

I attempted to be a photographer, and this is the best I could do. I was trying to show my beautiful boy next to my beautiful flowers. Not great, but hey, that is one cute baby! And check out the hydrangea!

I wanted a family photo to commemorate the day. It's not easy finding a way to hold up the camera, a clean spot to take the photo, and a good shot of all three of us. I added some special lighting to soften the old lady look. :)

"Talking" with Matt

Visitors!

My dad, cousin, and sister came to visit us a few weekends ago and we had a blast hitting up all the local tourist spots. Here we are in front of Union Station in Tacoma. We also went to the glass museum, Pacific Grill, Hello Cupcake, and Point Defiance. And that was just in one day! We took the ferry to Seattle where we made it to the Space Needle, Pacific Science Center, Stadium High School, the Troll, the monorail, Pike's Place, downtown, and the waterfront. It was quite a day - 8am-9pm!

The weather could not have been more perfect. We spent one lovely afternoon in Paulsbo where Matty had a monster of a good time! Ok, not really. He and I spent much of the day in the car because we were both a little snotty. Jackie was able to stay longer than Dad and Fiona, so she got to have lots of one-on-one time with Matty. She babysat while I worked and found out what being an aunt is really all about!

We kept up wit the tourist fun on the weekend when we went back to Seattle for South Center Mall and took the Underground Tour. Since Matthew is officially holding his head up, he was able to ride along with dad and not miss a thing! Don't they look cute in their matching striped outfits?

I couldn't find a good picture of Jackie with Matt, but I wanted her to be included. Here she is with her favorite hobby, knitting. And to think, I taught her all she knows about the wild world of yarn goods!

Now everyone is gone and we are back to our regular boring lives (at least that's what Auntie Jack would say!). Hopefully that means I have more time to blog, although I guess I won't have much to blog about. Ah the catch 22.

Peek a boo!

Peek a boo ... Where are you? I know y'all have been missing us out there in bloggerland. We are all well, just busy bees. I'm back at work, Joshua has started school, and we had family out to visit. As soon as I have more time (ya, like that's ever going to happen) I will fill in the blanks. But for now, enjoy my baby boy soaking up the sun we had the weekend before last. He is a bit camera shy and refuses to smile whenever he sees you with one, so this is the best one I have found that captures his darling grin.

Matthew's Blowout

Erin was playing with the new features on her Apple computer. Matthew decided to celebrate the occasion by filling his pants on camera. Here it is for all of you to share.

Video for Mom

Below is a video that we've been trying to make for some time now for Erin's Mom. For whatever reason, Matthew doesn't like to smile for the camera. The last couple of weeks he has been focusing in on people and objects and responding with big smiles and laughter. We first discovered this new phenomenon while changing his diaper in his bassinet; he giggled so hard at the three sheep that circle above his head to music that is both off-beat and flat that we had to share it.

The video I recorded just before this one included the sounds of him filling his pants. I laughed so hard, I almost filled mine. Erin vetoed that video in hopes of appearing less crude (yet she still let me write this post). Matthew enjoyed the making of this video so much that he soaked through the chair he was sitting in.

We're home!

We were finally honorably discharged at 5:20pm yesterday (Sunday). We received our papers stamped with approval that we are competent parents that can care for this child on our own. We piled all our stuff into the trunk of the car and fiddled with the car seat for the better part of five minutes. Erin was frustrated with the seat because it seems to make Matthew's head fall forward. She sat in the back to be with him for the ride home.

Our first stop was the gas station, and I think the price jumped 20 cents while we were gone. Luckilly, I had my handy "10 cents off a gallon" card with me, so it only went up 10.

Erin, who's "seat" still hurts, realized that the medication she uses to minimize the pain wore off moments after entering the car. But she didn't realize it enough to let me know that she had a prescription for more that needed to be picked up on the way home. I never go to the doctor myself, and am pretty confused by the process of getting drugs. When I used to go to the doctor, they just gave me some samples they had in their office. Apparently they don't do that anymore.

Once we arrived home, Erin moved at the speed of a Galapagos turtle toward the house with Matthew in arms. I quickly brought our belongings in, and locked Six (the cat) in the garage. Minutes later my sister Pattie and her daughter Madison arrived with our first "Meals on Wheels" delivery: Chicken Casserole. It was perfect, just what we needed. They stayed to chat, and Madison was able to meet her new cousin while we ate our delicious meal.

It quickly became apparent that Erin was in serious pain. I called every pharmacy in town, but Gig Harbor isn't friendly to all-nighters, or Sunday-ers for that matter. I decided to bite the bullet, and pay the toll, and crossed the bridge to the 24-hour Walgreens. When I arrived, I handed them the prescription. "This isn't a prescription." she paused, "This is directions on when to take the medication." My heart sank. I called Erin, who's dragon fire comments burned my ear-hair through the cellphone, and appologized. Thirty minutes later I returned to the store with the proper document.

Our first night home was filled with all the late night feedings you could avoid. Believe me, I tried. Why is it he feeds more easily and more often at night? During the day we have to strip him near naked and tickle him half to death to get him to open one eye. I guess he gets that from his daddy.

Mommy's napping now until we go back to the doctor's office.

(this post was written while Matthew was napping on my chest)

He has a name!

If you were here to visit yesterday, or were lucky enough to get a phone call, you heard about us beta-testing a baby name. Well that name has moved from beta to full-release.

Matthew Graham Hardwick

Among the visitors that came to see new baby Matthew was one of Erin's students from this past school year, Katie. Her mom is one of the nurses on the floor here. Ever since Katie knew Mrs. Hardwick was pregnant, she's made sure the baby knew who she was.

The day was filled with learning how to feed, bathe and change Matthew. As first time parents, Matthew is pretty patient with us. So far he eats like his mom and sleeps like his dad.

I have made a collection of G-rated pictures for you to see the adventure we had. View them by clicking here!

Thank all of you for tracking the progress with us. It has been really fun to receive your comments, chats, emails along the way. I know it helped Erin through the labor process every time one of you would give your input, we had quite a few laughs. We didn't expect our labor to go the way it did, but being able to share it with you has encouraged us along. This may be the end of this series, but it isn't the end of Matthew's, Mom's or Dad's story. Hopefully in the next couple of weeks Erin and I can put together our own memoirs to share the experiences we had during this time. God Bless You!

Now back to regular programming