All I Want for Cristmas is...

Graham wouldn't settle for just one first tooth...he got two at the same time. His two front teeth. They have been here for some time but catching them on film has been difficult, so here is their pictorial debut: Tooth 1 and Tooth 2!

Graham's First Swim Lesson

Graham had his first swim lesson yesterday. Though he was slightly unsure at times, he didn't cry once and we think that with some practice he will be a little water baby soon! Check out our new videos, which include one of him splashing about in the jacuzzi. Move over Michael Phelps.

Rolling with my Homies

In a further effort to keep us from sleeping, Graham has become mobile. Last week he began pushing himself up onto his hands and forearms in what appears to be a precrawl position. He can raise his little bootie and lift himself using his hands, but not yet both at once. Not that that gives us any solace, because yesterday we watched as he rolled across the floor to access a toy. He just went over and over and over until he got where he wanted to go. Time to baby proof...everything. At least he can't drive yet. Wait a second, is that the car engine I hear? Crap.

Attack of the Peas

This morning Graham tried the first food ever that I can say, unequivocably, he did not like. Peas. He gagged and gagged. I felt terrible. Well, terrible knowing that I am going to give him peas again tomorrow. It is horrible to watch, though. I had to capture the absolute disdain in his face with the camera. Please see below...

First swing...big whoop.

I brought Graham to a local playground for the first time yesterday and he got his first ride on a swing. He wasn't upset, but as you can see from the pictures, he was completely unaffected. I'm not sure that he realizes it is supposed to be fun! Perhaps subsequent trips will peak his interest more- I don't know?! After the rainforest jumparoo, I practically have to submerge him in a huge flashing baby apparatus to get him interested. That purchase may prove to have been a mistake in the long run...

Rantings from an Orange Household

Graham has graduated from cereal into vegetables and our clothes will never be the same. How many bleach runs does it take to get pureed carrots out of white clothing? I can tell you now- 4 or 5. Yikes. However, he seems to like them very much, so I guess that I shouldn't complain. He is now eating carrots, sweet potatoes (his favorite), squash, and prunes! Why are there no white vegetables?!

Ba-Rock the Vote!

"GO-bama!!" That's what Graham said today entering the Baylake Pines polling place in VA Beach. Well- he said "Goo goo Gaa gaa.", then screamed. But we know what he meant. Sorry Gramps- this one's a leftist pinko commie like his parents.

Mr. Graham Goes to Washington

This past weekend, Mr. Graham finally got some long awaited time with his Grampie, Auntie Lindsay, and Uncle Jeff. He had such fun that he slept the entire four hour trip back to Norfolk afterwards (with a smile on his face). He's going to be wondering where all of these fun people have gone when we have to head back home. I think he believes that there is a whole troupe of people dedicated solely to his daily entertainment.

Halloween...Bear Cub, the Return

Ok- so this post simply reveals how lazy I am in creating a Halloween costume- but, as Dad said, he's a chocolate "Teddy Graham"! If you have ever tried to draw a brown nose on a baby, you know that it takes considerable effort. Graham enjoyed trick or treating and I (I mean he) got some great candy out of it. :)

This Bear's Ready To Hibernate!

It was an unseasonably cold day in VA Beach so we had to hook this little cub up with some warmer clothes. After this photo was taken he grabbed a big hunk of leaves from the wreath and promptly ripped it off of the wall. I'm going to have to watch him a bit more carefully now- this little bear gets his paws on everything.

Graham: The Beginning

Just a reminder of how far the Grahaminator has come...check out this cute little button!!

Graham Meets His Grandaddy

Graham met his Grandaddy for the first time today. I am not sure who was more amused. In the illustrious words of Paris Hilton, they are BFF's now.

New Post from the Old Dominion

Graham and I have arrived in Virginia and today he got his first view of the Atlantic Ocean. He just stared and stared- at the water the sand. We think it was a big hit!

Requisite Baby Bath Shots

In the Pantheon of required baby pictures, the baby bath pic must be king. Graham has recently grown out of the little sling chair we used to have him lay in and has now graduated to the kitchen sink. I can wash him and the dirty dishes at the same time! Just kidding. The only problem is he constantly wants to stand up and stomp his feet in the water, splashing it all over the place... small price to pay for the spectacle that is bathing Graham.

A junior foodie is born

Graham was exposed to his first solid food today and I think that we can definitely say that he was a fan. He needed a head to toe bath afterwards. Is he a future foodie like his Mom? It remains to be seen- though he did say that he felt the combination of rice cereal flakes and formula was a delightful pairing- unexpected and lacking in pretention. Nuff said. To see footage, check out our video postings.

Visting the "Graham Canyon"

We took Graham and Grammie to the Grand Canyon over the weekend. It's funny how everyone reacts to seeing something like that differently.

Grammie: It's breathtaking. I want to draw it.

Kelly: It's beautiful- we should get a picure of Graham in front of it.

Andy: It's a big hole. Great. Let's go shopping.

Graham: I'm hungry.

No matter our opinions- none of us could deny that a good time was had by all.

Grammie enjoying the scenery.

Me trying to keep Graham from trying to pee over the edge.

Full moon over Sedona Red Rocks on the drive to the canyon.

Warning: Obscenely cute pictures follow

Today Graham had such a grand time sitting up and playing on his Boppy pillow that he put himself right to sleep (if only that happened every day).

I know, I know- these are the kinds of photos that parents love and other people probably think are terribly boring. Your kid sleeping? Great- whoopdie doo. However, I could not help myself!! So, don't blame me when you pass out and fall on the floor because these photos are so cute they will render you unconscious.

Meet Mr. Cool

The sun never sets when you're cool. That's what Graham says, at least. Moreover, he no longer screams like we're trying to kill him when we put these on his head. So enjoy this latest picture of the coolest kid on the block.

Merrily Rolling Along

For the past few days Graham has been flirting with the idea of rolling over- from his back to his belly. Today we finally caught it on tape. Check out our latest Graham video post to see history in the making.

Getting Provisions...

Graham, Andy, and I made our monthly trip last night to stock up on some provisions- yes, Sierra Vista is so small that we drive one hour to Tucson to obtain certain items. We took some pictures of the trip to Tuscon to give you an idea of what the surroundings here look like. Other than the town we live in, it's very beautiful here.

Recent Recipes

Andy, Graham, and I decided to get ourselves out of a recent food rut where we were eating the same things every week. So, every night in September, I made a recipe from my Gourmet magazine or Food and Wine. You'd be surprised how many of those recipes were bad!! However, there were some winners and I created links to them in the sidebar. Try them and let us know how it goes!

Continuing to discover the world- one appendage at a time.

Graham's lastest discovery this past week- his feet. I don't think that he understands what they are or what they're for, but he definitely knows they're there.

Graham finds his fingers

Motivated by an overwhelming desire to cost us thousands of dollars later for orthodontics, Graham has begun sucking on his fingers, his hands, basically anything he can get into his mouth.

I'd be upset if it weren't so unbelievably cute. I guess this means that teeth are on the horizon! First teeth...then he'll be asking for the keys to the car.

Graham visits the rainforest...well, kind of.

I made the mistake of walking through the baby toy section at Target today and, "just for fun", placing Graham in a toy called a Jumparoo. Well, he loved it and was so excited when I placed him in it that he started squealing and hyperventilating. Unfortunately, a fully interactive infant rainforest habitat does not come cheap, but having seen his reaction and seeing as I am a sucker, 15 minutes and close to $100 dollars later, Graham and I walked out with this monstrosity.

Welcome to the Nichols Blog!

We are finally converts. After sending out MANY emails with picture and video forwards, we have wised up (like so many of our peers) and created a blog. We hope you enjoy coming here and keeping up with Graham pics and other news about what's going on in our lives!