Visiting Mimi & Papa in Lumberton

In both February and March Liam, Sadie, and I made several trips down to Lumberton, North Carolina, to visit my parents. Rolf was working a lot during both of these months and it was nice to be able to make the trip down to North Carolina for a couple of long weekend trips. For me these trips were super relaxing because Mimi and Papa were waiting in the driveway when we pulled up, ready to whisk Liam away. They both would quickly take-over changing diapers, finding pacis, holding and soothing, and all I needed to do was be available to nurse. I couldn't quite talk them into getting up during the night with him but he was a great sleeper while we were there and many nights I actually had to wake him up to nurse.

Here are some great photos from our visit:

Annual Graning Family Ski Trip

In February we went on the Annual Graning Family Ski Trip to Snowshoe, West Virginia. This is a vacation that we take with Rolf's immediate family and we excitedly look forward to it every year. It is crazy to see how quickly the Graning family has grown in just the few short years that we have been taking this vacation. This year we actually out grew our house and will be venturing to a new house next year as the Graning Family continues to grow. Here is a slideshow of the trip, as you will see most of the pictures are from an afternoon spent playing in the snow with Caden, our 2.5 year old nephew. We had such a great trip and we really look forward to going again next year.

Welcome to the World Abram Aksel

We are excited to announce the arrival of our new nephew, Abram Aksel Graning born this past Tuesday, April 21st. Mommy & baby are home and from what we hear they are doing great. We are so excited that Liam will have a cousin so close to his age. I know it is going to be a lot of fun watching the boys grow up together. I can't even begin to imagine the trouble they are going to get into. Ben, Jess, & Caden we are so excited for you. You are all in our thoughts and prayers and we can't wait to meet little Abram.

Pure Joy

Pure joy...I think that best describes the smile on this little guys face and the joy it brings me to see his smile every day. I love this smile more than I can say!

This was Liam's first time in his Baby Einstein Activity Jumper and as you can tell from this face, he loved it! It is still a little bit big for him but he had a great time figuring out all of the new toys. His favorite part was looking at himself in the mirror. He really gets a kick out of seeing himself and will just talk and laugh at the baby in the mirror. It is so fun to watch him as he is trying to figure something new out. I feel like I can just see the wheels turning in his head as he trying to do something for the first time. He is at such a fun age and I am enjoying every minute with him. He is growing and changing so fast, I don't want to miss a thing.

Future Tarheels

Liam with his "big" cousin Caden

If their parent's have anything to say about it these 2 little guys are destined to be Tarheels. We are getting them started early wearing the gear, watching the games, and cheering on the Tarheels. When asked who his favorite Tarheel is, Caden quickly and enthusiastically responds, "Tyler!!"

Caden is Rolf's older brother Ben and his wife Jessica's "big" boy. They are eagerly awaiting the arrival of their second little Tarheel any day now. This winter we were able to spend 2 great weekends hanging out with Caden, once while skiing at Snowshoe and then recently in Sylva. Caden is going to be an awesome big brother. He was so sweet and gentle with Liam and was very intrigued by all of Liam's toys. He wasn't super keen on "his" mommy holding Liam but I am sure he will be getting plenty of attention once the new baby is here.

We can't wait to meet our new little nephew and are so excited to watch all of these little guys grow up together and some day head off to Carolina just like their mommy's and daddy's but no pressure of course!!

Best Buddies

Liam with his best buddy Jacques

Liam and Jacques are quickly becoming best buddies and I am sure by next year this time they will be chasing each other around. Jacques is the little boy of our good friends Amy & Justin. Justin and Rolf have become "best buds" as they trudge through residency together, Amy and I have become "best buds" as we cope with being new moms with husbands that work way too hard and way too much...so it is only fitting that Liam and Jacques become best buddies.

Tarheel Born, Tarheel Bred...

Here are a couple of pictures of our favorite little Tarheel getting ready for the big game on Monday night. Unfortunately the game was on way past his bedtime but we will make sure to tell him lots of stories of about Carolina winning the National Championship in 2009!!

(I tried to make this one look like the cute shirts they sell on Franklin Street.)

Wordless Wednesday

Super Dad

Rolf "The Super Dad" in Action

Rolf is such an amazing dad and helps out whenever he can. He is great about taking over when he walks in the door from work which is hard because that is the "witching hour" around our house. He is great about doing bath time and story time and bedtime but his favorite time is in the morning before he heads off to work because Liam is always so happy. I couldn't have asked for a better husband and Liam couldn't have asked for a better daddy.

First Trip to Red Robin (for Aunt Rebecca)

We have been keeping a record of all of Liam's "firsts" and this was one not to be missed. We are very sad that he didn't get to experience this first with his Aunt Rebecca and the rest of the Lees clan but since they couldn't be there we decided to take along the camera to document the occasion.

Liam very much enjoyed his first trip to "The Bird" and was a perfect angel the entire time. All of the noise and excitement of the restaurant kept him entertained and his carseat being strategically placed under a ceiling fan didn't hurt either. We were actually able to enjoy a nice date ourselves, which is a rarity these days.

Playing Catch Up

Sorry to have been MIA for the last month. We spent much of the month of March traveling back and forth to North Carolina to visit both my family and Rolf's. Liam is a great car traveler, as he and I have made many of these trips just the two of us because Rolf was busy working. I started back to work (part time from home) this month and completed my first project earlier this week. April should be a little bit more low key for our family and I hope to get you caught up on all of the exciting things we have been doing over the last month.