Cole Harrison

Our sweet new baby has arrived...

Cole Harrison Dieckert
November 8, 2010
7:57pm
9 pounds, 3 ounces
22 1/2 inches




Yes, it was already almost a week ago. Yes, I know Graham had at least seven days worth of blog posts at this point. And sweet Evan had at least one picture circulated to all of the family members. But when it comes down to it, I have spent every free moment just staring and snuggling with this sweet new baby that has finally joined our family, and I don't regret it a bit!

Soccer boys

Our minivan is now content in it's role as our family vehicle these days. I swear the first time it was loaded up with soccer balls, juice boxes, and three of my favorite boys in their red jerseys, it sighed a happy, contented sigh. Kind of like the tree in The Giving Tree.

So come Saturday morning, we load up the ol' van and head to the soccer field. Grady is coaching Graham's little U-6 team, on which he is the second youngest player. Grady would have me tell you that their record is currently 4-1... in a league where no one keeps scores... or come to think of it, maybe I am the only one who never knows what the score is. Hmmm, I'll have to think about this. Anyways. All of the kids are really improving and seem to be having a great time. Grady comes across the field after the games, all smiles, really excited about how well the team is doing. Graham is, of course, my favorite thing to watch at the games. He is starting to look less shell shocked at all of the commotion and kids running towards the ball, and is actually beginning to sprint towards (instead of away from) the ball. I think he is disappointed that he hasn't scored a goal yet, but he is all smiles from the beginning to the end of the game.

Or at least I think so... if you can imagine sitting next to this and trying to follow any of the action on the field each week:

At first Evan really considered himself to be part of the team, insisting that he have a red soccer jersey, "cleats" and soccer socks. Now he is content to sit in the chair next to me, eat snacks and play games on my iPhone. But the second the whistle blows at the end of the game, he takes off for "Coach Gwady," as Evan refers to his father while in soccer regalia. This is possibly my favorite part of each game.

Grady realizes that Ev is trying to get his attention as he tries to get 11 squirmy soccer players to line up and shake the other teams hands. "Coach Gwady, Coach Gwady..."

And then scoops up the sweetest two year old around and leads his team towards the other team!

This kid.

This kid makes me smile all day long. Seriously. Even tonight, after an hour of trying to get him to go to sleep, we came downstairs, and he learned this.

For weeks, he has been saying, "P-M-O-P. That spells my name." And then defending that his name was in fact spelled that way.

But tonight he finally caught on. Make sure you turn up the volume so you can hear him!

Busy, busy, busy, busy, busy, busy, busy

When people ask me how the boys are, I always answer, "Busy." I don't think the realize how truthful (and kind) I am being. Case in point.

While I was making dinner tonight, I heard these sweet giggles coming from the living room.

But really they were breaking rules I didn't even know I had to state.

Where should I even begin??

• "Don't put the beanbag on the coffee table."
• "Don't sit on the beanbag if it is on the coffee table or any table for that matter."
• "If you convince your little brother to get on said beanbag on said coffee table, please make sure and hold onto him so he doesn't fall off."

It's raining, it's pouring!

We've been looking for rain for a while now, and it finally arrived! The boys were so excited to get out their raincoats and go play for a while!

"Mine, all mine"

As I walked around the corner into the living room recently, I walked straight into this picture.

When I gasped and asked Evan what he was doing, he started rolling around repeating, "Mine, all mine. Mine, all mine."

And of course, when he was done, he needed a drink of milk.

Summer fun and a growing belly

We are living up the spring weather these days... it is a shame it is almost time for the summer heat to begin!

And when you ask Evan to smile, this is what you get these days. Notice the nice censorship job he did in the chair.

And here is the new baby at 15 weeks. After a Mexican food lunch. Graham took the picture after I refused to give him more pears until he did so... so you could say that it was probably better that you don't see my face scowling at him...

Best Friends

This is Tim.

Well, actually this is Graham and Tim being Graham and Tim.

If you have talked to Graham in the past few months, you have probably heard about Legos. And Tim. But definitely Legos.

Tim is Graham's best friend, and I am pretty sure the feeling is mutual. Tim also comes with a twin brother, Sam, and although I have actually seen Graham run past Sam with acknowledging him just to get to Tim, I know Sam is part of the reason Graham loves these boys so much.

I can always be assured that if Sam and Tim are there, both of my boys will be exhausted when we get home and probably for the next day as well. The four of them (as they are so sweet to include Evan in all of their adventures) go from the minute we get out of the car until it is time to head home. It is pure boy heaven.

And it is a good think I like their mom a little, too.

And this is sweet Evan P at the children's museum putting on "boots like Daddy."

Spring in the strawberry patch

One of my favorite parts of springtime here is the strawberry patch just a few minutes down the road. There is nothing quite like eating the warm strawberries right off of the plant.

I think my favorite part is watching Grady smile every time he finds another perfect strawberry. the boys and I work quickly for quantity, while Grady wanders through a few rows looking for the most glorious specimens of strawberry goodness he can find.

money well spent...

The boys have been lusting after a baby pool for a while now. And after the hot spell we had a few weeks ago, I had to give in. Probably the best ten bucks I will spend all summer!

And look at this sweet, cold face when the sun started fading!

Did I mention we have a four year old now?

Graham B turned four a few weeks ago. Four. We didn't go through terrible twos with him. We blew right through the threes with a smile. And then we hit four. And I just don't know where this new attitude has come from. He is no longer the very pliable baby of the past few years. But he has opinions. And wants. And a desperate whiny voice.

But he is still our sweet Graham. He is starting to get excited about the new baby, loving on me and my baby belly a couple of times of day. He protects Evan with the fierceness of a lion... don't even let Ev look at the street or Graham will tackle him into the grass. He's helpful and caring and full of energy. We are so blessed to have such a wonderful kid in our lives!