I forgot to mention that, on a daily basis:

-- Ryan asks me "Why did Heavenly Father give us such a cute baby?"
-- Lorin tells me to remind her when Graf is older and getting into her stuff how much she adored him as a baby.

8 months of rolling with the Costley flow

We have not slowed down with baby #4--his good nature has allowed us to party on. He has been so much fun that I often tell people that for the first 6 months of his life I felt like nothing could phase me; not even Cory working 90 hours a week (which he did). Graf has made this home a bit of heaven for all of us.

Here are some of the places he's gone, important people he's met, and fun times he's had:
RODEO (Cory's nicknames for Graf include "cute guy," "man dude," and "dude man.")
IZZY'S CANCER CHECK UP

SWIMMING WITH DADGREAT GRANDMA KOFOED IN IDAHO
BEAR LAKE IN UTAH
EVERYDAY LIFE WITH RYAN
THE HARDEST FEAT YET...CHURCH (He just doesn't like sitting in those rows so confined--haven't made it through a whole sacrament meeting yet.)

TEXAS RANGERS GAME WITH GRANDPA COSTLEY
GENERAL CONFERENCE AT FAMOUS TEMPLE SQUAREGREAT GRANDMA COSTLEY'S 90TH BIRTHDAY (Pretty sure Graf weighs more :)GRANDMA COSTLEYS FOOT RUBSBYU FOOTBALL GAME (He got a little antsy for a while, then I put him looking over my shoulder at 3 cute college girls--they had him giggling for a good 30 minutes.)HAPPY HALLOWEEN TO ARIAL, OUR "SKELESPIDER," PIRATE PETE, AND OUR DIVA WITCH
CHRISTMAS PARADE IN DALLASHANGING THE LIGHTSCHRISTMAS MORNING BRINGING JOYBEING LOVED AND LOVED AND LOVED...AND TOTED AROUND AND LOVED

Blessing Day

Graf was blessed in Utah on the 4th of July! Great Grandma Costley and Great Aunts Nancy and Janet made it out from Plain City. It was a beautiful day and Graf didn't make a peep. Aunt Tiff wrote down the details she could remember:

Graf Paul Costley’s Blessing July 4, 2010

Given by Cory Costley, Graf’s Father.

Present in the circle: Mike Walsh, Gregory Costley, Joseph Moore

Blessed with:

-Christ-like confidence and courage to stand up for beliefs and make right choices

-Patience

-Perspective

-A desire to be close to the Spirit and to be guided by it

-An open mind and heart

-Humility to learn and to be teachable

-A body and a mind that are strong to be able to carry your burdens and help others

2 month old photo shoot

Aunt Erin took these:

Graf Paul Costley--Our Boy

8 months old--the lucky family winner of the earliest started blog!!

The pregnancy was eventful including:
*2 miscarriages that lead to the finding of MTHFR--a blood clotting disease. Blood thinner shots to the belly for 9 months.
*It's a boy!! Lorin claiming she knew all along (had already been calling him Zach for weeks); Cory and I both shedding some tears; Graf's plumbing easily perceptible.
*Ultrasounds weekly for the last 10 weeks--every time showing off the junk loud and clear!
*A 13 week countdown chain kept us all sane!
*A trip to the zoo the day before induction.

The birth story is fantastic including:
*A crazy mom who decided to try going natural being induced at 37 weeks hopped up on the Pit!
*14 hours of labor, 2 of which were the worst pain I've ever felt while trying to get the late Epidural in. (full story in journal)
*A birthing coach willing to do anything for his wife even if she's being ridiculous (ice on the back during the worst contractions were the fav!)
*Our boy!!! Born on Daddy's birthday!
*Carted off to the NICU for shallow breathing making his Aunt Traci and his sisters have to wait 'til the next day to see him--sad sad sisters!

First glimpses:
*Smallest baby award at 6lbs 2.9oz and 19in long;
*Best eater award--quickly moving up to 75% of height and weight...easily surpassing my girls!
*Best sleeper award! 22 hours straight to and from UT/ID, 6 weeks of roaming the country, and an over-nighter in a tent at the Walker reunion was his best night--9 hours!
*4 way tie for the cutest award!
*Most diaper rash but least blow-outs (a trade-off).
*Most doted over by everyone involved!

Unique qualities:
*A "foot" kid. Instead of smacking things with his hands, always pulling his feet up to kick at them.
*First great grandson to Great-Grandpa Paul Costley bearing the Costley name.
*Well, unique to our family...great story...About a week old, I'm changing his diaper and Izzy is watching on a step stool next to me. I looked away for a second to find the rash cream and hear Izzy say "That was weird!!" I looked at her and she was looking at her arms, then up at the ceiling, then back to her arms which were splashed with water. I got excited and exclaimed "Ahhh, he peed on you!." Izzy's smile instantly turned upside down and she cried and cried. Graf was pretty happy about it :)


This baby has been lighting our lives. When Lorin's upset, I just hand Graf to her--she melts. When Izzy walks in from school, she's looking for "Graffers." When Ryan hears Graf on the baby monitor she can't stand a second wasted in going to him. When Cory hangs out, he wants his boy hangin' too (especially at church :). When Graf is sleeping or out of my view, I miss him. We love you Graf!