Long Over Due

It's almost been one entire year from my last post. I guess that will reiterate any of my future comments alluding to how busy it is raising a mini-person—elaborate vocabulary and all! What a year it has been. I'm not going to recap the past tweleve months, so I'll just catch everyone up with...I'm pregnant!

Brady, the Super Brother, will debut in February!

"aye you, mommy...."

"Aye you, mommy...." (that's 'love you' in Brady language) The best words ever I have yet to hear from my precious little man. So much has changed since my last blog, but I figure I should at least attempt to capture some moments. After all, these days, who uses scrapbooks any more? I wish I did...

Brady will be 2 in September, something I can't believe! Justin and I will be parents to a "real" toddler! Ah! And a toddler he is.

He is now completely weened off his "bebe" or paci except for at night and is officially in a big boy bed! I cannot tell you how much I enjoy hearing his little feet in the morning and looking up and there is my guy, with three stuffed animals in tow. Perfect.

While these months have been filled with happiness and joy as we experience our child growing, April brought sadness, too. We lost our sweet Malibu to cancer. I never imagined losing a doggy would be this hard, but being in that room with her was the single, hardest thing I have ever had to do. I know we did the right thing, at the right time, and that God was just in a hurry to meet our sweet girl. We love and miss you so much, Boobers. You are irreplaceable. And Brady still looks out at your flower and says "boo boo." Keep an eye on us, will ya?

Tubes in. Adenoids out.

Whew! It's over! What a rock star...

Such a brave little man. He was a bit unsure, but once that "giggle juice" kicked in, he was ready to go. After mommy and daddy waited patiently for about an hour, we were finally able to comfort our trooper coming off the anesthesia. That was def. the hardest part, but he's already acting like a new little boy. We are so grateful. Thanks for all of your prayers!

Way Behind...

Wow, it's been too long! Sorry. Things like this take a backseat when you are chasing around a toddler! At any rate, our little man is growing and growing every day.
He is now a year and a half and we are feeling every bit of it. He is beginning to communicate with us using single words, can repeat almost anything (while we can't understand them all, he def. has the syllables down!), LOVES to dance, sing and has grown increasingly fond of airplanes and trains. Now that it's a bit warmer out, we are able to play outside everyday after work/school and look for planes and listen for trains (we have one right by the house).

Since Brady's first birthday, and first day of day school, he has been getting sick very easily. While this is common amongst most toddlers entering day school, Brady just couldn't get well. After many-an-ear infection, we are headed to an ENT to discuss tubes. Mommy had them. Mommy's mommy had them. And Mommy's mommy's daddy had them...so we were destined, I guess. I welcome to the idea because I want him to be well for more than a week at a time. Sweet baby.

I will try and update more often for those that read. If not, I will update so I have some sort of digital scrapbook to keep. Lots of love...

Happy Birthday!

Happy 1st Birthday, sweet boy! We love you!

Daddy & Me

Dancin' Machine

Brady LOVES to dance...just like his momma!

oh, so close...

A message from Brady...

Hi, I'm Brady, and, I'm 11 months old today! Mommy can't believe in one more month, I will officially become a toddler.

I'm a sweet little guy, with an amazing, great-spirited personality. Everyday I do things that remind mommy of daddy or of herself! I LOVE to dance, which works out for mommy because so does she! I am not walking yet, but I am sure close. I love to feed myself (especially black eyed peas and shells-n-cheese, mommy's specialty) and I'm not a big fan of mommy making me eat with a spoon. I can use a straw now so I get juice boxes! I have three teeth and I think I feel a second top one coming in. I've done very well teething...I even let mommy brush my teeth for a second before I take over.

Hope all is well with everyone. I love you!

I found the toilet paper!


Me & Diesel watching TV.

Auntie Ky-Ky & baby Brady

blessed by God...i'm baptized!

On Sunday, baby Brady was baptized by his great-granddaddy. Great-granddaddy even used some drops of water from the River Jordan (great-granddaddy collected in 1980!) where Jesus was said to have been baptized. What an amazing day for Brady, and for his proud mommy and daddy. Grandparents, parents, aunts, uncles, cousins, Godparents and dear family friends were present to witness this sweet--and tired--sugar bear become one with God. Thank you, Lord, for all of the people you have put in our lives. For where two or more are gathered in Your Name, there You are amongst them.


great-grandma MaryJane, great-granddaddy, mommy & me.

10 months old...

My, how time flies. I cannot believe baby Brady is 10 months old. Even more so, he will be one year old in two months! Soon, he will be toddler Brady!

Brady is a crawling machine and loves to pull himself up on everything. I mean, everything...enter head bonks; one of Brady's several firsts this past month.

Another first--Brady's first airplane trip. We flew to Kansas City, MO to see Justin's dad, aunt/uncle/cousins and grandparents. Mommy was very nervous about the flight, but Brady did great! He even slept...both ways!


We had so much fun visiting the Blankenship family in Kansas City. Mommy got to rest her feet while the family force took over. Brady is sure loved :) and mommy is sure grateful. In Kansas City, it's legal to shoot fireworks wherever and whenever. Paige turned from an adult-child who would join the party in a heartbeat, to a new-mommy who found herself yelling "if those kids don't stop that!" on more than one occasion. Brady did great, though, and slept-for the most part-through the crackles and pops.

I hope everyone enjoyed their Fourth of July-however you spent it-and remembered how lucky we are to live in America. Love to all!

climb, stand, fall, repeat...

Brady's new favorite past time...pulling up on things, falling and doing it all over again, and over again, and over again! I can't believe how fast he is growing. At his 9-month checkup, our little man weighed 23.8 pounds and was 29 inches long. He LOVES to crawl, LOVES to feed himself (what a mess!) and is really starting to show interest in the doggies. Malibu is his favorite, but i have a feeling things will change once he learns to throw the ball for Diesel. Enjoy the video! Hope all is well!

sneak peek!

A few weeks ago, Justin, Brady & I went to visit my sweet friend, Jennifer (my best friend's sister), for baby Brady's first photo-shoot. You might remember Jennifer's work from my pregger pics. Jennifer's skills amaze me with every picture she takes and she was nice enough to provide us with a little, sneak peek! More to come!
www.hauteshotphotography.com

hil-arious.

it's a little hard to see--i took it with my phone, quickly--but brady is squishing his face up against the mesh of his pack 'n play. it is absolutely the funniest thing i've ever seen. hope you can see enough to enjoy it, too!

two teeth & a homemade swimming pool

When it's hot outside, you do what you can to cool down. With temps in the 100s, it was time for a pool. Enter Brady's bathtub. We put his tub outside, filled it with water from the hose and he had a blast. The dogs did, too...they thought it was a giant water bowl. :)

This happens to be the first picture I have that captured his two pearly whites. And boy are they white. It's just the best thing.

I'm a crawler!

"Mommy! I'm ready to get up!"

This is the face I see every morning when I go to get Brady!

What a wonderful way to start the day... :)

ah...the little things

Happy Mother's Day!

Brady wore his new shirt, just for mommy, that says "mommy makes me smile." and that i do!

Brady is such a happy, happy baby. However, he has been a teeny bit grumpy recently because...he has two teeth! I haven't been able to get a picture of the tiny, pearly whites yet, but hopefully soon.

Happy Mother's Day to all the mommies out there! We love you!