We're all learning something....

Brayden

Brayden is now 13 months old. He is 27 in tall and 18 lbs, and is finally wearing size 9 month clothes (along with some 6 month clothes). His favorite foods are NillaWafers, waffles, and whatever you’re having!. He took his 1^st step on March 7^th and now he is walking like a, well, like a zombie. We have known he was a climber, but recently his climbing has reached a new level. He now knows that he can dump toy bins/boxes out, turn them over, push them to the desired location, and proceed to use them in aiding his climb to new heights. At daycare, aside from climbing on the shelves when no one is looking, he’ll dump, flip, and push a toy bin over to the window so he can see outside. ALSO, he has a new fascination with climbing on the kid table at home…

Brayden has totally become a bottle baby. We try giving him sippy cups, and occasionally he’ll comply, but basically he only wants a sippy cup if it means using taking brother’s cup. Brayden is so much fun and SUCH a little stinker! For example: He’s a food thief! He doesn't want to eat his own food… and he DEFINITELY doesn't want anyone to feed him ANYTHING. He knows how to open boxes/bags/etc to steal food. He is a paper muncher! If he spots a piece of paper, you can count on him eating it! He’s bitten a chunk out of my Bible, a book Keith borrowed, Landen’s Bible, coupons, daily sheets, tissue paper, etc. He’s a trash cruiser! He LOVES rummaging through trash (NOT that we let him… he just finds ways to do it!). If there is a trash can, with or without a lid, he WILL get to it, remove its contents, and explore! If you were to look this kid up in the dictionary, you would see the word INDEPENDENT next to his name!

Lately, Brayden has gotten even more playful and more verbal. He can say Ball /bAWW/, Bottle /BahBah/, Mommy /mahh-MEE/ or /mahh-MAHH/, Dadda /DĂ-da/, Cup /uhP/, That /dat/, waffle /wahpF/, Book /Booh/, Brother /B-uh/, and some others I can’t remember right now. He adores Landen and always enjoys playing with him. He knows how to throw balls, and with pick a ball up, walk with it, then throw it… it’s precious! Brayden is at the stage where he LOVES peek-a-boo, and he’ll play it even when he’s alone. Although he loves being played with, he is perfectly content being left alone to play (as long as someone is in the room with him). He’ll pull out books, sit down, and flip through the pages – pointing to and feeling (and tasting) everything on the page.

Landen

Landen is every bit of 2 ½ years old! He wants, so badly, to be able to do everything! He understands SO much! Yet there are still so many things he doesn't get. He absolutely ADORES Brayden and wants to know where brother is at all times. He always usually plays so well with Brayden (aside from the times he takes toys from Brayden or knocks him over or tries to wrestle with him). If anyone is hurt or upset, Landen will tell them “It Otay!” and give them a kiss/hug. He DOES have the occasional meltdown, but I think that is inevitable for his age. He loves watching Cars, mostly because he loves Lightning McQueen and Mater. We are STILL working on potty training! He MAY still be in diapers pull-ups when he starts college. Along with the continued saga of potty training, Landen has developed a strange interest in wanting to EXAMINE that which goes in the potty… or Brayden’s diaper… or Landen’s pull-up… As much as I have enjoyed every stage, I'd be okay if this particular part of this stage left. 

Communication

Communication with a toddler can be challenging. There are some words that no matter how hard he tries to say them correctly, it just doesn’t work. Below is a list of the English words and the Landen pronunciation:

• Elephant - /Eff-a-lent/
• I don’t know - /I nuh-no/
• Bench & Bridge – well, it sounds like a certain B word that rhymes with switch
• This can be embarrassing when said in public… yikes!
• Something - /sum-PIN/
• Fork - /bORk/
• This particular one took about 25 minutes of Landen repeating himself, louder and louder, then FINALLY showing us what he was saying... sorry kiddo, we DO try!
• Knife - /ife/
• Spoon - /pOO-N/
• Nothing - /nuffin/
• Brother & Butter - /bud-der/
• This one gets confusing
• “I traced a rainbow” - /I TASEda Way-mbow/ 
• This one is also confusing as he says it at the most random times and it sounds remarkably like “Taste the Rainbow”

There are also words WE say that he doesn't quite understand… 

• Keith said that I was being facetious… Landen thought daddy was calling mommy Jesus. 
• And anytime we say a number in virtually ANY situation, Landen responds with, “I TWO! I TWO!”

Education

We are learning A LOT from our kids! For instance:

• Digestion: Keith asked Landen what happens to Landen’s food when he eats… Landen responded, “It goes in my tummy… “ Keith, “that’s right!” Landen, “…then out my penis!” Keith, “uhh… what? Not quite.”
• Technicalities: Diapers and Pull-Ups are NOT the same thing! Only babies wear diapers…
• Days of the week: Landen thinks every day is Tuesday. Tuesday his FAVORITE day… I have NO IDEA why.
• Church is on: Tuesday, Saturday AND Sunday… apparently
• Concept & Sequence of Numbers AND Bartering: Keith, “Landen, you’re going to get 2 spankings.” Landen, “NO! 3! 3 spankings!”
• When it’s dark outside: it’s because mommy or daddy needs to turn the lights on
• Crayola has a list of directions for getting crayon (and any other crayola product) out/off of just about anything! – AND it worked! Keith no longer has green crayon marks (complements of Landen, our washer and dryer) on his work pants!
• Songs have changed:
• The Day’s of the Week Song ACTUALLY goes like this, “Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Saturday HOORAY, Saturday HOORAY!”
• The Are You Sleeping song ACTUALLY goes like this, “Hmm Hm Hmm Ding Ding Ding Dong, Ding Ding Ding Dong”

Family/Parenting

As far as Keith and me, we are doing well. 

Keith is well into his clinicals now and is doing great! I am SO proud of him! It HAS been a big adjustment as the kids are having to stay LONG days at daycare, and Keith has realized that working requires more energy than school <-- I guess he had to learn that himself.

I am actively trying to follow the direction God has placed on my heart! There isn't very much to say about it at this point, and because of the nature of this ministry, I don’t know that I will ever be able to say or blog anything about it. I can, however, say that when God laid this our hearts and we decided I would follow him with it, HE just put it RIGHT.IN.MY.LAP! :)

Is it too late to say Happy New Year?

It has been quite a while since my last post, though not for lack of material. Living with two kids (now ages 1 yr and 2 ½ yrs) leave little to no room for boredom, event-less days, etc.

With that being said… I haven’t been able to post because a few things have been going on in my life lately…

• Landen got glasses à His cute quirkiness in running around all clumsy-like was ultimately because he couldn't see... talk about feeling like a crummy parent!
• Brayden turned ONE à He may be a little bitty thing, but the kid can climb like a monkey, crawl like he’s fleeing for his life, eat like he’s been starved for his entire existence, bite like the Jaws of Life, and SO MUCH MORE…
• Keith started clinicals à Our schedule is now flipped upside-down and sideways…
• Cali has accepted our home as her own à Somewhat of a transition from life as an outdoor cat to the life of an indoor cat in a home of toddlers
• Brayden likes cat litter à It is UNREAL how quickly he can B-line to the litter box… EVEN when we have multiple baricades
• Landen is potty training à the NEVER.ENDING.PROCESS. I am beginning to wonder if he will EVER get out of diapers
• Baby proofing is a joke à outlet plugs aren't nearly as effective when the baby figures out how to remove them from the outlet… to CHEW on the plug while prodding the outlet! It’s scary!
• We don’t have phones, internet, or television at home à we’re basically the Flintstones
• We fly through cars à probably not a good quality, but in my defense it’s not always our fault… the car repair place totaled it during a test drive
• I got a sewing machine à I’m becoming domesticated I suppose…
• Then there was Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Years, Haleigh’s Birthday, LIFE group, work, etc. on top of busted lips, falls down the stairs (primarily me and Keith), splinters, goose eggs, falling off the bed (all 4 of us at some point), wiping out on the sidewalk/driveway/playground/kitchen, more scrapes and bruises than I can count, slips, pinched fingers, blow outs that require immediate baths of both child AND adult involved, and the list goes on and on, yet I wouldn't trade it for the world!!!

This past weekend, Brayden turned ONE! I’ve never really been one for themed parties, but with the evolution of Pinterest, I thought I’d give it a go.

We had a Very Hungry Caterpillar themed birthday party for Brayden. I think it turned out really well!

Here are some pictures from the party…

The Gift Table

The 1st year in pictures

Birth - 6 mos

7 mos - 12 mos (*minus 9 mos.... i forgot to take that one)

Birthday Boy with his Hat and Tie Onsie

Bean Bag Toss... the bean bags are to "feed" the Hungry Caterpillar

The Cake (from Publix)

The Smash Cake (from Publix)

Grape Caterpillars and Colorful Candies

Pinwheel Sandwiches and Pigs in a Blanket

Drinks

Lemonade with Colored Frozen Lemons

Close up of the Colored Frozen Lemons

Balloon Caterpillar

Refreshment Table

Family Picture

Birthday Boy loving some cake!

Bean Bag Toss

I had so much fun making the decorations for this party, and even just as much fun AT the party!

Happy Birthday to my sweet baby Brayden! Mommy Loves you SO MUCH!

Lately...

Well, it's been awhile since my last post.

It seems like our life is CRAZY busy, yet we really don't DO that much...

Our precious cat, Gus ("Gus-Gus" to Landen), died... I was HYSTERICAL! Landen STILL prays for Gus-Gus at night. BUT we were able to give permanent a home to a sweet little kitten-ish kitty (she's 8-9 months) named Cali ("Cow-Yee" to Landen). This has been a good thing, since Gus really was essentially my first child and Landen pretty much thought they were actually brothers.

Sweet Gus

Cali seems to fitting into our family nicely... more as a cat than as a sibling (probably a good thing).

Sweet Cali

Keith's Grandmother broke her arm (at the shoulder)... My grandmother broke her leg (at the hip)...

Brayden started crawling (at 6 months) and learned how to sit up (at 7 months)... my children are backwards... but that's just fine with me!

We seem to have a several week old perpetual sinus-crud-cold-runny nose-junk virus that we are generously sharing with one another over and over and OVER again! If you happen to hear me talk, NO I'm not a man... I just sound that way... Come on weather change and STAY changed!

I turned 28 last week. (Of course the day before my Birthday, Keith asked me if I was turning 29... um, NO! Bless his heart.)

I remember watching F•R•I•E•N•D•S and thinking about them being so old at 28. Am I old? 

When did I grow up?

What are kids going to be like without have F•R•I•E•N•D•S to grow-up with? (I digress)

Brayden is eating baby food now!! Carrots, Green Beans, Green Peas, Sweet Potatoes, and Rice... actually let me clarify... he is spitting baby food and gnawing on the spoon... :) He's growing up so fast! 

And Landen LOVES to watch brother "eat" and provides some pretty spectacular commentary for Brayden's meal endeavors. 

I am planning to get a sewing machine... YIPPEE! This should really be interesting. I am an expert at sewing by hand... OK, that MAY be an exaggeration... but I DO mend things that are torn, buttons gone, seems ripped, etc. I am just so stinking pumped with all this stuff from Pinterest that I am quite certain I should be able to SOMETHING with a sewing machine. I sewed a doll outfit once... when I was 8 or so... and I've piddled here and there since then. We'll see.

If nothing else, it's going to be my toy and if everything comes out laughable... I'll at least get some laughs!!

That's pretty much what's gone on in my world...

Mayo Jar

***Please note that this post is originally from http://feeds.feedburner.com/blogspot/NYwT. I thought it was worth sharing***

Mayonnaise Jar and 2 Cups of Coffee

Posted: Thursday, September 02, 2010, 7:21:04 PM | noreply@blogger.com (Tara) says: I was browsing through some motivational stuff and read through this write up. I know you can relate and you'd find this story really touching.I know you can always find time reading it. :)

When things in your life seem almost too much to handle, when 24 Hours in a day is not enough, remember the mayonnaise jar and 2 cups of coffee.

A professor stood before his philosophy class
and had some items in front of him.
When the class began, wordlessly,
He picked up a very large and empty mayonnaise jar
And proceeded to fill it with golf balls.


He then asked the students, if the jar was full.
They agreed that it was..

The professor then picked up a box of pebbles and poured
them into the jar. He shook the jar lightly.
The pebbles rolled into the open Areas between the golf balls.

He then asked the students again if the jar was full. They agreed it was.
The professor next picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar.

Of course, the sand filled up everything else.
He asked once more if the jar was full. The students responded with a unanimous 'yes.'

The professor then produced two cups of coffee from under the table and poured the entire contents into the jar, effectively filling the empty space between the sand. The students laughed.

'Now,' said the professor, as the laughter subsided,

'I want you to recognize that this jar represents your life.
The golf balls are the important things - family, children, health, Friends, and Favorite passions –

Things that if everything else was lost and only they remained, Your life would still be full.
The pebbles are the other things that matter like your job, house, and car.

The sand is everything else --The small stuff.
'If you put the sand into the jar first,' He continued, there is no room for the pebbles or the golf balls.

The same goes for life.

If you spend all your time and energy on the small stuff, You will never have room for the things that are important to you.

So...

Pay attention to the things that are critical to your happiness.
Play With your children.
Take time to get medical checkups.
Take your partner out to dinner.

There will always be time to clean the house and fix the disposal.

'Take care of the golf balls first --
The things that really matter.
Set your priorities. The rest is just sand.'

One of the students raised her hand and inquired what the coffee represented.

The professor smiled. 'I'm glad you asked'.

It just goes to show you that no matter how full your life may seem, there's always room for a couple of cups of coffee with a friend.

Stop A Dividend Tax Hike

Stop A Dividend Tax Hike

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Check out this Web site to learn more and to take action:
http://www.defendmydividend.org/

Photo Book

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Haircuts and More...

Haircuts or Hairs cut

Landen has officially moved from babyhood to little-boyhood.
It wasn't a far journey. It was really mere inches from one town to the other, but that tiny distance made a HUGE difference!
When I look at him, I no longer see the crazy-haired baby... now I see this little boy, BIG BOY running around... with a neck that is visible from all sides... it's mind boggling!

We I debated whether to take him to a hair salon for his first cut, to have me do the snipping, or to have Meemaw cut it. Ultimately, I have a hard time thinking of paying exorbitant amounts of money to cut 10 strands of hair whilst holding said child still in a chair surrounded by noises and other, potentially dangerous, distractions. I mean, it all came down to the necessary credentials:

• Is a trusted individual. Not only by parents, but also by child
• Possesses a big TV with all the George a child's little heart could desire
• Has scissors
• Is patient and steady handed
• BONUS: the mother of 5 boys, all of whom she has given haircut to for something close to 27 years!

DING! DING! DING! We have a winner: Meemaw!

Landen did great getting his hair cut! He sat still (well... still-ish. Still, according to toddler terms) watching George. He combed his hair, just like Meemaw, and even needed to dip the comb in a cup of water, just like Meemaw. It was precious! I did fine until it was all over and I realized what a difference it all made - I didn't cry or anything, but I definitely got a little choked up...

The Before Shot, aka The Mullet

The After Shot

and More...

I thought I would do a progressive look at how much Brayden has changed over the course of his first 3 months in the world. It's pretty impressive to see how quickly babies change and grow!

Birthday

1 week

1 month

2 months

3 months (I can't make it rotate?!)

23 and 3 months

It is crazy to think that Landen is just a couple weeks away from being TWO years old!
What happened to my sweet little easy-going baby boy?!? Suddenly, we are EXTREMELY opinionated, hard to please, frustrated, indecisive, winy, etc... at random times, for no reason, without ANY warning!
Luckily, this agitated state is not a constant, and in-between these little nerve wracking mood swings, he is the SWEETEST, FUNNIEST, MOST LOVING-EST, curious child EVER!

On the flip-side...

It is crazy to think that Brayden is only THREE months old!
With all we have been through with Brayden... NICU, colic, ER visits, COLIC, hospitalizations, and then some more COLIC... it's hard to believe that he has only been here for such a short time!
We are almost over the colic hump! He still has his uncontrollable screaming moments, but they are only moments now.... SO much better than the 8-10 hour stretches of blood curdling screams! Brayden has now become this little person that smiles and coos, laughs and squeaks, kicks, reaches, and attempts to grab at toys!

I love my boys more than words can express! Even through the challenging times, they are nothing short of a blessing to me and I can't imagine my life without them!

Brayden Sleeping

My 3 boys 

just a normal day...

Easter Egg excitement

Landen pushing brother

Brayden in the hospital

Have you met George? It's Landen's BFF!

Landen loves being a big brother

Bath Laughs

DON"T WAKE THE BABY! 

Brayden is NOT happy!

Brayden reaching for the camera

Landen shared George with brother... it's a big deal!

Not to the point of potty training... just potty sitting

Happy Brayden