Pictures

Before I post some pictures, there are a few things that I want to update you on with Brady.  He is starting to develop quite the personality!

1.  He has started arching now.  Don't want to get out of the bathtub?  Then arch your back and resist.  Don't want to get in your car seat?  Then arch your back so your mom has a hard time getting you in.  Don't want to lay down to get your diaper changed?  Then arch your back and twist so your mom breaks a sweat trying to change your diaper. 
2.  He is learning how to throw things.  I usually leave him in the car with the door open as I unload groceries.  The other day I heard a thump and noticed his little train halfway across the driveway.  :)
3.  He is beginning to swat at his spoon when I feed him.  This can get pretty messy!!! 

Here are the pictures:

Helping me with the groceries...

We took a little family trip to MN.  Of course, we had to find somewhere to watch IA play.  Brady was happy with our restaurant selection!

Walking Drake!!!  

Tyler's cross country meet.  My Grandma was worried that Brady would get cold, so my Uncle Todd took care of it!



Young & The Restless baby

Brady loves the theme song to Young & the Restless.  He stops playing to listen to it, it's woken him up from his nap, and he even stops crying.  Just watch!!

Drake & Brady

As I've said before, Brady is infatuated with Drake.  Drake is so incredibly tolerant of him.  Here's a video clip to prove it!  If you listen closely enough, you can hear Brady grunting.  Apparently it's really hard to try and get yourself over your dog.....

In God We Trust

Today is an important day for every American citizen.  We've been watching the documentaries all week long, remembering everything about that day and still in disbelief 10 years later of some of the survival stories.  However, I woke up today not really thinking about what day it was.  And then I went to Church......

As I pulled into the parking lot, I saw the firetrucks.  Their ladders were raised and the American flag was hanging off of them.  And there were two Freedom Rocks sitting on the front lawn.  Now usually I get emotional at church.  Being an emotional person is one of my annoying qualities to myself, but I can't help it when I'm there.  It could be the words to the song being sang, the stories being told, the video being shown or the message being talked about.  Something always gets me.  However, it started in the parking lot today.  Something about that scene just got to me and I struggled all the way through the service.  And boy was it an interesting one!  The last series was called God & Country.  The lessons were about how God needs to be a part of the government and how the Constitution and other "laws" were actually based off of sermons in church.  Interesting.  And yet our country is separating God and Government.  And prayer is being taken out of schools. 

Anyways, back to today.  Firetrucks and flags.  Freedom Rocks painted by Ray Sorensen II who paints the big one in Menlo, IA (I think that's where it's at?).  Sheriffs and Paramedics in uniform were the door greeters today.  Our pastors said today was about honoring our leaders and heroes.  Church was packed.  The Bible calls for us to pray for our leaders.  And so we did.  Steve King was also there, and although many tend to disagree with his political actions, all I can say is "Wow" to his speech on 9/11 and about religion.  Kudos to him for talking about religion and realizing the need for prayer.  It was very emotional today.  Words cannot even begin to do it justice. 

Here are some pictures from today.  I went home after church to get my camera since I didn't think my phone camera would do it justice.  I guess the Mayor, Sheriff and paramedics wanted me to take their picture too and send it to them, which I was happy to do!  I'm happy I have a nice camera at times like this!!!  And of course I'm throwing a few pictures of Brady in at the end!!

Freedom Rocks

Paramedics/Sheriff

Mayor 

His first two teeth!

The face I get to see every single day all day long.  It makes being broke as a joke worth it.  :)

His new fishy face he has been making, but I caught it right at the end.  Still cute though.

Happy Birthday Drake

Happy Birthday Drake!! 

Drake turned 10 years old today.  I cannot believe he is 10 already.  I got his picture book out today to look over his life and to get some pictures to put on the blog.  Some of them made me laugh and some of them made me sad. 

I really don't know what we were thinking when we got Drake.  We lived in an apartment that did not allow pets.  I remember I had to ask a coworker if her husband could babysit during the day.  They already had a lab and he worked nights as a police officer.  This led to sneaking him out of our apartment everyday in a clothes basket to drop him off at the babysitters.  And then in our next apartment, he suffered from separation anxiety so bad that he tore up the place and barked all day long.  I remember wondering many mornings at 5:45am in the 20 degree temps while I was walking him before work that I don't know what the hell we were thinking.  And then I would look at him and knew I could never get rid of him because I loved him too much!  Although Drake has been a lot of work, I cannot imagine my life without him.  He is a loyal and adorable dog and my heart swells with love and protection every time I look at him.

Some more little facts about Drake:
** One of the ways in which he shows his love for you is by going inbetween your legs when he first greets you.  He loves to do that and even stops for a butt rub halfway through your legs.
** He is deathly afraid of storms.
** He seems to have a 10 minute rule.  Before I go to bed, I try and get him to go outside one more time.  Usually he's sleeping and I can't get him to budge so I head on up to bed.  Go figure, 10 minutes later, he comes up and sits in the doorway and stares and needs to be let out.  Like I've said before, he's a little high maintenance.
** Some of our nicknames for Drake are Drakey and Drakers.
** Drake does not like our backyard.  I can barely get him out the door unless I throw a treat out or force him out.  Especially if the grass is wet.  I usually have to take him out the front now. 
** When he was still younger, I remember laying on the couch and watching TV before work one day.  I'm not sure why, because my shift started at 6am and I was always late, so I'm not sure how I had time to watch TV.  And then Drake crawled up and layed right next to me.  It felt so good to cuddle with him that I didn't budge until he did.  Needless to say, I was late for work!

Happy Birthday Drake!!!

All in One Weekend!

Labor Day was a beautiful and long weekend for us!  We had a wedding in Iowa City.  Chris's little cousin Jenna got married and of course, she looked beautiful!  We had a wonderful time seeing that side of the family.  Brady was a little overwhelmed and spent most of the night in my arms, but that is exactly why I love being a mommy!!  Congrats Alex & Jenna!  It was a beautiful wedding! 

We were able to see my parents and Grandma on Saturday.  I love it when family gets to hang out and see how fast Brady is growing up and we really appreciated my mom dogsitting for us!!   And the Hawks won!  Go Hawks!!!

Sunday we had a party to celebrate our friend Tyler finishing the Hy-Vee triathalon!  It was great to have people over and we love catching up with everyone.  And I think the kids had a lot of fun - although Brady did not want his picture taken!!

All the kids - we are almost outnumbered!

Cohen

Bella

Trying to make Brady happy again 

Braden & Cohen

Bella & MaKenna