He Cracks Me Up!

Brady is just so funny.  I'm sure it's because he's my own child, but still he's hilarious and he has me laughing every single day!

Here are some more/new things about Brady:
1. He isn't the best about giving kisses anymore, but he's started to show affection by leaning his head towards you so you can kiss his forehead.  It's so cute.
2. Last week the timer on the oven went off.  He was in the middle of the kitchen and looked up and said "Hi!". 
3. A few weeks ago when the weather was so nice, I let him walk outside for awhile.  It was his first time walking outside and he loved it!  He looked so funny all bundled up - I'm surprised he could move at all!!  The slight incline of our driveway got him going a little too fast, but he recovered nicely.  :)  Once he got to the sidewalk he turned around and gave me that look that said "come and chase me Mom!".  And then he stopped and waited for me to catch him and giggled. 
4. He wants to try and open the sliding door to let Drake in now.  He reaches up for the handle, so I have to hold him and he grips the handle.  I move his body so the door opens. 
5. He has learned to feed Drake.  Not Drake's dog food of course, but his own food.  I have it on video so will try and post it.  Drake of course loves it!!  Although not the time where Brady fakes him out and then puts the food back in his own mouth. 
6. We have started to teach Brady how to brush his teeth.  First I brush (without toothpaste) and then I let him hold the toothbrush and he messes around with it in his mouth.  He likes it because every time we are in that bathroom, he reaches for his toothbrush!
7. He loves to carry things around the house.  He almost always has something in his hands.  And he's started to pile things up.  I'll find a pile of toys on the corner of the couch, a pile on the steps going upstairs that he has squeezed past the gate, a pile on the desk by the mouse pad.  It's so funny.  I'm starting to realize I don't know what I'm going to find and where! 
8. He loves his plastic golf clubs he got for Christmas.  Especially the red putter.  Unfortunately he has a lot to learn because he holds it upside down and tries to hit the ball that way.  Looks like daddy has his work cut out!

And here are some pictures of Brady in his new shoes.  This was the first time we have had to buy shoes for him and it was fun.  He now has new tennis shoes and these brown ones.  Of course, I think they are so cute on him!!

Relaxin' and Chillin' in his new shoes

Love Love Love It!

I've always known how lucky/spoiled I was to be able to stay home with Brady.  I've enjoyed watching him play, all of our cuddle times, listening to him babble all day long, knowing I am there for every single need of his, wearing my sweats everyday and not having to do the hustle and bustle routine of the working mom.  I loved this all, but wasn't "feeling" like I thought I would.  I have heard from other stay-at-home moms that it can takes months to really enjoy it.  And they were right.  The last month or so has been amazing.  I am feeling the love of staying home and can really say I'm enjoying it.  The first 6/7 months were hard - I felt like I was cleaning every day all day.  I worried about money every single day.  And some of the days were very long and lonely.  But lately everything has been clicking, and I truly LOVE LOVE LOVE IT!!!   :)

My happy Brady after a bath

Let It Snow!!

Let it snow!  We don't have anywhere to go this week.  :)  Ok all you commuters, I'll stop bragging!

Here are some recent pictures (mostly courtesy of Rachel):

After Brady's birthday cupcake we told Drake to go for it - and he wouldn't... 



Family picture (minus the Montiels) at Christmas 

Busted!!!! 

He loves the koozie and flask drawer.  Don't worry, the flask is empty! 

Weekend Recap

First of all, WAY TO GO Drake!  He is down to 96.5 pounds (he was 111 last year at this time).  He had a bath and his nails clipped on Friday and is a nice and clean doggy.  He also had his bloodwork done (we do this yearly because of the steroids) and his numbers have been the best they have ever been.  He has been on a very low dose of steroids which has helped, and although we are amping them up again for awhile because of the non-cold winter/prolonged allergy season, at least we know he is still healthy!!!  Yay!

Friday night, Brady and I met up with Julie and Beckett at the Y to go swimming.  Aside from wearing a swimsuit, it was really fun to take Brady swimming!  I think the boys had fun and it was definitely time for some Julie time!

Chris came home early from his hunting trip, so on Saturday I was able to go jean shopping without Brady.  That helped make a painful process a little less painful.  And we went out to eat at Mickey's that night and although Brady had to make the rounds for a few minutes, he did really great being cooped up in a booth.  It actually felt like a weekend night to me.  Sometimes the days, nights, weekdays and weekends seem to blur together as one, so it was nice to get out.

And Sunday we headed to Omaha for Matthew's 1st Birthday!  Happy Birthday Matthew!!  It was a great party with the most adorable cupcakes ever.  It was a fun way to end the weekend!

Here's Brady playing at the bday party.  Thank goodness Jenn takes photos and tags me otherwise I would hardly have any.  I need to get better about that!

A New Year!!

Happy New Year!  It's always wonderful to be given another day, another year.  It's a great time to refocus and set new goals.  I read a saying a friend posted on Facebook and loved it so I will share.  It said:

Need a New Year's Resolution?
Imagine what you want your kids to be.
Be that.

Very true, isn't it?

Last year my resolution was to volunteer at a new place once a month.  I only partially achieved that goal.  I volunteered six out of the twelve months.  Yes I regret not giving it 100%, but I remind myself that I had some great experiences and did pull double duty some of those months.  Not only do I hope to continue some of those, I hope that I continue to volunteer at new places this year.

However, that's not my resolution for this year.  I have quite a few things to work on, so I will be setting goals, but decided that I need a specific resolution.  The hardest thing I will probably ever have to do is give up pop.  I love my Diet Dew and look forward to it every single morning.  But it needs to stop.  So here goes - I'm giving up pop.  Wish me luck.  :)  I also decided that I needed an easy resolution that would also have a positive impact on my life.  So I am going to say out loud something positive or something that I am thankful for every single morning when I wake up and I'm with Brady.  I believe in the power of positive self talk and am putting it to the test and it's something that I want Brady to learn.  I might need to figure out a way to remind myself of this one.  So here goes!! 

I hope everyone has a happy and safe 2012!!! 

Enjoying the nice weather last week!!