I can't understand you!!!

We have been having major Internet connection problems lately (as if I don't feel disconnected enough from the world).  After three days on the phone with Century Link, we are getting a new modem (yay), but every single time I called, I could barely understand the employee.  I dealt with this a lot on my old job too.  I understand that they are at least speaking English, but it's incredibly frustrating trying to figure out what they are saying..  Ughh... 

Brady is just an amazing little boy.  This past week or so he is really trying to repeat what we are saying.  It's so fun.  And during library time he actually followed the song instructions once in awhile (such as hiding your hands behind your back, shaking the egg high and low).  I have a feeling this is the start of his next learning curve - love to see him learning!!

* He loves (and I mean LOVES) the toy shopping carts at the Y.  He loves to pack them full of toys and then shows me the toys when I come to get him. 
* He is into stacking toys.  Last night it was the truck he always carries around on the bottom of the stack, then his sippy cup, and then his little jeep on top of the pile.  He's so proud of himself when he does it that he usually yells for me to look at it!
* Chris taught him to gurgle.   Although it's hilarious, he usually ends up soaking wet.  Which is not hilarious.
* He rubs my arms when he is tired (usually when we rock to sleep or when he wakes up and we are on the couch watching cartoons).  Now that it is cold, it drives him nuts that I wear long sleeves and he makes me push up my sleeves - both of them!!
* He is starting to want to go down the stairs on his butt.  As long as I remind him to go slow, he does good on the stairs!
* He is very good about helping to pick up things.  He helps to pick up his Lego's and always puts his shoes away in the basket if they are laying around.  I hope this will last forever...  or at least until he turns 18 and moves away for college.  A mom can dream, right??   :)
* He is always concerned if Drake's water bowl is empty.  He points to the faucet and says "more!".  Once we fill up the bowl, he yells for "D" to come and drink his water.  It's hilarious because Drake could care less and doesn't realize that he is "D".
* Chris's biggest fear was that I would turn Brady into a wuss like I did to Drake.  Well, it's happened.  Anytime I am sweeping, Drake is pooping, he finds hair on the floor or on his hand or even if the ball goes along the fence line in our back yard he says "ewwwww".  :) 
* This next part is really for my memory only.  He tries to say a lot of words.  Some of them are: broke, bye (sounds like die), Heidi, daddy, Drake (D), more, hi, doggie, truck, milk, cheese, go, why, no, Elmo, tweet tweet, moo, woo woo (for firetrucks), no way, nose, hat, baby, ball, duck, meow, whoa, fish and quack.  Of course, I know what he is saying, but you might not.....

And, here are some pictures from the Pumpkin Patch!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Catching up..... Again.....

I've been "blogged-out" lately.  I haven't really been in the mood to blog, email, etc.  So, it's definitely time to catch up!

Some things that have been going on lately:
* I did the Color Run with my mother-in-law, sister-in-law and some of their relatives.  It was a blast!  I loved it and ran the whole thing.  I'm trying to keep up on my running again - hope I can keep at the 5k level at least!
* I recently heard that the current kindergarten class for Waukee schools totals 800+.  This used to scare me, but now I am excited for Brady to be a part of a strong school system (I've heard this from other teachers not from around here) and all the opportunities he'll have.  It was a little suffocating having a small graduating class so I hope this is a good thing for him!
* I really love the Y.  I love the discounted classes Brady can participate in there.  I love having a nice pool for him.  I love that even walking out of the Y we meet nursery workers walking in and they say "Brady, I won't get to see you today!!".  When I first started taking Brady there, I hated it because it was chaotic, but I now love the fact that they know him and like him so much!
* I told Chris last night that it might be considered sad that my texting mostly involves communication with my neighbor and her daughter.  She stays home too and I often help her with picking up her kids if she has to be somewhere else with another child.  We pick her daughter up from dance every Wednesday night too.  So over time, I have really gotten to know them and I have to say that her daughter is probably one of Brady's top favorite people.  He literally squeals and screams when he sees her! 
* Our schedule changes about every season, but I love our schedule now.  Every morning we try to have two scheduled things to fill the morning.  Mondays - right now he started Tiny Tumblers at the Y, then usually Play Group until lunch.  Tuesdays - gym time and then library time.  Wednesdays - Tot Lot time and then gym time.  Thursdays (same as Tuesdays).  Fridays - gym time and free time.  Our play group has been having 'Friday Field Trips' a few Fridays a month, so we try to pick up on those too.  It's great because our days just fly by! 
* Our schedule will be changing after Thanksgiving.  I will be babysitting two cutie patootie twin girls a few days a week.  I am looking forward to snuggling with them!!
* Brady started Tiny Tumblers today.  He did not understand nor like the concept of waiting in line for his turn.  I just have to remind myself to stick with it though because swim lessons and library time were the same way.   He just needs to learn to get used to listening and following directions from others!

And, here are some (lots actually) pictures!!

A picture of my boo that we sent to say "Hi" to daddy while he was in MN.

  Skeleton pj's that glow in the dark!  Thanks Aunt Rachel!

 

We were going to skip the gym & bake cookies.  But after eating too many, we ended up skipping the library and going to the gym.  :) 

Hanging out before church!

 

Wouldn't you rather play on your table upside down?? 

Tiny Tumblers - lots of new experiences!!

Finger painting with his favorite neighbor girl Olivia.  I love how he looks at her.

 

After the Color Run!

 

Aunt Alecia taught him something new - he loved it!!

 

He didn't want to stop!  He's trying to lift her legs up again.

 

More Pictures

 

We went to Brenton Arboretum with our play group on Friday.  Brady spent half the time playing behind the shelter house on the ladder instead of out in the nature activities.

Friends divided!!!  I could not get either one of them to look at me!

 

Finished up the kitchen: new light, new bench with cubbies and new shelf. 

This is what I saw when I walked downstairs.  :)  Where is Brady??

 

As long as he has the truck in his hand, he's ok......   

I found him!!!

 

Being a cheese ball as he waits for  breakfast... 

* Brady has figured out how to open the sliding door.  He could only get it open a little bit, but he did it.  Hopefully he doesn't remember he figured it out!
* He mimics everything that I do with Drake.  When we let Drake out the back, he hits the door and yells "Go" like I do and hits the door.  (We have to yell "go" to get Drake to get off of the deck).  When Drake rolls around in the grass, Brady will go up to him and kick his side to get up.  I don't kick Drake but nudge him.  Obviously we have to teach Brady to be more gentle.  :) 
* It sounds like he is saying "No Way" now.  It's hilarious!

Oh Brady....

Brady is so funny.  I have been keeping a list of some of the things he has been doing/saying.  It's amazing how much more you can love your kid every single day.  He is a peach!!!

* Sometimes we go to the gym as a family.  We swim and Chris swims laps in the next pool over.  Every single time, whether or not Chris is there, Brady always says "daddy" and points to the people swimming laps. 
* Every time we walk out of the Y into the sunlight, he sneezes.  It's like clockwork.
* He really pays attention to what I am doing.  I went to clean Drake's ear and Brady grabbed a few cotton balls and lifted up Drake's other ear to clean it.  It was so cute (and helpful - ha ha).
* He knows the oven/stove is hot and usually his food too.  Whenever he walks by the oven he says "hot!".  He even blows on his food sometimes.  Again, it's so cute.
* He loves the Disney Babies books from our neighbors.  One of them has Baby Minnie kissing her teddy bear good night and he always leans in for a kiss too! 
* He is getting to be a big boy and often grabs his diaper when he goes #2.  I hope that's a sign that potty training will be pretty simple!  Yah, right!
* He says Heidi.  At first we thought he realized it was me, but it's more of a phrase to get my attention.  It's really funny to hear him yell my name to show me something!
* I put a long sleeve t-shirt on him this morning and he didn't know what to think of the sleeves.  I guess they weren't noticeable last spring.  :)
* He's trying really hard to talk, although "bye" sounds like "die" and "Drake" sounds like "dee". 
* He loves loves loves trucks and school buses.  He always says "whoa" or "truck" when we see them. 

 

 

 

Happy Birthday Drake!!

My doggy turned 11 yesterday!  Happy Birthday Drake!!  He is one of my best buddies.  Love you Drake!!!