About Brady

It's been extremely clear that I live my life for Brady.  He's hands down the true love of my life.  Nothing lights up my day more than seeing that little smile with the shrug of his shoulders or his great big bear hugs.  Unfortunately, he is growing up WAY TO FAST.  I have compiled a list of "new" things he has been doing lately because let's face it, I'll never remember them years down the road. 

* He is seriously one polite kid.  He will often say "Thank you mommy" if I help him with things.  He also says "Excuse me" often - for example, when we are in the grocery aisle and we are passing someone.  This 'excuse me' also applies to burps and toots.  :) 
* A few weeks ago, he randomly started calling me 'Heidi' again.  Chris claims he had nothing to do with it this time.  I decided that it's not as funny the second time around (sort of) and so I really worked with him by saying "Call me Mommy, not Heidi".  So he really worked on it and often when he started to call me Heidi, he would correct himself and say "Heidi, no not Heidi, Mommy".  It was hilarious - even over the monitor!!
* He tries to count.  It goes something like: "3, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12".  Or "3, 5, 6 RACE!!" (if we were racing).  He'll get it right...  Eventually...  I'm not concerned.
* He likes to walk up and down our steps like a big boy - by walking and hanging onto the railing.  Lately he's started saying "Almost there" on the first step already.  It's really cute because he has a long ways to go yet!
* He's noticed his nipples.  What's funny is that he'll touch one, say "Ouch!" and then the other and say "Ouch!!".  And then he smiles and laughs...
* Swinging on things is something new that he is experiencing.  Like the treadmill handles or the handle bar above a slide.  He likes the feeling I think!
* He LOVED the fireworks.  He wasn't afraid and had an excited expression or comment after each and every one!
* He sometimes likes to buckle his seat belt in his car seat himself.  This really takes a lot of time, but it's a learning process and I don't want to be the mom who does everything for him, so if it takes us 10 minutes to get into the car and seat belts buckled, then it takes 10 minutes.

His first haircut without an aunt cutting his hair.  Look at those eyes!!  I could just kiss the crap out of that face.  :)  And of course, he did great!

What happens the week after a Boji trip with your college friends?  Detoxing and late morning (instead of early morning) workouts.  They don't have daycare there, so a movie worked for about 45 minutes.  He then proceeded to workout next to me by hitting the bags, trying to do push ups, jumping jacks, fast feet and he even proceeded to lay on my back as I was doing mountain climbers.  It took me by surprise and got some laughter out of the person next to me!

 

 

 

Another first experience for Brady

We decided to go to the horse races last weekend.  It's free to be there and we thought Brady would enjoy seeing the horses.  He did, but playing with the other kids who were running around and playing games was way more fun for him!!  Overall, it was a successful family night!

Seeing the horses for the first time

Trying cheese fries for the first time

Trying to play with the other kids.  They were REALLY good with him - even calling him by his name and fist bumping with him.  I made sure to thank the kids.  It's always interesting to watch your child interacting with other kids, especially when they aren't used to big groups and organized play.  It pulls at the heartstrings a little (I want him to fit in and I'm proud of him for trying).  Just watching him watch the older kids gets to me for some reason.  I can't explain the feeling adequately.  

Part of the group :)  (he's the little guy sitting down in the blue tshirt)

This one is hilarious!!  He's the little one way behind everyone else!!  He made it though!!  :)

Pictures

Rain or shine, we swim.  It sprinkled the whole morning we were there that morning.  He didn't care, until his lips turned blue and he started to shake because he was getting cold. 

At Joe's Crab Shack watching the little sailboats on the lake (with his tow truck and Buzz on the table of course.  He doesn't go far without some of his toys!)

 

 Live at the Creek - another "new" thing we tried this summer!

I decided that planting flowers would be a fun experience for Brady.  Notice his adorable little blue (Dinosaur) gardening gloves!!

His favorite part was watering the flowers!

We met Amy and her kids at Big Creek to have a picnic lunch and play for a little bit.  Braden and Brady were good buddies!! I love seeing Brady having so much fun - lots of laughter on the tire swing!

His first ice cream cone at the Waukee Ice Cream shop.  We will definitely be doing this again!

A few hours with his cousins - and look, they are all looking at the camera at the same time!!

Being brave at the park... with daddy's help of course!!

Pictures, Summer, and really???

This summer we have already done new things!  Love it! 
* A girl I work out with does in-home daycare and invited Brady and I over one Friday morning.  Her youngest is 2 also.  We really looked forward to it and hope to do it again.  It was nice! 
* We've also went to the Clive pool a few times - and ended up buying a pool pass today.  Brady was thrilled being there and so I figured if we go 2/3 times a week, it will more than pay for itself.  Typical Heidi luck though, we went to meet friends there today and of course it was thundering when we got there.  They wouldn't let us in the water, so we hung out inside for awhile but left once it started sprinkling and lightening (obviously).  I bought the pass anyways though and we are good to go from here on out.  Brady did have a tough time understanding why we couldn't actually go in the pool. 
* We also went to the movies with some friends - Jordan Creek offers a kid movie at 10am a few days a week for $1.  So we paid $2 to get in and my pop cost $5.  :)  I'm sneaking one in next time! 
* Oh, I better not forget Brady's first dentist appointment.  There were a few scared whines, but he did great!  I was so proud of him - he even let the girl clean his teeth!

So really, I decided to take care of issues over the phone that I have been putting off.  Brady's nap is really the only time I can do these things.  First up was handling the mess of my new car.  We finally got the paperwork/loan straightened out, but now they have been pulling out more than they should each payment.  So three phone calls/companies later, that is now straightened out.  We also have had major Internet problems FOREVER.AND EVER.  I decided that even though Chris went to school for this sh*t, I would need to be the one to take care of it.  Consider it done.  It was incredibly hard to understand what they are saying over the phone because God only knows where they are located, so after many "I'm sorry, can you repeat that" comments, it is (hopefully) taken care of.  Can you tell I'm frustrated?!?!?!?

Best part next - pictures!!!

 

Please tell us it's normal to hit the softball with a golf club...  We are a little concerned.  :)  Just kidding....

Story time with his cousin Brenten & Grandma Mart

First ride in the gator with my Uncle Todd (his buddy!)  To say he loved it is a complete understatement.

See Melissa, Maxwell isn't the only one who likes to climb!

First dentist appointment

Here we were headed to the outdoor pool for the first time this summer!  He's posing like a little model.  :)

Brady & Beckett = Double Trouble.  I love these two together.

1st time at the movies!!  

Sprinkler time at Beckett's.  So grateful that Julie was able to watch Brady for a few hours that day!

 

A Different Kind of Challenge

Some things have been bothering me lately.  I feel like we are too obsessed with technology - our whole family, including Brady.  I also sometimes get creeped out putting myself, family, house and thoughts out on the Internet for anyone and everyone to read.  I also have "triggers" that set me off on negative thoughts, feelings, etc that really put me on a path going backwards towards the old Heidi, when I should be going forward.  Lately Brady has been wanting to watch Cars and Toy Story multiple times a day.  Annoying - I want an active child - no laziness!!  And I am self-admittedly addicted to Facebook on my phone and something triggered me yesterday that I haven't really felt in years.  So, I am signing off of the tech world for awhile.  I told myself originally it would be a month challenge, but I know I need to do baby steps.  So I'm going to only allow myself to blog/Facebook on Sundays only and go from there.  I'm signing off during the weeks.  I feel bad I won't be able to wish people Happy Birthday, Happy Anniversary, like what their kids are doing, etc on Facebook, BUT I am determined to be 'present and active', not absorbed in technology.  After all these years, certain influences in my life have finally made me see that I am in control of my life.  I need to take responsiblity for my actions and be pro-active if I am going to be who I want me (and my little family) to be!!

Have an AWESOME week everyone!!  We are going too!!  :)