Wednesday, December 28, 2011

Christmas

We had a great Christmas this year.  It was way more fun this year than last year because he actually was into his presents.  Brady was incredibly spoiled and we were too! 

I love Christmas and I know it's because I have such great memories from when I was growing up.  Christmas was truly magical.  We always had this record of Christmas music that we would play as we would decorate the tree together.  Mom always let us help decorate the sugar cookies.  Once in awhile we would get together with Schau's and eat and play chug-a-lug until our throats burned.  Christmas Eve's in Breda will always be one of my favorite memories!!!  I wish Brady could have experienced this.  The anticipation and excitement of the night to come were almost unbearable that day.  It was always dark when we drove to Grandma and Grandpa's, so we were always looking for Rudolph's nose on the way up there.  And once in Breda, I always wanted to sit in the back seat so I could put my head back as we drove under the strings of lights down Main Street.  Christmas Eve mass was always in Breda with my mom's whole family.  And then the party began.  The table in the "new room" was filled with goodies.  All of us cousins together putting on the BEST SHOW EVER for the adults.  Seeing all the presents under the tree.  Once the meal was done and the presents unwrapped, the real party began.  Grandpa would put on the record player - usually the Laughing Polka and we would throw bread.  Yup - throw bread at each other to music.  At Grandma's house no less.  I should really ask about the story behind that.  :)  Sometimes we even did the Limbo.  It was great and loud and merry - what Christmas was all about.  I know things have changed and that Brady will have wonderful memories of Christmas's to come, but I would give anything for one more Christmas in Breda.  :)

Here are some pictures from this Christmas!!

Lyvie checking out the presents

Being silly in his new pj's from Grandma & Grandpa Mart

 Brady & Matthew taking a break from opening presents at Grandma & Grandpa Espenhover's house

He wouldn't set down his new Christmas cup from Aunt Jenn & Kyle.  Must have liked it.  :)

 Being goofy for Great Grandma Schelle!! 

Brady with all his presents!!



Thursday, December 22, 2011

A Few Things....

First of all, I want to wish the working world a happy holiday day off tomorrow (if you get one)!! 

Brady and I ventured downtown today for lunch with Karen.  Three months in a row - sweet!!  I have to put a plug in for the restaurant we went to.  It's my new favorite and I told Chris that Brady and I are picking him up and taking him out to eat there sometime soon!  It's Gusto's and it's on the corner of Ingersol and MLK.  Yummy!!!!  It was a fabulous lunch date!

Onto not so great notes, Brady isn't feeling well.  He's never really been sick before, but right now he has a bunch of things going on.  He has developed a cold - coughing and runny nose.  He is also not sleeping well which I am assuming is because he isn't breathing very easily.  The last couple of nights, we have been up for hours in the middle of the night.  We recline to alleviate the congestion and unfortunately last night he "needed" to play a little too.  I'm preparing myself again for tonight and am not happy that this is falling over a holiday where we will have to deal with this in a houses full of people.  He also has what looked like to me thrown up twice over the past few days.  And the only reason I think that is because he hadn't ate before these occurrences.  And the diaper situation - wow.  At first I thought it was the transitioning to real food.  And tonight I became really concerned that he was actually sick.  After thinking about it though, I'm convinced he has an intolerance to whole milk.  I've seen my nephew act like he is after a bottle and he is in pain trying to get it out.  I'm going to be calling the nurse first thing tomorrow to see what else to try.  It wouldn't surprise me since all our nephews and niece seem to have these issues.  Poor guy - my heart goes out to him when he is in pain like that.  That is something we are not used to seeing on him!!

And finally, some samples of his one year pictures (courtesy of Janelle Ann Photography):

Happy to be "1"!!

Melting my heart.....  I can actually feel my heart smile when I look at this picture!

In typical Brady fashion, his cheese ball face!

Friday, December 16, 2011

12 Month Stats

Brady had his 12 month checkup this week.  His stats are:

Height: 30 1/4 inches (66 %)
Weight: 23 pounds (53%)
Head Cir: 19 1/2 inches (99%)

His head measurement increased by a lot.  The nurse said she could have measured wrong because he doesn't look like that, but she didn't re-measure, so I don't believe that stat.  And this was by far the worst appointment so far in regards to the shots.  The finger prick was hard for him.  And I think we need to be feeding him a bit more, but now that we are transferring out of the baby food and formula stage, I am thinking he might loose a little weight until we get it figured out.  It's scary to have to feed him real food now, but he is doing good so far.  We are off baby food for breakfast - he gets his bottle in the morning, but then it's real oatmeal or toast and real fruit.  It's a nice change.  We'll see how the rest of the meals go!

Here are a few more random pics:

Keeping busy!!!  Or at least, I am!!!

His 2nd time seeing Santa.  It went way worse than the first time!  And I felt horrible making him cry on his birthday...


Checking out his early Christmas present (a special handmade toy box) from Mommy & Daddy.  I love it, he loves it, everyone loves it.  The first weekend we got it, I seriously walked in to look at it multiple times a day.  It's beautiful!!

Sunday, December 11, 2011

Happy 1st Birthday Brady!

Brady turned 1 this past Saturday.  His age is a year, not a month.  He's one.  I am the mommy to a one year old.  It just seems (and sounds) so weird!!  We had family over for a birthday lunch for him today and I think he really had fun.  Of course, he didn't get it, but he had fun seeing everyone and playing with his cousins!!  Not to mention that he has gotten some pretty cool toys.  We all have had fun with them!  The driving wheel, the zoo, the Lego wagon, the twirlin' tumblers, the drum.  And I'm super excited to walk with him in his new wagon this summer!  We now have a very noisy and toy-filled house.  And to think that Christmas is right around the corner. 

Here are some pictures from today:

"This hat feels weird!"

"Hmmm.  Now just what is this?"

Yup, my boy likes sugar - just like his mamma!!

Chillin' with cousin Lyvie

The birthday boy and me!

Well, I want to write about what an amazing and wonderful little boy Brady has been, but I think I am too tired to get emotional tonight.  So here are some Brady facts and thoughts:

: Brady wakes up around 5:30 every morning.  Yup, you read that right - 5:30.  Anyone who knows me knows that I was never a morning person when I had to work and I was always going in late.  And now look, I'm up at 5:30 every morning.  It's amazing what you do when you have too! 
:  Brady also seems to not need a lot of sleep.  He does take a morning and afternoon nap, but they typically do not last longer than an hour/hour an half. 
:  Brady woke up on schedule the morning of his birthday.  My first thought?  Exactly one year ago at exactly this time, Jenn was there visiting him before she went back home.  It was 5:30 am and she was his first visitor that was able to hold him.
:  I missed out on about the first hour of Brady's life.  It does make me sad to think about.  My battle story?  I was put completely under for my c-section because my epidural was not working.  Therefore, I was out and then in recovery for about an hour.  At least Chris was there for him and our families got to peak at him through the window.  Still sad if I let myself think about it though.
:  Brady started holding his own bottle probably around 5 months.  I can't remember exactly.  But he has ALWAYS held it upside down.  No matter how many times I correct it, he flips it back down.  That's cool - whatever works bud.
:  He has this face he makes that we call his cheese ball face.  It's a great big smile with his nose wrinkled and eyes closed.  It's cheesy.
:  He makes friends easily.  In store checkout lines, at the gym daycare he has some sitters that always treat them like he's theirs, and of course, he is best buds with the Fareway day crew during the week.  They see him come in and say "there's that smiley little boy again!  How are you buddy?" 
:  He is really starting to get comfortable with this walking thing.  You just don't know how weird it is to see him walk into the kitchen to see you unless you have a kid of your own.  It's amazing.
:  He likes to be by me or in the same room.  A lot.  I have learned to do a lot of things one handed, such as typing, laundry, cooking, unloading the dishwasher and vacuuming. 
:  He loves bath time.  He would stay in there forever if I would let him.  His favorite toy?  His rinse cup.  Which is not a toy.  Silly kids and what they like to play with. 
:  I haven't checked yet, but minus the money we spent on the food today, I think I spent under $15 on his birthday.  And he had fun, I had fun and the decorations, etc. were very cute.  Who said it was necessary to spend a lot of money on parties?  
:  It's really hit me how big Brady's support system is.  He has so many people who are a part of his life, guiding him, supporting him, loving him and are there for him.  Obviously he has Chris and I as parents.  His grandparents and aunts, uncles and cousins love him to pieces.  And it doesn't stop there.  Extended family, like my aunts, uncles, cousins and Chris's side and all of our grandparents love him so much.  His birthday day was filled with phone calls, texts and Skype wishing him a great birthday.  And it doesn't stop there either!  Our friends have been there for him on his birthday, wishing him Happy Birthday, spoiling him with gifts - being there for him.  What a lucky little boy.  All these people in his life, there for HIM.  I feel like the luckiest person in the world having so many people in my little boy's life.  A big THANK YOU  to all of you!!!  Brady will be influenced by everyone in his life and with the people he is surrounded with, I know he will be blessed!
:  There are quite a few words I use to describe Brady.  He is amazing, wonderful, funny, happy, smiley, charming, handsome, ornery, a little stud muffin, cuddly, silly, playful, curious, cute, adorable, sweet and mine.  I think that is my favorite one - mine. 

Happy Birthday Brades - we love you so much!  You have given us the best year of our lives!  We look forward to every day with you and hope that every day is a happy day for you! 

Thursday, December 8, 2011

One Year Ago

Exactly one year ago, we had just checked into the hospital so I could be induced.  I am so emotional about it.  Little did I know that in just 27 hours, I would be given the gift of the most precious baby boy ever.  I love him so much!!!

Here are some recent pictures...

Really Mom, another picture???

Look at that sparkle in his eyes!!

How he cruises around the house...  

He wasn't quite sure of Santa.  There were tears and then no tears and then a few tears again...
  

Everyone LOVES the piano at Grandma & Grandpa's house!!!

Concert Time!!!

Reindeer need to eat too!!!