Potty Training

I have to say, I am very impressed with our little guy. It took him some time to figure out the skill of making pee pee come out IN the potty, but once he got it down he has done great. Now, he is no expert and only using the potty at home, but I think this is a good start. He can wear his big boy underwear all day and usually doesn't have an accident. We will keep working on it, but we are proud of him. How cute is he in his new undies?!

Smith Family Update

We brought out a new toy for Brady that he has been begging to play with, but just recently was old enough to really enjoy. It is a blow up football player with a hole and a net to catch the football. Brady really loves it and can actually throw the football into the hole, from a short distance of course. He decided putting it on his head was much more fun.

It has been so cold in Dallas and even snowed this week. Brady is doing great and will be moving into his big boy bed in a couple of weeks, in his new big boy room. The project of cleaning out the guest room/office is happening this weekend. Our bathroom remodel project is almost done as well, so the boys will have a nice, new bathroom to share.

I am 6 1/2 months this week and really starting to show. I think I am definitely bigger this time around than I was last time at this point. This is the really nice stage of pregnancy...you have a cute little basketball and the baby moves constantly, but you are not to that uncomfortable stage yet. And finally people realize you are pregnant, not just fat.

Brady started Soccer Tots last month and it is so much fun. It is not real soccer of course, mostly hand eye coordination type games, using soccer related skills and just 55 minutes of energy release. We go every Saturday morning and then to breakfast afterwards. He loves his Saturday morning pancakes and will usually take a long nap afterwards. It is wonderful for mommy and daddy too!

Big Boy Halloween

We had so much fun this year and I could not believe how excited Brady was to Trick or Treat. The last two years, he has been too young to really get it, but this year was a different story. We could barely hold him back. He was a little professional, with the door knocking, trick or treat request and the thank you...we barely had to coach him. Our neighborhood held a block party this year and then walked around with all the kids. We know most of our neighbors pretty well and almost all of the kids on our street are ages 1-5, so it was perfect. It was a beautiful night and our little Fire Fighter had a blast. Btw...he is saying "cheeeeeese" in all of these pictures, in case you were wondering where that cheesy smile came from. :)

State Fair

This weekend we took Brady for his first Texas State Fair experience. He loved the corny dogs and couldn't get enough funnel cake. It was a nice cool day, and we saw the dog show, all the animals and of course Big Tex, which Brady has decided to re-name "Big Texas Tech". I am sure Daddy's brain washing had nothing to do with that. It was a really fun day and Brady napped like a champ afterwards.

I think all of the four people that check our blog already know, but we found out this week we are having a little brother for Brady. Brady will occasionally acknowledge the fact that there is a baby brother in mommy's tummy, but most of the time he is clueless. He has a big surprise coming for him! Colby and I are thrilled to be having a boy and are so excited Brady will have a best friend for life, in his baby brother. The baby room is move in ready and Brady will be getting a new big boy room and bed.

Happy Birthday Uncle Beet!

Brady's very favorite song right now is the Happy Birthday song and for dramatic effect, he always holds the final note. "Happy Birthday to yooooooooooooooooooou!" Uncle Beet's (Uncle Brandon's) birthday was last week and Brady left him the full Happy Birthday song on his voice mail. Brandon still has it saved and plays it for the other pilots for comic relief and of course to show off his nephew's talents.

Brady also loves to put on mommy and daddy's shoes. Of course can't get around very well once they are on, but he doesn't mind. Brady is really talking up a storm. He understands almost everything we ask him and responds with a complete sentences, which is probably completely normal at this age, but it continues to amaze me every time he does it. That little voice is enough to make you just want to plant a million kisses on him. He also loves any musical instrument and will play air piano, guitar and drums. It amazes me that he can hold the right beat. The boy has rhythm!

I am feeling great. The 2nd Trimester is such a relief after the first. I can feel the baby moving around quite a bit by now and even feel it from the outside with my hand. Just starting to wear some maternity things, mainly because my shirts are getting a little short. I can still fit into most of my pants and jeans, but they hurt, so I am moving towards stretchy waist items and maternity pants. We have our "big sonogram" in exactly one week and will find out the gender. I am anxious to see the baby and make sure everything looks healthy...and of course find out if we will be seeing blue or pink.

Look at this Big Boy!

We recently went on a great trip to Las Vegas to visit my oldest friend and her new baby, Noah. Brady loved hugging and kissing the new baby...maybe a little too much. :) Brady seemed to entertain him though and got lots of laughs from the little guy. We talked about Baby Noah all the way home and the following week. When I asked him if he wanted to have a baby like Noah at home, he said yes...which is good because he will have a "baby like Noah" in March.

I am 14 weeks along and everything has been going great so far. I did not feel well at all the first three months, so I am glad that is over. For that reason, every one's prediction is GIRL, but I have a hunch it is a boy. Either way, we can't wait and even though March seems so far away, I am sure it will fly by.

Catching up.

We have been very busy and not very good about updates. In the last month Brady took his first airplane ride, which went so smoothly we were both in shock. Brady loved it, especially the take off and landing. He had a great time in Santa Fe at Aunt Ali's wedding and although most of the weekend was spent chasing him around, it was a fantastic trip.

A few weeks ago was the Circus, which was also a hit. We now know that Brady is capable of sitting still for more than 2 minutes. He was glued to the performances and sat on our laps for the whole show. He also got his first taste movie theater style popcorn and he is addicted.

This summer has been filled with a ton of swimming or "schwimming" as Brady calls it. He has turned into quite the little fish and the best part for mommy and daddy is he sleeps so well afterwards.

Fun with Bubbles and More Birthday

Brady is lucky to have great friends, wonderful Aunts, Uncles and Grandparents. They all spoiled him for his second birthday. After we returned from Sea World he had birthday party number two. He got his first train set and some great truck books. He is already correcting me when I call the trucks by the wrong name. His favorite is the Bulldozer. Brady also loved the cake I baked him, which is a surprise because he doesn't like most sweets. He must be a fan of yellow cake with chocolate frosting. We all know it is the best combination.

The bubble pictures are just plain cute!

Sea World

Well, the trip was a blast, but wow it was hot. The day we went to Sea World it was 105 degrees and walking around on the black asphalt, I have to imagine it was even hotter than that in the park. We survived it though and Brady loved it. He has never sat on my lap for more than 5 minutes and he sat through two 40 minute shows. The resort was great and we enjoyed lots of pool time. He is becoming quite the little fish and will throw a complete two year old, screaming fit when it is time to leave the pool. Brady had a fantastic 2nd birthday and the parents had fun too. Friends of ours joined us with their 2 1/2 year old and all Brady talked about all weekend was his new friend Alex.

Best Friends

Griffin is usually way too excited and hyper for Brady to get any cuddle time, but he must have been tired last night. Brady got some good hugs and kisses in, even sat on him for a while. I think Griffin loved all the attention.

Brady is very into "big kisses", boo-boo's, mommy's freckles, fire trucks and trucks in general. He is ALL boy and I love it! He is talking up a storm and it is not rare that he will surprise us with a 5+ word sentence. There is not a cuter little voice and he is at such a fun stage. We head to Sea World for his 2 year birthday next weekend. He has seen the commercials on TV and knows the dolphins and whales. I asked him if he wanted mommy and daddy to take him there (Sea World) and he said "Yesh". We are really excited and I think he will enjoy it.

Trip to Houston

This weekend we visited friends in Houston. It has been way too long since I had seen them both and their two boys, that just happen to be Brady's age. The weekend was one big play date and it was so much fun. The mommies even got out of the house for some adult time. Here are some pictures of Brady with his new friends Owen and Dylan.

Bed Head and More An-i-mals

The bed head picture just makes me laugh. He did get a pretty darn good hair cut this past weekend. I almost had a heart attack, but I have to say, it is pretty darn cute.

Brady loves his stuff animals and when he decides he wants them all to sit with him, there is no turning back. It is an intricate game of placing them just perfectly, so they all have a spot.

Wiggles

We have found a new love of The Wiggles. At least it is one of the less irritating children's shows out there. It is pretty much the only show he is interested in right now and as soon as the credits roll, he is already saying "more Wiggles, more Wiggles, more Wiggles" until we play another episode. Needless to say, we Tivo it. Here are some cute pictures of him lounging on the sofa watching his favorite show.

Hor-seee

Keeping Brady busy on the weekends is key, so we have activities planned up until nap time and again until dinner. This weekend was rainy, but we made it out to the White Rock Lake Festival. It rained on us a little, but that didn't prevent Brady from having the time of his life. He rode his first hor-see and did not want to get off. Luckily there wasn't much of a line, so he was allowed to ride again. Brady was also a big fan of the giant bounce house. Unfortunately, it turned into more of a slip and slide due to the rain, but that didn't stop him from having fun.