Baby Smith

Picture Updates

2010-09-22T20:21:00.007-04:00

For the three people that actually still read this blog, I apologize for the lack of postings. Brady has exceeded all of my expectations and is such a good big brother. Wally could not be a sweeter boy and is all smiles. He is officially sleeping through the night, 7:00pm to 7:00am...we are so excited. Wally is also officially a red-head. Maybe we should say auburn, but definitely reddish. Colby likes to give him a Mohawk.

Wally loves his big brother and Brady loves him right back. First thing Brady asks in the morning is "where is Wally? I want to kiss him". The look on Wally's face when Brady walks into the room is priceless. I love to watch it.

Brady is really in to building forts and he has now decided he needs a magazine when he goes "poo-poo". :)

First Broken Bone

2010-08-10T10:03:00.005-04:00

The first of many I am sure. Brady has taken it well though and told me this morning his boo-boo didn't hurt anymore. He has to wear his brace for another week and according to the Doctor should be good as new. We are so glad he has made a quick recovery and although we have had to miss swimming lessons for the last two weeks, he seems unphased. Kids are amazing.

Summer Fun

2010-07-23T15:17:00.008-04:00

It is HOT and while enjoying any time we can spend at a pool, we also have to get a little more creative to entertain the boys. We have been to several movies and plays, the Children's Museum, the duck and turtle pond at Northpark, even the grocery store can be an outing. At least it has AC. Last week we took Brady to his first baseball game. The game was at 7:00, but it was still 100 degrees when we parked. We were lucky enough to be in a reserved, shaded area where Brady could walk around and watch the game when he felt the need. It was so much fun and the perfect set up for his first game. It has been a fun summer so far, but really, really looking forward to October and a break from the heat.

Wally is getting so big. At his 4 month appt, he was 15lbs 6 oz and I don't remember exactly how long. I do know he was in the 85% in length and head size, just 50% in weight. Which surprised me, as Wally is so much more solid than Brady was. He isn't chubby, just solid around the middle, with broader shoulders. Brady was more like a little baby bird at this age. Maybe all that crying burned a lot of calories. It is so interesting to see the differences in the two of them already. Wally has started wearing several 6-9 month outfits due to his length, which is just crazy to me. He also got his first tooth this week. One on the bottom just poked through yesterday!

My big 3 year old!

2010-06-29T11:43:00.006-04:00

We had a great birthday for Brady this weekend. We figured this would be the last year he wouldn't request a big party, so we were selfish and wanted the time with him to ourselves. We planned a little stay-cation and visited the Westin Resort in Frisco, about 25 minutes from our house. Brady swam and swam with his friend Railey, then we had cupcakes for everyone by the pool. It was the prefect birthday for him...and for us. He loved sleeping in bed with Mommy and Daddy and ordering room service pancakes in the morning. Brady was such a big boy and went down the water slide at the pool time after time with all the big kids. He is fearless.

Sunday we came home and had Grandma, Popa, Amma, Uncle Beet and Aunt Ali over for burgers and cake. Brady got some great presents and loved playing with his new matchbox race track. I think Uncle Beet liked it just as much!

Brothers

2010-06-15T22:23:00.005-04:00

I cannot tell you how much I love Wally and Brady's relationship already. It is going to be so much fun to watch it grow through the years. We can already pin point Wally as the laid back brother and Brady as the more intense one. No big surprise there, but is so cute to see their personalities develop. Colby and I both think Wally is on track to be the bruiser of the two. He is thicker and longer and eats more than Brady ever did. We will just have to wait and see! This weekend I put them in our bed together while Brady was watching Backyardigans. Wally seemed to enjoy it too.

Wally is starting to laugh and still smiles all the time. Even his caretakers at school comment on how "Wally loves me, he's always smiling at me!" I can't break it to them that he smiles at everyone. He is really starting to laugh too, which is the most beautiful sound to any parent's ears.

This weekend we took Brady to see the ducks and turtles at Northpark again. The last time we were there, he fell in. Flipped right over the railing and I about had a heart attack. I had to pull him out of the water by his shirt collar and attracted the attention of a police offiicer and multiple mall patrons who rushed over to help. It was awful and I had to wheel my 2 1/2 year old out of the mall soaking wet. We talked about it this time and he remembered the drama from our last visit. He even pointed out where we were standing when he fell in. He was much more cautious during this visit, thank goodness.

Wally is now sleeping from about 9:00pm until 3:00am and then from 4:00am until usually around 6:30 or 7:00am. Not bad at all. One feeding a night is very doable, but I do get extremely giddy when he makes it until 5:30 or 6:00am! He will get the hang of it soon enough.

Little Brother

2010-05-10T17:59:00.004-04:00

Little Brother Wally is not so little anymore. He was 11 lbs 9 oz at his two month appointment, which is right at the 50%. Head size is average and he is in the 75% in length, so tall...just like his brother. His current hair color is pretty red, but he is losing it and there seems to be another layer coming in. We will have to wait and see if it will match Mommy's. Wally is such a sweet boy and has the cutest little smiles. He always has the biggest grin right as he is falling asleep. It makes my day every time.

New Trick

2010-05-10T14:55:00.004-04:00

Well, I knew the day would come where my little boy would learn how convenient it is to be...a boy. Brady has officially learned how to pee-pee standing up and likes to do it in the back yard. It is so darn cute, we don't stop him, we just hope he doesn't do it at school. Colby and I have both told him that it is ONLY something he does in our back yard. Hopefully he is listening.

Wally Update

2010-04-21T14:46:00.012-04:00

Wally is doing great and has changed so much just in the first 6 weeks! I look back at his newborn pictures and can't believe how different he already looks. He has lost a ton of hair and now has a receding hair line, so we are just waiting to see what color it comes back in. It is looking pretty red! Wally has a look of surprise pretty much all the time. He is just taking it all in I guess, but his expression is so funny. He still looks a lot like his big brother, but seems to be taking on more of a look all his own. He is gaining weight and already out of all his newborn clothes. He was 10lbs 9oz at his 4 week appt, which isn't huge, but above average. Wally was also in the 75% in length and head size. His head was pretty small when he was born, but apparently he is starting to take on that characteristic from his brother as well.

Wally is on reflux medicine...it also seems to run in the family. He was a great sleeper for the first 2.5 weeks, but he is still stuck on the 2 hour sleeping schedule and apparently does not like to nap anymore. Sometimes we will get a three hour stretch at night and once he slept almost 4 hours! Of course I was so worried about him I couldn't sleep. Wally is a bouncing junky, so we have again gotten some good use of our exercise ball and bouncy chair. I am sure he will get the hang of this sleeping thing soon, but I hear so many stories of babies his age sleeping 6, 7 even 8 hours a night...so jealous! I remind myself to cherish these moments with my little guy...he won't be this age very long.

Brady has been such a good big brother and loves to give Wally kisses and hold him. He will also try to console him when he cries, by patting his head and telling him "it's ok Wally, Mommy will be here in a minute." He also tries to show him how to play on his play mat. Pointing out the animals and how to swat at the toys. Can't wait to see these boys play together as they grow up!

Baby Wally is Here!

2010-03-30T13:36:00.007-04:00

Wallace arrived almost three weeks ago and we have been busy with our new family of four. The labor was long, but the delivery was easy. He was ready to come see us by that point. Wally was 8.5 and 20 1/4 inches. The whole experience was awesome, except for some epidural drama. It was a little more painful than I would have liked towards the end, but it was really cool to feel more and be more aware of what was going on. I remember everything very clearly...probably because I had fewer drugs in my system. Wally came out beautiful and looking just like his big brother Brady!

Rodeo and Finally a Belly Shot

2010-02-15T12:20:00.009-05:00

Two weeks ago we went to the Fort Worth Rodeo. It was great, although the weather was not. Good thing most of the events were indoors. Brady sat through the entire 2 1/2 hour rodeo, with just a few melt downs. We walked around the grounds to see all the animals, although Brady's favorite part was sitting on the John Deer Tractor and the GMC Suv. We almost had to bring one home with us! He threw a full on fit when we finally had to leave, but it was fun while it lasted.

I am 37 weeks this week and from what they tell me, this guy will be a decent sized baby. At 36 weeks, he measured 7 lbs 1 oz on the sonogram. Which means by 40 weeks he could be upwards of 9 lbs (so the Dr says). I don't know how much I believe that, those measurements never seem to be accurate...although he sure feels big! I am hoping for that reason my Dr. will want to induce me a few days early, so I am keeping my fingers crossed. I am so ready to meet this boy!

Potty Training

2009-12-30T14:03:00.005-05:00

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

2009-12-04T13:00:00.005-05:00

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

2009-11-02T15:10:00.008-05:00

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

2009-10-15T11:53:00.004-04:00

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!

2009-10-05T09:50:00.007-04:00

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!

2009-09-10T13:44:00.004-04:00

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.

2009-08-17T11:47:00.006-04:00

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

2009-07-07T14:45:00.009-04:00

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

2009-07-01T17:46:00.008-04:00

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

2009-06-21T21:04:00.007-04:00

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

2009-06-03T12:50:00.007-04:00

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

2009-05-14T18:48:00.004-04:00

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

2009-05-14T18:40:00.003-04:00

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

2009-05-04T11:52:00.006-04:00

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.

Naked Time!

2009-04-29T22:46:00.004-04:00

It is a quick run around the house with no diaper, no clothes and usually involves one of us pretending to chase him. He thinks it is beyond hilarious and lives for it every night. I never hear him laugh as hard as he does, when he is running around the house in his birthday suit. Tonight he was distracted by the rain outside and stood at the window to watch. I don't know what could be much cuter than that little bottom.

Egg Hunt #2

2009-04-10T21:52:00.009-04:00

How much does Brady love Easter Egg Hunting!! He is an old pro, his second time around. We had to physically restrain him today on several occasions so he didn't start hunting before the rest of the toddlers. It was a beautiful Egg Hunt in Addison, the grounds were gorgeous and Brady had a great time.

Easter Egg Hunt #1

2009-04-09T13:32:00.006-04:00

Brady's school had an egg hunt this morning. It was mass chaos, but most of them eventually got the hang of it. Brady was very excited at first and did lay claim to a few eggs, but then got distracted with the paper grass in his basket. He did seem thoroughly entertained and loved carrying around his Easter basket. We have another one tomorrow with the town of Addison and he will be in his Easter outfit, so there will be more pictures.

Poor Guy.

2009-04-01T09:40:00.007-04:00

Poor Brady is having a rough time. He is getting in all four incisors at the same time, had pink eye in both eyes and has had a constant runny nose. Sunday, he felt so bad and his face was so chapped from wiping his nose with his sleeve, he went in his room for some alone time. I found him sitting just like this, with the door to his room closed, TV turned on and his blanket wrapped around his shoulders. He was so over it at that point and wanted to have some time to himself. After a trip to the Doctor for eye drops and finally the go ahead on giving him some Benadryl at night, he is feeling much better.

Just cute...

2009-04-01T09:18:00.002-04:00

How cute is this kid?! I may be biased, but come on! :)

Happy St. Patty's Day

2009-03-17T12:48:00.008-04:00

Brady wasn't in much of a picture taking mood this morning, but I managed to get a few while he watched Handy Manny on the Disney Channel. We have his St Patrick's Day party at school today which I will get to attend. It is so nice having more flexibility with my job right now, I get to do all the "Mommy stuff".

Can you find the baby?

2009-03-17T12:27:00.003-04:00

I guess I can't say baby anymore... I went to check on Brady last night and remove the multiple "an-i-mals" he has to have in his crib when he goes to sleep. I found him in this position and had to go get the camera.

An-i-mals...

2009-03-11T13:03:00.003-04:00

Brady loves his stuffed animals and wants to sleep with every one of them. After we read his books and put him in his crib, he asks for each "an-i-mal" individually. He is so excited when I hand each one to him and piles them up for a big group hug. After he falls asleep I go back to take them out so he actually has room to sleep.

Wild Boy

2009-03-11T12:54:00.006-04:00

Brady can be a wild boy, especially at night. He gets a second wind every night, after dinner and before his bath. It is hilarious. Last night his t-shirt stuck on his head and he loved it. He wanted to wear it like that the rest of the night.

The good stuff...

2009-02-13T18:02:00.003-05:00

Brady has found a love for condiments. His favorite being Ranch. I don't think he has ever tasted anything like it and he is in love. Ketchup is a 2nd favorite. He is already "dipping" all by himself. He is ahead of the pack. :)

Is it time for a big boy bed?

2009-02-11T22:10:00.005-05:00

Brady is getting so big and starting to grow out of his crib. Usually, he loves to burrow himself into the corner of his crib with his butt up in the air, but almost every night he ends up with a foot hanging out. I can't imagine him in a bed where he can roam free at night, but that time is getting closer. For now we still know he is contained!

A new kind of Super Bowl party...

2009-02-03T11:14:00.006-05:00

Friends of ours had a Super Bowl party this year that was as much for the kids as the adults. It was really fun and the kids played, played, played until they couldn't play any more. It is just as much fun for us to watch the kiddos run wild, go crazy and wear each other out. Movie time started and kept the kids occupied so the parents could catch a little of the game. Monsters Inc kept Brady's attention for a while and he looked like such a big boy, sitting with all the "big kids" on the couch. So cute!

You can see in the picture that Brady has learned to say "CEEEEEEEZZZ"! He over does it a little, but he can now smile on queue.

Stock Show

2009-02-02T10:18:00.009-05:00

What a fun time Brady had at the Fort Worth Stock Show. He was mesmerized by all the animals, especially the cows. It was a beautiful day and so interesting how that whole industry works. So many people dedicated to their animals, it was really neat. We saw a few stock showings with the FFA kids and the cows getting blown dry after their baths. They still smelled bad, but they sure looked pretty. Brady was wiped out on the way home. He was in the car for about two minutes before he was out.

Our little artist...

2009-01-25T12:57:00.006-05:00

Brady is really interested in coloring right now. It holds his interest for a good 20 minutes, so it is great when I need to clean up the kitchen, or any other chore where Brady needs to be contained. I learned very quickly that coloring was only allowed in the highchair, after he started coloring the ceramic tile and the leather ottoman. We go through crayons pretty quickly, most get broken or end up on the ground for Griffin to chew up. Luckily they are cheap. Here are some recent pictures of our little artist hard at work. Look at that concentration.

Brady has a new word every day. Yesterday he pointed out a "Bus" and pronounced it perfectly. I didn't even know he knew that word. He also knows his own name now..."Bray-Tee". Just this morning he has been saying "Hi!!!" with so much enthusiasm, it is adorable. HI Mama, HI Dada, HI Dog-a, HI Bray-Tee.

Christmas!

2008-12-27T13:02:00.010-05:00

I think Brady really got into Christmas this year. He loved unwrapping his gifts and was so excited to see each one. Brady loved all the attention from family and was such a good boy! He got a new slide from Santa and some new clothes, puzzles, books, trucks and a "choo-choo". He should be busy for a while.

Not a fan of Santa

2008-12-08T09:53:00.007-05:00

Oh, the drama. We have been practicing our "Ho, Ho, Ho" for weeks and Brady has been pointing out Santa in all his Christmas books, but in person he was not having it. We watched Santa and Mrs. Claus arrive on the Fire Engine and we waved and waved and Ho, Ho, Ho'd. But when it came down to actually sitting on Santa's lap, Brady was not in the Christmas Spirit. I have never seen the poor little guy so scared. He was literally digging his fingernails into Colby and would not let go. Colby actually had to be in the pictures. He did stop mid-fit and give Santa a high five, which was very brave. The families in line behind us thought that was pretty funny. It was a great day though. We will have to wait for the perfect Santa portrait next year.

Vroooom...

2008-11-30T10:31:00.003-05:00

Guns up!

Brady is definitely all boy and has a new love of trucks. We have taught him to say vroom, vroom when he sees one, or pushes his around the house. He usually tries to push two at a time and gets very irritated when it does not work.

Brady has learned all of the parts of his face and body. He can point to his nose, eyes, ears, mouth, hair, hands and feet. He will also point yours out, if you would like. Brady has become an expert on the Eskimo Kiss. It is my favorite of his new tricks. There is nothing much sweeter. He is becoming so affectionate and loves to give out hugs and kisses to mommy, daddy and the rest of his family...sometimes even strangers. We are loving every minute of it!

HEED!

2008-11-15T16:47:00.004-05:00

Man this kid's head is big. We have known for a while it is well "off the charts", but it is really entertaining when he can wear Daddy's visor. Of course it is set on the smallest size, but he can still wear an adult visor. Pretty impressive. I think part of it is the hair! It is getting really long. He is such a cool dude.

Something new every day...

2008-11-13T09:51:00.004-05:00

Brady's vocabulary continues to expand and his personality is really coming out. He gets so excited these days, whether it is an airplane flying overhead, a song on TV, seeing the little ducky in his book...it is all the thrill of his life and it is so cute. The simple things.

Brady's new words are zeus (juice), shooos (shoes) - he knows which shoes belong to Mommy and which belong to Daddy. If we leave any around the house, he brings them to us...shooos, shooos, shooos. It is a good way to get us to put our shoes away. He is very big on ni-ni right now and tells everything in his room ni-ni before we make it to his crib. Lamp...ni-ni, books...ni-ni, radio...ni-ni, growth chart...ni-ni, humidifier...ni-ni. Once that is taken care of, he wedges himself and his blankets into the corner of his crib and doesn't make another peep until 7:00am. Brady has become an expert at bedtime!

Morning Snooze

2008-11-08T14:26:00.002-05:00

Brady is in a great reading stage. He is constantly handing us books and crawling into our laps. He also "reads" out loud to himself, in his own language and it is hilarious. When he goes down for his daily nap, he picks one book and reads himself to sleep. I went to check on him today and found him in this position. Blanket, Bunny, Book.

Halloween 2008

2008-11-01T15:02:00.008-05:00

Brady's 2nd Halloween and he seemed to have a lot more fun this year. He went as a Dooowg and he actually stayed in his costume ALL night. We were shocked. It was a great night and everyone had a good time. We have several friends that live in Lake Highlands, with kids ages 2 weeks to 4 1/2 years. We started at our house, had pizza and then went trick or treating down our street. Our block is great, with a ton of kids and they were out in droves. It was just a bit warm, but a fun night for everybody!

Genius!

2008-10-25T10:39:00.005-04:00

Brady was introduced to utensils a couple of months ago, but has recently become an expert. After weeks of refusing to eat, I finally realized that he just doesn't want ME to feed him. He wants to do it himself. He still reverts back to using his hands for some things, but the majority of meals he uses only a spoon or fork to feed himself. He really seems to enjoy it and has been eating so much more.

Chatty...

2008-10-24T14:19:00.003-04:00

I will add some new pictures this weekend, but wanted to post a quick update on all of Brady's new words. Some, he has been saying for a while, some are brand new. He is at a funny stage right now where he can repeat, or at least try to repeat most words.

Favorite Words:
Baby (he points them out everywhere)
Uh-oh
Ball
Bubbles
Doooowg (first word)
Mama
Dada
Na-Na (banana, or anything yellow) This morning a Dart bus passed us, which are bright yellow and he went crazy with the Na-Na, Na-Na, Na-Na.
He can say GO!!! Complete with arm in the air.
Fooo-baw (football).

Monkey Boy!

2008-10-19T20:47:00.005-04:00

Brady gets a wild streak every night before his bath. Squeals and furniture stunts are what he is in to right now. At first, I was a little hesitant, but now we just let him go crazy climbing on the sofa and ottoman. It is hilarious and each night he takes it just a little further. He is a little dare devil right now.

Trip to the Arboretum

2008-10-12T20:40:00.012-04:00

Just cute!

Cooling off in the fern misting area with Daddy.

Running...

...and running

...and running.

One of the only pictures from the front.

A little Yoga to relax.

Brady trying to fit through the fence for a closer look. He was not happy about this.

We took at family trip to the Dallas Arboretum today and it was fantastic. The weather was great...still a little hot, but the pumpkins and the fall flowers were awesome. Brady was not in the mood to pose for pictures for mommy, so the majority of them are of him running away. He ran and ran and ran until he just wanted to lay in the grass. There were so many families and brides there having their pictures taken in the fall flowers and pumpkins, it was really neat.

It is still HOT!

2008-10-04T19:08:00.007-04:00

These pictures are a couple of weeks old, but it is still hot in Texas. Although we have had some milder weather and the nights are cooler, it is still pretty hot!

Two weeks ago my brother, mom and some friends went to Octoberfest in Addison. It was supposed to be a pleasant 85 that day, but ended up in the mid 90's. We were all miserable, especially the babies, so the park's fountain area became very popular. Most babies were in their diapers running around and splashing in the pools. It was a great way to beat the heat. Brady wasn't so sure about the fountains at first, but warmed up to them.

Time for a hair cut...

2008-09-27T12:12:00.006-04:00

Well, not so much of a cut, as just a trim. We found a lady (Carol) that cuts mostly toddler and kid's hair. She was great and Brady loved to have his hair wet and combed. There are no big before and after pictures, as there is no huge transformation, she just took a little off all the way around. Luckily, we didn't want to cut the curls...Carol said she would have refused.

Ooomer!

2008-09-26T20:21:00.004-04:00

Close enough. All the way home from school today Brady and I practiced saying Boomer! I was shocked that he immediately said Oooomer! No "B", but close enough! I was so proud. More playing in the yard pictures below.

The Brady Dance

2008-09-26T20:02:00.002-04:00

He's got moves!

Boomer Sooner!!!

2008-09-26T09:56:00.003-04:00

USC lost last night, which leaves a spot for OU as the #1 team in the country. I won't say any more, so I don't jinx it. Brady wore his new OU shirt to school to support his favorite team. It is still a little big. This week is the OU shirt, but he will share time wearing Daddy's favorite team, too. I am sure he loves both teams equally.

Lawn Boy

2008-09-07T11:10:00.010-04:00

We cannot keep Brady in the house these days. He points to the back door and says "ba, ba, ba"? Which is his version of "Ball". We have to keep the shades closed, so he is not constantly reminded of how much fun the back yard is. It is still so hot during the day, but we spend almost every evening playing in the back yard. His sand table, bubble mower and giant ball are his favorite outside toys of the moment. He also loves his sidewalk chalk, but mainly just emptying the container and putting them all back in.

Here are some cute pictures of him enjoying the back yard. His hair is so great right now. The curls could not be more adorable. We get a mixed response, either people love it and compliment his gorgeous hair, or tell us he looks like a girl. Colby and I love the curls and they are here to stay, at least for a while.

Party animal!!

2008-08-31T22:38:00.008-04:00

We had a fun night with friends and their kiddos for Memorial Day. The backyard was kid heaven, with a swing set, sand box and bouncy house. Brady is the youngest and wasn't so sure at first, but he got the hang of the bounce house in no time. He stayed up until 9:00, which is a record and had the best time. Lets just hope he sleeps late in the morning.

Passed out...

2008-08-25T09:24:00.004-04:00

Brady had a busy weekend in Fort Worth. He got to play with his Grandma and Grandpa, then went swimming Sunday afternoon with his new friends, Beckett and Finn. Minutes after we loaded up for the trip home, he was out and slept the whole way. Griffin was just as exhausted, after a long afternoon "protecting" us all in the pool.

No more busted lips...

2008-08-19T12:50:00.005-04:00

The new ottoman arrived and looks great, but most importantly, is baby friendly. Brady has already broken it in. It is so nice to not be constantly on edge when he is running around the den.

His hair is getting so long and I absolutely love it. We have had many, many questions as to when we will cut it. I think we will let it go for a while. The "mop top" is very in right now and how could anyone cut off those curls?! He has had some serious cases of bed head though.

Tough Week...

2008-08-13T19:51:00.004-04:00

Poor Brady has had a terrible week. His molars are coming in, notice the excessive drool and he had his first big accident. Two molars have started to surface and the rest are on their way. Then, on Sunday he fell and busted his lip on the coffee table. And when I say busted, I am not at all exaggerating. Blood all over my shirt, all over his pj's, it was awful. We even discussed heading to the ER. You can tell we are first time parents, but it really was bad. We immediately ordered a squishy, leather ottoman to put in its place. It is being delivered on Saturday.

Tonight before his bath I caught Brady "reading" in his room. He loves his books right now and I hope it continues. He is always grabbing one for us to read him, any time of day.

Look at this tooshie!

2008-08-01T20:27:00.003-04:00

Is there anything cuter than a naked baby tooshie. Before Brady's bath every night he loves to run around naked. Tonight he found the wine rack. Time to start baby proofing.

He is such a happy boy these days. I think it has everything to do with his newly found freedom...walking. Brady walks circles around our house and is content as can be. Griffin follows him everywhere and gets just as worn out.

Cubs T-shirt...

2008-07-21T09:40:00.003-04:00

Just a quick post - Aunt Ali brought Brady back a very cool "Kasuke Fukudome" Cubs t-shirt. For those of you who don't know, he's their All-Star Centerfielder. It's fits him well and he looks very cool - he is already racking up a nice collection of sports apparel....!

Rosey Cheeks!

2008-07-19T20:48:00.002-04:00

We had so much fun with Brady this evening in the front yard. He was so cranky today, maybe teething, but even though it has been in the high 90's - 100 outside, Brady loves to be in the yard playing. It always puts him in a great mood. We rolled the dice and took him to an early dinner and he was great, then came home to play in the front yard. His cheeks get so rosey just after a few minutes in the Texas heat. So cute!

Distracted

2008-07-08T20:34:00.005-04:00

I had to download this one too. Brady stops mid-step to check out what is happening on the TV.

Showing off...

2008-07-08T19:57:00.003-04:00

Every day Brady takes more and more steps. He is really getting his balance down and it is so cute to watch. Every night we practice and now that he isn't nose diving into our hardwood floors, I thought I would get out the video camera.

Tough Guy

2008-07-05T23:01:00.005-04:00

One of Brady's many birthday presents. He threw a full on, screaming, kicking fit when I made him finally get off this thing today. Oh yes...the tantrums have already begun. I couldn't help but laugh a little. He really does love it, though. Too cute and what a big boy!

Fun to be One!

2008-06-29T16:45:00.008-04:00

Brady had his first birthday party on Saturday and it was so much fun! He was in a great mood and loved all the action. He enjoyed his first taste of cake and playing with his new Sand and Water table he got from us, although it turned out to be more of a mud pit and all the kids ended up covered. It was a great party all around. We opened all the gifts this morning, if you are wondering why Brady is in his PJ's. He received some great gifts and his first baseball cap. It is "toddler size" and of course, already fits his head. He is starting to look like such a little boy!

Happy Birthday B-man!

2008-06-26T22:39:00.004-04:00

Ok, I won't get too mushy...but I really cannot believe that it has been one year. I was in labor exactly one year ago, down to the minute and it seems like yesterday. What a little blessing Brady has been to our lives and we have loved every minute of it, except maybe the first 8 weeks or so...they were a little rough. He has grown out of his colic and although he is still very strong willed, he has become so affectionate and sweet. And maybe the cutest baby ever. :) When we are in a room playing with his toys, he always looks up to make sure we are there and watching. About every 2 or 3 minutes he comes over for his hug and kiss and then goes right back to playing. He has become a bit of a mama's boy and is very clingy, grabbing on to my legs, pants, skirt hems, whatever he can do to get me to pick him up. His new favorite thing is the "fake cry". It is worthy of an Academy Award and it works. He mainly uses it when he wants to be carried, but he is very strategic with its use.

Brady's birthday party is Saturday and I hope he enjoys his first piece of cake. He is also getting his one year photos done Saturday morning, so he has a busy day planned.

Early Birthday

2008-06-19T09:53:00.006-04:00

We ordered Brady a chair for his birthday and it came yesterday. We couldn't resist letting him try it out and he loved it! He won't know that it is supposed to be a birthday present. I snapped these pictures this morning of him enjoying his new big-boy chair. Love how he just chills, ankles crossed, arms propped up. He watches his shows for about 20 minutes in the morning, which gives us time to get ready for work. You can see how focused he can be.

Spaghetti - 1 Brady - 0

2008-06-13T21:19:00.010-04:00

Brady's first taste of spaghetti. He loved it, but it was definitely a messy meal. So far, his favorite "big-boy" foods are mac n' cheese, spaghetti and yogurt. Brady also loves Golfish, Graham Crackers and Nilla Waffers. He is mildy interested in blueberries and pears, but REALLY loves his shredded cheddar cheese. Brady did not go for the Tofu, although I tried! Here are some pictures of his first Spaghetti experience.

Brady has also found a new love. The Backyardigans. It is actually a cute show and fairly entertaining for the adults, but he just loves it. He is so intense and serious when it comes on TV and zones in.

Sports Page

2008-05-26T14:28:00.004-04:00

I hear Colby read the sports page at a young age, so maybe he passed that along. Brady got a kick out of reading about the Colonial this morning. It was pretty darn cute.

Happy Mother's Day!

2008-05-11T18:22:00.007-04:00

My first Mother's Day was great. Colby made breakfast and even better, bought a spa package for me to enjoy next weekend. I haven't been to a spa in over a year, so I am very excited to be pampered for the morning. I am sure it was all Brady's idea. :)

The posts have become a little sparse lately due to busy schedules. I have been receiving many requests to update, so I was sure to do it today.

Brady is a crazy little man right now. He loves being vertical, although he has mastered crawling. He is so fast, if you turn your head for a second he is off and around the corner. He is walking with his push toys and walks if we hold his hands, but is not brave enough to try it himself. Brady is the happiest when we walk him around the house holding his hands, he can really get going and just loves it.

Fun in the Swing

2008-04-23T09:48:00.003-04:00

Brady's new favorite past time. Colby put an infant swing up in the tree in our front yard. Brady has always loved going outside and it is the best way to calm him down, ever since the early days. He can't get enough of this swing and cries when it is time to get out.

Me love COOKIES!

2008-04-14T18:51:00.006-04:00

Apparently, Brady has overcome his fear of solid foods. He has become a big fan of the graham cracker. We have to watch him pretty closely so he doesn't get overly excited and shove too many in at once. He is fearless.

Brady's Christening

2008-04-14T18:29:00.004-04:00

Sorry for the lack of posts lately!! We have had some very busy weekends and just got back from California yesterday. Brady was Baptized last weekend by the same Minister who married Colby and I. Here are some cute pics from the day.

Playing Catch??

2008-03-29T18:25:00.003-04:00

Brady is starting to play catch! Well....kind of - as you can see.

Beep Beep!

2008-03-29T08:33:00.010-04:00

Brady has a new love for pushing things around as he crawls. Tupperware, toys, kitchen utensils, whatever is around. He is having so much fun with this car my brother bought him for Christmas. It gets going pretty fast on our wood and tile floors, but Brady seems to keep up. He isn't walking behind it yet, but can zoom around the house on his knees.

We had Brady's 9 month appointment yesterday. I am in complete shock that it has already been 9 months! Brady was almost 21 lbs, 20 lbs 15 oz to be exact, which puts him in the 55% in weight. He was 29 3/4 inches long, which puts him in the 90%. And of course, his head was 19 inches in circumference, which puts him in the "greater than 95%" range. I think they start saying that when your baby is off the charts, so you don't feel bad. The doctor said he looks great and is right on track. He is still having a little trouble with the chunkier foods, but we are working on that. Apparently Daddy had an aversion to certain textures as a baby, too. :)

Watching Daddy.

2008-03-22T21:11:00.007-04:00

I had to catch this on camera. Colby was finishing up some yard work and all Brady wanted to do was watch him through the glass. I literally could not tear him away. Griffin joined in too. I never knew watching someone work in the yard was so interesting.

Brady is on the move. You cannot let your eyes wander for even one second. He is pulling up on everything and has several bumps and bruises to prove it. It is amazing how much they change in one week!

Tight Squeeze...

2008-03-20T22:15:00.006-04:00

We are having work done on our shower, so we can't give Brady his typical bath in the tub. The other bathroom doesn't have an actual bathtub, so our only option was the kitchen sink. It actually worked out great. Brady was a perfect fit in the small side of the kitchen sink. I think he liked the snug feel.

Uh oh...

2008-03-16T18:04:00.005-04:00

...time to move the crib matress down. Brady is officially pulling up AND officially crawling. He crawled for the first time on Friday and now he is pulling up on everything in sight, including his crib rail. He is getting to be such a big boy!!

Swim lessons...!

2008-03-03T11:23:00.005-05:00

We started swim lessons for Brady this weekend and he loved them - as you can see. Basically, they are "baby" swim lessons to acclimate them to the water and eventually learn to hold their breath submerged. There were about 10 babies in the class, from 8 months (Brady) to about 18 months. Brady did great and loved to splash, he even smiled after going under the water for a couple of seconds the first time. Colby and I will take turns in the pool with him every Saturday. The best part...Brady took a couple of super long naps later that day and was worn out!

Chewing

2008-02-21T21:42:00.003-05:00

Tonight, we tried out some of the Sweet Potato Puffs I bought for Brady and he wasn't so sure about them. They are about the size of Cherrios, but I cut them in half, since it was his first attempt at actually "chewing" food. He wasn't thrilled. They don't really require much chewing, they just dissolve, but Brady isn't a fan of new textures. Typically he will dry heave, but tonight he handled it pretty well.

Bubble Boy

2008-02-18T20:22:00.004-05:00

Just some cute pictures of Brady enjoying his bath time. We have started adding bubbles and he loves it.

Almost...

2008-02-16T10:14:00.004-05:00

Brady is so close to crawling, we can hardly stand it. He is rocking back and forth on all fours and has crawling backwards mastered. It is tough on our hardwoods to get traction, but he seems to be enjoying it...and no need to polish the floors.

Happy Valentine's Day!!!

2008-02-14T08:55:00.004-05:00

Frogger

2008-02-11T20:26:00.000-05:00

Brady still loves his bath time and can almost sit up by himself in the tub, which will be nice. He has been a little fussy these last few days/nights and we figured out why today. A new tooth! His top right tooth is coming in. I can't picture his little gummy smile, with four teeth! You can see his two bottom teeth really well in these pictures. He is getting really great at smiling for the camera.

Rise and Shine...!

2008-02-01T08:42:00.000-05:00

Brady has turned into Super Sleeper lately, so much that we have to go wake him up every morning. He's pretty funny though when we do - check him out.

Giggles.

2008-02-01T08:25:00.000-05:00

Brady seems to laugh at everything, which Colby and I love. Here is a snap shot of his cute giggle.

Fun...at Brady's expense.

2008-01-27T16:44:00.000-05:00

A good laugh for Mom and Dad, maybe not so much for Brady. He thought wearing Daddy's hat was pretty funny though. Brady has been wonderful these last two weeks. Sleeping straight through the night, laughing and smiling like crazy. Still no actual crawling, although he can push himself up where his entire body is parallel to the floor, he just doesn't know what to do after that. We try to encourage him by putting his toys just out of reach, but he just gets mad and gives up. I am sure he will do it when he is ready and for now, he is happy with us getting him where he needs to go. His favorite pastime is still the bouncy seat.

Brady has had some busy weekends and really likes running around town with us. He made his first trip to the mall (where we didn't have to immediately turn around and leave) last weekend and loved all the people watching. Brady is so observant these days and just stares at people until they see him and then will give them a huge smile. He is already flirting and is pretty good at it.

Morning calisthenics...!!!

2008-01-20T09:51:00.000-05:00

Welp, I am letting Cara take a little morning "nap" while I watch Brady....this seriously has to be the best babysitter ever. I think Brady might could stay in this all day long if he really wanted to, but we try to limit his time in the "bouncer" so it won't stunt his growth or so he won't grow up bow-legged. He sure does love it though, as you can see.

Prunes and Peas

2008-01-15T20:44:00.000-05:00

Brady has really started to love dinner time. He usually has one veggie and one fruit for dinner, mixed with a little cereal. We had to cut back on the cereal and step up the prunes...I will spare you the details, but I am sure you can figure it out. Brady hasn't met a food he doesn't like, even the green ones.

Big boy chair.

2008-01-06T14:42:00.000-05:00

Brady has been eating baby food for about a month now and is finally big enough to sit in a high chair. This thing looks like a lazy boy to me and he loves it. He likes to sit it in just to play with his toys and beat them against the plastic tray. I think it is a whole new view of the world for him.

End to football season...

2008-01-06T14:36:00.000-05:00

Well it was a sad end to OU's season, but a pretty good win for Tech. Colby was pretty excited and Brady was there to support one of his teams. He wasn't too into the game though.

Sneezy Boy...

2007-12-31T18:53:00.000-05:00

My Turtle...

2007-12-31T16:20:00.000-05:00

Brady loves the Baby Einstein turtle in his crib that plays music and lights up. It plays every night when he is dosing off to sleep and now is a fun toy he can play with while he practices sitting up. The crib sides are padded, so any tip-overs are well protected. He looks like such a big boy when he sits up. Look at that posture! Brady is also really getting frustrated just laying still. He wants to crawl so badly, but hasn't quite figured it out yet. He scoots around a little, but no real crawling yet.

Christmas!

2007-12-29T13:47:00.000-05:00

Christmas was great and full of family. Brady made a haul, of course. Lots of new clothes, toys and books. This year he had no idea what was going on and was in bed while we opened most of the presents. It was a fun first Christmas with him and I think every year will be even better. He is really starting to look like a little boy these days. It is so crazy how quickly they grow.

Chatter-box

2007-12-29T13:09:00.000-05:00

Brady is a little chatter-box these days. His favorites are still da-da and ba-ba, but he does a cute little da-da whisper that Colby loves. Turn the volume up and you can hear.

Happy Boy!

2007-12-22T17:06:00.000-05:00

Really mom...I have had about enough of the pictures now.

Brady is really in such a great stage right now. He is a dream. Just so smiley and happy...almost all the time. Of course he has his moments, he is still a baby. Brady is starting to be keenly aware of when we take one step out of the room and he does NOT like it. He is already a ham and it is "watch Brady time" all the time. In his jumpy chair, in his exer-saucer, on his quilt playing with the toys. It is pretty funny and we make sure he knows we are there watching. Brady is really getting into his toys right now. He is so focused and watching his coordination improve is so neat. His favorite is the jumpy chair that hangs in the doorway. It is hilarious to watch and he smiles the entire time he is in it. He can already get some serious air! It is just amazing to me how far he has come, since the early days and what an easy baby he has turned in to. We just love him so much and are so looking forward to the first Christmas with our boy.

Captain Drool!

2007-12-18T06:59:00.000-05:00

Brady has been drooling for the last couple of months, but since his tooth really started coming in, he has kicked it up a notch. I had no idea babies could drool this much and we just keep a bib on him at all times. He is starting to give what I call hugs and kisses, which is basically him grabbing your neck and rubbing as much drool as possible on your cheeks and chin. It is so darn cute, but very wet. :) I will take any kisses from him, no matter how slobbery.

Da, da, da, da....

2007-12-15T17:24:00.001-05:00

Ok, Ok...I knew it would happen, but Brady definitely said Da-Da before Ma-Ma. Well, he hasn't said Ma-Ma at all and can't stop da, da, da-ing all day long. It is so cute and Colby loves it. Brady is also sitting up...almost. He is a little wobbley and I like to keep some pillows around him so he doesn't face plant on the hardwoods, but he seems to really like his new view. It is much easier for him to play with his toys, too. The other big news is that Brady has his first tooth!! It is coming in as we speak and we can see the white top making it's way through his gums. He doesn't seem to be too bothered by it yet, but we will see.

2nd Trip to See Santa!!

2007-12-09T18:07:00.000-05:00

Friends of ours had a fun Lunch with Santa today and Brady got his 2nd shot to see Santa. We all had a great time and Brady was one of the only babies that wasn't terrified of Santa.

Brady also had his first run in with the dreaded ear infection. He has been such a healthy boy, but got the "Super Bug", as I call it, that Colby, I and apparently everyone at daycare has also had. We have had a rough weekend, but he is feeling much better after a couple days of antibiotics.