bittersweet symphony

10 on tuesday - cinco del mayo version

is it really the 5th of May already?! I think I will get some chips & salsa at lunch!

1. Figured I better update for my 3 readers out there - plus I really want to see my status updated on erin's blog list.

2. Happy Scrapbooking Day! I actually scrapped on Saturday! I also had a really fun senior photo shoot. Eddie didn't believe me when I told him it was an actually scrap booking holiday - he thought I was making it up!

3. We (and by that I mean eddie) is busy with the never ending list of house projects. We had 2 trees removed, eddie is going to install some landscaping bricks to build up our yard, we had our driveway repaired and the approach re-poured.  And don't ask about the kitchen...it's still not finished.

4. Happy First wedding anniversary to Becky & David! I will have something in the mail to you this week - there is a little story behind it.

5. My baby is going to be 2 this month.  I don't know if I can handle it. Seriously I think this is going to be harder than when he turned one. He is talking so much - this morning it was "daddy...are you?" calling in a little voice -meaning daddy where are you? The other morning I got him out of his crib - put him on the floor and he said: breakfast -  waffles -come mama.  He also loves to climb in riley's bed, pull up the covers and says : I sleeping. And pretends to sleep complete with fake snoring. I have to put together a 23 month post so I don't forget the little things.

6. Riley has his first t-ball practice tonight! I don't know who is more excited Daddy or Riley. Although Daddy is a little nervous since he is the coach.  He has been looking for t-ball drills for practice.

7. Riley's Art Show is also tonight at preschool! So after practice we will zoom over to the Art show and then zoom home hopefully getting everyone in bed by 8:00.

8. I want to go on a beach vacation this summer! Brady has never been in a pool yet. I feel like we are denying him something.

9. Recent movies reviews: The Wrestler(with Mickey Rourke) - awkward.  Slumdog Millionaire: graphic, in your face reality, good ending.  Bride Wars: good chic movie  Marley & Me: I read the book, but the movie was so much better and heartwarming. 7 pounds(with Will Smith) sad, sad and more sad. I fell asleep and never finished it - but eddie said it continued to be sad.

10. I can't wait for summer TV! SYTYCD and Army Wives. I still have the last episode of ER on my DVR - I just can't bring myself to watch it.  Does anyone watch live tv anymore?

I will be back with pictures - my pictures don't live on this computer.  Get prints today! www.scrapbookpictures.com has another great deal going on for a limited time!  

i voted today

Yes I voted today for the upcoming General Election in November.  I filled out my ballot ahead of time and mailed it in.  I knew I wouldn't have time to run around on election day-plus-there are more car accidents that day due to increased traffice since everyone is heading to the polls to vote.  But I am sad I won't get a sticker. But at least my vote will count.

Going to be a very random post while I try to get some things down that Riley has been saying and doing & catch up on life and photo shoots.

In the car on the way home from Wednesday Night Alive (our church's midweek program - dinner is included - tonight was shepard's pie with corn, rolls & butter with pie for dessert - comfort food at it's best) Riley said -mama want to hear a joke ? Sure buddy- what's your joke?  Riley: gooey yucky computer!!  Umm he doesn't quite know the art of joke telling yet - but it will come.

Last Monday night I had a senior photo shoot  (pics to come) and I said my goodbyes to my boys-hugs and kisses all around. I walk out into the garage about to get into the car - when the garage door opens and there is a distraught Riley: Mama! I didn't get to say I love you!   This made me weak in the knees and heart. I hope he keeps this sweetness as he grows up.  The other morning eddie left before riley woke up and when he figured out daddy had already left for school - he broke down in tears: But I didn't get to hug him! Oh my sweet boy. Your daddy and I love your tender heart.  and you are sweet with Brady (at moments)when you will say he just needs a hug and kiss mama to make him feel better!

Guess where we went this past Saturday?

   

(click on images to make them larger- this was my view most of the day)

 

it was a bit cold. But warm when the sun shined. We really got lost in the 3 acre corn maze. Eddie was having trouble with the map - but we eventually made our way out. We got a huge pumpkin and an acorn squash. I love acorn sqaush with cinnamon, brown sugar butter. But no one else in the house likes squash - so I think that will be my dinner thursday night while the boys have tacos or soup and grilled cheese.  I will post an album to the left from our day - lots of pictures to share.  After the farm -we went to lunch - Red Lobster! No waiting during lunch - we got seated right away. Yum.  Riley tried shrimp and real crab for the first time & brady ate a little shrimp for the first time. Although I don't think he noticed inbetween bites of ketchup and french fries. Saturday was also sweetest day - but I didn't think we celebrated this fake holiday in our house - but riley and eddie ran some "errands" saturday morning while brady and I took our morning nap. And they brought me back these:

 

And delivered flowers to Grammie, Meem and Mamaw. Such sweet boys.   So I made brownies with peanut butter frosting during Brady's afternoon nap.

Easy Peanut Butter Frosting

1 cup of creamy peanut butter (reeese's is the best)

1 stick of butter (softened)

1/4 cup heavy whipping cream

2 cups of powered sugar

so good and low fat too!

I love right now as i type this post up- eddie and I are sitting at the kitchen table with our laptops. He is cracking up right now trying to figure out a league name for his fantasy football  baseball basketball team. Whenever he laughs I laugh.  I can't post any of the names here because, well, I can tell you this - boy humor is a lot different than girl humor.  The league draft is tonight and they guys are instant messaging trash talk to each other. I love that he shares this banter with me - boys are funny!

Time to rotate laundry and post some new albums. Watch for more  pictures in the next post!

good night all!

brady at 16 months

I need to record this someplace before I forget.

Brady you crack us up! you are such a funny baby! you have a fake cheese face. And can be really sweet when it comes to your meem, grammie & mamaw and sometimes mama.

words at 16 months

doggie

booka-booka (book)

nah (milk)

uh oh

nononono

oh no

mama

daddy

meem

hi

cook (cookie)

beep-beep (bird - and you make the sign for bird over your head)

papa

buckle

gush (bus)

baby

wow

go-go

this

guck (truck)

hat

tickle

bee-bou (bellybutton)

pee-bo (peek a boo)

whee (often said in the car while mama is driving)

dank ou (thank you)

hereyougo

rowrow(you sing row, row your boat with the motions)

eieio -singing

life at 16 months

You make lots of noises while playing with cars and trucks. You make the necessary motor, train, car noises. You will drive cars all over the walls. You would rather play with big brother's toys than your own. I think we can get rid of the " baby toys" and you won't miss them.  You love to read books (booka-bookas) you prefer the Thomas the train ones that make music. you will push the button and get up and start dancing. you still make that "ohhhh" shape with your little mouth - I have tried many times to capture it on film. You like to put blankets, hats, clothes, belts, strings around your neck. You like to wear hats - preferably daddy's or riley's browns hats.  you still use your binky at nap time and bedtime. I know soon it will be a thing of the past. I love putting you to sleep, you lay on your belly, knees tucked up - arms go straight out until I cover you up with your blue blanket- then your hands grab the blanket and tuck it around you. You are so very sweet. And give good back rubs. And so very ornery the next minute! I have to watch - you will still climb in the dishwasher when I am not looking. You love to tackle Riley. You two wrestle, play,fight, get along like brothers should. You think Riley is the funniest thing on earth - you he thinks you are pretty funny too.  You both still have to work on your sharing skills. You love to stand up during bath time, splash and you are still a hands on kind of guy. Your eating has slowed down some but you still have a good appetite. You like milk, water, juice and grammie's coffee.  You make the silliest faces - you even crack up uncle Kenny. you love to play outside with Daddy & Riley - you just love to be outside. You give good hugs and head butts. you can throw a ball overhand already. And will sometimes walk swinging your arms or have them clasped behind your back. You still have one blue and one not blue, not green eye. 8 teeth, and still working on 4 molars. You are in a size 5 diaper, wear 5 1/2- 6 shoe (fat wide feet), 18-24 clothing.  You weigh 28 pounds. And you are the love of my life (one of 3 that is).

 

 

 

 

this was your "after" picture when I gave you your first hair cut

 

10 on tuesday - wednesday edition

1. So behind in editing pics! Have a senior session and the 10 marquette cousins (finally) shoot. Senior session was awesome - Nate from our church was really good at the "brooding" pics and climbing on stuff, and not being afraid of standing by the porta potties- awesome blue background. The 10 screaming marquette cousins shoot? Oh my. They were so bad (i can say that because they are my nieces, nephews and my own 2 sons) If I didn't love them all so much -I would have left the shoot - seriously.

2. Oxygen channel. Sign me up when this free preview is over - I can't get enough of Tori & Dean: Home Sweet HOLLYWOOD. I can't look away. Tori is pretty down to earth considering her childhood.  Yes I watched 90210, but I wasn't really a Donna fan.

3. TLC - yes I am watching too much summer TV - Say Yes to the dress, What not to Wear (shut up), Must love Kids. But E! Where is my new Girls Next Door? Thank goodness for Joel McHale and the soup

4. We figured out Brady calls his milk "nah". He is the hungriest & loudest baby ever. Seriously I don't think anyone feeds this child enough.

5. Riley will say anything to get Daddy to go outside with him. After dinner last night - Riley gets up and goes to over to look at Daddy's watch - OH NO! it's 20 days and 7! Time to go outside Daddy!  He will also add - Does that sound like a plan?

6. I actually scrapped! well if you call paying for a class to make an acrylic album scrapping - I did that Monday night at Archivers. It was kinda stressful at first - then it was fun. I walked out with a completed album, some cool new 7 Gypsies journal spots @ 30% off and some Heidi Swapp ghost letters for 50% off.  And I already ordered the pictures to go in the album - so there is a good chance it will get finished this year, maybe even this month! .

7. Love cinnamon graham crackers with homemade chocolate icing in the middle. Yum. Brings back memories of elementary school lunches. Also loving all the fresh fruits of the summer with the Pioneer Woman's yogurt cream dip.

 8. Brady is pretty much walking everywhere he can. He thinks it is so funny. He still crawls. But can walk about 10-15 steps around corners even and is really good at getting himself back up when in the middle of the room and nothing to hold on too. Sigh. My baby is really growing up.

9. Really getting anxious about starting the kitchen project. But need to have a husband that is home long enough to go to Lowe's. He leaves on Friday to go to PA for a week.  I have been asking him questions about how to measure the counter top, what finish paint should go in the bathroom, black or stainless steel for the dishwasher? Maybe that will scare him enough until staying home a couple nights before he is back in full swing that starts with band camp.  Is that bad?

10. What is up with typepad? It will barely let me type this let alone post pictures. I will try to post some pictures later - as we all know that every blog post needs a picture or 2 !

today is your official birthday! Happy 1st Birthday Brady!!

today at 10:52pm you entered this world and ours hasn't been the same ever since. Mama took the day off work to spend it with just your and big brother Riley.  I gotta tell you little one - your day didn't start off too happy. Last night you were up every 2 hours. Nothing seemed to help you finally fell asleep at 4:00am.  We all slept in until 7:30.  We had a doctor's appointment at 9:15. So we had some breakfast and got dressed. While I was helping your brother - you helped yourself to the dog's water. You totally dumped it all over your pants and the floor. So we had to put on some dry clothes and out the door we went.  you were so patient at the doctors even though you were getting sleepy and had to hang out in just your diaper for 35 during the exam and through the shots. Yes shots. Only 2 and a little finger poke to test your lead levels. Have you been eating any paint chips lately?  You cried though the shots and finger test - who could blame you. Big brother tried to soothe you -it's okay brady - don't be scared.  Then Riley wanted to know - hey why is he bleeding? So 3 bandaids later, we got your clothes back on and headed home.  We went thru the drive thru for special donuts with sprinkles.  But you clearly didn't want donuts - you just wanted your binky and bed.  We got home you went right to bed and slept 3 hours!  when you woke up we got some lunch and played some more. You took your first big tumble while you pushing your mailbox and crashed into the hummer.  You love to sneak into the bathroom and play with the hairbrushes under the sink. In an attempt to brush my teeth - I tried to close the door with you in the hallway and pinched your little pinky in the hinge. Oh baby I am so sorry. It left a little dent on your little finger for about an hour.

so we got ready and went to the park. We met mama's friend Char there with her 2 little guys Trevor and Carson. While riley and trevor raced around the playground, went up the slides the wrong way you and carson watched a little from the sidelines then you guys got to swing.   You opened your first present from and ate your first tiny cupcake. You made a mess of the cupcake. No pictures as I was holding you and trying to contain the mess at the same time.  Then we came home for a quick dinner and it was time for baths!

You love bathtime.You and riley splashed around until you were nice and wrinkly. We got our jammies on and one more picture of the night. Riley wanted to hold you and then he said he wanted to give you a bottle while he watched tv.  Well it was a kind offer -but mama has dibs on the last bottle of the night.  So we rocked and you fell fast asleep. What a long day for you my sweet.  You were in bed by 7:05.  Good night my little one year old. I think I did pretty good keeping it together. But I might just have to go hold you for a minute when the clocks reaches 10:52am.  I am not ready to let go of my baby, not just yet.

brady - 11 months

Dear Brady -

No. no. no. You are not allowed to turn one year old. You just can't. Please stay my chubby baby for a little while longer.

(Oh if they did stay little for just a bit longer. Where did this year go? Seriously it just seems like yesterday we were riding on Thomas the Train while I was having labor pains.  And now here we are 11 months, 17 days later.)

Brady you are a total joy to behold. You are such a happy, vocal baby. You make silly faces. You love your big brother like crazy - you have a special smile and laugh just for him.  I never thought I would have a blue-eyed baby. And you really have 2 different blues but it's such a slight difference only a mama would notice. You are a sweet little one.  You win over family, friends and strangers with your little smile and clapping hands.  Some days there is a bit of red in it.  You still aren't sleeping through the night every night. But that's okay. I have come to terms with it. And you are my baby so I will take all the snuggles I can get even if they are at 2:00am. You have 4 teeth on top and only 3 on the bottom. And by the way you are drooling and chewing you would think you have a molar coming in. You are in size 5 diapers it's probably time to go a size bigger. You are wearing 18-24 mo clothing. Size 4 1/2 wide shoes. I bought you a pair of sandals for your first walkers but you are much happier barefoot or in socks.  You are a chunky baby with lots of wrinkles & cheeks that need to be kissed, tickled and bit on occasion. You have soft silky baby skin and laugh when i lightly run my finger on your cheeks when we rock.  You pretty much laugh at everything. And you can't keep your hands off the Gene Simmons during bathtime.

No one can be sad around you -it's not allowed - you are a bright ray of sunshine. And after each bath your hair blonder - and sometimes there is a hint of red too.  You have given up the army crawl & rolling and now are a full time on your knees crawling kind of guy. You pull up on anything that will stand still long enough. You are crusing on all surfaces.  You love to play cars with your big brother. Yes you really play - you push the car back and forth and I swear you are making car noises. You say mama, dada, dog, and we think riley. You have the funny backhanded wave when you say goodbye.  When we hold you and hug you, you pat us on the shoulders.  You still point with that middle finger. You love to drink water out of any and all cups - you don't like baby juice.  You would rather bang the spoon on the highchair then to use it to eat. We find you standing in your crib after naptime in the corner. Just waiting to be retrieved.

Soon you will be walking and talking.  but please stay my baby for a little bit longer (okay you have 3 days to be a baby).  You complete our little family and I can't imagine life without you. I love you to the moon and back my dear sweet brady edward. Never forget.

love,

mama