The Best!

After a super rough day with short naps and sickness...this is how it ended!

Honestly, this was the best thing ever!! It was the absolutely most perfect way to remind me how amazing my son really is and how happy he makes me! 

Target Portraits

While we had family visiting from Alabama during Brayden's birthday week, we decided to get portraits taken at Target. I could not be happier with how they turned out!! I had never taken pictures at Target before so I was a little nervous. I didn't want a bunch of money to be spent on pictures that looked cheesy! Well, to my surprise, they aren't cheesy at all and I love them!! Here are a few of my favorites...

Another huge bonus, Brayden did AMAZING!! He hardly cried or whined and as you can tell, smiled in a majority of the photos! I made sure to bring a toy that played a song he loved so the photographer could hold it up as she took photos. It worked!! I would definitely go back to take more photos and we probably will do it soon because I already bought a Groupon for it...and we didn't get any photos of Brayden with just Chance! Oops!! Anyways, I would recommend going to Target for family photos...it was great to finally get some pictures where I look decent and all 3 of us are in the photo...I don't think that has ever happened. I am a happy momma!!

1 Year Stats!!

So I mentioned that Brayden was going to his wellness check in his 1 year post and I want to brag about my boy!!! He is perfectly healthy and on track with his developments! I love to hear those words from a doctor! He weighed in at 21 lbs. 9 oz (just 1 lb. 8 oz. more than his 9 month wellness check) but he grew 1.5 inches in height/length! He is now 30.5 inches long! The doctor said that he is getting the toddler body that is long and lean! Whew...we were a little worried when we saw that he had only gained about 2 lbs. So this puts Brayden in the 25th percentile for weight (skinny mini!) and the 75th percentile for length! Long and lean is right!!!

We are so happy to have a healthy little boy that is growing on track! We are still waiting on his first "real" word but for now we are enjoying all the sounds he makes! He loves to mimic us and will say "mamama" or "nanana" or "dadada" so he is getting very close! He is able to point at things he wants and can communicate when he likes or doesn't like something. I LOVE that he is able to communicate better now. It was so hard knowing that he wasn't happy at times and I just had to figure it out...I am glad that stage has passed! We are reading to him and saying the word for every object we come across and hoping that he starts talking soon.

If this isn't the photo of a happy and healthy boy, I don't know what is!!

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I LOVE Weekends!

Okay so this title seems like a total "duh" but because I work full-time, my weekends are my mini-vacations! Sometimes we don't do much and other times our weekends are full of family adventures. This weekend is a little of both. Today I took Brayden to the mall after his afternoon nap just because it was something to do. Shockingly, I only spent about $12.00 and only bought Brayden 2 books!! I was going to shop around for a new top or two but I am not patient enough to be in those small stores on a Saturday with a stroller...not my thing! So we booked it out of the mall and headed to the park. Much more like it!!! Brayden was very excited to have so much space to walk around like a free bird!

When we finally got to the sand, Brayden was a little apprehensive. He has been in the sand before but not recently so he was figuring it all out.

Once he got used to it, he discovered that he actually liked it! I know...weird...a boy that likes sand!

He didn't want to leave the sand but I got him back over to the grass and he walked all the way back to the car. Brayden LOVES the park and it's so easy to take him for an hour or so and then head back home.

And THIS is why I love my weekends so much! I really wish my hubby could have the same schedule as me so he would experience these adventures with us but he gets to have his own adventures with Brayden while I am at work and he is home. One day our schedules will work together and then you will all see more pictures of the hubs! For now...you will just have to suffer by looking at Brayden...life is tough...get used to it! :)

Only 1 Month Left....

I think I am in denial about the fact that in one month, my sweet little baby will not longer be a "baby!" He will technically be a toddler and that is so freaking WEIRD!!! He will obviously always be my baby but I will now have to tell people that he is a year old...no more "months." *tear*
So although it is weird that he will soon be a toddler, Brayden is seriously so much fun right now! He is happy almost all of the time, loves to play, smiles at strangers(women), points and so on! Here is a list of the things Brayden currently likes:

-pointing
-shouting
-chasing(especially up and down the hallway or around things like a kitchen island)
-laughing
-being outside
-walking/running
-baths
-being upside down
-brushing his teeth
-eating...shocking, I know!
-Elmo
-touching my teeth (future dentist?!)
-swinging
-picking flowers

I may have missed some things because honestly, this kid loves practically everything. He DOESN'T like: falling down/getting hurt (duh!), being in his car seat for long periods of time,...and that is pretty much it! And this is why we are frightened for our second child...whenever that happens. Brayden is so good and happy! We could not be more blessed!
Also, it is so much easier to take him places now because he is entertained by new people, things that are not his toys, and walking! I also don't have to bring as much stuff with us when we go places because he can eat regular food so that is a huge help when packing for a day out or at family's house.
As much as I am sad about Brayden turning one, I know it will be so much fun for us to see him continue to explore, learn and grow. His personality is so bright and it is an amazing feeling to see him learn something new! And, I know his first word will be coming soon (we keep pushing for "mama") and that will be an amazing experience in itself! So maybe him turning one won't be so bad....and we know the party will be fun!! Who doesn't want to party with THIS face?!?!

Happy 11 months bubba!!!

First Easter Egg Hunt!!!

Today was a big day people!!! Brayden experienced his first Easter Egg hunt! This is how it went down...we woke up and everyone got a bath and then Brayden got dressed in his super cute bunny onesie (Thanks Lisa!). We made our way to the POA(Police Officers Association) park and got down to business by visiting Grandpa who was cooking up all the hamburgers and hot dogs!

So much food!!

 Brayden was pretty oblivious to the madness that was going on around him! Kids were screaming with excitement when the Easter bunnies came in on the police car with sirens blaring! Once the bunnies were inside the park, the egg hunting began.

Super interested in the sign!

Easter Bunnies!

Found an egg!!

Saying goodbye to Grandpa!

So Brayden got a whopping 4 eggs (two of which Chance and I picked up for him) but he had a great time banging them on the table and of course, putting them in his mouth! I really can't wait for next year's Easter Egg hunt because I know he will be so big and totally excited! All in all, it was a success and these pictures show it all...happy baby! Thats all I need :)