New Goals!

So lately we haven't been doing much outside of the house. Sometimes it's hard to get going when Brayden takes two naps. I think that will change soon but as for right now, Brayden naps about 2 hours after being awake and then again at around 3 or 4. This only gives us a few hours at a time and if that time stretch includes a meal...that brings us down to only about 2 hours at most to go somewhere. I know that he is flexible and doesn't NEED to go down for his nap at the same time but he enjoys his naps and I hate when we have a day that is all thrown off! Needless to say, I need to make it a point to get out of the house! I have been doing a little research on Mommy & Me classes and they seem like a great option. I was also looking into Stroller Strides but our budget just won't allow me to spend money on both activities. As of right now, I am leaning toward Kidnastics where Brayden would learn balance while getting to explore music and movement. It is a reasonable price and it is something that I think Brayden will really enjoy.
Today in our mission to get outside, we visited the El Dorado Nature Center. We have been here several times and we love it! Brayden gets to hang out in his stroller while I do all the work but I need it!! We see things like turtles, rabbits, squirrels, lizards, ducks and trees!

Brayden loved looking at all the animals and I got in a good 3 mile walk! I want to do things like this way more with Brayden! My official goal is to go somewhere with Brayden at least 3 times a week. Even if we just hit up the local park for an hour or take a walk around the neighborhood...anything!! If you have suggestions on places to go or things to do PLEASE leave them in a comment below!

Our Weekend in Review!

Once again my poor baby does not get a break from teething! He currently has 8 teeth that have fully come through the gums. He is now cutting his canines and the teeth behind those...molars or something. Last night he went to bed just fine as usual but he woke up about 2 hours later crying, crying, crying. I waited just a couple of minutes to see if he would go back to sleep on his own but that definitely wasn't happening. I tried everything to get him to go back to sleep and it just wasn't working. He wouldn't even fall asleep on me which was really unusual! I gave him a dose of pain reliever and then cuddled with him a little longer. He still wasn't asleep but he wasn't going to sleep at all unless I just put him back in his crib. He was NOT happy about that at all! He cried on and off for about 30 minutes until he finally fell back asleep. It was a bit of a rough night but today was much better!

Brayden woke up totally happy and was a happy camper all day long (until he got tired tonight!) He took a GREAT nap and I got a ton of cleaning and organizing done (so much so that when he woke up, we were bored because I had nothing left to clean!). We decided to head over to my parents' house and on the way we stopped at a park we hadn't been to before. We pass this park almost every day but have never stopped! No one was there and it has a ton of trees so I figured it wouldn't be too hot. It was a nice little break for a day of being inside! I normally like to take Brayden to the park a few times a week but it has been WAY too hot lately so we have been stuck inside! 

As you can tell, he approved of this "new" park so we might be making stops there more often!! 

Oh and on another note, we went to a wonderful baby shower on Sunday! There were a ton of kids there and Brayden interacted with them quite well. He was very interested in running everywhere and going outside on the patio so the interactions were limited! All the ladies LOVED him and he was definitely being a flirt! I was really glad that he behaved so well at the shower. We have found it very difficult to take him to restaurants now because he is so active! Thankfully, this location had plenty of space for him to run around and get his little boy energy out!

He did manage to get in some quality flirting time with this little cutie!!! 

So overall we had a pretty good weekend with a little spaz moment of teething! It happens!! I can't really complain because I know other families have it WAY worse than we do! We are very thankful that Brayden is healthy and happy (most of the time :))

More Firsts!!

We have obviously had a lot of "firsts" in the last year with Brayden and they just keep coming!! Brayden went on his first bike ride!! 

Chance and I got Brayden the bike seat and helmet for his birthday and we finally got to use it the other day!! It was an insanely hot day so the breeze felt so nice! Brayden really seemed to enjoy the bike and then of course we had to stop at the park and play for a bit!!

And another first....a big ouchie!! 

Yeah you see that huge welt on his head?!? He dove right into the TV stand. Poor little guy! He was super tough and stopped crying pretty quickly. I had to keep him awake for a while and make sure he didn't have a concussion or anything but he was fine! He still has a bruise but the swelling is gone and he seems back to normal. I, on the other hand, am still a little traumatized but that is another story!! Ha.

AANNNDDD!!! My little boy is 13 months today! I can't believe it has been a month since the madness of his party and birthday! Not much has changed since then but I will have a "13 months" post up tomorrow! 

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Wordless Wednesday!

We made another trip to our favorite park last week and Brayden was completely interested in the big kids!! The park has two play areas, one for toddlers and one for big kids. Well as soon as Brayden heard all the yelling and shouting from the big kids, he was totally enthralled and made a beeline for them. Talk about scaring a mother half to death! The big kids of course don't pay attention to a little one-year old running around and Brayden wanted NOTHING to do with holding my hand! I just couldn't do it...I couldn't let him play over there. I scooped him up and took him to the swing! A much safer place! I think this is the beginning of the many scares that this little boy will give me! Wish me luck :)

Linking up with Jenni From the Blog!

Wordless Wednesday!

Brayden LOVES the park...and "driving" the "jeep" at the park.

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! :)

Summer Bucket List!

Since I am lucky enough to get a summer break from my job, I am planning to take full advantage of it by filling up my schedule with fun activities!! Most of them are family activities because now that Brayden is older, he can appreciate more and is intrigued by new adventures. So here is my current bucket list(in no particular order):

-visit a petting zoo
-go to a farmer's market
-visit new parks
-go to the beach
-introduce the pool to Brayden
-redo my kitchen table and chairs
-complete a 5k or 10k
-make banana ice cream(recipe from pinterest)
-organize!

So thats all I have so far but I plan on adding to it. Obviously things like redoing the kitchen table will not include Brayden but most of the other activities do. I really want to make my summer active and fun and I don't want Brayden to get used to being inside all day just watching cartoons. I was raised in a home where I wasn't allowed to watch tv more than an hour a day and we were not allowed to play, or even own, video games! I spent my time outside playing sports or just playing games with my neighbors. I want Brayden to grow up that way too. I think I am a healthier person because I wasn't just sitting on my butt all day long and I want Brayden to be the healthiest boy he can be. When I find new things to add to this list I will be sure to blog about it. I would also love any suggestions for places to go or things to do! Just leave a comment below!

SAHM

Stay- at-home-mom. I so, so, so wish I could be one. I was home with Brayden for about 2 months when he was first born but then I started student teaching. Once that was finished, I substituted for the same school in which I was a student teacher and then I was lucky enough to find the full-time job I currently have. I will just say that I do love my job, however, after being home all week on spring break, it made me realize how much I wish I could be a stay-at-home-mom. I love being home with Brayden and being the one to keep track of his schedule. I love that I am finally on top of the laundry and cleaning. I love having time to take Brayden to the park every day. These are the things I miss out on while at work and I have just realized how much it bums be out.
With that being said, I will most likely never get to actually stay home with Brayden or future little Sentelle babies so I am extra grateful that I get spring break and summer break to spend those days surrounded by chunky thighs and little giggles. I suppose that is the benefit of the work I do! How can you not want to stay at home with this face all day?!

As my spring break comes to an end and I have to go back to leaving this cute little face every day, I just have to keep thinking about summer break in July. Then, I will get almost a whole month with him! I can't wait!

A Day in Our Life...

I have mentioned in the past few posts how busy we have been since starting new jobs. Well now I want to let you in on how crazy our life has become!! Here is a rundown of a regular day for us right now...

5:30 am (Yes, you read that right!): I wake up to start getting ready for work.
5:30-6:30 am: Brayden wakes up at some point in this block of time usually.
6:30 am: I wake up Chance to take care of Brayden so I can leave for work.
6:45 am: I start my route to pick up students and take them to school/my work.
9:30-10:00 am: Chance takes Brayden to my mom or Aunt Kym or grandma so he can get ready and go to work.
12:30-1:00 pm: Chance heads to work.
2:30 pm: Students are done with school for the day so I get in my van to drive the same students home.
3:30 pm: I am finally off work and drive to pick up Brayden.
4:30-5:00 pm: I am picking up Brayden and driving home.
5:00-8:00 pm: I attempt to entertain Brayden and make dinner at the same time. (Mostly I play with Brayden and throw something quick together for dinner. Brayden is just so much more fun!!)
8:00 pm: Brayden goes to sleep. I clean up from dinner and pack Chance a lunch for the next day.
9:00 pm: I get into bed to read or watch tv and fall asleep by 9:30 pm.
11:00-11:30: Chance gets home from works and gets into bed.
Then our day begins all over again at 5:30 am!

Did you notice that Chance and I don't see each other except for 10 minutes in the morning?!?! I am not a fan of this at all but for now, we don't have a choice in the matter. Annnddd, Chance actually really likes his new job which is amazing! He always has a story to tell about his day at work (which I usually hear at 11:30 pm so I have to ask again in the morning because I am OBVIOUSLY way too tired and half asleep to remember what he said!).
So as you can see, we have completely opposite schedules which makes both of us very busy! I am hoping this schedule doesn't last too long but we will see. Also, since this wasn't the most exciting post...here are a couple of pictures of the little man!! Oh and by the way, he is going to be 9 months in 11 days!!! That's just insane if you ask me! Here are some pictures of the little guy that makes this crazy schedule totally worth it!

Loved the swings!

Not as interested in the slide...

Clearly, the pole was his favorite part of the park!!

BFFs!!!

So silly!

Apparently, laying flat on his back was really comfortable!

How can you not LOVE this face?!?!