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! :)

Sick again!

This is what I get for working with kids...sick! I started feeling sick on Wednesday of last week and by Friday, I was so done! My throat was hurting, my head was throbbing and my nose was stuffy one minute and runny the next. Not good people, not good! Of course since I was sick, Brayden got sick too. I noticed that his nose was stuffy on Thursday evening and by Friday morning, he was done too! I made a quick trip to Rite Aid on Friday evening to get him some extra fever reducer and to get me some cold medicine. I started Brayden on saline spray and nose suctioning and I was no longer one of Brayden's favorite people. He absolutely HATES getting his nose suctioned out! He doesn't mind the saline spray so much which is good because that is what will help to break up all the junk in his nasal cavity!

Our whole weekend was filled with saline spray, nose suctioning, naps, midnight wake up calls, a crying baby, a slight fever, lots of snotty tissues and eventually calling out of work. We both felt pretty crappy and I knew that Brayden needed me to take care of him and I needed to get my rest as well. It was a rough weekend but today we both feel much better. Brayden woke up smiling and I have been way less congested so this is a good sign. I am heading back to work tomorrow so Brayden will be home with Chance and I know that they will have a good time without me. It will be a good break from being at home and I will only have 3 days of work and then 2 more days at home.

It was definitely not the fun weekend I was imagining but we made it through anyways. I am so glad that I have a pretty flexible work environment that lets me take the days I need off to get better! It makes it much easier knowing that I am not in trouble for taking a couple of days off work. I am actually excited to go back and see my coworkers and kiddos (lets see how they treat me on my first day back!). I am just glad that we are both feeling better!

On a happy note, I had a great first Mother's Day but more on that later!! For now, I will leave you with the smiling face that I love!

And He's Walking...

Yep! He is up and walking folks! It is so weird to see such a tiny little boy up on his feet. He has taken 12 steps consecutively as of right now!! Its crazy! Brayden started taking small steps a while back and since then, he has just kept trying! His teeny toes turn all white while he is trying to grip the ground and keep his balance! It's so stinking cute!! We have obviously had to baby proof our house since the walking began because now he goes in the kitchen and tries to open the cabinets and just roams the house like he owns the place...oh wait, he does! Anyways, its been super fun watching him gain balance and I know that pretty soon, the walking will turn into running and then I will really be getting my workouts in!
Of course he isn't a circus animal and won't perform when asked so the video I posted below is the best I could get...but don't worry, I have my camera ready pretty much all the time so I will keep trying to get a better video!

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?!?!

6 Month Stats

Yes, I am aware that I am a little behind on this post but Brayden went on his first vacation that included road-tripping to San Francisco! More on that later. As for now, you all need an update on my little man! A few weeks ago, Brayden got his first cold and let me tell you, a baby with a cold isn't fun but he is such a trooper! He was full of snot and sleepy for a few days but he was still his happy self. Thankfully that cold is gone and he is back to normal! We went to the doctor on the 12th for Brayden's 6 month wellness check and the boy is growing like a weed! He weighs a whopping 17 pounds 10.5 ounces!! He is HEAVY!! His length didn't change much, he is at 26.5, but the doctor said that always depends on who is measuring and how far they stretch his legs...not to worry! We know he is getting longer because his feet now touch on his Jonny Jump Up and his bouncer.
As for changes in behavior, Brayden is still super happy and he has become quite the ham. He smiles at everyone and absolutely LOVES when people make silly faces at him or play peek-a-boo! He is eating a lot of real food now including peas (although we have to mix it with bananas or something) pears, peaches, and mixed veggies. He only eats about 3 bottles a day and those happen right when he wakes up, before his afternoon nap, and right before bedtime. Between those bottles he just eats regular food. Brayden has definitely developed his voice and is constantly making some sort of noise. While in San Francisco, he was so loud in a restaurant that I actually had to cover his mouth!! He wasn't crying or anything but instead of just talking, he really enjoys screaming!! It is pretty funny when we are at home but a little embarrassing in front of a bunch of strangers! Brayden is ALMOST sitting up on his own...he can sit on his own but he can't get there on his own. He did it once yesterday but hasn't done it since...it's coming though!! He also isn't crawling yet but that is super close as well. And although he isn't crawling, that doesn't stop him from getting where he wants to go. He moves so fast and of course he always goes where I don't want him to go...like near the corner of a wall or large piece of furniture! Oh well...I guess I should just wait until he starts crawling....then I will always have to keep a close eye on him!
So there is the update for Brayden at 6 months old...I cannot believe he is half a year old!! YIKES!! I need to start planning his birthday party if the next 6 months are going to fly by just as quickly as the last 6 months! And let me just say, I am the happiest person ever! I absolutely LOVE being a mom and Brayden is just so perfect! Of course there are days when I just want to rip my hair out because the house is a mess and Brayden is hungry but I don't have any clean bottles so I have to hold him while cleaning one just so he won't cry (yes, this happens!!) but overall....I wouldn't trade this for the world! And his little smiling face always makes everything better!

How can you not smile at that face??

His favorite bib!!

On a walk...his hat finally fits!

Sexy pose!!!

Smirking

Happy traveler!

Out for a walk in San Francisco!

Bundled up for the cold weather

His first time in the shopping cart!

Always smiling!

Christmas Madness!

Brayden's first Christmas was great!! And by great, I mean absolutely-fan-freaking-tastic!! We got to see so many family members and celebrate Christmas THREE times...yep, three times people! That's a whole lotta Christmas!
To begin our holiday festivities, we received a package from Brayden's Sittie (Chance's mom) and put all the presents under our Christmas tree! It made our tree look even more beautiful. Then came Christmas Eve where we ventured over to my parent's house to spend the night. My parents definitely had a house-full because not only did the three of us sleep there, so did Samantha and Mike! It was so fun for us all to be there to celebrate together Christmas morning. (For those of you that don't know, my sister and I have spent the night at my parents house every year, except last year, and we have always slept in the same bed.) Anyways, on Christmas Eve, my dad always gives us girls our first present which is always matching pajamas for us to wear that night. (They are so cute!!) We put those babies on and then it was time for bed.
On Christmas morning, we all walked down the hallway together as my parents videotaped everything....just like we have been doing since I can remember. We went straight to the stockings while Brayden went down for his morning nap! After the stockings were opened and the lottery tickets were scratched, we headed to the kitchen to make some much-needed coffee and I had to make my breakfast roll. We decided to just hang out for a bit because Brayden was sleeping and I wanted him to be awake for the presents. Finally I actually went in to wake Brayden up so we could get things rolling for the day. We opened all of our presents and everyone got spoiled!! Brayden got so many cool toys and obviously super cute clothes! I am completely excited about my Crock Pot, Bundt pan, and bissell sweep and steam! I guess I am officially a wife and mom when I ask for very practical gifts(and am actually excited about it!).
After opening all of our fantastic gifts, we headed back to the kitchen for our breakfast. My mom makes a mean breakfast casserole and we each made a breakfast roll. To say the least, our Christmas breakfast was amazing!
Finally, it was time to go over to my grandparent's house for our big family Christmas celebration. Things were comical as usual! We got to spend time with our whole family (on my mom's side anyways) and eat another amazing meal and once again, Brayden got spoiled when we opened presents!
To say the very least, we had such an amazing Christmas and I can't wait for next year. Brayden obviously does not grasp the concept of Christmas yet and I know he won't next year either but by next year he will at least be excited to open presents and actually rip into them himself!
Here is my massive photo collection from the holiday festivities! Enjoy!

Our beautiful tree!

Loves his Grandma!

So excited!!

Ready for Santa!

Our cute PJ's!

Early morning nap

Ready to open presents

Ripping into it!

A new toy!!

And a new bouncer!!

Hanging with Daddy!

GiGi and GiGiPa!!

The bouncer wasn't the easiest thing to put together!

Finished product!

He loves it...despite that facial expression!

Spending time with cousins!

Feeding time with Momma!

The whole family!