Kisses at the Front Door

Too bad you can't see the string of drool that followed this picture!

A Loooooong Picture Blog...

...so we can get all caught up!

Mommy and Brady took a trip to Minneapolis for Kim and Martain's wedding.

Pre-wedding festivities included a bachelorette party...

...and a bridal tea! (this is the "kids table")My mom and dad arrived to take care of the little man.The bridesmaids wore black with pearls......I had a blast with Linda and Missy!

Some of Brady's biggest fans...

...he was determined to party like a rockstar......but turned into a pumpkin around 8 PM.Mr. and Mrs. Martain Ferguson!When we got home, we were greeted with snow......and Brady endured his first cold.We put up the Christmas tree......and found Brady's BIG stocking that we bought before we were even married.

I remembered that I had a Santa hat for Brady...

...but then we realized that it's too small.

I couldn't decide which of these pictures was the cutest...

...so I decided......to post them all!That's it for now! Thanks for your patience...pictures of the house are coming up next! As soon as the house elves get this place clean and the laundry put away.

Blog on Hold

Sorry for the delay on blog updates, but life is too crazy. Jason and I need to get a handle on the chaos. Life is moving at a fast pace right now and we are lagging behind. It's time to play catch up, on our responsibilities and on our rest. Thanks for your understanding. We'll be back before you know it!

Brady the Model

A few weeks ago, we had Graeme Pitman at Pitman Photography take Brady's first professional pictures. I am so in love with the results. I think Graeme captured the "wide-eyed-ness" and wonderment that is our little boy right now. There are so many to choose from, but here are a few of my favorites.

If you want to see more, email me and I will send you the link and password to our gallery!

Weekend Update

I need to use the bullets again because I have started this blog four times and can't seem to complete a sentence. Seriously, has anyone seen my brain?

• We are still sifting through boxes but we are making progress! Jason even hung a few things on the wall yesterday, which makes this place feel more like home. I was hoping to post a picture of Brady's room, which is the only completed room. But now he's all tuckered out and tucked in for the night so that's out of the question.
  
• Saturday night we went to marriage class at church. We all gather for a meal first, which is always fun. It was my night to bring dessert so I brought my favorite recipe chocolate chip cookies and rum cake. mmmmmm. Sugar shock.
• Jason spoke this morning at Westlake Bible Fellowship near Cleveland, so we packed up the boy and took a little drive. Jason did a great job, as always. So did Brady, he's such a good baby. Afterwards we went out for a fun lunch with our friends Ray and Laura Gonzalez and their kids, and Dottie Vahcic and her daughter Rachel. We got home about 3:00, perfect timing for naps all around.
• Brady and I are leaving on a jet plane again, this time to Minneapolis for my friend Kimmie's wedding. I am nervous about flying again with Brady, but even more nervous about my matron of honor speech. Yikes. My parents are driving up for the weekend to help take care of Brady. Jason will be stuck here holding down the fort. He has lofty plans to get stuff done around the house, but I hope he takes time just to put his feet up and relax, too! He's been working too hard lately.
• HAPPY 60th to my Mom, we love you!
  
• Brady continues to grow like a weed. He is rolling over, which is the cutest thing. He actually likes his tummy time now that he can hold his head up high. I can see his little brain processing when I hold a toy in front of him - trying to figure out how he can get his little chubby fingers up to grab it. He has figured out how to reach up and get his paci out of his mouth, followed by a big grin. He is always smiling at us - unless of course we are holding a camera. That red light hits his face and he shifts to blank stare mode!
  

This is Brady's favorite spot in the guest bedroom/mommy's office. He loves to look out the window and play with his toys. He also rolled over for the first time right here. Good thing I keep him far away from the edge! I happened to turn around from my desk just in time to see it. This happened last week, but I didn't mention it since I was too busy blubbering over our first year in Ohio :)

He likes to sleep with his hands over his head, and of course the lovey, chewy, and paci must all be close by. My friend Kim calls it Brady's trifecta. Jason calls it the Baby Trinity.

When he lays on the floor, his legs must be suspended in the air at all times. The boy would have rock hard abs if he could just lay off the jelly donuts.

A rare smile - I had the camera behind my back for this shot.

Nobody is faking in this picture. They didn't even budge when I took the picture.

And this shot is from today. Daddy is fast asleep but Brady is clearly not interested.

Brady met a new friend this weekend. Today after quite awhile of staring, smiling, and cooing at himself, he got bored and started to fuss. Jason picked him up and asked him if the new kid was picking on him. HA. We are so mean. I think that mirror is going to stay right there for awhile. After all, it would be cruel to take away our son's new friend. And mommy enjoys the playdates.

Well it's time to snuggle in for the night. My family is asleep and I am sitting here shivering to the sound of ice pelting the window outside. I am not ready for winter. I'll take a few snow days and my fair share of peppermint mochas, followed by Christmas (presents), but then I've had enough. Unfortunately I think we are in for a long winter, and I probably should work on not whining so much. Nah, forget that.

Oh. My. Cuteness.

Brady has his tux for Kimmie and Martain's wedding!

An Emotional Weekend Update (sorry)

Happy One Year Ohio Anniversary to us! Just one year ago we were trekking from Iowa to Ohio...Jason driving a giant U-Haul with the Rodeo on a trailer while I followed behind in the trusty (and rusty) Malibu. We chatted back and forth on our walkie talkies, stopped for Starbucks every chance we had, and enjoyed a steak dinner in South Bend, Indiana where we spent the night in a Best Western. We were sad to leave Iowa but excited for the many adventures that lay ahead of us. I still remember the joy that I felt as we pulled into our new apartment complex and discovered that a brand new Target had opened less than a mile away, not to mention the Starbucks that I could see from our living room window...those two places certainly made the move a bit easier on me!

As I sit here in my office recalling the year we've had, I can hardly believe all the changes that we've taken "in stride"...ha ha ha...that is NOT TRUE! We are weak and feeble minded and have struggled mightily but the Lord certainly has bestowed grace freely upon us. Without Him we would never have made it through this tough but wonderful year.

HE has blessed us abundantly...

• financially - by providing for us when we least expected it, and needed it the most!
  
• with a home - that is ours, all ours!
  
• with a ministry - that my husband loves and to which he is called
• with my job - that I am able to work from home doing what I love
  
• with each other - learning as we go and loving each other more each day
  
• with a son - our dear, sweet baby Brady...ours for a time to mold, shape, and teach to be like Christ.

I have no more words, yet so much more to say. I am so thankful for what I have learned this year.

Sorry for my blubbering. I'll be back to my shallow, silly self on the next post. :)