Sorry, Brady Boy...

...but you look like your MAMA!

I can't find a better smiling picture than this one thanks to our naughty boy and his aversion to the camera!

So why do people keep telling me that he looks like Jason?
I do think he is starting to get Jason's eyes.
It's so fun to watch him change and grow!
The pictures of me were taken when I was about 2 months old...my mom sent them this week after finding them and seeing the resemblance between me and Brady. She also stuck a twenty dollar bill in with the pictures. Gotta love MOMS!

(sorry for the resolution and the weird angle - I don't have a scanner so I had to take pictures of the pictures!)

Early Christmas for a Naughty Boy

We borrowed some new "babysitters" for Brady...his favorite is the jumper! He loves to hang out in the jumper while mommy cooks supper. Here he is just starting to figure it out.

Yes, those are baby legwarmers! Jason is not too sure about them, but Brady loves them! Notice behind him the lovely paint color we found beneath all those layers of wallpaper.

You can also see our lovely linoleum in the kitchen and the remainder of the nasty carpet in our dining room...we can't wait to have the floors replaced in these two rooms!

The exersaucer is in my office and sure helps me get some work done! God Bless the exersaucer! (I told you he was a naughty boy, just check out that finger!)

I really, truly am going to post pics of the house. You may all have to look past my laundry piles, but the pics are coming!

Turkey, Teeth, Wallpaper, and 4 Months Gone

I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving! Brady and I went to the mission to have our Thanksgiving feast with Jason, since he had to work. Afterwards we both enjoyed a turkey-induced nap and then woke up in time to pick Jason up from work and visit some friends for the evening (and eat turkey leftovers - YUM).

We were planning to visit my boss and his wife, Ken and Jan, for the rest of the weekend but Jan came down with a terrible cold and ear infection so our plans were canceled. We stayed home and enjoyed a quiet weekend with Brady, who is a bit more fussy due to the teeth cutting through his gums! Poor baby!

Jason steamed off all the nasty wallpaper in the kitchen - what a job! The next step is to re-texture the walls, as the wallpaper was hiding some serious flaws. We eventually want to paint, put up a tile back splash, and replace the linoleum floor with Pergo. I have a feeling that the kitchen will be a long project, but that's okay. I am blessed with a husband who enjoys household projects and doesn't complain...and caters to my taste and color selection with a simple "Yes, Dear"...I love that man! :)

Despite the teething, Brady is reaching new heights of cuteness. He loves his toys now, and actively grabs anything that is near. The other night we watched him grab his pacifier out of his mouth, then put it back in, then grab it out, then put it back in...repeat six or seven times! The grin on his face showed us he was quite proud of himself. He likes to lay on his blanket by the Christmas tree, but I've had to scoot him away since I found him with a branch clutched in his fist and the fist in his mouth! Oops, rookie mom mistake.

Today is December 1st, which means our little guy is four months old! I can't believe how fast the time has gone by; I can't help but think that I am not taking enough time to just enjoy the preciousness that is our son. Sometimes taking care of a baby is all about feeding, sleeping, and worrying about when he last pooped. The fact that he is four months old already reminds me that "the days are long but the years are short"...and I should take more time to savor each moment. Yesterday I laid on the blanket with him next to the Christmas tree. Brady laid there kicking his chubby bare legs, cooing, smiling at the Christmas lights while I thanked God for such an amazing child. I don't need anything for Christmas this year, I already have it all!

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. :)