Cherish

I am reading a book with my mom's group that has some great little tidbits to help me along my way being a first time mom.  Lots of the situations and examples the author talks about are ones that I can relate to and a lot of the time she has really made me think.  There is one quote that has really seemed to stick with me and I often think about it as I go about my day with little B. 

"You will never have this day with your children again.  Tomorrow, they'll be a little older than they were today.  This day is a gift.  Breathe and notice.  Smell and touch them; study their little faces and little feet and pay attention.  Relish the charms of the present.

Enjoy today, mama.  It will be over before you know it." 

-Jen Hatmaker from Out of the Spin Cycle

Just typing these words seriously brings a tear to my eye!  This is the main reason why I even started this blog.  I want to make sure that I remember and soak up every little moment that I possibly can because I know tomorrow he will be a little different.  Brian and I feel extremely blessed that I am able to stay home each day with Brayden and enjoy watching him grow.  I am vowing to make an effort every day to slow down, take it all in, and cherish my sweet, sweet baby while he is still a baby.  

tiny hands and feet

Soak up every loving smile

Stroke that sweet smelling hair, and kiss those smooth chubby cheeks

Loving this time in my life,



9 month wellness visit

I know to some this may seem like incredibly boring information but I just don't want to forget anything about little B's little years!  We went to see the doc for his 9 month checkup and had a pleasant surprise when we got there-no shots!!!  I had just assumed that Brayden would need another round of vaccinations but apparently he won't need them again until his 1 year-whoo hoo!!!  It was a quick and easy visit, got some questions answered, got the little guy weighed and checked out and we were on our way!  Here are Brayden's stats at 9 months +
Length:  27.8 inches 29th %
Weight 21.1 ponds 56th%
Head circumference:  83rd % (he must have a big ol brain like his mommy!)

So we are finished with the Dr. for another 3 months (hopefully)... Here are some pics from Wed:

What?  I would be crying if you laid me naked on a scale in front of everyone to see too!!!

We love Dr. Scholshberg!!!

Lake Tahoe Trip

We just got back from an amazing to trip to Tahoe.  Brian and I went with his family about 6 years ago before we were married and had not been back since.  Tahoe is absolutely one of the most beautiful places I have ever been and it has so much to do!  It is awesome to have so much to do during the day and then gambling at night!  We went with Brian's parents, his brother and sister, and some family friends of the Barron's. It was especially a great trip because Brian was able to get away from work for a couple of days and he has been working like crazy lately.  I think this trip was really good for him to relax... and even better there is no cell service on the top of the mountain-haha!!!  This was Brayden's second time to fly and he did even better this time than last!  He had so much fun on the plane climbing all over his seat looking at the people in front of and behind him.  He was quite loud on the way home, not crying but happily screaming-my apologies to the people around us!:)  We tried as hard as we could to keep him on schedule with the two hour time change but his schedule was totally whack by the time we left there!  No worries though, after a couple of days he was back to normal and on a very predictable schedule once again.  Brayden did not get out of the room much because most of the time we were there it was pretty cold and there was a biting wind!  It was so nice to have all of the family there to play with and help babysit so Brian and I could get out some. We are so lucky to have such great babysitters!:) 

The last time that we went to Tahoe was my first time to ever see that much snow and also my first time to try snowboarding.  After that trip I swore I would never do it again!  The first time I tried I had a really rough time, spend my day with my face in the snow, and came back on the gondola with tears in my eyes and icicles in my eyelashes (true story!).  So, when we planned this trip I had my mind made up I would be staying away from the snow!  Well I changed my mind and tried again this year.  I had a much better experience and absolutely loved it!! We had so much fun, I fell ALOT less, and actually got better as the day went on!  I can't wait to go back and do it again! Anyway here are some pics from the trip, mainly Brayden getting to enjoy spending time with family :)

Brayden is obsessed with ipad's, Papa is about the only one that will let Brayden play with his!!

WOW Uncle Keithy that is a full BEARD!!!



Keith, Christi, Eddie, and I tried out ice skating one afternoon, it was FREEZING!!!  It was so much fun and we definitely had some good laughs as one of us had a little more trouble than the rest (I won't mention any names!:)

Ready to Skate!

Our last day we took a drive around the lake and made some stops for photo ops... This place is GORGEOUS!

We bundled up little B nice and warm, he was a very good trooper!

He seemed really interested in the ducks

LOVE this pic, although it makes me sad that my little boy looks so big :(

Favorite babysitters! 

All of us minus Keithy, he had to go back a day early for work :(

I always like to save my favorite pictures for last... Words don't even do this kind of sweetness justice

Brayden is 9 months old!!!

Happy New Year 2012 <Brayden :)

There have not been too many changes in the 2 short weeks since my last post.  Here is what our sweet baby has been up to at 9 months:

*He waves!  He started waving on New Years Day when he waved at his Papa Barron for the first time.  It is just the most adorable thing to see the smile on his face and his little arm in the air trying to wave!  Now we are working on clapping his hands!

*He got his top two teeth!  He got his top right tooth about two weeks ago and just a few days later it's neighbor cut through as well so now Brayden is sporting all four of his front teeth.

*This baby is EVERYWHERE!  When he is awake he is literally never sitting still!  We spend our days chasing him around the house and trying to keep him from falling and hitting his head.  He is really exploring his surroundings!  Here are some pics of his latest adventures:

This is usually the view that we have of Brayden

Pausing for a short break...

He decided to take a trip behind the couch

It's a long way!

I love this face, like he is thinking "okay where am I"!

Crawling under the kichen table...

Don't you just want to squeeze those chunky legs??

SO in LOVE with this angel face!!!

Brayden's first Christmas

To say that this was our best Christmas ever would be a huge understatement!  Enjoying our sweet baby during Christmas is truly the biggest blessing we could ever ask for and made the season so much more magical!  We were super busy over the holidays but got to spend alot of great quality time with family :)  To start the holidays, Brayden's grandma and grandpa from Duncanville came to spend the weekend before Christmas with us.  It was so nice that they drove down and spared us having to make the trip up with with Brayden.  Brayden loved spending time with them and really loves the wagon they brought him!!!  He loves going for walks in it and just looks around taking it all in.  

Brayden really checkin out the wagon...

Christmas Eve morning we went over to Brian's Aunt Becky and Uncle Sandy's for a "cowboy breakfast", it was fun but super COLD!!!  That night we went to Christmas Eve mass with my dad.  Grandpa held Brayden most of the time during church and he did SO good!  There was so much for him to look at to keep him entertained.  Brian and I decided we would start the tradition of letting Brayden choose a gift to open every Christmas Eve, so before dinner we let Brayden open his first Christmas gift.  He had been going after and messing with the presents underneath the tree all month so he looked really excited when we actually let him play with and finally open one!!!

 

Daddy helping Brayden open his first of many gifts!

Now here are a bunch of pics from Christmas morning at our house.  Brayden seemed to enjoy opening presents, especially enjoying playing with the wrapping paper and boxes! 

Our first year with the addition of a 3rd stocking

Our house, Brayden's first Christmas

I fed Brayden before we came out and opened presents, Daddy had the camera ready for when Brayden came out and saw all of his presents

I have always had this vision of my kids looking down at the Christmas tree from upstairs before they run down to open gifts!  I would like for this to be a picture that we take every year, it couldn't have turned out more precious :)

He had just started pulling up right around Christmas, here he is peaking out from the other side of the coffee table

First thing, Stockings!!!

 

Brayden loves his new "Mia Dog", I am thinking that Mia loves it too!  Thanks Aunt Laura and Uncle Brandon!

He was excited about his new basketball set!!!

We spent the majority of the morning at our house and after we finished unwrapping presents we let Brayden play with his new toys for a while.

Next, we packed up our car and headed out to Fair Oaks for the rest of the day.  First stop Grandma and Papa Barron's house.  Brayden had so much fun playing with his grandparents and his especially his Aunt Christi and Uncle Keith.  He got to open alot more presents and became tired and a little cranky about half way through.  We put him down for a nap but I think he was just too excited to sleep because his nap didn't last too long!  Mid afternoon we went over to my Aunt and Uncle's house right down the street to visit with my Dad an his family for a bit.  Unfortunately by this time I think Brayden had been stretched to his limits and was very fussy!  It had already been a long day for him and I think that he had had enough!  We headed back to Brian's parents house to try and put him back down for another nap and we ate dinner while he slept. 

I LOVE this picture, so sweet!!! Here Brayden is opening his stocking that his Grandma worked long and hard to make.  I wish I had a better picture but it is Santa carrying a great big bag of Mia puppies-so cute!

I couldn't believe it but this is the ONLY picture of the three of us on Christmas day!

Such a cute pic of Brayden and Uncle Keith

Brayden in his Santa diaper!  Grandma helping to make sure he doesn't fall playing with the toy that Aunt Christi gave him

After a long day this baby was worn out and ready for bed!!!