Home sweet home

Those of you that know us well know that my husband Brian is in to building a new home ever 2 1/2-3 years, selling the old house, and of course MOVING!  Lot's of people say "how do you move so often" and I will admit it isn't easy.  The hard part to me is getting the house ready for last minute showings, keeping the house clean 24 hours a day, and this time having to be so flexible with baby nap times and feedings when people wanted to come and see the house.  Well the hard part is done!  We sold our house and the new homeowners are moving pretty quick!  They wanted to close in two weeks, so that means that we had to get packed and ready to move in 2 weeks!!!  Well after almost two weeks of lots of work and packing, we are ready to move on Saturday!  Tonight will be our last night in our home before we move in with Brian's parents while our new home is being built.  This time moving for me will be the most difficult.  I am extremely attached to this home for many reasons but mainly because this is our sweet Brayden's first home :( This is the home that we brought Brayden home from the hospital, the home where we have raised him for his first year of life, the home where he had his first Christmas, and the home where he has learned so many things like how to walk!  I love his cozy nursery and I love the little pathway through our closets that connect his room to ours.  I know that our next home will be just as wonderful and we will make many memories there as well, I just have to get through this move first!  Here is a little tribute to our home sweet home 2918 Spider Lily :)

The "secret" pathway from our room to Brayden's 

Brayden's first bedroom

My dear friend Allie painted this mural on his wall, can we take it with us??!!!

The day we brought him home, Brian was showing him around his new room

Our little family the day we brought Brayden home from the hospital, we are all finally home :)

 Well Brayden definitely doesn't seem to be sad about the move!  He has been having a blast exploring and climbing on all of the boxes and odds and ends that we have pulled out the past couple of weeks!

One of the greatest things about moving is getting rid of a bunch of junk!  We have thrown so much away and it feels great to get all of our things cleaned out!  We are so excited about the building of our new home which has already started and will be in the same neighborhood as our current home.  We are also excited to spend the next couple of months at my inlaws home in Fair Oaks where we know that Brayden will be getting plenty of attention and Brian an I will have free built in baby-sitters!

It happened to me...

As parents we often hear stories about other peoples children and we think "oh my gosh, I so hope that never happens with/to MY child!".  Well it happened to me yesterday during nap time, one of those things that I hoped I would never have to deal with.  Brayden was in his crib (supposed to be taking a nap) but was having a rough time because there was construction going on in our neighborhood that was really loud.  He had been tossing and turning for about an hour and a half before he stood up and started crying.  I went to check the monitor and I saw a big spot in the middle of the crib.  Immediately I thought "oh no, poor boy is sick again"(he got sick and threw up all over his crib a couple of weeks ago-fun!) So, I rushed into his room...As I entered his room, I smelled it before I saw it...My sweet Brayden had indeed made a dirty diaper, proceeded to take it off, play with the contents and apparently smear it around his crib by walking all through it.  When Brayden saw my reaction he quickly went from crying to laughing as he stood there in just his t-shirt.  I have to admit after my initial disgust it was pretty funny.  I am just so thankful that he didn't decide to paint the walls or rails of his crib as well.  Needless to say, Brayden is taking a nap right now and I was sure to put shorts on him before he went down!  Okay, so I have to include a picture...It's a little graphic so don't look if you get disgusted easily :)

Oh my sweet Brayden, you make every day an adventure and we are having the time of our lives raising you :)

Rehkopf Family Beach Trip

Ever since I can remember we have been going down to the Texas coast to spend a couple of days with my dads family on the beach.  I can remember how much fun my sister and I had spending time with our cousins, Aunts, Uncles, and Grandparents.  I didn't get to go last year since Brayden was still pretty little so I was so excited to be able to take him this year!  Brayden's last experience with the beach wasn't great so I was a little nervous to see how he would do this time.  It took him a little while to warm up to the water each day but once he did all he wanted to do was get in and out!  He would get knocked over by a wave and get right back up and go again and again!  He also loved playing in the sand and especially chasing the birds!  The beach was great but the best part was getting to spend so much time with family that we don't get to see near enough!  Unfortunately Brian is super swamped at work and we went during the middle of the week so he wasn't able to go.  Brayden and I both missed him like crazy and I got a little dose of what it must be like to be a single parent-TOUGH!  It is a lot of work doing everything for Brayden on your own, definitely made me appreciate Brian a little more :)  I was so mad at myself for forgetting my camera and I was afraid to bring my phone down to the water to much so luckily my sister took some pics for us too.  Here are some pics of our trip! :)

Brayden with his second cousins, silly girls!  They were putting stickers all over him, he thought it was hilarious!

LOVES his cousin Halley :)

Learned something new on this trip!  Brayden knows how to eat with a fork!

My sister, brother in law, and I took the kids to the aquarium one day.  Brayden was amazed with all of the animals, especially the dolphins!  He just kept pointing at all of the fish.

My sweetest niece and nephew, such great kiddos :)

I was worried that Brayden would want to take his hat off when we were out in the sun, well the opposite happened!!!  He didn't want to take his hat off...ever!!!  At least he didn't get a sunburn!!

Uncle Fred helping buddy get some sand less water!

WIth my dad :)

This guy definitely ate A LOT of sand and drank A LOT of salt water-yuck!!

Grandpa Rehkopf and his grandkids

Such a fun trip, can't wait to go back again!