Brayden turns the Big 4!!!

Well today my sweet middle child you turn 4!!! How can it be that you have been apart of our family now for 4 years? I was talking to you last night about how today was your birthday and that you were turning 4! You got so sad and said, "but mommy I want to just stay little forever and not get big, I just want to stay free(how you say three). Well mommy often tells you boys to just please stay little and your brother Bennett always says, "but mommy we have to grow up and get big!" So it is today that you are now officially FOUR. Things you do:

• You are now in pre-school M,W,F

Go to Busy Bodies on Fridays(this is where you are having your party on Saturday)

Swimming lessons

Love all sorts of video games: Nintendo DS, XBOX, Wii

Love to color, draw, play doh, really any sort of art

Love the special interest classes at the community center that mommy has you signed up for

Favorite cartoon is Arthur

Favorite color is blue

Love praise music(so cute the other day you were in the basement playing the guitar and singing songs about your sweet Jesus)

Loves to say prayers

Loves to give hugs and kisses which totally melt this mommy

Loves to wrestle with your Big brother and daddy and love on baby Baylor(you are so sweet and gentle with him)

Like to ride your bike

You still do your fair share of fussing and being down right difficult, but we are still working on that.

All in all you are a real joy and we love having you as a part of our family. We are looking forward to a year of being four and seeing all that you will learn and accomplish this up coming year. Happy Birthday Brayden, we love you!!! Update:

Today at your 4 yr. well check, you were 43" tall 90% and weighed 44lbs. 95%

Baylor turns #1

Happy First Birthday Baylor!!!

Happy 1st Birthday my sweet one! Today at 10:30am MST you turn 1!

I cannot believe it has already been one year since we welcomed you into our family, it's going so fast. We are blessed beyond measure and have enjoyed every minute of having you in our lives. Yesterday we celebrated your 1st Birthday with a little party, and you sure enjoyed all the attention and sweet dear friends that helped us celebrate you! We are looking forward to all this next year holds for you.

Here is a slide show since there were too many pictures to choose from. (There is music to it, so to enjoy turn your sound if you have it up, and some of the pictures have captions. Put your cursor over the picture to pause it and see the caption)

What your up to these days:

You have been crawling since 11 months 9 days and began pulling up about 1 week ago. You have your 2 bottom teeth, and have started trying all sorts of table foods and love everything you try :o). You typically sleep from between 6:30-7:00pm to around 7:00am(sometimes later), you still like to take 2 naps a day when our busy schedule permits. You still love your passy when you sleep as well as you favorite gauze blankets. (mommy went back a few weeks ago and bought the last two they had which were on sale so we would have several back ups) You wear size 18 months clothes and a size 5W shoe. Mommy loves to put an adorable little curl hawk on the top of your sweet little head and you get lots of attention from all the ladies when we are out(even a few of the men comment on your way cool hair). Tomorrow we go for your 1 yr. check up to get your current weight and a few more shots, sorry about those sweet boy, but they help to protect you from illness and disease so they are for your own good.

Oh yeah and you totally adore all Baby Einstein videos, you just laugh and giggle the whole time. Your favorite books are any type of touch feel books. You just run your little finger all over the page and explore all of it fully before going to the next page.

As far as words go you pretty much just say mama, dada, baba(for bottle), babble, and you love to clap for yourself! We think you are pretty awesome and last night Brayden asked us if you would just stay little forever? He began crying a sweet little sob when we said no he would get big just like him and Bennett. WE LOVE YOU BABY BAYLOR!!!

On the move!!!

Here is a quick little video clip of Baylor crawling this week Tuesday. He was 11 months 9 days old, when he finally started moving. I guess all the talk of Physical Therapy and the Orthopedic appointment got him going :o). He is already trying to pull himself up, although I don't see walking for a few months down the road! I'm happy to have him all over the floor and just into stuff. The medical professionals all just keep complementing him on how chill and laid back he is, I guess I'm just used to all the busyness with my other 2 energetic little ones and having a relaxed one gets me worried more than it should. It really is nice to have a very relaxed and mild mannered little one. Yeah Baylor!!!!

A New School Year

This morning the boys started back to school for 2008-2009. Bennett starts Kindergarten and will wear a uniform. I tell you they make life so easy. You set out a shirt and shorts and there is no arguing over what to wear, because there is no choice in the matter. I LOVE uniforms. Bennett posing for his official first day of school photo.

Brayden is finally old enough for pre-school. In AZ they have to be 3 by Aug. 1st and fully potty trained. Here is Brayden posing for his official 1st day of 3 yr. old pre-school. He also happens to have the same 3 yr. old teacher Bennett had. He was super excited to finally have a class of his own.

Both of my big boys together just before heading out to school.

Bennett outside his new classroom. His little friend Mason peaking out the door. He has at least 3 kids that he knows in his class, that he has been in pre-school with.

Bennett sitting at his table with Paulina and Mackenzie.

Brayden's class starts 15 minutes after Bennett's class, so guess what? Brayden will never be late for school unlike poor Bennett who was also the last one to skate in :o). His class is just across the hall form Bennett's, so they are looking forward to saying "Hi" to one another throughout the morning.

Brayden sitting at his table playing with toys until the teacher calls the class to order.

Well it's time to go back and get my boys.(they start with a half day today and Brayden will only go M,W,F) I did manage to hit the gym and grocery store, got back and got a quick shower and did a blog post all in 2 hrs. time. Now I tell you is that making good of my time or what?

2 years and 7 months!!!!

Well today marks the 2nd year anniversary of our move to Arizona. As I think back to 2 yrs. ago I remember feeling very sad, yet full of excitement for all God would provide for us. And provide he has. We are so blessed with our church, small groups, preschool, school for Bennett for next year, our house, and much more. In our free time the kids enjoy Teacher Lynda's swim school, Asian American Karate, Mommy and me playgroup, Parents Day out(my 4 hours a week for myself without it I would be crazy) and great friends to hang out with. Today our youngest baby boy turns 7 months old as well. He sure is a delight and brightens our days.

This looks like a great spot to rest said Baylor. He was fussing and Bennett offered to hold him for me, I checked back a few minutes later to find him fast asleep on his Big Brothers stomach. As comfortable as it was for Baylor, the weight of his head with the band was too much for Bennett to maintain for the duration of his nap, so I moved him beside Bennett on the couch. You sure are loved by your big brothers Baylor, they delight in making you laugh and watching you learn new things.

This is a picture of Baylor in his outfit I made for the DOC Band calender. We went with a karate theme, and I made this little karate gi for him to wear in the picture. I just took this picture to see what it looked like all together. I still want to get better pictures for the calendar at Bennett's dojo. Anyway here is what his band looks like all decorated.

The bling is a little skull and cross bone, I could not resit it!!!

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Your schedule at 7 months is wake up around 7am and have a 6 oz bottle

nap around 9am

10am you have oatmeal, fruit, and 4 oz bottle

small cat nap before lunch

around 1pm you take a 6 oz bottle and go down for a long afternoon nap

4 pm you eat rice cereal, veggie, and 4 oz. bottle

since you are wearing your band for 23 hours a day, we take your band off around 6pm and give you a bath and clean your band.

you take your last 6oz bottle around 7-7:30pm and are off to dreamland. You have been sleeping through the night and only occasionally wake, but will fall back to sleep on your own.

You spend your time when your not asleep jumping in your jumper, playing on the floor with your family, you still love your swing, you love stroller rides and just being out and about!

You are able to roll from your tummy to your back and can sit with just a little help. You love to just stand being held by mommy and daddy. You are fascinated with your hands and everything you touch goes right into your mouth. Still no teeth yet though.

You eat both rice and oatmeal cereal

All first fruit and veggies and have added some second foods. Your favorite veggie is sweet potatoes, and your favorite fruit is bananas!

You are such a joy and we are so happy to have you for our son! We love you Baylor.