Look at what I can do!

I want to talk so bad!!!

Happy Father's Day

What a beautiful day Father's Day turned out to be. It was quiet, low key, and the weather was very nice. Adam and I went about our normal routines of a Sunday morning. Get up, feed Brady, shower, and get ready for church. We had a lovely Father's Day message at church and we headed home to start cooking for our guests. Grandpa Bud and Grammy Jill joined us for a delicious lunch at the house. Adam did all the cooking (like most always) and I got to have some playtime with Brady. Perhaps since it was Father's Day, it should have been the other way around...I don't know.

Dad and Jill came and we all had a very nice visit. Brady bounced in his door jumper as we all ate and laughed as he kept sliding down into the seat. We were very thankful he let us get almost completely done with lunch before he decided he had enough of the jumper.


After lunch, Adam went out and enjoyed 9 holes of golf for Father's Day before spending a quiet evening with Brady and myself.

It was a very low-event day, but nonetheless, very special as Adam's first Father's Day. Well deserved for such a wonderful, loving father!

Brady and I love you dearly, Adam! I hope that I show you how much you mean to me every day. Brady can't tell you how much he loves you yet, but I hope you see it every time he smiles when you walk into the room. He knows you're his daddy and he can't wait to do all the wonderful things with you that I know the two of you will do.

What does a mommy look like her first night away from baby?

So many people wondered how I would make it through a weekend away from Brady. I thought it would also be a little difficult but I figured I would not be one of those moms that calls every hour and does not have a good time due to wondering if the baby is asleep, eating well or is in route to the emergency room.

Well it was going to be my first night out (Adam's best friend was getting married) and I was determined to enjoy my first REAL night out since before I was pregnant.

I dropped Brady off with Grandpa Bud and Grammy Jill Saturday afternoon. It would have been an easy departure as Brady was in a great mood. However, I forgot all the nipples that go with his bottles. Immediately I went into mother panic mode. How will he eat? Ok, Dad and Jill can go get a nipple from the store. But what if it is not the right kind? What if he won't eat from it? What if my baby starves over night?

After I called to be sure they found a nipple for the bottle, Dad put my mind at ease and I continued on my way to Pilot Mountain.

The wedding was a success and we only called two times that night and not until after 10am the next morning. And no, my child did not starve over night nor did he visit the emergency room. He actually had a fabulous night, eating well and sleeping through the night in a strange bed. I was so proud of him and thankful for such wonderful grandparents.

Adam and I were able to enjoy the night out (a little too much) and will feel OK about leaving Brady for more sleep overs.



On another note, Brady experienced the Door Jumper this week. He can't jump yet, but he likes to just spin himself around and watch what you are doing. Brady is also getting better control of his massive Smith head. He can actually pick that big melon up. I have no idea how other than I may possibly have a super baby.


We also tried some solid foods, however he decided to pass on that idea. We have put it away and will try again in a week. Brady had his 4 month check up and all is looking well.

Brady is four months old...and so much more!!

This weekend, Brady turned 4 months old. I am so amazed of all the new things he is now doing. It is so exciting, and bittersweet at the same time. It is exciting because it is so much fun to see him show us something or learn something new. Every day is an adventure. At the same time, it is bittersweet because that just means he is growing fast and changing every day.

This month Brady can squeal, grab his toes (his ultimate goal is to get them into his mouth, which he is almost there), wiggle himself in a 360, coo, and best of all, he is experimenting with his laugh. The video does not do it justice how precious of sound comes from this little boy. Also, please excuse me in the background. In order for Brady to share his laugh, I have to make myself sound like a moron.







I believe Brady has started figuring out the camera...or I'm just reading into it, and he just likes the way it looks. Whenever the camera comes out, all of his attention focuses on it. This is when he is going to show off the most by kicking, squealing, laughing and smiling.

Brady has settled nicely into a good routine. He is not a big napper, but he is still a wonderful sleeper. He goes down around 8:00 and wakes up around 8:00 the next morning if I don't have to wake him up before I go to work. He goes for another check up June 5th, where I am sure he will be starting some solid foods. I fear Adam's tolerance for changing diapers will soon decrease once those solid foods start making their way into Brady's daily diet.

Brady had his first visit to the ball field to see his daddy play ball. He didn't catch any fly/foul balls.


Work update:
Last Friday was Spring Fling at my school. Adam was such a good sport and came along for the fiasco. Actually I wanted him to come so I could show off our son. Brady was such a hit. He smiled at everyone that walked up to him. I heard he was even smiling as I was being submerged in the dunking tank. Yes, that's right, I was a poor soul at the dunking booth. It was actually pretty fun and the water was warm. I am hoping that was not a cruel and disgusting result of those that were dunked before me.

I am looking forward to the last day of school...June 15th!



Pet update:
Rusty is still getting along. He is enjoying someone being at home with him all the time. He still has not accepted that he is not my only baby, and continues to be miffed at the fact that Brady takes a lot of my time and attention. I give him as much attention as I can, but it does not quite meet up to his expectations.

Beau and Oscar were caught in the act. I finally figured out why the big orange cat was sometimes soggy wet. I knew Beau was my prime suspect...but what I witnessed showed that Oscar was the instigator of these "cuddle" sessions. Unfortunately I started taping it towards the end.

*Video will be posted soon.

Jetta is still raging in the Battle for the Lap. She no longer pretends to notice that Brady has already occupied the lap. She just plunges right in. I have to stop her from actually laying on top of him. She doesn't have much longer before Brady will be out of my lap...however, I have a feeling she will be in my lap less, as I will be sitting down less.


I am back in the saddle and loving it whenever I can. I posted a picture of Icy just because she is pretty.

What a wonderful weekend to remember!

As you have probably figured out, I have been so busy with work and mommy duties, that I have not had the time I have needed to update the blog. I apologize I don't have any pictures to share this time, but I promise, more are coming. The little guy just keeps growing!

So this Sunday was my first mother's day...and what a mother's day to remember! Our day started at 6:45 as Adam brought me Brady in bed. Yes, you read that right...I did not get breakfast in bed, I got Brady...who got his breakfast in bed. But Adam made up for that as I opened my mother's day cards and unwrapped the beautiful earrings that go with Brady's birthstone bracelet.

After that we were scurrying around getting ourselves, our baby, and our house ready for the big cookout that was to take place after church that day. Today was not just any day at church. Today, many of our friends and family would be attending with us to see Brady dedicated. It was such as memorable experience to stand on stage with all those who love and care for us looking on, as we pledged to bring Brady up in the eyes of God. As our lead pastor asked Brady's friends and family to stand, I realized that we had almost an entire section just of our family. The pastor joked that we were having a family reunion. He was not far off, as everyone journeyed down the road to our house after church. We grilled hamburgers and hot dogs, and we had a wonderful time mingling with all the family.

The cookout was a hit! We were so exhausted afterwards that we cleaned up what we could, and then crashed. It will be a mother's day I will never forget and was truly honored to be a part of.

Grow up!!

"Grow up"?, you say. Well let me explain. It seems that my sweet little child things that toots are funny. So it reminded me how some people believe that no matter how old you are, or who does it and where, toots will always be funny. Brady has picked up on this as whenever you make toot noises with your mouth, he grins ear to ear and even sometimes chuckles. I thought about how his father also chuckles at poots and how I always think, "Adam, grow up" (even though we are both guilty of uncontrollable giggles when the guy beside us let one rip in the middle of child birthing classes). So, not that I want Brady to grow up any faster than he already is...Brady is just already showing the inevitable boyish immaturities that he will use along side his father to make me just sigh and shake my head.

HAPPY EASTER!!!!

GO HEELS!!!

No, I am not the Tar Heel super-fan that my husband and his family are. However, I can't help but want the championship to come back to NC. Don't get any ideas Smiths and Hortons. And Dad, don't worry, I am not converted as you so fear will happen to me. I stand strong in the Statehood.

Update

Ok, so I know I have't posted in a while, but what can I say...I am a working mom. Yes, it is true. I am back at work. Never would I have been ready to go, however, knowing Brady was at home in the very capable hands of family, it made it easier.

Brady has been on many adventures and has met many people. He even made an appearance in my classroom a few days before I was scheduled to return. They were so excited to meet him and ask about him every day. They also keep talking about how Brady used to be in my tummy and they love to point out that I am not "fat" anymore and can bend over to pick up things. Nice observation kids.

Brady had is 2 month check up. All is looking well and he is still gaining a ton of weight.

I was allowed a day away from home and finally got a chance to scratch the itch. I am back in the saddle. I had a fabulous ride on my trusty steed, Icy. I was very worried that since she has not really been ridden in months, that Brady may grow up without a mother. But she did wonderful and the only tragedy of the day is that I got sunburn.

Only a few more days and then I am out for Spring Break. After that, only 40 days left of school! I can't wait for the summer.

Here's the "Bebe"!

This weekend was no exception to any of our last few weekends...extremely busy of running around and introducing Brady to more friends and family.

Adam's cousin Hannah and her daughter, Isabelle, came up from Atlanta this weekend to spend the night and spend time with their new cousin Brady. Isabelle has been awaiting Brady's arrival for quite a while. It was not long ago when she would kiss my belly and say "Hello Bebe". Cute, I know! Towards the end she began to get a little impatient as she would lift up my shirt and try to find him that way.

When Isabelle finally met Brady, the initial meeting was not what I expected. Isabelle was more interested in playing with the jewelry that Nana Tex had pulled out for her to play with. As our visit went on, she finally showed the reaction that I had hoped for. She wanted to hold Brady and have her picture made with him. Of course, she would only allow you to take the picture if she could take the next picture. She was so sweet! I loved how she knew Brady's name, and was very eager to be around him...if she was not playing with jewelry or telling someone what they should be doing. They will be good playmates when Brady gets older.




Brady also attended his first birthday party, went to the church nursery for the first time, met my great aunt Helen, and Adam's great grandmother, Granny.



Unfortunately our Sunday evening was rather unpleasant as Brady was very fussy and running a small fever. He is feeling slightly better today, but he better regain his strength, as he will be attending the Smith Family Reunion in Burlington this coming weekend. It will be another grand adventure!

Viva La Resistance

Jetta: Ok, so I have let everyone know of my displeasure of the new pet taking over my mother's lap. Since the day I was brought into this house, that has been my spot, and my spot only. Now that squirmy excuse for a homo sapian is always in the spot that is rightfully mine. I have tried other areas in the house, but none are as peaceful as mother's lap.



I have had it, and it is time to reclaim my favorite sleeping place. The other night, I attempted my most daring act of protest since the new pet has made himself comfortable in my lap. From now on, an occupied, or a non-occupied lap, I WILL be on it!! Granted, the lap did get a little crowded and I did not have the space to roll around and curl up as I used too, but that is not the point. The point was to show the new pet, that was here first, and I refuse to give the lap up so easily to sack of potatoes. I think I proved my point.

Another busy weekend

Our weekend began quite special on Saturday morning. Here is a little lesson on cause and effect...it must be the teacher in me and the fact that I have been out of work for a month now.
Cause: an event that happens
Effect: what happens as a result of said event
O.K. now that is out of the way and everyone is following along:
Cause: Brady gets a tickle under his chin while sitting in the bed with Adam
Effect: Brady gives his first smile as a reaction to something we did, and not just smiling as a result of gas or good milk.

Brady is starting to interact more. It still takes a lot to get him to smile, and so far it usually takes the chin tickle. I have been trying to get him to smile at faces that I make, but that seems to make him look a bit worried at his mom's distorted face. He has no sense of humor.

Later on Saturday we got a visit from Poppy and Dee Dee (Ronnie and Denise). We had a nice visit and I'm glad that Denise was able to see him as this was only the second time she had seen him since the hospital. After a few hours, we all loaded up and headed to McLeansville to see Mama B, Paw Paw and to finally meet the horses. Icy was quite curious about him, smelling him carefully. Brady cried. I am going to pass that off that he was hungry and not that he was scared...because then I would be worried if we brought the right child home from the hospital.



Sunday Brady, Beau, and I loaded up once more to take a walk in the park. Only this time, Grandpa Bud, or as Johnathan calls him, Pa Pa, joined us for a fine day at Country Park. The weather was perfect! Before heading home, we then stopped at Nana Nell's house where Adam was already waiting and the Carolina/Duke game was already underway. I have to say, Adam behaved himself quite well and I only heard 5 death treats to Coach K.

Our busy weekend was over and we finally headed home. Now we are looking forward to next weekend where Brady will meet his cousin Isabelle. There should be a good story next weekend!

Brady is giving mommy gray hairs!

Since Brady has been born, he has been trying to worry his parents constantly with medical problems. We were worried before we ever met him as the doctor shared concerns about his ability to handle the labor due to an irregular heartbeat. The irregular heartbeat continued for his first few days of life. Even though the doctors were certain the condition would fix itself, it still left Adam and I worried about our new son. Of course the doctors were right, and soon the problem fixed itself.

Next was Brady's thyroid test. It had come back borderline, and we would have to take blood again. Like the first time, the doctors were confident everything would come back fine, which it did.

Most recently, we were sent back to Brenners Children's Hospital for an upper GI test. Brady has had a lot of spit up, and the night before we were going in for a routine doctor's visit, Brady had some yellow in his spit up. This made the doctor a little concerned that possibly something from his intestines or liver was backing up into his stomach. They sent me and Brady to the hospital that afternoon. Luckily Adam was able to get off work and join me.

Once there, Brady experienced and awful procedure. First they had to insert a tube through his nose and to his stomach to inject the barium. He was strapped to a board, stretched out with his arms above his head. Once he was ready, the X-ray machine stopped working. The young doctor (whom I believe to have been on his first day) had no idea what to do. I stood there with my screaming child as they tried to re-boot the system. It was clear that it was not coming back on. They had to take the tube out, move us to another room, strap him down again, and insert the tube a second time. It was almost too much for me watching him go through that a second time. Finally they had things rolling. The rocked the board back and forth while taking a syringe that looks like it was for an elephant, filled it with air and pushed it in and out of his stomach. I was allowed to stay at his head. All I could do is put my fingers in his little hands that were strapped above his head. He held on for dear life. The procedure felt like it took forever. In the end, it was decided that Brady has problems with reflux. Luckily it is not bad enough to need treatment, and there is really not much I can do for it.

Brady has put us through enough scares in his first month of life, then some children give their parents in several years. I don't think I can keep taking such a little body being poked and prodded on. At least every time it comes out to be nothing. Better safe than sorry, but it sure is hard on mommy!

Snow day

Today, our family woke up to the most beautiful snow we have seen in several years. We got around 5-7 inches. I went out briefly (without Brady of course) to play with the dogs. Rusty of course remembers several great snows and seemed happy that it was there. Being almost 14 years old, he still remembers that he loves for me to kick the snow at him. He did his best to jump at it and bark as he used to, however, he is not as flexible as he used to be.

Beau on the other hand, has never seen anything other than a dusting. He thought that snow was absolutely great, but also a little cold. He immediately tried to find all of this buried toys under the cold blanket. He ran circles so quickly that snow blew up behind him. I wish I could spend more time with him out there, but I get uncomfortable leaving Brady in the house, even if he is asleep. Hopefully he will get some good play time out there when Adam gets home.

Brady's first sleep over

This past weekend, Brady had his first night away from home and daddy. Mom and I took Brady to meet Marcie. It had been a long awaited meeting for myself and of course for Marcie. She was so excited to see us pull up to the driveway. She opened the door to meet us as I'm sure she was waiting our late arrival (which of course my mom was responsible for, haha).

Brady did very well being in a new place and enjoyed his visit with Marcie. Like most other babies, he found her very comforting. Her magic fingers that I so fondly remember soothing me, went to work when he was fussy. Her steady rock in the chair that I know from experience to be lulling put him to sleep. I believe he found Marcie to be just as wonderful as the rest of us have always known her. Maybe it was not coincidence that he began flashing his handsome smile more often after his trip to meet his great grandmother.

First day at the park

Thursday was so nice, that I took Beau and Brady to the park for a much needed day out. I have been getting rather stir crazy since it has been too cold to take the little man out. Beau has been feeling the same as we can't get out with him as often as we should lately. So I packed up the car and headed off for Brady's first adventure. The car was loaded to the max with baby, stroller, diaper bag and monster dog in tow.

I was kind of worried as to how I was going to be able to control a stroller and such a large, excitable dog. However, once we were walking, Beau proved to be such a gentleman, that our walk was very enjoyable. So enjoyable that I didn't want to stop. We walked almost 5 miles!! Brady slept the entire time. It will still be a while yet before he will be aware of what is going on while he is in the stroller. However, Beau and I took it all in and were so happy to be out of the house. I can't wait for our next day out!!

Mr. Popular

Last night we had a very nice visit from Andrew, Ashley, and Peyton. This was the first time they had seen Brady since the hospital. We had a nice supper and were also happy to have Mama B and Paw Paw here as well. Peyton has learned a lot of new tricks. She is rolling around the room and trying to crawl. Brady and Peyton did not have much interest in each other last night as Peyton could not be still and Brady slept most of the time. Peyton is all smiles and I can't wait until Brady is able to interact like that. It was good to see my baby brother and his family.





My BFF, Erin, came to visit for my birthday this past weekend. Actually I think she was just using my birthday as an excuse to come and meet Brady. Of course, I was just happy to have her. Her visit was short but I loved seeing her. I am hoping her visit with the little guy will push her into joining the motherhood club sooner than expected. Brady needs a girlfriend!!











Speaking of girlfriends, Brady did meet his first friend close to his age. I got a visit from Kelly and Sophia this week. Kelly is a friend of mine from work. We were due around the same time. However she came early and I came late. I could not believe the difference in sizes of these two. Sophia is about 1 month older. It's hard to believe Brady will get that big, and of course bigger as time goes by. Like his time with Peyton, he did not want to have much to do with Sophia. We are still at the stage where we just sleep, eat, and ruin diapers. Not much else matters as long as we got all those into our day.

What do they think about the new "pet"?

Jetta: I have mixed feelings about the new pet. I am rather curious. I like to stare at it as it sleeps in a swing. I follow mother everywhere, trying to see what she will do next with the new pet. I am also quite jealous of it. It gets to sit in mother's lap WAY TO MUCH. Apparently no one told the new pet that mother's lap is my favorite spot. I am starting to let my displeasure known. I try to squeeze myself onto mother's lap next to the wiggling pet. Sometimes it works, other times, there is just not enough room. I even don't get to sleep with mother in the bed anymore. That pet sleeps on my side of the bed in a little basket so that mother can easliy get it into her lap during the night. That would for sure ruin my sleep. I have tried sleeping with father, but it is just not the same. I just wish mother and father would have talked to me about this first before they brought home a new pet.


Rusty: To tell the truth, I really don't give two wags about the new pet. However, I beleive I am thankful that I am mostly deaf, as it seems that it sometimes makes a lot of loud noise. I like that mommy is at home with me all day now. I don't mind that the new pet is with us too, because it sleeps as much as I do. The days are nice of course until that guy comes home. He likes the new pet more than he likes me, and I have been here longer. But I don't care for him either so I guess it's fair. I still dream about the old days though, when it was just me and mommy. That guy sure has made things more difficult for it to be just me and mommy. I guess I better get used to it.


Beau: I love the new pet! I love mamma, and diddy, and Rusty, and Jetta, and Oscar, and everyone who has come to visit me and the new pet. I love the noises it makes. I just want to lick all over its face when he makes noises. I want to play with all of its sqirmy legs!!! New pet is kinds boring though, because it just kinda lays there. mamma and diddy have to pick it up for it to move. Maybe one day they will let me carry it around. Maybe one day it will play with me and not get angry with me like Rusty does.



Icy: I guess I'll have to carry it around too. People are so lazy!
















Oscar: There's a new pet?