Ten Months & Pre-K!

I will probably cry before I'm done with this post. Sigh.....here we go.

On Sunday, July 24th, my little man turned ten months old. Do you know what that means? Less than two months until his 1st birthday!

This cannot be right! I just can't believe how FAST this past year has flown by!

Here are a few cool facts about Brantley.

-He can crawl faster than the speed of light.

-He loves to take off down the hallway to big brother's room to play with toys.

-He can pull up on anything, and is beginning to let go for a few seconds.

-He WILL NOT watch TV!

-Says, "Mama" "Dada" "Bye Bye" (while waving) and "Kitty"

-Eats anything you will give him! Some favorites are: tomatoes from the garden, steamed carrots, green beans, squash & zucchini, yogurt bites, and Kix cereal.

-Sleeps with Mommy most of the time, but is starting to use his bed sometimes.

-He gets REALLY mad when Robert tells him "no"!

-He is scared of loud people.

See? Robert got onto him about licking the table at Logan's :) Mean Daddy.

Now, onto my big baby.

Brody got into Pre-K!!!!!!!!!! After nearly two months of an agonizing wait (ha!) we got the call that he got in. The program that he will be attending is state-funded, so they take the students based on financial need first. We are by no means rich (I'll reiterate, by NO means) but my husband does make pretty decent money, so we were very nervous about him being accepted.

He starts on Monday, and we are all so excited! He needs to be in an environment like that so badly. His little mind is so sharp, and while I do work with him at home, he needs more! He needs interaction with other kids his age, and more than anything, he needs to learn to follow directions. At home, he tries to bend and test the limits of our rules.

I have a feeling it won't be very long before I get a little note saying "Brody had to go to time-out today". :) He is such a mess.

So, my babies are growing......way too fast.

Our Big Boy & Independence Day!

I hope everyone had a wonderful 4th of July! We had a great time hanging out at my husband's uncle's house with a whole bunch of family. Great food, entertaining firework show put on by the cousins, and of course, great company!

Here is a picture of my boys and my niece Bryna on the 4th, all dressed up in their patriotic attire!

Brantley had his nine month checkup today. He was nine months old on June 24th.

He weighed a little over 26 pounds (97th percentile) and was 30 inches tall (95th percentile). His head circumference was also in the 90th percentile.

He is a BIG boy!

Father's Day- Belated!

I hope that everyone had a wonderful Father's Day!

My husband is so great to us and I know he would do anything in his power to make sure we are taken care of.

So here's a cyber toast to the real men in the world. Here's to the men who work to support their families, the men who take their kids fishing, teach them to ride bikes and play baseball, build train tracks and get beat at Candyland even when they cheat. Here's to the men who bathe stinky little boys (or girls) and change poopy diapers, all the while trying not to puke. Here's to the men who babysit several nights a week so Mommy can go to the gym to get rid of babyweight ;) And especially, here's to the men who are there because they want to be, even when they don't have to be.

I'm so thankful that one of these men belongs to us. I don't know where I'd be without my other half!

The Cicadas

I'm sure everyone has heard or seen something about the cicadas that are everywhere this year. They only hatch every 13 years, and this happens to be the year.

Brody is terrified of them! We don't have any at our house, but he will not even go outside to play at my in-laws' house.

Poor little guy.

Don't Be A Dummy! Do Your Research!

You are the #1 advocate for your child(ren). Do your research before you turn them forward facing in their car seat!! I cringe every time I see someone who has turned their baby too soon.

Although the "law" is one year AND twenty pounds, that is NOT the safest option. The longer your baby rear faces, the safer they will be!

People give so many lame reasons for turning their babies around. For example:

* They are much more content when they can see what is going on around them.

* I don't like to see their legs bent up. They don't have room to stretch out.

* It's just more convenient to put them in a forward-facing seat.

I've even heard people bragging about how advanced their baby was due to forward facing before age 1. How uneducated can one be???

Come on, people. This is a little LIFE you are responsible for. Why in the world would you not research these decisions before you make them?

You can watch a video here that explains why you should practice extended rear-facing.

The "REALLY IMPORTANT STUFF"!!!

Two posts in one night? Yes!

So, if you've been reading my blog, you know about the "really important stuff" going on in our lives that I haven't been able to openly discuss. (Not on the internet, anyways!)

Well, now that the "really important stuff" is over, I can pass the good news on to everyone!

Robert has "officially" adopted Brodyman!

Isn't that great? As of May4, 2011, Robert is his legal father. We even sent off for his new birth certificate. I can't wait until we get it back!

I can't even describe how relieved we all are that it is over. Now we don't ever have to worry about anyone trying to hurt him in the future. He will be happy and loved and never put into any danger by his parents.

Of course, Brody doesn't realize what happened. He doesn't even know that there is anyone absent from his life. He was that young when everything transpired. He has always thought his last name was the same as ours, and now it really is! :) :) :)

One day we will tell him the truth. I think he deserves to know, and I definitely don't want him to ever think we've lied to him about anything. He can form his own opinion about all of this when he is older, but no matter what, he will know who has been there.....and who hasn't.

I could rant for hours.......make that days.....about absent parents, but I won't. I just wonder how some people even look themselves in the mirror.

Things change....people change......

Does anyone ever notice how your circle of friends grows (and diminishes) throughout your life?

It's really just a cycle, ya know? It's good and it's bad. You meet new people and acquire new life interests and sometimes it's just plain hard to remain friends with the people who have been your friends in the past.

I know people think that I don't make enough effort to keep up with old friends, and truth is, I really don't. I wish I had more time to do just that, but I have TWO little people who depend on me for everything. I have a house to keep up, and with four people living in it, that's nearly a full-time job on top of the full-time job of being a mommy. I'll admit, I'm usually behind on this house-keeping task. I also keep up with and make sure all of our bills are paid on time.

I also like to make a few minutes a day for me, whether it be computer time, or gym time, or park time, or just watching TV. Let's not forgot my poor husband. Gotta squeeze him in there somewhere.

It's exhausting!

Thinking about all of this makes me SO thankful that we are financially stable enough for me to stay home with the kids for another year. Adding a job into the middle of all of that responsibility makes my head hurt just thinking about it!

Therefore, don't hate on your friends if they no longer make their friends a top priority. While it's awesome to have friend time every once in a while, family comes first! Well, in this family anyways.

Only Times for Pictures....but they say it all!

This is where my husband has been doing search & rescue since Wednesday night.

A refrigerator magnet stuck in a tree.

I'm Ready to Run!

I wish! I'm trying really hard to make healthier decisions for me and my family. Less junk, more nutritional foods, more exercise.........I've been going to Zumba twice a week at our local gym. It's so much fun! If you have a place near you that offers Zumba classes....go! But, I want my husband to work out with me. I want that to be something we enjoy doing together. What better way than to run a 5k together?

I've run a few 5ks in my lifetime. I didn't really train for any of them, though. I just did them to be doing them, and never finished in a place I'd be willing to brag about. That's all about to change! I am going to like..........make that love........... running before this is over! We did our first 3.1 mile route this evening. It was hard. Very, very hard! Robert did a whole lot better than I thought he would. I didn't think he had it in him, but he made me proud! He even said he thought he wanted to do it again tomorrow! (Who are you and what have you done with my husband?)

I just HAVE to stay motivated. I still have baby weight to lose!

Speaking of babies. Brantley is almost crawling. He will get up on all fours and just rock and rock! It's so sweet, but I know he is about to be into everything! It will be a whole new world for all of us!

Sunday Letters

Dear Brodyman,

You did such a great job helping me in the flowerbeds today! You truly are the sweetest little man, and I don't know where I'd be without you!

Yesterday we went to Bryant's birthday party, and he had a blow-up slide! I'm talkin' one of the really big inflatable slides that you have to climb up one side and slide down the other. I knew you would be afraid, and you were. You would climb up the first two stairs, and then come back over to me. Finally, after watching all of the fun that others were having on the slide, you gave it a try. What a blast you had after that! I loved watching the 'boy' come out in you as you rough-housed with your little friends.

Dear Brantley,

You helped me in the flowerbeds today, too! Actually, you just sat in your jumperoo and watched me & Brodyman. It was the cutest thing: You would watch and follow every single car that passed our house.

You are so much more alert lately, and able to lunge for things that you want. I can't believe how fast time is flying!

Letters are short tonight. I've been sewing for a few hours, and it's supposed to be severely stormy here tomorrow. Night all!

Sunday Letters

This is something new that I hope to be able to do every Sunday. Each Sunday I will write a letter to my husband and two boys (and anyone else who I feel is deserving of a letter). I got this idea from another blog that I follow, and I think it will be so great to look back and remember what happened week by week in our lives.

Dear Brody,

You are something else. There are certain people in this world who, no matter what, will always find their way. You are one of these people. I can already tell that you will be good at anything you choose to do in life.

My favorite "Brody moment" this week: We had to go meet with someone "really important" on Thursday afternoon. That is the best way that I could explain this meeting with a three-year old, that it was "really important" and you needed to answer all of the "really important lady's" questions. (This pertains to the "really important stuff" going on for all of us) She asked you all kinds of things. What do you like to do for fun? Play games. What kind of games? Candyland........Don't Knock the Man Down (Don't Break the Ice). Do you have a girlfriend? Umm...yeah! Mommy! (Ha! I loved that!) You are too sweet, handsome boy!

I also caught you hiding behind the baby cradle eating chocolate Easter eggs this week. Little sneak!

Dear Brantley,

You are a big, big boy! Your six month birthday was this past week. We now feed you about a jar of squash each day. After your check-up on Tuesday, we will start some carrots! Yum!

I could not imagine a sweeter baby than you. Unless you have poopy pants or are just too sleepy to stand it, you are an angel! I love you, sweet boy!

Dear Robert,

You are the most aggravating person on the planet! But, I love you anyways :) I can't wait to see what the future holds....especially if it's half as good as the present!

Laugh......at nothing!

A little laughter each day reminds the heart that it's happy. So true!

I thought I would share a random game that Brody and I play. It's pointless, really. But, he gets SO excited and so tickled while playing it, that I can't help but to lose myself laughing at him.

It goes something like this.

Brody: Mommy, light-bulb, fan, carpet, coffee table, plant, TV, book, boop. (Hysterical laughter)

Me: Brody, tree, grass, refrigerator, milk, bicycle, flower pot, boop. (More hysterics)

Brody: Mommy, apple, water, ceiling, bedroom, sunshine, boop. (Uncontrollable laughter)

Like I said, no logic or reason to this "game" he has made up. But, if it makes us laugh........ :)

SUCH a Slacker!!

I know....I am such a blogger-slacker! It seems I always have something else I need (or want) to do.

Laundry is never-ending. How can four people go through so many clothes? (I may be guilty of letting me & the boys stay in our pjs on days we don't have plans) So really, how does it get so piled up?

Dishes are never-ending. Blah. Worst. Chore. EVER!

Facebook is never-ending. :) And, a little addicting.

Anywho, some quick updates. I got an embroidery machine for Valentine's Day. My husband is too good to me sometimes. I am having so much fun with it! I love love to applique.

Brantley will be SIX months old this week. He is sitting up and "scooting". He also had his first rice cereal this week. He likes it, as long as it's warm! Where in the world has the time gone?

Brody is just, well, Brody. Sweetest little boy on the planet, until he gets sleepy. Lord, help us all when that child gets tired. You've never seen a tantrum like that in your life! (He might get it from his mama) I am trying to grow his hair out. I started thinking the other day that he will have a "man haircut" for his whole life, so I want him to have longer, little boy hair for now. It's kind of in the awkward, can't-do-nothing-with-it stage. I hope it starts looking okay soon. His hair is so super thick (that he also got from his mama) that it just sticks out and gets frizzy.

Who else is loving this weather????? I sure am! It has put me in the best mood. We grilled this evening, and ate while we watched the Bristol race. My guy crashed. He isn't having the best luck. Hope it turns around soon!

I got to spend some long overdue time with my long lost BFF, Anna Laura. She is teaching math at a high school near Birmingham, and also helps coach softball. So, Anna Laura has been one busy lady. But, last week was her spring break, and she made the time to drive up to spend the day with me & the boys. We had Pizza Inn, then went to the park, then got Happy Hour drinks @ Sonic. Great day.

That thing I had blogged about in previous posts.....the really important thing.......well, it's going pretty well. I hope to be able to post good news about that in the next month. If you want to say a prayer for us, just pray that there is no "friction". That's all we hope for.

That's all for tonight. I will TRY to keep it up!

I've never seen such!!!!!!!!

I have never seen this much snow in my life! We got between 6-8 inches!

Brody knew how to make a snow angel all by himself!

Myself with my sweet boys!

Thankful

Since I've been keeping you all updated on baby Scarlett thus far, I should probably tell you the good news...........Scarlett made it through surgery!!!! She is doing as well as could be expected. They were able to remove 70-80% of the tumor, and another surgery is scheduled for Monday or Tuesday to remove the rest. Please continue to pray for this little fighting angel. She is making it very clear that she wants to live!

Of course, you can read Scarlett's amazing story on her parents' blog here.

I was so touched after reading their blog this morning. Brandi, Scarlett's mother, wrote that they had over 100,000 views on their blog just yesterday as the world awaited an update on Scarlett's surgery. Over one hundred THOUSAND!! I, myself, probably made up about twenty of those, but just look at the vast amount of people pulling for this little angel. That amazes me. That little girl was put on this earth with a purpose.

I totally forgot to post this big news the other day. Brantley now weighs twenty pounds. Yes, my THREE MONTH OLD weighs TWENTY pounds. He is wearing 9-12 month clothes.

Also, on New Years Day, he rolled over front to back. He didn't even try! I remember so clearly when Brody first started trying to roll over, he would get about half way, then fall back. Over....and over....and over. Not Brantley. One little push and he was rolling! Robert and I looked at each other so surprised. Then, two days later, he nearly rolled over back to front, which is much harder. I need to get out Brody's baby book to compare the timelines.

By the way, they are predicting a large amount of snow (large for this area, anyways) Sunday night into Monday. I sure hope we get every flake we can!

Baby Scarlett

Baby Scarlett is in her twenty hour surgery now in California. I can't even imagine what it would be like to hand my baby to a nurse not knowing if I would see him alive again.

I don't know this family personally, but I sure feel like I do. Please continue to pray for a miracle for them.

You can read their story at brandiandchris.blogspot.com.