A Very Merry Christmas

Christmas has been extra special this year because of Brady! We have had a wonderful weekend filled with lots of family time. To start off Christmas eve, Brady and I went to breakfast with friends... Rhys, Ashley, Lauren, Tyler and baby B! Rhys was in town from Boston and it was so good to visit with everyone! Later that day the three of us headed over to Tommie and Gayle's.  We had a delicious meal, went to church, then came back to their house for presents.  Aunt B, Aunt Vern, Uncle Tom, Colin, Wick and Stacey were all there...we had a great time! 



We spent Christmas morning at home in our pajamas and it was perfect...nice and relaxing!  We opened presents, had breakfast and just relaxed. 



We spent the afternoon and evening of Christmas at my parent's house.  We started out our time there opening more presents!  After that we hung out together and then my mom cooked a wonderful meal!  Many years (I think I was about 7)  ago my mom and dad asked me what I would like to have for Christmas and I said fried chicken because it was my favorite food.  That has become a tradition and we now have fried chicken every year on Christmas...yum!

We had a wonderful Christmas weekend and feel so blessed!  It has been an amazing year!!



"Tis the Season

It has been a very busy month so far filled with lots of fun holiday activities!  My mom and I went to see The Nutcracker a couple of weekends ago.  We used to always go when I was a little girl and we decided it's time to begin the tradition again! We had such a fun afternoon together!

Headed to the ballet!

That same weekend we took Brady to Lexington Green to meet Santa!  We lucked out and arrived just as Santa was taking a break so we ended up being one of the first people in line and didn't have to wait long!  Brady did not cry at all when I handed him over to Santa...he just looked at him and played with his beard a little bit...pretty smooth sailing for our first encounter with Santa! We bought some of the pictures that they took there but they don't let you take pictures of your own...we did get a few in front of the big tree at Lexington Green though...

Brady loved the big tree!

Nannie and Granddad came to watch Brady meet Santa too!

It wouldn't be Christmas time without a holiday party!  Saturday night was our night out for the season....we had a great time and saw lots of friends...Brady stayed with Nannie and Granddad and he had a great time too!

Lauren, Christy and Me

Carson, Brad, and Scott

It's been a fun and busy December...I can't believe Christmas is in five days!!





December Play Group

We had so much fun at our December play group! Shalanta, Grayer, and Ashton were the hosts and they went all out!  Their house was beautifully decorated for Christmas and Shalanta made all kinds of festive snacks.  Shalanta's husband, Chase and I went to high school together so it is lots of fun to get to know his wife and children.  Chase dressed up like Santa and all the babies got to take a turn on his lap..so cute! Brady was very well behaved at the play group.  He is doing a great job sitting up and can pretty much do it on his own so he sat up most of the time.  It is already so much fun to watch how much the babies are growing and changing.  Brady was much more interested in the other babies this month.  He would feel their face and just stare at them, it was really cute! He also did great with Santa! He had already met Santa one other time which I will post about later!

Brady with Grayer and Ashton..such great hosts!

Lindsay, Daniel, Becca, and Banks

Hadley and Brady...I think he may have a crush!

Brady and John

Haha!

These group shots are getting harder and harder..

this is definitely not all the babies!

buddies

Santa!

Brady loved his beard!

We got home last night and Brady must have been exhausted, he fell right to sleep and slept like a rock...so did I!

Time for Real Food (sort of)

Now that Brady is six months old, Dr. Warner has given us the go ahead to start feeding him solids.  I was hoping this would mean we could come home from his appointment and immediately feed him sweet potatoes, apples, etc (all in baby food form of course) but my mom warned me this would not be the case and she was right (as usual).  There is a process to follow to be sure Brady doesn't have any allergies and it looks like it's going to be awhile before he gets any apples!  We first have to go through all the cereals (there are four kinds!), then we move on to veggies and fruits last (this is to be sure he doesn't become accustomed to sweet things and not want to go back to veggies and cereals).  So, Saturday morning Brad and I were so excited to feed Brady his rice cereal....I'll let you take a look at how that turned out....

Haha!! As you can probably tell, Brady did not love the rice cereal the first time.  He also didn't know what to think of think of the spoon!  He is starting to get the hang of it a little better and doesn't make those faces quite as often now that it's been a couple of days.  Only a few more days then it's time for some veggies!



Fun with Family

Last Thursday night Brad's aunt and uncle (Susie and Sam) had Brad, Brady, J.T., Janet and I over for dinner.  Brady had lots of fun being held by lots of people!  Susie cooked a wonderful dinner and we had a fun night.   Papa J even held Brady while Brad and I ate. 

Brady and Susie

The boys!

Playing with Papa J!

Fun with Susie and Amy!

This morning J.T. and Janet came by to see us before they left to go back home to Florida.  They brought us and Brady lots of presents!  Brady got a UK jersey and an adorable stuffed animal.  He also got a very special present...Papa J did a recorded book for Brady!

Happy in his new jersey!





6 Months (checkup and pictures)

Brady turned six months old on Friday!  I can't believe how quickly half a year has gone!  We have had another fun month.  Brady's personality is really starting to come through and we have so much fun with him.  He is loving his exersaucer lately and is starting to really play with the toys on it. He wants to put EVERYTHING in his mouth!  He can almost sit up but still needs a little bit of help.  He makes all kinds of sounds and can get very loud at times!  Brady has started going to sleep a little earlier (has his last bottle around 8) and he is doing pretty well at putting himself to sleep rather than needing to be rocked until he is asleep.  He still loves bathtime.  So far he is not a fan of winter because that means more clothes and he is happiest in just a diaper! This months photo shoot was a little bit of a challenge because he was much more interested in the paper that said 6 months than he was at looking at me...oh well!

Tried to get some in a Santa hat..this turned out to be very distracting, ha!

Paper is fun to play with!

And it tastes good!

Ok...finally one where he is looking at me and smiling (sort of)!

Turning six months meant another check-up with Dr. Warner and more shots.  My mom went with us again which was such a big help because there is a lot to learn at the six month appointment.  Dr. Warner went over Brady's eating schedule for the next few months. I am so excited that he gets to have something other than his bottle!  He did really well at the appointment.  He did cry after the shots but not for long this time! Here are his six month stats:

Length: 26 1/4 (45th percentile)

Weight: 17 lbs., 8 oz. (50th percentile)

Head Circumference: 43 1/2 (45th percentile)

Brady and Nannie..waiting on Dr. Warner

After his shots...all ready to go home!

Brady with his six month present, and present for being so brave with his shots!..

Freddy the Frog:)

Granddad, Brady, and Freddy!

If the next six months goes by as fast as the first, Brady is going to be one before we know it!  I wouldn't mind if time slowed down just a little!