Fingerpainting...an attempt at least...

So I decided that since it's cold and dark outside and I'm trying to avoid going out in the afternoons so I don't spend money that it would be a good idea to attempt fingerpainting. Here's how it all went down:

Eager with anticipation - actually, he probably thinks he's about to get a pile full of Cheerios
"This isn't Cheerios, mom"
"Um, is this finger paint or body paint?"
Still not sure why this stuff is sticking to his hands -
"Ta dah"
"Get me out of here and give me some Cheerios"
Needless to say, the whole thing lasted all of 5 minutes and I'm pretty sure Braden didn't like it. I guess I'll put away the crafts for another day.

The stomach bug has hit...

and along with that came the first (of I'm sure more to come) episodes of vomiting in the carseat. Any ideas on how to clean off those carseat covers? Austin was covered in vomit yesterday from scrubbing so hard (well and from carrying Braden inside the house) but after an hour of scrubbing, we still can't get the darn thing clean. I'm mean the boy was really sick yesterday in the car which is so bizzarre b/c he was in the best mood before he threw up and in a great mood afterward. When Austin got home with Brady, he brought him inside and we took him straight to the tub, stripped him naked and started filling the tub with water. When Brady realized he was going to get a bath, he got this huge smile on his face and started splashing the water and playing with his bath toys. Huh? I mean you never would have guessed that the boy was covered in vomit just seconds earlier. Anyway, today I'm feeling so much better and so is Braden, let's just hope and pray that Austin doesn't get it before he heads out for his big trip to Colorado and Wyoming.

In more enlightening news, Austin got me a camera (and a day at the spa) for my 29th birthday last week so that explains why I have no pictures to post. I haven't had time to figure out how to use the camera or download pictures. Maybe next week will be less eventful...

Well, Happy Thanksgiving to all. I can't wait to head home and get some of my momma's yummy feast.

These boots are made for walkin'...and other happenings.

So I walked into Janie and Jack the other day and stumbled across this pair of rain boots for $11.99 and decided they would be a cute buy for Braden. I had no idea that they would become his new favorite item of clothing. Now I know we are entering the independent toddler stage (as expressed the other day when Braden gently pushed my hand away from him as I was trying to help him drive his little lawn mower), but I wasn't prepared for him to want to pick out his shoes every morning. He loves these things and would wear them with every outfit if I let him. He opens up his closet door, drags out those boots and carries them over to me, plops in my lap and says "shu, shu."
We've had a busy few weeks and here are some pictures to remember it by:

Visiting the Pumpkin patch at my parents house -
Coco (or To-To as Braden calls her), Poppa and Braden and I -
Enjoying a box of Cheerios -
Balancing or dancing or something of the sort at the Children's Museum in Lexington -
Playing outside with Austin in the new house we bought Brady -
Mowing the lawn alongside of Austin -

For Halloween, Braden was the "Itsy Bitsy Spider." I took him to Davis Kidd for the Halloween story hour in the morning, where he loved playing with the balloons and with the trains. Afterward we walked around the mall as I ran a few errands (yes Ashley, I was that other mom who had her kid dressed up in costume before noon on Halloween) :) We were supposed to head to a Halloween Party that afternoon w/ my moms group, but Braden ended up sleeping through that party...and we decided to opt out of trick-or-treating that night since Braden is a bit young to really understand what was going on and instead went to eat at Pei Wei. Here is my little spider all dressed up -
Playing with the balloons at Davis Kidd -
Later on that evening, we made some desperate attempts to get Braden to stand still long enough to get a few pictures in his costume. Of course none of this could go down without a few snacks and a sippy cup -
By this point in the evening, Braden is growing a bit tired of the photo session -
"Please no more photos and get this hat off of me, oh and I'll take another cracker while you are at it..."
"Much better" -

I must say that 15 months has been such a delight. Braden is growing into such a sweet child. He is still so cuddly, wanting to sit in my lap and snuggle and yet growing more independent everyday. In those moments where he will let me hold him and read to him, I find myself looking at how big he is on my lap and trying to remember what it was like to hold his entire body in one arm, or in my womb for that matter. How could he have changed so much in 15 short months. It's amazing that one little person can add so much joy to your life...something I never could have grasped until I lived through it myself. I truly cherish this sweet time in Braden's life and thank God for the immense blessing of raising this child.

Happy Halloween!

Halloween is ever approaching and in accordance with my childhood traditions we decided to the pumpkin farm this year in hopes to make this part of our family tradition. Now keep in mind that it was 85 degrees that day and so out went my idea to have Braden in a cute fall outfit for his Halloween pictures in the pumpkin patch. And we never actually made it to the pumpkin patch b/c Braden spent so much time playing in the tee-pee, riding on the tractors and playing in the grain bins (who knew a shovel and some grain could be so entertaining). Here are some pictures from our day at the patch and from our days of preparing for fall.

"Car" and "T"

Braden has been talking quite a bit these days and "car" and "t" (his name for Tyson) are on the top of his list these days. The word car is spoken w/ a thick German accent...not sure where he picked that up, but Austin and I think it is hilarious. He also loves to imitate whatever sounds we make. Here is the boy talking away in the kitchen the other night as he was busy digging in the tupperware drawer:

Spaghetti Anyone?

Sweet Pictures

Braden is 14 months old now and as his little bottom reads in this last picture "life is good." Not much to say today, as I'm tired from a crazy weekend w/ lots of friends in town for a wedding. Just wanted to post these pictures and I'll post more from the wedding in a few days. For now, Braden is sleeping and I'm off to take a nap myself.