The finished product...

So I've been in Boca Grande, Florida on Gasparilla Island the past few days on Austin's incentive trip (more on that later) and have just now sat down to update on some pictures from Braden's first professional haircut. I would say it was a success. We had minimal tears, a cute non-butchered looking haircut and a lollipop that worked wonders. Who ever thought to give a toddler a lollipop...he loved it and was covered in sticky sugar by the time he was finished. I may have to save lollipop's for special occassions around here when my little guy deserves a treat. Anyway, here are the pictures:

"Where the heck am I?"
Braden spotted the scissors and the scary woman approaching him with them and suddenly this place became not so fun -
A little ticked that he can't enjoy his lollipop in peace -
"Wonder if mom will let me have this for dinner too?" -
The finished product, chilling in the chair while i pay. From the size of his stomach you would think he had had 1200 lollipops -

It's time...

for a haircut that is. End of story!!!

Christmas 2008

Wow...I can't believe that Christmas is already over. All the hustle and bustle and it goes by so quickly. We had a great Christmas. Austin, Braden and I had our Christmas together and then headed out to KY the next day to spend some time with family. Braden was totally into opening gifts at our house, but wanted nothing to do with it at our parents house. He was too busy exploring. Every time we would ask him if he wanted to open something he would say "no, no" and then run off with a big smile on his face. However, he certainly enjoyed the loot :) Here are some pictures from all the festivities:

Opening his stocking from Austin and I -

Why open presents when you can stand on them?
Carefully tearing the paper off -
Christmas Eve and Christmas day were spent with the Madison family. We even managed to go to Christmas Eve candlelight service that evening at Austin's family's church...which was especially great considering that Braden didn't sleep an ounce on the car ride home that day and had only taken a 30 minute power nap prior to the service starting. He was in a great mood though...I'm telling you, this kid doesn't need a lot of sleep and on days like this that I have to push him, this is great news!

Opening his stocking from the Nana and Papaw Coach -
Drinking milk and tearing paper...one must always multi-task
Playing with Papaw Coach -
We spent the rest of the weekend with my family eating way more than I thought was humanly possible. Let's just say there were about 15 varieties of homemade Christmas cookies, 2 pies, a cheesecake and an Italian Creme cake for dessert for all of 9 people. Oh and a 9 lb standing rib roast that was incredible...Christmas wouldn't be complete at my house though without a feast. Mom, did you forget I have to be in Naples in 2 weeks in a bikini????

Opening gifts with Papa -
Trying out his new shoes and hat, never without a snack of course -
Snuggled up in bed with Coco (To-to as Braden calls her) to watch a little Christmas cartoons -
The newest Buckeyes fan, thanks to an awesome little polar fleece that Aunt Jackie and Uncle Andrew gave Brady -
So now the hustle and bustle of taking down the decorations has begun. I just wish it would all slow down...just a little...because my baby is growing way too fast and I'm afraid I'm gonna miss it.

Christmas is coming ...

I can't believe that Christmas is so close. I'm not done with my shopping (still have 7 people to go to be exact), I've only wrapped 3 things, haven't stuffed a stocking, haven't actually finished decorating the house for that matter, attempted to make truffles yesterday so that I could give them away to our community group last night, however never wrapped a single one up so I guess that means I'll be eating them all myself, I have laundry piled to the ceiling (yesterday Austin got out of the shower and was wearing a beach towel - does that tell you how far behind I am in laundry), we've been eating canned soup, chicken mcnuggets and frozen pizza for dinner this week oh and did I mention that it's 75 degrees here today so instead of doing all of the above, I spent the morning letting Braden crawl in and out of his new consingment find sandbox we recently bought him and walk through the muddy backyard in his rain boots. But, I have managed to listen to a heck of a lot of Christmas music and am still hoping that I don't miss out on any this precious time with Braden as he takes in all of the excitement of this time of year. We did take him to the Opryland Hotel last weekend to enjoy all of the lights and decorations. He LOVED it! Here are some pictures from the hustle and bustle of this time of year.

Examining the Christmas tree ornaments - notice the rainboots (yes, he is still wearing those boys) -
Sporting his Christmas pj's (Austin has a matching pair, okay just kidding) -
Look at the cute little elf toes on the bottom of these pj's -

Running around and thinking it's funny that I'm trying to take a good picture for the Christmas - card -
Loving him some train ride at the Opryland Hotel -
Free at last -
Our brutal attempts for portrait shots -
Peeking at the waterfall with daddy -
Being silly on the car ride home -

Braden was cracking up at this point, maybe his attempt to show me he didn't need his nap -

Well, Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night.

8 Things...

Ashley tagged me, so here goes...

8 things I did today:
1. Took Braden to Monkey's Treehouse to play
2. Made dinner for a friend who just had a baby
3. Gave Braden his antibiotics for his ears
4. Attempted to mail a bunch of Christmas packages at the post office, but didn't have them packaged right and now I have to go back tomorrow...boo!!!
5. Took all of the cushions off of the couch and piled them up so Braden and I could crawl all over them.
6. Read lots of stories to Braden - his favorite Green Eggs and Ham
7. Talked to my mom and dad on the phone
8. Sat down with a cup of coffee and relaxed this morning b/c my baby didn't get up until 7:35 this morning...hallelujah!!!!

8 of my favorite restaurants:
1. Baja Burrito
2. Macaroni Grill
3. J Alexander's
4. Park Cafe
5. Chick-Fil-A
6. Malone's - a restaurant back home
7. PF Chang's
8. La Paz

8 shows I watch:
1. Good Morning America
2. The Hills
3. 24
4. Mad Men
5. The Office
6. Bringing Home Baby - only b/c this is the only decent thing on while Braden is napping
7. Can't think of anything...we don't really watch that much TV

8 things I wish (pray) for:
1. For Braden to know Christ and surrender his life to him
2. For wisdom as I parent my little guy
3. For my mom to quit smoking and my dad's back to be healed
4. For Austin and I to grow old together and watch all of our children grow up
5. To go to Italy and Greece
6. For good health for my family
7. To have more babies
8. For my dear friend Ginger to get pregnant

8 things I look forward to:
1. To watching my kids grow up
2. To going to Naples for 4 days with Austin in January
3. To my sister Shannon's wedding in May
4. To getting my nursing degree - okay this is a long ways off, but I still look forward to it
5. To Austin coming home every night
6. To naps with Austin on Saturday and Sunday while Braden is napping
7. To playing with Braden, spending time with him and hearing him laugh
8. To relaxing with my husband after Braden is in bed at night.

That's all...I tag Reese, Amanda, Jackie and Emily

Merry Christmas Braden...

After an interesting week, we finally discovered that Braden got a double ear infection and another tooth for Christmas this year. Thanks Santa! Of course I feel like a bad mom for not picking up on it sooner, but honestly I thought the fussiness and restless sleep was due to his tooth that was trying to come through, not an ear infection. Anyway, the little guy has been a trooper, but that explains A LOT about the past week. This is Braden's first ear infection, so I definitely feel blessed that he has been so healthy over the past 16 months. Oh, and a big shout out to antibiotics...hallelujah! Anyway, here is Braden when we went Christmas tree shopping last weekend. Yes people, we were that late with Christmas decorations:

Heat Wave...

So last week one day, it got up to a whopping 57 degrees, so Braden and I decided to stay home all day and play out in the leaves in the backyard. I mean, the little guy thought he had died and gone to heaven. Here are some pictures from this sweet day together...


Braden kept fake falling in the leaves...just like his father once did in the movie theater, the mall, pretty much anywhere to embarrass me back in the high school days.
Kissing "T" -
Officially an old man -
In other news, we had a wonderful Thanksgiving with both of our families, despite the fact that we have all been sick with sinus crud for the past two weeks. And today we will officially begin the Christmas decorating festivities at our house...well, after we all get a nap of course.