Monday, March 29, 2010

This n That (Feb-March)

Here are a few pictures of Braeden's play dates we try and to once a week, with my friend, Stephanie. I have known Stephanie for over 15 years. We used to work together at my first 'real job' back in KS. This is her son, Jacob.


We went to the mall and the boys had to ride on these fun rides.


These boys are our friends' kids. Love these kids. Evan and Aaron. They will soon be big brothers to their little sister.

My mother in law hosted a triple birthday party for some of the women in the family. Here is a pic of all the sisters at the table.

Rob's best friend from High School, Matt, came into town for business and he came early to spend the weekend with us. Him and his wife are expecting their first child in May, so we over loaded him with a lot of tips and information on newborns, etc. We had a good time!

Our friends Ashley and Dave just had a baby boy. And, this was at her shower. This was the first time out of the house and leaving the boys by themselves in a LONG time. So, I took my time and enjoyed myself with her and the other gals. :)

**Alana**

Tuesday, March 23, 2010

Funnies

Braeden loves talking on the phone, like his mommy. So, I put him on speaker and he thinks whoever he's talking to can see him and what he's doing. He 'shows' them his toys, food, whatever. It's so cute. Here is was talking to my mom and he was showing her him jumping on his zebra. (Disclaimer--my husband dressed him in these PJ's)

Here he is brushing Elmo's (MoMo) teeth. As you can see, someone was on the phone and he was showing them. :)

Rob and I took Braeden for his quarterly Bingo show-off for Linda. She gets such a kick out of it. She says all her bingo buddies asks when he is going to come in. He has been coming in since pretty much a newborn. Her friends give him little gifts. This time, he got a little football and Bob the Builder cars.

He was being shy when the women were coming up to see him.

My child could eat Mac and Cheese everyday. And, sometimes he does. This day, he wanted to take his lunch with him.

Besides Mac and Cheese, he LOVES Cheetos. He is like his mommy. I am a sucker for cheese--any kind of cheese! I have no idea why kids want to put objects in their ears, but this was the first time he did this.

In an earlier post, I had written about Rob and his 'rock collection' as a child. We went to get some fish supplies and while Daddy was inside, we played. And, I have to say, "like father, like son". He played with rocks for about 20 minutes. As always, he had them in a perfect order and we counted them several times.


At the same place, we had to discover the statues...
"Boobies" Braeden is fascinated by them right now. He puts his hands down my shirt and grabs them and says, "boobies!" It is so funny! We are waiting for him to do this to a stranger.

I was kneeling down with him and I asked him where the "boobies" were. And, I totally got busted by one of the employees who was right behind me and said something like, "Smart kid!" oops! :)

Braeden and I went over to Arista's apartment and her kitty Rufus (foo foo) hides in her kitchen cabinet. Braeden had to crawl in there and hide and give him kisses.

It's amazing how each day, there is more laughs from Rob and I with something new he does or says. His biggest thing now is he will grab your hand, lead you to where he wants you to go and say, "hurry!" And, one of our favorites: When we ask him a question and his response: "No. No way!" Another favorite and daily saying is "Mom? you ready?" "Daddy? you ready?" "Ginny? you ready?" "Mimi? you ready?" "Goggy? (doggy) you ready?" And, believe me, he is ALWAYS ready! :)
**Alana**

Wednesday, March 10, 2010

Bye, Mimi, Bye.

---Long post---
I haven't even typed anything and I am an emotional wreck right now. I have been dreading this blog, as much as I dread hearing these words come out of my son's lips.

Arista, you have been living here with us for a little over 2 years now. You met Braeden for the first time at 3 months old. Oh, how I wish you were with me when I had him. But, I would not change anything from you just getting to see him every once in a while vs. getting to watch him grow with me.
You were here for basically all of his 'firsts', and I am so blessed. You were here when he was first smiling. When he watched his first Baby Einstein DVD. When he crawled for the first time. When he got his first hair cut. When he took his first steps. When he ate real food. When he talked the first time. And, when he said, "Mimi" for the first time. Seems as if your name is one of his favorite words. You have taught him so much. What you have done, is absolutely priceless. And, I can't thank you enough. He loves it when you get home from work each day and demands to go downstairs with you to see the kitties. He loves you unconditionally. You two have a special bond that he has with no one else. I hope you know this and never forget it.

As I was thumbing through the thousands of pictures I have looking for the ones you were in or were there, I couldn't help but cry. There are so many precious memories he will look back on and say your name. Mimi. Thank you for being a wonderful Aunt to my baby.

I know you are having a hard time with this change as much as I am, and as Braeden will be. For pete's sake you are just moving 10 minutes away. But, it just won't be the same without you here in our home. Thank you for everything. I love you so much! I hope these pictures make you smile as much as I do... And, we look forward to spending lots more time with you in your new home, making more memories.






























**Alana**

Honey, are you okay?

So, a week ago today, I fell asleep with Braeden in his bed. For some reason, Rob came in and joined us. I was in the middle. I remember knowing he was there, but didn't realize he had stayed all night. Not sure what time it was, but I remember getting really hot and the next thing I know, I hear a 'thud'. It was Rob hitting the floor. I knocked him off in my sleep. I have done this before off our tall King size bed and he ended up with a stiff neck. I begged him to see the Dr., but he wouldn't go. A couple of days later it was fine.

Anyways, I got up immediately out of bed, turned on the light and stood over him, asking him if he was ok. I thought he was since the bed isn't that tall. I just thought he was in a dead sleep. I was wrong. He seriously hurt himself. I had hurt him. He gave me his arm and I pulled him up. Another stiff neck, we thought.

The next morning, he had tingly feelings in both arms, from his elbows down. I insisted he go to the Dr. this time. He had an important meeting he had to attend. So, I called him and his meeting was cancelled. It sounded to me as if he needed to go to the chiropractor. I have had a stiff neck before and that totally did the trick and I felt like a new person. So, I called my chiropractor and explained what happened. She suggested for us to go to the ER.

So, instead of waiting and waiting and waiting in the ER, I scheduled him an appt. with our family dr. He did some strength tests on him, gave him a neck brace and sent us to the ER.

Oh boy. What have I done...again? He had to get 2 MRI's and a MRA on his brain and neck. It all came back ok, thank God! They referred us to the Neurologist the next day. She evaluated him and diagnosed him with a severe neck sprain, to be off work 2.5 weeks and go to physical therapy.

Yesterday was his first day. He has to go 3x per week. He can't drive and is on pain medication.

Like I said before, I have thrown him out of bed (and my son) in the middle of the night in my sleep. It's time for me to find out what is going on. I have an appt. this weekend to get a sleep study. I'm not scared or nervous. I just hope they find out what they need to and get it resolved. The lady at the sleep study place said she has heard of this happening before, called hypersomnolence, so we shall see. This last week has been a nightmare! We have made numerous jokes about it and laugh daily, trying to make the best of it.

I HAVE to post this, because it is just so funny! He thought so too, since he is laughing in the pic. He is in the ER here. On the way to the Dr, he said, "I hope I don't have have a stupid neck brace." That was the first thing the Dr. gave him!! Then, I got to wheel him around in this 'new' kind of wheelchair that totally looks like a shopping cart! I didn't know how it worked. You have to push this lever up and keep it up for it to move. Well, I let go of it, and he went flying out of his seat. It was SOO stinkin' funny! I had the nurse and the girl checking us in laughing too!! Now, this whole experience was a HUGE deal to him, since he refuses to go to the Dr. for anything!


**Alana**

A sucker for you!!

I am just thrilled to pieces! Braeden has been SUCH a good baby and toddler (for the most part-ha ha!), that I have to tell myself, "this can't be THAT easy!" He pee pee'd in his potty chair all by himself! He has been doing it once a day for 4 days! 27 months old. Unbelievable!

I was on the phone (imagine that), and when I got off the phone, I was looking around for him. He was sitting on his toilet and he peed!!! I made such a big deal about it jumping, clapping my hands, and praising him. Rob was asleep, so I called my mother-in-law, my mom, and then my sister. I had them all on speaker phone and they all told him how proud they were of him! I have to laugh a bit, because I swore getting him in his own bed was going to be work, then it wasn't. So, I was preparing myself for him using his potty chair as a big job, and IT wasn't! Seriously, ...is it supposed to be this easy?! Man, are we lucky!!!

I didn't get it on video, but snapped a few pics of this great accomplishment!!


Sitting on daddy's lap with his sucker.

**Alana**