Brayden Letter {March 2010}

Brayden,

You are growing so fast right now Mommy and Daddy cannot keep up with you and all of the new things you are doing!  You are talking up a storm lately, and love trying to pronounce big words.  You get such a kick out of it.  {phenomenol} {exquisite} {ridiculous} {awesome} are some of your favorites, and it makes us giggle that you actually use them in the right context!  You are a funny little guy.  You love books and constantly beg us to "buy it" when you see a good one you want to have.  At the store you will play with toys in the cart and ask us to put them "back on shelf" before we leave so they will be there next time you come.  Then you beg for the books....{smart kid}!  You know we won't say no to buying those.

You love pineapples and call them t-apples.  You and bubbles have a serious relationship right now.  You put your sneakers on to go out on the patio daily to play with them...clothes on or not!!!

You tell us you love us, offer us hugs and kisses now.  I love that.

You beg to hold the door open for Mommy whenever you can, and especially at the grocery store when I open the door to get the milk.  You remind me to buy diapers and milk every single time we go to Walmart.  Must mean this is the norm items you always see us buying there.

You are so polite.  You always say thank you, please, and you're welcome.

You crave being our "big helper"  You help Mommy stir everything in the kitchen when I make dinner.  You want to help me push the shopping cart.  You want to help me close the doors in the house. You want to help me do my hair. You want to help me brush my teeth...it's all so beautiful and so sweet.  I hope you never lose that.

You love to play catch with us.  You throw left handed.  You love to draw and color whenever you can, and mostly you do that as well with a left hand.  Time will still tell on that one Im sure, but I think it's safe to say you will be a lefty.  You love to be outside.  You are getting so much better with walking with us and staying close.  We can now go to the mall sans stroller-and I am not running the whole time.  We can now tell you that is "far enough" and you know that means to stop walking and wait for us. 

You are the best snugglebear there is.  You cuddle so well, and so sweet.  You sleep 12-13 hours a night, and always wake up with a smile on your face saying "morning Mommy".  I love how you pitter patter into the bedroom some nights and want to sleep with us.  I love waking up to you laying on my hair, with drool on my pillow, and even those mornings where you are hot and sweaty and pretty much STUCK to me!!!  I love it, and I would never trade it for anything in the whole world. 

We love you so much Brayden, and cannot wait to watch you continue to grow, make us giggle and teach us that life is about the little things, the moments, and this time right now. 

Love you Bray

Funny guy...

Brayden is so happy to be home with Mommy these days.  He has gotten into his own swing of things in the new house, and seems to be loving every minute of his undivided attention he gets from me while Daddy is at work all day.  That's not to say he doesn't LOVE his time with Ron, as I am chop liver as soon as Daddy walks in the door at night, but that's okay with me...gives me my break time then...which is also good for me.

Lately Brayden has been loving sleeping in his own big boy room, in his very own bed.  He wakes up usually around 4:30 am about 4 nights a week and says, "Mommy-help!"  or "Shanny?  Shannon?  Nuggle me?"  He loves when I get out of my bed and go snuggle with him...and I don't mind, because I love it too.  I know...probably creating a bad habit for the future but I want him to feel safe, and that we will come when he needs us...so I, or Daddy will go in and "nuggle" with him.  Occassionally he will just get out of bed and come into our room.  Our bed sits up too high for him to get in all alone, so he will stand there and say "Mommy, M-up, climb? nuggle?"  aka: Mommy Im up, Ill climb up and snuggle?  So I tell him to climb and pull him up into bed with us.  He usually falls back to sleep in like 2.2 seconds.  :-)

Every night when Ron and I tuck him in we talk all about what he did for the day.  He has gotten quite good at recalling the day.  He loves to have family hugs and tells us "I miss you" aka: I love you.  So we tell him we love him too! 

It's amazing to watch him grow.  He is talking so much lately.  He is so polite.  His manners are really sweet, and not forced from us.  I have always wanted a polite child, but never pushed the issue.  It seems to be something he has picked up and likes to use!  Good thing!  He says please, thank you, no thankyou, excuse me, excuse me sir, yes maam....I am impressed...and happy. 

His newest favorite meal is salad shreds with ranch dressing.  He will go to the fridge, pull out the ranch and tell me salad Mommy! 

It's feels good to be staying at home with him right now.  This is perfect timing.  Time that I don't want to miss.  Time with him to shape who he is, and that is so important at this age.  That makes me feel good.  I love being able to see his smiling face all day, hear him giggle, watch him learn, explore, talk and test.  He is just amazing to us.  We are so grateful for having him in our lives.  We love you Brayden!

The Brayster...{some funny stories}

I have to share some funny stories of the Brayden Brayster these days.  He is learning so much, and is so smart {if I do say so myself} Ha!  Seriously...he amazes me with the new things he does, and the manner in which he expresses his own personality.

Tonight he walked his sippy cup over to me and asked for "caulkit milk mommy".  I told him he had to wait one minute while I finished doing something.  He quickly walked over to the fridge and brought me his chocolate syrup. I told him I needed the milk too!  He walked back to the fridge and grabbed the milk with both arms and wobbled over to me to set it on the couch.  He happily exclaimed "I did it Mommy, I do it"!!!

I asked him to please put them back in the fridge once I made his chocolate milk for him.  He took the syrup first, then made a second trip for the milk.  I was so excited and proud of him, gave him big hugs and smooches and told him thats what Big Boys do, and how he was such a good big boy!  He was so happy and proud of himself.  I admit...I quickly went over to the fridge a little fearful of what I'd find once I opened it, but he even put them back in their spot as perfect as can be!  Go figure?  What a quirky little guy he is sometimes.  I just love him.

He asks me for bbuy kisses {butterfly eyelash kisses} and lays his head sideways on me freely exposing his cheeks waiting for them.  It's so sweet.

This morning he climbed up in bed with us on Daddy's side of the bed.  Daddy got up to shower for work after turning Noggin on in the bedroom so Bray would just chill for a little longer.  Brayden soon started asking me for yellow-browns {what he calls reesie pieces}.  I {half awake} said "Bray honey, there are no reesie's up here".  He got off of the bed on Daddy's side to get down, and I listened to his little feet run over to my side of the bed.  I reached over and picked him up {eyes half open} and snuggled up to him.  He was sitting there playing, doing something as he watched cartoons.  I did not open my eyes until I heard him eating something.  I slowly opened my eyes, and all I saw was Bray sitting upright against all of the pillows, with the blankets pulled up on his lap, and a big bag of reesie's in front of him, just chompin away chillin out watching Noggin!  {Daddy evidently bought a bag and brought them upstairs lastnight to watch tv-I had no idea they were even there!}...stinkers.

Last week I went to get some coffee.  As I drove away from Tim Horton's, my lid popped off and I spilled coffee on my coat.  Under my breath I nonchalantly said  "nice Tim Hortons, way to put your lids on all the way".  Brayden says very sweetly " Mommy-copfee hot?"  Me: Yes, honey thats right, Mommy's coffee IS hot-you're right!  Bray: Oh...awe you okay?  Me:  YES baby I am okay, thank you for asking-that is very nice!  Bray: Ummm...awe you R right?  Me:  {in awe of his sweetness and of using these questions in the right context} Yes, I am alright Bray-thank you.  Bray:  {silence for a moment}  Mommy-How doin'?  Me:  {giggling at this point}  Im doing good, how are you?  Bray:  Good.  This conversation repeated itself a few times thereafter and I was smiling the whole time.  He is so nice.  I love that.  He loves his Momma.

His little comments lately also include:

-I tickle YOU!

-I bunny {funny}.

-Ahhh...hike!

-I hiding, hiding seek.  He counts to 2 and says Here I come!

-He dances and says he has oco eggs. {loco leggs from Noggin}

-Base base, babbabababababa base base... {c/o Yo Gabba Gabba}

-Ankyou Mommy

-Peas {please}

-Wow really? {while pretend talking on the phone}

-Hi Mickey Mouse!  How doin? {talking on phone}

-No way! {while talking on the phone}

-Im gorgeous!

-I got this!
-Are you kidding me?

-I did it!

-Im happy!

-Kiss mommy, hug kiss....

-Come on bats! {after I tell him he has bats in his cave while trying to clean his nose}!

-Awe Maaaan!

-I fix it!

-Im helpin'

-Im cleaning

-I weep {sleep or sweep}

-Im up! 

-All better?

-I help you? {when he needs help}

-In a minute?

-Mommy, Daddy Wook!!!  {look}

-Mommy, I do it! {telling me I did it!}

-{my favorite}  Store?  Walmart peas?  Store Mommy?  {what have I done?}  haha.

Just some of the things he does to keep this Momma giggling and on my toes.  Love it.  Love him.

This Christmas...

The other night we got Brayden dressed all snug and comfy in his new jammies he got for Christmas from Grandma Strong.  We took him upstairs and snuggled in our bed with him watching cartoons.  He giggled and played under the blankets and pillows...offered hugs and kisses {several of them}, and enjoyed our undivided attention.

It was beautiful.

It's that same feeling you have as child when you recieve that gift for Christmas you so longed for, and you endlessly play with it and enjoy it to no end. 

Brayden-we longed for you.  So many nights we would dream about having you, what it would be like to give you tubbies, take you to baseball games, and play with you....endlessly.

We longed for our time to share our home and love with our child, decorating the tree, baking cookies, playing in the snow, and reading to you.  We prayed for you so many times.  We pray for you still.

You are that big shiny present on Christmas morning.  You my child...are a gift from God...plain and simple.

We are so blessed.

Christmas is different for me now that I am a Mommy.  I am no longer wondering what gifts I am going to get...yet spend so much time wondering what I should get you.  I wonder if you will understand what Christmas is all about as you get older.  I wonder if you will be motivated to help others, be kind and caring and selfless.  I hope you give more than you want or recieve in life.  I hope you feel God's presence in your life like I know he is in mine.  I hope you understand the true meaning of Christmas.

God, love, family and giving to those less fortunate. 

This Christmas you are two years old.  You ask me to turn the lights on the tree.  You know it's too pretty to touch {which I think is adorable}.  You love the way the cozy house feels.  You love the snowman that shakes his booty and you keep trying to steal his poor glued on candy cane.  YOU love candy canes. 

Tonight, on Christmas Eve...we will decorate the tree with candy canes with you, set cookies out for Santa with a glass of milk, get you snug as a bug in your jammies and tuck you into bed...together. 

THAT in and of itself makes my life full.  So full that gifts seem silly to me now.  YOU are my gift Bray.  Your happiness, your hugs, buzzers, kisses, snuggles and smiles are my gift. 

We love you Brayden.  Merry Christmas.

-Mommy and Daddy

{Big Boy Bedroom Reveal}...

So...as you all know I have been dreaming of how I was going to decorate my big boy's baseball bedroom.  Well ladies...it is done! {well almost}.  I still have some finishing touches to do to his room, but this is about as done as it's going to get until the Holidays are over with.  Since we just moved into our new house two weeks ago, his room was our first priority to get done.

 So...presenting Brayden's first real big boy baseball bedroom tour...

First...you remember his bed we found at Salvation Army for 29$ right?  I thought long and hard about painting it, but once in his room against the rich tan walls, the dark wood was too gorgeous to mess with, so we left it alone.  His quilt set I found at a second hand store for a steal, and it was the exact colors we wanted for his room, so I snatched it up quickly...of course!

I made the roman shades for his room, and just re-painted the letters from his baby room, and added ribbon to hang.  The two light blue pillows with baseball print I also made from some old fabric I had on hand to coordinate with our theme.
The red and tan sham was a steal at Pottery Barn outlet for $3.49!  It ended up matching everything else perfectly.

{I still need to make his bedskirt, but that can wait for now}.

The blue chest was my Dad's from his old Army days.  It is one of the only things I recieved after his passing, so it is very special to me.  It even has his name etched on the top border of it.  It holds all of Brayden's baby blankets.

Next...

Here is his very own dresser we found at an estate sale for 25$.  Of course you can see we altered the handles to coordinate with our baseball theme.  Ron went to our local hometown bat maker {A-bat Co.}, and he gave us some bats they could not use...so we sprayed them, and Ron simply screwed screws into the bats from the existing holes on the dresser {we did not alter the dresser in anyway, and saved the old knobs so we can replace them as he gets older}.  We did also add the little baseball ball knobs on the top drawers.  I loved the dresser because it matched his bed so well, and is even on wheels like the bed...we could not pass it up.  Too cute.  His lamp was the original from his baby room, just embellished it with some new ribbon.

Here are shelves we spray painted and added baseball's to.  One was Ron's old hat rack from when he was a little boy, and the other we have had for years.  We found his little blue glove over a year ago while on vacation.  The brown dish with baseball's was a gift from Uncle Todd he got for Brayden's baby room when he was born.  The baseball book is from Uncle Scott and Tara, and the squirrel is one that we bought for Rons Dad "Papa" because he loved these little singing squirrels.  After he passed away in 2004, Ron's mom gave it back to us.  So it was only fitting it go in Brayden's room. The Tampa bay bells and bear came from our good friend Janice in Florida.  Everything is touching and has meaning to us in this bedroom, which makes it even more special.

His little 4$ Salvation army tv stand, painted red.  Remember the chairs???  Those were the ones I got last year {4 of them for 15$} and painted in anticipation of this very room.  He loves them.

Loved this little piece.  We hung a sign in there I bought Ron many years ago while we were dating.  Naturally Bray's hats went perfectly here.

More pics of the little chairs, with Braydens singing horse Molly and Todd picked out for him as a gift a few weeks ago.  He bobs his head and swings his arms.  They bought it because the horse dances just like Brayden does.  Too sweet.

Another photo of one of two of the red roman shades I made.

This is my favorite part of the room so far.  My Mom bought this floor puzzle for Brayden over the summer at Pottery Barn.  Ron and I sat on the floor putting it together the other night, while applying hot glue to a foam board.  I made the hanging tassle from leftover fabric and ribbon from his pillows, curtians and other decor.  Just knot after knot, and this is the end result.  So fun. So free.
{The dresser belonged to my Grandmother Delphine and Grandpa Harry.  I used it since I was 13 or so in my bedroom.  Ron and I have used it in our room, and now it is in Bray's room.  I just do not have room for it currently in our room...our bed kind of takes up most of the room itself right now, but it is special it's in Bray's room.  Don't worry-you won't see us replacing any knobs on this one ;-)}

Another pic of his LIFE photo and bed.  Uncle Scott and Tara gave this to Ron a few years ago at Christmas.  It is from the 50's I presume from LIFE magazine, people watching a baseball game on a rooftop.  This photo does not do it justice, but it is perfect in this space.  The blue shelf above it will hold Braydens Blue engraved baseball bat we got him for his first birthday, but we have to figure out a way to hook it safely up on the shelf before we put it up.

So...it is getting there.  I still need to make the red bedskirt, and red bumper pillow for the space in between the wall and the bed {hence the body pillow stuffed there currently}.  Brayden loves his new room.  The first night he slept in there he stayed in bed all night long.  In the morning, I heard him get out of bed and pitter patter into our room while whispering "Mommy, ahhh Mommy?"  He enjoys his own space, and we too enjoy having our space back.  This is actually the first room he has slept in all alone for the first time since the day he was born.  Even though he had a nursery-he never slept in it because he was in the bassinet in our room, then we moved the crib into our room, and now....he is Mr. Independent...and VERY happy about it.  We are so thankful he has embraced this like such a big boy.  He crawls into his bed every night and says, "nap, weeping"...aka: sleeping.  He is too funny. 

Hope everyone has a wonderful holiday, and I will be blogging more house projects as I complete them.  I am one busy Mommy right now unpacking, decorating, sewing, and more....so stay tuned ;-)

My little big boy...

I have realized more and more over the last few months how quickly Brayden is growing up.  He is so talkative, intuitive, funny, explorative and curious.  His level of compassion and understanding with things is touching and sweet.  He is so happy.  He is so proud of his accomplishments, as are Ron and I.  Playful, smart, decisive, head strong, determined and set in his ways are all ways to describe his bubbly little personality....or Big & Bubbly Personality I should say. 

Every night before bedtime as we snuggle with him to get him to sleep, I ask him if he had a good day today.  His response is always "yeah".  Ron asked him the other night "are you always going to say yeah?"  Brayden replied "yeah".  I hope so.  I hope that at the end of every single day of your life you can find the good in it.  The good enough to be able to conclude the entire day as a good one.  It's a way of thinking positive that I hope you always carry with you, long into adulthood.

You always say please, thankyou, and your welcome now.  You are such a polite little guy.  It's really precious.  You like to "Shake your tushy" to dance, and sway your little head side to side.  You dance and sing to the Fresh Beat Bands Loco Legs on Noggin all the time. You can name every wonder pet, wubzy, and yo Gabba Gabba character.  You love going to Walmart, riding in the car with us, and watching Charlotte's Web-your current favorite movie.  Tim Bit donuts are one of your favorite things, as is chocolate milk {caulk-it milk}.  You ask Mommy for hugs all the time, and give me snuggles and kisses if you think I'm sad.  You even tell me to "cry" when you want to give me a hug and you tell me "I help you Mommy".  You love to sing to us also, and that just steals my heart.  You sing Twinkle Twinkle little star, Taxi Taxi Noggin song, You are my sunshine, Yo Gabba theme song, and Oo-eee-oooh-ahh-ahh from the chipmunks by singing {ooh-eeee-Bam Bam}.

 You are too funny. 

You are very determined and are learning patience right now.  When something goes wrong, you ask for help or say "Ohhh Mannnn".  That's when you don't throw yourself on the floor in tantrum mode {which is not that often thankfully}, but you do have a very head strong nature. 

I could just go on and on about everything new you are doing.  I hope to document as much of it as I can, because I don't want to forget any of these wonderful little things you do, and are doing.  We love you so very much Brayden.  You are the sunshine in Mommy and Daddy's days-everyday.  We never knew at all how much we would be enamoured with your presence.  We never imagined we would kiss and squeeze you as much as we do, and still feel like it's not enough.  We never knew we would worry about your health and well being as much as we do {we are a bit neurotic-we know this}.  We never imagined how much we needed you in our family.  You are a blessing we thank God for every single moment we can. 

You are just beautiful Bray. 

We love you,

-Mommy and Daddy

Realms of Color...

Brayden has his own idea of fun when it comes to coloring.  He will generally start out scribbling on paper, coloring books, and anything around not under cover {furniture and walls included}!  He soon gets bored with all that, and starts standing all of his crayons up on end, in various patterns. 

Many fall as he tries to line them up.  He is patient and says "ahhh Mannn", picks them back up and continues on his mission.  He concentrates very hard, and is so methodical about it.  He insures even space between them, and has even begun counting them as he lines them up. Other times he will attempt to sing Happy Birthday, and will pretend to blow out the candles with said crayons.  Once he has them all lined up he starts clapping, smiling ear to ear shouting "I do it", and "yayyyy".

He is inventive, creative, and theatrical in his endeavors with his little Crayola friends. 

I love it.

I love watching his precise and steady chubby little fingers stand the crayons up on end as he sticks his tongue out and scrunches his little eyebrows.  I love watching what new pattern he will create and try to follow those wheels that are turning a mile a minute in his head.

 He amazes me. 

It is so fun to watch him explore, and find new ways to entertain himself.  It's interesting to me that he is exhibiting his free and un-inhibited creativity realizing crayons could be used for things other than just coloring with.

  It's either that, or he's obsessive compulsive! 

I'm hoping it's just a very eccentric creative streak he is expressing.

I think this quote below sums it up perfectly! 

The whole world, as we experience it visually, comes to us through the mystic realm of color.

-Hans Hofmann

Funnies...

Tonight Ron asked Brayden what he needed to put on his toothbrush in order to brush his teeth. Brayden quickly replied "piss" {aka: paste}  with so much enthusiasm it totally threw Daddy for a loop!  I then asked Bray to say "toothpaste", and he smiled and said very loudly "hy-pissssss" {toothpaste}. We tried really hard NOT to laugh. It did NOT work. ;-)

Bray was sitting on Daddy's lap earlier and tooted. Ron said "hey you-are you tooting on Daddy?" and Brayden looked at him with this very serious look and said, "it jusss happened"! Again...we tried not to laugh with no success.

Twinkle Twinkle Little Star

I read Twinkle Twinkle Little Star to Brayden quite often.  I actually sing the book to him as that is how it reads.  He loves it.  He begs his cousins Bailey and Casey to sing it to him often as well.  At night he points to the sky and says, "Star, sky!" On the way to get my morning coffee last week I was singing this  to Brayden in the car.  I got caught up in some construction and after the first verse I stopped singing to concentrate on my driving for a moment.  All of a sudden I hear his precious and soft little voice from the back seat sing,  "Up-a-bub-bub-bub-bub-highhhhhh" {perfectly in tune and tempo}.  I started clapping for him and saying "yes bubby-up above the world so high...like a diamond in the sky....yay!"  Later that night he sang it for Daddy at bedtime, and has been showing everyone his vocals since then.  God love him...

Teeth

Brayden loves brushing his teeth. He {without pushing from us} constantly tells us "teeth-teeth", at least twice a day and sometimes more. The other night I got Brayden out of the tubby and he took off running around the house naked in search of "Daddy!" Once he found Ron downstairs, he begged "teeth-teeth Daddy". Ron and I were in mid-conversation when Brayden decided to take matters into his own hands. A few seconds later we heard the water running in the bathroom sink. We both peeked our heads in the doorway to find Brayden on his knees up on the toilet seat with his toothbrush in hand brushing his teeth completely on. his. own. Laughter and praises of what a big independent boy he is quickly ensued when all I really wanted to do was cry. Cry from happiness that he is such a smart and great little guy, and sadness that he needs me less and less these days. We love you and are so proud of the big boy you are becoming Bray. Keep brushing those pretty teethies ;-) -Mommy

Getting Creative...

We have really been working on Brayden learning all of his colors these last few weeks. He knows Red, Orange, Yellow, Pink, Blue, Brown & sometimes Green depending on his mood of course! He has been doing very well, and he says them so adorably. Yellow is actually (ellow), Orange is (oren), and everything else is pretty spot on! We have a confession though, we have been bribing encouraging his love for learning colors with none other than these fun treats.

It has worked wonders! He also enjoys Reeses pieces too!

Hey-whatever works right?

To be honest...I'm worried just a bit...

Brayden has mastered stairs.  Up & down...all alone.  This worries Momma just a bit.  Not only because I am terried he might fall, but because he is growing up-too quickly for my liking.

 Both seem to scare me.

 I knew it was only a matter of time...