Feelings

Brayden and I went to a play date today at my good friend Paula's house with Miss Rosalie and Benjamin, two of Brayden's best friends.  Benjamin and Rosalie are closer in age to eachother, and Brayden is almost a year older than both of them, so watching them all play is interesting.  Today, Benjamin pushed Rosalie down a few times, and Rosalie began to cry each time.  After one of Benjamin's time outs today Brayden says to Rosalie "Im sorry Benjamin hit you Rosalie, I make you happy now-I make Benjamin happy now too!"  I thought it was sweet that Brayden recognized the interaction between Rosalie and Benjamin, and that he was trying to play peace maker in the situation. 

On our way home Brayden was chatting with me about his day, which is typically what he does when we leave play dates.  Today, this was our conversation, and it was just so sweet!!!  It was just so like him to feel this way, and to express it as he did, it stole my heart.  God I love him....

Brayden: Mommy, Im sorry.

Me: Why are you sorry baby, you didnt do anything you need to be sorry for, why are you saying you are sorry?

Brayden: Well, my feelings are hurt.

Me: Why are your feelings hurt baby?

Brayden: um, uh, well....Benjamin hurt my feelings when he pushed Miss Rosalie, and and um...she cried, and it hurt my feelings....

Me: It hurt your feelings when Rosalie was sad?

Brayden: Yeah, Rosalie cried and it hurt my feelings....but I make her happy, and I make Benjamin happy too!

Me:  Awe....I think its very sweet that you felt bad for Miss Rosalie Bray, but Benjamin didnt mean to hurt her feelings, or your feelings...he is younger than you are baby.

Brayden: Benjamin tell Miss Rosalie Sorry....

Me: Yes, Benjamin did the right thing by saying he was sorry to her, that was very very nice of him, and Im glad that you tried really hard to make both of them happy afterwards too, that is a good big boy thing to do and Mommy is proud of you buddy!

Bray: I knowwww......thank you Mommy!

I drove silent for a moment taking all of that in.  My mind was piecing together the events of the day, and his reactions, and our conversation.  I thought....how sweet is it that he felt sadness observing Rosalie's hurt feelings, and also sadness for Benjamin becuase he knew Ben didnt want a time out, and that it hurt his feelings too.  I was proud that Bray felt compelled to make them both happy again, and that he recognized that was the right thing to do.  It was kind, it was genuine, and it was compassionate.  It's one of those moments you realize that all of your reminding, nagging, correcting, and talking to your child DOES make sense to them, and they are in fact taking it all in within their little worlds.  I'd like to think he will never lose that part of his personality, and that his first instinct will always be to attempt to make others feel better.  Maybe I am doing this right afterall....right now at least anyways ;-)

Tooth Fairy 101

Brayden has been infatuated with Yo Gabba Gabba lately.  He loves the new episode where Muno is talking about losing his teeth, and the entire process of your tooth falling out, the tooth fairy, etc.  I have seen the episode several times and have heard the story about the tooth fairy and so forth, its all good and fine.

Today on our way to a play date Brayden told me that his tooth was falling out.  {He is purely being facetious} but either way I responded with "No honey, your teeth are not going to fall out like Muno's for a few years, you still have some time love."  I then thought it was a perfect opportunity to dramatically tell him the story of the tooth fairy, and how when he loses his first tooth, we will place it under his pillow in a neat little container, and when he's fast asleep, a beautiful tooth fairy will fly into his bedroom, lift his pillow and take the tooth, but that she will probably leave him some money or something else really special in return for getting his tooth.  There was silence for a moment, and I knew he was just trying to process that information, thinking he would be all tickled and excited about this great story of the tooth fairy I had just told him.  Instead he replies very bluntly and without expected enthusiasm saying, "No Mommy, that's not true, just not true Mommy."

"Ugh, yes it is baby!"  He says, "No, no Mommy, that's NOT true!" 

I quickly changed the subject and started in on Santa Claus instead...praying all the while he would not dispute me on this one...which thankfully he didn't ;-)

What a stinker.

Brayden's Yo Gabba Gabba Birthday Bash-3 years old!!!

This year Momma went bonkers!!!  I really really wanted to throw Brayden a party he would never forget.  I asked him a few months ago what type of party he wanted, and he immediately said Yo Gabba Gabba.  Unfortunately...I could not find many of the things I wanted for his party at any stores....which meant making most of everything.  My Mom and Aunt JoAnn, and good friend Bonnie helped me with tissue papering, as one Gabba character took almost a whole day to complete.  Here are some of the fun pictures from his party!!!  He had such a great time, enjoyed the 60 some people that attended, and even got up to the microphone and sang Happy Birthday while telling everyone "thank you everyone for coming to my party-have to go eat cake now".

{When Brayden first arrived at the fire hall before anyone else}...he was quite shocked and excited!!!

The Yo Gabba characters I made {thankfully with help}

Party hats and horns!!!

Tables with puffs I made in Gabba colors...

Foofa wands I made in all different colors for the kiddos.

Marshmallow & frosting sticks...

Animal cracker scones

The crayon aprons my mom made for each child at the party...

Ron took the children on a tour of the fire trucks and each one got to sit inside and have their picture taken by their parents.  Lights on and all!

Brobee cake!!!  I made it and after it was mixed realized I added 1/2 cup of oil where I should have used 1/3 cup...it was a moist cake I must say, but very yummy!!!

Gift time!!!

Mommy and Brayden the next day at Applebees for his actual birthday.  They sang Happy Birthday to him and gave him his very own "special surprise" as he called it...ice cream sundae!!! 

Hope you had the best birthday ever bubby...we love you!!!

GPS...

Last weekend Ron was in his best friends wedding.  It was beautiful and special.  I will post more on that later...but that meant that we had to drive to Erie to pick up his tuxedo.  At the tux place they had a ping pong table, and Brayden had so much fun playing it the few times we were there in the last few weeks before the wedding. 

Today we drove back to Erie to pick up Grandma from the airport.  As soon as we headed down the main strip to the mall Brayden asked us if we were going to the "Ping Pong place".  Ron and I giggled that he knew and recognized where we were.

As we passed the "ping pong place" headed toward the airport, our GPS started telling us which way to go.  From the backseat Braydens says "what?"  to the female voice on the GPS.  Ha ha I know.  I started to explain to him that its just a voice on a machine that tells Mommy and Daddy which way to go in the car so we don't get lost.  I didn't get an immediate response, and I figured I wouldn't because that's alot to understand for a two year old right?  Brayden then says.."Um...well....Ma'am...where is the ping pong place?"...."Ping pong place where are you?". 

We were doubled over in hysterics at that point.  What a funny little guy.

Our baby will soon be 3!!!

Brayden is turning 3 this weekend.  I cannot believe how fast the last 3 years have gone.  I told Ron the other night that I remember saying, "I can't wait until he can smile, laugh, crawl, walk, talk, sing, dance, hug, kiss, snuggle, being potty trained, his big boy bed...everything"....but now that he has done, and he doing all of those things...I am craving just wanting my baby baby back ;-( 

It makes you realize very quickly that you need to embrace every single moment in their lives.  Take time to enjoy the simplest of moments.  Those moments when he wants to snuggle on the couch and watch cartoons on a lazy non busy day.  Moments when we are blowing bubbles, playing with him in the tubby, combing his hair, or snuggling with him at bedtime.  We never get those moments back, so we should inhale them every second we can. 

Right now Brayden is growing like a weed.  He is 3ft. 3 inches tall already, and 46 pounds!!!  He is a tank.  I can barely lift him up anymore.  He loves baseball and is actually quite good at it.  He loves singing songs, shaking his tooshy while saying "uh oh"...and talking with Mommy and Daddy.  He is very sociable, and not shy at all!!!  He loves to make people laugh with his one liners he knows he will get a reaction from...like "Are you kidding me" or "Pee-U Good Night" or "Oh my shucks"...."Jeeze Louise"..."you're making me crazy nuts"..."Im mad and I quit {care of Ni Hao Kailan}"..."Im runnin away {care of Little Bill}"..."Hey Dude, come here"..."seriously!"..."Hey babe!" or "Honey, babe...Honey!"  {Thats usually what I say to Ron so Brayden naturally copies that}...yes yes I know those are all things that make him appear as quite the stinkbutt, but really he isnt.  He is polite, well mannered and very sweet in nature.  He always says please and thank you and your welcome.  He calls ladies Miss, or Ma'am, tells Mommy "You're beautiful Mommy", and says "I love it" whenever he is truly excited about something!!!  He is just a trip.  He makes me giggle when I least expect it.  He is intuitive and gentle.  He doesn't bite, or kick or hit.  He takes turns with toys at play dates, and loves to give hugs.  Ok...Ill stop gushing over my peanut, but I am proud of the little guy is growing up to be. 

I am constantly reminded there is a God when I look at my son.  I am reminded that I have more in life than I could ever hoped for, and am grateful and happy that we are all happy and healthy. 

Brayden has recently started saying prayers every night before bed.  He sounds so precious...I need to tape record it some evening so I will never forget how adorable he sounds while saying this every night before bedtime: "Dear Lord, thank you for everything.  Thank you for my family,  my friends, and my pets.  Please Guardian Angels...always watch over me and my family and pets...keep us safe, and happy and healthy.  Tell my family in heaven I said hello.  I love you God...Amen."  Occasionally he will add names like..."thank you for my brookey {his cousin} or Grandma, or Shadow and Chewbacca, or Mommy and Daddy.  It is soooo sweet.  We read Playful Puppies every night before bed at his request....then he tried to read it to us.  He ALMOST has the entire book memorized...and copies the same voice inflection.  Its too adorable.

Although I am excited to celebrate his 3rd birthday and grateful to God for this beautiful little boy he gave us...I am sad he is growing up so fast.  Its breaking my heart a little bit. 

Happy Birthday baby....we love you so much!

This is AWESOME!!!

Yo Gabba that is...yes...Brayden's 3rd Birthday is right around the corner, and I have been working like a mad woman trying to make everything for his party.  A few months back we asked him what kind of party he wanted, and he insisted on Yo Gabba Gabba!!!  He named off a list of things he wanted which included Lemonade, chocolate covered strawberries, a chocolate Brobee cake, Brobee games, and strawberry ice cream.  He has NON STOP been talking about his party ever since.  He is inviting everyone he sees by saying "come to my party please?". 

So, I searched for supplies to buy, but fell short both with funds, and finding places to buy Yo Gabba themed items.  I did however find a whole host of ideas online from other savvy Momma's that have already thrown Gabba themed parties.  So...I have been creating at my dining room table for the last few weeks now.  So far....we have like 30 of these puffs...

All Yo Gabba primary colors of course.  I have also been painstakingly...{and that is NO understatement} been making these with tissue paper..yes...in EVERY.SINGLE.CHARACTER.

We will also be having all of these fun things as well...ALL HANDMADE...

It has become nothing short of insane.  Not to mention our guest list is already over 100 people, 60 of which have RSVP'd they are coming.  We will have Yo Gabba music, games, a Brobee cake, ice cream, yummy food, balloons galore, Foofa wands, and Yo Gabba Land will be complete for the day!  I am so happy I can do this for Brayden, and he is sooooo excited.  I hope he loves his birthday party, and has a wonderful day. 

I will happily post pictures once all of my projects are complete, and add tutorials on how to make everything too!  Its been a TON of work, but will definitely be worth it. 

Looking up to Daddy...

Recently Ron was voted into one of our local fire departments as a new volunteer.  He has truly enjoyed volunteering for the department thus far, and is learning so much.  This new endeavor of his has also afforded him the opportunity to ride along in, and help out during fires, medical calls, etc.  He loves being in a position to be able to help people, be involved in his community and further his education through them.  Brayden loves that this means Daddy also got a key to the department, and can go and tour the fire trucks whenever he wants too...which means Brayden gets his fill of seeing the big fire trucks whenever he requests to do so.  A few months ago...Ron took him to the station for the first time so Brayden could climb in the trucks, rescue boats, and tour the department.  Brayden was nothing short of awestruck.  I think Daddy was too a little bit by being able to bring Brayden there.  Brayden thinks Daddy is more than way cool now!  Here they are "playing" at the fire station in the big fire trucks...it was truly fun to watch them be boys that day.