My Boys and Me

Thank you SO much Nancy for sending these pictures and for everything ya’ll did for and with Braeden while he was in Chicago.  He loves you both SO much and Mike and I appreciate you both so much!

3 Generations-

Braeden, Aunt Danielle (Aaron’s sister), Nancy (Daddy’s fiance), Granddaddy and Daddy

Braeden LOVES “KK” (Nancy’s sister)- He has good taste

So sweet

I am SO glad he is having so much fun, but Mama is ready to see that little guy- 6 more days!!!!!

and then I realized I have not posted an entry in over a week.  Things have been going well (other than the fact that Mike woke up with the stomach bug and has been throwing up and sick all day) just busy busy busy!  So busy that I can NOT believe that Braeden comes home a week from tomorrow.  It has been almost 3 weeks already!  Don’t get me wrong, I miss my buddy SO much, but working (and Mikey) have kept me busy.  Braeden is in Chicago right now at a White Sox vs. Cubs baseball game.  He flew from Panama City to Chicago with his Grandaddy and Aunt.  He has been to the Aquarium, the zoo and now a baseball game.  Have I mentioned before that I haven’t even been to Chicago?  Braeden has been twice.  We are all going there for a week next summer since Aaron is getting married and of course Braeden will be in the wedding.  We are going to stay downtown and see the city.  I am looking forward to it.  I have heard it is a GREAT place!  I have actually REALLY been enjoying work (not sure I have ever said that in my life).  Seth and Reeves are out of school and we have been doing some fun things.  The days fly by and I really don’t feel like I am “working” at all.  When Braeden gets home, he will get to come with me every day and have fun with us.  Mikey is officially adjusted to school and loving it.  He no longer cries when I drop him off and he doesn’t even drop what he is doing immediately when I walk in the door to pick him up.  We were only planning on keeping him there for the summer since I have been working anywhere from 3-7 days a week, but now that he is doing so well, we may keep him there part-time once school starts back up.  I know between Holly and the service I can stay busy enough to offset the cost.  I just can’t believe how many new things Mikey is doing.  Braeden gets updated everyday when we talk, but he will still be so excited to come home and see all that his brother has accomplished while he has been gone.  He is now OFF formula and doing great on whole milk.  He is eating almost anything we give him (some of his favorites are: nutrigrain bars, yobaby yogurt, applesauce, any of the Gerber Graduate toddler snacks, vanilla wafers, teddy grams) and he loves to feed himself finger foods.  He eats a LOT now too.  He will bang on his highchair table when he wants more!  Great, so we figured out his eating problems, he prefers junk food! He eats a lot of snacky foods, but still does well with the baby food (vegetables and fruits- still not interested in the stage 3 meals).  He is standing for a good 5 seconds on his own and continues to take a couple steps (before falling), but will walk everywhere while holding on to something or holding a hand.  He is still into EVERYTHING and is discovering everything else that he hadn’t noticed before.  He is NOSY (he gets it honestly). He is absolutely 100% in LOVE with Daddy!  Every car that drives by is ”Dadda,” every time my phone rings, its “Dadda,” every time he hears the door open, its, “Dadda.”  No Mama’s boy with Mikey!  He prefers Daddy in every way.  I honestly don’t mind.  It melts my heart to see such love and affection between the two of them.  I had Braeden all to myself for 4 years, and he and I have a bond that can never be compared, so I feel so lucky that I get to share it this time around.  I knew it would all be different since Mikey is so different than Braeden and Mikey is ALL BOY, so Mama is not as interesting.  Just as long as he doesn’t stop wanting ME to snuggle him at night, I will be OK.

So, there is not much else to write about.  Braeden’s Nana and Roy are bringing Braeden home next Sat and staying with us for the weekend.  Nana has not met Mikey and I know Braeden will be so proud to introduce his little brother.  Mikey will not let him out of his sight once he gets home.  Every day we ask Mikey, “Where’s brother?” and he looks all around hoping he will see him.  Braeden asks to talk to him when we call and Mikey is so confused when he hears his voice, but doesn’t see him. 

A couple other Mikey Updates- He still has NO interest in the sippy cup. He not only knows when something is wrong, he will shake his head and his finger ”No, No” (like when he is about to pull the books off the coffee table).  He says “Uh Oh” when something drops.  He is copying things we do and still only has 6 teeth (4 up top and 2 on bottom).  I am cherishing each new development so much and enjoy watching his little personality unfold.  Character is another trait we can add to his list of adjectives.

I look forward to posting some pictures of Braeden’s trip when I get some, but for now, here are some of Mikey.

Waiting patiently for some food-

Dig in-

“I LOVE pankcakes”

Mikey is for sure our little fish, and he has no fear of the water.

2 years ago today, God and the most amazing, wonderful man made my dreams come true.  I cherish the fact that through our faith in the Lord, our commitment and love for one another and the blessings of our family, my dreams continue to come true every day I spend with Mike!  Oh how I LOVE that man!

A trip down memory lane…..

“If you live to be a hundred, I want to live to be a hundred minus one day so I would never have to live a day without you”

                                                                            Winnie the Pooh