Ashley meets Braeden

One of Mommy's best friends (for 20 years now!!!) came down for a visit from Chicago. Braeden liked meeting her, and gave her some good smiles! Unfortunately, by the time we took a picture, he was ready for a nap!

The Pumpkin Patch

We took a family outing to a local pumpkin patch and got lucky to have nice cool weather while we were there. Austin didn't want to sit still to get a picture with a pumpkin, he just saw that "mountain" of pumpkins, and had to climb to the top! No matter how many times we pulled him back down, he just kept trying to get to the top! Braeden and mommy got a picture in front of the pumpkins though. Daddy took Austin on a "train" ride around the farm, and they had a great time. While we were there Austin met a witch and Frankenstein, then helped mommy pick out a "fairy tale" pumpkin. It was a great day!

Braeden and Laura

Braeden got to enjoy his second cousins Laura and Danny for an afternoon of Barbeque. Here he is with Laura.

We got a little creative....

With all the hot weather and rain we have had, mom had to get a little creative in how to occupy an almost two year old during Braeden's naptime. Painting, while it keeps the noise level low, definitely has a messy factor of 9.57 on a scale of 10. Oh well, Austin loved doing it, and that is all that matters!

The shirt says it all

Lock up your daughters!

Check out my boots!

Daddy took me to get my first pair of real cowboy boots...now I am officially a Texan. I like to wear them with lots of different outfits. For example, boots look great with shorts. But by far the best thing to wear your boots with is your lizard pajamas, while wearing your Astros hat and carrying a football and a broken bucket. That is what all the kids are wearing nowadays.

Yep, I can eat with a fork

Oh yeah, I am a big kid now! I can eat with a fork. Notice the skill, the form, the technique in the first couple of pictures. Then look very closely at my favorite technique of all in the last two pictures. Hey....I am eating with a fork still!

Pops and Austin

Pops and Austin enjoyed playing with some truck stickers together before bedtime.

Just Us Boys

Here we are just hanging out on the couch together, just us boys.

Hi There!!

Hi everyone, it's me, Braeden. I am a whole 5 months old now. I am catching up to my brother as fast as I can. At my four month check up, I weighed 15 lbs. 10 oz. and I was 25 3/4 inches tall, so I am even bigger now! I am eating rice cereal, oatmeal, and several assorted fruits and veggies. I wasn't so sure about eating from a spoon at first, but now Mom can't "shovel" it in fast enough. I am trying to roll over more, I scoot around on my belly in a circle, and have made a few attempts to hold myself up in a sitting position. My mom can't believe how fast time has flown by and that I'll be crawling around in a couple of months. My favorite past times include watching Austin, laughing at the dogs (especially Maggie), being tickled, watching Austin, eating my hands, drooling, watching Austin, and playing in my exersaucer. Did I mention I like to watch Austin? My dislikes are bedtime, naptime, and sleep.

Growing and Growing and Growing

It is hard to believe that Braeden is almost 4 months old! He is growing like a weed, and we can't wait to find out his height and weight measurements next week. He is barely in the 3 to 6 month clothes anymore and is almost ready for 6 to 9 month clothes. He is catching up to where his brother was at this age. He is smiling and laughing, cooing and gooing, and has managed to roll over on his back a couple of times. We are enjoying this sweetheart. Austin hugs and kisses him all the time (not as much as we do, but it is still sweet to see Austin love on him without us asking him to).

Exersaucing is exhausting

Oh man, I just couldn't play with another thing...I am out like a light! ZZZzzzzzzzzzz!

All By Mysewlf!

I can put my shoes on "all by mysewlf"....seeee?? What do you mean it isn't on the right foot? Why does that matter?

Exersaucing

Who is this kid, and what did you do with my little baby? It is hard to believe that Braeden is already big enough to enjoy some time in the exersaucer. His big brother enjoys showing him how everything works, and as you can see Austin still thinks he is small enough to enjoy it himself. He got in all by himself one morning when Mommy was getting Braeden out of bed.

Life's a Beach!!

We went on a big family trip to St. George Island, Florida for a week, and it was a blast and exhausting at the same time. The trip began with a two day drive for Mommy, Mimi, Austin, and Braeden. That would be the exhausting part...then a wonderful time on the beach, in the pool, and on Daddy's boat. We were lucky to have Grandma, Grandpa, Mimi, and Uncle Ben join us. Here are a few shots of all the fun we had. Austin came back after riding Daddy's boat and told everyone "I dwove da boat!" Notice the stylin' Hawaiian shirt Austin is wearing! He really fit the part! While we were there, Uncle Ben caught a huge King Fish.

We'll Miss You Granddaddy

Just last month Braeden got to meet Mommy's Granddaddy, and he smiled and cooed at him for sure! Granddaddy passed away this month, and we'll miss him so much. At his funeral Braeden and Austin got to meet all of their second cousins for the first time.