Brayden's 1st Steps!

I have finally gotten this video to work! Just since my last post, Brayden is trying to walk a little everyday and all the time. He is constantly standing up and will let go as much as he can now. He has also started to pat-a-cake. He likes to clap a lot now. He has 1 tooth up top that has finally broken through. They have been giving him AND us fits the last few days. He is jabbering all the time too. I catch him talking to Wrigley and to his books with baby faces. It's so much fun to watch him!

We went to the Dr. for his 9 month check up Wednesday. His stats are: 20 lbs. 14 oz. (5oth percentile), 32 1/2 inches(off the charts.... I guess he is going to take after his daddy) , head is 17 1/2(50th percentile).

Our Little Monkey

Brayden is starting to take a few steps now on his own and yes, he just turned 9 months old last Monday. He is still holding on to something and forgets that he is and just lets go! He has only taken about 5-6 steps at a time. I keep telling him that he is too LITTLE to be walking! He has done it all on his own though! Of course we clap every time he takes a step! He is growing way too fast and he is such a busy little boy. By the way, I did get my video of it, but I can't get it to download for some reason. I will keep trying so the out of town family/friends can see it.

9 Months old!

Yesterday, Brayden turned 9 months old! As I say once again, I can't believe he is growing so fast! He is almost walking now! He is sooo close that he took 2 baby steps the other day. Bo and I have the video camera out waiting for him to take off! (hopefully we will be able to get it on tape) He has a toy that he walks with and he has gotten MUCH better in the last couple of days walking with it. He loves to throw the ball to us, baseball, basketball or football. His bath is his favorite time of the day. He hears the water running and will start crawling so fast to the bathtub and stands there watching the water. He has learned how to climb! I have caught him climbing in his chair and standing up(as you can see in one of the pics). We went to the Dr. a couple of weeks ago about his teeth and he weighed 19 lbs. 10 oz and was 28 1/2 inches long. He will go next week for his 9 month check up and shots. He loves to eat. He is in 9 months clothes but will be going to 12 month clothes very soon. The 9 month pants are getting too short for him, but they fit everywhere else. He is a growing little boy! We have had the best 9 months of our lives watching this little one grow and I know there are many more to come!

Jello Cookies

Here is the recipe for the Jello Cookies I posted about a few days ago.

Jello Cookies

3/4 Cup Margarine
1 cup sugar
2 eggs
1-3 oz. pkg. favorite Jello (I use strawberry at Valentines to make them pink, orange at halloween to make them orange, so use jello to make your cookies the color you want)
2 1/2 Cups self rising flour (when rolling out the dough, you WILL use more flour b/c the dough WILL BE STICKY- just keep adding it until it is not sticky-this is the olny time consuming part to me, besides icing them)

Preheat oven to 350 degress. Cream margarine, sugar, eggs, and jello until light and fluffy. Add flour and mix thoroughly. Roll and press flat and use desired cookie cutter to cut. Bake 8-10 minutes.

Happy Valentine's Day!

We just wanted to say Happy Valentine's Day!

Brayden has become obessed with this balloon! It keeps him entertained all day! I have to hide it when it's time to eat or take a nap.

These are also some of my favorite cookies. They are called Jello Cookies. I have made them the past 3 years(including this one) for Valentines. My mom used to make these when I was growing up for all the holidays(Valentines, Halloween, and Christmas), so I want to continue the tradition(even though Brayden has no clue this year).

Brayden's First Dentist Appointment

Today, Brayden went to the dentist for the first time. Yes, he is only 8 months (almost 9 months) old and has only 2 teeth! As a first time mom, I was sitting in the back seat with Brayden about a month ago and noticed something dark on his teeth. I started checking them out even closer and there was something on the back of his teeth also. I started to panic, thinking "why are my baby's teeth rotting already?", "I don't brush them everyday, but at least 2 or 3 times a week and he's ONLY HAD THEM FOR 2 MONTHS!" I called the Dr. and he wanted to see him. He told me that the enamel was missing on parts of his teeth???? I was worried that they may be hurting him?? So, I called Dr. Curtis(the pediactric dentist). He said it sounded like iron stains, but he wanted to see him just to make sure. Our appointment was today and that is exactly what it was on his teeth... iron stains from his formula. He assured me that they would go away when he swaps over to real milk. The spots are really not that noticable, but I notice everything out of the ordinary on my own child. Several people have tried looking for the spots and can't see them. He also said that his top 2 teeth are coming anyday now.... we have had knots up there for a few weeks, knowing they are coming. I didn't get any pics, but Brayden got a balloon and a big boy toothbrush. He loved the balloon! Dr. Curtis was great! And I am so relieved that his teeth are not rotting! :)

Super Bowl Sunday!

NY GIANTS - 17
NE PATRIOTS- 14

This year Super Bowl Sunday was a Big Deal at our house! Bo is a HUGE NY Giants fan. As you have seen in some of the previous posts, Bo and Brayden have a NY Giants jersey of Eli Manning and they also have the NY Giants Championship t-shirt(from where they beat the GB Packers). Bo had to work til 6:00 last night, so we were late starting the game. We had taped it and finished around 9:45p.m. Bo would not answer his phone, nor would he let me answer mine during the game... since everybody else already knew the winners. We were VERY pleased with the outcome of the game. I am proud of Bo for not backing down on his team, since they were the underdogs(i'm bad about doing that, but i stuck with the Giants the whole time too :)). Brayden even stayed up for the whole game. Brad, Shelley, and Marlee came over to watch the game. Brayden and Marlee had fun playing together. The Giants truely played a better game last night than the Patriots. We were so excited for Eli and the rest of the players on their big win! GO GIANTS!!

Earlier, Brayden and I went to his friend Olivia's birthday party. She turned 2 on Saturday. It was so cute decorated in The Little Mermaid! All the girls had fun jumping in the pink castle! I hate I didn't get any pics of it.

Brayden Loves to Play

Brayden loves playing with all of his toys, but he loves playing with the more simple things around the kitchen.. He loves to get in the cabinet with the plastic containers. I have let him claim a few of his favorites. As you can see in this picture it's a plastic bowl. He thinks it's so funny when he puts it on his head.





Here is brayden waiting for his bath, which he LOVES! We found some little sports rubber duckies that are just the right size for his little hands. He loves playing with them in and out of the bathtub.

MLK Weekend

We went to Memphis to visit with some friends of ours from college, Leigha and Jason. While we were there we went to a Memphis Grizzlies' game and early that afternoon got to watch New Hope play at the Fed Ex Forurm too. I had never been to a NBA game. It was fun, all except for sitting so high up! Leigha and Jason kept Brayden ALL day Monday so we could go to the game. They do not have any children, so Brayden may make them wait a little longer!(J/K) They love children and were excited to see and keep him. We met up with Kevin and Pam from home at the game. Here are a few of pics from the weekend.

Leigha and Jason with Brayden at a MS State ballgame(i didn't get to get a picture of them this weekend)

our view of the Grizzlies game

Kevin and Pam

we got to see Boys 2 Men perform at the game