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

8 Months Old!

As I say once again, time flies. When Brayden was about 3 months old, it seemed like he had been with us forever. Now that 8 months is here, it's like I can't believe he'll be a year old in 4 months! Brayden is 8 months old today! This has been the best 8 months of our lives. Bo and I have learned so much from this little guy. He is crawling EVERYWHERE! Standing up all the time and tries to take a few steps holding on. He has let go a few times and falls, but will get right back up. No bruises yet but I know they will come soon. He waves now (most of the time when you're not looking). He says da da da da.... and ma ma ma when he wants to. He doesn't understand what he's saying but we love to hear it. :) He flips around all the time while trying to change him... it's challenging now trying to get his diapers changed and getting him dressed. He has been the best baby though. Bo and I could not imagine our lives without him. We have been so BLESSED! Here's a wrap up of Brayden's 8th month.

Let's Play Ball!

Mary Martha and Don gave Brayden a little t-ball set. He has so much fun with it. He will try to swing the bat and hit the ball. It's amazing at how fast he catches on.

Riding in the Wagon

Brayden got this wagon for Christmas. He loves it! He has gotten to ride in it several times when the weather was still pretty.

Big Wins

Bo and Brayden spent Saturday afternoon watching basketball while we were giving the shower. They watched Mississippi State on TV and then went to the New Hope game. Both of them won! On Sunday, they put their jerseys on and watched the NY Giants play football. They too pulled off a win against the Cowboys! Mary Martha is a huge Cowboys fan so Bo loved rubbing that one in, considering the Giants had lost to them twice this year.

Laura's Baby Shower

Last weekend, Mary Martha and I threw her sister Laura a baby shower. It was at my house. We had lots of good food and Laura got some great gifts for her little boy! We had a good crowd. Laura and Jeff are on their way to New Mexico now where Jeff is in the Air Force. Mary Martha also told us this weekend that her and Don are expecting too. Laura is due in May and Mary Martha is due is August. It's great that the babies will be so close in age. Here is a picture of Laura and her family at the shower.

Brayden is Everywhere Now

This little boy is everywhere now. I will walk out of the room and here he comes after me. He crawls all the time and will stand up when he gets to his destination. He can walk around in his pack n play as long as he is holding on. It may take him a little while but, he can do it. He will be 8 months old this week.

Brantley saying the Blessing

This is a video of my cousin Brantley saying the blessing at dinner last night. He said it all by himself! He is saying "God is Great... God is Good..." For those of you who don't know Brantley, he is our little miracle child. His mom went into labor at 22 weeks. Brantley was born at 27 weeks. He has been diagnosed with Cerebral palsy. He will be 4 this March. He has come so far! So last night, I got to hear him say the blessing for the first time all by himself. We usually have to help him out. It was a blessing for me to hear this. Some things come easy for some children, but Brantley has to work extra hard. We are so thankful for this little boy. I will post his story later on.

Meet little Rowe

Celeste got to come home from the hospital yesterday. I got to see little Rowe for just a minute. I ran by their house, knowing they would be trying to get settled in and I just had to stop by to see them. Rowe is so handsome. I myself didn't get this picture, but Mr. Larry(one proud grandfather) sent this out via email, so I got it from him.

Welcome Baby Rowe

Our friends Celeste and Lee Gillis had a baby boy today! Mom and baby are doing great! His stats...

Gene "Rowe" Gillis

8 lbs 4 oz

18 1/2 inches

1:55 p.m.

I talked to Lee tonight and he said that Rowe was perfect. Bo and I are planning to go see him tomorrow. I will post pics as soon as I get them. Please keep Celeste and Rowe in your prayers.

Christmas 2007

Brayden's first Christmas was wonderful. We got to see all the family this year. Sometimes it's hard for us all to get together at the same time, but this year we all made it. This Christmas we are so thankful for our additions to our family- Brayden and Ashley and we are thankful for all of our families... Brayden is blessed to still have all 4 sets of Great-Grandparents still living. We went to Memphis for Bo's mom's side the weekend before Christmas. While we were there, we went to the Memphis Zoo. It was very windy as you can tell in the pictures. It was a great time to go(no one was there but us and a few others). From there we went to Greenville to have Christmas with Bo's parent's and his dad's family. Brayden got to meet Uncle Jackie(bo's only uncle on his dad's side) for the first time. We came home Christmas Eve and had Christmas with my dad's family that night. We got up Christmas morning to see what Santa had brought and then on to my parents house for breakfast. We had Christmas lunch at my mom's parent's house. It was a busy few days, but well worth it!

Brayden and Aunt Ashley

my dad's family

This is what Santa brought

Bo trying to show Brayden how to drive his new toy...

Brayden's new toy from his Mimi and Poppy

Christie, Shawn, and Brantley

7 Months Old! (and catching up)

Brayden is now 7 months old. We can't believe it! We have had a busy last couple of weeks. We have gone to Mobile to visit with my brother, Drew, and his wife, Ashley. We tried to get some Christmas shopping done, but didn't get much accomplished. We had a good time visiting. I also kept a 3 year boy(Luke) for 2 weeks. He was an angel. We had fun playing and watching him ride his scooter. He was a pro! Here is a video of Brayden crawling, mainly for the Grandparents. He wasn't crawling last time Bo's parents saw him.

We now have 2 teeth!! Yes 2! It was about week after the first tooth, the second one came too. Brayden is 7 months old and is crawling everywhere and PULLING UP! I had Brayden in his pack and play while I was getting some things done and I walked into the living room and he was standing up! I couldn't believe it. Bo is so proud of him, but I don't want all this to be happening now. It's too soon! :) I know that it's time for all of this to take place so I have to encourage him. He looks so little standing up and he just started sitting up all by himself.



Brayden loves his bath. He could play for a long time if we would let him.


Christmas is just around the corner and the shopping is almost done. We still have a few more things to get to finish up. I even have presents wrapped and under the tree. I'm bad about waiting until the week of Christmas or Christmas Eve to wrap everything.