I have a 2 and a half year old!

Ok I know most people don't celebrate half birthdays but me, I will find a reason to celebrate just about anything.  On the 24th, my little man turned 2 and a half.  That means we are officially closer to 3 than we are to 2 (praise the Lord!).  Oh Brady, Brady, what can I say?  You are the cutest, most spirited, intelligent, hilarious, trying, and loving little boy I've ever met.  There are so many times you just melt my heart ("Mommy I missed you!")  and there are times when I want to put you out front with a for sale sign (sneaking Playdoh out of the counter and making it into hundreds of tiny little balls all over the living room).  You have changed so much in your 2.5 years here on earth, yet in some ways you have stayed the same too.  From day 1 you tested me.  I would watch a Baby Story on TLC and they would say how every moment was joyous and that having a baby was such a wonderful, wonderful experience. And don't get me wrong, the day you were born was a blessed day and I loved you instantly and thought you were precious but whoa, could you cry. And could you eat. And not sleep.  I think you were given to me to show me that I can't control everything, to learn patience, and to show me that those people that have screaming babies, yeah that'd be me (karma is a biotch).  A lot of the things I don't like about myself, I see in you (easily frustrated, stubborn, have a hard time making decisions, and very sensitive).  Yet at the same time those things make you the person you are and I know that you are going to be a very successful adult.  You are so intelligent, I can show you something 1 time and you know it.  You know what phrases to use at the right times (Thank you very much, excuse me, I'm Brady, I'm 2!, etc) and sometimes the things you say just blow my mind.  I love how you love your sister.  I love that you are protective of her already (even if it is only from a 7 month old boy).  I love how you jump at the chance to help me (yes, even helping me brush my teeth).  I love how you turn my words around on me. "Mommy, what do you say? Say please!." "No Mommy, I need to watch Thomas first."  "Ok Mommy, only 1 more time."  I think it's funny how you love to pretend to be sleepy yet you hate taking naps and going to bed.  You are obsessed with all things Thomas and all things cars.  I love how we share a love of sweets and shopping. I know I can always count on you to do a Target and Dairy Queen run with me. I can't wait to see what the future holds for you mister! 

I should have known what the future was going to hold...  :)

Brady with his "half cupcake"!

 

So although you haven't always made it easy on me, I love you more than anything you sweet little 2.5 year old!

This made me laugh! :)

The Weirdest Weekend Ever

Hello it's Brady. Nice to see you too.  I seriously had one of the weirdest weekends EVER last weekend. In fact, I'm still recovering from it. Dying to know what happened? Ok, here you go:

I was just talking to my Grandma on the phone in my chair (pants are optional on my off hours) and all of a sudden Nana and Papa ran through the door!  Best surprise ever!!

 

The weekend started out great! We played and played.

 

We taught Layla how to play the drums....

Papa, Mack, and I did lots of potty times. (Boys only)

But then Papa squeezed us really tight and made us sit in his lap for a story. He told us the story about the magical pumpkins. If you stare at them for a long time they make crazy things happen.

Well Layla was all for it.  I was a little weary but she wanted to try it. She went the light up pumpkin route....

                                     I went the pumpkin cookie route. Much healthier.

I'm not so sure this is doing anything...

 

 He told me to have faith and then all of a sudden...

 

An alien appeared and Mom had her arm around it.

Oh hell no.  I'm not getting near this thing.

Then we were all walking and a peacock appeared.

Next we were floating and this cow warned us of the aliens.  Umm cow dude I already saw one and it already got my mom.

Nooo not you too Nana!!!

Somehow Mom came back but then we were all unable to open our eyes.

Before I knew it I could open my eyes again but I couldn't stop staring.

Must. Keep. Eyes. Open.

Then Mommy turned into a pirate

And then Papa was one too

Then I was riding a tractor

Before I knew it I was back at home (and off duty apparently) with some sweet cars on my feet.

Then I turned into a native Mississippi farmer.

Lesson learned. Never look straight at a pumpkin ever again.

 

The END!

Layla's First Solid Food!

 

While Nana and Papa were here this past weekend we gave Layla her first solid foods. With all of the debate over arsenic in rice cereal, we gave her baby oatmeal. She wasn't sure! Here are some pictures  from her first time tasting food! :)

 

The before picture

MMM spoon I will get you!

What. The. Heck. Is. That?!

Ooohhh

Not too sure. I love her faces!

The after picture. Cleaning up after herself. "What the heck just happened?"

And the Fun Continues

Well...I really wish that this post was full of welcome home pictures but..... he's still not home. He's still in Tokyo.  The plane is still broken. We still have no news of when the plane will be fixed. And we have 1 very stressed and exhausted mommy, 1 crabby and sad little boy, and 1 crabby teething little girl.  It makes me laugh that that post about me being over the deployment was umm 11 days ago.  So hopefully Brian will be home in time for Thanksgiving.  I wish I was joking when I say that.  

 

But on a happy note, my lovely in-laws came and visited us this weekend and provided me with much relief and fun!  We honestly had a blast and Brady was so happy the entire weekend! Here are some pictures from our weekend with Nana and Papa:

Layla with her Nana. And her giraffe.

Brady having lots of fun with his papa.

Layla wasn't too sure of that man with the mustache.

Don't they just look thrilled? :)

Yeah she's teething. Just a little bit.

Layla jumping on the trampoline and Brady running a train around her.

Brady loves his nana!

The next day we went to the Bellevue Pumpkin Patch.

I think my kids may be sick of me taking pictures of them.

Yay pumpkin patches!

On a hayride

Layla's first hayride and she eats her coat instead?

Pumpkins!!

I should be a photographer. Perfect picture with the camera string.

"This one!"

Then we rode on a choo choo train!

And climbed on a pirate ship

Brady and Nana were all the way at the top!

"Weeee this is fun!"

 

Group shot at the pumpkin patch

Pretty little girl

Nana and Layla enjoying the beautiful fall day!

Decorating pumpkins

Brady and Papa jamming out

He's very serious about his guitar playing.

I'd say they wore him out! :)