Newest Favorites...

4 months has brought about many changes in my baby boy. He is eating solids, sleeping through the night, playing a lot more, growing out of clothes, and enjoying new toys and games. His favorite toys at the current time are...

He loves his teething toy lion. It is a rattle/noise maker/teether toy. He likes to make it shake and eat ALL parts of it!
He also loves to play with his spoon we discovered! Although he cannot be left with it too long or he gags himself with it! Mommy panics, and he laughs!
And Brayden's FAVORITE toy at the current time... Daddy's FACE! He likes to pinch, pull, and slobber allllll over daddy. It is just too funny to watch. He just laughs and laughs! I'm loving every new thing this little boy does! I can't imagine what life would be like if he wasn't here. Can't wait for next months "new" favorites!

Can hardly wait!

Way too big for him at the current time...but it sure will be cute when it fits!

Since Brayden was born, we have celebrated Mother's Day, Father's Day, and the 4th of July as a family. Now we are getting into the BIG holiday season and mommy can hardly wait! I am counting down until "boo at the zoo" and already have quite a selection of items for my sweet boy to choose from! I just can't wait!

Bye bye

My sweet baby boy was born with a headfull of beautiful dark hair! Over the past 4, almost 5, months...he has slowly lost it :( I know his new hair will begin to come in soon, so until then we get to play dress up with all his precious hats!

Thank you Nana!!

Brayden is soon going to be 5 months old...I just can't believe it!!! He has officially outgrown all of his precious 3 month clothes and is starting to even grow out of his 3-6 month clothes!! He is wearing mostly 6 month sleeper and onesies now. Which for us stinks because we held off on 6 month clothes because the season will be changing soon. We are only buying summer things that fit him on sale right now because he wont wear them long! And we don't want to buy for fall until it gets here, so in the meantime or little boy is running low in the clothing department!!! So...Nana found Brayden some precious clothes and mailed them too us! Brayden says "Thank you very much Nana!!"

Nothing has changed...

Bath time is STILL my favorite part of the day!!! I have started to add Johnson's bedtime bath to Brayden's bath at night. I put a capful in, then pour water into the tub which makes bubbles for about 2 minutes. Last night I forgot to do it BEFORE I put Brayden in, and when the bubbles started forming he started laughing hysterically! He even tried to eat them! So...new love for Brayden...Bubble baths!!

Cutest little player!

Are they on yet mommy????

Gooooooooooooo Cocks!!!

Gamecock onesie..................CHECK

Gamecock paci....................CHECK

Gamecock jersey.................CHECK

Can make lots of noise........CHECK

Brayden is ready for Gamecock football season!!!!!!

Yes, I AM aware

Yes guys!!! I AM aware that my last post is 2 days early. And I do admit I thought the 25th was tomorrow!! However, I don't ever bring my laptop home during the work week so I thought I'd do it earlier rather than later!

This day in history....

I remember August 25th, 2008 like it just happened.

I woke up...a Monday morning (its funny that it falls on a Monday again)...and went into the bathroom. I was only 1 day away from my "hopefully missed period." I had felt strange all weekend. Chad and I took communion together and prayed at church for a baby less than 24 hours before this moment. I felt like everyone around me was able to quickly get pregnant. I felt like everyone around me was carrying a baby, and I so desperately wanted to be just like them. I remember thinking to myself..."let's just go ahead and try." I took the test and sat it next to me on the counter. What I saw next changed my life forever.

It was 5:30 in the morning. It very quickly turned pink and I had to look at the results comparison chart several times before it set in that it was positive! I ran into the bedroom and woke up Chad-"baby it's positive!" I made my doctors appointment at 6:30 that morning...Then we both headed off to work with the best secret in the world. I walked around work that day on cloud 9, and felt like I needed to tip toe everywhere! I didn't want to risk this wonderful baby falling out of me! And this August 25th...2009-I'm going to think back and smile. That "secret" we had one year ago has forever changed our lives in the best way possible!

Family Dinner

Brayden playing in his jumper. Patiently waiting for dinner time!

Here comes the choo choo train!!!

Since the day Brayden arrived, we have been looking forward to family dinners. It seems to be the only common time ALL three of us can sit down and be together. Between preparing for work, working, soccer, and daily errands, we seem to always be on the go! Since Dr. W gave the okay for solids to begin...we had our first REAL family dinner!! Daddy grilled steaks, Brayden played in his jumper while they cooked, and mommy set the table. We pulled the high chair up and ate together as a family. It was really special. Although, most of the attention ended up heading over towards Brayden since his food was going everywhere but in his mouth! But we still managed to eat our steaks and have a great time! Looking forward to more family dinners...

It's officially over...

No, it's not officially over like John and Kate...

It's just that the summer is officially over, and daddy and I have officially headed back to work. This past week we had our district kickoff and school began. The only great part about it for me, is that I'm so busy with my new first graders I don't have time to worry about Brayden and if he is sleeping well, or eating good, or playing! By the time I know it, the day is over and I RUSH to pick him up. It's my favorite part of the day...well besides bath time!

HE DID IT!!!!

We have been having an issue with tummy time since Brayden was born. He couldn't figure out how to use his hands, so he couldn't push himself up! The doctor assured me his head and neck were fine because he checked out in all other areas and that Brayden would eventually "get it." Well...this weekend he did! I put him on his tummy, sat back and he pushed up on his arms! I was so proud of him! He usually HATES tummy time, but for the next 30 minutes he looked around laughing and cooing. It was great!

Feels so good!

Along with his jumper, Braydens new favorite toys at 4 months are his soft blanket and soft puppy dog! When we lay him down or put him in his bouncer, he will giggle and play with his blankets for what seems like forever! He rubs them on his face, pulls them with his hands, puts puppy's face in his mouth! It is just too cute. I'm hoping he will become more attached to these, and less attached to his thumb...but I doubt it!

I spoke to the pediatrician about Brayden's thumb sucking, and he said:

"If you cut it off, then he'll suck his other one. If you cut that off, he'll suck his toes. So just let him!" I must say, this made me very happy...it is precious to watch Brayden suck his thumb!

Checked out good!

This past Friday, I took Brayden for his 4 month appointment with Dr. W! We have the "official" okay to start solids. He weighed 14 pounds 15 ounces, and was 25.5 inches! He got his shots out of the way, and his fever we've been dealing with is officially gone. HOWEVER, the MOST important thing that happened...

WE ARE FINALLY GETTING OFF LIQUID GOLD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Dr. W thinks Braydens protein allergy is under control, and his reflux meds are working great...so as of yesterday, we are weaning him OFF of Nutramigen! Mommy is SO excited about this! Going to buy soy formula was much cheaper and will last him a lot longer than what he has been on! It will take about 2 weeks to get the switch to soy, and then we can start fruits and veggies. We are having to wait because if he is on solids and has a reaction, we won't know where it came from.

At 4 months Brayden is:

• smiling and cooing at every girl that walks by!
• talks to himself in the mornings-but how fun to wake up to!
• sleeping from 8-7
• loving to play in the bath!
• wearing 3-6 and some 6 month clothes
• sitting in the highchair
• standing as long as mommy can hold him!
• sitting up in the stroller-out of the carrier! He loves to look around!
• on rice cereal twice a day
• stretching out his feedings more
• rolling back to front-still working on tummy to back but getting there!
• holding his head up
• grabbing and reaching for things

We made our 6 month appointment and signed up for flu shots. So see you next time Dr. W!!!

4+

About two weeks ago, I put together Brayden's bouncer. It's been sitting in the corner of his room, and this week...we pulled it out! Since Brayden turned 4 months this week, I went through his closet and pulled all the toys that say 4+. This is by far his favorite so far!!! Especially the frog! It's fun to watch him laugh and play in it, and it keeps him entertained while I fix bottles and dinner! YEAH!

Four Months and a Fever

Today, my precious baby boy officially turns 4 months old!! I cannot believe it! It started off as a great day! He woke up feeling better, laughing and cooing. He ate a 7 oz bottle (very quickly) and used the bathroom before I could even change his nighttime diaper!! Then we played a little, watched TV, and cuddled before I had to leave for work.

About an hour and a half into the work day I heard "Brooke Bridges, you have a phone call on line one." I knew immediately it was Mrs. Julie calling about Brayden. He had run a fever close to 100. I ran to the office and told them I was leaving and rushed to pick my precious baby boy up on his 4 month birthday!!! We sat together the rest of the day. He didn't eat well and slept a lot. The pediatrician told me not to bring him in unless his fever reached 100.5, and assured me since he checked him Friday, he knew he was okay. It's been such a hard day listening to him fuss and not know how to help him. Anyone looking at his pictures from today would think he was a perfectly fine little boy...but mommy knows this is NOT her happy smiley baby. Hopefully he'll be back to himself soon. :(

New PJ's!

Getting ready for bed!

Telling mommy and daddy goodnight!

Loves those hands!!!

Being sweet.

My favorite part of his new pj's!!

In the past few weeks, it seems like Brayden has just sprouted all over! We are having to trade out all his sleep and play outfits for new ones! This is mommy's favorite new one!!