fun with friends

On Saturday evening we got together with friends for yummy food, good conversation (the gals), and some wii (the guys).   Of course I don't have any pictures of the adults, but here are the kiddos . . . ;)

Braden hit the jackpot . . . Schrocks (our hosts) had a ton of fun toys for Braden.  Tori is showing him all the cool things this exersaucer can do!

This toy was actually an exersaucer/walker . . .  B loved it.

He also had a great time with this mirror toy.  Thanks, Tori, for sharing your cool stuff!

And we may have met a new favorite - the johnny jumperoo!  This is also a toy of  Tori's . .  Braden tried it at her house and liked it, so they let us bring it home to borrow.  

So much fun!

Just like Daddy

Overheard

Tonight Billy was upstairs bathing our babe.  This is what I overheard from the kitchen as I was unloading the dishwasher:

"Hey, there is no peeing in the pool.  That is a rule, dude.  No peeing in the pool."

Oops.  Guess you need to run that bath again, dear hubby! :)

Can it really be almost the end of April? In some ways time is flying by, and in other ways it drags.  According to my count, we are down to 28 school days remaining - whew!  The end of the year always sort of sneaks up on me (even when looking forward to it) - especially this year, since it has been cold for so long.  This week definitely feels more like spring - finally!  I mentioned in an earlier post that we've enjoyed getting out for walks.  Well, now we can walk in style!  

We finally broke down and got a new stroller . . . our old one was acceptable and served it's purpose (Craig and his list helped us find great deals on a lot of our baby gear), but was lacking.  The old one was used, and to be honest, looked old (as in out of date) and used . . . I'm sure we got our $30 worth of use out of it several times over (ah, the fond memories of our weekly trips to the mall to get out of the house while I was on maternity leave; Braden napping in the stroller and me browsing leisurely and enjoying shopping during the uncrowded weekday).   While I loved the old stroller for popping the infant car seat in and out, the actual stroller seat only had a waist seatbelt, not a 5 point harness.  

Since Braden is getting a little big for his infant seat - his legs sort of hang out (we still have to use it in the car until he is a year and 20 pounds, but there is no reason to scrunch him in it for stroller rides) and loves to sit up, we wanted to try the forward facing/regular seat - but I was afraid he'd either wiggle out of it or pitch forward with only the waist belt. 

The feature I love most about our new "wheels" is that the seat part (with a 5 point harness, of course!) can be forward facing (as in the picture), or you can pop it out (even with baby buckled in) and switch it to rear facing . . . . I like this option, because while B likes to see the world, there are some times that I think it would be helpful for me to see him (and I just like looking at his sweet face).  We can also still pop in the car seat with this stroller if we need to . . . so I am hoping we will get lots of use out of it.  So far we really like the smooth ride and features. And, yeah, it just looks cooler. wink.

Tomorrow little man has his 6 month check up - can't wait to find out his official weight/height - all that good stuff!  I'm guessing he's gained a lot since he's been loving his solids! Sometimes I think he looks so big, then other times he looks little - so I am anxious to find out his percentiles too. 

Here's a new habit - Braden likes to put his left leg up when he eats - looks so funny, especially when he actually crosses his legs!

A few other pics that were on my camera . . . here's where you'll likely find our guy - the exersaucer is still a favorite hang out spot.

 . . . another favorite thing is to always have something to chew on!

Concert and the Cubs

On Saturday night Billy and I went with Allie and Beth to the Rock & Worship Roadshow . . . it was a great concert!  It was awesome to see the US Cellular Center packed out with people praising God.  

We sat up high, but had a good view of the stage, and liked all the bands. My favorite part was when Mercy Me sang I Can Only Imagine . . . that's a favorite worship song of mine; it always gives me goosebumps - and was awesome to hear live! The only bad thing about this concert was that it was sooooo hot - do we look a little "glisteny?" 

On Sundays Braden and I usually go to my parents' house for dinner with the family.  Here's the little man perched in my old high chair!  

He's sporting the Cubs bib today to cheer on his Daddy's favorite team - Go Cubbies!

Playtime with auntie Allie . . . At this stage whenever Braden is playing on the floor, a blanket is a must (if you care about the carpet - he spits up without notice).  Today I grabbed one from the closet of my old bedroom, and Mom told me that this quilt was made for me when I was a baby by my great great aunt.  How fun is that?  I love old quilts, especially when you know who made them (and it turns out it was made for you)!

Stripes and smiles

We've been loving the warmer weather the past couple days - please stay, Spring!  It's been great to get out on walks to enjoy the sunshine.  I am really looking forward to summer vacation (we're down to 32 school days, I think!) . . . and spending lots of time with Braden.

This week has been so busy that some days I feel like I hardly get to see him.  I don't know that I am really cut out to be a stay at home mom, and it's really not an option for us, but sometimes it's tough to be a working momma.  Yesterday I woke Braden up at 7:15, changed him and we were out the door to daycare by 7:30.  After work, Billy picked him up and they headed out to see Grandma and Grandpa Hartsock since I was going to be at book club for the evening . . . when I got home around 10, Braden was still up (I know, yikes!), so I got to get him ready for bed and cuddled with him for 15-20 minutes . . . making the grand total of my time spent with him for the day around a half an hour.  Ouch.  At least Braden got some good "daddy" time (and grandma/grandpa time) in!

Of course not all days are like that (in fact Monday I had a vacation day and got to snuggle/play with him the whole day), but still . . . I am SO looking forward to spending more time with our sweetie.  

Here are a few shots from my camera this week:

So cute in stripes (even stripes with green beans on them!)

Smiley sweetheart

Happy Easter!

Braden's first Easter was a busy one!  We celebrated that Jesus is risen this morning at East Union's brunch and worship service, then came home for naps before visiting Great Grandma Boese at the nursing home and then dining at my aunt and uncle's for a delicious Easter dinner with the extended Miller family.  

Here's Braden in his Easter outfit (not so fun/cute for boys!), and his Easter basket.

Visiting Great Grandma

At the Miller gathering

Hangin' out with second cousins, Madi and Will

For lunch Braden tried a new veggie - carrots!  Yum - O!

And some pics from last week that I haven't posted:

B loves to "stand"

A new favorite toy - a little barn that has little plush farm animals that make noises when squeezed (I need to get a video of his giggle when we make the duck quack - it is priceless!) . . . and of course Braden loves to chew the animals too!

Groovin' in the exersaucer - Braden has discovered that he can bounce around in it, and loves it.

squeezable

I picked up Braden's 6 month pictures tonight . . . looking at them just makes me want to scoop him up and give him a squeeze!

6 months

We can hardly believe that Braden is 6 months old already . . . that's 1/2 a year (obviously), and in 6 more months he'll be one (profound thought, I know) - but, WOW, time flies! It does not seem like he can be this old already.

At six months, Braden:

•  is liking solids: rice cereal, grean beans, squash, bananas, pears, peaches, and peas (not in order of preference!)

• can hold his own bottle

• can roll back to belly and belly to back

• loves his exersaucer

• has 2 teeth 

• is interested in books and toys (mainly his links and any stuffed/plush toy that he can chew on)

• is giggling

• recognizes his name

• is realizing when we leave the room, and this upsets him

• has been waking up in the night (we think due to teething, and are hoping he goes back to being our "all through the night" sleeper soon!)

• likes to stick out his tongue and smile

• enjoys peek a boo immensely 

Braden also loves to touch everything, and likes to see what we are doing:

Here we go again . . . the monthly shots:

1 month

2 months

3 months

4 months

5 months

And  . . . 6 months!!!

Braden is definitely starting to fill out this little outfit - I don't know if we'll be able to do a whole year's worth of pictures in it.

Tonight we took our sweet boy to take his 6 month pictures . . . after the last trip to take pics, I was a little wary (he cried and spit up the whole time, but the photographer still got some cute ones - the current header to the blog is from that last trip).  But he did GREAT!  Oh my, did our babe ham it up for the photographer today.  In fact, we took the pictures at the mall, and he was photographed in a room that has a glass wall/window looking out into the mall - and people were stopping to watch him get his picture taken.  So funny!

You can check out the pics here

(click on 4/3, and the password is braden)

I am so excited to pick up our order :)  I'll post the new pictures on the blog when we get them, in case the link doesn't work.

And then there were two

Do I look tired?  It's hard work being a baby . . .

Some days you feel like this:

 . . . or this:

And you feel best with something in your mouth to chew on all the time . . .

But then a(nother) tooth pokes through and you feel soooo much better! (Yep - that makes 2!)

(But you still won't let your mommy take a picture of your teeth - you stick out your tongue instead.)

Or just smile and wait for her to put down that camera!

And life is good again . . .

 . . . especially when you feel like a "big boy" because you are so good at sitting!

And you feel much better when you get to play with your grandpas (because you have them both wrapped around your sweet little finger!) . . .

Grandpa Ed helping Braden "learn" to crawl

 . . . and Grandpa Jim making him smile and giggle!

So really, even though it's tough sometimes, 

life is good.

Finally, a photo with Mommy (since she takes most of the pictures and there are almost zero pictures of the two of us - yes, Mommy took this one too)!