Bumps and Bruises

What a week, got 3 separate bumps on the head this week.  First, falling into a corner while playing chase at a birthday party.  Then winning a tug of war game with a toy that hit him in the center of the forehead.  Then scraping up his forehead and nose running and sliding outside.  The latter two required parent signatures at the daycare.  Boys will be boys right?

Growing Up - Our Little Boy

This month Brady transitioned to the next room up, the Early Preschool I room.  Preschool?!?!  Would somebody please slow down time.  Without warning Brady has become a little boy, at 21 months old he's full of wants and needs and lots of energy.  His communication skills are improving - what was once one word sentences has now become 2 or 3 words.  Guess he hears us talking to Indy, because we get a lot of "Mommy/Daddy come" or "Mommy/Daddy sit".  And when he goes up to bed, he likes to say bye to everything like "Bye balloon", "Bye tent", "Bye tiger", etc.  He likes his movies, recently preferring Nemo or Lion King to Cars (finally, not sure how many more times we could watch Cars), but we try to limit TV/cartoons to lazy weekend mornings or when Mom and Dad need time to do chores.

His sense of independence is growing.  Now that he's a big a boy he has his own tent, chair, and TV.  Sounds like a typical man.  He enjoys playing in his tent inviting Mom, Dad, or Indy in to join him.  Instead of sliced apples, he prefers to eat whole apples (with supervision).  His legs were getting so long we turned his car seat around so he now faces forward.  He loved it the first day, saying "Wow" at all the new things he could see.  He can open doors with lever style handles, but not knobs just yet.  And he loves playing outside and with sticks (he must get this from Grandma Reggie).  He's such a good boy, always sharing his sticks with you, and he loves to scrape them and play in the dirt.  The outdoors is such a big adventurous place for him, he never wants to come inside.  Good habits take practice, and we always wash our hands when we come in.  With lots of wants, and limited communication skills, no toddler is exempt from tantrums.  We find we have less tantrums if we give him choices instead of telling him what he can or can't have, no different than any adult.

Getting excited for spring time here in Texas to take Brady back to the zoo or spend more time playing at the park.  Soon enough we'll be planning a 2 yr old birthday party.

EPS I Daily Schedule

Chillaxin' in his new chair

 Eating an apple like a big boy

 There was a football on top of that cupcake - where it'd go?

Yum a lemon

First day in the forward facing car seat = lots of smiles!

 The new tent

 A toddler bachelor pad in the making

Mommy came home from a business trip to be greeted by this smile = Love!

Brady & Keira Playdate Jan 2014

Starting off the new year with good friends!  Brady and Keira had their first play date of 2014 while the adults watched the NFC and AFC playoff games (the Patriots beat the Colts 43-22 to advance to the AFC championship game).  The kids had a blast playing together, running, giggling, chasing, and squealing.  It's so fun to watch them grow up together.  This visit you could see more distinct developmental changes - they're both talking clearer, they're able to vocalize happiness or frustration to each other (no, share!), they can both climb, and help one another out.  And it's really cute to hear them say each others names.  Can't believe they'll both be 2 in April!

 Giving each other high fives

 Playing Legos

 Sharing a seat

 Taking turns riding bikes

Keira taking a break with Mommy 

Brady posing with Mommy 

Keira and Daddy building a lego tower 

Mr thumb sucker

Playing with the new easel 

 Brady saying "Go Pats!"

Playing peek a boo in their "apartment"

(These videos, with sound, are located in the Videos folder on the right - enjoy!)

Holidays 2013

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

We had a wonderful Christmas, starting with Brady helping us pick out the tree.  Santa (and family) were very good to Brady giving him lots of new toys and things to play with.  This was Brady's second Christmas, so he understood things a little better and was able to unwrap presents on his own.  He also enjoyed going through the stocking from Santa.

Pick this one Mommy

Our family - Christmas 2013

Santa came!

 A farm from the Seminara Grandparents

An easel from Grandma Reggie and Jeff 

A train from Grandpa Bob and Grandma Terry

Stylin' in his new Elmo backpack

Checking out all the loot in his stocking

Christmas night we flew to Boston and spent the next week with the Muzzey family enjoying good times, good food, and good snow.  We stayed with Grandpa Bob and Grandma Terry, but got to see Grandma Reggie and Jeff, the Uncles (Erik, Chris, and Paul), as well as some of our extended family.  We enjoyed our second Christmas with the Muzzey family, with Brady getting all sorts of cool things to play with and the family having fun with the Christmas Yankee swap.  The rest of the week we made the most of the snow.  Dad and the Uncles skied fresh powder at Sunapee while Brady enjoyed sledding and building a snowman with Grandpa.

 Thank you Uncle Paul for helping me open my presents

Opening one of his own presents

 Playing legos with the Grandparents

Getting some help from Uncle Chris too

Jumping with Uncle Erik and Uncle Chris

Reading with Grandma Reggie

Enjoying some cards against humanity

Grandpa helping build a snowman

Brady decorating the snowman

Learning some good life skills haha

Having a blast in the snow

Sledding with Daddy, wheeee!

 Love this snow stuff

 Grandpa pulling Brady in the sled

No time for pictures, must play in the snow!

Happy holidays everyone

We also made it up to Rumney NH to see some of the extended family including Mom's cousin Angela and Aunt Rose.  Angela and her family live in the Jaquith grandparents old house and did an amazing job with the renovation from the kitchen, porch, and rebuilding the back of the house from a shed to an office and storage.  It looks great!  Next we stopped at Aunt Roses to see Great-Grandma, Rose, Uncle Skip, Aunt Diane, and Grandma Reggie and Jeff.  Uncle Skip and Brady had a great time playing together throwing balls, playing in the kiddie tent, and exploring the upstairs.  Brady was so wiped out after all this playing he barely ate dinner before he fell asleep for the night.

Brady (20 mos), Mommy, Pepper (21 mos), and Cousin Angela

Great-Grandma (90 yrs young), Mommy and Brady

Mom and Dad enjoyed an early New Years parents only getaway to the Mount Washington Hotel in northern NH.  This is a 112 year old hotel, and with 8" of fresh powder the hotel and scenery were amazing!  We did it up going on a sleigh ride, eating at the historic main dining room, and enjoying some nonalcoholic libations in some of the other historic rooms of the hotel.

 The majestic Mount Washington Hotel built in 1902

The lobby decorated for the holidays

The clouds cleared and the old man showed his face

The hotel after dark

Mom and Dad in front of the range

Brady stayed with the grandparents but Dos (#2) got to enjoy the hotel