Silly Brayden

Happy Birthday Brayden!!!

I can't believe that 1 year ago tonight, I was in the hospital holding my tiny newborn son! Wow how fast this past year has flown by!!

October 20, 2008

October 20, 2009

Brayden has been nothing but a joy to us this past year! He is the happiest, most easy going baby ever! We are so totally spoiled and with each day, he brings more and more happiness to our home.

To celebrate Brayden's 1st Birthday, I took the day off work and took Brayden to Marbles Kids Museum in downtown Raleigh. My best friend from college, Beth, her husband, Jeffrey, and 2 boys, Luke (2) and Vince (10 months) came from Burlington to hang out with us. We had a great time at Marbles and enjoyed a nice picnic lunch outside in the beautiful sun. Brayden and Vince have both recently started walking so it was great to have the 2 boys together for the day. I think Luke & Jeffrey had a great time at the museum as well!

Driving his first car

Brayden & Vince playing together at Marbles

Brayden LOVED going down the slides!

Playing with a hula hoop. Who knew that they could be so much fun!


After our trip to Marbles, Brayden had his 1 year check-up. He weighted in at 19 pounds 6 ounces (7th percentile) and 28/5 inches long (11th percentile). While we waited to see the Dr, Matt & Brayden spent some quality time together looking out the window and talking about the trees.


After a big dinner it was time for the Birthday Party. Brayden had several cards and 2 gifts from Mommy & Daddy to open.

Then we had Birthday Cake!!! Harris Teeter does a free small cake for 1st birthdays. It is the perfect size for little hands to dig into :)

Patiently waiting on his Birthday Cake

After a few hesitant pokes, Brayden dug right in & started devouring the icing & cake! He looked like a little blue smurf before it was over with!

I don't know about this...

I think I like cake!

My little Blue Smurf
Before

After

Happy Birthday Brayden! We love you SO much! You are the light of our life everyday!

Anniversary Trip to Williamsburg, VA

This past weekend, Matt and I left Brayden with Matt's parents and headed off to Williamsburg, VA to celebrate our 5 year anniversary. I can't belive that we have been married for 5 years. The time really has flown by!!

We took a slight detour to Norfolk so that I could see the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel! I LOVE bridges and water so when I saw that we would be relatively close to the Chesapeake Bay, I decided that we just had to go. Matt agreed, so off we went. The bridge-tunnel is one of the coolest things
ever! The water was super choppy too and so there were some HUGE waves!

The Chesapeake Bay Bridge (can you see the big waves?)

Ships waiting to come over the tunnel. There were 7 of them waiting just beyond the edge of the bay. I guess it was too choppy to come in.


Of course, our slight detour ended up being a much longer detour. Who knew that Norfolk as a big, bustling town?? Not me...we got stuck in horrible Friday afternoon traffic on our way from Norfolk to Williamsburg! Oh well! We made it. That's all that mattered anyway!

On Friday night, we had tickets to a "Ghosts Amongst Us" tour at 8:30. We headed out from our hotel at 6pm to find dinner. We knew where we wanted to go, but didn't know exactly where it was. This is NEVER a good idea in a new town! First, we turned the wrong way and had to turn around. Then, we turned down a street that really didn't have any food places on it. We sort of got stuck on the campus of the College of William & Mary. We couldn't figure out how to get off campus...it was dark & raining and there were NO signs! We finally headed back in the right direction and found "restaurant row". Of course, in the rain, we drove right by our target restaurant. We both saw it just after it was too late to turn in. So we turned around and came back. There were no parking places. Since we were on a time line for the tour, we decided to go to Chili's across the street...it was standing room only in the waiting area. OK..on to plan C. The hotdog place next to Chili's...it was closed. We finally ended up at McDonald's for our anniversary dinner!

The good news is that we made it to the Visitor's Center and our tour in plenty of time! Even through it was very COLD and rainy, the tour was great & I am super glad that we did it!

On Saturday, we slept in!!! Then we went back to Colonial Williamsburg for the day. We toured the Governor's Palace, Burton Parish Church (has help services every week since 1715!!!), and walked along the main street stopping in all of the little offices and stores.

Burton Parish Church

The Governor's Palace from afar

and up close

The guy in the corner was playing a Mineut for the people taking the Governor's Palace tours. He was really good & told a bit of music history from the 18th century.

Just a small sampling of the swords and guns that were in the Governor's Palace. This was in the Entrance Hall! In total there are 252 swords in the building and just about as many guns!!!


They still use oxen in Williamsburg to transport goods from place to place!

We also had lunch in a Colonial Tavern. We also got to see the Fife and Drum parade, made up of local kids. They were really good! On Saturday afternoon, we went to the Williamsburg Winery for a tour and tasting! That was really cool and the wine was really good! We also had a real Anniversary Dinner Saturday night!

On Sunday, we did a little shopping and had breakfast in a little college coffee shop. It was REALLY good coffee :) and then we headed home to get Brayden!

Happy Anniversary Matt! Here's to many more wonderful years! I love you!

Hillridge Farms

Yesterday, Brayden & I went to Hillridge Farms with our friends Chris, Kristin, & Brian! It was the perfect fall day and we all had a lot of fun!

We enjoyed a picnic lunch before going into the farm




There were lots of animals to see including a llama, bunnies, chickens, fish, ducks, goats, & ponies.


The boys (plus their mommies) got to play in a big corn box for a few minutes as well. The corn box was like a sandbox, but was filled with dried corn instead.


Brayden really seemed to enjoy playing with the corn, even though he also wanted to eat it. Then Chris & Brian and Brayden & I went down a giant slide. Brayden didn't seem to mind the slide, but it was rather bumpy for me.



Waiting in line for the slide


Wheeee!!! That was fun :)!!!


There was also a train ride, haybale maze, pony rides, and a bounce house. Because the boys are still a bit to young to really enjoy any of these things, we opted out of them, but did stop to wave at the train as it drove by. They boys enjoyed seeing the train and will probably really enjoy the train ride in a year or two.

The best part of the day was the hayride to the pumpkin patch! The hayride goes all over the farm, past lots of old farm buildings and crops.

Kristin, Brian, Brayden, & I on the hayride


Then you get to pick out a pumpkin to take home! We got lots of great photos of the boys in the pumpkin patch. Brayden was much more interested in crawling over and playing with all of the pumpkins.









*Thanks Chris for sharing your photos of Brayden!!

Walking...

It's Official! Brayden started walking Friday night! He had been taking a few steps each day for the previous week or so, but Friday...he just took off and walked all the way across the room! I LOVE it!!!

I am working on getting video, but of course, every time I get the camera or video camera out, he stops whatever he is doing. Maybe one day...

Wesley's Baptism

Matt, Brayden, & I attended Wesley's baptisim a few weeks ago in Burlington. Wesley is our godson & the son of my best friend from childhood. Julie & I have been friends since we were the boys ages and I can't wait to watch Brayden & Wesley grow up together! Matt and I were very honored to be chosen as Wesley's godparents and to be a part of his special day!

God bless you Wesley! We love you!

Wesley, Steve, Julie, & the Pastor


The whole family


Julie, Wesley, Brayden, & I

Busy Weekend

This past weekend was pretty busy for us!

On Friday night, Matt, BB, & Nanna took Brayden to his very 1st NCSU soccer game. Nanna has photos, but hasn't sent them to me yet. I will update the blog with photos when I get them! While they were at the soccer game, I went to some friend's house & helped sort & tag stuff for a huge yard sale on Saturday morning.

On Saturday, Matt helped at the yard sale while Brayden & I cleaned house & ran errands (and Brayden screamed for whatever reason)! Then on Saturday afternoon, we went to Buies Creek for a surprise birthday party for Matt's Uncle Eddie. Before the party, we stopped at Matt's parents house for a little while. BB got out his new toy/ride for Brayden.

Enjoying a wagon ride for the first time


Ok, I'm done...let me out!


Helping BB pull the wagon