Our week.......(last week)

I started this & several other posts last week & tried to finish them so many times but kept getting distracted at work (damn work) or while I was at home; there were so many things I want to get done that I keep overwhelming myself!! So here is a recap of last week & our weekend as well!

Brayden had such a great week; he had so many things happening & going on that I felt like I couldn't keep up with him & it was kind of bittersweet to watch him change & grow so much in only one week. We tried a few different foods over the last week!

We started off with sweet potatoes (actually the week before) & he loved them.......


then acorn squash (also the week before)...LOVED.......


then carrots....also LOVED


then we moved onto green beans......HATED.....



& then pears for breakfast; I just couldn't see giving him a veggie for breakfast anymore.....oh yeah & instead of mixing his fruit with rice cereal I am doing oatmeal!!


he then tried peas.......I was afraid that he would hate these too since they are green but he loves them!!



Next on the list is apples & bananas!!

He is trying all of this new & yummy homemade food in his new highchair.

I think the other one we had was just to hard for him & he does great in his new one. He will actually even sit in it while not eating & just play with toys while I am doing stuff in the kitchen (which is so helpful!!).

We also had a new arrival in our home last week....Sophie came last Tuesday & she is a big hit!! Brayden loves to eat & suck on her feet....see below! He is so cute when he finally gets her feet in his mouth he just sucks on them like a pacifier & Lance & I both just laugh!!


This was in Brayden's diaper bag when I picked him up on Wednesday.........

Yep, his first art project & it is beautiful!! I know that his teacher put the glue on the paper but he picked out the shapes he wanted & thn suck them there; his masterpiece is hanging on our fridge & I am so proud of little man. To be honest I cried when I saw it!!

What else do I need to report about my ever growing & changing little man? Yesterday at lunch he sat in the highchair at the restaurant almost the whole time. He just played with the toys on his cover, his own hands(he is obsessed with his hands) & of course with Sophie. I couldn't believe that he sat there happy & content for that long....my little man is becoming a "little man" & wow where did the time go??

Brayden now reaches & grabs for what he wants...including his PaPa's nose.....

Sometimes it takes him some time but he will eventually get whatever he is after :)

It was an amazing week I just wish time would slow down!! I feel like he is growing up so fast & I just want to make sure I don't miss one moment of it!!

Let's See If I Am Smart........

Did I figure out how to create a signature all on my own????
I sure as hell did!!!

Brayden At School.....

I was just sent these from his school; they were taken all this week & have made my day!! He does all of this at home too but it makes me happy to see him happy while there :)

Eating his yummy carrots......

He loves this darn play mat.....he would lay under it for hours at home if I let him.

Look at him sitting up all by himself........

Just Chillin....

Showing off his chest muscles.....

Custom Blog Design Giveaway

Need a blog makeover? Head on over to Leelou Swag to enter! She's giving away a $50 custom blog design package!
Giveaway ends friday January 15!!!!

Baby Food Recalled In Georgia

Go to this link to see what products were recalled.

Haiti Relief Efforts

I guy that I work withs wife works for FEMA & FEMA sent the below email out to their employees regarding the Haiti Relief Efforts; I thought I would post this just in case anyone wanted to help & didn't know how or where to go. There is a link on the bottom of this letter (highlighted area) that will direct you to a government website that lists several legit charities that you can donate money to if you are so inclined.

Message from Administrator Fugate on Haiti relief efforts.
FEMA Team,
Initial reports from Haiti in the wake of yesterday's earthquake are concerning and troubling. During times like these, FEMA along with the entire emergency response community stands ready to assist those in need.

I know a number of you have expressed interest in supporting the response operations and a willingness to deploy if needed. It is important to reiterate that FEMA remains in a support role to the U.S. Department of State and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), and will only deploy assets if tasked to do so by the State Department or USAID.

We also all understand the urgency with which State and USAID employees are working, and volume of phone calls and email they are receiving. Therefore, any contact with State and USAID must be coordinated through our State liaison in the NRCC. FEMA employees should not be reaching out directly to contacts without this coordination.

The most urgent need that FEMA employees can fulfill at this time is to support ongoing disaster relief fundraising efforts. To help, I urge you to go online to http://www.interaction.org/crisis-list/earthquake-haiti to find relief organizations supporting the response in Haiti and make a contribution to support the disaster relief efforts.

Thank you for your continued hard work and commitment to FEMA.

Craig Fugate
FEMA Administrator

Brayden's Play Room

I can not believe that I do not have 1 picture of what this room used to look like & I am constantly taking pictures........this is the beginning stages of Brayden's playroom (these were taken a few weeks ago!!). We decided that he needed more space of his own since he got so many new & big toys for Christmas & we didn't want to shove them all in his nursery or leave them all over the house (we are kind of neat freaks this way!!)





More pictures to come soon!!

Sweet Potatoes....

I feel like I have to catch up on so much stuff so I guess I will start on what Brayden has been eating. He started on solids & ate the rice cereal alright & then we added some yummy homemade sweet potatoes into the mix.......




I know that in the first one he looks unhappy but that is because he was tired not because he didn't like my cooking :) We have since done acorn squash & he is actually starting on carrots today; I will have to post pictures of him trying these & in his new highchair later tonight since all of the pictures are on our computer at home. I have to say that I am really enjoying making his food & it is so easy to do!!

Weekend Review....

We had a nice weekend together; with it being so cold & all the snow that GA got (hahaha) we just stayed home on Saturday & did stuff around & in the house. We are almost done with Brayden's playroom & got the guest room upstairs rearranged & organized. Sunday we went out & about with Lance's mom & dad & had such a good time but again it was so cold we didn't keep Brayden out too long......the last thing that we need it for him to get sick again!!

I guess the most exciting thing that happened this weekend was when we were waiting to be seated for lunch on Sunday; Brayden gave his 1st ever hug & let me just say it melted Lance to the core. Lance was holding & talking to him & Brayden looked at him with his big baby blues, put both arms around his shoulders, put his head down on Lance's shoulder & squeezed!! I cried & smiled & wished I had my camera to capture the love filled grin that was on Lance's face......it was a priceless moment :)

Here's our little man......he wasn't upset but quickly figured out that this face would make momma come running to see what he needs!!!


Oh yeah & we finally dropped our canvas wedding portrait off at Michael's to get framed....it only took us over 2 years!! It will be ready in 2 weeks & I can't wait to pick it up & hang it!!!

Sunshine Award....WOO HOO!!

The Sunshine Award is awarded to bloggers who's positivity and creativity inspires others in the blog world & it was awarded to me by Suzy at Quirky Combinations. It is really a sweet & uplifting gift that she has given me today.....so THANK YOU!!!

The rules for accepting this award are as follows:

1. Put the logo on your blog.
2. Pass the award along to 10 fellow bloggers.
3. Link to those nominated within your post.
4. Let the nominees know that they have received this award by commenting on their blog.
5. Share the love and link to the person from whom you received this award.

Here are 10 ladies blogs that I love to read; they each inspire me in a different way & when I read them I may smile, laugh out loud, cry or just generally be uplifted by their day to day life!!

Nolan's Story
Chapters of Our Life
Baby Foreste!
Blonde Ambition
Our Road To Parenthood
Our Precious Jas
Mrs. southern Belle
History of the Harveys
Derek and Stefani
Breaking New Ground

10 Honest Things About My Life

I was tagged by Jeannie at Perfectly Imperfect & also by Mrs. D. over at The Power of the Pink Lines to tell you guys 10 HONEST things about my life so here we go!

1. I LOVE laundry; I love to wash it, dry it, fold it, hang it, the smell of it, putting it away....the whole process....I LOVE LAUNDRY!!

2. I moved in with my hubby only 2 weeks after knowing him.....we just knew that we were meant be & didn't care how it looked or what people thought about us.

3. Brayden is my greatest accomplishment.....the joy & love I feel for him is indescribable; he is the most wonderful & joyous little boy & he is the best of both Lance & I!!

4. I am a neat freak with everything.....I mean a FREAK; to the point that I will get mad at Lance when he puts the dishes away wrong or in the wrong place!!

5. I miss my mom everyday; my parents live in VA Beach & they are actually getting ready to move to NM to take care of my Grandmother (dad's mom) & I understand why they are going of course but I don't get to see her that often now & when they move it will probably be even less.

6. I loved being pregnant; I loved feeling Baby B moving in my belly everyday & I loved how close & protected I felt like I was keeping him PLUS I didn't get sick at all..not one day!!

7. I LOVE reality TV.....I would have to say my favorite addiction is "The Real Housewives" & yes I watch all of them from Orange County (my fave), New Jersey, New York, Atlanta (gives us a bad name but what can ya do?), & soon I am sure I will love the new location........Washington DC!!

8. I make a fool of myself when it comes to making Brayden happy; I will jump around, sing, dance, what ever it takes to put a smile on my baby boys face!!

9. I love my husband more than I can ever tell him. We have our issues & I feel that right now things are tough & distant between us BUT I would do anything for him; he is my soul mate & I thank God for joining us in life, marriage & family every day!!

10. Lance & I have not been back to church since Brayden was born! I don't have a reason why we just haven't & I am so disappointed in us. I love our church & love the closeness I feel to God when we are there; that's it we are going this coming Sunday!!!

And now I will pass you along to 5 bloggers that I feel are deserving of this award as well:

HisLovf at Baking BabyLovf

Sar(Mrs.Teddy) at Becoming a Mommy

Jennifer at Blonde Ambition

Rachel H. at History of the Harveys

Jacqueline and Andy at Marbles Rolling

Snow....Well Ice Day!!

So this is what our back & front yards look like......



hardly any snow fell last night BUT the ice it turned into on the roads caused everything to close on GA so this means I get to have a 3 day weekend with Brayden!! WOO HOO!!!! We are going to have a fun filled day of play; Brayden is very happy about this & we have already started with the fun......

BCS Championship Game - Who To Cheer For??

Tonight is the BCS National Championship game & I am having a hard time deciding on who to cheer for!! I am a GA Bulldog so I should be cheering "Roll Tide" since they are in the SEC.......HOWEVER if it wasn't for the Longhorns I feel I would never have met my wonderful hubby.

It was 4 years almost to the day (January 4, 2006) & I was hanging out with one of my best girlie's (she was born & raised in Texas) so we went up to out local bar in Buckhead....the good ol Bucketshop.....& while we were there cheering "hook em horns" in walked the man that was going to change my life forever.

Lance walked in & sat down across the bar & I was floored by his good looks when I noticed over there looking at me. He sent Pam & I drinks & then came over to talk to me......well when he got up out of his bar stool I noticed that he was short. He wasn't & isn't really short but I am 5'10.5" & I USED to be hung up on things like that; so needless to say I wasn't the nicest person & told him right off the bat "I don't date short people". That's right I said that to his face; I guess it was a good thing I did because he told me right then & there he would change that & HE DID!! It is still a joke to this day that I don't date short people I just marry them :)

But anyway back to the who to cheer for; I will be saying "ROLL TIDE" since Lance says we have to root for an SEC win but my heart will be saying "HOOK EM HORNS"!! I just brought myself to tears of joy. I love you baby & I am so happy that you walked into that bar that night....Big Kisses & all my love & devotion!!

Brayden Is 5 Months Old....(actually he was on Monday)

The past 5 months have gone by so fast; it is amazing how much he has grown & changed in only 5 months.

-He weighted 16.7 pounds when we took him to the doctor on 12/26.
-He is wearing a size 3 diaper.
-He loves his feet.....if he sees them he grabs them.
-He is wearing 6 month clothes (the waists are a bit big but the length is perfect; do they make tall baby clothes??)
-He drools like a crazy man however I don't see any sign of teeth coming through
-He is eating solid (homemade) foods
-He is sitting up with out help; he is still wobbly but he is getting the hang of it
-He is trying to push himself forward with his legs when he is on his belly (crawling is hopefully not too far away)
-He is giggling & babbling like crazy; it is the sweetest sound that I have ever heard
-HE IS THE HAPPIEST, MOST LOVING, ADORABLE, WONDERFUL & PERFECT LITTLE BOY!!!

I Just Ordered.....

New food storage & travel containers for Brayden's solid foods; I ordered then from Innobaby. I found these containers over at the Marbles Rolling blog; I love this blog & really appreciate her sharing her wonderful find & can't wait for them to get here. I am making all of Brayden's food (started with sweet potatoes this week) & these are going to hopefully make the storage of his food at home & transporting his food to & from school a lot easier & convenient!

I get so excited about anything Brayden, baby, organization, & storage these days & it just makes me giggle!!