Our Journey

Braden, Reese & Alex

2011-10-17T09:20:00.001-05:00

Alex Taylor Wysocki

2011-10-14T14:34:00.003-05:00

Baby Alex joined our family on October 6, 2011 at 4:41 am. He is healthy and beautiful. It all began on Wednesday night at 11:30 pm when my water broke. I was sleeping when this happened so I jumped out of bed. I woke Brian up and called the doctor. They told me to go in to the hospital. Braden and Reese were quick labors so they didn't want me to wait. We had to pack the kids in the car and drive the hospital at midnight. The kiddos were amazing. They were so good for Brian and waited patiently for our friend to come and get them. Right about at 1:30 am, the contractions started getting painful. I was able to get my epidural at 2am. I rested until around 4:25 am when it was time to push. It was 4:41 am when they told me it was a boy!

A boy, I couldn't believe it! A beautiful boy. :)

All of us waiting for Donna to come and get the kids and take them back to bed.

Waiting in the birthing room.

Alex was 8.0 lbs and 20 inches.

Braden and Reese visit their brother for the first time.

Braden, Reese & Alex.

Alex and Mama

Alex

Proud big brother.

My dad came to help us out for a week.

Alex snoozing at home.

Alex under the billy blanket.

He was jaundice and needed a little extra help getting the bilirubin out of his system. The "blanket" was really a blue fiber-optic light that was applied to his skin. He didn't mind it at all.

We are finally settling in. It was a bit of a whirl-wind this time. Reese and Braden were sick for a few days and Brian was running around getting the kids to school, taking care of me and the house. Now that we are all home and the doctor visits are all complete, we are able to enjoy our new addition. I have been recovering well and Alex is back to birth weight. Thank you for keeping us in your thoughts and prayers.

1st Day of Kindergarten

2011-08-31T09:31:00.005-05:00

For two days we have anticipated the first day of Kindergarten. Unfortunately his school had lost power due to the storm from the weekend.

Today was the day! He went on that big bus and Brian and I couldn't be more proud! What a GREAT day!

33 Weeks Pregnant

2011-08-27T13:25:00.003-05:00

Here I am at 33 weeks pregnant. Everything is moving along just fine. The baby is VERY active. I still think the baby is a girl. We have a girl's name picked out but still haven't thought a boy's name. We seem to get closer, but then we change it. We didn't decide on Reese's name until she was born, so maybe it will be the same this time around. I am going to the doc every two weeks at this point and hope to work up until week 39. I guess we will just have to see how I feel.

Another lost tooth and rainy day fun

2011-08-27T13:06:00.003-05:00

Braden lost his other front, bottom tooth! It happened while he, Reese and Brian were playing around. All the sudden, we were all searching for a little tooth in the carpet! Reese found it and the tooth fairy came that night!

We have also had some rainy weekends, which has been nice. I like the rain. I love to curl up on the couch and watch a movie or bake cookies. It has also given Brian and I some time to focus on getting the baby's room ready. We are not there just yet, but we are getting closer. I have to finalize some details at work and we need to move a few more things around the house. When all that happens, maybe I will sleep a little better, or not! It is not exactly comfortable to sleep with this large belly!

Reese as a robot.

Braden & Reese.

Can you see the whole?

It is a little easier in this picture!

"Fishing" on a rainy afternoon.

Happy Birthday Reese

2011-08-11T11:33:00.011-05:00

Reese turned 4 yesterday! I can't believe my baby is 4! She is just such a sweet little girl with a lot of spunk! We had a bowling party for her on Saturday with her friends from school and it went really well. Brian and I just love watching each of them grow up. I have never felt like I wanted to them to stay little, I just enjoy the age that they are and marvel in how quickly they learn and how easily they love!

Here are some pictures from yesterday. Brian made the cake, all chocolate, and she was given her new bike!

Summer

2011-07-31T20:04:00.003-05:00

I love summer time. I love summer food, relaxing weekends, and the slower pace. Everything slows down a bit. This summer we are preparing for Braden to enter Kindergarten. I took him shopping for a book bag and all his supplies. It is rare that I get to spend time with just him so it was such a treat! I love that little boy.

Here are a few pictures from our hot summer weekend!

Braden lost his first tooth!

2011-07-28T18:44:00.002-05:00

Finally, his first tooth fell out! The tooth fairy came and it looks like she gives silver dollars! Cool!

First teeth in.....
First teeth out....

The other bottom tooth should be falling out soon. :)

June....

2011-07-04T11:14:00.011-05:00

What a busy month June was! We celebrated Brian on Father's Day! Braden and Reese made some great stuff for him at pre-school. Brian really is a great father and we wanted to make the day special for him!

We also had some time in the pool as the temperature goes up! I really need to get the kids some swimming lessons. There is always next year....

My brother and his wife Yi welcomed a little girl, Amber Kay, into the world!

http://steveyi.homeip.net/blog/wp-content/gallery/amber-birthday/p1030884.jpg

Finally, we rounded the month out with a trip back to Michigan for my brother-in-law's wedding. Congratulations Jeremy and Courtney! I don't have a lot of pictures to post since I had my hands full with Braden and Reese, but here are a few.

All ready for the rehearsal.

Reese walking down the isle with her soon-to-be cousin Jaden.

Brian giving a toast to the new couple.

Cousins....

This the best family shot we could get.

After the wedding we escaped to Traverse City for a few days. It was a bit chilly, and it felt so good! We knew the next time we would wear anything other than summer clothes is going to be October so we enjoyed all TC had to offer! We went shopping, out to eat, out for ice cream and fudge. We walked along the beach, played miniature golf and rode in go-carts!

Braden and Reese were just tall enough to ride as passengers in the BIG go-carts!

Pirates! Watch out!

Dinner with Uncle Tom before we went back to Maryland.

21 Weeks Pregnant

2011-06-02T18:17:00.002-05:00

Playing Catch Up

2011-06-01T18:45:00.005-05:00

Sorry for the length between posts. It has been a little busier lately. This will be my catch up post and I will try to be a bit more regular from here on out!

It has been one year since we moved into our new house. It is hard to believe. We still have boxes in the basement! We were reluctant to get rid of the baby stuff and for good reason. We just weren't done adding to our family! Our newest addition will join us mid-October and we couldn't be more excited. I finally feel better, which is amazing. The car-sickness is lingering, but it isn't as terrible as it was.

In order to catch up quickly, here is the last few months in pictures....

Coloring Easter Eggs

Easter Morning (Sorry, no Easter outfit pictures this year)

Easter Egg Hunt

Field Trip to the Baltimore Zoo

Braden and Reese are riding the Banana Ride to cool off from the 95 degree weather!

Playing with monster trucks.

Helping Daddy mow.

Showing off the new Optimus Prime mask and bubble maker.

This has just been a taste of what we have been experiencing this spring. The weather is hot and we are bracing yet another Maryland summer. It is hard to believe that we have lived here for 8 years! Time goes quickly.

Spring Pictures

2011-04-27T17:27:00.003-05:00

Braden and Reese recently had their pictures taken at school. They turned out pretty nicely. Braden wouldn't smile very easily, but the did capture the one moment where he couldn't hold it in anymore.

We are all doing well in Maryland. Happy Spring!

Slippers and Legos

2011-01-03T18:19:00.003-05:00

We were back to our routine today, well except Brian; he had an extra day off! So far 2011 is off to a great start! We know this New Year will bring so much more than we can imagine and Brian and I ready to embrace it all! With that said, we enjoyed some simple pleasures this weekend....Reese with her Yoda slippers and Braden with his Star Wars legos. :)

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year

2010-12-31T14:36:00.004-05:00

From our family to yours, Merry Christmas. I hope you had a wonderful holiday. This year has been so good to us and we are so thankful for all that we have.

Christmas this year was spent at home. We didn't travel and, I must say, it was wonderful to wake up in our own house on Christmas morning.

Here are some pictures from Christmas morning.

Braden is 5 years old!

2010-12-06T18:42:00.005-05:00

Braden has turned 5 and he had his first big birthday party. He invited his friends from his class along with some of the other friends he has grown up with. There were 17 children and NO I did not have this at my house! :) It was at a Jump Zone where there are inflatable bounce toys. They jumped and jumped until their little hearts were content. It was topped off with pizza and a VERY cool superman cake! He was so happy and that is why we did it. Everyone was there for just him and it warmed my heart.

Happy Birthday Reese!

2010-08-10T18:55:00.003-05:00

We love you so much, our sweet little girl!

Happy 3rd Birthday!

My little soccer player

2010-05-18T18:36:00.003-05:00

I signed Braden up for soccer!! I am so excited, not because it is soccer, but because he is so excited. Brian and I are going to let him try different sports and let us know which one he really enjoys. Soccer is the first stop so on Tuesday's at 5:30 he gets to run around with other 4 year olds and 'Coach Vinnie' and have some fun. The last two Tuesday's it has been raining so they have held the practice at a local dome.

Braden next to the goal post closest to the camera.

Here is Braden taking a water break.

The video is a little blurry, but you can see Braden in the gray shirt and the black pants. Also, he has a red ball.

In the second video he is kicking a white ball and goes off the screen for a few seconds. I hope you can find him!

Mother's Day

2010-05-09T11:15:00.003-05:00

For 5 years I have been celebrated on Mother's Day. It is hard to believe. The first time is very special, but now it is different, more meaningful in some ways because Braden and Reese are the ones making the card or picking out the flowers. Braden made me a necklace at school and Reese make me a bracelet out of beads. I wore them both to church this morning. They also went with Brian to pick out some flowers, petunias. :)

Braden's card and gift. he painted the flower pot at school.

Back to Updates

2010-04-09T12:46:00.004-05:00

Well, this is the first post from our new house. It feels good to be here. We had lots of help, which was AMAZING and we are mostly moved in. I am not sure how long it will take. We love the house, but it needs updating. We can't wait to paint and make the improvements! Brian's drive is much shorter and he is much happier. It also feels good to have a bigger backyard and to have trees surrounding us. We can't wait to share it with all of you!

I have finally downloaded our pictures. Here are some recent pictures from before and after the move.

Having fun packing...

Playing in the big moving truck

Having fun

Easter

Easter Egg Hunt

Wearing Braden's old PJ's for a 90 degree day in April. I just wasn't ready for that and Reese didn't have anything to wear to bed!

Under Contract

2010-02-16T08:06:00.002-05:00

I was noticing that my last post was during the 1st snow storm before Christmas. Now I will post after 2 more storms! We have a lot of snow! The public schools have been closed since last Monday and I am not sure when they are going to re-open. Now that we are shoveled out, we are house searching as often as we can. We are going to look at a few homes on Thursday evening, hopefully we will find, 'the one'. I am not nervous yet, but our house is under-contract so we need to move out by March 31st! It is exciting to move and yet a little more complicated with two little ones. We have been talking to them about it in hopes of making a smooth transition for them. They will have to switch preschools.

Anyway, I will get some pics up soon. We have SO many from the storms! The only other time I can remember having this much snow all at once was in Kalamazoo. :) Fond memories....

Playing in the Snow

2009-12-20T11:44:00.002-05:00

Snow....

2009-12-19T11:46:00.003-05:00

Hot Chocolate...

Braden's Birthday

2009-12-05T08:31:00.003-05:00

Braden has turned 4 years old. I can hardly believe it! This year he received his first big bike, with training wheels of course. He loves it. We took him outside to try out the bike on the night of his birthday, but ever since he has been practicing riding it in the house because it is so dark in the evening. I am sure we will get him outside again soon.

This was from the night of his birthday. It was so cold outside.

Happy Birthday Braden!

Some fall pictures...

2009-11-16T19:49:00.005-05:00

Annapolis..... Braden is pretending to be a pirate here. (FYI)

Just one pic of a sassy girl with a snarl.....

Playing in the leaves....

Halloween

2009-10-31T19:46:00.005-05:00

We had such a nice time with friends tonight for Halloween. We went 'trick or treating' early because it was going to rain. It was the warmest and most humid Halloween I have ever experienced. (72 degrees) The kids were actually too hot and we took off the tops of their outfits so they could cool off. That was a first! Here are some pictures and videos from the evening.

Just in case you are wondering, I am a butterfly, Brian was Sherlock Holmes, Braden was a tiger and Reese was a kitty.

They actually smiled at the same time!!!!!!

What have we been up to?

2009-10-26T18:06:00.005-05:00

Well, where do I begin after months of no posts? I am not too sure! I guess I can start with the exciting news that I have returned to work. I had been looking for the right time and right job to re-enter the workforce and I found it. I am very passionate about health education and community programs and know that I have so much to offer. I am working at the University of Maryland Medical Center in Shock Trauma. I working on the behalf of Trauma Survivors. You can check out the link below to see more. http://www.traumasurvivorsnetwork.org/

Other events that have kept us busy are....

Reese turning two!!!! My baby girl is getting so big.

We have also attended a few weddings. The first was my brothers. He and Yi were married in Frankenmuth. Below is a picture of Reese hugging the big pig in downtown Frankenmuth. We had such a wonderful time.

The second wedding we attended was that of a long time friend of mine, Jenine, to Miles Brown. It was, also, a beautiful weekend of events for this lovely couple.

We have also spent some time in downtown Baltimore. We took the kids on a carousal ride and Reese had to ride the pig. (Are you seeing a theme?)

We have also spent some time at a farm in Maryland with Nursery Rhyme figures displayed throughout the grounds. It was really fun and we were able to pick up a few little pumpkins and take a hay-ride while we were there.

So sorry

2009-07-28T20:15:00.001-05:00

I am so very sorry that I have not updated in a while! I will try and get to that asap. Stay tuned.....

Pictures from the pool

2009-06-25T17:02:00.005-05:00

Now that Braden and Reese are more comfortable in the water, I was able to snap a few pictures of them while they were playing!

I bought them a 'special treat' at the pool today...and one for me too!

eating ice cream

playing in the pool

June Update

2009-06-17T12:41:00.005-05:00

Well summer is almost in full effect around here. We have joined a pool to take the edge off the hot days and it has been a wonderful escape. Braden and Reese love the water and have a great time cooling off. The best part is that I get to cool off too! Braden fell in once so far but it hasn't deterred him from going back in.

Brian and I are doing well. We are staying very busy around the house planting flowers, keeping up on the yard, cleaning out stuff that has accumulated since having Braden and Reese, etc. Brian's work is busy but great. He still enjoys working at BAE and we hope to eventually move a little closer so he can down on his 50 mile commute. I am finishing up some volunteer work for the ACS. I should be all finished by the end of the week. I have also been job searching. Sending out resumes and writing cover letters is my most time consuming task. It is really wearing me out because I have been looking for work for one year! I can't see the light at the end of the tunnel and that can be disheartening. I would really like to return to work this fall, but I am not sure that is going to happen.

Braden is doing well. He has a new scooter that he likes to ride and likes to play all kinds of games like "I spy". It is really cute to hear him say, "I spy with my little eye..." He is still a very sweet, shy boy.

Reese is getting so big. She is turning two in August! She doesn't use a sippy cup anymore per her request. She likes to be as big as she can. She has sat on the toilet a few times, but no successes yet. I am not really sure what to expect when it comes to potty training with her. She is already showing some signs of readiness but she is not completely there.

I will try to update more often. We have a summer filled with parties, weddings and hopefully some relaxation so there should be lots to update about!

Here are some pictures!

At the pool...

Outside in the rain...

At Jill & Todd's on Memorial Day...

With Uncle Jeremy....

With Grandpa.....

In the tub "swimming"...

Braden's new Spider Man scooter...

More recent pictures

2009-05-18T12:40:00.005-05:00

Reese helping me vacuum in some fancy shoes.

Braden helping Brian wash the cars.

These are pictures from 'Muffins with Mom' at Braden's preschool.

This is a picture I took of the two of them watching a show together in the morning. So sweet.

Playing on a rainy day

2009-05-04T15:19:00.003-05:00

A fort in the living room and a tunnel in the kitchen gave the kids a little something to do for the day!

Bowling

2009-05-04T15:10:00.006-05:00

Some friends of ours asked us to go bowling this past Sunday and we had such a great time! It was mostly for Braden, but Brian and I were able to throw a few balls down the lane. Reese didn't get to interested in the whole process but had fun getting out on a rainy day!

Braden and Preston.

Braden and Preston again!

Braden and his 6lb ball.

Braden doing it '"all by myself with daddy way over there".

Reese got her head stuck in between the chairs. As you can see, she was exploring more than she was bowling.

How we use a sled in Maryland

2009-04-28T12:44:00.003-05:00

It has been 90 degrees here in Maryland for the past few days. Thankfully, it is going to cool back down to around 60 and 70 but in the mean time we needed something to help us stay cool outside since all of our outdoor toys are still in the attic. So I 'thought big' (any Pinky Dinky Doo fans out there?) and we decided to fill the sled with some water. It went over very well with Braden and Reese

It has been busy around here

2009-04-14T16:49:00.009-05:00

Between Braden's Easter party at preschool, Jeff & Shelly's visit, and Easter day with my dad, Juli and Mel, we have been very busy. It has been so nice to have some visitors. We were missing everyone.

Braden had an Easter party at preschool where they had an egg hunt and sang songs for us. Braden gets a little shy when all the parents are there, but he did have fun with his bunny ears.

Last weekend Jeff & Shelly came to visit for the weekend. We had a very nice time together. We spend one of the days down in Baltimore. We went to the Science Center and then out to eat. The weather was beautiful.

Grandma and Reese

Grandpa and Braden

This past weekend we spent with my dad, Juli and Mel. After a nice church service we had a very early Easter dinner because Brian had to catch a flight to San Francisco for the week. We had a wonderful time together and the rain stopped for Easter day where we were able to spend a little time outside.

Opening Easter baskets

Putting on Easter clothes was not fun!

Easter

2009-04-13T08:28:00.002-05:00

We have all had such a wonderful week. It was full of visitors starting last weekend with my in-laws and this weekend with my Dad & Juli. Brian is off to San Francisco this week for a conference where he is staying with my brother! I have so many pictures and stories to share. I hope to have a wonderful update by the end of the day!

Stay tuned.......

Singing Baby

2009-03-29T18:12:00.005-05:00

Reese sings all the time. She loves to sing Frosty the Snowman, Twinkle Little Star, You are my Sunshine, Happy Birthday (to Brian), and much more. We we FINALLY able to catch it on video.

Enjoy!

A great way to watch a show

2009-03-17T07:07:00.001-05:00

Nice Warm Weather

2009-03-07T07:35:00.004-05:00

Yesterday it was 60 degrees and today and tomorrow it is expected to be 70! We will be outside as much as possible. Here are some pictures of Braden and Reese venturing outside.

FYI--As I am uploading these pictures Braden asked to watch Rudolf the Red-Nosed Reindeer (Reese's favorite is Frosty the Snowman). Seems funny to watch in March, but what would they care! Braden loves Christmas time just as much as I do. He said to me a few weeks ago that he misses the Christmas tree and Christmas music. These are my babies!

An update!

2009-03-02T08:31:00.006-05:00

My apologies to those of you who take a look at my blog. I have recently joined Facebook, and it has taken over my 'blog' efforts. Our camera has been out of commission until recently so I haven't had any pictures to post either. Now that our camera is working again and it is snowing (I am forced to stay in and find something to do) I am giving you an update!

Everything has been going well for all of us. Working that the ACS has been wonderful. I am really enjoying my work. The ACS puts provides a free camp to kids who are fighting cancer every year. These kids normally would not be able to attend a week, overnight, camp because they need to receive their cancer treatment so the ACS provides a camp and medical staff to meet their needs. I am writing grants to raise money for this kids so they can attend the camp. That is the biggest project that I have been involved in at the ACS so far.

Brian has been working hard. Between small house projects and a demanding work schedule, he has been keeping very busy. He did get to spend some alone time with the kids last weekend as I traveled to Denver to visit my friend Julia.

Braden and Reese are doing well. The pictures I have are from Braden's preschool Valentines party and some random pictures around the house.

Reese fell asleep in the car on the way to pick up Braden.

Braden's class.

My big boy.

He made me a Valentine's Day gift.

Reese joins Braden as he opens up his Valentines.

Reese's hair is getting so long.

My newest adventure

2009-02-04T13:38:00.002-05:00

Last week I began to volunteer at the American Cancer Society. I am called a volunteer but it is more like a part-time internship. I am going in twice a week in the mornings to gain some experience as a Community Health Educator. Let me say, it feels SO good to do something again. This is what I have been waiting to do ever since I began graduate school. They have given me some projects to work so I am very excited to follow them through. During the mornings when I am at the ACS, Braden and Reese are going to the same center I used to take Braden to when I worked full-time. They are adjusting nicely. The first week went a little better for Reese than Braden but today Braden was all smiles when I picked him up. He even said that he would like to go back there!

Sledding

2009-02-04T13:28:00.005-05:00

We don't get much snow in Baltimore and when we do (2 inches or less), everything shuts down. This morning we had a tiny coating and everything was delayed 2 hours! When we first moved to Baltimore, I was a little surprised by the panic created from a mere few inches of snow but I am getting used to it.

I did get to pull the kids around in their sled day about 2 weeks ago. My kind neighbor took some pictures for me since our camera needs a new battery. (Please note that you can still see the grass!)

Big surprise, Braden would not smile.

What a day!

2009-01-20T19:18:00.002-05:00

My spirit was with those in DC today. Instead of braving the cold and the traffic, Brian and I decided to stay in Baltimore. CNN was our news source and we were glued to it. This historic day brought me to tears. I am just so proud of the step our nation has taken. It was a step in the direction that I believe in. Barack Obama inspires me down to my core. He is able to reignite the passion I had as I left Western Michigan University to make a difference in this world. As Brian and I sat with Braden and Reese at a mini-folding table, eating lunch, watching the inaugural address, we explained to them that this was the 44th President of the United States. Our first African American president. It was during this moment of extraordinary and historic achievement that we were proud of America and wait in anticipation, hopeful, for what is to come.

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year

2009-01-05T14:04:00.005-05:00

I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday season. We did. It has been relaxing and very enjoyable. We all came down with a bug at some point and time, but that was okay. We had plenty of time to recover! Now we are back to our daily routine and it has been welcomed by all.

These are the only pictures I have from the holidays.

Two sickies on the couch.

Christmas Eve

Christmas Day

2008-12-23T08:38:00.003-05:00

These slippers should look familiar!

This is a picture of Braden just about her age.

Braden giving me some smiles.

Here he is talking to Brian.

A visit with Grandpa, Grandma & Uncle Jeremy

2008-12-19T13:56:00.003-05:00

Jeff, Shelly and Jeremy came to visit us this past weekend! Everyone had a good time!
Braden and Reese took to Jeremy like bees to honey! I am pretty sure they wore him right out!

Some new pictures

2008-12-11T20:19:00.003-05:00

I just received some more pictures from Juli from their visit.

My Daughter

2008-12-11T10:58:00.003-05:00

My dad will appreciate this.

These are a few pictures of Reese after having a huge fit because she wanted her baby doll while eating breakfast. What can I say, she knows what she wants!

Visit with Grandpa & Nana

2008-12-11T10:46:00.003-05:00

This past weekend my dad and Juli came to visit! It was so nice to see them. It had been 4 months! One might think that because we live so far away from our families, Braden and Reese would have a strained relationship with their grandparents but that is not the case. They act just like any child their age (in terms of their attachment to Brian and me) and they are always excited to see their grandparents. It is a bond that doesn't take visits every week to create, just a little bit of quality time will do the trick.

One More Video

2008-12-04T14:34:00.002-05:00

I like this one better.

so excited

2008-12-03T11:53:00.003-05:00

Reese and Braden love the Harry Potter snow globe that Brian bought for me last Christmas. The Hogwarts Train travels around the globe and through a tunnel and that is the catalyst for all the excitement.

This video speaks for itself.

Happy Birthday Braden

2008-12-01T14:27:00.002-05:00

Me: How old are you Braden?

Braden: I be free (He holds up three fingers)

Me: That's right!

We celebrated Braden's on Friday because Brian is in Boston for the week. Later today Braden is going to help me make cookies to take to preschool tomorrow.

Happy Birthday little boy!

Just some pictures

2008-11-25T10:23:00.005-05:00

Sorry for the delay in posts, but I have been trying to post a video and have been having a little trouble. For the time being, here are some pictures of our adventures lately!

Happy Halloween

2008-11-01T07:49:00.005-05:00

We had a very nice time on Halloween night. The kids looked adorable and they had fun trick-or-treating.

Fall Party

2008-10-30T11:34:00.004-05:00

Braden had his fall party at school today and Reese and I were able to join him. It was a lot of fun to watch the kids.

Pumpkins

2008-10-29T14:23:00.004-05:00

I carved the pumpkins this year. The truth is I am much faster at it than Brian and I usually have to help him out. No worries, I LOVE pumpkin carving. The spider didn't turn out quite as good as I wanted.

These are just some extra pictures I took of Reese today while Braden was still sleeping. The funny thing about Reese is all she wants to do is read. You could have all kinds of toys in a room but if she found a book that is all she is interested in. Brian and I have to work together when reading her books because you will just drive yourself crazy reading the same one over and over again!

Here she is bringing me another book to read.

A wonderful sound

2008-10-23T08:54:00.002-05:00

Yesterday morning a series of events led to a moment that was music to my ears. This sound was Braden peeing in the toilet! It all began with Reese telling me that she went 'poo-poo'. I looked to Braden and told him, sarcastically, that it could be possible that Reese would go potty on the toilet before he did. A few minutes later he told me he had to go. I asked him if he wanted to go on the toilet. He said no, that I need to change it, and then he laughed. He thought it was funny. My thoughts were, 'we'll see about that!'

I chased him around the house. He thought that was great and I put him on the toilet. He sat there and then, it happened. He was so excited and so was I. Reese was so wound up from our screaming that she went and gave him a hug!

So, from yesterday morning he has not had a wet diaper. He went 7, yes 7 times in the toilet yesterday. The reward, a piece of a brownie, was quite a motivator this time around. He woke up this morning dry and went right into the bathroom.

Fall is here

2008-10-20T06:52:00.009-05:00

Well, Fall is finally here in MD! The last day of 80+ degrees is gone and it is finally cool. I took Braden and Reese to a local farm and we found some pumpkins, mums, cider and donuts! They had a really good time. Braden had a lot of fun riding on the tractor-bikes and on the hayride.

Braden is saying so many new things, but I keep forgetting to write about them. Braden is getting better at describing emotions. He now will say that he 'misses us' or that he is 'sad' or asks us if we are 'happy'. He also tells us about his 'favorite' things. Reese also says 'wawa' for water and 'poo-poo'. She is also coming out of her shell. We went to a baby shower yesterday and she barely stood by me. She went and made friends with everyone there!

Braden has learned to ride his tricycle all by himself. It is so cute to see those little legs moving so fast!

An Extra Picture

Lucy has come so far. She didn't care one bit when Braden laid on the couch with her.

some smiles.....

2008-10-08T10:55:00.004-05:00

Update on the kiddos

Braden has been a little under the weather lately. He stayed home from preschool yesterday, but I think he will be able to go tomorrow. He has a small fever and has lost his appetite. That is how I know Braden is not feeling well, he pushes away cereal or a pb&j. Despite his recent virus, he is doing really well. He hasn't sat in time-out in a long time and is starting to open up to his teachers at school. He sings lots of songs and it getting better at identifying letters in the alphabet. Now that the weather is just beautiful here, we are outside all the time. Braden is getting better at riding his tricycle on his own and likes to play soccer and baseball! He is pretty good at kicking the ball around.

Reese has not caught whatever Braden has and she has been so patient with him. (He is a little cranky lately.) She is trying to sing the ABCs and count with us. It is really cute. She babbles to us ALL the time, but you can understand a few words like 'ball', 'down', 'no' and 'bumble bee'. (She is going to be a bumble bee for Halloween and Braden wants to be a cow.) She tries to do the 'itsy bitsy spider' with her fingers when I sing it and she blows kisses like a champ! Reese is also doing 100 times better when I drop her off at the gym daycare. She isn't crying anymore and has recently walked right in and started playing. No tears!

Well, thanks for checking in with us! I hope you enjoy the slide show I put together.

preschool

2008-09-22T11:31:00.003-05:00

Braden has started preschool. He is in heaven. Unlike many of his classmates, he is happy to say good-bye. Because I worked until Braden was 18 months, we didn't have any separation anxiety.

He was so excited to go that he wore himself out before he even got there! He was so tired when he got home that he was not too sure about going back. When Thursday came for him to go again, he didn't hesitate. Everyday they sings lots of songs, play, read stories, play some more, go outside, have a snack, and sing a few more songs. He loves it!

Here are some pictures from his first day.

Summer is gone?

2008-09-06T16:50:00.006-05:00

It is so hard for me to believe that labor day weekend has come and gone. We spent the weekend at Port Discovery (a children's museum), with friends and at the park visiting Mel. Though summer is over and the school year has begun, it is still hot and humid in Baltimore.

I haven't updated the blog in a while because I have spent so much time on the computer looking and applying for jobs that I just don't have the patience to wait for this site to upload my pictures. If you didn't already know, I am trying to re-enter the work force sometime soon. I have found that there is not a surplus of jobs (big surprise) and that there are a whole lot of applicants. Brian and I have also been spending a lot of time watching the Democratic and Republican National Conventions. More time has been spent on the DNC, but we tried to listen to 'the other side'. I wish I could have been in Denver, Julia I am still jealous, to listen to Barak Obama speak. If Barak Obama wins, Brian and I are determined to be in DC during the inauguration. We won't miss that!

On a side note, Braden starts preschool September 9th.

Here are some pictures and video from our weekend.

Port Discovery

Bath Time

Out with friends

walking girl

2008-08-20T11:02:00.006-05:00

Here is a short video of Reese and Braden running outside before we got in the car to go to the library.

Happy Birthday Reese

2008-08-12T12:41:00.005-05:00

Reese is officially 1! This past Sunday we had a small celebration here in Baltimore.

I can't believe that this was her just one year ago! Watching both Braden and Reese grow has given me perspective on how fast time passes but also that so much is possible in that time!

First Steps...

2008-07-31T19:12:00.011-05:00

I can't believe it has been just short of a month since I have updated this blog. Time is just flying and August is just around the corner. This past Sunday we arrived back in Baltimore from a long trip in MI. It was very, very nice to see everyone, and I mean EVERYONE. We were so fortunate to see so many of our friends and family members. Our camera died half-way through the trip, but I do have some pictures to share. (I'll let the pictures tell the story!)

Lighthart/Walker visit

Alpena Pictures

Though Reese has not had her official first birthday, we did celebrate it with both sides while in Michigan.

Birthday #1-Alpena, MI

Everyone just sang Happy Birthday to Reese.

Birthday #2- Plymouth, MI

Birthday #3- TBA

Our stop in Frankenmuth

Katie & Evan's Wedding

On a side note, I have good news. Reese took her first steps today. She finally let go of our fingers! She screamed with excitement with every step she took. It was adorable.

Finally, blogger cooperated!

2008-07-07T07:56:00.010-05:00

Two weeks ago we traveled to Michigan for a friend's wedding and my cousin's wedding shower. We decided to drive, and it was long. We are driving to Michigan again in two weeks and will hopefully be a little more rested and prepared for such a long drive with two little ones. Here at the house I have had tired babies, runny noses, a little boy resistant to using the toilet and a cat (prone to UTIs) who urinated on our couch! I think we have finally made it through this storm, knock on wood.

Here are some pictures from the wedding and shower.

Shower

My cousin, Jill, had her wedding shower on the same day as the wedding Brian and I attended. I was really excited when I found out that I would be in Michigan for her shower. Maryland has treated us well, but it is hard when you have to miss all those little get-togethers with family. Auntie Fran with Reese and Addison (Angeline's (my cousin) little girl)
Jill, me, Lisa and Angeline

Wedding
Nuri and Bill were married later that evening. It was a beautiful ceremony and reception. Nuri and Bill were glowing.

Me and Brian

Me and Mel

Nuri and Bill

Me and Julia
Me and Nuri

All us girls from Stevenson

Annapolis

Brian and I LOVE Annapolis. I don't think I can stress the word LOVE enough. If we could live here, we would. Whenever Baltimore starts to get to us, we go to Annapolis to see one of the reasons we love Maryland. Braden had a great time looking at the boats and motorcycles that seem to flock to the bay. These are some pictures of us taking a look at the sailboats as we walked around the Naval Academy.

our summer, so far

2008-06-19T11:50:00.006-05:00

We have been having the most beautiful weather lately. The windows are actually open in our house, which is unheard of during the summer months!

If you have never been to our house during the summer time, you haven't seen our flower garden. It sits along the side of our house and every year I try to keep the flowers alive for the entire summer. To those of you where this comes natural, I am jealous! I have a very brown thumb. Things are going well so far. These are pictures of my lilies! I can't take much credit for their growth since they come back every year with out my help, but they are pretty!

Before this beautiful weather we all enjoyed the pool. Braden, of course, loves it. Now Reese is not as much of a fan. Braden dumping a bucket of water on her head probably didn't help.

We also visited some friends of our this summer. Here are some pictures of Braden playing in the big pool!

Reese eats table food now. She will scream and cry if you try and feed her food from a jar! So here she is with her first serving of pasta! Braden is also enjoying his bowl of pasta! Yes, I do know his hair is long, I am working on a hair cut. Brian wants me to have it cut very short, but I refuse. I love the curls too much. Speaking of his curly hair, I was asking Braden if he had blond hair and he reaches up to touch it he says, "no mom, I have curly hair."

We have also started going to our local library for story time on Wednesday mornings. We had to switch libraries because Braden had such a hard time leaving the one with the train table. I was tired of walking through the library with a screaming 2-year old!

(He is in the yellow shirt dancing.)

The last picture I have is of Braden at the park on the big swing. Going to the park will be so much more fun when Reese can walk. She is just too nervous to take a step on her own.

A short video

2008-06-11T12:20:00.003-05:00

Well, I finally have the camera up and running again today. It was having a little trouble, but now is back in business. I took some pictures of Braden and Reese today having fun. I hope you like it! (The video gets a little dark when Reese is climbing the stairs, FYI)

Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES)

2008-06-11T05:34:00.003-05:00

I passed! I received notice on Monday that I passed the CHES exam that I took in April. I now have a new certificate to frame and a few adjustments to make to my resume. I am still looking for some part-time work so hopefully this will help!

Odds and Ends

2008-06-09T07:17:00.003-05:00

Wedding Bells......

Well, I have two engagements to announce. The first is of my brother Steve. He and Yi have announced their engagement yesterday. I couldn't be happier! They are a great match. The second is of my long-time friend Jenine to her boyfriend Miles. Another wonderful match. The unique part of both of these couples is that their career is highly specialized and they found someone who understands them and can appreciate their talents.

Trip to Philadelphia.....

This Sunday I went to visit my Aunt Alexie and Uncle Joe in Phili. My Aunt Emilia was also in Phili visiting from South Africa. I haven't seen her in 4 years! I had a wonderful time talking and catching up. There is nothing like family!

Reese & Braden......

Well Braden and Reese are doing well. It is HOT here and we haven't been able to do too much outside. Going in the pool isn't even much of an option right now. Reese is climbing the stairs well and is much sturdier when she walks with assistance. Braden seems to be transitioning into the 'terrible twos'. He is in time-out at least 2 times a day. There are days I am praying for patience when the first time-out occurs near 7am! Despite his sassy little self, he still can make us laugh. My favorite thing he does is say,
"mama, I NEED a snack (pause) pleeeeeeeeeeeeeeease!"

A better update...

2008-05-31T13:39:00.006-05:00

Sorry about the short baptism update. I was in the middle of reading, Loving Frank. It an amazing love story between Frank Lloyd Wright (famous architect in Chicago) and Mamah Brothwick Cheney (a well educated writer). It was incredibly moving. I just couldn't put it down!

Here I go......

Me & Brian

Brian and I have been very busy for the past two weeks. It is good that it is rainy today because it is letting us relax and catch up on our sleep. After the weekend we had Reese baptized, Brian had to travel for work. Brian came back on Friday from his conference and I stepped onto a plane Saturday morning to attend a bachelorette party for two friends from high school. They are both getting married this summer so they had a joint party. It was a lot of fun. I got back on Monday (Memorial Day). Tonight Brian and I are going to dinner. We have been meaning to spend some time together, with out the kiddos, for a while now but just haven't had a chance.

Here are pictures from the bachelorette party.

Ange, Julia, Katie, Nuri, Mel & Me (all friends from high school)

Julia and me

Me and Mel

Braden

Braden is doing wonderful. Lately I have been working with him on using pronouns, which is going quite well. Reese is finally 'she'! He also doing more things, 'all by himself". I have been encouraging him to do tasks he asks for help with on his own with hopes that this encouragement of independence will lead to a little boy who will go the bathroom on the 'big potty'. He is NOT interested in it at all. Not one ounce of him wants to go anywhere but in his diaper. He is still our champion eater asking for snacks ALL day long! We have also recently bought our little pool for the summer and he is already asking to 'swim in the pool' every day!

Reese

All Reese wants to do is walk. She won't go with out holding on to you, but she wants to go. I thought she might be walking on her own by 10 months, but I am not sure anymore. She loves to play with her brother. He is patient with her, at times, and will share some of his toys with her. Her favorite stuffed animal is Braden's monkey. He is nice enough to let her play with it. She has been taking it to the gym with her which has made our visits much easier. She used to cry the entire time I worked out, but now she is fine. I have to look for her in the room when I get there to pick her up because you never know where she is playing. I used to just look for the daycare workers because she was always crying and they were trying to console her.

I hope you enjoyed the update and I will be back on sooner than later!

Reese's Baptism

2008-05-29T11:29:00.004-05:00

We recently had Reese baptized. We were joined by many people from our family. We all had a very nice time. My brother Steve and his girlfriend Yi are her god-parents.

Our trip to Dewey Beach

2008-05-07T20:25:00.003-05:00

We had a wonderful time in Delaware on our mini-vacation. We spent 4 days at a place on the water and were able to introduce Braden and Reese to the ocean. Neither Braden nor Reese liked the water, I guess it was a bit too cold.

Here are some pictures of our trip! (It is just a slideshow of pictures, nothing fancy. I just wanted to get as many pictures on here as I could in a short period of time. I hope you enjoy it.)

The test and a little catch up

2008-05-03T17:41:00.003-05:00

Well, the test went OK. It was one of those tests where you have to choose the "best" answer. Those can be tough. It felt like I was giving all my best educated guesses. I have to wait 8 weeks for the results.

Now that the test is over and Brian has completed some big work projects we have decided to take a little vacation. We are going to the ocean on our first mini family vacation. Brian and I are so excited. We are staying at a place on the beach. We can't wait to introduce Braden and Reese to saltwater! I am going to bring a water bottle for rinsing out their mouths (right Dad?). We probably won't be able to go swimming, but I know we will be building sand castles and walking in the water.

So I am leaving again, but this time I will leave some pictures of our recent adventures. We call this the "big park".

Braden coming down one of the "big slides".

Braden, Bella, Gabby and Reese playing in our backyard. You can see our new climbing toy with a slide in the background.

All of us on the Thomas the Train train ride. Braden was very cranky during our visit.

Braden taking a ride in another train. There were NO smiles on this trip.

He was not in a good mood.

FYI

2008-04-21T07:42:00.002-05:00

I just wanted to let all of you know that I will not be updating the blog this week. I am studying for my CHES exam. I take the test this Saturday so after that I will be up and running again!

Through the eyes of a child

2008-04-16T05:42:00.002-05:00

Braden melted our hearts yesterday when we were out on a walk after dinner and he said, "That's the moon. Come on, let's go get it!"
As he said this he reached his hands to the moon and started to run.

Update on Reese

2008-04-15T09:39:00.003-05:00

So I believe it has been about one week since Reese has started crawling. She has recently also started saying "mama", clapping and pulling herself up. I had to call Brian twice at work yesterday! Once to tell him that she can pull herself up and the second time to say, "by the way, she also claps!"

Sunday at the Science Center

2008-04-15T08:38:00.007-05:00

Sunday morning we packed everyone up and headed to downtown Baltimore. There are many places that have exhibits for kids, but we decided to try the Science Center. Now that Braden is older, we have more 'stuff' we can go do.

Braden has such a wonderful time. We walked around downtown afterwards. During the car ride home he kept saying, "go back to the science center and play again" and "bubbles again" and "play boats again." I think you get the idea.

Playing outside with bubbles.
Braden tries it out.
I don't even know what to call this thing, but you turn some stuff and balls roll around on track inside it. (Very technical, I know!)
Braden was just measured for height by a computer.
Braden is being fingerprinted.

More balls to play with so we stayed here for a while.

This was a room for babies so they could crawl around.

Reese has fun playing too!

This is a water table where Braden had so much fun. We weren't sure how we were going to get him to leave it.

The little girl next to him soaked me at one point!

Very serious.

Reese and Braden

2008-04-11T08:46:00.004-05:00

Funny story.

I have been feeling a little cooped up lately, so this morning I rounded up the kiddos and headed out the door to grab a coffee and a donut for Braden and I to share. He loves my sweet tooth! Anyway, everyone is dressed, I have turned off all the lights, locked the door, etc. We are walking out and Braden says to me, "mama, I need ...." (I couldn't understand the fourth word.) I turn back and look at him and say, "what do you need baby?" He repeated, "mama, I need shoes." He didn't have any shoes on! We both had a good laugh. I guess I really needed a coffee after all!

Here are some pictures. Reese playing basketball Braden catching a little Sesame Street
Reese and a big smile. (This is a common occurance)

You can see her two bottom teeth if you look closely

Just being cute.

Braden likes to listen to my iPod. He thinks it is pretty cool. I took Braden and Reese for a run yesterday and so Braden was able to play with my iPod after I was done. He will sing and dance to the music.

Braden and Dada

2008-04-11T08:31:00.004-05:00

Braden loves to "through the ball up in the sky" so here are some pictures of Braden and Brian playing together.

What a beautiful day!

2008-04-10T11:16:00.002-05:00

It is starting to get warm here in MD. Today is about 68 and BEAUTIFUL. We went to the park to play. After lunch we blew bubbles for a while. It is hard to get Braden back inside on these kinds of days. I will say, "let's go have lunch" thinking, he LOVES to eat, so that will entice him, but no. He will respond, "No mama, no lunch. I stay here and play!" I love to be outside too so I am glad he enjoys it.

A little update on Reese: she is crawling and is good at it. She is moving all over and now all I hear is, "No Reese, that's MINE!" Or, "Reese, go play over there!" She just smiles.

Two Baby Boys

2008-04-01T11:15:00.005-05:00

I am so excited to announce that our friends Sarah and Scott had a baby boy Friday morning. (7lb, 10oz) They named him Cole Maddox.

I also get to announce that Tammy and Curt had a baby boy on Saturday morning. (7lbs, 4oz) They named their little boy Tristan Anthony.

Moms and babies are doing well!

Just some extra pictures

2008-03-31T15:42:00.004-05:00

Big smile
My personal favorite
Braden wanted a picture with Lightning McQueen.
I love bananas, but.....
you can't leave me all by myself just yet! Bye-bye banana!

Our trip to the grocery store

2008-03-31T15:17:00.004-05:00

This is how Braden went to go the store, trolley and all. The trolley was Braden's gift that Brian brought back from San Fran.FYI there was not a shred of sun outside.

Reese gets some air time

2008-03-31T15:03:00.004-05:00

Braden takes AMAZING naps. He goes down around 12/12:30 and usually gets up between 3 and 4. He doesn't do very well without a nap. Now Reese, on the other hand, does not take this kind of afternoon nap. So Reese and I get to spend one-on-one time.

Vitamins

2008-03-26T07:48:00.004-05:00

This morning Braden says to me, "vitamins mama, Braden vitamins. Put it on table in room." Now Braden doesn't take vitamins but I do so I thought he was asking for one of mine. I showed him the bottle and told him that they were for mommy and didn't taste good if you chew them. He didn't seem satisfied by any of this information. He was still frustrated so I pick him up and am getting ready to explain again in some other manner and then he points to the M&M's on the top of the fridge and says with a smile, "vitamins mama." I then smiled back and said, "what are those Braden?" He laughed a bit and said, "ummm, chocate." (He leaves out the 'l')

This is a first, trying to trick me for chocolate.

Happy Easter

2008-03-24T11:47:00.005-05:00

Every Easter has been different for us. This is the fifth Easter that we have spent in Maryland. I don't remember what we did our first Easter out here, but the second we spent in LA visiting Adi and Eliza. The third included Braden, and last year we were able to visit with both my dad and Juli and Jeff and Shelly. No matter what, we have had family near to spend the holidays. We have been so fortunate to have had Melanie so close for the past 4 years, which is wonderful, and for a minute Steve joined the family on the East coast.

This Easter Brian is in San Fransisco for a conference but he wasn't alone. He was with Steve and Yi, who I am sure took good care of him. I took Braden and Reese to Mel's where we talked, played, ate and then took a walk to a local park. They had so much for kids to do. Braden was in heaven. He played in the sand box, went down the slides and drove a fire engine while Reese took a snooze. The end of our visit came with his love for this car you see in the picture below. He missed his nap and in pure exhaustion had a big fit when another little boy was driving it. This event led to our exit and drive back to Baltimore.

I hope you all had a wonderful Easter day.

Reese snoozing.

Braden and the beloved car.

In this picture you can see Braden in the car and I am sitting on the bench with Reese in the background.

Thanks for the pictures Mel!

Our Helper

2008-03-21T07:45:00.003-05:00

Braden can be a great helper. He is learning how to "trade" with Reese and now that she is taking a bottle more often during the day, he likes to hold it for her for a few seconds. We asked him if wanted to help feed Reese and he agreed. It was really cute to watch. Reese just loves when Braden interacts with her so I know she was just in heaven!

Finally!

2008-03-13T07:36:00.004-05:00

I finally was able to capture Reese's first tooth. It was not an easy task but after many Cheerios, I was able to get her to move that tongue out of the way and snap a picture at exactly the right time. Braden and Reese kept giving me many smiles so I kept taking pictures!

Just a little something

2008-03-11T07:16:00.004-05:00

Here are some pictures that I have recently added to our collection. And what a collection it is becoming!

Our latest hair cut. The girl was new and it didnt' turn out all that great, but I FINALLY had my camera with me.

Sweet smile.

I want the camera mom!

She loves to "crawl" on me.

This is a video of Braden very excited to eat some cookie dough. As soon as I got the camera out he clammed up a bit, but you still get the idea. I love the part where he is distracted by his reflection in the bowl.

Dinner for Cindy, Peter and Corbin

2008-03-04T08:18:00.005-05:00

We are getting ready to send off our good friends. It is sad, but we are able to spend a lot of time together lately. This past weekend we had dinner with some other couples that also wanted to say good bye. These are pictures of all the babies playing together. (Corbin was sleeping and I just realized that I didn't get a picture of him.)

Corinne and Reese

Braden and Preston

Corinne, Braden and Preston at the train table.

Extra Pictures:

Braden wearing Daddy's shoes. (I think we have all done this!)

Sitting together in the sun one morning.

Chew, chew, chew. Drool, drool, drool. I can't wait for the second tooth to come up!

Me and my girl.

Reese with a big smile.

Latest News....

2008-02-27T12:31:00.005-05:00

Lots of Laughing!

2008-02-14T12:20:00.002-05:00

Cindy, Peter and Corbin came over yesterday for dinner. Peter caught this little episode on video! It was so funny. We have been able to make Reese laugh but only Braden can really make her really laugh!

Reese's Six Month Appointment

2008-02-11T14:06:00.001-05:00

Reese is healthy and thriving! She is now a healthy 17lbs which places her in the 75th percentile. She is also hitting all her milestones (moving items from one hand to another, sitting up, etc). She is now at the age where she doesn't like being on the doctor's table, away from me. I have noticed that babies don't get too upset until about 6 months of age regarding going to see the doctor. Braden has just started doing well with doctor visits. She received 3 shots today so she is sleeping soundly as we speak. She is also getting some bottom teeth. It is hard to tell how many because they haven't popped out yet! I am guessing at least two. She sits up with out support but is not crawling yet.

The conversations I have with Braden

2008-02-11T13:48:00.000-05:00

Braden LOVES to talk. I have to giggle a bit when a stranger comes up to Braden and says "hi" and he just turns away and is shy. Some will then say, "oh you don't talk much, do you?" I want to tell them about how he talks from the minute he wakes up to the minute he goes to sleep.

These are a few pieces of conversation that always make me smile:

How are you Braden?

Braden: " I good"

How's that Braden?

Braden: "Perfect"

What's your name?

Braden: "Braden Michael Socki"

What's my name?

Braden: "mama socki"

We are on a walk. Braden and Reese are in the stroller. Braden's favorite movie character is Lightning McQueen, from Cars.

Braden: "Mama, what's that?"

Me: "What is it Braden?"

Braden: "Red car, mama. Race car. It's Lightning McQueen!"

FYI, there are lots of red cars when we go for a walk!

Braden are you ready to take a nap?

Braden: "No. I stay here."

Here are some pictures of the little ones.

My little helper

They play cars together.

Picture Post

2008-02-05T12:11:00.000-05:00

Well, it has been a long day for Braden, Reese and me. With out getting too detailed, I think we have had our LAST picture experience with Sears Portrait Studios.

We are all hanging out watching Baby Einstein. It was a great opportunity to take some pictures.

FYI--Cindy, Peter and Corbin are doing well.

So much to say

2008-02-01T10:19:00.000-05:00

Brian

Brian has been very busy at work. He has been working on two big projects that have ASAP deadlines. Besides work, this is Brian's favorite time of year: Tax Season! He loves doing our taxes and he did them in record time this year.

Lizzy

I have been enjoying my time with Braden and Reese. I have also decided to update my resume and start searching for a part time job. I am looking for something that will be flexible with its hours so that I am still able to spend time at home, but I have something else to call my own.

I have also begun a search for a school for Braden next year. There are preschool programs for 2-3 year olds. They are typically 2 days a week for 2 hours. He asks to go to school, so why not! I think he would love it. Finding a school close is the difficult part. I think I have some leads but am still searching.

Braden

Braden's language skills have really taken off. He is talking about everything and doing it quite well. His memory is also exceptional. He knows locations without us telling him where we are. He also remembers out outings well. We all went to Friday's for dinner a few weeks ago and he keeps asking to "go to dinner". We also bought him a "Thomas the Train" potty, but he isn't too interested just yet. He has humored me a few times by sitting on it, but he still prefers the diaper. (He can also count to 10 in Spanish!)

Reese

Reese is sitting up very well. She is reaching for EVERYTHING now. She is still nursing wonderfully and growing, growing, growing. I just can't believe she is almost 6 months old. She is eating all the veggies now and has started on the fruits. She loves to be around Braden. I just love the way she looks at him.

Also, Cindy and Peter had a baby boy January 30th at 11pm. Corbin Brady Neorr was 8lbs12oz.

We are going to head over there either today or tomorrow to meet their new addition.

Life has finally slowed down a bit

2008-01-23T19:12:00.000-05:00

Now that graduate school is complete, we have found ourselves with much more time on our hands. Lately we have been using it to relax. Braden, Reese and I regular the gym. Braden loves to go. They have a daycare where Braden and Reese play. They much have some really great toys because Braden asks to go there daily. Reese is sitting up rather well lately. She is reaching and playing with toys a bit better now. Braden is ready for her to crawl, but he doesn't want to share his toys with her (all the time).

We are anxiously awaiting the birth of baby Neorr (Cindy and Peter's little one). Cindy is in the last 2 weeks of the pregnancy and ready to go! I can't wait to spread the news when the little boy is born. They are also moving soon so these next few months are filled with happiness and a bit of sadness. Peter and Cindy have become part of our family in Baltimore. We are going to miss them when they move back to Seattle.

This concludes my small update! Here are some pictures of our cuties....

HUGS................

___________________________________________________________________

SMILES??????

_________________________________________________________________

Braden still has big cheeks.

Braden likes to hold Reese. They stayed together long enough to get a half-way decent shot!

Graduation

2008-01-06T18:09:00.001-05:00

On January 6th, Brian and I graduated from Towson University. We were joined by my Dad, Melanie (& her friend Al), Cindy and Peter. Cindy also graduated. After graduation we went to lunch together. It was wonderful day that we have been waiting anxiously for.

Mama, drive car.

2008-01-06T17:03:00.000-05:00

Sometimes when Reese is sleeping we head out to the car and play. Braden loves to pretend to drive "mama car". He will just sit in the driver's seat and play around with the buttons. He likes to turn on the "muskick" and to pretend to drink a coffee ("mama coffee").

Michigan Christmas Trip

2008-01-02T08:33:00.000-05:00

We had a quick but nice trip back to MI to visit our family and friends. These are some pictures of our trip.

On the airplane.

Braden is reading the safety manual.
Braden with Uncle Jeremy
Braden with his cousins. (Ashley, Nick, Madison & Paige)
My dad & Juli

Brian and Tom.
us....
Braden on the rocking horse.Reese meets Auntie Fran.

Three generations. :-)

Merry Christmas

2007-12-20T15:21:00.001-05:00

Tomorrow we are headed to Michigan to celebrate Christmas with our family and friends. We are looking forward seeing everyone. Many people will be meeting Reese (& Braden) for the first time.

I want to wish everyone a Merry Christmas while I have a chance.

P.S. If you did not receive a picture of Reese and Braden in your Christmas card let me know. I ended up with more pictures left over than I should have, but I don't know who didn't get one!!!