Merry Christmas

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!!!

Keep on trying.......

This is the motto you have to have with a toddler. Keep on trying vegetables, instructions, utensils, etc. If you keep trying eventually they will get the hang of it. Today I took Braden to get his hair-cut and he sat by himself! I was so happy. He didn't have much of a choice because I was holding Reese. He only cried for a bit in the beginning and wasn't so sure about sitting all by himself, but he did it. Keep on trying....

Braden's 2-year check up

I took Braden to his 2-year appointment today. He is about 3o lbs now. He is also in between the 50th and 60th percentile in height, weight and head circumference. Just thought I would let you know.

I broke my leg!

Just kidding. I was just trying to come up with a good reason to explain why I have not updated in such a long time, but I can't. So let's cut to the chase.....

Brian and I have finished graduate school. Yes you heard me correctly, we did not just finish for the semester only to enroll in yet another class in the spring.


We are all finished with our programs!


We will walk on January 6th at 10am, together.....how cool. Brian and I have talked about this day for the last 2 years. Brian will graduate with a Master's of Science in Chemistry Education and I will graduate with a Master's of Science in Community Health Education.

ALSO......
In the past few weeks we have had a cold move through the house. Braden is still trying to kick it, and hopefully will before we travel to Michigan for Christmas. I have been baking cookies for our friends in MD, finalizing my studies at Towson University, Christmas shopping and wiping dripping noses. I also took Braden and Reese to participate in a study at Johns Hopkins University. It was really fun to participate in a study. Braden's study looked at language acquisition. He had a little bit of trouble and didn't complete the activity. I think he was on the lower end of the age range for the study. Reese did just fine. Her study focused on 3 month olds' non-verbal numerical abilities (her ability to recognize a slide that has more dots on it than the other slides). I can't wait to read the articles when they are complete.


PICTURE TIME


Tummy-time (she loves it).
Braden was a little younger when this picture was taken, but I thought it would be fun to compare this picture to the one above it.




Helping with the Christmas lights.



Playing outside

Helping mom find all the blue Christmas ornaments in his favorite PJ's (Diego).She is pretty focused here. As you can also see, her hair just won't give up!

My newest favorite picture.......

My babies!

Happy Birthday Braden!

Yesterday we celebrated Braden's 2nd birthday! We had such a wonderful time. We were joined by all of our close friends and if it weren't for our friends, Maryland would be a lonely place. Braden was able to play with his friends, Preston, Bella, Gabby, Emily, and Carolyn. We also had fun with the babies, Chris and Reese. Pizza and ice-cream cake graced the night along with lots of free entertainment (6 kiddos having fun).

Braden's birthday is not just a great day for him, but for Brian and I. It amazes us that two years ago Braden was just a little baby and he has grown into such a loving little boy. I am excited not only to see his growth each year but to see how Reese will grow and change in her first year of life.

This was sent to me by a friend and it touched me, especially during this time of celebration.

Before I was a Mom I never tripped over toys or forgot words to a lullaby.

I didn't worry whether or not my plants were poisonous.

I never thought about immunizations.

Before I was a Mom I had never been puked on. Pooped on. Chewed on. Peed on.

I had complete control of my mind and my thoughts. I slept all night.

Before I was a Mom I never held down a screaming child so doctors could do tests. Or give shots.

I never looked into teary eyes and cried.

I never got gloriously happy over a simple grin.

I never sat up late hours at night watching a baby sleep.

Before I was a Mom I never held a sleeping baby just because I didn't want to put him down.

I never felt my heart break into a million pieces when I couldn't stop the hurt.

I never knew that something so small could affect my life so much.

I never knew that I could love someone so much.

I never knew I would love being a Mom.

Before I was a Mom - I didn't know the feeling of having my heart outside my body.

I didn't know how special it could feel to feed a hungry baby.

I didn't know that bond between a mother and her child.

I didn't know that something so small could make me feel so important and happy.

Before I was a Mom -I had never gotten up in the middle of the night every 10 minutes to make sure all was okay.

I had never known the warmth, the joy, the love, the heartache, the wonderment or the satisfaction of being a Mom.

I didn't know I was capable of feeling so much, before I was a Mom.

Happy Birthday Braden!