Well I don't always believe that all good things have to come to an end but in this case they did.....my maternity leave is officially over. I've only had three days back to work. We'll just say that there is adjustments that we all have to go thru (Todd, myself, & Braden as well as his three baby sitters (my sister and my parents). We all survived the first day! They worked me hard on mu first day back with 3 c-sections so it's like I never left already. The weekend was the hardest for me being away from the little guy for 2 whole days but at least he woke up for nightly feedings so I could see him. Daddy is all worked in now caring for Braden by himself on saturday and sunday. He even took him to church by himself on sunday and gave him a bath for the first time! I am so impressed!
Now let's see if I can get caught up on some events and pictures from July to August because I am a bit behind.
Now let's see if I can get caught up on some events and pictures from July to August because I am a bit behind.
JULY 9th
I was sitting on the exercise ball with Braden on my lap and he was laughing and having a good time so Todd thought he should capture the moment.
JULY 11th
Our nephew, Tylan, had not yet met Braden. Cheryl, Tylan, and his girlfriend came over for dinner so that he could meet Braden. He was tentative to hold him but in the end he did for a short while.
Grandma Christy loves to get pictures and videos sent to her iphone so this is one that I sent her. Braden is hilarious he loves the funny faces and sounds. He basically likes to make the adults look silly!
JULY 15TH
My Aunt Barbara and Uncle Brent live in Tucson, AZ during the winter months and then Oak Harbor during the summer months. They hadn't seen Braden since they came home. We all randomly ended up at Nannie's that day. As Nannie says she can have no visitors and then we all come at once.
Braden, Aunt Barbara, Jacquie (my mom), & Uncle Brent
The sisters
Nannie of course wanted to hold Braden but by the time she got him he was tired and cranky....not the best combo for Nannie.
Connie, Cousin Rob, and Nannie
The gang: Rob, Brent, Barbara, Dylan's girlfriend, Dylan, and Connie
Had to get a picture of me with my mom and Braden.
July 20th
Braden was hanging out with Daddy after he got home from work and he fell asleep on his lap. Todd and I always talk about how he used to fit on our laps and know he is much larger. As they all say, they grow so fast!
Braden loves that hand up by the head!
July 27th
This is one of my favorite videos of Braden. I was changing his diaper and then we continued to hang out on the changing table. I think I blew my nose and he started laughing just like all those you tube videos that you've seen. I of course didn't have my phone on me. I picked him up, ran for my phone, and came back trying to get him to laugh again. He cooperated! I could listen to this over and over again!!!! Love love love it!
July 28th
Braden fell asleep on my lap after a breast feeding with his arms and hands in a weird position that I had to capture on my iphone camera. Hilarious!
July 30th
We took a trip to Whidbey Island for the day on the ferry. It was a gorgeous day of weather. We had fun but definitely were out longer then we had initially planned. Braden was glad to get home and out of his carseat and into his crib to go to bed! He was a trooper!
July 31, 2011
Braden is living it up in his swing. We usually put him in it around our dinner time so I can prep dinner and then we can eat. It usually puts him to sleep. We love to get him talking and laughing in it! I just can't believe how much bigger he is. It is obvious when you compare current pictures of him in it to the old ones. He totally fills it out more now!
August 2, 2011
Aunt Megan watched Braden while I got my teeth cleaned and took this cute picture of Braden laying on the floor with his cousins Cameron (7yo) and Makenna (3yo). I thought it was so cute!
August 3, 2011
Braden is so social that I thought I would set his high chair up so he could sit with us at the dinner table. I of course had to take his picture. I think he's still trying to figure out why he sitting there watching us eat!
August 4th
Braden post bath propped up in the boppie pillow sucking a couple of fingers.
Too cute so couldn't pass up taking. He looks like a little man for sure in this picture!
August 5-8, 2011
We decided to take our first family vacation to Whistler, Canada. I had never been before but I had heard it was gorgeous all year round. Braden got to go out of the country for the first time. The trip up was good but of course a long drive. I'm so glad we had no problems at the border crossing either way especially since my passport still has my maiden name on it! We stayed right in the village at Aava Hotel. We stayed from friday to monday for a long weekend.
On the drive up we stopped of at Horseshoe Bay by chance since Braden needed to eat and a diaper change. We were so glad we did because this bay was absolutely gorgeous. We were ready to buy a house overlooking the water it was so picturesque! We ended going to a happy hour at a restaurant right on the water.
Daddy holding Braden at happy hour in the bar! Hahaha! Kind of funny when you think about it.
They have a ferry terminal that comes into this small bay. The pictures don't due it justice how beautiful it was especially with the sunny day!
Braden fell asleep after sucking on his fingers with them in his mouth. I just happened to be sitting in the back with him so I took his picture.
We ended up doing a little mini photo shoot in our hotel of Braden sitting by himself in the middle of our queen bed. He almost blends in to the bedding wearing his white undershirt. He looks so small! He probably thought his parents were crazy!
On Saturday we went for a walk along the golf course to Lost Lake. Braden did very well in the baby bjorn.
He hung out at Lost Lake for awhile to give Braden a rest from the bjorn and to soak in our surroundings.
Huge hotels.
Braden sleeping in the bjorn with daddy on the way back to our hotel.
If you look very closely you can see the peak to peak gondola ride on the upper half of the picture with two black specks which are the gondola's. We ended up doing that on sunday. Crazy how high you are and just suspended on this cable but really wasn't scary when you were in it.
Sunday evening we took the peak to peak gondola ride. You start on a smaller gondola that takes about 25 minutes to bring you to the top of the mountain. Then you get on the huge gondola that takes you from one peak to the other peak. This ride is about 11 minutes. We were a little later then intended so we didn't have much time on the blackcomb side before we had to ride back otherwise we would have gotten stuck on the other side. This is Braden and Daddy on the ride up the mountain.
View from the gondola on our ride up the mountain
We are now on the Blackcomb side of the mountain.
Poor Braden was exhausted from minimal napping. What a trooper!
Back on the Whistler side of the mountain we also paid for the seafood BBQ. Braden slept pretty much the entire time that we were eating. At the end of our meal we wanted to go outside and enjoy the view before heading down the mountain. We were deciding when we should change his diaper and all of a sudden it was like a water balloon broke. Poor Todd was holding Braden and his diaper just couldn't hold anymore. He got all wet and Todd managed to sustain minimal damage some how. Then I had to do a complete clothing change as well as try to clean off his skin with cold wipes. Let's just say Braden was non too happy! First time parent lessons to check that diaper frequently. Luckily we had a change of clothes otherwise it could have been a complete disaster!
Monday we headed home and had another gorgeous drive.
A video of Braden in his bouncy seat sucking his fingers.
August 12, 2011
Braden in jeans for the very first time. They are still a little big on him. I took so many pictures of him propped up on the leather sofa but he kept sliding down. This was the best one and it was on my iphone.
August 14th
We were over in Yakima for Todd's 20th High School Reunion. We stopped over at Grandma Joye's for breakfast on our way out and Braden took a short nap in his carseat. He just loves to have his hands up by his face when he sleeps. It's the cutest!
He also fell asleep in Great Grandma Joye's arms. She's got the skills!
August 16, 2011
Braden loves to hang out in his crib still. When he gets excited he moves all his limbs at the same time. That makes it a little difficult to take his picture when he's in constant motion. He also loves to keep his legs up in the air and reaches towards his feet but not quit there yet. I swear he must have some good abs though to hold his legs up in that position for so long!
August 20, 2011
Christy, Todd's mom, came into town for the weekend. We ended up having my parents over that night for a BBQ dinner.
Braden hanging out with Grandpa Dick
His fingers must be so tasty since he has them in his mouth all the time! Hahaha! I swear I feed him.
I love his expression here.
He seems to always stare at the hinge of the swing when he's in it. He must take after his engineer dad wondering how it all works!
I know everyone hates the dinner pictures as they have food in their mouths but it had to be done! We haven't had much nice weather this year to use our back deck and furniture. Even if it's a nice day it ends up being cold in our backyard at dinner time.
August 22, 2011
Braden is passed out after a feeding on Daddy's shoulder. That will always be my favorite when they are molded into your chest sleeping!
August 28, 2011
More crib time pictures!
Augusts 31, 2011
Braden isn't a huge fan of tummy time so I finally got smart and placed him on his belly over the boppy pillow and he seems to like that better.
The classic father son photo watching tv.....child in one arm and remote in other hand!
