Happy...

6th anniversary to Anthony and year and a half birthday to Braden! It's fun to share his half birthday with our anniversary! Too bad Anthony is away, but I actually get to go to Hawaii with him for a few days next week, so that will more than make up for missing the actual date!


We got the tree up today and Braden was pretty impressed with the fact that there is now a tree with lights in his living room! He helped decorate and un-decorate the tree. We think he makes a pretty cute Santa.

Winter Fun!

Braden always notices the "mountains" when we drive through the Papago Buttes so we decided to go "climb" them. He did a good job, although he wanted to check out the trees, rocks and other random things laying around rather than staying on the path. He and Daddy even played some hide and seek with the creosote bushes!

Since Braden's cowlick in the back was sticking straight out we thought it was time for a haircut. He did great and got his first lollipop. Thankfully he didn't really like it! I love the animal print drape he's wearing.

We made it to Zoolights and Braden thought it was pretty cool! Grammy did, too!

Grammy, Braden and I went to Tempe Marketplace to check out the "ice" skating rink. It actually was plastic but seemed to work pretty well! We also saw the gigantic Christmas tree and were there for the nightly snowfall. Bubbles are our kind of snowfall!

Couple videos from Thanksgiving dinner.

Braden enjoyed his Thanksgiving meal!

Can you tell he liked the potatoes? I'm sure Poppa is proud!

Such a good, little helper!

Thankful!

We had a nice, mellow Thanksgiving and were very glad to have Grammy Carla here to celebrate with us. It was a beautiful day and we were thankful that we were able to get outside and enjoy it. We had a great meal with all the fixins' and it didn't require starting to cook/bake or whatever people start doing days before! Lots of leftovers to keep us full for the next couple of days, too! After dinner we took a little walk to help digest our yummy meal and stopped by to see the neighbors. Only thing that would have made it better was being with the rest of our family!


Yes, Braden still likes footballs.


Hand-off for a touchdown!

Kicking it is easier than throwing sometimes.

Grammy and Braden taking a walk to see the ducks.

Braden found an ant. It wound up on his face somehow and he didn't like that one bit!

Helping Mommy get the graham crackers crushed for the double delicious chocolate bars!

Braden had a lot to tell me about the bottom of the table one night.

New toy.

Daddy got a new computer, which means Braden got a new toy. Braden is quite a proficient typist. And, we are thinking he might be a lefty like his Poppa and Grammy! Plus he got a cool, new shirt he was proud to show off.



Braden figured out a fun activity with the ball!

DC

Occasionally Anthony gets to fly to DC. This is one of those trips that I always really wish I could tag along on because he gets to see my brother and his family. We love living in Arizona, but the hardest part is being far away from family. Skype, pictures and emails help, but nothing beats getting to see them in person!

Speaking of pictures, Addison and Devin just had some fall pictures taken and they are awesome. Check them out at the link below. They grow up so fast!!

http://www.jenni-green.com/Utterback/

Braden checking out the bracelet that Addison made for him. Thanks, Addison!

Grammy's here!

Braden's been having fun with his Grammy Carla! They've played inside and outside, gone to the Zoo, gone to swim lessons, read stories, taken walks, gone to the dollar store - all this and more and she just got here on Tuesday afternoon! Here's a few pictures of their adventures so far.


Now that it's "cold" here Braden has to wear his warm clothes! This was getting ready to head to Einstein's for breakfast on Wednesday.



Grammy helped with swim lessons. Braden doesn't love going under as much these days... probably because he swims about 1/6th of the time as he did during the summer!



Braden showed Grammy his computer game where he picks out the animal that makes a sound.

Braden does a great job identifying objects. He can identify by sight and sound the letters a, b, h and o, too! He thinks it's very fun when he finds them places! He also likes to sing the beginning of "Row, row, row your boat!"

Baby update: I'm half-way through already! We can see the baby kick by watching my belly. I don't remember if Braden was so forceful at this stage. I can't imagine a baby much stronger than Braden though. According to the 2 e-updates I get he should be the size of either a banana or cantaloupe by now (quite a difference if you ask me!). I think it's hilarious that they compare him to the size of some piece of food each week! I'm sure they never get to the point of comparing to a watermelon though... that's just what I'll look like!

Another great visit.

My parents left this morning after another great visit. Braden had a great time with his Mimi and Poppa and asks for them in the morning when he's getting up. Unfortunately today I had to tell him they went on an airplane. Thank goodness for Skype! Grammie Carla gets here tomorrow and he'll have more entertainment and fun coming up!

We went to a Fall League baseball game one night. Braden watched the game, but loved climbing on stuff even more.

We went to a party for our friends Nicole and Ryan who are expecting a boy in mid-December. Braden had a great time with all the new toys he got to play with! Kyndal will have to get used to playing with a little brother soon!

We went and saw Daddy's new airplane. Airplane hangars always remind me of a scene from Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory because they are usually white from floor to ceiling!

Braden loved helping Poppa with projects around the house. Thanks for all the things you got done, Poppa!

Yep, still has the space between his front teeth! I hope it never keeps him from smiling like this!

Catching up.

We went to a Cajun Cook-off a couple of weekends ago that my company sponsored. We happened to get in line behind this guy... is this a sign of things to come? We know he's going to be a big guy, but hopefully not the baldness! I'm also hoping no football, but considering it's one of his favorite things to throw and say, I might be out of luck.


Anthony and my Dad's project from this past weekend. They did leave a few branches and no one was hurt.



Braden, Mimi and I went to the Zoo. Braden met some Fisher Price people, tried his first snow cone (it looks like he liked it, but he really didn't, too cold!) and checked out his favorite animals. He did quite well with the life sized FP people and didn't scream like most of the other kids his age!

We all went to Sweet Tomatoes and Braden got his own ice cream cone for the first time!

Baby update: Anthony felt him kick the night before last! My niece Addison, who is 5, was looking at the ultrasound pictures. She asked Brandy how the baby was standing up in my belly. Then she asked if he was floating in the water I drink. She ended the conversation with "gross." :-)

Our New Little Miracle.

We had our 2nd trimester ultrasound on Friday and we're having a boy! I guess we haven't really "announced" this pregnancy, but considering I'm now 5-months along it's become pretty evident for those who actually see me. Although some co-workers just came to the realization, or got up the nerve to ask, this week! I think this is somewhat telling of a second pregnancy... a lot of times in the early stages you honestly forget! But that will no longer be possible now that I can feel him moving around and he's making his presence known with my belly, too! Feeling a baby moving inside of you has to be one of the most amazing sensations possible and I'll be treasuring it for the next 5 months. I tried to upload the DVD from our ultrasound, but wasn't able to so will just be able to do these pictures. So sweet to watch him suck his thumb and see his little heart beating. And most importantly, the doctor said that everything looks "great" at least 100 times. Such a reminder of the miracle of creation.

No doubt he's a little boy!

We think this is just precious because whenever Braden is content he crosses his feet at the ankle like this. Glad to know he's content in there!

We've gotten a few consistent questions since telling people, so I thought I would answer some of those here.

Question 1 - We're you planning this? Yep! One day Anthony and Braden went with me on a trip to Bagdad (one of our mining towns in AZ). On the way home Anthony and I were talking and decided it didn't make sense to wait any longer. The boys will be 22-months apart, which we think will be fun. I do have to say, this was our MAS (minimal allowable spread!!). We're hoping Braden might be in his big boy bed before the baby gets here and realize it is too much to hope that he might be out of diapers, too!

Question 2 - Will you have another to try for a girl? Well, considering I've always wanted boys and we both feel pretty sure that we think our family will be complete by having 2 babies, my answer is "not planning on it!" If we do decide we think a 3rd child would be a good addition to our family it won't be because we feel incomplete without a girl.

Question 3 - Will you have another c-section? Of course! Why would I go through labor and delivery if I don't have to! If all goes as planned I get to schedule a time to show up at the hospital and, with Braden, be handed a beautiful new life 3 hours later and 8 minutes after going into the operating room! Our due date is April 5th (my birthday) but my doctor said we would schedule the c-section a week early so I don't go into labor. I'm going to try to hold off for an April baby, but we'll see!

Needless to say, we're very excited and feel very blessed. We are open to any name suggestion!

Trick or Treat!

Anthony and I both said this Halloween was the most fun of any we can remember. Having kids and friends with kids the same age to share it with makes it so much more enjoyable. Especially when the kids have such a great time!


Braden didn't really love pumpkin carving. We thought he would want to pull all the stringy stuff and seeds out, but he thought it was yucky and preferred to just play in the yard. Anthony did a good job carving the pumpkin!




We went over to the Eriksson's for dinner and trick or treating. Braden met a new friend named Josiah and Kyndal and Toby made up the rest of the crew. Kyndal was a ballerina princess from the start, but the boys decided to hold off on putting on their costumes until after dinner and playing.

Trick or Treat!

Now who could refuse candy to this adorable bunch!

Just as cute from behind.

Braden took a break to eat some veggie sticks along the way!

Toby was barking at the fake rat.

Look at that face! He did good going up to the door and getting the candy. Even though he's never had a candy bar, he "got it" that it was something yummy they were giving him.

Our little elephant!

Braden was smart and decided to ride in the wagon.

Kyndal joined him.

His elephant head served as a great pillow and his candy holder was Kyndal's pillow. They were quite comfy.

Just like his mom, he went for the Tootsie Roll!

The whole group (minus baby Shay).

Braden pulled the wagon home.

I came around the corner and found that Braden decided he was still hungry and would eat elephant style... standing up!