19 months

Our little guy is 19-months old. It's crazy how fast time goes by. No updates on weight or length since he doesn't have to go to the dr for awhile, but we did go to the mall today and he got his feet measured. He's an 8 wide!


We finally rode the train at the Train Park and saw the lights. It was a lot of fun and definitely worth the wait! Anthony said it was better than ZooLights. I like them both. The train goes really fast in the beginning until you get back to the part with the lights and Braden along with Mommy and Daddy were a little afraid! Nothing like a speeding train in the dark when it's a bit chilly out!

We got to watch the model trains while we were waiting.

This model truck was in with the trains and it is pretty funny because Anthony flies someone from this company!

Baby update - Third trimester here we come! I've been feeling great and hope it keeps up! This little guy has been pretty active, which is always fun. He's started pushing up on one side of my belly or the other just like Braden did. It's funny to watch him move around. According to my email update he's now the size of an English Hothouse Cucumber... but hopefully not that skinny! I hope to set the date of our c-section at my Jan 19th appointment.

What a wonderful Christmas!

Getting Ready
We had lots of fun preparing for Christmas with our advent calendar, book about the birth of Jesus and looking at tons of lights all the time. Braden got these awesome Christmas jammies that match Addison and Devin's. Too bad they weren't together to wear them. He still looked super cute in them!

Christmas Eve

Christmas Eve is my favorite of all days. It's a time of anticipation, stillness and appreciation. Christmas Eve service has always been one of the things that I look forward to each year. Taking the time to appreciate what Christmas is truly about and reflect on the gift that was given to us is always special.

Playing in the park. It was a beautiful day!

Braden decided to go down this slide all by himself even though it was really tall!

After Christmas Eve service. We went to the "family" service so Braden was in with us. He loved the singing and the drama. He did so good sitting through the service. A little different than the normal late night service we go to, but so much fun to share with him!

Kyndal was all dressed up in her pretty Christmas dress!

Waiting for Santa!

"Santa" getting Braden's train and track ready for the morning!

Christmas Morning!

Braden coming out from his bedroom to see his gifts! Fun!

Braden loved his train...

and his golf clubs.

He held onto a club while he opened other presents! Thanks to everyone who sent him something... he loved all his gifts!

He ended the morning pouring everyone a cup of tea from his new teapot!

Christmas Afternoon

We decided to take a trip up to Flagstaff to "visit" snow on Christmas day. Braden had never experienced snow and we thought we'd get our fix for a white Christmas. We love that we can drive 2 hours to snow and then drive right back home to none! It was lots of fun and a great reminder of why we live in Phoenix.

Checking out the scene from our window.

Man it is a production to get ready to head out in the cold! Can you say layers?!?! I was worried the poor little guy was going to end up like Ralphie's little brother with his arms stuck straight out!

First snow steps!

Daddy made a snow angel.

Icicles make a fun pounding tool...

and a great Popsicle!

We went to the NAU campus to play in the snow. This shows Mt. Humphrey's in the background where the ski lifts are open! Unfortunately no skiing for me this year. It was hard enough not falling just walking around, let alone on skis! I have to hand it to all the pregnant women who live with ice and snow... scary!

We still get red noses even though we're all bundled up!

Braden did eventually walk through the snow on his own, but his favorite part about it all was throwing snowballs!

Proof.

We stopped at the train station in Flag since Braden likes them so much. He had fun waiting on the bench like the one in his train set.

Let's just say all the fun lead to one sleepy boy! And one happy family!

Fun at the Train Park!

The Farmer's Market has started again. Braden enjoyed the entertainment!

It's foot-golf! He was playing with a golf club today and just wailed when it was time to put it away and go in the car. He thinks they are pretty fun!


The Train Park!
It's Christmas lights time at the Train Park! Braden has made Christmas even more awesome than it normally is. Every morning when he gets up he still points at the tree and says "woooooow" like it's the first time he sees it. Actually, he does that almost every time he walks by. He does the same thing when we are driving in the car and he sees the lights and the yard decorations. When we go for a bit without seeing any he says, "more, more..." The wonder, innocence and joy of a child always makes life more enjoyable.

So we headed to the Train Park the other night to check out the decorations. Was that a hit or what! Not only were there lights everywhere, but Elmo was there! I think Braden has seen Elmo on TV one time, but he has an Elmo airplane and rocket book that he loves and he is also on his night diapers so he has learned who Elmo is. He thought it was really cool when he saw Elmo walking around in person at the Train Park! He pronounces his name "Me-no" and we heard that often after the big introduction!

We still have to make it back to the Park to take the train ride as the lines have been too long for us to wait. We're planning to head back after Christmas to enjoy.



He gave Ne-mo a high-five and wasn't scared!

Family fun!

Such a little, cutie! He had so much to point at!

Still smelling the flowers even in the winter.

Our second night in a row for a visit! So much fun!

Kyndal and her family, including her precious new baby brother Kemper, joined us on our second visit. It was a bit chillier the second night and Braden got to try out his new hat and mittens. He thought the mittens were cool!

Dads and kids.

Watching for the choo-choo.

Taking a rest in a train car that was just their size.

Braden finds garbage on the ground and feels the need to pick it up. Then we find a place to through it away and he says "bluck." I'm glad he is already socially conscious!

Look at me everyone!

So Braden met a couple of Santa's elves. He was literally frozen in place as he sat between them! You'll see at the end of the video that the only thing that really moves are his eyes as he checks them out with a side view!!

Bye, Grammy.

Well, both of Braden's grandmothers left the same week! He was sad for Grammy to leave and is missing all the attention! It was a huge blessing to have Carla here to watch Braden and we're looking forward to her coming back in a few weeks!

We went to Bass Pro Shop one night this week to try and see Santa. The line was too long, but Braden still loves that place. Especially now with all the fun Christmas stuff!


Braden learned about his Maine heritage in getting a shooting lesson from Grammy and Daddy.


As close as he got to Santa... the reindeer were way cooler and he liked those!

This is what Daddy told him to ask Santa for...

and he will be glad to oblige!

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Braden and Daddy like to watch airplanes on the computer. It really is amazing how much Braden likes them. We have a few models that were his Papa Ernie's and he loves to play with them. He'll sit still for 30 minutes and check each one out over and over... and believe me he doesn't sit for long times for just anything!!

We got this awesome box of Sprinkles cupcakes delivered to our house from one of the families that Anthony flies. Yummmmmmmmmm.

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Anthony had a trip come up today to Columbus, Ohio. So, I had to come home early from work to watch Braden (darn). Even more of a darn was that we didn't get to go along. My Mom said she would gladly come pick us up! We had a great afternoon anyway. I had lunch scheduled with a friend so Braden got to come along for that. Then we went to the Zoo because he hadn't been for a few weeks. It was a beautiful afternoon and I'm so glad we were able to get out and enjoy it (I have to say that we were overdressed in our long sleeves!).

Braden was very excited to see the giraffes again... I think he had missed them.

This was hilarious... Braden thought the lady was taking a picture of him so he stopped and posed!!

He found a perfect little rock seat. He wore the Christmas shirt my Mom made him!

Then he found another perfect seat in a tree house!

The Bastian's were at the Zoo at the same time as us, so Braden got a chance to play with the boys. He wanted Cole to help him out of the tree house.

Braden likes frogs and anytime he sees one he pretends to eat a bug with his tongue. He had fun when he found this frog. He knows pretty much every body part down to his elbows and eyebrows!! He likes to use his washcloth to wash each one when I ask him to in his bath. I had to cut this video short since Braden was running at top speed down the hill!