Santa Came to Visit

Santa must have thought Brady had been a really good boy this year. He received a train table and wooded train set, a battery powered four wheeler, a leapfrog "laptop" like mommies, a sit and spin, lots of car-cars, puzzles, a firetruck, etc.

We invited both sets of Grandparents to be there when Brady woke up and saw what Santa had brought him. They were to be there at 8, because Brady has been sleeping til 8 or 9 here lately, of all morning, I guess excitement, he tried to start getting up at 6:30!! Luckily, he just laid in bed and rested until 8:00 and never asked to get out. He was so cute. I think he liked everything he got, it was a little overwhelming. He started jumping up and down when he saw everything. He went to his train table first. Then slowly made his way to everything else. It took him a few minutes to figure out the wheeler, but once he did, he started making a path through our den and kitchen and back around and around and around.

I had made breakfast and we all ate together, then everyone left, and Brady continued to ride his wheeler. He think he is Something Else on that thing. He just has a cocky look on his face and just looks at you with his head tilted back when he passes by, like 'look at me now, I am not pushing thing'! It didn't take long, and he was back down for another 3 hour nap. Christmas definitely wore him out. We could not have had a better Christmas, and are thankful for everything, and everyone, and for Brady's 2nd Christmas!

Christmas Eve Night with families

Here is a collage of pictures from Aunt Lindy's and Nana & Pops house.

We exchanged gifts at Aunt Lindy's, where Brady got more toys, some money and clothes. Me and Jason, got gift cards to get a pedicure (me) and Academy (Jason). We ate supper, and waited for Santa to come by. He comes by every year on the firetruck, and 4 of the last 5 years it has rained, so he can't slow down, and we haven't gone to the road to see him, but we can see him pass by very well from her porch. Brady LOVED it. He kept saying Santa and making firetruck noises. Then he waved bye to him and said Bye Bye Santa, with more firetruck noises. We played dirty santa, where we won Chick Fil and Logan's gift Cards! We left them to play the crazy games, and headed to Nana & Pop's house. They had finished eating and were waiting on us to read the Christmas story, Joe Roy to recite Luke 2, I should know this but I can't not remember what all verses he knew, I was blown away! Then we exchanged gifts, we received more gift cards to eat and pedicures! Everyone knows us all too well. Brady got a talking truck and clothes.

We had a wonderful Christmas eve, celebrating Jesus and fellowship, but it was time to go home and prepare for Santa to come. We got home and put on Brady's special Christmas pajamas and he was ready for a sip of milk, his passssss!, and bed. He went right to sleep, and Santa was able to come on and visit him ....

Christmas with Nanie & Papa

We went over to Mom and Dad's and had Christmas with them next. Brady was so excited over his fire station and fire truck. He is really into firetrucks and sounds right now. So that thrilled him. Nana got him the radio flyer Tricycle. It is so cute, it had a radio and horn on it, so he pushed those buttons constantly. He enjoyed riding through there House on it! Now off to Aunt Lindy's for supper, presents and dirty Santa ...

christmas with mommy and daddy

Before we left to go to my parents house to exchange gifts with them on Christmas eve, we exchanged gifts just mommy, daddy and Brady. Brady got some more car cars, A rolling choo choo train and a ball and hammer game. Daddy got a new electric drill set, a PS3 game and some Auburn clothes. Mommy got spoiled some more, she racked up with an iPhone!, a coach wallet and a galleria gift card. I must have been good this year! I love my boys and Thank you for always spoiling me! We didn't forget about our 4 legged children, they got new beds and some treat-treats. Brady LOVES to give the dogs treat treats, so this was just a good present for him too!

Christmas Eve Brunch

Thursday Morning, we started Christmas eve off at Su Su and Big's house for brunch. We had a wonderful breakfast, and Tayler, Tyler and Brady loaded of up toys!! He got several car-cars, a tractor and trailer, a radio flyer riding toy, and a few other things. As always, the boys wanted what each other got and Tayler minds her own business with her girl toys. It won't be long, until there is another girl to fight over her toys! We had a great time, and all received our Christmas gifts. By the time we left there, Brady was ready for a nap, he knew he had a long afternoon/night ahead of him. So we got home and he slept for over 3 hours.

Merry Christmas!

This is the picture we used for our Christmas card! This week, he has learned how to say

"Santa", "Christmas Tree", and "Ho Ho Ho" ... His vocabulary seems to extend everyday, he is getting very good at repeating things these days. He has also started calling Jennifer, Sissy, just like his daddy does! it is Cute!

Poor Brady, I didn't even think about it, but when we left the Zoo, I just threw him in the car and went to Cosmo's ... I guess I should have taken his jacket off, because daddy said he looked like Ralphie's little brother, from the Christmas Story!!!

Zoo Light Safari

Last night we went to Zoo Light Safari with the Gambles. It just so happen, the Jefferson County Alabama Club had Big Al there, so Tayler and Tyler got there pictures made with him. Being the "mean" parents that we are, we wouldnt' let Brady get his picture made with him. So he just sat in his stroller and waved at him. But we did find a blow up Aubie and had his picture made with him. Brady waved at EVERYTHING. From Big Al, to the blow up Aubie, the real Animals and the fake Animals!! He is so precious!!!

It was alot of fun. Brady liked the "lights" "lights" and hearing the Choo-Choo. We did not get a chance to ride it because we were late getting there. We left there and went to Cosmo's to see Lisa and get some pizza. We had a a very fun evening!

Visiting Santa

Here is our attempt to a picture with Santa. We went to the Galleria on Sunday evening for Brady's picture. Boy was it crowded, we waited about 2 hours. Mom and Dad showed up and entertained Brady while we waited, which helped. But when he got up there, as you can see, he didn't want to be with Ho Ho by himself, he kept saying Da, Da, Da!! So me and Jason had to have the Santa picture with him.

Christmas Pictures

Here is a sneak peak to Brady's Christmas pictures that we had made last week. I left off the Christmas card picture, as you will be seeing those soon enough :) I am working on getting those out in the mail! I think they turned out great, seeing that he is a 22 month old BOY that would not sit still and "cheese" like we practiced all morning!!! I went ahead and posted some of the bloopers that included him trying to pick up the props and throwing the ball!! Oh that boy!! I hope everyone is having a wonderful Christmas season. I still have tons of Christmas shopping to do, but that is okay, that is the fun of it, right? To wait until the last minute to get everything. Santa knows what Brady wants, so I think he has that covered. We have a busy Saturday night with 2 Christmas parties. Then we are going to try to go to Breakfast with Santa this weekend, if not, we will have the opportunity next weekend. We also want to try to make it to Zoo Light Safari and going to see Santa at the mall as well.

It's Beginning to Look ALOT like Christmas~!

I just love Christmas time!! Everyone (well almost everyone!) is in merry moods and it is just a good feeling. Our tree is up, the stockings are hung by the chimney with care :) and the outside looks beautiful. I will have to take a picture one night and post it.
I am waiting on all of Brady's christmas outfits to get made, so he can be festive almost every day! We went and took his christmas pictures today. They turned out cute! I can't wait to get them back next week and get everyone some christmas pictures in the mail! Of course we practiced "cheesing" all morning ... he would not do that during the photo session, but when we got in the car he would do it, and was even willing to do it in front of the christmas tree when we got home!!!!

Happy Thanksgiving

I hope everyone had a Happy Turkey Day ... This is the best picture, I have of the outfit I had made for Brady bug ... I was very happy with it, I found the lady from Madison, AL off of etsy.com and was very pleased with the quality and craftsmanship! I will definitely use her again. We have so much to be thankful for .... love, family, a precious and healthy 22 month old little boy, a roof over our head, jobs, and a happy marriage. There are so many more, but those are the first things that pop in my head.
Brady had a good 2nd thanksgiving ... we started off the day by watching a little of the Macy's thanksgiving day parade. When he would stop and pay attention, he loved watching it. We went to Tu's house for Jason's side of the families thanksgiving, we had good food and fellowship, then the men went outside for a little Turkey Bowl and threw the football around. Of course Brady had to go out there and ride his car car. It was cold, so we didn't stay out long. After that, we headed to my parents, just in time to play my Aunt's version of Turkey turnover ... wow! Family pictures, which my mom has on her camera, so I will have to get some copies of those to post.

We went to see The Blind Side at 6 ... It is hands down the best movie I have ever seen, so touching and funny all in the same movie, couldn't' have asked for more.

I woke up at 4:30 to go to Target, it was crazy, but no one was going after what I wanted, so I got everything I needed, plus a few good deal extras and I was out there and back home by 6 ... Then Jason and I headed to Auburn for the Iron Bowl. I have to admit I never thought it would even be a game, and I was happily surprised! Our guys played so hard and fought all 4 quarters, but couldn't hold them off the last 2 minutes of the game, so I will take 26-21 .. a lot better than the shut-outs that were predicted all week ... War Eagle, today, tomorrow and forever! :)

22 months

Where has the time gone, my "baby" is now 22 months old. It is hard to believe. He is acting more and more like a big boy everyday. We were talking the other day, how Brady skipped the baby days. It seems like since he could sit up, he just grew up. He has never really cared for baby toys, he is all about big boy toys, especially his car cars. He has been playing with monster trucks for over a year now. Those are his favorites. He will line books, magazines, papers, etc up on the coffee table and make himself a track and will roll his car-cars on there for what seems like forever!

He is still a picky eater. When all else fells, he will always, always eat chicken nuggets. He also likes french fries, spaghetti, chips, cookies, steak, bread and rice. Those are always safe bets.

His vocabulary is starting to extend. He has started trying to repeat ALOT of what we say, things we don't want him to repeat. Like Daddy watching football Saturday night and saying "oh my god" .. and Brady says "oh my god" not as clearly as his daddy, but you could tell that was what he was going for.

He can say Momma (all the time!), da-da, nanie, papa, nana, TuTu (which is suppose to be SuSu), Tyler, light, horsies, Baylee Girl, which sounds more like Bully Gurrrr, bus, car, truck, cookies, tea, and make truck sounds. I am sure there are a few more that I am leaving out.

He is just a precious boy, and I hate to see him grow, but I know it is part of it.

Gatlinburg

We have just returned from Gatlinburg for the Cox Family Vacation. We had a great time. We drove up on Tuesday. It rained the entire drive up ... we followed Tropical Storm Ida all the way up there. Brady did wonderful. You never know traveling with a 21 month old how it will go, but 90% of the time, you wouldn't have even known he was in the vehicle. He was a trooper the whole vacation. He is definitely off schedule as far as bed time, naps, etc. Some days his only nap was 30/45 minutes in the car. Wednesday was still a nasty drizzly day, so me, Jason & Brady went on our own and went on a ride through some of the state park (while Brady napped) and went to the aquarium. I have to say the shark tank was amazing and my favorite.
We had reservations at Dixie Stampede for 8:30. We were nervous about that, since at home he would be going to bed at that time. But he did fantastic, he loved watching the "horsies". That was a fun time. Tayler was chosen to chase the chickens for the South and Bryan played horse shoes for the South, they both did great and got a Win for their teams. You couldn't use flash photography, so the pictures I got where not to good. We also went to Cades Cove for a picnic and to see the wildlife. We saw lots of deer and turkey this time. We had a great time and can't wait for next years trip. Bryan & Jennifer, will have another little with us then!

Brady loved this "car-car" ... Every time we would pass it on the strip, he would have to ride it. His daddy showed him how to stall it out and he thought that was funny to shift it from low to high real quick, which would make it and the music stop for a second. It was only .25 cents per ride ... he definitely got a dollars worth and enjoyed every minute of it.

Happy Halloween

My precious Tiger ....
Brady loves his cousin Tyler, as you can see the grin on his face as he went up and hugged him when he first saw him!

As always, there is plenty of good food to eat ... Brady loves Cheese, so he decided to dip his shredded cheese into the cheese dip, to make it cheesier!

He loves wearing his "monkey on his back" ... even around the house ...

Every year for as long as Jason can remember his family has held there annual trick or treat festivities ... We go to Nana & Pop's where they have everything set up and the bonfire roaring! Everyone gathers, brings chips, dips, snacks, desserts, etc .. We roast hot dogs on the open fire. Fellowship, then all the kiddo's load up on the trailers and go trick or treating. I have been doing this for 5 years and we used to only have only 1 trailer full, but the families have gotten bigger and friends added to the mix, so now we fill up two trailers. The headcount on our trailer was 27! So I am sure we had around 50 people on there, with about 25 trick or treaters! Can you image the neighbors faces when they saw the kids piling off the trailer running towards there door!!! That would explain why only about 10 houses had there lights on and one turned there lighs off when they saw us pull up!!!! HA! Brady was a blast. I have to say, I was very worried about him, he is at the age where he is constantly going and you have to constantly keep an eye on him. That is why I bought the "monkey on his back" .. but he did great. He liked to go trick or treating with his Uncle Johnny (thank you Johnny!!). He was exhausted when we made it back to Nana's. We changed his clothes, but on his pj's and went home and he hit the pillow and never said a word until 7:00 the next morning, and that is gaining an extra hours' sleep as well!! Happy Halloween!

Fall pictures!

I have wanted to get Brady's pictures made for some time now, but I have either have put it off, haven't had time, the weather wasn't good, etc. (excuses!) So yesterday the weather was pretty so I decided to dress him up in a fall outfit and take him to Aldridge Gardens and take his pictures. Mom met us there on lunch and helped me with him. Which I am thankful for, because I never could have kept up with him by myself and took his pictures! When I put his stroller in the back of my car he had to put something in there too, so he choose his wooden truck. The truck is special, because one of Jason's uncles made it for him when he was a little boy, now Brady plays with it. I am scared he will tear it up one day, because he loves to push it around so much. It also has a trailer that attaches to it, but we left it at home! So as you can see, the truck are in most of the pictures. All in all the pictures were a success and I have a few frame able ones!