Almost March?

I don’t believe it! Over the course of yesterday and last night we got close to 2 feet of snow. Yes, two feet. Is March 1st really on Monday? It sure doesn’t look like it! After complaining about all this snow I decided to accept it and EMBRACE it. After all, it really is beautiful! We decided to go sledding.

However, Braedon didn’t get the memo about embracing the snow. Maybe it was the fact that he was so bundled up he couldn’t even move. Maybe it was the fact that on our way to the hill he kind of took a face plant right into the snow. Maybe it was the fact that as Derek was cleaning off the sled he accidently threw snow right in his face….again.

Even though there were a couple traumatic events, Braedon did slide down the hill a few times and I think he enjoyed that. Let me tell you though, walking up a hill in two feet of snow with a 20 pound baby is a good workout. Next year Braedon can walk himself up that steep hill! Oh and Peyton had an absolute blast. I don’t even know how many times she ran up and down that hill. I’m sure she will sleep well the rest of the day.

I’m off to have some hot chocolate with marshmallows because that is what you are supposed to do on a snow day after sledding. I do have to say that snow days were much more exciting back in the day when you actually got to miss school, stay home and play all day only to come inside for hot cocoa breaks while your clothes dried in the dryer.

Curiosity Corner

Yesterday Derek had a class all day so I decided to take Braedon to Ithaca’s Science Center.  Definitely not a Seattle Science Center but it was something to do on a Saturday.  They do have some fun stuff for the kids to play with much like the Seattle Science Center, it is just A LOT smaller, and there isn’t a cool dinosaur exhibit.  Another nice thing about this place is that they have an area for just little kids ages 4 and under where they can crawl around and explore things.  Braedon really enjoyed himself and we spent about an hour and a half there.

  Here he is pondering over one of the exhibits.  He is wondering how it works just as much as I am.

Here he is in Curiosity Corner, which is the infant/toddler section where they can can play with blocks, water, and just explore. In this section they have a little basket hanging on the wall with a sign that says, “if your baby chews on any of the toys, please place them in this bin to be washed.”  That is a great idea, except I don’t think the bin is big enough, at least when Braedon visits.  The basket that all the building blocks were stored in didn’t fit in this bin, either did the benches or the railings around the water area.  Why must EVERYTHING have to go into his mouth?  He is pretty quick too and I didn’t even notice him sucking on the railing around the water exhibit.  I actually thought he was mesmerized by the rubber duckies floating around in the water and that’s why he was standing their so still for so long.  Nope, it was the nice and cold railing that must have felt really good on his teething gums.  (He has finally cut two of his bottom teeth.)

However, Braedon was only REALLY curious about the Saltines cracker crumbs he happened to find on the floor.

This is a little vacuum section where the kids could play with the vacuums and suck up little foam letters and watch them go through the tubes…or if that gets too boring, suck up their hair, clothes, and faces.  Even though Braedon is deathly afraid of our vacuum, he did fine with these.  Probably because these are a lot quieter and they don’t look like the big bad vacuum that is hiding in our hall closet.

We had a very nice time at the Science Center and I’m so excited that Braedon is getting to the age where he thinks this kind of stuff is fun.  I can’t wait to take him to the zoo!!

Random Ramblings

Have you ever had one of those nights where you just CAN’T fall asleep and your mind is going in a million different directions thinking about all sorts of stuff? I had one of those nights last night, but I also blame the girl who lives upstairs who had a few friends over last night and were up giggling/chatting until way past midnight. I went to bed a little before 10 to do some reading and turned the lights out at about 10:30 or so. I laid in bed listening to the jabbering upstairs trying to block it out which then also gets my brain going. I start thinking about the most random things like how when I go to the grocery store I almost run in to the automatic doors almost EVERY time because they do not open fast enough. I’m waiting for the day I actually do walk right into them!

Or I think about what kind of workout I want to do in the morning. Yeah, it will be on the treadmill, but what do I want to incorporate into my treadmill workout? Sprint intervals? Hill Intervals? Just take it easy and keep the same pace the whole run? Hmmm, since I took a pretty tough spinning class today that was all about strength and hills, I think I’ll do some sprints and strides….then I started thinking about what to make for dinner tomorrow night…I saw a really good recipe in the magazine I was reading and it was a sweet potato, spinach salad. Dang, I’m all out of spinach though. I know! I can still make the salad but substitute KALE for spinach…yeah, that will work.

Okay, its after 11 pm now…still hearing the annoying giggles from the apartment above us. I wonder what would happen if I walked up there, knocked on the door and asked them to be quiet? No, I wouldn’t do that and I remember those days where I stayed up into the late hours having parties with my close girl friends. Back then I wouldn’t want some cranky 20 something year old who acts like she’s 80 because she goes to bed at 10 on a Friday night come rain on MY parade. There just having fun…but that laugh is SO annoying!

It’s about 11:30 and Derek has come to bed. I complain that the girls upstairs is too loud and I haven’t fallen asleep even though I have been laying here for over an hour. How FRUSTERATING!!! Our conversation:

Derek: Why don’t you try counting backwards from 100 by 3’s. I’ve done that a few times now.

Me: Does it Work?

Derek:Yeah, except I do it too fast sometimes because it’s easy. 100, 97, 94, 91, 88…

Me: Interrupted kind of cranky-OKKKAAYYY, as in you can stop counting out loud NOW

Derek: I know, why don’t you count backwards from 10,000 using only prime numbers? I’ve done that too.

Me: You are such a NERD! I don’t think having to THINK will help me fall asleep…that is my problem, my brain is going like crazy thinking about pointless, random crap!

FIVE minutes later….Derek is sound asleep!!

You have got to be kidding me! How does he do that so EASILY!!??

I finally fell asleep, but just had a horrible night of sleep. I kept waking up, I couldn’t get comfortable…

I know this post doesn’t have a point whatsoever, but I thought I would just share with you my night. Actually, back when I was working and going to school most of my nights were like these because I couldn’t turn my brain off at night, so I am thankful that these days I can usually fall asleep within 15 minutes of my head hitting the pillow. I am also thankful that even though Derek is in a tough MBA program with lots of school work, job interviews, application deadlines and more he can fall asleep within 5 minutes of his head hitting the pillow. I’m just jealous!

Random

How can the same little guy tear through our house making it look like a tornado touched down in a matter of seconds but also be afraid of the vacuum (even when it is sitting in the closet), the action of pouring dog food into the dish, a fort made out of a blanket and dining room chairs and his tricycle? I mean really scared, like screaming and crawling up your leg scared!

I told Derek he may end up baking and sewing (if he’s not afraid of the sewing machine) when he gets a little older because he just might be deathly afraid of camping, hiking, biking, snowboarding…Derek does not think this is funny. I do until I get this picture in my head of my cute little boy dressed in pants too short, a button up shirt with suspenders, big brown glasses, his hair slicked back, absolutely hating (and being horrible) at every sport, and never wanting to leave his bedroom because it is too scary out there. Then I think of this little boy who I went to grade school with name Patrick Santos Johnson who cried almost every single day in class about something. Either the teacher would make him cry, another student, or a certain situation. I bet he was afraid of the vacuum and forts when he was a baby too.

Anyway, I hope he grows out of this scaredy cat stage, but if he doesn’t at least I know he will not be dressed in high waters and suspenders because I will still be in control over that.

Treat please! Please?

Moments

Every time, right before I put Braedon down for a nap, he wraps his little arms around me and gives me a tight squeeze.  It’s moments like those when it’s hard to let go and put him down in his crib. 

Every night about a half hour before bedtime we go into his room and cuddle in the rocking chair as we listen to music.  He will lay his head down on my chest and we will just rock, listening to the music…just me and him.  It’s moments like those that I absolutely cherish and just sit there and take it all in.  The sound of the little breaths that he breathes, the feel of his head on my shoulder, his arms wrapped around me.  I know these moments won’t last too much longer, but they are definitely moments I will remember. 

Ok, now he is starting to grow up TOO FAST!!!

9 Months

Braedon is 9 months old tomorrow!  I’m going to have to start planning his birthday party soon!  He is enjoying exploring the world of solids and is a very good eater.  Speaking of very good:

My version of Sheppard's pie:

Ingredients:

1 sweet potato peeled an boiled

3 golden potatoes peeled and boiled

3-4 shredded and cooked chicken breasts

Carrots, peas, green beans cooked (you can add any veggie that you like)

1 can cream of chicken soup

2-3 Tbsp. plain yogurt

Pepper, garlic, onion powder, chili powder

Direction:

Peel and boil potatoes.  While potatoes are cooking combine chicken, vegetables, cream of chicken soup, yogurt, and spices in bowl.  Pour chicken mixture into a greased baking dish.  When potatoes are done, drain and mash with a spoonful of yogurt.  Spread over chicken mixture and bake in oven at 370 degrees for 33 minutes.  I know, random numbers but that’s what I did.

Braedon loved it!  Both Derek and I thought it was really good too!!

Braedon enjoying recipe from above.

Braedon thinks the fire is pretty cool, which is why there is now a gate surrounding the fire.  He will just sit there and pull, hit, and try to drag the fence.  Reminds me of Gunther. (our old rabbit) Peyton and Braedon are becoming better friends everyday.  Peyton is always trying to share her toys with him and Braedon always wants to be with her.  They are so cute to watch together!

Braedon has started to pull himself up to a standing position and is getting quite good at it. He has also picked up this habit of grunting, especially in a quiet Starbucks filled with people working on there laptops.  Luckily his high pitched screaming phase has stopped, but I’m not sure which phase is worse.  Acting like he is filling his pants all the time or ear piercing squeals…