Family Resemblance

Is it just me or do you see some similarities?

MY Son

If you know me at all you know I have a love for Mexican cuisine. If you REALLY know me, then the phrase "Brooke likes to eat fajitas" might make you chuckle and drives that point further home. After our dinner out Saturday night it became very clear that Blake has definitely inherited this love as well. I think it is pretty evident from the spoon full of guacamole you see him eating in this picture. What you don't see from this photo is the enchilada, taco, beans and rice he also ate.

You know you're the tired, sleep deprived parents of a toddler and a baby when...

This story could totally have had a different ending, one being with me beyond upset and angry at our stupidity, but since we are extremely lucky, I can not help but laugh. We woke early today and since the sun was shining, we knew our first half of the day would be spent outside to let Blake run around and play at the park. Despite the heavy winds. We had a great time and played hard, ran home, jumped in the car and went to lunch. When we came home it was past Blake's nap time and Brady's feeding time. I grabbed Brady and ran inside to feed him, while Brad grabbed Blake to change his diaper and get him put down for a nap. Brad left the car (the Escalade) in the driveway (still running) so we had room to get out of the car and would pull the car in the garage once he got Blake put down. Wellllll, that was what we intended to do, but evidently neither of us remembered he had parked in the driveway...with it still running, and we continued on doing things around the house and hanging out, enjoying visiting with Brad's mom who is in town. THREE HOURS LATER, Brad's step dad came to the house to meet back up with us, and asked Brad why the car was running in the driveway. Ummm, WHOOPS. Wow. We felt so dumb. And then we had to laugh...a lot. Seriously...who does that?? And evidently we live in a really great neighborhood to still have our car. I think we need a nap.

HATS

Brad put his hat on Blake earlier and Blake turned it backwards and said "Cool"! He then started flashing gang signs. We've really got to talk about the type of kids he's surrounding himself with at school...


On Saturday we attended our good friend Brynn's first birthday party. I unfortunately didn't snap any pictures of the beautiful birthday girl. Blake and Brynn seemed pretty smitten with each other and Blake even gave her a hug and kiss goodbye. Brady was a party animal, enjoying his first birthday party. He even insisted on wearing a party hat...

Discovery

If any of you are reading this and have a little one who refuses eating veggies, I just may be on to something to change that. As soon as Blake was old enough to eat solids, he was the BEST eater, eating veggies like they were going out of style. Especially broccoli. Broccoli was his favorite food. Then as the months went by, my great eater did a 180. No veggies...at all. I have continued at almost every meal to serve him veggies so he knew he at least should be eating them. This no veggie eating was starting to really upset me because I want to make sure he is eating well balanced meals and getting proper nutrients in his diet. So this coming weekend I was going to purchase a cookbook Jerry Seinfeld's wife wrote that disguises vegetable purees in foods like chicken nuggets, spaghetti, you get the idea. I don't think I have to go that far anymore...
A few days ago I was trying to get Brady to eat some pureed carrots and Blake asked to try them. I gave him a spoonful, and then another, and another and another, until he had eaten an entire serving. I couldn't believe it! The next night he ate an entire serving of pureed sweet potatoes with his dinner and tonight an entire serving of pureed squash.
I think I may have just hit a home run with this finding! So, go ahead... try it with your picky eater and let me know how it works!

Texas Fun

My good friend Carrie from college and her family, all came in town this past weekend to visit her parents. We were able to spend the weekend with them and had a GREAT time. Carrie had her son Case two months after Blake was born and Annabella (or Bella) about 2 1/2 months after Brady was born. Even though we don't live close by, we have loved getting to share in our experiences of having two babies under two over email and always love getting together in person when possible. We enjoyed a day of good ol' Texas fun on Sunday. It was warm and sunny and the perfect day to spend outside. We headed to the Stockyards in Fort Worth to watch the cattle drive. Can you get more Texan than that?! Blake had fallen asleep about 15 minutes before we arrived and I was worried we'd have a cranky pants on our hands, but instead, when he woke up he saw this as soon as we got out of the car and couldn't stop smiling...

Such an exciting and perfect start to a great day ahead! After the cattle drive, we enjoyed an awesome lunch at Risky's BBQ for some all you can eat ribs. YUM. Blake chowed down on grilled cheese on Texas toast, but he thought it was pretty YUM too! Here is Blake & Case...

And here is Miss Bella...

There was a cowboy/clown/mime sort of guy making balloon animals and Blake couldn't take his eyes off of him. He finally made his way over to our table and made Blake a hat. He thought it was pretty cool although I'm surprised Blake wasn't scared of him!

After our great lunch we headed to the Fort Worth Zoo. We had been preparing Blake all morning on where we were going and he was saying "zoo" and "animals" all morning. Very cute. Blake had an absolute ball and loved getting to see all the animals. I think as Blake continues to get older and older he'll enjoy visits there more and more. His favorite animal was the elephants or as Blake called them, el-eph-antay. He sounds like a little Italian or something.

He also loved the kangaroos since he sees them a lot on his favorite show which is Australian based, the Wiggles.

Brady was the perfect boy all day and enjoyed the fresh air and taking in all the sites. Here are the brothers hanging out at the zoo...

Blake petting a goat in the petting zoo area...

After an incredibly long day with no nap, both boys fell asleep in the stroller as we made our way to the car. Blake fell asleep snuggling Brady and was possibly the cutest thing I've ever seen.

We had an absolute blast and had so much fun hanging with our friends from Kansas. Can't wait till next time!

Is This Really Necessary?

I'm all for safety, but I think this has gotten out of hand. One of the main streets that you take to get in and out of our neighborhood is lined with houses. When we first moved in the neighborhood we soon were introduced to the plastic children. Yes, plastic children. These plastic children were placed by the parents in the middle of the road as a caution to drivers to slow down...their children, both real, and evidently plastic as well, were at play. It went from plastic children, to dirty looks and shouts from the parents as you drove by at a speed the parents thought was too fast, albeit BELOW the posted speed limit on the street. These dirty looks and shouts lasted for years and it got on Brad and I's last nerve, as there is a PARK 3 houses down from these people. Evidently the parents are too lazy to walk three houses down to watch their children play instead of sitting in the lawn chair in their yards. After years of this, I guess the parents finally got the right people on their side, because one of those electronic boards that flashes your speed as you drive by was set up. Then, that wasn't enough, so speed bumps were put down. Brad and I quickly started going another way in and out of the neighborhood. On our jog back from the park on Saturday we were going down this street however and I couldn't help but snap a picture. Anyone else think this is overkill???? I think, I think there may be a speed hump ahead, but may need one more sign to be sure.

The Perfect Day

If I had to describe the perfect day, this past Saturday might be pretty close to it. Saturday morning we woke, enjoyed breakfast together and had a little bit of lounge time on the couch as a family of four. Brad enjoyed loving on his two boys...

After we enjoyed our chill morning, we wanted to take advantage of the beautiful day outside and hopped in our new awesome double jogging stroller and made our way to a park a mile or so from our house to let Blake run around and play at the park. I have been waiting months for the weather to be nice enough, for our family to be healthy enough, to enjoy the day together as a family. And doing something active together was even better.
Here is Brady chilling in the stroller while Blake ran around the park...

Blake having fun on the slide...

Blake playing soccer...

Blake standing on the U.S....

Brad showing Blake where we live...

Blake looking at the airplane in the sky, one of his new loves...

The boys loved riding in the stroller and Blake loves sitting next to his lil bro. Here they are on the jog back home (Brady was tuckered out from all the fun)...


After lunch Blake and Brady both went down for naps and Brad and I joined in. A nap on a Saturday afternoon...heaven! To top off our perfect day, the boys spent the night at Grandma & Papa's house allowing Brad and I to go on a special date night...dinner and to see Phantom of the Opera, one of my all time favorite musicals. Such a treat for us and the perfect ending to the perfect day!

While Mommy's Away the Boys Will Play...

Last weekend while Brady and I went out of town, Brad stayed home with Blake and had so much fun together! I thought I'd perhaps come home to a worn down Brad and him begging me never to leave for a weekend again...HA! Brad not only had a great time with Blake, but even thanked me for giving him the opportunity to have the weekend just the two of them. He told me he fell even more in love with him and cherished their time together so incredibly much. Yes, I did get teary eyed when he told me that! They had a very fun filled few days. They visited one of the local hockey shops while Brad sharpened his skates and Blake ran around trying on hockey equipment, went to the park...twice, met both grandpas for meals, got a much needed hair cut and even found time to fix the toilet in the master bath. Here are a few pics Brad snapped with his phone to document their weekend together...

CHICAGO

Saturday morning Brady and I, along with my mom, hopped on a plane to snowy Chicago to celebrate the arrival of my nephew. I say we hopped on a plane, but it wasn't all that easy. Getting through security there and back suuuuucked. Between my mom in a wheelchair and having to explain her insulin pump and one million medications to take out of her carry on to be inspected and me with Brady, a car seat, a stroller, medicine for Brady and bottles of formula I had to take out to be inspected, it was exhausting. However, I was totally okay with dealing with all of that stress, as long as Mr. Brady was a sweet little angel on the plane. My biggest fear was him screaming the whole way and everyone on the plane wanting to shoot me in the head. My prayers were answered in a huge way. Brady was AMAZING. He had won over everyone's hearts on the plane both ways. I have never gotten so many smiles and compliments from complete strangers in all my life! On the way there the flight attendants were also the most amazing women and completely ooo'd and aaah'd over Brady the entire trip. One of them held Brady for me while my mom and I were able to get settled into our seats and she kept him at the front of the plane to greet all the passengers while they boarded. How sweet is that?! They also kidnapped him at different times through the flight to give him tours of the plane. They were pretty smitten with Mr. Smiley Pants. (his new nick name now that he's feeling so much better).
We had a fabulous time in Chicago with my brother and his wife and her family. It was of course too short, but I am so beyond grateful we were able to go. My sister-in-law looks awesome and I loved getting to see her pregnant. Brady loved getting to meet his aunt and spend some quality time with his aunt and uncle. We can't wait to go back in a few months to meet their little guy! Here are some pictures of the beautiful shower...

Brady hanging out before the shower


Adorable (and YUMMY) Cake


Beautiful table settings with even a place card for Mr. Brady!


Printed menus on our place settings


Me and my handsome little man


My mom, me and bro


Playing a fun game (had to draw a picture of a baby on your head without getting to look - best picture won)


Adam & Marlene


Present for Adam from Marlene's mom


Aunt Marlene, Uncle Adam & Brady


Thanks Adam & Marlene for such a wonderful weekend! We absolutely can't wait to see you and meet your son very soon and look forward to Brad and Blake coming too!!

Brad and Blake had an AWESOME weekend at home and next post will be some pictures of their special weekend together.