Goin on 7 months

You're getting more and more fun...you're like the toy with endless surprises and levels that never end! You've been sitting your own for 2 months now, and are quite good at it, no more random back throws...its a softer gentler lay..to get someone's attention that you're done sitting in the spot you were in. You've just started reaching out when you want to be picked up...I love it...I've been working with you on that one for some time now! yay! You roll from tummy to back...INSTANTLY!!..cause you HATE being on your tummy...i think you may skip the crawling and head straight for walking...unless it suddenly clicks that you can actually gain some independence that way (you've surprised me before) You are just so aware of your surroundings and LOVE new things and people and want to be in the actions all the time. You LOVE dada...and when hes home for the day...naps are battle! You don't want to miss a minute! You're eating solids 3 x a day, usually, and love it! You want to expand your food horizons way before you're ready...like gabbing a huge leaf of lettuce and cramming it down your throat before I can snatch it back, or taking the PB&J out of my hand faster than I can react...its kinda fun to watch... hee hee! Hmmm, since our evening walks have been halted due to amazing snowwwww fal, we have been skypeing Nana and Cookie nightly to fill that rough hour right before your 8pm bedtime. You still sleep through the night beautifully, but I think your starting to realize I leave when I lay you down, and are learning that I do reappear when cry...darn it...but I'm staying strong... and usually a reinsertion of good ol' binkie and a gentle head pet get you to sleep. I'm looking forward to your "music together" class that begins mid Jan, and getting my painting flowing again after the holidays are over. Life is great!! You are growing faster than I realized possible and your little unique personality is starting to bloom...sooooo amazing to watch and witness your little "being" evolve...incredible!!! love you sugar muffun!!

holidayyysszz

CRAZY...where are we?? up to the seats of the chairs!


love it!!

"I'm gettin a little cabin fever... when is it summer again??"

Wow..tomorrow is Christmas eve...and its canceled! Too much snow and ice out at the Holmgreen ranch. We plan to have a cozy evening and make our own yum grub...we've got a tuuurkeeey! Weird! First X-mas eve in my life not with family!! Guess we've got our own little fam now...it'll be so cozy. Soooo....Crazy snow-land! I love it...wish little B loved it a little more...next year he'll get it...for now its just, "why the hell are you dressing me 5 times on top of each other #$%@!!..and then, K its white, bright, and my face is cold, lets go inside!"

horsetail falls

6 months...whaa??!!!

Wow, 6 months...can't believe it! WELLLll... what a month! I think you have decided that you are going to walk before you crawl. You can pull yourself to standing, and walk all over the house if I hold your hands (slow and wobbly) You can totally prop yourself up to your knees as long as your not thinking about it...but the second you really notice that mama has done the dirty trick of "tummy time" you revert to "super man" with arms and legs rigid and start grunting unhappy #$@!! words. You an sit on your own...although every once in a while...(and always when I've decided you're so good at it you don't need pillows surrounding you "just in case") you decide to spontaneously fall backwards...ooooh, makes me feel like a horrible mom. Really the biggest thing I have to say this month is, you are the BEST baby!! So easy going, and as long as you eat and sleep on schedule, and have new fun and exciting things to paw you are all good! You said "mama" today!! Clear as day, and then it turned into mamamamama, and maaaaa, baaaaa, aaaaaaah. What ever though...you totally said "mama" and meant it, I'm marking today as "the day"!! :) You are so suddenly, just like the sitting on your own, understanding words, and are so proud of yourself when you get it! It seems to be rare moments when you get up the courage to try to speak, arranging your mouth in awkward ways, but when you have "the zone" all of a sudden you bust words out clear as day....its so insane, but then they are gone, and you won't say anything but aaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhh oooooooooooooooooooooohhhhh for days. I love it, I feel so lucky to be there for those "zones." Love you baby, you amaze me everyday! xxx

Halloween

Halloween is so fun and exciting again!! We went trick or treating with Brayden and some friends. He loved it! Was happily grabbing candy out of bowls, and flirting with everyone who opened their door. Afterwards, I think he got a contact sugar high from being around the other kids, he was wired and stayed up almost 3 hrs past his usual bed time laughing, screaming and flapping his arms. Holidays are so fun again!!

big boy sitting!!

Another milestone!! You're sitting all by yourself this week!! Kinda amazing that this is coming before you are even wanting to roll over. You seem like such a big boy!!

Almost 5 months

So...we are approaching the 5 month mark...unbelievable!! Brayden you are a busy little thinker. You love constant stimulation and new things all of the time. You can be very intense when you are absorbing new faces and things, you have an expression of deep deep thought, like you're really soaking it all in with your furrowed little brow. You have a great sense of humor, and we all strive to coax out that incredible smile and adorable laugh every chance we get. You are finding your voice, and enjoy hearing yourself make noise, sometimes very loud noise. You love spending time in your "johnny jump up" and can get some serious air when you get going. You are a really BIG boy!! Jaws drop when people ask your age, and you're growing out of your darling little clothes way too fast! You are teething, although no evidence of actual teeth yet. You are a very easy baby, and I am so thankful. You stick to your schedule very nicely, are sleeping through the night and have been since 2 months...love it!! You rarely cry, and when you do, its very brief and always for a reason, usually because you're tired. I am amazed by your curiosity and excitement for all new experiences, and absolute contentment with being outside, its your favorite place to be (with the exception of warm in my arms nursing) You love to watch the trees, and want to touch everything! Ponsu is your own personal clown, he makes you laugh daily. He also has taken it upon himself to be your very watchful guardian when I am not at your side, its so heartwarming! I love you more everyday, I had no idea that was possible! You bring a smile to everyone's face when they meet you. "what a happy baby" "hes very serious" "what a big boy!" "hes such a flirt" are the most common things we hear. I'm so excited to watch you evolve, your little personality, what you like and don't like...you are the best toy ever and it just keeps getting better!! We love you little butter bean, we're so lucky!! xxxxx

ready for our walk??

He was so funny in this fleece outfit...I can't move my arms!!

into the world of solids!

After debating to start or not to start...(so young) and talking to his Dr... we decided to give Brayden a little taste of some rice cereal. Like the food pro he is, he LOVED it, and has been a fun addition to our dinners. "Nana" has made some FABULOUS organic baby applesauce, skins-n-all, that we just started last night, mixed in with his cereal. Baby had his first sugar high...it was hilarious. Not every night, but its a fun new step that he is embracing eagerly!!

pumpkin fest woo-hoo!!

perfect baby pumpkins

Auntie Ali is always so fun

(4 mos old) We took Brayden to Sauvie's Island for his first Halloween pumpkin hunt! What a beautiful day, and he was way into it.

First Family Camping Trip

go Ponsu...boink boink!!

Best buds in the making

"wow!!" tide pools cooool

check out that stance!

mmmmm the perfect smore

Yay! What a great trip! We stayed in a lovely yurt at Beverly Beach and Brayden LOVED it!! All the trees and the fire, everything was so interesting and exciting! He talked more than I've ever heard! Many more trips to come woo-hoo!!

Lamb chops anyone??

We're not really going to eat you little lamb head!!
Bath time is so fun...little B really loves splashing and grabbing for his floaty dolphin book that Auntie Amy gave him. And the full body message that follows (with Burt's Baby Bees buttermilk lotion)...LOVE the stuff, I highly recommend it! Life is good these days! My foot is finally healing, and I've been able to summit Tabor again on a daily basis...yay routine is back ON. Brayden rocks my world everyday...he's really starting find his laugh. LOVE IT.

3 months to B

AS I am using this kind of as your "babybook" Brayden, I better at least do a monthy report on your amazing journey. Soo, you will be 3 months exactly in a couple of days. You have changed dramatically in the past 1-2 wks!! Thank you...you are sleeping through the night, down like a pro between 8:30-9pm and up about 7am! Best ever! We play in the mornings, and you are sooo interested in everything and able to reach and grab at things now, which makes it so fun. Everything you actually get a hold of is straight to your mouth for a taste. You laugh out loud, and are all about standing! We do "Hit it!" and pull you from laying to standing with mama's "extremely realistic" boat and water sound effects, holding on to your perfect little hands and taking you for an imaginary wakeboard or waterski, you rock it, and smile and laugh!! (this may ebarrass me more than you in the future...I get way into it) You've never been a puker, but lately at least once a day you seem to hurl, right about when mama picks you up with a big open mouth grin....(ok that only happened once, but yeah..it happened... baby puke in the mouth...uuuuuugh!) Hmmm, you're just easier all around. When you start to fuss a little and we're out and about, its as easy as giving you a napkin to hold and chew on. Naps are key, as well as keeping on "your schedule" you're not as happy a camper if either of these things are over looked. Tummy time is still sucky in your mind, but you are totally lifting your head on your arms, and have yet to attempt to roll over on your own. I am just loving every minute of your company, and am able to put you down for naps or self entertainment when I need to get stuff done. You seem to be all about "Action" all the time...still, and are the easiest little dude to take places cause you love "new things and places." Everyday is getting more and more fun, thanks for being "the little dude!" We love you more than you'll ever know...until you have kids. xxx mama

Sandy Toes!!!

Little Dude...ooooh and broken foot in a sandy boot!!

New Friends!

Their Binkies even match!!

"Goooo"


The long awaited meeting of Brayden Douglas and Benjamin Micheal finally arrived!!! They are going to have so much fun together... surf trips here we come! Justin and Liz had little Ben 7/29/08 at 7:30 am. Isn't he such a cute little monkey?!! This year will be the only times in their lives there will be such an age difference, soo cool!

Rollin'!!!...... not so much

helmet....??
weeeee!.....ZZZzzz...weee.....zzzzzzzz


We are back on our BIKES!! Well...I was for a day, until I broke my stupid foot!! Grrr, classic lisa...nope there wasn't a big rock or a root or anything to trip over, I just fell....just gracefully rolled my ankle and ate the dirt... with a snap. That takes skill. So now I'm in a way too big cast, hobbling around trying to keep this little guy entertained. But...when Dada gets home its off to the races, Brayden loves his little chariot...and when I can walk again I will too, it also doubles as a stroller and has ski attatchments....waah?? yup skiing in the chariot this winter HOOOO...no. No probably not. And no....hes not wearing the helmet yet...still some growing to do, but isn't it funny! No one worry, we're going VERY slow and easy with him, he LOVES it and so does dada! xx

And so i asked the wise old man sitting on my couch...

On our way to great grandpa's 90th B-day party, little B fit right in with the senior crowd...or was he ready to work on your car? Such a good little social butterfly