I Wuv Dis City!!

These were the words said by my son on Wednesday morning as he sat in an apartment over looking New York and New Jersey. We just returned from an amazing trip up to visit with Chris and Ali for the Thanksgiving holiday. With all of the changes that took place in our lives this year we thought it would be a good idea to do something different for Thanksgiving. Brax did great for his first plane ride and was a real trooper as we hustled and bustled though the city. He walked almost the entire time and absolutely loved the subway.

After arriving on Tuesday morning we walked into Times Square and saw various sights in the city. On Wednesday we went to Radio City Music Hall and saw the Rockettes perform their incredible Christmas performance. We went to FAO Schwartz and retrieved a new "Busch" (that is NOT to replace the old one per Brax) and even walked on the BIG piano from the movie Big with Tom Hanks. (click on the link to see what I'm talking about) We ventured into China Town and Little Italy later that night. We found some fabulous finds and ate real good too!

On Thursday we all went to the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade and we watched from Central Park. Our most favorite balloon was Spiderman! We enjoyed Thanksgiving lunch at Gracie's Diner. We had chinese food for dinner that night. Would it be hard for you to believe that hardly ANYTHING is open on Thanksgiving day?
We had a great trip and look forward to another visit real soon. Special thanks to Chris, Ali, and Mark for making our time so memorable!

Enjoy the pics!!

A Request

Braxton has been asking for a pretty big gift lately: A baby brother. The other night he told me he wanted a baby brother "right now!" I wrote about Zoie and how I hadn't gotten over to see her yet. Zoie is now seven weeks old and since yesterday was a holiday at work I thought it would be a perfect day for us to go and visit. She is absolutely adorable and was awake for a little bit while we were there.
Take a look at the pictures and you decide how Braxton felt about her. I had to get a real quick picture of him with me and Zoie. He was a little more cooperative when I wasn't the one holding her.
Later in the afternoon Allyson asked him if he still wanted a baby brother. He said, 'Yeah, just not at my home!"

How is it Halloween Already?

How can it possibly be Halloween? Last night was "Halloween" out here. We hope (only by the amounts of candy that we still have) that some people will actually come and Trick or Treat tonight. Spiderman had a blast. At first he didn't want to wear his mask and I had to convince him to put it on just so I could get a picture. After that he didn't want to take it off. The town we live in had it's first Fall Festival last night and there was a huge turn out. We walked up expecting a few people but it was really crowded. He jumped in the Bounce House (without one of us and with other kids!) and did some Trunk or Treating. When he said he had to go to the bathroom we headed home because it was a little chilly out and the costume had to come all the way off for something like that to happen.

We had a fire in the fireplace and Brax was so excited when people would come to the door. I was even able to get a picture of him in the candy bowl. A tradition we started his first Halloween and almost was unable to get him to pose for last year. This year he climbed in happily and posed!

Happy Halloween!!

A New Addition

Meet Zoie Eleanor. Braxton's new cousin. I, unfortunately, haven't had a chance to run by and meet her but these are some pictures that my dad took.

She was named after her mother, my cousin Rachel, and her great-grandmother Eleanor. Braxtons's G.G. Zoie is wearing the dress that G.G gave to Rachel this past May for Mother's Day.
I know she would have loved her so.

First Day. A Mere Memory.

Brax is a big boy no secret. But now we have the picture to prove it. Last month he had his first day of "school", preschool that is. Being that my school had just started a few days prior there was no way I was going to be able to take off to go and Brandon had a meeting so we made my dad swear that he'd get a picture.
For over a year my dad talked of retirement. The one thing that he kept saying he wanted to do was keep Braxton and do things with him. I convinced him that 2 days was plenty and that way he'd still have time to do things for himself. After the way summer turned out in a number of events, I was really looking forward to him being able to do that.
The boys have had a fabulous few weeks. They've been to the park, to the nature museum, and panning for gold. I know my dad has lot's of other things planned. Be sure to tune in.
I apologize for not posting in such a long time. Again, I promise to do better. The beginning of school is always so hectic. I feel like I'm on the run all the time.

Last Call

I had big plans for the summer for Brax and I. We were going to go to do all sorts of things. But with G.G getting sick and everything else my plans, like usual, fell to the wayside. Two of the things I had wanted to do was go to Carowinds and to the zoo. I had some tickets to Carowinds so several weekends ago we went for the day.
This past weekend Chris came into town and we took a trip to the zoo. Braxton walked almost the entire time and from the time we entered starting asking about the crocodiles. Wanna guess where they were in the zoo? Our last stop as we were leaving the other end.
I really think they were his favorite part. I kind of liked them myself!

Slow Down A Bit

Lately I've been feeling "that way" everybody with kids says they do. It's going so fast. I feel like I've blinked and Brax has just grown (don't laugh I know he's 3) into a little boy. I had a few things I wanted him to accomplish this summer.
Poop in the potty= Done
Sleep in his big boy bed= Done
Undress by himself completely= Done
I guess what I wasn't expecting was the way I'd feel when those things were "done".
Yesterday was another milestone that we had been waiting for and it went off without a hitch. He has now moved on from the nursery at church and goes to big kids church. Nursery is a straight 2 hours in one room and big kids church is an actual Sunday School class and then we'll pick him up and take him into the sanctuary with us where he'll stay for 15 minutes or so until the children's message. He'll then go down for children's church where they read a story and do a craft while the adults stay for the sermon. We had prepared ourselves to have to go down stairs with him the first day. I walked up to the front with him for the children's message and told him that when it was over he would go with another mommy and daddy but HIS mommy and daddy would be down to get him as soon as he finished his craft and listening to his Bible story. When the time actually came I told him to go with the others and we'd be down in a little bit. HE WENT WITH NO PROBLEM!! I have been waiting for the day when he would feel at ease at church so it was a relief that he went.
My parents always told me that you raise your children with the goal and intention to set them free. It's a testimony to the kind of parent you are. I know my job is not through, not by a long shot thank goodness, but my heart does a little dance every time we complete another milestone. I may have tears in my eyes and it may be hard to watch but I know it has to happen. I have a good partner helping me. We're having fun. And we have an amazing little boy. For these things I know we're lucky.
Big Boy Church= Done
Last night as I was putting him to bed, in his big boy bed, we were talking about his day and he started asking where his picture was from church because he wanted me to put it on the refrigerator. He then proceeded to tell me about David and Goliath. I was amazed at what he was telling me. Where did he hear that? Children's church....and it was his first day!