Naked Baby...




I wonder if we had a chance to try on motherhood first for real, if we'd end up going through with having kids because it's so HARD and so much work. I'm cleaning up in the kitchen, in the living room, in his bedroom, doing laundry all the time....and having a 23 pound gives you one sore back.

My brother told me once you'll never understand the love you can have for a kid until you're a parent and he was right. My heart aches with love for Brayden. Look at this smile...he is the easiest kid to get a smile out of and brings so much joy to our little home.

He has finally started to crawl so he shimmies himself around. He gets tired pretty quick though. It ain't easy being that big. :/

Sportin a shirt that reminds us of Unlce Matty!





We just got back from Seattle...good times with Brayden's buddy Nolan. TOO CUTE to watch these two boys together.

Sydney's Birthday part was a Little Mermaid theme and it was a hoot! Good fun for everyone!

Good times at Station 18! Eric cooked his crew's families a yummy meal!

This thing is a hoot. Ian Grose gave it to us and it is just so much fun! The outfit is from our friends Steve and Tami -- thanks guys for the great gifts! This kid is destined to be a firefighter!

My first Mother's Day was a weekend event. We took Brayden camping for the first time and he did so great....although cold most of the time, which he didn't like, he was such a trooper. Then Syd, Brady, Steph and I went to Refugio State Beach which is Santa Barbara County's closest thing to Hawaii. Just a beautiful day!!! Then we ended the weekend at the Popp where Brayden played with Oma and Opa and brought smiles to all. The highlight (besides Tricia's FABULOUS cooking) was the baby skunks following their mommy through the back yard -- so appropriate for Mother's Day.

Well Carrie has been sick ALL week, yes ALL week. This is the worst flu bug ever!!! The best I could do for Brady while daddy cooked dinner was to push him on a swing, while sitting in a chair in my pajamas. Pitiful! Brady loves his hand-me-down swing...thanks Chases!

Then dad came and joined us in the hammock. As you can see we are trying to re-do our lawn -- quite the project!

Lastly, an updated zucchini picture for all you gardeners! It's going crazy!

First Pool Time Fun for Brady. He loved every minute of it.

Thanks Ta-Ta for the new lovey!!!!
We had our first family picnic to the beach. Brady enjoyed it until he got cold.

Here is our nutty kid in the bath...click on the link below to see how CRAZY silly he is:

http://www.jumpcut.com/view?id=CC07F4BCF0ED11DBA125000423CF381C

(This link actually takes you to all of our little videos of him as well. Just click on "CEACKER" in the upper right hand corner next to Brady's little picture.)

These days....this is the expression of Brayden....an open mouth and yelling! It's pretty hilarious actually but I'm sure it's going to get old. He loves his new toy, a hand-me-down from cousin Sydney. He absolutely loves this little piano and all the music it makes. Music lights him up!

Brady got to hang out in Seattle this past weekend. He was a good traveler and a happy camper to be with all his aunts and uncles, gramps, papas and grandmas.

This kid loves to smile....

Took a beach walk with the 'peanut' last week. She LOVES the beach!
Some good friends came to visit us from Seattle. We love the Moores and so does Brady. Now we miss the Moores and so does Spidey.

Cute cousins!

Eric built this cool trellis outside our bedroom and our zucchini has taken off! We also planted a tomato plant.

Brayden loves to sit up, swing, eat, be naked and look perplexed....that's his new look. Pretty funny.