Swimming Lessons

This week we have been attending the "Splash!" program at the Y.  They offer a week of free swimming lessons for kids starting at 6 months old.  I had tried to sign Logan up last summer but didn't call early enough, so I made sure as soon as I saw the flier at school I called and signed up both boys this year.  Luckily they are in the same class, and the lessons just happened to be the week that Todd is on vacation so he was able to come with us.  Because the kids are so little, we have to get in the water with them, but I really think it's kind of fun.  I know the boys are having a blast, especially Logan!  Each day we practice kicking and moving their arms, blowing bubbles, floating on their bellies and backs, and jumping in.  We sing songs and play games like the Hokey Pokey and Simon Says.  Brayden is a champion floater - I'm convinced if I let go he would stay on top of the water.  Logan's favorite part is definitely the jumping in.  We've even gotten him to go underwater several times.  Before the lessons this week, he HATED getting his face wet, even in the bathtub.  He would freak as soon as it got wet and scramble for a towel or washcloth to wipe it off.  Now he's holding his breath, going under, and even jumping in and going under!  He loves it!  I'm so glad we got to do it with them, and I'm already planning to sign them up again next summer.

Tuesday was Nana's day off from work, so she met us there to watch and snapped a few pictures for us!

 (This one is my favorite!)

Logan is 2 and A Half!

I'm a little behind with this post, but things have been pretty hectic (just for a change).  I simply cannot believe that my little boy is now closer to being 3 than to just being 2.  For some reason it seems to me that there is a huge jump from 2 to 3.  And don't even get me started on the jump from 3 to 4 that I know is soon to come!  

The bottom line is this...Logan is so. much. fun!  Yes we have our moments of frustration where we see the worst personality traits of both Mommy and Daddy rearing their ugly heads in the form of a too-cute-for-words little boy.  But we try not to focus on those too much :)  Logan is an absolute, non-stop bundle of energy.  He is go, go, go from the moment he wakes up until the moment his head hits the pillow at night.  He is curious.  He asks lots of questions.  Lately these questions tend to end with the word "Mom" instead of "Mommy," which breaks my heart just a little because it's just one of many signs that my little boy is growing up way too fast.  Though he won't always admit it, he loves his little brother.  He is really starting to enjoy having a playmate.  Logan is starting to understand sharing.  For now, sharing means that he gets to use anything that's Brayden's ("Bubba will share with him Mom") but not necessarily the other way around.  We still call him Bubba, a nickname that I'm thinking is going to stick around for quite a while.  This is still how he refers to himself 99% of the time, and I'm okay with it because I think it's adorable.  He does know his real name!  He speaks in complete sentences, and often it seems like we are having a conversation with a teeny tiny adult.  He uses words that I think are sophisticated for a 2 year old, such as probably, either, supposed to, and some others that aren't coming to mind right now.  He is hilarious.  He makes us laugh all. the. time.  Logan is very into matchbox cars, trains (especially Thomas), and sports (football, basketball, soccer, baseball, and especially hockey and golf lately).  He still loves books.  He watches way more TV with Papa than I would ever let him watch during the day, but I do see evidence that he's learning from it.  I'm pretty sure he sticks to the Nick Jr. shows, his favorites being Dora, Diego, Team UmiZoomi (my personal favorite because it's about math), and Bubble Guppies.  He loves his Papa, and we feel really blessed that he is able to have that bonding time with him every day.  

Here are a few pictures that I've taken of Logan lately.  I've been really bad about taking pictures of both kids lately because I've just been sick of being cooped up in the house and taking pictures of them playing in our family room...boring.  Also, Logan is going through this phase where he wants to make a goofy face every time I ask to take his picture (if he'll even let me take it).  See below :)

When we visited the pediatrician last month for his 2 and a half year checkup, we ended up having to follow up with Toledo Hospital for a pediatric echocardiogram.  Logan had a heart murmur when he was a very young baby, and we had to have an echo done then too, but they said everything was normal.  I always ask about it when we go for his checkups, and usually our doctor says she doesn't notice it.  This time she did, and she told us that normally she would have waited until he was 3 to have another echo done, but since he was so good for her while she examined him she thought he'd be fine to have it done now.  And he was.  We went early one morning, and Logan was a hit.  All of the nurses thought he was hilarious, especially because he kept asking for a sucker!  He laid very still and was perfectly behaved throughout the whole procedure, and he got his sucker at the end.  Luckily everything came back normal again, so we'll just have to keep an eye on it in the future.  We feel very lucky.  

I love this little boy.  I love watching him learn, grow, and explore every day.  He is amazing, and I'm so glad he is mine!

Brayden is 7 Months!

As cliche as it is, I'm going to say it anyway.  Where does the time go?!  I can't believe my little boy is 7 months old already.  He is growing so fast!  I must admit, I am enjoying being a mommy more than ever right now.  Both of my boys are so much fun to be around, and now that I'm finally getting some sleep I feel like I can actually sit back and enjoy it.  

So what's new with Brayden?  Let's start with the bad and end on a happy note.  We've had two ear infections in the past six weeks.  He's teething and has a cold.  Um...that's it for the bad.  Not too bad, huh?  

As far as happy thoughts, I feel like there are so many there is no way I will remember to list them all.  He smiles all...the...time.  He is seriously one of the happiest babies I've ever known.  He ADORES his big brother and loves his daddy, though he is still very much a mommy's boy.  He sits (and has for two months now).  He rolls over (finally).  And he spins on his belly to get what he wants.  He sticks his bottom up in the air and scootches forward like an inchworm to get something that's out of his reach.  He's trying to crawl (eek) but not quite getting the hang of it yet (thank goodness).  He can stand holding onto the couch.  He babbles constantly.  He's had all the stage one fruits and veggies that I could find at the grocery store.  (I gave up on making my own baby food.  I understand it's very easy, I just felt like if I had to take on one more thing I would explode.)  We are still nursing (yay!) five times a day!  I'm so proud of myself for continuing this long, but I will admit it's exhausting.  To my two friends out there who nursed twins for over a year, you are amazing!  I plan to continue nursing until Brayden is a year old, but I will be more than happy to stop at that point.  I'm just feeling like I want my body back sooner than later.  What else?  He's cuter than ever, though he desperately needs a haircut again (it's on the agenda for Sunday).  He loves his socks.  He is extremely ticklish.  He is mesmerized by our kitty, and surprisingly she has no problem with him "petting" her, though she runs away practically screaming whenever Logan comes near her.  He drinks water from a sippy cup.  He's had Cheerios and Gerber Puffs, though he can't quite get them in his mouth by himself yet.  I believe I've heard he's also had chicken broth and a smidge of Logan's yogurt thanks to his Papa.  He has a tooth as of this morning and another one coming.

I am SO very much looking forward to warmer weather.  I'm excited that Brayden is no longer a newborn.  I am looking forward to being able to take both of my boys outside to play, to the zoo, to the lake, on walks, to the park, etc. etc. etc.  I can't wait to see BOTH of my boys playing, interacting, learning, and soaking it all in.  I love that I can say I have kids (plural).  I feel like our little family is so much more complete with two little boys than it ever was with just one.  This is me, this is my life, and I'm loving it!

And now a few more pictures from our photo shoot on Saturday...

And my personal favorite...

Just a Little Chit Chat

Coming Soon

Brayden will be 6 months old on Saturday, and we've got some exciting milestones to share (as well as a few pictures).  Stay tuned.

I'm feeling a complete blog re-vamp in the near future.  I'm bored with everything about my blog right now, right down to the "Carolina Girl" name and web address.  I just don't feel like that defines who I am anymore.  This blog is about my family and I'm looking to showcase that a little more.  I'm just waiting for the creative juices to flow.

PS - I fear that no one reads my blog anymore since I've been so lazy about updating it recently.  If you're still out there reading, I greatly appreciate it.  And let me know you're still reading - I could use the encouragement!

Brayden's First Haircut

Brayden's first haircut was an event that I knew would have to come earlier than Logan's (he was 15 months).  I was hoping to make it until six months, but an unfortunate incident last Friday night caused me to change my mind.  Todd had been bugging me for a while to get Brayden's hair cut.  He was always making comments about Brayden's "crazy hair," and he even got Logan to say it a few times too!  I just laughed and kept saying, "Soon."  Friday night we were at the mall, in Dick's Sporting Goods, when a couple with their own little one was waiting in line for the elevator with us.  The dad looked over at Brayden and said, "Aw, how old is she?"  SHE?!  Well, I promptly replied that "HE is 5 months old.  He just has a lot of hair."  I laughed, but only on the outside.  The mom then pointed out that Brayden's hat was blue and blue means a boy, but the damage had already been done.  Nevermind that when I peeked at their baby and asked how old, they told me 3 1/2 months and I thought there was no way that baby could have been less than 9 months old.  It was HUGE!  But I (tactfully) kept my comments to myself.

So, anyway, we had been planning to get Logan a much-needed haircut last weekend, so we just added Brayden to the list too.

Here are some before shots.  It actually doesn't look that long in the picture, but trust me, it was.  It was way over his ears on the side, we had to constantly keep it parted and brushed to the side or he couldn't see, and he had quite a tail in the back.

Here are the haircut shots.  He did so well!  I think he was too little to be scared.  He was a hit.  The place was packed, and every eye in the place was on Brayden.  The lady who cut his hair said he was her youngest yet!

And here is my handsome little man after.  He looks so grown up!  The haircut actually got rid of almost all the dark hair he had when he was born, and now it's super blonde!