Babysitting

After much build-up and much discussion Mammy babysat Bradley for the first time on April 27th. She had been nervous about watching him when he was so small because she hadn't been around babies since Drew was little and that has been almost 6 years ago now. We had talked about maybe going to a movie several times but it never worked out - the timing of the movie didn't work with his feeding schedule or Mom just didn't feel confident that day :) But on the 27th we decided to have softball practice for the first time this year and she said she would try so Kevin and I could both go. Well what would you know - Mr Bradley decided that he didn't want to take any naps that day :) as if that wasn't bad enough, I think he was feeling a little under the weather :( So Mammy came over, I discussed all the different things she could try in case he started crying, and we left. Half an hour later I called to check in and my poor, tired, sick boy was crying - and my poor, feeling helpless and flustered Mommy was sad :( I came home and relieved my Mommy and I felt so bad because she felt bad. I spent the next week reassuring her that he didn't feel well and he was sleepy and of course he LOVES his Mammy! So the next sunday - we tried again! And for several hours Mr Bradley hung out in Mammy's arms - as happy as can be!! Success! (By the way - first time was a little hard on me too but the second time was better :) )

Busy Day!

So normally we never have plans anymore - which I'm totally fine with because Mr Bradley is entertaining enough for me :) About a month ago one of the basements that Kevin was finishing scheduled an open house for the 26th of April. They wanted Kevin there so that they could show off their beautiful basement that my husband spent so much time on and he could possibly get some referalls (which he did!). Then we get an invitation for my cousins graduation party out in Snyder - of course the same day. I really wanted to go since I hadn't seen my family out there since before Bradley was born, so we decided - it'll just be a long day, we'll leave early, drive out to Snyder (hour and a half drive), stay as long as possible, then rush back here for the open house. THEN - one of my best friend's who's getting married in October decided to come home for a week to work on wedding plans and wanted to go look at Bridemaid's dresses - guess what day? :) So it was definitely the most jam packed day that I've had since Bradley was born - I think we were all exhausted by the end of it! And it made me realize just how much more difficult it is to time things and make plans for a day like that when Bradley isn't really on a set schedule with eating and feeding times - but it all worked out and I was able to cram everything in! Here are some pictures of us at Grandma's house :)

Videos!

Mr Bradley has officially found his tongue! He makes the cutest little faces as he sucks in his lips - first upper, then lower. He is constantly drooling lately as he figures out what to do about that tongue in his mouth :) He laughs at anything and everything (like when Daddy calls him Crazy!)and smiles the second he sees his Mommy or Daddy - melts my heart!! Making him happy is the greatest joy I have ever felt - what an amazing little boy he is!!

All by himself!

Mr Bradley has mastered some new skills recently - holding the pacifier all by himself (very handy! Before it would pop out every other second if we weren't holding it in)

and holding his bottle all by himself. He sure thinks those hands are pretty cool things now - helping him do so many things! :)

Nice weather

Now that the weather is finally starting to get nice, Mr Bradley and I love to sit on the deck and hang out. We watch the dogs play, watch the foxes and the birds and enjoy the view :) We've also been taking more and more walks which Mr Bradley loves. If you know me, you know I LOVE animals - all animals. If I saw any wild animal I would be more tempted to walk right up to it and pet it than run away or be scared of it. I have never been scared of a dog, I love dogs, strange dogs, big dogs, all dogs. The other day when I was going for a little walk with Bradley a stray dog came running up to us out of nowhere. Normally I would bend over to pet him and say hi to him, but having Bradley with me, being a Mommy now, I was SO protective of him and felt this overpowering need to shield him from this animal running up to us - such a weird feeling for me! My how motherhood changes someone :) Needless to say, the dog was nice, didn't even really notice Bradley, I said hello to him and he went on his way - but I was just so surprised by the motherly, protective instinct that flooded over me. I'm sure everyone's realized by now, being protective is never going to be my problem, I am going to have to fight myself to not be SO over-bearing and over-protective - seeing that I can't keep Mr Bradley in a bubble and safe from all harm for the rest of his life, that's going to be the problem :)

4th Month

Mr Bradley had a wonderful first Easter. Mom, Tammy, the Townsend family and Bill came over for lunch and an egg hunt and Mr Bradley had so much fun watching everyone!He loves to be in his bouncer and his johnny-jump up. He is studying everything and everyone he sees and learning so many new things everyday. He can now grasp onto objects and pull them to his mouth to suck on them - which I was very impressed by - that takes a lot of coordination and concentration! His favorite is his little Lamby that Aunt Tammy got him :)

Mr Bradley is getting better and better at holding himself up on his tummy. He can roll half way over from front to back but not all the way. When he's on his tummy he scoots along more than rolls back and forth, at his 4 month Dr Appointment she said maybe he'll start crawling before rolling :) His legs are SO strong too! He'll stand (supported) for long periods of time!He is making his fists less and less - the hands are now spread out wide, grasping onto toys, blankets, hair - you name it! Now that his hands aren't grasped together so much he has discovered that fingers are so much more fun to suck on than trying to stick a whole fist in your mouth :) Still no thumb though - the thumb is still tucked under. You can hear him sucking on his fingers and arms a mile away! Sometimes that's what wakes me up in the mornings on the weekends - I love it!!! He went through a phase where instead of the cute little "oooh"s and "aaahhh"s he started grunting at everything (like in the video above) - Kevin thinks it's because they watch Home Improvement every morning together :)We almost went to our first Rockies game but it was way too cold so we had to stay home and give up our seats, but Mr Bradley is ready, he has several Rockies outfits and even a Rockies cap! :) Here's a picture of him in another cap we got him, he loved it! I can't get over how old he looks!When Kevin gives him a bottle in the morning he'll hold onto his hands - it's so cute! He's pretty close to holding onto the bottle all by himself! What a big boy! :) He got to have a play date with his best friend Connor - they were so cute together!! Connor was just fascinated by Mr Bradley - he kept reaching out and trying to pet him :) They are going to be great friends!Mr Bradley was exactly 4 months old in these pictures. For his 4 month appointment he weighed in at 14 pounds 4 ounces and was 23 1/2 inches long.

Posing for the camera :)

3rd Month

Mr Bradley gets more and more fun and entertaining every day! It's amazing how much he's changing! His hair is really starting to grow in, his eyebrows and eyelashes too :) He is much more aware of his surroundings. He "oooos and ahhhs" so much and makes so many facial expressions! He still needs to be swaddled at night to sleep, otherwise his hands wake him up. I don't know how we got this picture of him actually sleeping in the bassinet un-swaddled! We spoil him - which I'm not ashamed of :) He deserves to be spoiled!I love holding him and rocking him to sleep and I love holding him while he sleeps. So he is very used to taking his daily naps in my arms. Sooner or later maybe I will decide that I need to get stuff done during the day, then I'll have to figure something out, but as of now - I enjoy that time together :)

He is using his hands more and more and gets very excited and waves his arms around and kicks his legs and his eyes get so big! He loves his hands, always holding them together or sucking on them. He hasn't really found his thumb yet, it's always tucked under, but he sure loves trying to stick his whole fist in his mouth :)He loves to hold up his fist and wave it around, like he's just ready to punch something - anything! :) Kevin always says it's his way of saying "Baby Power!" :)He had his first somewhat laugh on St Patricks Day - March 17th, but it came and went so quickly we weren't sure if it really happened. But 2 days later when Kevin was holding Mr Bradley and I was coming up to him in the "I'm going to get you" fashion - he let out his first real laugh! It was so much fun, I think we did it for about half an hour, switching him back and forth and taking turns running up to get him and chasing each other around the house - Mr Bradley laughing the whole time! Such a sweet little laugh!! It is so much fun watching him learn everyday, he is just amazing! He makes me so excited to wake up in the morning, I don't know how it's possible but I think I even miss him while I'm sleeping! :) He brings so much joy to our lives. Kevin has stated before that he feels like we just started living when he came into this world. So so blessed...

P.S. It's SO hard to pick out pictures for this blog, there are too many adorable ones from which to chose!

Mr Bradley is exactly 3 months in this picture

And here are his 3 month old pictures we got professionally taken. Mr Bradley was such a stinker! He would smile and smile at all of us and as soon as she took out the camera he'd just stare :) He is stubborn as can be, but it was so much fun and I think the pictures turned out great, we're going to go back to the same place for his 6 month old pictures. We got SO many taken but these are some of my favorites!