my boys

(Alternately titled, "Brady's one-finger salute")

4 months

The Brady bug will be 4 months old next Tuesday and has added a few new tricks to his repertoire.

Since he's been waking up hungry a few times during the night again - and also since he's, um, gigantic - we started solid foods this week. I decided to start with oatmeal instead of the rice cereal and he LOVES it....2 bowls in the morning and 2 in the evening. He's still waking up at least once during the night, but he nurses and goes right back to sleep. The oatmeal also seems to make him much happier during the day. Ms. Ingrida noticed that he's been less fussy at school - particularly after waking up from a nap. He'll lay there and just talk and entertain himself rather than immediately cry to be fed or picked up.
















He's also playing in the exersaucer now at school. I remember having to put towels all around Tate to support him at first, but Brady has a solid core and has no trouble sitting upright and even bouncing a little with his feet.

























Tate was crawling just 4 weeks from now when he was Brady's age. I'm hoping Brady will take things a little slower...I'm not ready for this baby to be grown up yet!

"dansey"

In case you didn't know, Dansey is the new Brangelina. Aunt Lindsey and Uncle Dan are huge celebrities around our house...especially in the eyes of their #1 fan. They fall somewhere just behind Buzz Lightyear and Woody on Tate's list of really important people...so, they're kind of a big deal.

For Christmas last year, they custom-designed and printed an awesome coupon book for us. Our coupons include:

- 3 free weeknight babysits
- 3 free weekend babysits
- 2 free overnight babysits
- 3 free diaper changes by Dan
- 3 free feedings by Lindsey
- 1 Buckhead Life Restaurant gift card

AND, they gave all of this to us even knowing that we were having another baby! So, you are probably drawing the same conclusion that we did - that they are either really thoughtful and generous...or completely crazy!

Last week was Dan and Lindsey's first experience with both boys on their own and I left them with the special instruction to just keep everyone alive between the hours of 6:30- 10:30pm. Not surprisingly, they did a little more than that. They got Brady fed, pajama'ed and down for the night by 7pm, and then spent the rest of the evening taking orders from playing with Tate by inventing activities such as the "teddy-bear" (pictured below) and the robot dance.

Tate and Brady are lucky to grow up with such a fun aunt and uncle and I look forward to redeeming the rest of our coupons over the next five months. And the best part is that they no longer need to worry about what to get us for Christmas anymore... we'll gladly accept our annual coupon book for the next 10 years! :)

terms of endearment (part 2)

Me: "Good-night, sweet Tate."

Tate: "Good-night, big Mommy."

(Here we are earlier in the evening eating at Menchie's. He requested pink ice cream.)

"emmy"

Our sweet niece Emilee is going off to college in just two weeks...but lucky for us, she'll be nearby at Kennesaw State. Tate loves "Emmy" and we are all excited that she will be able to come over often to play.

pink!

This is what happens when I'm left in charge....

eating out

In my twenties, I could eat out any night of the week and at any hour. I could have intelligent adult conversations, wear white pants, have free reign over both of my arms and legs, and eat my food while it was still hot.

In my thirties, I eat out only on occasion and always before 6pm. I talk about pee-pee in the potty and how many hours of sleep I got the night before. I wear clothes that I know can survive salsa stains. I almost always have someone sitting or sleeping on me. And I feed myself one-handed until I give up and get a take-out box to finish the rest at home.

I prefer my thirties. :)