Brian the Builder

Grandma came over today and played with Brian. They built towers out of the storage containers. Brian had alot of fun being destructive! He just thought it was sooooo funny!

Snow in VA!

Brian saw his first snow in Virginia today! It's only November and we had our first snowfall! We were watching the News at Noon and they were talking about the snow we had this morning. Apparently we missed it. This isn't the first time Brian has seen snow. When we flew to Colorado when he was two months old he saw snow in Minneapolis and in Colorado, but he ws to little to care. I was telling Dean that I wish we had seen it and been able to show Brian. No sooner had I finished my sentence a snow burst came through and huge snowflakes were falling. I told Dean to throw these warm clothes on Brian real quick and I ran to get myself some decent clothes. We tag team dressed Brian. I threw some fleece pants over top of his jammies and threw a hat and coat on him and we ran out the door just in time to take a few pictures of the snow before it stopped. Brian loved the snow! He must have some Colorado blood in him afterall! Dean showed him the snow in his hands and showed Brian the snow that landed on his pants. I wish it had stuck around, hopefully this isn't the only snow we get this year!

"You call this snow" - Dean (Colorado native)

"See Brian, this is snow"

OOO I like snow!

Where did he learn this?!

How on earth did he figure out how to stick his tiny little toes into those holes and climb straight up the gate? I was washing some dishes and went to check on him and I saw him climbing up! I happened to have the camera nearby and I snapped a picture before telling him to get down. Wouldn't you know the little stinker climbed right back up it? He got up further the second time to where his belly was at the top and he was leaning over. I freaked out that time and didn't take a picture. I yelled "NO!" very loudly and he got down and looked at me and said "oh". Like he knew he was in trouble! The little stinker!

He advanced!

Dean advanced to second class! they called us at 8:30 this morning with the fantastic news! We are so excited! This was the fourth time he had to take the test because the advancement rate was so low. Only 8% of everyone in the navy that took the test would advance. He passed his test every time but never advanced! YAY! I know he is relieved, especially with the other baby on the way, the economy the way it is, and with only one income.

My little climber!

Brian is really starting to climb all over everything these days! He really must think he is a little monkey! I panicked just for a second when I looked over at him and saw him sitting on his table, but when he started to try to stand on it that is where I had to draw the line. This morning he flipped his toy basket onto it's long edge and climbed that and tried to get on top of the TV stand. He was touching the TV when Dean ran over and pulled him off. Needless to say the toy box is no longer in the living room, I don't think Dean would ever let me live if Brian broke his TV while I was in the bathroom. Ugh! I think I'm going to lose my mind when I have two active little boys!

Our adventure at Golden Corral

We went and had dinner at Golden Corral. I was a little worried about taking Brian but I figured there would be plenty for him to eat. I made him a little buffet of food to eat. Mostly things he likes and eats on a regular basis. I gave him a green bean first (his favorite thing at home, he eats them plain, no salt). First thing he did when it went in his mouth was spit it right out. Oh well. Then he had some mashed potatoes. He ate that no problem. He spit out the half chewed lima bean. He had some chicken, he ate one piece and then spit the rest out after that. And then the brussel sprout... I wasn't sure if he was going to eat that since he had never had it before. He put it in his mouth, then stuck his tongue out, raked the piece off of his tongue with his mouth and THREW it on the floor with attitude! It was hilarious! We laughed and the family at the table next to us laughed. They had a little girl about Brian's age. She did the same thing with most of her food too. So in then end, I guess if you wanted to know how the food was at a restaurant you should ask an 11 month old. He was pretty right on about the food tonite.

It's the little things that make me proud

It is the little things that Brian does, learns, or figures out that makes me so proud of him. Things that nobody else except his mom and dad care about. It's those little things. Things like pushing his arms through his sleeves, pulling his head out of his shirt at bed time, learning how to open the wipe box (not so good), using toys or boxes as a step to get up onto the couch (also not so good), learning how to throw the ball, knowing that it's mommy's hand inside his puppet, knowing that when I sign food to him he knows it's time to eat or figuring out how to peel the duct tape off the cabinet to open the doors whether its with his little fingers or his sharp teeth. It's these little things that he picks up on and figures out. Even the things I'm not really happy about him knowing, I'm still proud that he's learned it. My little boy is getting so big!

His new favorite things to do with daddy...

Brian has two new things that he likes to do with Daddy. They are playing with the shape sorter and taking laps around the living room.
Dean is teaching Brian about his shapes. So far Brian has been able to do the cylinder which is the first one they started learning. Brian actually gets it in the hole, lifts up the flap to get it back out, puts the flap back down and does it again. They started square today. He hasn't quite gotten that one just yet but he will. The last one to learn is triangle. At the moment we can't find the triangle so it might be awhile before he gets that one.
The other thing Dean and Brian have been doing is working on Brian's leg strength. They did laps around the living room this morning. It is building Brian's confidence and maybe it will help him walk a little better. Right now he walks like a drunk. In due time.

Dean's first welding project

Dean has been playing with his new welder and he made a stand for his truck took box. The box was a little to small for the truck and would slide off and lay in the bad. So he made a stand that held up the box! What a smart idea! It works great!

Prenatal Appointment

I went in for a check up today. Baby is doing great. His heart rate is about 140. I gained 2 pounds (keep in mind Halloween was last week). I had to take Brian with me and he was not having it after a while. I don't blame him tho, I was tired of sitting around waiting to. The nurse watched him while I went to the bathroom and she was showing him to the nurses in the office and said he had Paul Newman eyes. She told everyone he looks just like his handsome daddy. I'm sure Dean will love to hear that he is being checked out by the nurses at the office. hehe Everything looks good and I go back in 4 weeks for a checkup and to take the Glucose test. Check back for an update!

Brian's 1st Haircut!

Brian went and got his first haircut today. He was starting to look like he had a mop on his head. We took him to Great Clips in Chesapeake. He sat in Daddy's lap. He did great in the beginning when she was cutting his hair. He kept trying to look at the scissors and comb. When she pulled out the buzzer he didn't like it that much. It was hard to keep him still. I think it kinda tickled his neck. He got a balloon and a certificate to mark his big day! My big boy now looks like a little man!

We have a climber!

Brian wiggled his little butt up on to the couch this morning... I'm not ready for that! He was so excited when he got up there! He turned around and looked at us with a huge grin on his face... AHHHH

Election day!

Today is election day! Me and Brian stood in line for an hour and a half waiting to vote this afternoon. It had been rainy all day and it had stopped so we took advantage of it and ran to the poll. But.... It started raining on us. We got pretty wet but Brian never fussed or anything! We met some guy who was running for something. School board? No.. Something else. I had never heard of him. But Brian was a very good boy! We finally got inside and into the booth. Brian liked playing with the bottom of the curtain while I voted. He almost pulled it down twice! Oops. But he was good! On our way back to the car, we saw and shook hands with Congressman Randy Forbes. That was pretty exciting. I wish I had been able to take a picture. Oh well... maybe in 4 years..

Peek-a-boo!

Brian was having fun playing peek-a-boo today. He initiated it for the first time this morning. Usually we play with him, but today he played with us! So much fun! It's amazing how much he grows everyday!

He clapped!

Brian clapped today!!!! We've been practicing and trying so hard to get him to do it. Finally today he did it!

Fun at the park

We went to the park today. I think we both needed some fresh air. Grandma came with us and everyone had smiles on their faces! Brian liked the swings and the red bridge. He especially liked it when Grandma was jumping up and down on it. HeHe

Splish, Splash I was Taking a Bath

Brian was cranky all day today. By 7:30 I had had enough! The only thing I hadn't tried to make him happy yet was to play in the water. So he and daddy played in the bathtub for about 30 minutes. They had fun together. Dean showed him how to push the button on his little shower head to make the water come out. He ate quite a bit of bubbles, so I guess that means his insides are clean too! He loved playing with his rubber ducky. Just before it was time to get out, he tricked mommy by playing a little game of peek-a-boo with the shower curtain.

This water tickles!

Big smiles!

Ahh, this is the life!

This is MY duck!

Silly duck!

The view from above!

Where is Brian?

Peek-a-boo!

Hi Mom!

Now that is some messy hair!