Brody + Cereal + Apple Sauce = Take 2

While at Grandma and Gandpa's we decided to try eating cereal again, this time we mixed in a little apple sauce. Brody looked so cute in his Christmas hat and cute Christmas bib (Thanks Aunt Jenny). 

I love my new bib!

Grandma feeding me cereal for the first time.

I am not enjoying this at all folks!

I am a big mess!

The tears of eating cereal... hey at least I look cute!

Brody's First Christmas Eve at Grandma & Grandpa's

We spent Christmas Eve at Matt's parents house. We ate fajitas and enjoyed spending time with the whole family. I am just glad we made it there in one piece. 

Just as were leaving our house, our Christmas tree decided to fall. The tree topper and some glass ornaments just missed hitting Brody as he was laying on the ground taking a nap. Mom and Dad came to the rescue fixing the tree and crossing our fingers (and toes) that the tree would still be standing when we got home. 

Our pile of gifts before we started opening...

Brody fell asleep on my lap while everyone opened their gifts. 

Brody's first gift was the Baby Einstein exersaucer from Grandma & Grandpa. He was happy as he sat in it at first, then he spotted the green Dragon. He screamed (fearing that it was another breathing treatment) and then passed out on my lap where he spent the rest of the night.

 

Brody was not very happy as he opened his first gift.

Brody with Grandma and cousin Austin.

Cute Calendars

I created these cute calendars for my sister-in-laws Christmas gifts. I found these calendars at Target and covered them with fun scrapbook paper. Then I "blinged" them out with cute letters, clips and fibers. To finish the gift off all I provided a cute bag from Swoozie's. 

Please contact me if you would like to place an order for your own cute calendar! 

High chair + Rice cereal + Brody = BIG MESS!

Taking a break from decorating the Christmas tree, two days before Christmas, we decided to try and feed Brody rice cereal for the first time. Brody enjoyed sitting in his high chair but did not care too much about eating cereal from a spoon. 

Mom and Dad had a hard time from the beginning. We had no idea how to make the cereal and did not have a clue as to how much to feed Brody for the first time. To make it worse, as I was busy taking all the "first" pictures of Brody, he would jump around his high chair in fear we were going to shove that spoon in front of him again. Certainly this has to get easier... Enjoy the pics! 

One of the only mouth fulls we shoved into his mouth!

Ha ha ha, I spit it all out! (Dad takes the greatest pictures!)

I am done with this cereal business! (Look my hands are ready to bat down any approaching spoons to the mouth...)

If I turn my head, the spoon can not get to my mouth.... Yes!

Ahhhh, the tears and smiles of learning how to do something new!

Christmas Tree Hunting

This past Sunday, we finally had time to go hunt down the Aldridge Family Christmas tree. It was freezing so we bundled Brody up in his new outfit with matching hat (see pics below).  We arrived at the Flower Mound Christmas Tree place, same location as the dreaded pumpkin patch, and got bundled up to pick out our perfect tree. This is all I could see of Brody, in his stroller, while we were walking around the lot. 

We were horrified to find out that we would have to take out a second mortgage in order to afford one of these trees. (This is even with a 40 percent discount and an additional 10 percent off coupon.) Brody at this time decided he wanted to start crying. We took him into the building where they snow the trees in order to get him to calm down. During this time we snapped the following pictures.

I love this hat! Matt always takes the best picture of the day, yeah Dad!

We both look so puffy!!

Daddy & Brody

After snapping these photos we decided to go with Plan B. Home Depot here we come! There were not very many trees left. The third tree was ours. The trees had already been marked down, BONUS! These trees were way more affordable and fresher. Hopefully next year I will not procrastinate in getting the tree up! Pictures of the finished tree are coming soon...

Mom can we go home now? I am cold and cranky. But I make cold and cranky look CUTE!! 

Brody's 4 Month Check-up

Yesterday, Brody went to the Dr. for his 4 month check-up.  As if he had not been there enough last week with the breathing treatments (see below for more on that).  

We knew that Brody had been growing but we were still shocked when we heard by how much.  The Dr.'s assistant asked if we were feeding him pork chops prior to his weigh-in.  Brody came in a hair under 16 pounds and was 26 inches long (90% for both as well as 90% for his head measurement).  This news assuaged any fears we had previously held regarding the amount of food to give him as he was obviously getting enough.  Unfortunately, with the good comes the bad.  Brody had to have 2 shots as part of his vaccination regimen.  Anybody with little ones knows that this is just as unpleasant for the parents as it is for the child.  Daddy gave him some tylenol and it seemed to help.  Brody gets a 2 month reprieve until his next visit.  I told the Dr. that I hope I don't see her until then as we had now been there 4 times in 2 weeks.  

Ho Ho Ho

With Christmas fast approaching, tis' also the season for Secret Santa. For my Secret Santa gift this year, I decided to do something crafty. Maybe this could be a side business... let me know what you think...

The base coat of the prints.

Adding some pretty details....

All 3 prints together... I like the change in fonts!

It all started with a cough....

Brody celebrated his four month birthday this past weekend as well as getting sick for the first time. It all started with a cough on Friday night.  After hearing his cough, I quickly propped him up on a bobby pillow. The next day he was a little irritable, had trouble breathing, and did not eat very much. The not eating really showed Matt and I that he was not feeling well, because man can this kid throw down a bottle.

These symptoms continued throughout the weekend. Matt took Brody to the doctor on Monday. He had to perform two breathing treatments while at the doctor's office. We spent a small fortune on the prescriptions and our very own breathing machine. Our NEW breathing machine makes it very easy to do the breathing treatments at our house. We are doing these treatments every four hours, even during the night. 

It is definitely harder for mommy and daddy when Brody is sick. He hates the breathing treatments and screams the entire time. We thought we would trick him last night by doing the breathing treatments while he was still asleep. But as soon as we turned on the machine and put the purple dragon mask to his face, his little eyes popped open in sheer horror. He then proceeded to scream, with tears, and tried to pull the mask away the entire time.

The doctor wants to see Brody next week to recheck his breathing. She told us not to be surprised that this breathing issue could continue throughout the winter. Hopefully not... 

I hate this mask and the breathing treatments!!!

Please make it stop!!!

Daddy & the Toothless Smile

In the last two weeks, Brody has learned how to giggle. His giggle is infectious and he is able to get Matt and I laughing with him. His little giggle is reminiscent to his mom's cackle...poor kid! I wish that I could record his giggle to share with you all.

I am cracking my self up in this picture.

Dad you are soo C-R-A-Z-Y!!

Hey dad, look no teeth.

This is my mischievous look, man I already have this look down.

Sweet baby!

I'm Stuffed

We celebrated Brody's first Thanksgiving, in Texas with Matt's family. We enjoyed turkey dinner compliments of Mimi's cafe (no dishes, no cooking, BONUS). Brody had the cutest themed onesie to wear, a corduroy turkey and the "I'm stuffed" message across his chest. He was pretty stuffed at the end of the night.  

Brody all tuckered out at the end of the night.

Brody stuffed after his last bottle. He looks so sleepy.

Love this picture of his hands....

Mommy, daddy and lil' Brody

The Aldridge's at Mimi's Cafe 

Brody and Santa

To avoid the frustration that we experienced going to the pumpkin patch, we decided to visit Santa early. We thought we were going to be the only ones to see Santa bright and early. We were so wrong. We arrived at Willowbend Mall at 10:15, and there was already a line. So an hour later, we were finally able to walk through the giant snow globe (on the other side was Santa). In the globe, it was snowing (styrofoam). Matt and I look as though we had a head full of dandruff. We had a great time! Visiting Santa for the first time was very memorable.

Family Photo in the globe. 

Power nap in line waiting to see Santa.

Mom, do I really have to wear this hat?

Brody and Santa

When the World Changed...

As many of you know, our world changed forever a couple months back when Brody joined our little family.  Of course, this change is for the better (at least for the most part - I can say this now that he is sleeping through the night).  Now that our eyes are no longer bloodshot, we are starting this blog as a forum for people in our lives who wish to keep up with the goings on but cannot see or talk to us on a regular basis.  Trust me, we are the first to admit that keeping up with everybody is tough to do in this crazy world.  We are grateful for all who visit and I thought we could start with a picture from Brody's first few minutes on this planet.