First Steps... 12/24/2009

Tonight at 8:15 pm Brody took his first steps. Yeah!!!!

I kept telling Brody he had to be walking by Christmas, with four hours to spare he met the deadline. We are so proud of him.... :)

I hope you enjoy the video!!!

Little Drummer Boy

After our visit with Santa we had dinner at PF Changs. While waiting for our dinner Brody was playing with some chop stixs and I captured the following photos....

Santa Visit 2009

Monday afternoon we decided to visit Santa in Palo Alto. I was already prepared to have a screaming kid in this years photo because Brody gets really freaked out by strangers. However, he held himself together just long enough to get this year's fantastic photo.... :)!

The theme at this mall was Enchanted Woods. There were lots of trees with berries set up to look like the surrounding red wood forests. There was even a very large tree set up for you to walk through the trunk. But the best part about visiting Santa tonight was we were the only ones there for a good 20 minutes. The picture lady's advised us to walk Brody backwards to Santa lap so he would not see who was holding him in the picture. It worked.... I think the Brody looks some what doll like in his photo. Then we were able to take more pictures with Santa... a Mom & Dad and Grammy & Grandpy pictures. It turned out to be very perfect Low Stress and No Line!

Matt and Brody walking into the Enchanted Woods

Daddy, Brody & Mommy

Grandpy, Brody & Grammy

Close up of one of the trees in the forest....

Brody with Santa

I love how Brody is looking at Santa in this photo....

Grandpy, Santa, Grammy and Brody

Brody & Santa 2009

Grandma & Grandpa Visit

We had our first visitors to Northern California last weekend. Last Friday, Matt's parents came in for a visit. Their trip started off a little rocky because it took Brody a couple of hours to remember who they were. All it took was a little playtime with his mega blocks and he warmed right up. Then a small nap, trip to Brody's favorite place in the mall, a drive around Santa Clara, some pizza from our favorite pizza place and Friday was over.

Saturday we headed off to San Francisco to see the Golden Gate Bridge, lunch in Sausilito, a cable car ride, and a walk around Union Square. I don't have pictures of this as there was a small accident with in the car... Matt's dad spilled tea all over my purse. I had to wait for my camera and cell phone to dry out before using them. Love ya' Rod!

Sunday we headed to south to Monterey to visit 17 mile drive, Pebble beach and a walk around Cannery Row. All weekend we really lucked out by having pretty mild weather and the sun out to enjoy all of our tourist destinations.

Before we left for Monterey, the boys moved coins from the small piggy bank to the larger bank. Brody kept crying for more coins so he could put them into the bank. He likes the noise the coins make....

Grammy and Grandpy at a scenic spot on the 17 mile drive.

Grandpy could not get very far with out having Brody in his arms. They were like Peas and Carrots all weekend. I bet Grandpy's arm is still recovering....

Matt, Brody, Grandpy & Grammy

Daddy, Brody & Mommy

Brody giving the camera a smug little look because Grandpy was holding him....

Hugs and Kisses

Mia and Rod visiting the Lone Cypress

Brody at lunch trying to use his spoon, it was more like he beating his drums....

After lunch all Brody wanted to do was walk... he is still needing a little help.

Mommy boot-camp is starting to pay off!

From the back... Love booty shots!

Grammy and Brody

Halloween 2009

The last month has been busy getting ready for Halloween. I can't believe it is almost over. Brody was Bamm Bamm Rubble this year. He likes to bang things together so I thought the costume was pretty fitting. I made his costume this year, I think I did a pretty good job.

I hope that everyone has a very safe Halloween.

Pulling himself up on our patio....

Reaching for a Brody sized pumpkin...

I love his little legs in this picture...

Smile for Mommy...

Before the haircut....

The itsy bitsy spider...

Wearing shades at dinner....

On our way to dinner...

I love his little square teeth..

just like a Jack-O-Lantern!

Using a straw to get some chocolate shake.... Yummy!

Daddy and Brody

(his mouth is full of french fries)

Brody's Jack-O-Lantern

Oooh it is kind of slimy!!!

First Haircut

Today, we took Brody to get his first hair cut. I know... I know... we all loved these curls but when Brody gets referred to as a girl, it is time to chop them off.

We went to Super Cuts in the Rivermark Plaza. This is the little shopping area just down the street from our apartment. The lady who cut his hair and was very patient as we held Brody down and allowed her to cut his hair. At the end of the haircut, Brody received a certificate which will allow us to remember the event with the date and a piece of hair.

Below are some BEFORE and AFTER pictures....

BEFORE

Brody and Matt before their haircuts....

a close-up of crazy hair....

look at all those curls....

Brody nervously waiting to get his haircut....

(looks a little like Yoshi from Mario brothers)

Right before they sat down....

I am freaking out and I only have the smock on....

HELP! What is this lady doing to me????

I am SOOOO upset... Oh the drama!!!

Finishing touches on the hair...

AFTER

Curl Free

He looks so big...

What happened to the baby????

Pumpkin Patch 2009

Our 2nd annual trip to the pumpkin patch went much smoother than last year. The weather was cooler, we were at the patch as it opened and Brody was able to move on his own.

To pick the perfect patch, I spent some time on internet researching pumpkin patches in the Bay Area. In my research, I came across the top five rated patches in our area. They range from patches with train rides, corn mazes and petting farms to the more organic working farm where you admire the farm as is. Most of the top patches are located in Half Moon Bay. Half Moon Bay is about 20 minutes south of San Francisco located on the coast. This means that the temperature is about ten degrees cooler than where we live, so the temp was about 55 while we were at the patch. We chose Lemos Pumpkin Patch, right off of 92 and about an hour away from our apartment.

Living in the Big City now, we have to get used to all the people every where we go. To avoid the frustration that we encountered last year, we arrived as the patch was opening. We had great parking, a chance to walk around with out all the crowds and a lot of opportunities to take pictures of Brody experiencing the patch.

Brody had a great time. He felt the pumpkins, climbed over the pumpkins and even threw a couple. He was very busy crawling, giggling and throwing the straw. It was so much fun watching him take it all in.

Being at the Pumpkin Patch when it opens...

$2 for Goat Food....

$13 for 4 pumpkins....

100 pictures taken in an hour...

Experiencing the Patch with Brody and Matt .... Priceless!

The farm had all kinds of decorative areas set up for picture taking.

The colors of all the flowers, pumpkins, and gourds were incredible.

I love pumpkin pictures...

This little pumpkin came home with us..

look at the little curly piece of vine.

The main building...

2009 Pumpkin Patch Family Photo

Matt and Brody feeding the goats...

at first Brody was little freaked out...

but then he realized it was like feeding the dogs...

This big white goat stole the cups of food....

maybe he thought he was a little piggy.

What is he doing to my ride....

so gross Mommy...

Mommy and Brody

Brody ... SMILE

I want to pick it up and throw it...

Daddy and Brody

Brody gave alot of profile shots today...

I am having so much fun!

Look, I can climb on the pumpkins...

profile shot...

My favorite photo of the day....

Smile...

and then he threw the pumpkin....

CH-E-E-S-E!

Mommy and Brody on a tractor...

Love all the colors...

One of the many areas they had for the pumpkins...

This lil' pumpkin is coming home with us...

Last Year:

Flower Mound TX 2008

Family Photo

Too Cool....

My Favorite Photo of the Day....