Where did my baby go?

Everyone says little girls are so fun because you can dress them up like a baby doll.  No one tells you that you can do the same thing with baby boys!  And boy oh boy did I.  Have you seen all the photos of my boys in smocking and bubble suits?  What about the velvet overalls at Christmas?  Or Bradford's red silk Christmas shortalls he wore when he met Santa(see below).  Nothing is sweeter than a toddler in knee socks.  I always say they have their whole life to dress like a grandpa or a Frat Daddy!  Why do it at 9 months?  I remember one day Brandon came home and I showed off some pictures I had taken of Bradford.  After viewing all of them Brandon noted the many different outfits Bradford was wering in all the pics.  He asked, "Did you play dress up with him?"  Of course!

With all that said Bradford has drawn a line in the sand.  He is NOT wearing anything that remotely looks like a baby?  "Mom I don't want to wear that one anymore.  You can give it to Berk." If I am not careful he may even give up his preppy look too soon for me too. 

The icing on the cake was when he showed up at his first T-Ball practice this week in a striped Polo t-shirt and Gap shorts.  In NO uncertain terms we WILL be buying basketball shorts, "daddy socks" (the no show athletic socks Dad wears to the gym) and "work-out" shirts.  All per my 4-almost 5 year old!  No fancy clothes please for practice anymore.  It all started with his hair last year.  "Mom this is how I want my hair cut..." Next it will be "Mom this is where I want to go to college..."

Lying, Babies and Fireworks

Bradford learned about not lying at Vacation Bible School a few weeks ago.  He is pretty much an honest kid so it was something that we had not really focused much on to date.  But now we are going to have to get a little deeper into it.  If you say something like, "I'm going to get you" when you are about to tickle him he asks, "Are you lying?" If you say it's time to take your bath, he answers, "Are you lying?"  And on and on.... I am now working on MANNERS: it is impolite to ask someone if they are lying!

Anyway, Berkeley came running through the house yesterday yelling "Daddy's home" when he really wasn't.  I explained it wasn't Daddy and he answered, "I not lying!"

Oh Geez!

Well we are getting into a quasi-rhythm for the summer.  Then again school will start by the time we have it all down pat.  Berkeley decided he is NOT sleeping in his baby bed any more.  Much to this mommy's dismay.  I was hoping to hold out to Christmas.  For no reason other than I just did not want to admit he is not a baby anymore!  He is very quick to correct me any time I call him my baby, that he is a Big Boy.  But I can call Bradford a baby...according to Berkeley!  After a weekend in Salado with our friends who are expecting, Bradford keeps asking when we are going to get a new baby too.  Oh and a play kitchen?

Oh Geez again!

And yes that was my child you may have seen watching fireworks wearing sound proofing ear thingys.  He isn't a fan of loud noises.  So the BOOM scared him.  He loved the colors, especially from the inside of my car.  While one is scared of the noise, the other can sleep through it!  Brandon had to carry Bradford to the car when it was over because at some point he had fallen asleep on the blanket even with the loud BOOM!  Fun memories!

Like Father, Like Son, Like Son

Look!  Over Yonder!  Can you see it?  No? Well you must not be looking hard enough because it is right in front on your face! 

We have reached a new level of Boyhood at the Arnold House.  I have a sneaking suspicion it has been here all along, hiding in the shadows...

My sweet baby boy that I thought I could count on to always hang with Mommy, looking all cute and yummy snuggly, CLEAN has turned 2 and would rather run with Daddy and Big Brother getting dirty, sweaty, wild and carefree.  Welcome to the world of constant mud holes, sand gritty hardwood floors, backyard peeing (and the occasional peeing in the wrong places), rough and tumble wrestling, ALL THINGS BOY!! 

We have made a few House Rules that are stressed above all others.  Number 1: You always ask an adult before going out the garage or front doors. (back door is ok)  Number 2: No naked people at the dinner/lunch/breakfast table!  (yes we had to make a rule about this one)

The best example I can give of the difference between boys and girls: I knocked over Berkeley's new bottle of bubbles accidently today.  The girl I am expected him to cry over spilled bubbles.  Nope! He jumped in the puddle and started laughing as it splashed everywhere....All boy I tell ya.  Hang on tight it is going to be a fun ride I can already tell.  And I am loving every muddy twist and turn so far. 

Coming out with my hands up!

I'm surrounded by clothes as I sit on the floor of my youngest son's room.  All so cute, so yummy!! Full of memories and fun times. I'm the mom that dresses my babies in smocking, embroidered bubble suits and footie’s, and in baby blue sear sucker. Many of my friends with boys say "I love that outfit but Oh, my husband would die if I dressed my son in that!" and they wag around their babies dressed like frat daddies! (No offense here girls!)  I only have about a year and then my own husband draws the line by age 3!  No more monogramming on the front! I'm trying to pack up all this sweetness in a Rubbermaid tote and it's killing me!
So I'm taking a break and blogging. What would you do?
First, I went thru it all and pulled out things I knew were too small then
some things like the white linen sailor romper I put back saying I bet
he can wear that one more time! And let's not forget the adorable
plaid suit that was really too short but when he wore his Ugg boots
with it you could not tell....or so I told myself until my 4 yr old told me his brother's pants were too short!
So I decided to go see what gems were stored in the attic saved from
big brother. With the contents of 2 1/2 totes I am now prepared to
pack away even more than I was when I started this adventure!! But
NEWS FLASH: my almost 2 year old has 12 pair of pjs so if you were
thinking of buying him some please DONT! Thnx. (PS this is after getting rid of all the 18-24 months and only keeping the 2T) So now that I'm ready to pack some more baby stuff away, how do I finally make myself get it out if the house all together??? That will be for another day all together...Great, Brandon just washed 2 more pair of jammies…We are up to 14!!

slurpp!

Hurry!  Don't let my Mom see me!  I can hear him sucking this juice box as fast as he can.  And that is because I have usually been pretty cautious on what I give the kids.  And juice is limited to some degree.  What you don't see is this was his second box, with cupcakes to follow!  But it was Big Brother's birthday party and he was just so excited to be running with the big kids.  The baby of the family ALWAYS grows up so much faster...much to this Mommy's dismay.

Welcome to motherhood

4th Birthday

3rd Birthday


2nd Birthday

1st Birthday

Birthday!

Bradford, Brandon's grandmother's maiden name.

Max, my Father-in-law's middle name.

Bradford Max, my first born son.

He amazes me everyday!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X-i8aJ2Jhyw

Everyone gave us a hard time for not finding out what we were having. Then we kept our baby names a secret. The whole pregnancy was all about me. Brandon doted over me, took such wonderful care of me. It was the best pregnancy ever. He was the perfect husband and daddy-to-be. I LOVE surprises. We both do. And I also wanted Brandon to have that one moment where he could be the one to announce to everyone what we had. After 9 months, it was all about Brandon and what he was announcing. He was so excited about that! Watching this video makes me smile every time! As far as the baby's name, I think pregnant women should reserve the right to change their mind all the way to the last second! So don't monogram anything for me until the baby is here, in case I change my mind on the name. Like I did with Berkeley....while pushing, I switched to my beloved Berkeley...but that is a post for another time...HAPPY BIRTHDAY BRADFORD MAX ARNOLD! You have made me a mommy!