Cousin Love

Awww, Brody loves his sweet cousin Cate!  

Brody ~ 10 months and Cate ~ 8 months

So much love in that look!

Cate loves him too!

Love the way they reach for each other.  

Our Little Man

This photo session was just too cute not to share.  Mommy found this cute little bow tie in the dollar bin at our favorite store, Target.  Seriously, Mommy racks up!  Just wait until you see what she snagged for St. Patrick's Day and Easter!  

This is relaxed!

Brody's 10th Month

Brody's Stats at 10 months:  

Size: Brody weighed exactly 20 lbs. at his 9 month check up and was 28 1/4 inches long (about 50 percentile for both height and weight).  He is just a sweet, healthy boy, and Daddy can’t wait for this little one to play sports.  He can still wear a size 3 diaper and wears mostly 12 month clothes.  We are loving Target brand diapers these days.  Not only are they way cheaper than our beloved Pampers, but they are so very cute and chic with little blue and green polka dots (or bubbles as Eddie says) all over them.  Just another thing to love about Target! 

Developmental Accomplishments:  Brody added a tooth this month so he is up to eight teeth (four on top and four on the bottom)!  We just love even numbers!  He is getting around pretty well these days using his own variation on the crawl.  He kind of alternates between the full crawling position and the sitting and scooting position.  He just doesn’t seem to like moving on his hands and knees.  He can stand holding on to furniture or our fingers but still doesn’t seem interested in taking those first steps.  I’m not really sure what it is with this kid.  He is strong, he seems very smart, and he is so very happy, but he just seems content to stay in one place.  I guess I should be thankful, huh?  One funny thing he did recently was finally decide he liked to roll.  He has never really liked to roll over very much and sleeps all night on his back (which I am also pretty thankful for since I believe that is the safest sleep position).  Last Sunday, we were sitting on the floor together in our bedroom upstairs, and Brody just started rolling across the floor.  He made it all the way across the room!  I guess that is one way to get places.  He still loves bath time with big brother and has decided he likes playing with big brother’s toy cars.  He also loves shiny objects like the overflow drain cover on the bathtub and still really loves his “silky” blanket.  He has also figured out how to "kiss" the baby in the mirror, and we think he knows he's a pretty boy.  We think he is going to be a “high maintenance” man who appreciates the finer things in life too.  

Sleeping:  Brody definitely knows how to appreciate a good night’s sleep, and we are so thankful.  He loves sleeping in his crib all night and wakes up as happy as can be and gives the person who rescues him from his crib the biggest baby grins.  

Eating: Yep, he still loves to eat, and with all those teeth, it is no surprise that he can eat more substantial meals!  He is loving some stage 3 baby foods and crunchy baby puffs and yogurt bites.  His favorite meal so far seems to be Earth’s Best Vegetable Beef Pilaf which is a very thick and chunky little feast.  He eats three good meals a day (breakfast, lunch and dinner) and also loves his baby snacks too.  Another big change we also made this month was switching to organic whole milk.  Although the old “rule” is that you are supposed to wait until one year to start regular milk, our pediatrician gave us the green light because of his healthy size and eating habits.  She said there is nothing “magical” about the one year mark and that he seemed as ready as he could be.  We are loving the cheaper milk and so is Brody.  He was leaving so much formula in his bottles the last few weeks, but he doesn’t waste a drop of his good cow’s milk.  He drinks four 6 to 7 oz. bottles a day of the yummy goodness. 



So busy at almost 10 months!





He loves to explore his world. 





He enjoyed his play date with his cousin Cate!





He is so irresistible!





Just look at those gorgeous eyes!





Bath time with big brother is still tons of fun...although they do make quite a mess together!





Happy baby!





Enjoying his Sunday afternoon nap with Mommy.





Standing and looking like such a big boy. 





Such a proud little man. 





His hair has gotten so long now, and he looks so cute with a mohawk!





He always goes for big brother's toys in the play room.  We think he wants to be a football player. 





Getting ready to play some football!





He can definitely leave some destruction behind him now!





And he can get himself into some interesting places. 





He loves playing with the chairs. 





He can reach Evan's toys on the table now. 





What a cutie!





Only holding on with one hand. 





What a big boy!





"How do you like my hat?"





"Don't I look cool?"





"Nah, I don't need the hat."

Our Little Valentine's

Valentine's Day is always a special day in our family, but this year was one of the very best ever...not because we gave or received expensive gifts.  We just loved being together and celebrating our first Valentine's with Brody.  Although we don't need a special occasion to show how much we love one another, we do appreciate a day that is set aside just to honor the one's we love.  While pondering the meaning and history of Valentine's Day, I was reminded that St. Valentine's Day does not have a peaceful history.  It is steeped in blood and violence and reminds me that love is truly the only thing worth fighting and dying for.  Our love for our fellow men and our love for our Lord who loved us so much He died for us!  When I think about the symbols for love and Valentine's, the color red and the heart, I am reminded of blood and the heart that beats to keep that blood flowing to keep us alive.  That also reminds me that the ones I love are as vital to my existence as the life sustaining blood in my veins and the heart that beats in my chest.  I never want to take my loved ones for granted or forget to show them everyday that they are loved!  That is what Valentine's means to me.  

I am also reminded of the special song that my husband and I chose for our wedding song.  We did not get married on Valentine's Day, but we chose the beautiful song "Valentine" by Martina McBride because its beautiful words echoed the sentiments of our hearts.  

If there were no words
No way to speak
I would still hear you
If there were no tears
No way to feel inside 
I'd still feel for you

And even if the sun refused to shine

Even if romance ran out of rhyme

You would still have my heart until the end of time

You're all I need, my love, my Valentine.

All of my life

I have been waiting for

All you give to me

You've opened my eyes

And shown me how to love unselfishly

I've dreamed of this a thousand times before

In my dreams I couldn't love you more

I will give you my heart

Until the end of time

You're all I need, my love, my Valentine.

And even if the sun refused to shine

Even if romance ran out of rhyme

You would still have my heart until the end of time

'cause all I need is you, my Valentine

You're all I need, my love, my Valentine.

Our little heart breaker! 

Yes, he did try to eat the rose petals I laid on the bed. 

We call these cuties the products of our love!  

Brody wanted Evan's balloon. 

He has my heart!

My sweetheart. 

He loved his heart balloon.  It's the little things that mean the most. 

Me & My Littlest Loves

Melts my heart how much they love each other!

Daddy took Mommy out for lunch on Valentine's, and Daddy and Evan made her some chocolate covered strawberries, and Evan picked out her favorite flowers!

The way to Mommy's heart!

Reading our Valentines when Mommy got home from school. 

And Mommy's favorite Valentine present!