John Brady goes to school for the FIRST time!

Luckily I drafted this up back in September but never finished it. 
John Brady started pre-school this Wednesday. I was so excited for him but so sad to let his journey away from me begin! John Brady has been by my side for 3 years and 5 months every day basically. I have only left him a few times and always with family. 

He was very nervous and cried hysterically...they basically had to pull him out of the car. I know it will get better and he was very unsure about this new place! I have to remind myself it is only 12 hours a week and it is nice to have a little one on one time with Beckett. Having only one child to take in and out of stores instead of carting two is a breeze...you forget how easy 1 is!  

Cute book bag and lunch box with tag made by ohsuzyqdesigns.com (friend and neighbor)

I made this chalk board for his first day to remember a few things about him at this age. He is 41 inches and 38 lbs. He wants to play football when he grows up and loves chicken nuggets, cheese dip and ice cream to name a few. His favorite movie is toy story and loves to play with cars, trains and any ball! 










John Brady wanted us to take him to Chickfila before his first day. So naturally we agreed...Chicken mini's and he was feeling a little better about his first day!

 

John Brady is in Mrs. Amy's class and goes Tuesday - Thursday each week @ Hunter Street Baptist Weekday. Here is his class! 

 

Day 2 was a breeze until....we pulled in the car pool line and it was serious tears...but he looked totally adorable in his cute t-shirts for back to school!

Happy 4th of July - Our week at the Lake

Our family enjoyed a full week at the lake house for the 4th Holiday. There were lots of firsts on the trip...Beckett's first boat ride, JB first boat ride on the lake, Beckett took his first steps(3), JB got his first ear infection, JB got his first burn( from a sparkler)...haha so many firsts.

 

We spent the first 3 gorgeous days on the boat and jet ski. JB played in his baby pool and we took family stroller walks in the evenings. We had torrential rain the remainder of the trip..but made the best of it. JB played on the deck in his sand box, we watched movies and played in the basement and got out when we could. We had lots of lake and 4th appropriate food - Brats, BBQ, mexican, pizza, etc...lots of healthy stuff ;) 

We had a great time with everyone celebrating Dora's 21st birthday, playing board games, watching movies and talking. We were all disappointed we couldn't see the fireworks due to the rain but look forward to our next lake time with everyone. 

Ryan & Shanah's Wedding

Drew & I were so excited to celebrate the marriage of two great people and best friends of ours. 

The wedding was in Pawley's Island, SC at Heritage Country Club. Drew and I arrived on Thursday evening after a long 8 hours in the car. We enjoyed chatting but were glad to get out of the car. We went to eat Thursday night @ the Big Tuna in Georgetown with Ryan, Shanah and other wedding party friends that arrived early as well.  We enjoyed good drinks and seafood...tuna tartar that was delish!

Friday we laid out by Rick & Carrie's pool and I helped Shanah tie ribbons on all the fans while Drew and Ryan ran some errands. Friday evening we enjoyed this beautiful view and sunset in Georgetown at the art museum for the rehearsal dinner. We stuffed our self with low country boil style food, martinis and desserts. After the RD we went back to Rick and Carries and sat by the pool until late and caught up.

Wedding day was busy as it always is...lots of fun! Shanah and her girls looked amazing and they were having lots of fun. The food was good comfort food and we danced the night away under the lights in the trees with the marsh as the backdrop. Congrats & Best Wishes to Ryan and Shanah!! =)

CHEERS!!!!

Hot Dog Beckett's B-day party!

It's time to party... and what else would we pick for your 1st b-day theme other than MICKEY MOUSE!

You love all things Mickey!

We invited family for your 1st b-day because we wanted to spend more time with just family this weekend since our last few fam get togethers have flown by because we have so much going on. 

Who came: Mom, Dad, JB, Nana, Papa, Grandma, Grandpa, Dora and Hannah

What we ate: Hotdogs(for theme song), chips, watermelon, cupcakes

Presents: lawn mower, car to sit on, clothes, books, movies

What we did: played out side, fed you, sang to you, stroller ride, played on green 

The Mickey decorations were so cute and we played Mickey in the background, which you enjoyed! =)

Pictures of the decor

 

Pictures of the BIRTHDAY BOY

Lovely grandmothers at Beckett's Birthday Party!

Beckett is one!

Happy Birthday Dear Beckett...Happy Birthday to you!

Oh Beckett you are such a sweet baby. We can always count on you for a smile and some laughter. You are so happy and patient. We are so lucky to be your parents. You are growing up so fast...and continue to be off the charts size wise. You are taking your time with walking...you don't seem as in a hurry to get going. You walk holding hands with someone or pushing toys. 

On your actual birthday I made you pancakes for breakfast with candles. Daddy, JB and I took you to have lunch at La Paz because you love mexican. They put a little sombrero on you, which you did not like but JB wore it for you. You both enjoyed rice, beans and chicken and they were sweet and gave you some fried ice cream...which you liked. After lunch you napped and then nana and papa arrived for your birthday weekend. 

You and John Brady at La Paz for Birthday lunch

          

Height- 32 inches (100%)

Weight - 28 lbs (100%)

Hair- blonde

Eyes - blue
Sleep- 12 or more hours a night and are taking one nap a day
TV- Mickey
Movies- Mickey haha or something JB chooses
Toy- cars or trains
Book- Mickey peek a boo book 
Teeth- 8
Nicknames- Beck, Becky, Beckster, little beck beck, baby beckster, chunky monk, haha and so forth
Food- Everything favorites....applesauce, bananas, sweet potato, pasta of any kind, really everything!

 

You still are crazy about Mickey. You also enjoy stacking blocks and cups and putting things in boxes or bags and taking them back out. JB liked lining up things you prefer stacking. You also really enjoy cars already you push cars all around your room and on JB's train table. 

You can say mama, nana and dada and bi bi for bite and you do touch-down, wave hey and bye, clap, etc. 
You enjoy stroller rides and the water. You love to eat and have yet to spit out any food you have been given. You seem to really enjoy everything and soak up life already at such a young age. I take that back...you are not a car sleeper and are not a fan of trying to nap in the car it usually results in 30 minutes straight of tears. 




Daddy, JB and I love you very much. We say almost daily what a perfect little addition you have been to our typical "animated" family. You are always cool as a cucumber and have a great laugh!!  =) xoxo to Baby Becks

Hakuna Matata - John Brady is THREE!

Hakuna Matata John Brady is 3!

 

 John Brady picked Lion King theme for his 3rd birthday party. The movie is fairly old and there was not many items to choose from at your typical party supply stores. I had to get creative and it was fun. 

Left: I made a sign out of left over card board from moving boxes to say Hakuna Matata.  I dipped pretzel rods in white chocolate which I made into yellow chocolate to add a pop of color and put in french fry holders with tissue paper. I made fruit kabobs to resemble some "grub" from the movie. I made cupcakes for the party from home and used cute lion king cupcake toppers a sweet neighbor made for me.

 I was lucky to find some plates from Amazon and ordered those. I grabbed the orange buckets from the Dollar Tree and put Grub stickers on those and filled with snacks like animal crackers and chex mix. I used John Brady's Simba and tied balloons to it. I also had gummy worms on the table to fit with the Grub theme. I placed two tubs on the porch one for kids and one for adults and had a label saying "Watering Hole" for those. We had a Lion King cake made from Edgars for our family dinner later which including BBQ, slaw, chips, cake and ice cream. The party favors for the kids were bubbles. 

                                                                          The party was lots of fun. We invited family and a few neighbors and their children. The kids mostly ran around and played and opened some of John Brady's presents. He received rain boots, a soccer ball, lots of bubble guns and machines, cars and more.

Happy Birthday John Brady is 3!!!

 

Drew and I got JB a bike and a scooter with a helmet and some other small things. Nanny and poppi got him a Gator just like my dads. He thought he was something special and loved the Gator. I think that was the highlight of the day...along with all the sweets. He loved spending the day learning how to ride his new toys. 

 

 

Nanny & Poppi @ the party

Dora & John Brady while we were singing to him @ the family dinner

  

Drew & Beck @ the party

 

To John Brady: you @ 3

To John Brady - I hope you look back on this one day and smile. =) 

Height: 39 1/2 inches

Weight: 35 lbs

Clothing: 4T-5T

Shoe: size 10

Eyes: blue

Hair: dirty blonde

To start, John Brady you absolutely light up our life. You have so much energy and are always ready to take on the day. You come to my side of the bed when you wake and stand over me and say "mommy, you make me a milk?" 

You love to play...play hard. You like cream of wheat and eggs for breakfast, oatmeal, english muffins with PB and fruit. You love your stuffed animals and won't sleep unless they are all in their proper place. You love to "swim" and take baths, if there is a tiny puddle of water you want to take off all your clothes and swim in it. You love the be outside and pretty much any ball. You are really into Lion King and just starting having an attention span long enough to get into movies. You love trucks, trains, cars and "bump bumps" you will make things to ride your cars over so they can over speed bumps. 

You are so smart...when we pass buildings in the car you remember them and say there is daddy's work, or the mexican place, or a certain person's house. You are always paying attention and are very observant. You enjoy to ride your trucks around the dining room table or the pool table at nanny and poppi's. 

You love peanut butter too...you have lots of peanut butter and banana's. You have tried all kinds of foods and even like salmon, limas, guacamole, lentil soup and random things. You have typically been a good eater for me. 

You love your little brother but right now you are starting to become jealous of him too and the attention he gets as he learns a new skill. Just remember, mommy and daddy love you both equal and want you two to be best friends. We were so happy to find out that Beckett was a boy because we know with you two close in age you would be best friends. Be patient with him and love him always...after all he probably wants to do just like you do. 

You still love your Thomas the train table. You like to watch sports and lay in your daddy's lap. You enjoy doing play-dough with mommy...we make all kinds of things you make me pretend fries and spaghetti and feed it to me. I know this will really freak you out one day....BUT you love to take showers...bc you equate it to swimming so you shower with me pretty much daily because you love to splash and pour cups of water on yourself.

You can talk very well for your age and very clear. You say some funny stuff and like to pretend like you are singing along with songs. You love music and dance to whatever I am listening to in the backseat. You love to look at animals on my Iphone and play matching games with animals on the ipad. You know all your colors and can sing your abc's. You can recognize all the letters in your name.

One day recently you "painted" in our closet...with mommy's make up...you have always loved playing in our closet. You will try on our boots and shoes and hats and line things up. You love chapstick and ask me to put in on for you every time that I do. You are like my little shadow and I wouldn't have it any other way. You are my "helper" in the grocery store(you hold my list for me), you help me by bringing Beckett a diaper or putting bottles in the sink. You love dogs but don't want them too close until you have them figured out. You chase good girl around and laugh. Daddy and I laugh because you just started saying "okay, jiggies" and copying daddy. You say funny things like "thats ba-diculous" instead of ridiculous and "ba-scetti" spaghetti. You love shoes and will mis-match them and I don't even care.

WE LOVE YOU & HAPPY B-DAY!!!