Apple and Pumpkin Picking Videos!

We took a few videos today while at the farm picking apples and pumpkins!  Here's one from each. Some of them are really long so i tried to pick the shorter ones.  Enjoy! I know we did! I LOVE this boy!

@ Conte Farm 

@ Johnson's Farm

Brayden's First Apple and Pumpkin Picking Adventure!!!

Today we took Brayden to the farm for his first trip to pick apple and pumpkins. We headed to Conte's Farm first, because they have the most amazing apple cider donuts :)   Usually we do both apple and pumpkins there but this year they weren't ready for pumpkins yet. Their apples definitely didn't look as good as usual because of the weather we've had recently but we were able to get two buckets full. Brayden had a great time. He had fun trying to help everyone pick apples, riding the tractor, walking around the orchard and dumping and refilling his buckets.  Brayden tried apple cider donuts and LOVES them. I don't normally give him sweets like that but who can pass up a hot fresh sugary doughnut.  He ate half of one on his own! This boy has good taste :)

Tractor Ride at Conte's!

 Helping Grammy and Aunt Katie find apples!

 Apple Picking with daddy!

 Look mommy I found some!

Walking with mommy and daddy!

I picked ALL these! and now i'll dump them out lol

Mmm unwashed apples (not my idea! lol)

We headed to Johnson's Farm on the way back to pick pumpkins.  I LOVE Johnson's farm for kids. It's a little more pricey and you have to pay for the tractor ride but they have all kinds of fun activities and stuff for the kids. It's definitely a more upscale and family oriented place. In fact, Brayden and I went here in April for an easter egg hunt and had a great time!   We took the tractor ride which Brayden loved. We were able to sit in the front of the wagon so he could watch the tractor and big wheels pull us.  He was fascinated and excited by everyone and everything.  I think he loved the pumpkin patch even more than picking apples. This time it was easier for him to walk around and pick up things he liked. Of course he was going for the big pumpkin leaved instead of the "bright orange things" on the ground,but he did great!

Overall we had a wonderful day.  It was great that Katie and mom were able to come and get to experience Brayden's first adventure of apple and pumpkin picking with us. It is such an amazing feeling having my own child to make memories and firsts with.  I feel so lucky to be Brayden's mommy and getting to experience the excitement, curiosity and happiness of being a child along with him.   I think we seriously took like 175 picture and a few videos so i'll try and narrow it down to my faves.

YEAH another tractor ride!

 Auntie Katie and her "special" pumpkin! 

 Look mommy i found one!

 Helping daddy find the good ones!

But daddy I want the one that looks like watermelon!

 Hamming it up at the pumpkin patch! lol 

 More over there mommy!

 Grammy picking the "perfect pumpkins"

Brayden had SO much fun he couldn't stay awake on the way home :) 

Nothings worse than a sick baby!

It has been a ROUGH week of sickness! Last week Jason started with the stomach virus that has been going around and at this point it's made its way through each of us. It has been terrible. On Sunday Brayden started with it and things went down hill fast. Aside from the chronic diarrhea he started spitting up. He would walk around screaming and crying and even picking him up wasn't helping. It seriously breaks my heart, I hate seeing him in pain and not being able to make it better.

 On Monday he started projectile vomiting and running a fever 101.5.  His poor bottom was so raw that this point you couldn't even touch him.  Time to head to the pedes. Advil and tylenol were keeping the fever at a minimum but he wasn't eating, drinking and able to keep anything down.  By the time we got the pedes he started to rash out all over his body with red bumps.  Low and behold he also has strep throat. My poor baby.  He just can't win.  The dr started him on amoxacillin and the virus part just has to run it's course. It's has been a struggle to get him to keep anything down, especially after taking antibiotics, they've been tearing up his stomach. Of course my son is "weird" and he hates any kind of drink other than water. So no juice, Pedialite, Gatorade ext. So it's been interesting getting fluids in him, being that milk/formula make him sick.  The good news is things are getting better, he is drinking, eating and sleeping a little more.  He is still fussy and miserable but it's nothing like it was.

Here's hoping by the weekend everyone in the house is feeling better! I know i'm struggling to function and take care of a baby. Jason was awesome and stayed home yesterday to help even though he's not feeling 100% himself.  Keeping everything crossed this doesn't linger too long. I am really hoping to take advantage of the beautiful weather this weekend him to the farm for apple and pumpkin picking this weekend.  :)

First Lollipop!

Brayden had a ball at Jakob and Kaleb's birthday party last weekend. We decided to let him try a lollipop for the first time and he loved it.  A small thing i know but he is just too cute to not post pics. lol 

They all Fall Down!

With Brayden full out walking and on the move he is constantly falling and bumping himself on the floor, his toys, and any exposed corner we THOUGHT was baby proofed. lol Last week we had our 1st busted lip! Of course he was trying to run and ended up falling and biting through his bottom lip. Blood poured out everywhere.  Poor kid, I was actually really calm for his first "bleeding fall". Which was probably b/c i'm a klutz myself and didn't expect any less from my son who just learned to walk. lol

In the spirit of doing things like my mom I whipped out one of my home made freeze pops to help his lip feel better. The site of a freeze pop instantly stopped the crying. Score 1 for mom on the distraction.  He loved it and  it slowed the bleeding. It made a huge sticky mess but it was worth it!  Of course being a crazy mom I had to take a picture of him as soon as I knew things were "okay".

Girls Day at The Nino's!

Some of my favorite girls from the 5277 (aka our old store) were able to get together and hang out! Wish ALL of my MW girls were able to make it.  :(  We had fun getting in some "adult time" and the kids had fun playing together.

Brayden had a ball, he loved following all the kids around, climbing up the slide backwards, banging on the drums, stealing toys from other kids (yes, we're working on that. lol ) and playing in the kiddie pool.  By the time we left all the kids were exhausted and Brayden crashed in the car on the way home!

Some pics of the kids having fun! Somehow I'm missing a picture of Sierra :( I think she spent most of the day in the big pool getting her swim on  :)  Thanks to Katie for taking some pics for me!!

Brayden and Arianna! He loves his cougars! (yes she IS older than him...lol) 

Zoe and Abby!! 

 My baby face!

 Cassy is NOT having it! I think this is the only time i've ever seen her fuss! 

She seriously is EASIEST baby ever! So jealous Kelly! 

Arianna Posing!

Zoe! Mommys TRYING to get all the sand from the sandbox out of her hair 

 Brayden and Abby!  Bff's!

Just cruising!

Philadelphia Zoo with Makenzie!

We finally got to have Makenzie, Amy and Tom go to the zoo with us! The weather was perfect that day so we grabbed the opportunity to head out!

The kids had a great time checking out all the animals, petting the sheep and goats and getting a chance to play together! Here's some cute pics from the day!

 wait for me!

 Aunt Amy, Uncle Tom and the kiddies! 

 WHAT is that thing doing?!!! 

 Amy and Makenzie checking out the Giraffes!

 Brushing the sheep! 

Earthquakes, Hurricanes, Tornado's Oh My!

Are we sure we are still living in NJ??? August was a crazy weather month.  It was more like one week of shenanigans, on Tues the 26th, Aug we had an earthquake. It started in VA and made it all the way up to Canada and down to Georgia.  That weekend we had a hurricane (Irene) come up the coast and were in a tornado warning b/c on had touched down in our area. Needless to say I was a little unnerved.

 I don't think I was actually paranoid the hurricane was going to hit our home, but I was more concerned with losing power, our basement flooding and our neighbors old tree falling on our house. With our home being older (built in 1936) it is definitely not built for high winds or extreme conditions. lol  In the long run we made out better than was anticipated but being a mom definitely put me on edge. We got the smallest amount of water in our basement and fortunately the  neighbors tree only lost a few small branches. It was definitely an experience!   I just "had" to write his first earthquake and hurricane in the baby book.... hey it was a first right?! lol

Here's some fun pics of us "camping" out in the living room.  Brayden's room is right under the neighbors tree so when we got a tornado warning we brought him down and slept on the air mattress.

HAHA! I had to do an "I Survived" pic! LOL "My first Hurricane" haha

Brayden "gathering" the essentials! lol 

 Camping out! 

"here daddy i'll help!"

10 months old!

Okay again I am seriously behind on my blogging!  Uggh I need to be more diligent on doing them as things come up!  lol

Happy 10 Months Brayden Thomas!! 

(i'm sorry but isn't this the cutest face EVER! lol maybe i'm impartial!!) 

Two weeks ago Brayden Turned 10 months old! I seriously don't know how this is possible! In turning ten months I am jumping full force in to birthday planning! Despite having a ton of fun doing DIY projects I am in some serious denial!  The transition from 9 to 10 months has been very exciting for Brayden! Just after turning 9 months he took his first steps in his adventure in walking! Or drunk walking as we call it! Seriously walking?!!! This boy is such an overachiever! lol  At 10 months he is doing much better with walking, turning with no problem popping up and down with out assistance and almost has his balance down so he doesn't look like he's "tipsy"all the time.  With walking had come another world of TRYING to babyproof and make things safe for him.  We do our best but he still manages to bruise, bump and even scratch himself falling on his toys and on the floor.  I find it amazing and almost baffling to watch such a little guy walking around like he's a big kid, he almost looks out of place running around chasing other kids and the pets.

This boy is a TALKER!  We are going to be in for it when he is older.  Whether playing by himself, chasing after pets or playing with someone he loves to talk, screech, scream, babble, you name it.  :)  I think he is doing really well with vocabulary for a 10 month old. He already new mama, dada and baba, but now he's working on dog, diaper, cup, nap and "attempt's" a few more sounds to mimic what you are saying.  Guess that means we are on the right track!

At 10 months Brayden finally hit 20lbs(23%) and is 31 inches(95%) tall! Again off the charts for height!  When I took him to the pedes yesterday she was commenting how is the tallest 10 month old she's seen in a LONG time lol!  Looks like someone may be even taller than daddy!! He is still taking 4 (8oz) bottles a day and eats 3 full meals and snacks in between. So the boy is definitely eating. We are working on dropping that last bottle off in hopes that we can get him down to 3 bottles a day at 11 months. But the way it looks I don't know if that is going to happen. He is suppose to be on 24 oz of milk but at this point he's taking in 32.  By 12 month that pedes wants him on 12-16 but that may be a stretch. Guess we will see.  We are STILL fighting with him waking up at night. The dr did put me at ease b/c she said based on his behaviors when waking it IS that he is definitely hungry and not necessarily a habit. Brayden has never been the best sleeper by any means.  So getting up 1x isn't the worst of situations.  He still goes to bed around 8pm and had been waking up around 5-ish (give or take) for a bottle then goes back to sleep till about 8 or so.  So a solid 9-10 hour stretch from his last bottles isn't that bad. I guess I'm lucky he goes back to sleep and isn't up for the day that early.  :)

He hates milk! I have been giving him whole milk in a sippy cup for 2 months and he HATES the taste of it. When he turns 11 months I am going to switch his bottles to 50/50 formula and milk and reduce the amount of formula from there. Hopefully that'll help ease the transition. If i can just get him drinking milk from a bottle that would be great. Then we can work on knocking back the amount of milk he is taking in.  I'm not really "stressed" about all of this but I'm just hoping the transition goes better than i anticipate.

He is a pro at the sippy cup! lol We've been usingTommee Tippee Cups since he was 4 months and he hasn't had any issues with them. We started out with the one with handles but honestly I find he does SO much better with the bigger cup with out them. With the handles it seemed like he was having a harder time tipping the cup up.  Brayden wants to be REALLY independent! lol  He always wants to do everything himself, which is great and a pain at the same time. I have a feeling that I only going to get worse as he gets older. He's really good at feeding himself with a fork. He will eat with a fork in one hand and use the other hand to feed himself at the same time. We usually have to help/encourage him to keep eating or he gets distracted and wants to feed the dog, swipe at his food or throw it on the floor.

My son is a "drama king"! This kid throws that nastiest temper tantrums!  He can be so sweet and the next minute he is screeching, throwing himself on the ground and screaming and crying. I can't imagine if it's like this now how much worse it's going to get.  But we don't feed in to his "games"  I'm trying to teach him nicely that we don't have tantrums and you're not getting things b/c you throw a fit. So i guess we will see if it helps his manners. I know I hate seeing older kids that have NO manners, that is prob one of my biggest pet peeves, so i'm trying to start early.

I could prob go on and on about all the little changes that go on every day! I seriously find it amazing to watch him grow up and turn in to the little boy he is becoming, my little man isn't a baby anymore :(  

Happy 10 months mommy's little man! I love you! XOXO  Brayden seriously has like 1000 faces and it's hilarious! So I'm HAVE to attach a variety of funny pics, It took Aunt Katies and I a TON of shots just to get a few good ones! Ahhh I love life with this little guy!

Sitting Still?!! How did she catch this!? 

His "DEVILISH" smile!! Watch out ladies! 

SO playful!

Haha he was yelling at us! 

He's obsessed with walking around with his Labor Day Balloon! 

Whats up with the sad face?!! Somebody's tired!

His "you caught me" face! lol

XO

WHAT do you want mom!?

Yelling for the fun of it! lol