Fork Please!

My son is trying to be WAY too independent. For the last few weeks he's been obsessed with using forks.  I know I am forever saying he is "obsessed" with things but this kid really gets bound and determined to do things!  He seriously amazes me every day.  I'm seriously impressed with his skills with a fork. He knows exactly what it is and what it does. He's really good at stabbing food and managed to get half of it in his mouth. lol Heck i'd be impressed if any made it in but he exceeded my hopes. haha.  I have to get some good pics but I did post a quick video from my phone on FB with him using a fork. Of coures he does better when I'm NOT trying to catch it on video but I still think it's cute! :)  

Click to see ---> Brayden using a fork! 

 A fun pic of his eating adventures! 

Brushing Teeth!

Since Brayden was 4 months old we've been "brushing his teeth".  I put that in quotes since his first tooth didn't actually break through until he was just shy of 6 months, but we would brush his gums to get the habit.  So far our diligence has paid off and he loves brushing his teeth.  He also gets a kick out of watching other people brush their teeth. I'll put him in his highchair while I get ready in the morning (since our bathroom is on the first floor) and he will lean forward and crane his neck so he can watch or look at you in the mirror. Too cute!  With in the last month he's been insistent that he has to brush his own teeth. In other words let the battles begin!  lol Since he's a "big boy" now, he needs to do everything on his own. I'm lucky if i get a few swiped in before he has to do it himself. So now i end up letting him hold the toothbrush and TRY and guide his hands to do the job right.  Needless to say it's interesting. Then i let him "brush his own teeth" for a few minutes while i do my own.  Otherwise a tantrum ensues if you take it away too early! This morning I got some pics of him doing it all on his own! I swear this boy thinks he's 1 year already!

Somebody LOVES brushing his teeth! 

He's ambidextrous.. still can't figure out if he's lefty or righty! 

His expressions kill me! 

 I do it myself mom!! 

Cutest Boy Ever!!! okay...maybe I'm biased :)

Okay so I just feel like posting some super cute Brayden pics to brighten my mood since I'm still feeling sick.  This little boy makes everything better! :) 

All dressed up!! 

 The loves of my life! 

 Sleepy head on the way back from NY! 

He doesn't usually watch tv but he was entranced! lol 

Apparently walking isn't good enough he needs to RUN!

TIRED boy!! Hence the binkie face!

9 month Pedes visit and Braydens 1st STEPS!

Braydens 9 month pedes appt went great he is now 19lb 1/5oz(25%) and 30 1/4 inches tall (98%)! Fortunately this month was only one shot and a hemoglobin test. The dr had me fill out a motor/verbal skills evalutation and he scored way above average functioning above the 12 month level!!!  I can't believe all the things he can do. The dr was really impressed with how advanced he is. I hate to be one of those annoying bragging moms i'm SO proud of my little man! Unfortunately our fav pedes Dr. Sarah is leaving the practice in September so we won't get to see her anymore.  She will be getting to work closer to home but she's been awesome in following Brayden with his reflux and milk protein issues. 

So the dr said we can now add eggs and peanut butter. To watch the PB carefully and still stay away from whole nuts. She actually wants us to start giving him whole milk at 11 months?!  So that's the game plan. Other than that he has no restrictions, she was happy with all the foods/water he is eating and drinking. And we are going to try and transition solely to sippy cup when we go to whole milk. Guess we will see how it goes. It'll prob be a process but I'm sure he will do great!

Dr. Sarah and I always joke that Brayden ALWAYS does new milestones RIGHT after we see her, and boy were we right! Tonight he decided he was going to take his first steps all on his own!  It's insane to see such a little person trying to walk. He gets so excited and proud of himself he screams and laughs while he's doing it and tries to run all at the same time. Needlesss to say he can only get maybe 2 or 3 steps in if he is lucky before he dives on the floor. But he laughed and got back up to try again. We did get video where i help him stand back up and ask him to walk to us!! SO cute! not sure if i'll post that or other video b/c I'm dressed all crazy bummy and a hot mess in it! lol  but i promise I will post something asap!!

All i know is This boy needs to SLOW down, he's not a baby anymore!!

Happy 9 months Brayden!

I'm still WAY behind on posting but I'm trying to catch up! With vacation, party planning and drs appts it's been busy!

I seriously can't believe Brayden is 9 months old! Everyonee says time goes by fast but there is NO way you can prepare for it! :)  As usual Brayden never ceases to amaze me with everything he is learning! He is more and more mobile, walking holding on to things, trying to take steps on his own and pushes toys all over the house!  He loves talking,  screeching, and roaring like a dinosaur. He knows and can identify mama, dada and baba, he point to things and talks, and is trying to learn a few other words.  He also got 2 teeth this month leaving him with 4 total! He is still not the best teether, but what kid is.  I love his toothy little grin! He definitely does NOT look like a baby any more!

He is still insanely tall and skinny.  Lucky kid got pop pop Nolte's metabolism!  He LOVES to eat table food and has become more adventurous! This month we followed up with the gastro with his milk protein and reflux issues. We changed his formula back to Similac Sensitive from the Alimentum to "test" his MPI and he has done WONDERFUL! So we were able to start introducing cheeses, yogurt and anything else he wants. It has really enabled him to eat SO much more!  He's been dropped to one dose of his prevacid and has been doing well with only a little spitting up.  And we stop the meds all together in about 2 weeks. I'm a little nervous about that but with how great he has been doing, i'm sure it'll all go smoothly. 

Braydens sleeping patterns haven't changed too much.  He goes to sleep around 8pm and sleeps till about 8am give or take.  He has been still waking up for a bottle. A dilemma we have been trying to break. But with his teething it makes it really hard. If he's not taking his full bottles during the day he's waking up. Some times I can just rock him back to sleep.  He takes two naps a day, one around 11:30 or so and again around 4. His earlier nap is usually the longer one. 

This little man is definitely a div-o! (the boy version of a diva. lol) He wants what he wants, when he wants it and boy-o-boy does he let you know it! He can be the happiest baby ever and the next minute throw a temper tantrum! Guess we are in for it when we gets older!

So much more going on but i'll save it for other posts!

HAPPY 9 MONTHS BRAYDEN!