Spring has sprung!

The weather has been so nice lately that we have been able to take a lot of walks. One day, I was walking by the park on our normal route and thought I would show Braden what he has to look forward to when he gets a little older. Then I spotted this baby swing and thought to myself- well he might be too young still but let's give it a try! As you can see, he LOVED it. I gave him some pushes and said "weeeee" and he belly laughed super loud!

I am super excited to get out and do all these fun things with him this summer. It has been three months since my maternity leave ended and I can honestly can say that I made the right decision to stay home. Sure, some days are hard- if we are stuck inside the townhome, or if he has a bad day and is crabby or won't take his naps, etc. But most days, now that the weather is getting nicer out and he is getting a little older and able to do more, it is truly so much fun to be at home and spend this time with him. I feel very blessed with our situation and look forward to a summer of fun with Braden (and of course at nights and on the weekend Joe will be included in on the fun- and we will try to limit the fun during the weekdays because I know Joe hates missing out!) :)

Happy Six Months!

Braden is six months old today! Everyone always says to enjoy this time because it goes so fast, and I know exactly what they are talking about. I can't believe it has been six months since we were in the hospital waiting for him to arrive and we didn't even know if he was a boy or girl! I can't believe how big he is getting and his little personality is beginning to shine!

What are some of Braden's favorite things at six months? He loves to blow rasbperries with his lips. He loves rolling over and trying to crawl (but it looks more like swimming). He loves to eat baby food and drink milk. He loves to touch and feel everything. He loves car rides and going new places. He loves to smile and laugh, go for bouncey rides on the bed, dancing with Dad, taking baths and playing peek-a-boo with Mom.

What do we love about Braden? Well everything! We love coming into his room in the morning and seeing him quietly playing in his crib, smiling from ear to ear and stretching from hopefully what was a good night's sleep. :) We love how strong he is and how determined he is to reach milestones like rolling over and now trying to crawl. We love his gummy smile and his belly laugh. We love how silly he is and his babby squaking or babble talk. We love how much joy he has brought to our life and we love being a family of three that gets to do fun stuff together like go for walks, and show Braden new things. We can't wait to take him to the zoo, park, pool and on trips. Most of all we love this person that we created and can't wait to see him grow more and more into his own person with his own interests and personality.

We love you Braden and can't imagine life without you. I think your first birthday will be here before we know it, so we are going to fully appreciate each and every day with you because we know it goes way too fast!

Fun with the Krehmeyers!

Already a Brewer fan by Dad's influence (Mom will do her Twins influencing secretively!)
Our little cowboy!

Yesterday we took a drive up to visit Angie and Todd in Maple Grove (Joe's sister and brother-in-law). Joe had yet to see Todd's updated bar with his nice tv! We hung out, watched basketball, caught up and of course Braden had a blast checking out a different environment. He had a good time trying on all the different hats on Todd's bar as you can see!!!!! Hope you all had a great weekend!

Night of Green!

The Hammonds, Hammin' it up on the day of green.
Braden and his big hat
Aunt Angie and Braden having fun on St. Patty's Day!

Tonight Joe must have found the fun Irish hats that I was looking for earlier today because when I walked in the door Braden was posing for the cameras in his big hat. What a ham! Aunt Angie was over tonight watching him while I taught class and until Joe got home from work so she was a part of the action too. So, these are more like the pictures I meant to post this morning. Better late than never!

What A View

We were a Lake Calhoun today for a couple of hours. Colleen and baby Cole met us too. I can't believe how nice it is out - 60 degrees! Here's the view we had this St. Patty's Day. I get to look at downtown instead of being there everyday!

Top 'O The Morning!

Happy St. Patty's Day to all! This year is pretty uneventful here in the Hammond household- Braden can't really eat green foods yet (besides green beens and peas of the baby food sort) and I can't find our fun St. Patty's Day props to dress him up with- hats, beads, etc... But I did dress our guy in green and he looks quite handsome in my favorite color! We are going to get outside for maybe two walks today- it is going to be 60 degrees! I am teaching class tonight so maybe I'll have a green beer when I get home. Last year I could only have a green O'Douls! :) Even though we won't be going out like the old days I am happy to spend one of my favorite holidays with my little guy. I look forward to more St. Patty's Days together when we can eat green cookies, donuts and maybe even watch the St. Patty's Day parade together!

Hope you are all having a great day and partaking in some Irish cheer!

Cousin Fun

On Thursday Braden and I went over to hang out with Shawn, Ava and Levi. We set a blanket down so Braden could roll around while Shawn and I ate lunch. We looked over and Levi was down talking to Braden- it was a cute cousin moment that I am glad I caught on camera! Here's to many more fun cousin times!

Independent Man!

Braden waiting patiently for his morning cereal.

Joe's brother and sister-in-law were kind enough to send their old high chair this way for us to use. It works great. This morning was the first time I used it. Braden waited patiently at the kitchen table while I prepared his breakfast. Normally he is crying as I make it, so maybe his own seat with tray makes him feel more like an independent man! Here's to many more meals on the high chair for our little guy!

PS- he seems to be getting a little better. This is day four of the meds, and lastnight was the first night that he only woke up once and I had success getting him back to sleep in the crib in about 15 or so mins. Hopefully we are getting back to better sleep soon and he is on the mend.

Our Little Trooper!

Still smiles despite being under the weather!

Braden has been battling a cold for the past week, and late this weekend it made a turn for the worse. His cough turned into a hacking cough, he had more congestion and a bit of wheezing. I took him into the doc today and he tested negative for RSV which was great, and it doesn't seem to be pnuemonia or bronchitis (double great). He does have an ear infection along with a nasty cold virus that needs to run it's course (hopefully). We got some antibiotics for the ear, so hopefully in the next few days he will begin to feel better. He has been so good considering this is his first official sickness. The nights have been a bit rough, but during the day he is his smiley and playful self most of the time. We are proud of our little guy and hope he is on the mend very soon. It's hard to see him sick. Second to that, I hope that our night sleeping can be better soon too. As a first time mom I spend half the night up with him and the other half worrying so it's been a rough week or so! :)

Veggie Tales

Yummy Sweet Potatoes!

Braden tried vegetables for the first time this week. We started out with sweet potatoes. With his first bite, he made a strange face but then soon began to like it more and more. It is quite a messy process as you can tell by the picture :), we don't have a high chair with a tray quite yet so we are making due with the Bumbo seat right now. He wants to help feed himself by grabbing the spoon and putting it in his mouth, or touching the food after it's already in his mouth. As you can see it is quite the messy process, but he loves it. We moved onto carrots after a few days. It's fun to see him tasting more real foods- well baby foods that is. He cries when I put the veggies away so I always have to have a bottle of milk waiting in the wings to distract him afterwards. Oh, our little eater boy. If he's anything like his Dad he will like cheese the best I think.

Oh, and I love the image on the tv in the background. I am sneaky- the only time I can watch TV is if his back is to it or he is asleep. :)

New Hobby

Braden practicing his driving skills.
Braden and Dad - can't wait until next year for an official ride together!

The Wilson family kindly hosted us at their cabin this weekend, Joe coaches both baseball and football with David so they spend a lot of time together in the spring and fall. This was the first time we made it up to their cabin in the winter time and they have four snowmobiles. Joe could not leave the cabin without getting a picture of our little man driving one of these fast machines. Maybe next year Braden can officially go for a ride, but until then just sitting in the driver's seat will have to do! I grew up with snowmobiles so it was fun to get back on one, it took me back to wonderful childhood memories of zooming around in the Stillwater woods and up in Nisswa area.

We had a great time and Braden loved taking in the new environment for two days! He was so excited at all the fun up there that since we have been home he has been a little off- lots of crying (for him) and a lack of sleeping, poor guy. Hopefully we can get him back to normal soon, we think he is either confused at sleeping in different places or perhaps some teething has begun or the start of a cold. Regardless, we hope he feels better soon, but he did sooooo good up at the cabin and was so much fun. The weather was great and we had a wonderful time, thanks to the Wilson's for having us.
Hope you are all enjoying this nicer winter weather!