An exciting month!

Something very exciting has happened at our house!! Brody does not use his pacifier any more!! YEAH! It was one of our goals this month to get rid of it and if I had known it was going to be as easy as it was, I probably would of done it sooner! From the start we have only let Brody use it when he was in his bed or in the car. This helped keep him from walking around with it all the time. He was getting in the habit though of needing it to help clam him down when he either got hurt or was upset, and we did not really like this! So one day we noticed that his paci had a hole in it from him chewing on it and Jason went with Brody and threw it in the trash. Brody knew this was his only paci and said goodbye to it in the trash. After that he never asked for it again!! Can you believe it!! It was like he was saying... Ok I didn't really need that thing anyways. I thought this was going to be a long process that would result in many sleepless nights, so I was so surprised when he just went to sleep without it! Yeah for Brody!

Another fun thing that we did this month was take gym class. Brody loved doing this and it was a great way for him to get out some energy and be around kids his age. He loved jumping on the big trampoline and doing somersaults! It was fun to see him try new things and learn to follow directions from his teacher.

Practicing his balance. Our friends Julia and Jasmine did this with us and we had a great time with them while we were there!
Who does not remember doing the parachute in gym class when they were little!

Learning how to do a back bend.

Doing somersaults while inside the rolling ball. (He really liked this!!)

Ja helping him do a somersaults.

Learning to build up his muscles by trying to touch his toes to the bar. :)

It was a great class!! We both really enjoyed going!

An Exciting week!

Last weekend Amy, Eric and Laney came to visit us! It was a lot of fun to see them and for Brody to be able to spend time with Laney. As you can see from the pic below that they had a good time chatting with each other. :)

While they were here we had a party for my Grandpa (Grandaddy) who turned 90 years old! It was a great time of celebration and getting together with family! There were a lot of people that came to celebrate with him and I know it was good for the family to get caught up with some people that they had not seen in a long time. The theme of the party was black and white and as you can see my sister, mom and I all dressed the part (without really meaning to!).


This is my dad's immediate family. My Grandpa is the one on the right!!

Brody had a good time celebrating as well!!

Amy and Eric

Can you believe that he is 90 years old?!?! He still looks so young! Grandaddy is an excellent carpenter and can make anything you want him to! He has made me a clock, night stands, quilt rack, and re-stained many things for me!! He is most famous for all the wonderful clocks he makes.... they are really cool and can make one out of anything you want! It is such a neat talent to have!

Brody really likes playing with Grandaddy! It is so cute, every time we see an older man, he will point to him and say Grandaddy?..... He was excited to be able to play with him at his birthday party!

It was a great party and we really enjoyed being able to have it for him! Happy Birthday Grandaddy!!

Unfortunately Eric and Laney had to go back home but Amy got to stay with us for the rest of the week!!! It was so much fun being able to hang out with her for a long period of time! As you can see in the pic above we were able to relax a little thanks to my mom who watched Brody while we went and got pedicures! We also did lots of shopping, went swimming, met Ja for lunch, went to a craft show, went to Brody's gym class, and saw Mama Mia!! It was a great week!

Here Brody is driving one of the cars at the mall. When we started it he was not to sure about it but after some convincing he enjoyed it.

Brody got to go to the fire station with Ja! Wow what a treat! However he was not to sure about the big fire engines when they were up close. He was able to get in one but did not like that very much. I think we will look at them from a distance for now but we will go back in the future!

My mom and dad got Brody this very cool tent! He loves being able to play inside and "hide" from everyone!

Here we are making a stone for my garden outside. I wanted to have one with Brody's hand print in it. He did not mind it at first until he found out that his hands were going to get dirty. :) It turned out really good and I am excited about watching how big his little hands will grow.

We had a great time with Amy here and wish her and Eric could be here all the time!!

Catch up on Brody

We have not been doing much lately. Brody started his gym class and that has been exciting!! I will have to take some pictures of him "jumping" on the trampoline and learning how to do a somersault. :) We have also been swimming a lot and the more we go the braver he gets! Today he made some friends and played really well with them. It was cute to watch him with the older boys (his new "friends"). The picture above is of him helping me water my parents flowers. What a big helper!

Here he is again. This particular plant got lots of water! :)

He is now 20 1/2 months old and is becoming very independent! He likes to let you know what he wants and when he wants it! He still does not like going to Sunday School very much, even though we talk about it all week and talk about his teachers, he still crys when we drop him off. His Sunday School teachers say that he does not like to be comforted by them and that if they just leave him alone he does good. :) HAHAHA this cracks me up because when I was his age I was the same way and to some extent I still am. I have heard stories that I would walk into Sunday School and put my head down on the table. :) (this was when I was a toddler and I grew out of it when I was about 4 years old) So I guess we have about 2 more years to go with Brody. :)

When I have seen him interact with other kids he does really good with sharing his toys and trying to be nice! I really like that!

He is determined that he does not like to get messy.... hence the two pictures below.

He is very active and likes to be playing wherever we are! He has always been this way and I think he always will.

He really likes to listen to his music! We now listen to it at home and in the car! Don't ask me about any new song that is out because I probley have not heard it! But I do know all the words to about every children's song there is!!!!! :) I have noticed that when he has his music on he is in a better mood and really that is worth it!!!!

He is at a very fun age and a very challenging age all at the same time! :)

He just put some shaving cream on his daddy's face. :)

hummm I am not to sure about this! :)

Seems like every day his is learning new things and doing big boy activities! It is crazy how fast they grow!!

Happy 4th of July!!!

Brody and I had a great day during they day making Brody's 4th of July hat. :) He is at that age now where he needs to be doing arts and crafts so....today we made a hat and got our hands messy with glitter! :) Here he is putting the red stars on the glue dots after he had colored the paper.
When we were in Florida I realized that Brody needed to start doing things that involved getting messy and touching different textures. So I pulled out the glitter and we went to town. After he helped me pour it on the hat he got to make designs out of it. What kid does not like glitter!! :)

Look at my hands mom I have glitter all over them!! :)

The finished product!! He liked playing with the pipe cleaners while I showed him how I was twisting them. I got this idea out of Family Fun magazine which is a great magazine to get!! There are lots of fun creative ideas in there!

Here we are at Jason's parents house. It is a tradition that we go over there every year and celebrate the fourth. There is always lots of yummy food, Volleyball, and an Excellent fire works show!!

I think he was pretty proud of his hat! :) I thought he looked cute in it! :)

Here he is waiting for the show to begin. We got him some glow sticks which he thought was very fun. He liked the fire works until they set off the ones that went way up in the sky. He was not to sure about those. However he did much better then I thought he would. Him and Grandma Nana went inside and played while the big ones were going off. :)
We had a great 4th!! Hope everyone else did too!

Our Vacation to Florida!!

You have to love going on vacation, no mater where you are going it is nice to get away for awhile! This year we went to Destin, Florida with my family. It was a lot of fun and a great time of relaxing, and for Brody experiencing a lot of new things!! I had some concerns about the drive there since it was going to take us 12 hours, but Brody did great! I thought he would love to play in the sand but he was not to sure of it at first. It was a very different feeling to be walking on something that was a little unstable and not a flat surface. Plus as we all know sand gets EVERYWHERE so he was not to sure about it sticking to his feet or hands. :) However by the end of the week he came around and started to like it as long as he had his shoes on. :) (My mission is to now do messy play so that he will get used to getting all messy!!) :) We had a great time and really enjoyed having Brody with us this time!

This picture was taken towards the end of the week when he was used to the sand and water.

When we go we are so lucky that we get to stay in my brother-in-law's (Eric) Aunts house!! It makes the vacation very affordable and is only a short walk to the beach!! This picture is of Marmee with her big helper, Brody! I think he was eating more cantaloupe then putting it on the plate. :)


While we were there we went to the Gulfarium in Destin. It was a lot of fun. We got to see different shows with Dolphins, sea lions, and a lot of other animals. Brody really enjoyed the Dolphins and seeing a really big turtle!

We went to an outside shopping center where Brody had a great night!! He got to drive the boats at Bass Pro, "play in the water", play at a play ground, and ride a train!! I think this was his favorite night on the trip! :) I think this picture is funny because he was so brave when he went up to the water, he put his foot over it and when he let go it came and squirted him in the eye. :) He would only go and see it if daddy was with him after that. :)

Here Brody and I are ridding the train that went around the shopping center. He had a great time and took everything in!

On this particular day the water was very calm and Brody really enjoyed being out in it since there wasn't any big waves. Here he is relaxing with daddy!!

Here he is playing in the sand with Marmee and Pops. He was still not sure about it but was willing to try with them! :)

It is amazing what a little motivation will do for him! He wanted to go and see the jet ski so he walked all by himself in the sand to it! This was a major step for him and help him overcome his fear of the sand. :) After this day he liked to play in it and go for walks. :)

Family pic

Here he is sitting in the shade while playing with all of his toys. :)

Look out ladies here I come!!

Running along the beach after he saw the jet ski again. :)

Another family pic

Marmee and Pops.

We go to two sea food restaurants while we are there and the other nights we cook. This night we were eating at the Back Porch. It is very good and you get to sit at a table overlooking the ocean.

We had a lot of fun with Amy and Eric! Brody really liked being able to spend a long period of time with them. This particular night we went to the beach and took some pictures and looked for the crabs that come out at night.

Family pic

We had a great time while we were there and we very sad to go!

Aunt Heather and Uncle Drew's wedding!!!

This past weekend we went to Austin for Jason's sister's (Heather) wedding. Brody and I went down a little early in the week with Grandma Nana, GrandPapa, Aunt Holly, and Lilly. I was a little worried about the car ride but Brody did great!!

Here Brody is playing with all of this little toys. Grandma Nana bought him all of the Sesame street little people toys. Brody loved them and had a blast playing with them!! Thanks Nana!!
Here Brody is cuddling up to GrandPapa while we were at Aunt Heather house. Lilly is on Grandma Nana's lap. :)

Here Bordy is giving Lilly a kiss. He is so gentle with her.... it is very sweet to see!

Here soon to be Uncle Drew is playing with Brody. Later in the week we learned that as a child Drew used to love match box cars. When I learned this it was no surprise to me because I saw him really getting into it with Brody when they were playing with all of his cars!! :) I liked watching him show Brody how to play with them.... like he was an old pro. :)

Here we are at a shopping mall. Brody and I came and played with his cars for awhile because he would much rather do that then shop!! It is like he knows that shopping is more of a girl thing. :) I knew that on this trip we were going to be on the go a lot and eating out a lot. So I decided to be prepared for the tantrums that could come with a restless toddler by buying him some new little cars. I would pull a new one out at different times when I could since a little melt down just around the corner. It was cute to see how this distracted him....like he was thinking oh what is this!! My moto with him is be prepared with cars!! :)

Aunt Brandy and Uncle Jeremy at Heather and Drew's wedding rehearsal.

I was also prepared to some long nights with new toys. :) We were at the rehearsal dinner and Brody did not even notice that is was past his bed time because he was to busy playing with his new bus. :)

Uncle Ryan and Lilly..... what a cute pic!

I like this family pic!!

Here Holly and Lilly are at the wedding! What a little cutie!!

Brody looked so sharp (as my dad would say) at the wedding!! We got him this little suit to wear and boy did he look cute!!!

Look at our handsome little boy!!!

family photo

another family photo

Brody and daddy!! They are so handsome! Since I was in the wedding Ja watched Brody while the wedding was going on. We learned from the rehearsal that as long as he did not see me on the stage he would be fine. :)

Brody and Grandma Nana.

I don't think he really liked his new dress shoes. He kept wanting to take them off. :) Finally I tied them in so many knots that he could not untie them!! :)

Aunt Heather and Brody playing!! Heather was a beautiful bride and had a great wedding!! Since Heather and Drew did not see each other before the ceremony I watched Drew's face when Heather came down the isle. I must say I teared up a little just looking at his reaction to his beautiful bride!! Congratulations Heather and Drew!!

The family photo

I apologize ... I could not get these last pictures any bigger......

This is a picture of the Martin family (Jason's Aunt, Uncle and cousins) I want to thank all of them for all the help and entertainment that the were to Brody! We could not of done it with out you! I know Brody enjoyed playing with you and getting to spend a little more time with you all!!!! Thanks!!!

Uncle Jeremy and Ja at the reception

To the happy couple.... we wish you all the best and know that you guys are perfect together!

Congratulations!!

Brody and I dancing at their reception! We had a great time and enjoyed seeing Aunt Heather and Uncle Drew get married!