Taggidy Tag Tag

I've been tagged by my friend Tracy at Tracy's Tidbits. I'm supposed to list seven random things about myself. However, since this blog is devoted to all things Brady and since I can't think of seven things to say about myself that I didn't already say here, I'm going to make it about Brady. Total cop-out, I know.

1. Brady was born on his due date. He definitely got the promptness thing from his Daddy.

2. Brady favorite drink is milk, and he prefers water to juice. Strange child, I know. However, he is learning, that while sometimes it looks like Mommy has water in her glass, it's actually something much better. Something Mommy calls Sprite.

3. Airplanes, trains, trash trucks, mail trucks, construction equipment, basically anything large that moves is a reason to stop what you're doings, point, shout, jump up and down, and basically get all kinds of excited.

4. Brady's nickname in-utero was Cletus the Fetus.

5. Brady is such a big boy he now sleeps in a twin bed and he sat still for his haircut today without so much as a grimace. (Don't worry curl fans, they're still there.) Now, if we could just get the potty training thing going...

6. Anytime we get in the car, Brady wants to go anywhere but home. I'm not sure what he's trying to say.

7. Hand washing is his latest obsession. I think he just likes playing in the water.

I'm supposed to tag other people, but I'm going to be a bum about that as well and say if you're reading this and haven't been tagged already, please consider yourself tagged.

Brady is Two - Can You Tell?

Brady is a very sweet and fun boy, but on occasion he has his two-year-old moments. The following is a bunch of random pictures in which we've managed to capture not exactly the moment we intended, but a moment nonetheless. I don't believe the pictures need much explanation, but I will point out that most of them are Brady's response to having his picture taken. Also, I think the last three would make a pretty good flip book.





(This picture courtesy of my brother and sister-in-law.)

Vacation Time Again

A few weeks ago it was vacation time again. This year we drove to Texas to take in some of the sights and visit some friends and family along the way. We stopped in Oklahoma on our way there for a much anticipated visit with some good childhood friends. Next was a stop in Dallas to visit Dealey Plaza and the excellent JFK museum. Brady was pretty sure knew where the second gunman on the grassy knoll was positioned.















And went to investigate.
















Next up was a visit with our dear friends Paul and Kelli which included riding around on their souped-up golf cart, a highlight for Brady.




















San Antonio was our next stop with the obligatory photo in front of the Alamo.

It is at this point that I will interrupt the story and point out that this picture was taken on Tuesday, September 8th. As we drove to Houston the next morning, we began to notice the preparations for hurricane Ike, caravans of charter buses going to staging centers, etc. But hey, the hurricane's headed for Corpus Christi, so no problem right? Let's go to Houston! If you know our history of vacation luck, are you groaning yet? It wasn't that bad, this time we didn't have to leave our car behind.

Our first scheduled stop in Houston was the Downtown Aquarium in Houston to see some cool fish during which Ike decided to dramatically change paths and head directly for Houston.

Dinner and the subsequent evening with my aunt and uncle revealed that there would be no more sight seeing in Houston the next day and that perhaps our planned Thursday afternoon in Galveston wasn't such a good idea now what with the Hurricane coming on Friday and the 4-5 foot waves already at the shore. After a flurry of hotel rescheduling, we got up early the next morning, told Houston and Galveston we'd come back to finish our visit another time and got the heck out of Dodge. My aunt and uncle weren't far behind. The sights of the evacuation were interesting - cars loaded with people, suitcases and pet crates, every person on a cell phone; caravans of ambulances and generators driving into the city; a prison evacuation with buses full of men in orange jump suits and the guys riding shotgun actually carrying shotguns - yikes! I am happy to report that my aunt and uncle's house fared well but my heart goes out to those who weren't as fortunate.

On the way home, we stopped at a Civil War site in Vicksburg, Mississippi and took a picture of what may become a vacation tradition - Brady looking down the barrel of a cannon. Seeing as we may have encouraged this picture, I'm sure he's going to need therapy when he gets older.

When we got home, Ike sent us a message by jamming a tree branch upright in our yard. I think it says "Don't mess with Texas." Which, I know doesn't really make sense for the situation, but it had to be said.

Updated to correct the name of the hurricane. Special thanks to my brother who politely pointed out that I am in fact a gigantic idiot, which I'm sure he took no small pleasure in.

Cleanliness Is Next to Godliness

One of Brady's recent favorite activities is to clean his tractor. He'll do it all day if you'll let him.



















His steps are always the same:

1. Ask for the spray bottle and a paper towel. Make sure the spray bottle has at least an inch of water in it. If not, ask Mom or Dad to fill it up for you before you start. Seriously.

2. Pull tractor to the middle of the living room floor and set it up on its end.

3. Spray and wipe the underside of the tractor repeatedly, never the top or sides. Ocassionally, the steering wheel may need to be cleaned.

You can see him really concentrating in this one.















The nice part is it will keep him occupied for a good 10 to 15 minutes, sometimes longer, which is an eternity in toddler time.

It's Been Too Long

Hmmm. Two months without a post. Not good. To bring everyone up to speed, Brady decided to celebrate my one year blogging anniversary with a repeat of the event that got me started in the first place. This time he was running down a carpeted hallway at church and tripped over his own feet. He landed mouth first and ended up with stitches inside and out. Not so fun. He got very good at drinking out of a straw. We got even more acquainted with the ER than we had been. I've seriously considered crafting a suit out of bubble wrap for him. He's all better now, but here he is doing his best Rocky impression.