Brayden's 15 month well-check up...

Yes, it is ready for pre-orders...most of you already know this, but for those of you who don't....my father-in law is a contributing author for the book Gifts vol.II. He wrote a story about Brayden...I can' t wait until I get my hands on this book, as the first volume was awesome...a very good friend of mine had given me a copy of the book at my baby shower and it got me through some of the anxieties I felt before I had Brayden...so if you haven't already, pre-order your copy through Woodbine books or Amazon...I think it is going to be a great book! Stories written by grandparents, aunts/uncles, friends, neighbors, doctors, teachers, siblings...

We took Brayden to his 15 month check up and all went well...he weighs 22lbs 4 oz...and is 30 1/2 inches long...this puts him in the 20% for weight and 25% for height on the typical charts...I think he only gained 2 lbs since he was 12 months...but at least he gained...he got his iron levels checked and results were awesome with that...13.1...had two immunizations, only cried for a second on the last shot.

My only concern was to talk about some of the spitting up issues...he still will spit up after bottles and yogurt, but nothing else...so the doctor said to just keep pushing more and more solids and he should do better...so that is what we are going to do...He doesn't want to put him on any meds...only if it is painful from spitting up, or he is losing weight and since neither one is happening, I guess I am thankful for that.

He is doing great:

- waving bye (not every time, but occasionally)

- plays catch when you roll the ball to him and he rolls it back (so fun)

- crawling and bottom hopping...

-working on putting puzzles pieces back into the correct spaces on the puzzle

- stacks rings on the stack holder/ takes them off

- working on signs : eat, more, all done, milk...understands them, but can't sign

them...

-almost able to pull to stand, has done it once in his crib...working on it...

-working on drinking from open cup

-plays peek-a-boo

-starting to bounce up and down when we sing to him...
-loves books

Brayden is still just a joy to be around...simply the most easy going baby...and ALWAYS happy! He just adores Kaylee and Cody, and I seriously don't know what I would do without them...they are so helpful and entertaining...I am going to miss them when they go to school in a few weeks...lol.

We are looking forward to our vacation. We are leaving tomorrow for Avila Beach...we will be there for one week and can't wait...so I'm sure I will have picture OVERLOAD when we get back...can't wait to escape this heatwave we have been having...

Below are two little videos of Brayden playing with the soccer ball...HE LOVES BALLS! The first one he is showing his cheesy smile EVERY time the camera is on him...and he shows us how he waves bye-bye...the second little video is showing you how much he loves to play catch with the ball and roll it back...so fun!


FUTURE SOCCER PLAYER...(Daddy is hoping for!)

Occupational Therapy visit...

We just love our new Occupational Therapist...her name is ElsaB' and she is full of ideas and opportunities for Brayden...she is from South Africa, so I LOVE hearing her talk. Brayden gets a full work-out of stimuli play/ sensory-tactile play, physical play, all combined with working on fine motor skills. This is only our 3rd session, but by the pictures you can tell Brayden loves it!

Who would of thought playing in a bin full of beans would be fun? He was a little unsure at first, but we played with these last session and he remembered them, he immediately tried sticking his feet in, as he played in these last time with his feet...too funny!

Brayden even got to play with some play-doh...he wasn't so sure of it, but had fun sticking his fingers in it...

So, another successful session...way to go Brayden!

Teacher visit...

Brayden couldn't wait to show teacher Paula that he has finally mastered putting rings on...he actually mastered this new skill about 3 weeks ago...but teacher Paula has been out for a few weeks. Paula is our early intervention developmental teacher and visits once a week at home with us...when Brayden is 18 months, we will start going to her center and having play groups/circle time/ learning centers, etc. twice a week.


Teacher Paula brought a picture for Brayden to color...this is his first time coloring...sooo cute!

and the final product...I think I hung it upside down, but mommy is ever so proud!!!

and here he is showing how he stacks the rings...

Thanks to all of you who commented on my last post with the answers to sleep studies...I am going to talk to his ENT in a couple of months and his ped and see if they think he should have one done? Brayden has always been the best sleeper and I have never noticed snoring, but that may not mean everything...so thanks for all your advice.

Brayden has turned 15 months!

Somebody is getting into things NOW...he is on the move...Brayden started crawling slowly this week...I'm sure within a week it won't be slow anymore??? Once he catches onto something he sure takes off with it. Our PT today couldn't believe in a weeks time how much he has progressed! YAY! We are so proud of you little buddy.
I just can't believe my little guy is 15 months old...time sure does fly by. These last 15 months have been nothing but pure joy though that is forsure. Brayden has his 15 month check-up with his pediatrician next week, but I am guessing he is weighing about 24 lbs...or more? not sure with his height? can't remember what he was last time...I do have some questions for the ped...I am going to bring up acid reflux...Brayden spits up almost after every bottle, but a good burp full...and occasionally spits up after he eats solids...this isn't so often, except with yogurt. He still isn't the BEST eater, but he is doing ok...he loves eggs, toast, yogurt, mac-n-cheese, chicken noodle soup, grilled cheese, only eats vegetables in disguise, loves all fruit...crackers, puffs, any bread or pasta...He hasn't gotten the hang of drinking out of a cup though...sippy cup NO WAY, and he will occasionally take a few sips of water out of open cup ONLY. His OT though will be helping with this...

I do have a question before I go to our pediatrician next week...I have been noticing so many little ones having sleep studies done. I guess what I am asking is this a standard test that should take place with our little ones? Is is just if they have had a heart procedure? My pediatrician has not mentioned anything about this, not that he may know....so for those of you that know about these, could you give me some hindsight on it? I would appreciate it so much. I don't want to miss anything that should be done. We are seeing his ENT in September just as a follow-up hearing test...he has passed all of them so far, but his ear canals are super small and I know that is common, so they just want to make sure everything is ok again ...he has NOT had a sedated test and I don't know if this is another thing that is highly recommended or only if they haven't passed the other standard tests?
Physical Therapy today...

Brayden worked so hard today...worked on standing, which he LOVES to do 90% of his time if you let him...reaching for toys that were stuck to the mirror, which he LOVED BTW...(gotta find these now!)...foam letters with water...what a great exercise this is for these little ones in PT...showing Sandy his crawling abilities...so impressed today! He did not even try and take a break...usually he slows down at the end of the session, but NOT today! :)

Stretching out for a ONE hour work-out...joint compressions are a must before therapy. I'm not always good about doing this at home, but it totally makes sense to wake up the muscles.

Posing after playing some soccer with Sandy...

This following video is just cute in that he gets the ball and thinks he is hot stuff by twisting his body side to side as if he is saying, "Ha, look at me...I got the ball..."

This is our little guy full of funny faces...He just LOVES the mirrors!

I know I have said this before, but we are just so blessed to have Brayden in our family and I have been so touched by so many of you. I never would of thought that I would have such a strong connection with all my blogging buddies...it is like I have a whole other family! I just love all the kind words and great advice and knowing that we are all here for each other. Knowing that there are so many that know exactly how you feel is amazing! Thanks to all of you!

Another fun week...

We headed up to Huntington Lake on Friday...stayed at my aunt and uncle's cabin...I have so many memories of this cabin...I have been going up every summer since I was 11 years old. It is so neat to be able to see my kids have as much fun as I did as a kid. We went fishing, on nature hikes, had ice cream at the marina, played in the cold water...(this lake is super cold), played lots of games, cards, enjoyed the peace and quiet of NO T.V., and enjoyed all the family company.


But of course we had to have some kind of high tech stuff...Nintendo DS session ...

Alyssa was such a good sport and played so many games with Kaylee...Thanks Alys!

Boys having fun with the darts...

Cheryl enjoying watching the Rigatta Sail race on our boat...

My man...the captain.

Such a beautiful day...we always seem to be up on the weekend of the Rigatta...a big sailboat race every year at this lake...So neat to watch.

Jared taking mom, Skip and the kids for a ride...

Sleeping in the mountains is the BEST ever! Such fresh air, peace and quiet...love it! Jared got more nap times than me though...so my turn next time...lol

My two happy mountain kids...

Mimi enjoying a game of WAR...with Kaylee

Physical Therapy last week...

He loves to play "so big!", but he likes to grab somebody elses hands to do it...lol

We are working on crawling up and down on things...

Here is Kaylee, Chloe and Liam...Chloe and Liam I take care during the week and they are so accomodating by coming to physical therapy with Brayden...the therapists are so great! Plus it is play time and bounce time for the kids...they love it!

Brayden has really began copying faces...he is the little man of many faces, that is forsure...so I had told his physical therapist about this and she tried it out on him...so he showed off for her and I finally got it on video...he is so funny!

Beating the heat!

It was only 106 degrees today...so yeah! we pretty much stayed in the pool all day...my best friend Leah and her kids joined us and we had so much fun! Thanks for a great time Leah! and Thanks to my brother and sister-in-law for loaning us your wonderful pool! It felt great! (My brother and his family went to Las Vegas for the week, so somebody had to use the pool while they were gone! :))