Mommee, Shubbel, Naws and Woks

Just a few things I don't ever want to forget...

The past week, the first thing Brax says when he wakes up in his crib is, "Mommeeeee? Mommeeee!! Mommeeeeeeee! Mommeeeeee?????" I LOVE IT!

One of his favorite toys (and words) is "shubbel." (Shovel.) He loves to play with his shovel, and he asks for it thruout the day.

Brax has been paying a lot of attention to his "naws" (nose) lately. Partly because of his congestion/snottiness and I've had to suck it out at nite--he says, "Suck naws NO NO NO!"
And also because he somehow scratched it the other day. I get home and he immediately points to his owie and says "Naws? Naws?" like he wants to tell me all about the incident. (He adds that inflection at the end to almost everything, making it sound like a question.) It's so stinkin' cute (no pun intended. hee hee)

Another favorite word right now is "wok" or "wocks." In it's singular form, "wok" means that he wants to rock in his glider. If I try to get up and put him in bed before he's "ready," he pleads with me to "Wok? Wok??" The plural form refers to every boy's favorite activity--playing with rocks. We have a neighbor with a "wok" garden along the side of their driveway and he always wants to venture down there and swipe some of them. (I have to explain that they are not ours and we can't steal them!) He loves to put "wocks" in his bucket, carry them around, dump them out, throw them, occasionally lick them...

This is such a fun age! I'm trying to teach Brax to say "Home sweet home!" when we pull in the driveway. My little brother used to say that (it was more like "ooohh-eeeee-ohhme") and it was precious! I like to steal my little brother's phrases... he was such a cute kid.

I wish I were wrong, but I'm happy I'm right.

After 21 months of being a Momma, I think I can finally say I know a thing or two about what I'm doing. (Of course, Brax will prove me wrong tomorrow as I have completely jinxed myself by saying that.)

Brax has a double ear infection (again.) And I knew it!!! The weird thing about my kid is that he NEVER runs a fever, he NEVER pulls at his ears, he sleeps fine at nite, and by the way he was romping around all weekend, you wouldn't know he was sick by looking. The only way I know when something is wrong is by the fact that he doesn't eat as well, and he hates his naptime. (I'm not sure why he fights the nap but not bedtime, but he does that when he's sick.)

Last week Mike and I both had head/chest colds... Brax started fighting the nap Wednesday and Thursday, and then started in with a yucky cough over the weekend. I figured the cough would work itself out, but then the drainage/congestion started getting worse yesterday. The last two ear infections he had were the result of all that nasty stuff pooling in his ears, and I was afraid that was happening this time. So I got off work early today and Aunt Lulu brought him to me at the Dr's office. What would I do without her???!!! And I am SO thankful that I have a boss that agrees with the importance of kids.

Anyway, at the pedo office, Brax was running around in the playroom, laughing and screeching and trying to jump like the big kids. (While his nose ran double barrel. Gross. I remember when my stomach used to turn just a little whenever I saw a snot-nosed kid. Why is it different when it's your own????) But sure enough--double ear infection.

We got some of the bubble gum goodness, so hopefully he'll start feeling better soon!

My point-yep, I had one-I wish Brax didn't have an ear infection, but I'm a little proud of myself for knowing when he really needs to go to the doctor. (And really, I shouldn't take too much credit--Mike and Aunt Lulu said the same thing!!!!!)

Not In The Mood

I really wanted to get a picture of Brax and I before we headed off to church-

It's the ONLY day of the week that I actually fix my hair (and leave it down), put on makeup, and wear something besides workout clothes (but I don't work out.) I thought we looked so dang cute, I was bound and determined to get a photo!

Here's how that went....

Once we were were at the door ready to go,

Brax assumed he was going outside to play.

"Mow-mows? Mow-mows?" (He wanted to play with his lawnmower.)

I got one half-smile out of him as I tickled his side...

Then he was done. D-O-N-E DONE.


"Come on, son... you can smile bigger than that!"

"Stand up!!! Pleeeeeease? Just one more..."

I give up.

Weekend Randoms

"Help Momma!"

He can climb UP the chair by himself, but he can't get down!!

Saturday morning we went to the mall,
then ate lunch at Chic-Filet.
I thought for sure Brax would climb all over
the play-place there, but he wasn't that excited about it.

This was about as far as he got!

Saturday nite I grilled pork tenderloin,

then we went out for ice cream.

The rain held off long enough to grill,

but we had to sit in the car for our ice cream!

Brax didn't mind.

I love family ice cream trips!

(I get that from my dad!!!)

On Friday nite we went to my friend Jen's for BBQ!

Brax didn't want to clean his plate,

but he helped Ava with her corn on the cob.

Pretty girl!

Brax's buddy Jace drew him a picture in his driveway!

Jace came knocking at our door and was so excited to show us.

Of course I had to get a picture...

It's a camel or a giraffe I think, and he wrote Brax's name under it!

("Bracksten")

"Mow-mows"

Brax LOVES his lawnmowers, or "mow-mows" as he calls them.

(Yes, he has TWO of them--

One blows bubbles and creates a sticky soapy mess,

the other makes a lot of noise.

Both equally fun for him and annoying for me.)

Brax helped Daddy mow the WHOLE front yard!

He just kept following him around with his little mower.

I live with some pretty great guys!

Spring Has Sprung

Last Sunday we enjoyed the beautiful spring weather.

Playing at his sand and water table.

I don't think I'll be buying another bag of this "Moon Sand,"
it is a pain (like any sand is.) We'll stick to water.



Our beautiful vibernum bush has bloomed--it has the most delicious fragrance.
You can smell it all the way around the side of the house.

Watching the clouds roll out.

Day O' Fun-Sat. 4/18

Last Saturday we went to PAT's Earth Day Carnival.

It was held at a local high school.

Brax could have spent the entire day there!

Bowling...

Building with paper sack blocks...

Flirting...

Mastering stairs...

They even had some animals...

Brax insisted that this was a "bunny," but it was a chinchilla.

Close enough.

I had to pose with this Leopard Gecko for sentimental reasons--
I had one for my very first pet! I would LOVE to have another one-

they don't bark, shed, or slobber, and their poop is the size of a piece of shredded cheese.

They make the best pets!!

Shout out to Lizzy, my beloved lizard.

I put aside my fear of snakes so Brax would touch this one!

My friend Jen and her family met us there!

Brax loved the rice box most of all.

Playing parachute.

If you look closely you can see his joyful smile!

We went home and had a snack...

Yummy cheese. I don't usually give him processed slices but I was making summer sausage on the grill with cheese on top, and he wanted to test it out!

While I made dinner,

Brax entertained himself at the sink for about 30 minutes!

I put his painting smock on so his shirt didn't get soaked,

and moved the rug out from under him.

He actually kept most of the water in the sink, surprisingly!

When I would go outside to check the grill

we would talk to each other thru the kitchen window.

He thought that was pretty funny.

Seriously, that tall step stool I bought is the greatest!

Pausing his water play for a kiss for Momma.

My sunshine.

Family Date Nite at Legends

Last Friday Mike took off work a bit early and met us out at

The Legends for a family date nite! We walked around and did a little shopping (I had to hit the Stride Rite and Carter's outlets!), then we had dinner at Dave and Buster's since I had a $50 gift card there! There's nothing better than food that's already paid for. Brax didn't feel like eating and was pooped by the time we were headed home, but at least he waited until we got in the car to have a complete meltdown.

Posing in front of some dumb statue.

Checking out the dinosaurs at the T-Rex restaurant.

Brax (and every other kid there) LOVED the giant fountain!

"No, son, you are not taking a bath here."

Hanging out with a random girl scout troop.

He loves the ladies.

The Past Week

I have been trying really hard this past week to "unplug" from the computer... I have begun to think I may have a problem! I could literally spend hours working on pictures, photo albums on blurb.com, posting to my blog, reading other blogs... It's ridiculous!

But I have to have a blog-fix--it's driving me crazy that I have a week's worth of pictures I haven't shared with my gazillion 4 readers yet. I'm quite aware that people are not sitting at their computers repeatedly hitting "refresh," anxiously awaiting for the most recent update on the on-goings at Team Hill, so why do I feel the need to blog every minute detail of my life???? I don't know, I guess it's an "outlet" for me. Or maybe I just like the imaginary attention it brings me. I'm a dork like that.

So here you go. The latest and greatest.
(I can hear the crickets chirping loud and clear.)

Some projects I've made--

Brax played with this for over 30 minutes straight--

It's just a parmesan cheese container with straws cut to fit inside. Shake them out, put them back in. Shake them out, put them back in. Hours of endless fun for all.

I wanted a "time-out" mat like Jon and Kate have. Got this rug for $5 at Wal-Mart, stenciled the letters on with acrylic paint, then outlined them with puffy paint for more contrast.

Needed some "quiet play" for church. (Brax throws a fit when I try to leave him in Sunday school, so I keep him with me thru the whole service. He does great with his snacks and backpack full of "quiet toys." I cut out a bunch of athletes from Mike's magazines, laminated them at Kinko's, then cut them out again. They are like paper dolls for a boy! Brax can make a whole team! (This is probably a little old for him, but oh well. It keeps him busy.)


Brax helping me make spaghetti squash.
That step stool has been a great $15 investment--it's taller than the "kiddie" ones, so he can actually see and reach over the countertops/sink. Plus it's really wide and stable. He loves to be part of whatever I'm doing in the kitchen.

Found this trike at Tuesday Morning for dirt cheap.

It was the last one there!

The neighborhood girls teaching Brax how to pedal his trike.

Does he have them wrapped around his finger or what??

"Why pedal when they love to push me!?"

Helping me fill a planter.

He LOVES his "shubbel."

More to come..........