...LoVe...

Braden 4 years. Channing 9 months.

Nine months old ALREADY!!!!

My little man is growing so fast and him and brother just had their check-ups at the doctor!  At 9 months old Braden was 21 lbs 5 1/2 oz, and 29 1/4" tall with a head circumference of 18"....

Braden at 4 years:
Weight - 40 lbs
Height - 3' 3.5"

Channing at 9 months:
Weight - 20 lbs 12 oz (Just right behind brother)
Height - 27.95" (Wow! Much shorter than brother)
Head Circum - 17.2"

Channing is crawling all over the place and is standing up on anything and everything!  He loves to say Bubba, and Dada, and has really started to say Mama just this week really well!  He too takes off like Braden did when he knows he's not supposed to be doing something he shouldn't, but he doesn't really understand the meaning of the word 'No' either, like Braden did, but he does understand me signing the word 'no'.  Channing is super chill and hardly gets upset.  He loves to wrestle his brother, be held, or just play with anything and everything!  He also loves to eat everything in sight!  We had a scare at Walmart the other day when he had been chewing on a piece of plastic wrapper....it was the first time I had really been scared he was really choking and wasn't sure if I could get it out.  A lady who just so happened to be a nurse did not leave my side until we finally got it out! Whew!  Channing definitely does not like being away from me more than Braden ever did.  He is reluctant to go with anyone else at first, but eventually gives in.  We are introducing more and more people food to him and he just loves pizza crust and cherrios.  No teeth for this little one yet.  The doctor says it should be soon.  We can just see it sitting right under the skin!  But, then again we did for brother also and he didn't get any until he was 14 months old.  You love Baby Einstein's and its about the only show I can get you to watch in its entirety.

Well, for now that is it!  We love you more than words can express!  XOXO

Braden turns 4!!!!!

 

Can it be?!?!?!

My little baby boy is now FOUR!  "No way!" as Braden would say. Lol.  But, sadly, its true!

This year we kept it simple and enjoyed a HOT day at the park with family and friends.  I began to realize why we have had it indoors at Chuck E Cheeses the past two years!  But, it was fun, and we had a great turn out!  On his actual birthday we attended church and relaxed at home for the rest of the day!

Braden is growing so fast these days and the things that come out of his mouth just crack me up!  He really is becoming his own little person right before my very eyes!  He is starting his last year of preschool, and will continue with his PPCD classes in the afternoon.  This year he gets to also go into a Pre-K class at the elementary for an hour as well.  He has his first doctor's check-up this Friday and I'm looking forward to seeing how much he has grown.  The last check-up he had was at TWO!  So, I will definitely compare the two and see how far he has come!

 

Braden will begin soccer in a few weeks!  The more he is around other children and involved in these activities, the more I see him growing into a little boy more so than a toddler or preschooler.  He is enjoying church, and loves doing things for others!  He has a big heart, and a big personality!  It makes me happy to see how much him and his little baby brother have bonded and love each other so much!  Channing wrestles him and attacks him!  It is hilarious!

Braden's favorite color is:  Red
Braden's favorite food is:  Pancakes
Braden's favorite sport to play is:  Tag
Braden's favorite book is:  Thomas & Friends
Braden's favorite toy is:  Cars & Trucks
Braden's favorite show is:  Thomas & Friends
Braden's favorite super-hero is:  Daddy
Braden can read sight words and write all his letters and make words with help.  He is beginning to story-tell on command. And loves to sing and dance now than ever before.

 

I leave with a simple prayer for my sweet Braden.  Just that he follow in Jesus' footsteps as he continues to grow and learn and become a bigger boy, to continue to make his family proud, and to be a leader and protector to his baby brother and to other children.

Blessings & Love,

Me.And.My.BoYs.

 

Well, once again I feel like a horrible mother!  I have not been keeping up with updates on Channing's growth and development.  It is just so hard to find the time!  Channing is growing SO fast and I just know I will soon forget some of his milestones if I don't get them written down!  He is days shy of being 8 months old already!!  This kid is ALL over the place!  He is the fastest scooter I know, and is great at doing 'baby planks' as I call them!  It is really a funny sight to see :) 

 

 

He is saying "bubba" and "dada" and an occasional "mama".  He truly is the sweetest little boy!  He sleeps alone so much better than Braden ever did.  Braden was in our bed from practically birth to 3 years old.  Channing is pulling up on everything these days and really testing his limits.  He earned his first boo-boo the other day after pulling up on a chair and getting too wobbly and falling down hard on it :(  At his 6 month appointment he was weighing a 18#9oz and sitting up like a champ!  He will have his 9 month check up at the end of August and I promise to follow up sooner rather than later!

 

 

Braden is loving being a BIG brother especially now that Channing is becoming 'more fun and human-like' LOL!  Braden will be turning 4 in just over a month!!  I can not believe that!  He is growing like a weed and is turning into more of a boy and losing his babiness!  Braden will continue in his PPCD program this Fall at the elementary to continue improving on his sensory and transitioning disabilities, and will also get to visit a regular PreK class at the elementary as well.  This excites me because Braden is a bookworm and absorbs every detail of everything and getting a glance of how a real kindergarten class is like will be so fun for him! 

 

 

Braden has also started T-ball this summer.  It has been fun, and a learning experience.  I don't think it is his favorite sport and I think that he might do better at soccer in the Fall.  OH!  I better also make a HUGE note about Braden breaking his leg in a moonwalk back in March at a birthday party!  That was such a random experience seeing that I had never had to deal with broken bones before on myself let alone a 3 year old.  He was a trooper though, and lived through the 4 long weeks with a full leg cast like a real champ!!  But, this mommy prays for no more broken bones please! 

 



Where does the time go?

 

It absolutely amazes me that time passes us by in a flash!  It seems like just yesterday we were finding out the sex of our soon to be second son...now he is three months old and all smiles! 

Where do I begin?  My pregnancy with Channing was beyond great!!  If I can plan another Fall/Winter baby again, I will.  Channing was born at the end of November weighing eight pounds && twenty-one inches long.  My delivery went so smoothly and was a total breeze compared to Braden's birth and my recovery time.

 
It is now March, and my thirty first birthday is this week!  Talking about time, where did my twenties go?  I am actually loving my thirties so far!  I think they will be the best by far!  So, now that I will be thirty-one, I really want to get healthy and feel like I'm twenty-five again!  I just started a 24-day cleanse called, Advocare, and I am on day nine.  It has really forced me to eat as "clean" as possible.  No, processed foods, drink only water, and workout when I can fit it in my busy Mommy schedule!  So far I am feeling better and sleeping a bit better too, and I had not cheated at all until this weekend when I had a scoop of chocolate frozen custard after a trip to the Children's Museum, and a bag of peanut M&M's Sunday afternoon.  But, I am looking forward to the end results and hope I keep up the "clean" food regime even after the twenty-four days are over.

Well, that is about all I have time to write on today!  Both boys are asleep, its so nice to have a quiet house for the moment!

Until next time....

It's a BOY!!!!

Well, we found out on July 5th that we are expecting another baby boy!! And I can't wait to meet Mr. Channing! I have been feeling him kick for about a month now and tonight was the first time that James SAW him kick but has yet to actually feel him. He keeps missing to harder ones. I'd say by next week he will definitely feel them! I like this part because it becomes so much more real for the expeting Daddy! Next appointment is August 2nd...until then!

Everything new & in between...

Wow, it has been an entire year since I've blogged last! So much has changed and I hate that I haven't had the opportunity to blog about it. But, recently I have resorted to my blog for answers that only my blog journal-ing could have answered. For those who don't know, I'm expecting my second child!! It still doesn't feel real to me even though I am speeding through my second trimester! Today, I am 17 weeks and 2 days pregnant and we find out this Thursday what we're having! Braden says its a boy and hasn't changed his answer, but I'm feeling a girl intuition, so we'll see. Anyway, I've been using my blog lately as my memory as to how big I was at this same time with Braden. How much I'd gained in weight. When I felt those first kicks and when James felt and SAW Braden kick for the first time! Anywho, long story short...I just felt my first flutters for baby #2 and I HAD to journal it or I will never remember this moment thanks to my prego jello brain! Haha. So for now that us it, but one day soon I will update y'all on the past year and all the amazing things that have changed for me and for the better, best of all, my amazing new job!!

'Random'

So, I miss blogging A LOT! It's just been a crazy, crazy few months....work, school, and being a Mommy & a wife has just really consumed my time lately!

Anyway, my promise to myself is to blog more often because Braden is growing so fast, and if I dont write down his growing experiences then I will end up forgetting what happened when!

Also, I promise to catch y'all up on everything that's going on with the McFarlins...We just got back from a fantastic vacation to Maryland, I am in Summer school right now, Braden starts preschool at our local church this Fall, and I'm gearing up for his 2nd birthday! He also will have a check-up at the 1st of September, so lots to blog about soon!

For now I leave you with some 'random' recent pictures that I just love of Braden...its pictures like these that show me his fun and sometimes testing personality! Enjoy!

Terrible Twos?

Okay ladies! I need your expertise!

The problem:

Braden is having tantrums when we tell him no or correct him. He throws himself down in a crying fit (which isn't totally uncommon, right?!), but if he doesn't do that he will look around for the nearest wall to run his head into!!! Like really, all that it is hurting is himself! I'm not only worried that he will do this at preschool when he starts in September, but am also worried he will really hurt himself. A green/brown bruise on his forehead is never an uncommon sight recently, and if he throws himself down he will bang his head on the tile, or concrete outside, it doesnt matter the surface. We tell him no, give him spankings, and we have begun time out! He is STILL teething as well (remember he only got his first tooth at 14-months old). So, I'm sure this is just a testing faze, then add in the ingredients of cutting teeth and not being able to communicate his frustrations as easily as you and I do, then you get these tantrums. Oh, and he has begun hitting with a closed fist. He will give you this face as though he is saying, "What are you going to do about it!"

What can I do differently, anything? Am I doing what I should? I warn him, I sit with him and explain why he cant do what he's doing, and we have been doing the timeout thing a lot lately, which seems to work for awhile. I try to get him to calm down in timeout (because normally by that time he is screaming bloody murder because you not only told him no to something, but now you confined him to a mat that he is not allowed to leave from), then to tell me he is sorry for his actions. We havent quite gotten down the "I'm sorry" yet, but I do make him be quiet and then come talk to me after he is quiet to explain what he did wrong and why he was in timeout.

He is not a horrible child by any means! He is the sweetest thing ever, and I'm sure this is only natural and just part of growing and learning, but I wanted to get your opinions, or ideas, or if I'm doing something wrong you think...I would like to know! Braden is so smart and the only reason really that this bothers me like it does is because he is starting preschool soon, and I want him on his best behavior, and because I'm afraid he will hit his head too hard one day. Sometimes I think it could be lack of sleep, and we try to keep to a certain schedule. I have noticed more sleep definitely helps how he acts the next day, but sometimes if his afternoon nap carries too late, then he ends up going to bed later than I'd like him too, just because he's so awake. So, those of you that have toddlers his age, I would love to know your daily routine...when their nap time typically is, etc.

Your thoughts please....

(Now I feel totally guilty for posting this, because honestly Braden is a doll! He behaves so well in places you'd think most kids would act out...church, movie theater, etc....this mostly happens at home or at the sitters, and I'd just like a resolution or some comfort that this to shall pass and when, and how can I help him feel comfortable in knowing he doesnt have to react that way in order to get my attention or to get his point across)

18.Months.Old

(taken 3/19/11, Houston Zoo)

My little booger is now 18-months old! Who can believe it? Not me. I know I say that at every milestone, but it's truly how I feel.

He is changing so fast! He climbs on absolutely everything...the back of the couch, the coffee tables, all the kitchen chairs, on to his bed, the treadmill, and anything else he can find that makes my heart drop when I find him. He also has random jibberish conversations with us now like we understand what he is saying.

Words he's saying at 18-months: Noooo, Nu-uh, Ball, Mama, Dada, Owl, Truck, Car, Duck, Ba-Ba, Star, Nana, Ready-Set-Go, Stick, Rock, Stuck, There it is, Yuck, Dora, Diego, Ouchhh, Go away, and he can point out the letter "O" and "N" in any word, and we are working on the letters "S" and "L".

Favorite Movies/Characters at 18-months: LOVES "Toy Story" & "Cars", Elmo, Mickey Mouse, Handy Manny and Blue Clues!

Favorite Toys/Activities at 18-months: all Trucks/Cars, Books, loves to color and is attempting to make circles, loves being outside digging in the dirt with sticks (yet hates his hands being dirty!)

Favorite Foods at 18-months: all fruits, pasta, cheese, peanut butter, raisins, crackers, ocra, cherry tomatoes, pizza, tuna fish, mashed potatoes (will eat anything hidden in mashed potatoes too!), oatmeal, yogurt, sometimes steamed carrots, loves guacamole, will eat beef fajita meat, and loves beans!

He has become a very picky eater and will only eat his veggies and meats in baby food, which obviously I would like to band all together, and so does Dr. Nelms. Dr. Nelms says to take away the milk if he refuses to eat his dinner that we are eating and give him strictly water, and if he doesn't eat his big boy food, to not feed him anything else. He said he can go two days without anything. I would feel like a horrible mother if I did that, so I haven't been that extreme, but have toughened up more and am trying to figure out creative ways to hide the things I know he turns his head too. If anyone has any suggestions, I'm all ears! Dr. Nelms suggested casseroles loaded with veggies, cheese and meat, so if y'all have any casserole recipes send them my way!!

Anyway, here are his latest stats from his check-up earlier in the month...

Weight: 27 lbs 4 oz -- 55% (up 2 lbs since December!!)

Height: 32 1/2" tall -- 68% (up 1/2")

Head Circum: 18 1/2 cm -- 27% (same)

I'm sure I am forgetting lots of other news/updates with him, but my days/weeks have been very stressful with work making it very difficult to remember anything these days.

Spring is here! Enjoy these last few weeks of cool mornings, low humidity, and breezy afternoons!

Happy Birthday!

Happy 29th Birthday to Me!!!

It was a great day! It's weird though how your birthday seems less like a party and more like just a regular 'ole day as you get older. I hate that because I think your birthday should be a HUGE deal!

I had a good day though, work went well, my mom treated James and I to dinner last Friday (our birthdays are 2 days apart), and she also bought us some groceries because we are dirt broke! I mean what is up with this economy? And, when will we catch a break? Gas, price of living, EVERYTHING just keeps going up, and available jobs are just diminishing left and right!! KATY, KLEIN, and FORTBEND ISD's are all making dramatic cuts to their staff after the school year and I'm currently going to school to be a TEACHER! Ugh.

Anywho, James also made me dinner lastnight, and my coworkers all chipped in and got me a few little things, which was very sweet!! I had soooo many wonderful birthday wishes from many of my friends via Facebook also! It was great!

Tomorrow is James' birthday and I will run to the store after work and get him a little card and slip $5 bucks in there because he mentioned he wanted breakfast tacos that morning. I also got him a game that he has been wanting since November for his Xbox, but thats all I can do.

Braden had his 18-month check up yesterday, but I will save that for another post.

Finger Painting....oh joy!!

I receive a monthly article on the different stages of development that your baby/toddler should be experiencing each month, and they list some neat activities to help get their minds exploring and learning while having fun! One of these activities mentioned was..... finger painting! So, I said, "What the heck, lets do it!!"

The result...

Also a quick video for your viewing pleasure...

Blogs...

I have spent the afternoon catching up on everyones holidays, new happenings and ever-changing lives. WOW! Does God work in mysterious ways, or what?!? Congratulations are in order for so many of you for so many different reasons as we start this new year! So, from me to you....Congratulations!!!!

As for me...I swear there has not been a moment for me to just stop and reflect on these last few months.

Braden is changing and growing at a daily rate! He is so awesome and such a joy to have as MY son! He makes me want another soon....I'd like for him to have a sibling closer in age than some of my own siblings. I feel its important for them to have that bond and friendship that not all siblings cherish.

I flunked my Biology course I was taking online last semester. It was at the time where Braden finally started teething (14 months old) and there are just too many distractions at home to really hunker down and get serious, plus I'm a total procrastinator, which does not help for a fast-paced internet class. So, I have decided to head back to the classroom. I'm taking Early Childhood Development this semester (Elementary Education is my major) and I begin class tonight. One day a week, for 3 hours. I hope I can handle being away from Braden, especially when bedtime is our snuggle time :-/ but, I have to do this for my own sanity, which leads me to my next update....

Work. What a stressful, horrible environment right now. This economy sucks. I can't pay my own bills, now I have to worry about not being able to pay my companies bills and the 100's of daily phone calls that I have to put up with. It's ridiculous. I feel like financially I can't get a break. I wish it would rain money, that would be wonderful!

Anyway, I must run....off to pick up my sick little baby (with RSV, my first experience with this virus) and rush home to eat a bite and head to class. Wish me luck! Have a great evening everyone!

Party at Perry's

Our company Christmas party this year was held at Perry's Steakhouse. It was soooo GOOD! James and I both had the steak which just melted in our mouths. The seafood appetizers were delicious, and the creme brulee and other desserts were just fabulous! It was a real treat for us, seeing we've only been there one other time before Braden was born! Afterwards, we tagged along to a wedding reception of James' cousins high school friend, where we danced the night away! It was so much fun!

Anyway, I hope everyone is having a wonderful Christmas holiday season, and I can't wait to hear about all of your Christmas and New Year festivities!!

Oh! We also took Braden to see the Festival of Lights, and Santa here at Bass Pro, he was a really great Santa this year and we made a Christmas ornament there too! But, that will all be in the next post!

Checkups, and more...

Well, I promised a ONE year checkup post and seeing that he just had his 15-month checkup I'd better get caught up!

It seems like yesterday we were just celebrating his one year birthday! The week of his birthday he visited the doctor and here is what we discovered...

Weight: 23 lbs 2 oz -- 54%

Height: 30" long -- 56%

Head Circum: 18 1/4cm -- 30%

And, this week at his 15-month appointment we found out that he is now...

Weight: 25 lbs 6 oz --62% (2 lbs heavier!)

Height: 32" long -- 75% (2 in. taller!)

Head Circum: 18 1/2cm -- 44%

Little B is definitely growing like a weed. I was dreading the shots this time because at his 12-month checkup he was hysterical for like 10 minutes after his shots were through, but this time he cried while getting them, then I could totally tell after they were done it was a "fake" cry, like "please feel sorry for me, pleeease!"

Also, since his 12-month checkup he has finally gotten 4 teeth as posted previously. He's becoming a much picker eater as his teeth come in, along with stronger temper tantrums. His favorite words are "WOW" "Nack" (aka Snack) "Mama" "Dada" "Yuck" and "Tada". He has learned to dance, "jump", climb on the couches and onto chairs, and to laugh on command when he's accomplished something, its pretty funny! Here is a couple of videos:

Christmas is nearing and I have absolutely no shopping done, and don't know if any will get done, but I do know we will shower each other with lots of love this holiday season and enjoy Candelight Service on Christmas Eve. I bought Braden the following book to teach him about the meaning of Christmas, and we've been reading it a lot!

Anywho, I am hoping to get Braden's Christmas pictures taken if he would just stop getting boo-boos. He currently has whats left of a small black eye from standing on an empty milk jug that we made into a noise maker and falling against the coffee table, a scratched nose from throwing a fit in his highchair, and now a scraped forehead from throwing a fit and hitting his head against the dog kennel. Do we see a pattern here?

This weekend....a visit to see Santa Clause...stay tuned.

'Til next time!

I won't have a toothless teenager after all...

Well, I keep meaning to report that Braden finally has some TEETH! He cut his first one just days shy of turning 14 months old, now a month later, we have FOUR! What a cranky, tempermental, exausting, sleepless month it has been, but oh so worth it!!

I keep delaying to post this because I wanted to get a picture of them, but he is determined not to let me. He got his top two in first, and now his bottom two. He's learning to use them on my shoulder, LOL! I think it feels good for him to apply pressure on them.

I have noticed other than breakfast, he isnt eating as well. I'm not sure if its him just deciding he wants to be picky now, or if its just because he is irritable and uncomfortable. Any thoughts?

Oh and I went to Walmart to purchase some more Orajel and teething tablets, and the teething tablets had been recalled...did any of you know this?

Backyard Photo Shoot

So, instead of reporting on my horrible after Thanksgiving weight gain this weekend, I will show you a little photo shoot we had because I was needing a quick updated photo to use for Braden's dedication this next weekend (there will be a post on the dedication itself next week) at our church.

P.S. - Is it totally sad that my legs are extremely sore from squatting on the ground yesterday while drawing with side-walk chalk with the neighbor kids?!?!? Ugh, I'm SOOO out of shape!

Anyway, hope everyone had an awesome Thanksgiving!

My Mission...continued...

Monday's weigh-in...

Well, I can't say I did much by the way of eating good, or working out this past week, and I failed to go to the gym and get signed up, but on that note, I weighed in this morning at 135.5 which is a 1/2 pound lighter than last Monday, LOL! I'll take whatever results I can get at this point...I know, sad!

Anyway, today is a fresh week, and at least I've started it slightly lower than last week. So, my journey continues. I'll report back in a week!

Hope everyone has a wonderful Thanksgiving with their families. Gobble! Gobble!

My Mission...

Today, I will start my journey to weight loss. My goal is to lose 10 pounds in the remaining 47 days left in 2010. This will be a struggle for me, only because I rather come straight home and spend time with my family, but I know that to be my best for my family, I must feel my best, and right now...I don't.

I can use all the encouragement I can get, and I will post my results as the days go by. Ever since I had my son I have carried an extra 15 pounds and I don't feel good about myself 80% of the time. I want to have more energy, feel good in my clothes, feel pretty for my husband, and right now I am none of these.

Today's weigh in is 136 (and this is deceiving because after my shower and a bowl of cereal I was 138, so I feel like I'm cheating by saying 136, especially when I come home in the evening and it says 140). Anyway, I just want things to stay in their place if you know what I mean, LOL! So, please help me, root me on, check-up on my progress, encourage me, and tell me what you're doing to stay healthy and in shape, it motivates me to keep on track!! I will weigh in every Monday morning so stay tuned!!

"I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me" (Philippians 4:11-13)

PuMpKiNs!!

I just LOVE this time of year! Braden still doesn't grasp the whole "Fall" concept and what the pumpkins are for, but they were amusing to him to say the least! This was our 2nd trip to the local Katy Pumpkin Patch, and its always a very short and sweet trip...take some pictures, look around, pick out two pumpkins, and head home! Mission accomplished!