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Random Pictures

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The girls still swarm to Brady whenever they can - we really thought the newness and excitement of his presence would wear off with them - but it certainly has not!! They just love their baby brother so much...

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I had been feeding Brady and the girls wanted me to take their picture and, of course, I obliged! The top picture is Bella with Brady and the other is Brooklyn with Brady.

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There's a Bear on my Bum!

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What is it about baby clothes and things on the bum?!? In this post - the picture is of Bella from September 2005 (she was just over a month old)! When I dressed Brady in this outfit this past weekend - I, of course, had to take a picture of his bum! Cute, huh?

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Somebody found their toes....

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Brady found his toes and he just cannot get enough of them! He is constantly playing with them when he is laying down or sitting in his high chair! I just love his little toes!!!
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Brady's First Newspaper Appearance

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Brady's daycare had their "Easter party" and their picture was in the newspaper. Brady is in the bouncey seat in front!

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Mommy and the Kids

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First Taste of Solids

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On Tuesday, April 7th I tried Brady with some Rice Cereal! He did ok with the whole process of eating but certainly did not care much for the taste of the rice cereal! So...Brannon found some cereal nipples and we've been adding it to two of his bottles during the day. I tried him with the cereal again Wednesday night and he was even less interested in it. Thursday I picked up some Stage 1 applesauce, bananas and pears and he's been loving the apples since. I'm keeping him just on one food for about a week or so before introducing anything new. We'll probably stick to just the apples for another few days.

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I feel like we are starting him on solids sooo early - but I feel like my supply isn't keeping up with him and I'd rather supplement with a little rice cereal in his bottles and a jar of food at night rather than put him on formula!

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Here are a few pictures of his first taste of solid foods!
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Like I said, he was not at all impressed with the Rice Cereal - but he really seems to like his apples - opening his mouth when the spoon nears his mouth and smiling at me while I feed him!

HaPpY bIrThDaY, POP!

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Today is Pop's birthday!

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HaPpY bIrThDaY, PoP! We miss you!

HaPpY bIrThDaY, sAm!

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Today is my cousin's birthday!

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hApPy BiRtHdAy, SAM!

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Update on Pop

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Nana and Pop are still in Texas - tomorrow (Monday, the 20th of April) will be the start of their 4th week there. Pop spent several days in the Emergency Room at MD Anderson this past week. He had been discharged to the Rotary House but then he developed a fever, so they had to go through the emergency room in order to get admitted; however, there were no rooms available. I think it was Thursday night (or maybe Friday night) when they finally got re-admitted to a "real" room at MD Anderson. He still has a fever - but today it was right around 100.5 - which is better than it has been at 102.5! It is my understanding that once the fever breaks - they can go ahead and start with Round 2 of Chemo!

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Also in the past week - they've had to give him a couple units of blood because his hemoglobin was low and he shaved his beard and mustache (I've been with Brannon for 12 1/2 years and I have never seen Pop without his beard). The last I heard - they were pleased with his platelet counts and that they were coming up.

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Hopefully, the fever will break so that he can get onto Round 2!

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My understanding of his treatment plan is 6 rounds of chemo; 5 weeks of radiation (at 5 days a week) and then surgery. I don't know this for sure - and as everyone knows - things can change.

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Family Movie Night

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We noticed that the local movie theater was showing Monsters vs. Aliens and we decided to take the kids and go one Monday night. We grabbed a quick bite to eat first and then headed to the theater (it is a tiny theater only showing one movie). Besides our family of five, there were only three other people there (which is why we knew it would not be a big deal to take a 4 month old with us). Bella is a movie-buff - she loves them and loves going to the "moomie feater"! Brooklyn is another story - we learned again that she just isn't ready for the movie theater - she and Brannon went back and forth to the bathroom during the majority of the movie! Brady was pretty content through most of the movie - but did get restless towards the end. I thought the movie was a cute movie! It was fun, but I doubt that we'll be doing it again any time soon!

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HaPpY bIRtHdAy, ChRiS!

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Today is my brother-in-law's birthday!

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Happy Birthday, Chris - hope you have a great day!

Brady's 4-month Well-Visit

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We took Brady to the Pediatrician for his 4-month well visit on Thursday, April 16th! Here are his stats:
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Weight: 12 lbs 13 oz --25th percentile

(11 lbs 1 oz at 2 months - gain of 1 lb 11 oz)

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Length: 25 1/2 inches -- 75th percentile

(23 inches at 2 months - growth of 2 1/2 inches)

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Head: 16 1/2 inches -- 50th percentile

(15 1/4 inches at 2 months - growth of 3/4 inches)

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He dropped from the 50th percentile for weight at 2 months to the 25th percentile at 4 months. Our pediatrician wasn't alarmed by this, but apparently babies don't start this drop until around 9 months when they are getting more active. We knew that my supply was decreasing as I have not been pumping the quantity that he eats while at daycare. Luckily, I have had a supply in the freezer from his first couple of months, so there has been no problem with him getting what he's wanted. I really enjoy breastfeeding and want to do so for the first year, at a minimum. So the fact that I'm already having a hard time keeping up with his needs is very sad for me. The pediatrician recommended we start him on cereal (which we did about a week ago) and that we increase his food intake (he started apples about a week ago as well). So now - he is getting a minimum of 3 jars of food a day and during the week at daycare - he gets cereal in two of his bottles. He will still nurse exclusively when with me (in the mornings, at night and on the weekends) - as opposed to receiving bottles. We're going to try this and see if he backs off the number of bottles he is taking - if he still continues to want/need the 4 bottles while at daycare (which is what he's done for the past 3 weeks) - then we will supplement that additional bottle with formula. Honestly - we are not that concerned about it - because he is gaining weight and he is just the happiest little guy. He really doesn't cry that often - just when he is ready for his bottle/nursing. My opinion is that if he were not getting enough to eat - then he wouldn't be as happy and content as he is. We're trying the new routine and hopefully all will be well at his 6-month well-visit.

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He is doing great at daycare. He is not at the same place that the girls are, as they did not have any space for him. The lady that he stays with goes on and on about how good he is....When I drop him off in the mornings and "MiMi Carolyn" takes him - he just smiles at her. It is very reassuring that he seems so happy where he is!

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Milestone-wise - he is doing GREAT! He loves to stand up (assisted, of course). He can sit up with support. We've noticed in the past week or so that when in his carseat - he is already trying to pull himself up...He laughs and smiles and talks to us ALL the time!! He is just such an easy baby. He sleeps well - not all night every night - but on a typical night he is only up maybe once. And as an added bonus - I can just lay him in his bed and he will entertain himself and then just fall asleep!!! I know there has to be more to say - but instead - I will just leave you with this picture from this past weekend.

3 Little Monkeys!

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It was the best one that I got - two out of three looking at the camera isn't too bad, I guess!
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Happy Friday!

Princesses

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-- Not all Princesses wear crowns!
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Aunt Dee

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Gloria Cox, aka Aunt Dee, February 4, 1928 - April 14, 2009. She was 81 years old. Aunt Dee is my {maternal} grandmother's older sister. I did not know her very well, but she and my mom were quite close. The biggest thing I do remember first hand was her love for animals! She always had Irish Wolfhounds - two, in particular, that I remember are James and Frog. Frog was a white Irish Wolfhound and James was a BIG gray one who did not know he was big - he literally thought he was a lap dog! The biggest thing I remember hearing my mom talk about was Aunt Dee's ability to grow lollipops when my mom was little.

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Dee was preceded in death by her husband, Buddy, a son, Bruce and a brother, Ivan. She is survived by two siblings, a sister, Carol and a brother, Garth and his wife Lil, and many others who loved her.

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Rest in peace, Aunt Dee - you are already missed!

Left to right: Carol (my Grandma), Pauline (my mom), and Aunt Dee, circa 1999.

Brady's First Easter

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You didn't think we'd leave out our little guy?!?!?
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As I mentioned in another post - Brady had a basket (well, bucket) all his own! He got a blue puppy dog, a Winnie the Pooh book with teether corners, and a little cell phone type toy with a little mirror on it. He was not too impressed - but he's starting to take interest in toys, so...

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More Egg Hunting

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The Easter Bunny hid a few eggs around the living room after filling the baskets! These pictures are of the girls hunting those eggs Sunday morning!

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Easter Bunny

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After everyone was (finally) asleep, the Easter Bunny visited our house! He left lots of goodies for our family - two new movies - Desperaux and Bolt (both of which have already been watched); the girls each got princess microphones, make-up brushes, shimmery chap stick, keys with remote, etch-a-sketch, princess crowns with matching earrings and ring, bracelets, rings and a pair of pajamas!

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Bella is telling Brooklyn about her earrings and ring that match the princess crown!

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Brady got a blue puppy dog that barks when you squeeze his belly and a little cell phone toy with a mirror on it (it's hard to buy for a 4-month old - but he did have a bucket, too!)...
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