Happy 1st Birthday to Our Precious Goddaughter, Addison Kate

Happy 1st Birthday little Addie!! Can't wait to celebrate with you at your big Birthday Bash Saturday. We love you!

Love,

Allan, Andrea, Aidan and Maddox

Maddox is 1 Week Old Today!

WOW..........so I thought I'd be updating my blog at least once a week, but honestly I haven't had much of a chance to write anything. Imagine that, right?! A 3 1/2 year old and a newborn and a husband that is in his last year of law school in and out of the house like a senior in high school.....don't get too much of "Andrea Time" any more. LOL While Maddox is taking a nap, and Allan and Aidan are at school I thought I could write a little bit about life at "The Braxdale's" these days.

It is officially a month since Maddox was born!! We are enjoying every moment with him! Aidan loves his "baby"...that is what he calls Maddox, his baby. Too cute! We are still very sleep deprived...Maddox doesn't have his nights down just yet....we are still praying and hoping he learns that soon. :) We are averaging 3-4 hours a night....NOT FUN! But I'm getting the hang of it. He is starting to look around a lot, holding his head up, but still loves to be held, sleep during the day, and PIG OUT! This kid LOVES to eat, it cracks us up...we call him "Piggy"....he sounds sort of like a pig too with all his snorting and grunting. He is truely a blessing and we are loving every moment with him!

Aidan has been such a great helper...he likes to give Maddox a bottle, he'll throw diapers away for me, get me things like burp cloths, pasie, blanket, etc. He's mommy's big boy helper! He's adjusting well...don't get me wrong, we have our rough days with him and his fits, but past couple of days have been good days. :) He likes being a big bro!

Starting to get out of the house a little more these days....parks, starbucks, walks around our neighborhood, trips up to daddy's school to say hi in the parking lot. Nothing too crazy. We have had lots of visitors!! It's been REALLY nice because I actually didn't leave the house that much for 4 weeks, so seeing family and friends was/are GREAT!! It's actually a blessing my Mom isn't working this year, she has been down here so much since Maddox was born and has helped us out so much, Thanks Mom for everything! Thanks everyone for helping out and all the nice gifts and dinners...we are truely blessed with the most wonderful Family and Friends! We love you all!

Oh BTW, you can check out some of my sister's fabulous work...she took newborn photos of Maddox 2 weekends ago. I Hearth Photography http://www.melferrocole.blogspot.com/ THANKS MEL!!! We LOVE them!

OUR PRECIOUS BABY MADDOX

MADDOX ALEXANDER

Born: 8/29/09 at 12:38 p.m.

7lbs 13 oz

19 1/2 inches

http://www.melferrocole.blogspot.com/

Our precious gift from God is here and doing well!! Maddox was born a week ago from today....yes I'm a little late on my blog but I'm sure ya'll understand I've been a little bit busy. :) If you haven't checked out my sister's blog, please do so now: www.melferrocole.blogspot.com Those are truely the best photos of our little Maddox!

The pictures below are of friends and family that stopped by the hospital to say hello....Katie Schwarz, Allan told me he got a picture of you holding Maddox but I could not find it on my camera. :( Sorry!! Thanks to everyone that came to the Hospital to visit us and to see Maddox, that was so nice of you all!! We have great friends and family!!

I'll be blogging more soon. Need to catch up on some sleep!!

XXOO

My Craft for The Day...A Diaper Wipie Case!

So after finding out that "I just need to hang in there, Andrea" at my 39 week doctor appointment I decided to be crafty. Don't ask me why...not sure if it's because I'm nesting or that all my friends are back to work and I feel I need to do something besides lay on the couch and put my feet up. After the doc, I went and got me a dozen donut holes and a chocolate covered donut and a diet coke and headed to Hobby Lobby and Jo-Anns Fabric! And this is what I created below!

Preggo friends, you will be getting one! And if anyone else would like one, let me know. :)

Below is just the first one I made.....it's not perfect but I think it's cute flare for my travel wipes in my diaper bag.

WATCH OUT PRE-SCHOOL....HERE COMES AIDAN!

Aidan all ready for his 1st day...check out his Star Wars Lunch Box.

My cutie pie!

Aidan being silly with his shaving cream in the tub!

Aidan getting his "Hair-Did" for his 1st day of Pre-School!



Aidan started his first day as a Pre-Schooler today! He is now longer a "Tiny Turtle" Early Learner he is now a "Lady Bug" Pre-schooler.

He was so excited this morning for school and couldn't wait to see all his old friends! This year he will be going Tuesday's and Thursday's 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

His teacher's name is Ms. Smith and she has 2 assistants. They will learn all sorts of new/fun things this year....Calendar, Music and Movement, Hands-On Math, Language and Liturature, Art, Science, Graphing skills, etc.

We are so thrilled that Aidan is in this program and continue to love his school! The staff is amazing and they all love Aidan! :)

Allan's Trip to Chicago

Mike and Allan at the US Patent Office in D.C.

Mike and Allan at Harry Caray's Restaurant during the Cub's game

Allan got to venture off to CHI-TOWN this summer for a job interview for a potential job after he graduates. (He hasn't heard back, so keep saying prayers that something positive happens) Anyways, he got to meet up with a former St. Mary's University Law Student/Friend, Mike Scapin! Allan and Mike became friends their first year of Law School, then Mike transferred to California their 2nd year, but Allan and him keep in touch. Mike is actually from Chicago so this trip worked out perfect....Allan had one interview and the rest of his 3 days he got to see some sights of Chicago with Mike!

Allan and Mike made some "Cub" purchases for Aidan and Maddox...they are now hooked up with Cub jersey's and hats and Maddox got some onesies. The Cub's need to keep playing well!!

Allan had a great time there and can't wait to go back...he wants to take a family trip back there soon. Which I would love to do because that is where my Dad's from and his family so I haven't been there in years! Here are a couple of pix Allan took on his mini-trip.

Swim Lessons Summer 2009

Aidan attended Swim Lessons with his best friend, Finn, this summer in Austin at the YMCA. They were in the PIKE class. Mimi signed him up while we were in New Hampshire and he was all excited....until he went and did not like them! :( This was shocking because since we had been back from New Hampshire we were going to the pool everyday and Aidan LOVED being at the pool and swimming with his floaties!

He liked being with Finn but he did not really like participating and always said he was "COLD"...yes my child said he was cold when the tempature was in the 100's. ??!!! Crazy, I know. Well, he continued all 2 weeks of class and then on the very last day of class he was jumping in all by himself, going under water and holding his breath, kicking, moving his arms....his teachers came over before class started because they saw him do all this in the shallow and they were so SHOCKED, as I was too! He ended up having his best day his last day of class.....go figure! LOL And now all he talks about is swim lessons and how he can't wait to do it again. Thanks Mimi for getting Aidan in your Y's swim lessons this summer...he learned a lot!