sickness.

we made brady's first trip to the ER on 12/29 - his seven month birthday.  after two days of cough and fever and serious fussiness while in missouri on our belated Christmas vacation, i finally caved and took him in.  i'm glad we did though, as he was diagnosed via x-ray with pneumonia and RSV.  poor bug was so miserable, and getting on antibiotics sooner really helped him turn things around.  we hit him hard with tylenol & motrin as well, along with lots of lovey time and snuggles.  not a good way to spend our vacation, but this single-for-a-time mama was super grateful to have family support & lots of arms to hold the baby.

sicky snuggles.

being sick while on vacation with the family constitutes many snuggles.  and brady took full advantage & wasn't laid down the whole weekend i don't think.  which was perfectly fine with me, because who doesn't need a little extra attention when they don't feel good?

matching jammies.

thanks aunt yaya for the matching Christmas jammies for brady & mindy.  they are adorable!

face grab.

brady has just started grabbing your face now when you hold him.  it's so sweet to feel his soft little paws on your chin or cheeks.  it's like he's saying "i love you!"

he loves his uncle charlie.

and his papa.  whose bear is WAY more interesting than a smooth face.

squinty.

so quit staring at the light if it's so bright buster! :)

eating.

"you're feeding me dog food, mom!"

"whew.  thank goodness that's done."

girls!

two of my favorite girls in the world.  we loved our belated Christmas weekend in missouri with the fam.  even though i don't have ONE picture of liz's girls with bradykins since he had the contagion, rsv :(  boo for being sick on family vacay!

baby in a sink.

who doesn't love a baby bathing in the kitchen sink?

poor little mister was so sick this weekend when we were in missouri (thanks rsv & pneumonia) but it didn't stop him from loving his evening bath as usual.  and he looooves his aunt ruthie too!!

airport entertainment.

hair-do, or don't?

little man, you are such a stud.  even with a little lotion-comb-over.

Christmas babies.

Christmas eve was spent with dear friends & family this year.  i loved it so, so much.  we went to a candlelight service at church and then onto the koepps' house for an amazing dinner & fellowship.  Christmas eve is always such a sweet night for me, i just love the anticipation of the next day, but the fact that Christmas hasn't yet passed...oh and the LIGHTS on the trees and in windows and it's just perfection to me!  this year was particularly magical because of a sweet fat snuggly boy to love & the fact that as we left the koepps to drive home, a snow was just starting to fall and continued to all evening.  it was PERFECT!

okay onto the pics.  brady was super excited that his girlfriend was at the dinner with us...and the two of them rolled around on the floor together or were happily carried around by everyone in the room all evening. love these pics of them though.

"you're invading my space, cora - for real."

"oh gosh mom she is sucking on MY thumb!!!"

"ohmygosh he is soooo cute!  eeee!"

well at least that's what i gathered they were saying!

hurry up everyone!

SOMEONE wakes up at the crack of dawn regardless of what day it is, and was forced to wait for everyone else in the house (kate, grandma trish, sarah & kevin) to wake up for present opening!

he rolled all over the place grabbing bows & crinkling wrapping paper.  and was just generally smiley & happy as usual.

merry Christmas bradybug.  Christmas this year has been amazing watching you discover all the lights and the tree and wrapping paper and new presents.  you are the best thing in life and you've made my heart overflow with joy this year.  thank you for being the best gift ever.  so sorry your dad was gone for the holiday but i know he missed you terribly.  we sent him lots of videos today to keep him close.

christmas loot.

Christmas morning.  i think the baby was well loved & certainly well gifted this year.  he was the star of the show!!  and the cutest little bug ever in his Christmas jammies.

just learning to sit up.  presents help with balance!

he's as excited about getting his stocking as i am when i get mine:)

Christmas eve duds.

heisman baby.

who's ready for the bath?!

winter walk.

happiest part of brady's day: the walk.

cold, cloudy, warm or sunny - he just likes to get out and see the 'hood.

bear cub on the go.

we are always on the go around here, and this little bear cub is always game.  he has never once fussed getting into his carseat, and usually starts kicking his legs & smiling as soon as he realizes we're going somewhere.  sounds like an apostle baby:)

floor time.

happy little bug enjoying some floor time.

rolling machine.

no area is safe since brady discovered rolling back to tummy on december 8 (he rolled tummy to back for the first time on september 21 but took his time going the other way).  he has now figured out that he can just keep rolling and get to places he wants :)  which explains me finding him under the Christmas tree this morning after i walked out of the living room for two seconds to get more coffee!!

and additionally, have you ever seen a cuter flat smile!?!

really?

don't know about these fruits & veggies, mom.  do you have any milk instead?

sicky.

not feeling so good tonight.  laying under the Christmas tree for an evening nap helps.

cold weather friends.

hanging with his girlfriend cora.  we love to go to their house for walks!  brady also thinks all of her toys are waaaay cooler than his and remains thoroughly content on the blanket the whole time we're hanging out there :)

gotta bundle up though!  these december days are cooooold.

morning love.

nothing beats morning snuggles under the Christmas tree.

favorite season ever made even better by our little man.

boom! conquered.

woo hoo bubba!!!  this morning you figured out how to roll back to tummy.  you're getting so strong!

and you look mighty proud of yourself :)

chubs in the tubs.

he's really packing on the chubby these days!!

the un-swaddle.

on the advice of our pediatrician now that little man is close to rolling from his back to his tummy, we are now unswaddled during naps & at bedtime.  fingers crossed that it goes well...this little man LOVES to be wrapped up!

uncle bill.

this past weekend we went to washington to see the hammers, and met up with your uncle bill in seattle.  it was his first time meeting you and i think he's a big fan :)  we took a ride on the ferry and you didn't seem to mind the cold, windy weather.  you seem to be a pretty adaptable kiddo so far & we are really grateful for that.  we can't wait to see uncle bill again soon!

monkey gets a bath.

this smile of yours - the flat sweet one - is my favorite.  you have lots of different smiles, but it reminds me of your first ones as a newborn & it just says BRADY to me more than any other.

you are one cute little monkey!!  this was ruby's bath towel, but i think we're going to need to find you one just like it because you have never been cuter.

you love aunt julie!