Down on the Farm

We went to Kentucky last weekend for my granddad's 90th birthday party. I am so bad that I didn't even get a picture of the boys with granddad! The boys did well minus the car ride. Any suggestions for calming crying or should I say, really angry, babies in the car???
My brother and one of his friends are building a cabin on the farm in Kentucky. We went by to see the progress they had made. The boys loved being outside and playing on the tractor.

Uncle Craig entertaining the boys.

Aunt Tina, Uncle Craig, my mom and dad, and Ryan observing the cabin construction.

Mom and Dad

Aunt Tina and Uncle Craig are expecting a baby in April!!!!!! I am so excited for them and cannot wait to have a little niece or nephew.

Braden flying in the air with daddy.

"Peek-a-Boo" where is Reed?

My big boys. They are definitely a handful carrying both of them.

Reed trying out some corn

Reed and Braden trying to shuck some corn

Playing Patty Cake in front of the tractor.

Reed says "When am I going to get to ride the tractor?"

Braden practicing driving the tractor so he can help farm one day.

Reed was really concentrating on driving

Braden is not standing on his own all the time but he can manage for a little while without help. He looks like such a big boy standing without someone holding his hand!

Reed riding with Uncle CraigBraden liked the tractor but he started to cry at the end of his ride. The boys had their 9 month appointment this week. The doctor thought they were both doing well. Here are their stats:

Braden weighs 18 lb. 10 oz and is 28 inches long

Reed weighs 17 lbs. and is 27.5 inches long

They both got their first round of flu shots while we were there. Other than that it was a pretty easy doctor's visit.

I love this picture because this is pretty typical these days. They each will pull on each other and this sometimes ends up with someone on the ground or Reed crying..... Let the fun begin!!!

Busy Week

The boys have been busy with doctor's appointments and playing this week. Reed had physical therapy today and Braden went to the doctor. I am not one for calling the doctor over every little thing or when my child gets a cough but Braden has not been himself this week. He has been really congested and hardly wanted to eat at all yesterday...that is so not like B! Well, he has viral bronchitis which will just take a little time to heal. Couldn't the doctor have just told me that over the phone and saved me my copay...just kidding!
Are we twins or what?!?
The University of Kansas sent Reed and Braden the real practice jerseys last week in the mail for free!!! Ryan knew that there was a player whose last name was Reed so he contacted the school and told them about Reed. Well, the player's sister happens to work in the athletic department and she arranged for the boys to get their own jerseys with their names on the back. KU might have won me over to be a fan for this one!

We still have to wear our UK attire though!

Sunday night, we celebrated with friends for Josh's 30th birthday party. We went to Maggiano's for dinner and I left there at least 5 pounds heavier. Josh and Mandi have been such great friends to us over this past year. Josh and Ryan own a business together and Josh was very understanding for all the work that Ryan missed due to Reed's hospitalization. We love their little Preston like our own and we are so excited to meet their new addition in January.

Me, Martha Lynn and Lindsay

Mandi and Lia. Lia is expecting twin girls at the end of October, and Reed and Braden cannot wait to meet their little girlfriends but pray that it will not be until October. Yes, we are still like we are in junior high with girls on one side and the boys on the other!

Is this a pitiful face or what?

Is this a frustrated face or what?

Dill pickle anyone?!?

Sunday was a big day because our boys got to go to class for the very first time! Yes that's right, they are 9 months old and just now going to class. This is due to Reed's heart transplant and that he had to wait 6 months post transplant to be around a group of other kids. Braden couldn't go either because he could have brought home germs to Reed. They did well in the bucket seats but apparently 10 minutes before class was over our pager went off and they both were crying!!! Maybe next Sunday they will do better! After class, we loaded the boys up and headed to Kentucky with my parents for my Nanny's sister's 80th birthday party. The boys played on the floor the whole time we were there!
Braden waiting for the surprise party to begin.

Reed so excited to wish Aunt Dorthy a Happy Birthday!

9 Months Old!

Florida 2009

I took a TON of pictures from our trip to Daytona Beach with my family. We had a great time and the boys were wonderful. I think that I just finished uploading 50 pictures to this post and the next so there will not be much commenting on the pictures!!!
All that I have to say is that babies add a whole lot more stuff to have to carry on the plane with you. We had 7 pieces of luggage plus 2 car seats, 1 pack-n-play, and a stroller making for 11 checked on pieces of baggage! Good thing my dad came:-)
This was the boys first flight and they did wonderful. Neither one of them cried and both slept part of the way there.
Aunt Tina was a great help and the boys love her. My mom, Tina and granny(my dad's mom) rode with Braden and me, my dad, and nanny(my mom's mom) rode with Reed.

In our car from the airport was me, Tina, nanny and Reed. We rented 2 cars since we didn't want a huge van..not to mention those cost a ton to rent.
My poor nanny was stuck in the back with Reed and the double stroller. You can also see an exersaucer in the back with her too. I bought one at a consignment store for $20 because the boys needed something to play in. I wish that I had on video us trying to get that exersaucer in the back seat with her. I couldn't breath I was laughing so hard!
That is one suggestion I have for those of you flying with a little one who need some toys for your child. You can always rent from a company but I figured that I could by one as cheap if not cheaper and bring it home with us!! Now the boys have a new big toy to play with at home.

So Reed had a great week! You can tell that from previous posts Reed is normally lying down in most of the pictures that I take. Here is Reed when we got to Florida........Here is Reed a few days after being in Florida!!!!! He is now sitting up. We still put pillows behind him because he is still a little unstable at times. (He had just woken up in this picture!)

Nanny, Granny and mom

I got the question several times if Reed was a girl or boy even though he was dressed just like Braden! Do you think these sunglasses help?

These are the same sunglasses that I painted with a Sharpie!!! Flowered ones were the only ones I could find so I made them more manly!!!
I have no idea what looks Braden and Reed have on their faces but pretty funny

Prunes anyone?!?

Reed and Braden didn't seem to get that the time change meant they were supposed to sleep later. I would just put them in the same pack-n-play so that I could "sleep" a little longer

Getting ready for the pool I would love to know what Reed was telling Braden

Trying to get some lovin' from the boys but they weren't having it!

Pool Time

Reed fell asleep in their car float. The pool seemed to do a good job of wearing them out.

"Mom, I'm ready for my first car"

Aunt Tina and I would play with the boys until they got tired. Once they got tired, the grannies and my dad would watch the boys while we stayed outside. Braden not really sure about the ocean.

Braden loved chewing on the strap on Reed's hat

The next post has more pictures from their first trip to the beach.