"He's Wild"

Everytime someone asks me how Brode is I find myself saying the same thing over and over, "He is 2, he is wild"

When I say this, I mean it. I have to admit I think he could be much worse. He is very well behaved a majority of the time, just on the go playing sports to cars to coloring to tools to cooking all within 5 minutes.

My friends are always bugging me for videos as well as asking me how I keep up after school or work. Here is a snapshot into our nights after a long day... anything but relaxing, but completely entertaining.

(I apologize, I always forget you can't rotate videos so I filmed to fit then realized all the viewers will have to hurt their necks to watch the first one.)

Just a normal kitchen activity:

Currently Brode's favorite song. I don't have any idea how or why, but he recognizes it on the radio and requests in when we're dancing around the house.

EAA AirVenture

Grandpa and Brode had men's day out today at EAA Airventure. Brode loved getting pulled out of day care early and spending the afternoon looking at planes and helicopters, eating ice cream, drinking lemonade, and watching the air show!

Here are some pictures Grandpa took of the day:

(When he got home he told me all about this guy with the 'merica that fell out of the plane - very concerned)

and here are some pictures Brode took of the day:

"Grandpa, now raise your hand up really really high!"

I'm glad he loved it, he was talking at high speed when they got home. We're going to attempt going back on Saturday so we can all see him in his glory! 

Of course he came home with a plane to add to his collection and he played planes ALL night.

2nd Cranioversary

Happy 2nd Cranioversary Brode!

(THEN)

Ok, so I don't know if this is actually considered a happy thing, but looking back on the path we've come I believe it is! He is doing tremendous today proving that everything we all went through was for the better.

It has been two years since Brode's first craniosynostosis FOA (front orbital alignment)... basically reconstruction.

Brode is ahead of his age group developmentally, he has a very high emotional awareness, and his coordination levels are through the roof for a two-year-old.

We do have a bit on continuing care for his eyes as a result of the surgery, but he is doing incredibly well with the eye patch to strengthen his vision.

(NOW)

The part that makes this able to celebrate is that we're done, we aren't expected at Children's Hospital for this issue until June 2012! Yay!

Tonight when the humidity finally died down we tried headed to the driving range! My dad, me, Brode, and our neighor Blake (that Brode loves, admires, and plays with all the time) all packed up our clubs to get some practice (or entertainment from Brode). Brode did pretty well once he knew the rules of staying off the range, no running on the green, etc. He got some great shots in as well!

Teeing it up...

Lining up the shot...

Adjusting his grip...

A few of his shots... my favorite is the first video he wathes the ball and walks away saying "That works". He was watching everything we were doing and Grandpa said that often.

We did attempt the putting as well, but Brode always wanted to hit it at the farthest flag away!

 I caught the people around us laughing several times. I'm not sure if it was the fact that my two year old has nice, left-handed clubs that are the perfect size for him in a carrying bag, his expressions like "Great shot, grandpa you're doing great!", or the three of us standing behind him saying "spread your feet apart, keep them on the ground, don't take such a big backswing, etc". We couldn't help it, he just has a natural instinct to pick it all up and really listens.

Wedding Weekend

Last week and weekend was extremely busy for us in terms of weddings! We had a wedding both Friday and Saturday night. Both weddings were for 1st cousins of mine, one being Brode's godfather. Brode was asked to srve as the ring bearer for Friday's wedding so after the bachelorette party on Wednesday we had rehearsal Thursday, then a a full day of activities Friday. Unfortunetly this post isn't going to get exciting with adorble pictures of him walking down the aisle because he refused to put the tux on. Church was beyond a disaster. Horrible. Luckily Matt was able to get him in presentable clothes as the ceremony started so he could join us in front to watch. The ceremony was perfect. Extremely well done, emotional and exciting all in one.

After a bit of a rest we checked into the hotel between the ceremony and reception and Brode finally put his tux on. We did get a couple pictures of him dancing in it so we may be able to hunt those down later. The reception was fun and there were many moments to laugh about the next morning.

Saturday we drove home so Brode could nap (4 hours worth!) before we headed to the next wedding. This wedding Brode actually opened up a bit more and did some dancing and enjoyed himself. Between watching Brode try and break dance through a slow song and my 85 year old grandma dancing to Party Rock Anthem it was an entertaining night.

Sunday was safe to assume we weren't doing anything after running around for so many days in a row. We caught up on some things around the house and relaxed. I jumped back into internship and work right away Monday morning with 51 hours of work ahead of me this week. It's been crazy!

Once again, sorry for no pictures but I gaurantee some later this week!

Summer Activities

The past 6 weeks we have been playing and trying to enjoy this random weather we have been getting. Here are a few highlights that I caught pictures of:

My cousin graduated high school so we celebrated with our family for her! Brode jumped on the trampoline the majority of the time.

Playing soccer wth the big kids.

 They have a couple pigs and goats at their house that Brode needed to check out. It didn't take long for him to grab that house and spray them in the face.

 Brode and Ally playing in the sand.

Brode loves his great-grandma. He runs and jumps in her arms and says "I love you". We wished we would have had the video camera.

 When the sun went down they started a large campfire, Brode made a new friend and explained to him "that is unbelievable!"

 On the hot days we got out the sprinkler!

 Lunch on the back deck. (e was very crabby this moment as he had just cut the bottom of his foot open)

 A bird's next Libby pulled out of the tree.

 And the same nest 3 days later pulled out again.

 Park day!

 Brode and I went strawberry picking for his first time. He loved to watch the tractors and scream "I FOUND A GREAT ONE!" We also switched buckets many times because he wanted the full one. Luckily we only had one spill accicdent very early and didn't lose any!

 He ate a few (dozen).

 Friday night we went to my cousins baseball game. Brode helped the team clean up afterwards.

 Finally, we went to a pool party with my friends. Brode swam, jumped, and floated around. Rough life I know.

Long time gone

I have failed miserably at posts lately. I dont really have a good reason as to why because we have been up to nothing at all. Since graduation we went to Florida, and then hung out for 6 weeks playing and going to Wiggles and Giggles classes. Brode has been going to day care a few days a week to keep up on socialization and activities.

He has been doing funny things that I do want to keep recording as memories. His vocabulary is still expanding, good and bad. I can't even count how many times his teachers at day care have admired his manners and praise about him to me. On the other hand in the car I get "mom, you are going the wrong way. I have told you many many times to turn back". It is entertaining but he sure has some attitude. He gets extremely frustrated when you can't understand him because it is so rare that he can't pronounce a word well.

He has three words that are never correct out of his mouth and I hope they never change.
1. Moosgit - music
2. Sundybody - somebody/anybody - "sundybody left the cart in the parking lot!"
3. Forlefting - forgetting/left - "you are forlefting Tigger upstairs!"

Sorry for no pictures! Check back tomorrow!