Hanna Who?

Hanna was far from interesting, pretty lame and tame actually. Really not much to report...it rained during the night and was done when we woke up. We've had random thunderstorms here that put Hanna to shame.

Today after the storm blew through the little man and I played golf around the yard; I figured out the perfect setup for Brayden, Champ and I. Using Brayden's lightweight toy golf balls, I chipped balls around the yard using my golf clubs. Brayden watches all of this and of course tries to copy me. Champ fetches the balls and brings 'em back. Periodically Brayden walks over and throws a ball at me for me to hit at him. This went on for hours today until the dog could no longer fetch and I was tired from the humidity and had to sit down.

I wonder if Brayden will be a lefty. He throws with both arms, but predominatly with the left it seems. Also when he swings a bat or golf club, he's usually got a lefty stance.

Oh yeah, I bought Brayden his first real football today! He loves it; took a nap with it today. He pronounces football "buttball", but he knows what it is when he sees it in the newspaper or on TV. I'm working on getting him to say "Forty Niners"; so far he's not even close. We'll get some practice in tomorrow when we watch the game.

Some random pics of Brayden below. See ya....Brett


*Choo-choo



*Deep in thought after a bath


*Brayden LOVES to hide in my closet behind the shirts


*Playing with "Daddy Truck"


*Silly boy


*Turning into such a big boy

Birthday, Beach, and Hurricane?

**Updated with pics**

I'll give the blog thang a shot. Susie normally rocks the updates, but she's pregnant and sleeping right now, so I'll fill in some blanks for Y'ALL. Our camera is on the fritz somewhat, and my computer hard drive is filling up, so this update will be sans fotos.

I turned 30 not too long ago, and I was suprised to see Jason and Lindsey sitting in my house after returning home from a long day of work on a Friday evening. I was suprised yet again the following night when we arrived at a local restaurant to find a table of 10 of our friends all there to celebrate! I was totally shocked everyone was there...probably a better description would be humbled that so many people were there for me. Not to mention JT and Lindsey flying across the freaking country. It was really cool and I had such a great time! Sue organized the whole thing and did a great job. What a cool wife I have. Thanks to her and everyone else for participating in the fun.


*Somehow this was the only pic on our camera from my b-day?? Collin, Me, and Tuan.

Last weekend we went with our friends Collin and Ryan to the beach for Labor Day Weekend. Collin's parents have a house right on the sound by Emerald Isle on the coast...beautiful place. Brayden was a little unsure of the beach, however. He didn't like the feeling of the sand moving under his feet...especially when a wave would come in and out. He pretty much sat on our lap and soaked up the scenery. But he loved seeing the water and the boats.


*Brayden and I on the pier


*Sunset from the pier


*Brayden loves up on a flamingo outside a store

This weekend we may experience our first hurricane. Keep an eye out on the news for Hurricane (or Tropical Storm) Hanna, right now it looks like it will come right through NC. Raleigh is far enough inland that we're in no real danger of flooding, but it should be VERY interesting to say the least. Hopefully no trees fall on the house.

Next update we'll try to add some pics to this post. See you California folks in a couple weeks.

Brettski

Brett and Sue Plus Two

Yes, the rumors are true! Brett and I are expecting baby #2!

We tried to keep it a secret for as long as we could, but I am already popping out everywhere and it was pretty obvious because of how sick I was.

My due date is Valentine's Day 2009 and I am currently in my 12th week.

I am slowly but surely feeling better theses days, but this isn't anything like my pregnancy with Brayden. I have had the worst morning sickness and ended up at the doctor's office begging for some relief. They gave me some medication for the vomiting and things have been looking up since then.

My next appointment is in two weeks and I will try to keep everyone updated as much as possible. Right now Brett and I are trying to enjoy the time we have left with just the little man until we have a new little boy or girl to play with!!

So excited!

- Sue -

Potty Time

I bought a couple of potties for Brayden a couple of months ago, just to get him used to seeing it and possible spark some interest. Well, it worked!!

In the past couple of days Brayden has shown a huge interest in sitting on the potty with a wad of toilet paper in his had. HA! At first Brett and I didn’t go near taking his clothes off because we were afraid to ruin it, but we would encourage him to sit on the potty whenever we were in there.

Well, it got the best of us and we tried to get him to sit on it one night before his bath without his diaper on and everything was going so well…until…he pooped!

Brett got SO excited and started clapping and screaming for me to come up stairs that it completely freaked Brayden out and he went into a major crying fit. Since then whenever we mention the potty he gives us a big “NO”.

So much for potty time. HA!

- Sue -
* Sitting pretty with toilet paper in hand ready to wipe! HA!
* SO proud!

The Farm

The last thing on our agenda in CA was the Robinson family trip to the Farm at the Delta. Every summer Brett’s parents rent a house called the Farm right on the water at the Delta. All of Brett’s cousins and their kids manage to make the trek up there to enjoy four days of fun in the sun and water-skiing.

There were 25 of us all in one house and the majority were kids, so we knew Brayden would have tons to do and have the best time. We were a little nervous about how he would react to that many people, but we were so proud of him because he did so well. As long as “Mimi” (Brayden’s name for me) was in his eyesight at all times, he was fine. I could hang out with my feet up while he ran around and checked in every now and then.

He really took to Bobby Bandera and his family. His wife in particular he really loved and for those of you who know Brayden you will be shocked by this…she was able to put him to sleep at naptime! I know!

He also loved their daughter Brooke and would go up to her and ask to be picked up. He never does that to anyone besides Brett and I, so again we were shocked. It was so great to see him play and interact with all of Brett’s cousins. He really had a great time and Brett and I also had fun visiting and catching up with family we haven’t seen in years.

All in our entire trip was a huge success. Thanks for all the great memories everyone! We love you!

- Sue -
* Playing ball with Garett Bandera
* Talking shop with Dustin Koons

* 630 am wake up call for Mommy and Daddy
* Feeding the ducks at 630 am
* Thanks for the yummy cookies Jeff Hathaway!
* Yummy!
* Hamming it up at dinner time

* Okay, I have had enough!
* Loving up on Brooke Bandera
* Playing football with Dustin and Brandon Koons
* Saying good-bye is never fun
* Grandma and Grandpa Robinson

Catching up with friends in CA

While Brett was house boating for Jason’s bachelor party, I took the time to visit with the special people I miss most in the world. It was so much fun this time around because Brayden is such a little man now and can interact with everyone and has so much personality. That is what I miss most about CA, our friends and not having them close to see and enjoy Brayden like Brett and I get to.

Our first stop was at Icing on the Cake in Los Gatos to visit my dear friend Jeff Land. It was a short visit, but an excellent one. Brayden didn’t know what to do in the bakery. Only 18 months old and he knows what a cookie is, so he was all over the place. The pictures of Jeff and Brayden sum up the whole experience. I practiced with Brayden while still in NC with pictures of the people he was going to meet, so Jeff was excited to hear Brayden say “Hi Jeff!” in his sweet little Brayden voice. Jeff hooked us up with some sweet treats (another thing I miss about CA!) and we were on our way. Miss you Jeff!!!!!

Next up was a visit from Jamie and Keith Ganly from Santa Cruz. They were nice enough to come visit Brett and I when Brayden was just 3 months old and this time they were nice enough to drive over the hill to spend some time with Brayden and I. It was so great to see them and catch up with them. Jamie and I have been friends since 7th grade and have been through everything together, so to see her with my son really made me happy. The three of us had lunch while Brayden napped and then took him to the park to play afterwards. It was a lot of fun just relaxing and catching up with them and I think they had a really great time with Brayden too!



After Jamie and Keith’s visit it was time to head up to San Francisco. I didn’t have a chance to get up there last time because Brayden was still so small and it was just a hard trip at the time. This time around I was determined to take him up to one of the cities closest to my heart. The drive up was fine and he slept most of the way, but once we were there it would be no more sleeping for Brayden! He was in full stimuli overload! This kid LOVES cars, buses, trains, etc. So to see this many cars and people and business was more than he could take. Brayden and I stayed with my best friend Solene Fouladian. Just like with Jamie Ganly, Solene and I have been friends since 7th grade and have been through hell and back with each other. So to see her interact and enjoy being with my son brought me to tears. While in SF we walked the hills, went to parks, had lunch out, and managed to meet up with two of my other girlfriends, Serena Long and Melissa Bolandi. It was so nice to just be with them and have conversations face to face like we used everyday!

This was by far the hardest visit for me to leave from and it pains me still to not be close to Solene on a daily basis.
* Playing hockey with "Scary Aunt Melissa" (as she called herself)
*Hanging with Serena
* Loving Auntie Solene!

Last, but certainly not least was spending some more time with my dear friend Jessica Shyba and her son Jack. These two are only 2 weeks apart in age, but are already so different. Brayden is a spazz and won’t ever sit still and Jack is as sweet as can be and listens so nicely to his mother! HA! Plus, even though they have only been around each other one other time, they got along famously! They were holding hands walking down the street and running around after each other laughing and smiling. It made Jessica and I so happy to see them enjoy there brief time together.

I had a chance to see Jessica three times while in CA. We met for lunch the first day I was there, met for a smoothie and a chat at the Los Gatos farmer’s market, and then enjoyed Music in the Park with the kids at the end of our visit. It was way too short, but a much needed visit. She is pregnant and due at the end of September. Right around the time we will be back for Jason’s wedding. So…everyone secretly keep your fingers crossed that she goes into labor early and I can snuggle up to baby #2!!! HA!!! Sorry Jess!

It was a fun-filled and bust week for Brayden and I, but worth every minute!!! Thanks for all the great memories you guys and I love and miss you all more than you know!!

- Sue -

In an "hairpay" up in the "ky"

Off to California!

Brett, Brayden and I flew cross-country a couple of weeks ago to visit Brett’s family and allow Brett to participate in his best friend’s houseboat bachelor party extravaganza. It is a long way to go and a hard trip on the little one, but always well worth it.

This time around Brett and I were smart and gave Brayden his own seat on the airplane (or “hairpay” as Brayden says). This was the best idea ever. Even though the airlines allow you to have a child on your lap until 2 years old, it makes everyone happy to have their own space. He did great! He would whine every now and then due to boredom, but mostly he was fine with looking out the window and having Daddy and Mommy at his fingertips. Even though it may look like he slept the whole way from the picture, this was only for a mere 30 minutes or so. Brett and I were so happy to get even that much peace and quiet compared to none on our previous flights.

Once we arrived we were happily greeted by Brett’s mom and then taken off to their house in San Jose. Brayden was pretty tired (he managed to not meltdown after being awake with no nap for almost 12 hours!) and we put him to bed right away. He was a champ and napped for almost 4 hours. We were all happy to see him wake up with a smile on his face.

The first night went well and as we expected he was up at the crack of dawn due to the 3-hour time change. So…Brett and I were up and ready to get out of the house pretty early. We managed to drag ourselves to breakfast at the Los Gatos Café (our fave place in LG) and then out to the park to try and tire the little man out so he would nap well.

Brayden had a blast being with his Grandma and Grandpa Robinson and I hope you enjoy some of the pictures of Brayden at Grandma’s house.

- Sue -