Father's Day

Happy Father’s Day!

Today was a busy day! We had plans to go to the Carolina Mud Cat’s game at 1 pm, which is during Brayden’s naptime, so we wanted to tire him out early to make sure he took a good nap.

So it was off to the dog park right after breakfast. Brayden had a blast watching all the dogs play, throwing the ball for Champ and watching Champ getting really dirty!

Once we tired Champ out it was off to the park where Brett and Brayden climbed and climbed and climbed! He loves going up and down the stairs and climbing across the drawbridges. It was so nice to see Brett and Brayden in action. They rarely get any one on one time because of Brett’s work schedule and because I am always around! HA! They are so cute when it is just the two of them.

After the park, it was back home to have some lunch and then off to nap. He napped so well and our plan worked perfectly! He woke up happy and ready for more fun.

The NC Mud Cat’s are a local baseball team about 20 minutes from our house. Brett loves baseball and has been dying to take Brayden to another game.

Well, let’s just say it looks like we will be going to many more games because Brayden had a blast! He loves watching all the players and would just keep blurting out “Bay Ball! Bay Ball!” He even learned to master drinking out of a straw. I ordered a lemonade and Brayden went crazy for it! I have never seen him try so hard to drink something before in my life! So funny!

After the game ended it wasn’t over for us! On our way home we went to another park that is near our house that has a nature trail, a field, and a playground. He loves this park and we go there almost four times a week because I do my Stroller Fit classes there. He knows the grounds and takes off the moment we get out of the car.

This was a jam packed day and it was fun from sun up to sun down! You’ll have to ask Brett, but I think this was a Father’s Day he will never forget!

Hope everyone else had a fabulous Father’s Day too!

- Sue -

Little Gym Graduation

So let’s just say that Brayden doesn’t like to be forced to do something and doesn’t enjoy being put on the spot. As you can tell from this picture…he freaks out! He wanted nothing to do with the graduation podium or his shiny new medal.

He does, however, love the Little Gym and we were sad to see it end. We have been going there since he was three months old and he loved every minute of it. Hopefully we will start up again this fall and he can continue having a blast!

- Sue -

* The BFF's giving each other high fives after their awards
* Having fun poolside after the graduation


* All smiles in his car. I brought it inside because it is way too hot outside to play.

Surgery Update

Today was a little better.

Brayden cried A LOT and slept on and off all day yesterday, but he seems to be perky up a little more today.

He hasn’t had any fevers and his appetite is good, so I think we will be doing better as the days go by.

Thanks for all your thoughts and prayers!

- Sue -

Brayden's Surgery

Today was the day of Brayden’s surgeries. He had tubes put in both his ears and had his adenoids taken out. This was no fun Brayden or for me and Brett.

We had to leave the house at 6 am to be at check in by 630 am, then his surgery was at 745 am. He did really well in the morning and in the waiting area, but it started to go down hill once we went into the prep area. By then he was tired and hungry and starting to realize that we weren’t leaving anytime soon.

The faculty at the surgery center was so kind and so great with kids. They explained everything to us and could tell that we were nervous and we very kind and reassured us constantly.

They anesthesiologist came and told us how they were going to give him and IV and put him to sleep. Brett and I were really worried about how logistically they were going to do this. He screams and kicks when doctors even walk up to him! They told us once the nurse took him they were going to give him some gas to make him sleepy and then put the IV in once he was all the way asleep. This eased our nervous a little.

Once they took him away we went to the waiting room where I waited while Brett went across the street to get some McDonald’s for breakfast. He was gone no more than 20 minutes and right when he came back they told us we could come see him! It was so fast.

We were able to go back to the recovery area and be with him and this was the worst part of the day. He was so groggy and disoriented from the anesthesia that he just cried and cried! Poor thing. Our heart went out to him. He was confused and didn’t feel good and just let it all out with loud cries. The nurses kept us there for awhile until he woke up a little more and watched him to make sure he wasn’t crying because he was in pain.

Once we were given the ok we were out of there. He cried the whole way home ad started to calm down once we turned in the driveway. He fussed a bit once we got inside because he wanted to play but couldn’t walk on his own without falling over. So, we wrapped him up with Daddy and all his comfort items and watch some good ole’ Thomas the Train and Friends.

He was fussy the rest of the day but ate and slept well. I think all in all it went pretty well. Hopefully this will be then end of ear infections as we know it! Now if we could do the same for Brett…

- Sue -

Falls Lake

Today Brett and I took Brayden on our boat for the first time this season.

We were nervous because we haven’t had the best luck getting him on the boat and having a good time. This time we were super prepared! We had everything ready to go the night before and were prepared to leave right when he woke up.

We were able to get to the lake at little before 9 am and it was already 80 degrees! We had him completely covered (poor guy). He was smothered in sunscreen, wearing a diaper (which exploded!), swim trunks, UV long-sleeved shirt, hat, and new life vest. He didn’t seem to even notice because he was too distracted by all the activity around him.

We loaded him onto the boat and took off. He was happy the whole time! We even were able to take a dip halfway through our trip.

Brett was SO happy because this was all he ever wanted. The three of us on the boat together, having a good time.

This looks like the start of a great boating season!

Once we were home it was time for more trains once again! This kid is obsessed with Thomas the Train and Friends! HA!

He had such a blast playing with Brett and Brett even was able to teach him to ride the ride along toys that have been piling up in the playroom. For those of you that don’t know, Brayden has been petrified of any type of ride along toy out on the market today!!!! UNTIL NOW!

Dino and Gina rejoice! He finally rides the awesome rocket ship you guys got him for his birthday!

Then what better way to end the best weekend ever, drinks and Sex and the City with my girlfriends!

Hope your weekend was has fun as ours!

- Sue -

Marbles

Today Jodie, Jamie, Kristiina, Heather and I all took the kids to Marbles, the children’s museum in downtown Raleigh. I had never been there before so I didn’t know what to expect. I have to say, for five bucks, there was a ton to do! Plus, the kids loved it and were so tired they took fabulous naps afterwards.

There was a whole gated section that was geared towards their age group and younger. It had all different kinds of stations like a boat were you could go catch and release fishing; a grocery store; a UPS store; a fire truck with uniforms and a house that was on fire; an ambulance with uniforms and a light/siren; a garden and farmhouse…plus so much more!

Brayden’s favorite part of this section was the train table…of course! There was a whole mural on the wall with a big train and he couldn’t stop smiling and saying “choo-choo!” So cute!

Next up was the water station. What kid doesn’t love the water table? They even had tiny aprons for them to wear so we didn’t have to worry about them getting soaked. Even though Bobby thought it was hilarious to spray Easton in the face with the hose. She didn’t even flinch!

After the water table we headed to the enormous indoor Pirate Ship. The kids climbed all over it and were able to dress up, walk the plank, steer the ship and swab the deck. There was also a sand pit outside, but the weather was too warm to let them get there little hands in it.

Next we headed up stairs to the older section, but there were still tons for them to do. There were life sized Legos and a race car building station that had Brayden totally amazed. I built him a car and we raced over and over again.

After a couple hours of fun, we loaded them up with snacks and headed home.

- Sue -
* Brady and Brayden playing chess. They are SO good! HA!
* Anything he can drive makes him happy
* Brayden was in HEAVEN at this train table area!

* Easton and Brayden playing garden and grocery
* Brayden and Brady driving the boat...they were so serious.
* Water table fun!
* "Yo Ho Ho!"
* Having a great time!

* Giant Lego time
* The cars were so exciting to him. It was one "wow" after another.

Once we were home and he had taken his nap he was ready for some more “choo-choo” fun! This boy played with his trains for over and hour that afternoon!!!!

Little Gym

Since Brayden was 3 months old he has been going to the Little Gym. As you can probably guess he LOVES it! Thanks to Nana and Papa Dunbar he has been able to keep going and has had the opportunity to run, jump and tumble every Tuesday morning.

This semester is going to be ending in a couple of weeks and they will have the “Graduation” ceremony where all the little ones receive their medals. It is SO cute I can hardly stand it. They have them stand up on a podium to receive their medals and they always look so proud. This will be his second medal and Brett and I are very proud! HA!

We are taking a break for the summer since we will be traveling so much and then we plan on starting up again for the fall semester.

At today’s class I finally took the camera to get some pictures of him in action. I have to apologize for how bad these pictures are, but the dang kid wouldn’t hold still! So they are blurry, but you can see how much fun he has and all the activities we do there.

Enjoy!

- Sue -

* The blurry hands mean he was REALLY having a good time, plus he was growling!


P.S. Doesn't he look so much older in the first picture?!?