Parker Reed is Here!

Parker Reed Hoffman made his grand entrance on December 23, 2009 at 12:16 pm. It was another eventful delivery- just like his big brother! We feel so blessed that he has joined our family and we can't wait to watch him grow.

We love you Parker!

Santa on a Fire truck!

Each year the local volunteer fire department near our house visits the local neighborhoods and gives out bears to all of the children. It is so neat because they drive in on two fire trucks and Santa and Mrs. Clause are always riding at the front. They run the siren to alert everyone and then play Christmas music from the speakers. It is so much fun to see all of the neighborhood kids come running into their front yards to see Santa.

The past 2 years they came the first Sat. in Dec. and we have always just caught them before we left to go to Brad's parents for our annual Christmas gathering. This year we thought that we had missed it because we assumed that we left before they came, so we were so excited when we heard those sirens! Braden and I were still in our pajamas so we bundles up and headed outside to wait on them. Braden has been sleeping with his new bear the past 2 nights! So cute!

Braden's Favorite Things

Braden is growing up so fast and I know his "Favorite Things" are going to change just as quickly, but I just want to freeze time for a minute and remember what he likes for today. Here are a list of what he said his "Favorite Things" are"

Food: Teddy Bears (Teddy Grahams)

Drink: Orange juice

Ice Cream Flavor: Chocolate

Song: Wheels on the Bus

Movie: Thomas

TV Show: Thomas

Book: Tractor book (John Deere)

Friend: Micheal (from preschool)

Toy: cars and trucks

Thing to do with Daddy: play with my toys

Thing to do with Mommy: read and cuddle

Place to be: in the bathtub

Christmas Past and Christmas Present

I was going through pictures on my computer to upload to Snapfish to make Christmas gifts when I ran across the first picture we have of Braden during his first Christmas. Here are his Christmas pics from past 3 years. Sniff! Sniff!

Christmas 2007

Christmas 2008

Christmas 2009

All Aboard

Saturday morning we headed up to Chattanooga to take Braden on the Polar Express train ride. We took him last year, but he wasn't as crazy about trains as he is this year. Saturday morning he was up before 7 am and I went in to get him he said, "I'm ready to go on the choo choo train!"

When we arrived at the Chattanooga Choo Choo Braden got so excited to see all of the train cars. Side note- I booked our trip over 2 months ago and when I booked it I reserved a train car suite for the night. Brad wanted me to call and confirm our reservations last Monday and when I did I booked it for the 22nd instead of the 21st and all of the train cars were booked for the 22nd. Needless to say there was LOTS of crying on my part and Brad tried every angle to get it fixed...he even offered to sleep on the floor when we got there on Saturday since they had one available, but it only had a queen and no daybed for Braden. I will be SO glad when this pregnancy brain goes away!

The Chattanooga Choo Choo had so much to do that we know we want to take the boys back again. We visited with Santa in the lobby, made a stop by the Elf workshop, and ate a pizza dinner on one of the train cars before heading off to the Polar Express train ride.

I booked a 7:30 train ride and in retrospect I would definitely book the 5:30 one instead. He was so excited that he didn't nap and when we go there we had a while to board the train which is very hard for a 2 year old to do....especially when he was SOOOOO excited!




This year his excitement level was a new high. Last year I was way more excited than Braden, but this year he was jumping up and down and participating in everything- all the songs, the story, dancing and seeing Santa. It definitely made the trip worth it!

Making a List...Checking it Twice

On top of an already hectic holiday season, we're having a baby due 2 days after Christmas! While we are super excited about Parker's arrival, I also feel extremely overwhelmed by my VERY LARGE to do list! My wonderful husband has been helping me a lot with the everyday chores that need to get done around the house and I truly appreciate it. He also went ahead and put up our Christmas tree. Yes, I know it is REALLY early and our usual tradition is to put it up Thanksgiving night, but the thought of putting it up after a huge meal and in anticipation of shopping the next day made me exhausted. So this was our only free weekend and as good a time as any to get it done. However, it WILL BE DOWN THE MORNING OF THE 26th!

I am posting my to do list in hopes that it will keep me motivated to get everything done....plus I have really bad pregnancy brain this time around and checklists have become my friend!

• have the carpets in all the bedrooms cleaned- COMPLETE
• buy, paint, and put up Parker's initials in his room- COMPLETE
• order my breast pump accessories- COMPLETE
• finish washing and putting away Parker's clothes, blankets, etc.- COMPLETE
• get Parker's bedding ready- COMPLETE
• set up the co sleeper in our bedroom- COMPLETE
• get the bouncy seat and other various baby items down from the attic- COMPLETE
• finish my thank you cards from my school shower- COMPLETE
• take pictures and order our Christmas cards- COMPLETE
• take Braden to Chattanooga to ride the Polar Express next weekend- COMPLETE
• take Parker's blanket to get embroidered- COMPLETE
• get my winter coat dry cleaned-COMPLETE
• finish putting away shower gifts- COMPLETE
• Christmas shop- COMPLETE
• wrap Christmas gifts- COMPLETE
• take down our scarecrow outside and put out pine straw- COMPLETE
• take down glass doors in the bedroom and put up our new doors- COMPLETE
• paint Braden's train table and frames
• finish my parent/teacher conferences- IN PROCESS- 1 left!!!
• write my long term sub plans- COMPLETE
• prepare for our field trip on Tuesday- COMPLETE
• order Braden's birthday invitations- COMPLETE
• get everything prepared for Braden while I'm at the hospital- COMPLETE
• take Braden to see Santa- COMPLETE
• bake Happy Birthday Jesus cupcakes
• pack my suitcase for the hospital- COMPLETE

I'm sure that I am leaving several things, if not a couple out. I am just praying for peace that I don't go into a panic mode. It's hard being a control freak and then having no control and feeling overwhelmed. However, I have an awesome family who loves me and that I can count on to help. So thank you in advance to Brad and my parents for enduring the break down that is sure to happen in the next few weeks and picking up the pieces! I love you guys!

Halloween 2009

I know that I really late with this post, but I swear I am so exhausted that at this point I am proud of myself for getting it done.

Halloween day was extra busy due to the GA/FL game. My brother and Erica, along with my cousins came over to watch them game and I made some pregame goodies to snack on. By the time the game was over, the rest of my family was here to celebrate Halloween.

All of the boys were SUPER excited this year, since they actually understood they were going to get candy! We feasted on our traditional chili, rice, hot dogs and all the fixins'. By the time we ate dinner the boys were racing to get into their costumes and ready to get out the door. I didn't get eh best pictures this year since the weather was yucky, but it did clear off enough for us to hit a few houses.

Braden ran up to each house yelling, "Trick or Treat! Happy Halloween!" At one house the lady gave him a coupon for a frosty. After she put it in his bag, he kept standing there with his bag open staring at her. So I prompted him by saying, "What do you say Braden?" fully expecting him to say "Thank you." Instead he said, "I'd like some candy please!" It was priceless!

Getting together with my family at Halloween was a tradition that I treasured when I was little and I feel so blessed that we have been able to continue this tradition with my whole family as we have grown. I hope that Braden will enjoy the years to come as much I have in the past.

5 Little Pumpkins

Jesus Loves the Little Children

Parker's Baby Shower

Yesterday we celebrated Parker's arrival with a baby shower. My cousins, Amberly and Staci, gave me the baby shower and I am so thankful for all of the hard work, thoughtfulness, and special touches that they put into making it such a memorable day. One of my favorite things was a prayer box for Parker that Amberly made where everyone could write a special prayer for him. I will treasure that always.

Amberly and Staci- The Hostesses with Mostest

My Amazing Mommy and Me (Parker's Grrr)
My mom, Amberly, me, Erica, Staci, and my Aunt JoyBefore the shower- Braden really wanted to go with us! (Brad told him it was just going to be a bunch of crazy women, so he didn't need to go!)
My Granny (Parker's Gigi)

My Mother In Law (Parker's Grandma)

We got LOTS of great gifts for Baby Parker, including the MUCH wanted packs of diapers, wipes, baby wash, etc. I realize the second time around how awesome gifts like these are! We also got the cutest and sweetest little outfits for Parker. It was exciting to actually get clothes that weren't green and yellow, since that is what we mostly got at Braden's showers since we didn't find out if he was a boy or girl. I am really excited about getting them all washed and hung up in his closet ready for his arrival! My Granny, Braden and Parker's Gigi, got Parker a bedtime bear just like the one that she got for Braden (except Parker's is blue) before he was born.

The Bedtime Bear from Gigi

How many pieces of toilet paper does it take to fit around me?

We had so much delicious food! And you know I am ALL about the food right now! We had a Mexican feast and it was scrumptious! For dessert we had mini strawberry and chocolate cupcakes and they were awesome!

Pumpkin Patch

This past week has been awesome! Brad and I have enjoyed being able to spend so much time with Braden and we really wanted to end our week together by taking him to the Pumpkin Patch. Last year we took him to Southern Belle Farms in McDonough, GA and we were so impressed by how much there was to do and how well maintained their farm was that we wanted to take him back this year. This is a super busy week for us and this past Saturday was the only Saturday that we had open and I was a little nervous that it was going to rain, but the weather was beautiful (though much too hot for October).

Our friends, Chad and Lori, and their two children, Ethan and Emma went with us. Braden had a blast looking at all the pumpkins, enjoying the hay ride, watching the pig races, playing in the kiddie corral and corn, and riding the "race cars" with Brad. In the middle of our visit we stopped at the big pavilion that they have and had a picnic lunch. It was a wonderful day and we all had so much fun!

This family picture just makes me giggle!

Braden, Ethan and Emmawating on the pig races

playing in the corn...he had corn everywhere..in his shoes, behind his ear!