Braden's 3rd Birthday Party

If you know me at all then you know that I am HUGE birthday person. I believe that this is your SPECIAL day to celebrate your SPECIAL gift of life. Therefore, I have always tried to make Braden's birthday a celebration! This past summer I started brainstorming ideas for his 3rd birthday and it was a toss up between trains and buses. Braden loves both! Braden helped me finally settle on a school bus theme.

So the dilemma each year is not so much the theme as what are we going to do? Considering that it is a January birthday doesn't always make for the most terrific weather. And this year was NO exception. To go along with the school bus theme I had booked a tumblebus to come for Braden's birthday, but because we actually got snow and ice the Thursday before the tumblebus driver wasn't comfortable driving an hour to our house. So what did I do? I called Brad and cried!!!! And then I picked myself up and decided that we would make the best out of it anyways and it ended up being a great party!

Braden helped me make the treat bags earlier in the week and he was SO excited about all of his friends coming over, but his favorite part was the school bus cake! He absolutely could not take his eyes off his cake when we showed it to him Saturday morning!

There is absolutely no doubt that Braden has my birthday celebration genes! He certainly loves the attention, presents, fun, and CAKE!

Happy 3rd birthday Braden! We love you!

Parker- One Month

Our precious Parker Reed is already one month old. I can't figure out if it seems like he just got here or has been here forever. He is simply adorable. Here are some of his month one milestones:

• Parker has slept for 5 hours stright for the past 2 nights



• He is lifting his head and he seems to be really strong
  


• He is alert for over an hour at a time now



• He loves to lay on the floor and watch Braden



• He turns his head towards Brad when he hears his voice
  


• He is cooing, squealing and smiling

Christmas 2009

Christmas is really a huge blur for me this year (I'm pretty sure it has something to do with being at the hospital for most of the week, delivering a newborn, and sleep deprivation!). However, Braden really enjoyed Christmas this year and that is all that truly matters

Here are a few of the special memories that I can recall from Christmas.

• We were released from the hospital at 2:30 on Christmas Eve and went straight to my parent's house for the Christmas Eve festivities.
  


• DINNER- wedge salad (my favorite), twice baked potatoes, grilled shrimp and shrimp scampi- YUMMMMMMMM!
  


• Braden helping to pass out gifts



• Having Parker with us for his first Christmas
  


• Santa being way too tired to put together all of Braden's gifts
  


• Braden being SUPER excited about his trains and train tables- not even paying attention to the other toys!
  


• Enjoying Christmas breakfast with our boys and our parents

The one tradition that we didn't get around to this year was making Happy Birthday Jesus cupcakes, but we will certainly continue that tradition with the boys in the years to come.

Brothers

All for one and one for all

My brother and my friend

What fun we have

The time we share

Brothers 'til the end.

~Author Unknown

My Baby is 3!!!!

Today Braden Wright Hoffman is 3 years old! I cannot believe how quickly these past 3 years have flown by or how much more I love him each day. Braden is so sweet and yet so challenging at the same time. He is without a doubt his mother's child. He can make me laugh and want to scream all with in the same minute, but I enjoy every second with him.

My prayer for Braden is that he will always know how much we love him unconditionally. That he will remain firm in his values and opinions even when they are not popular. That he will treat others with kindness, humility and respect. My prayer is that he will be confident in who he is and where he comes from. That no matter what he treasures his relationship with Christ above all else.

Braden Wright Hoffman, you are such a special gift from God and Mommy and Daddy love you more than you can ever know or understand.