Happy 4th of July

This year for the 4th of July we went to my aunt and uncle's house to eat, hang out at the pool and shoot fireworks. We had so much fun spending time with family. Braden loves swimming and he had so much fun jumping off of the diving board! Very scary for us! We had LOTS of good food- ribs, kabobs, brats, hot wings, hashbrwon casserole, lots of different side salads and my granny's famous fiesta dip. At the end of the night we shot off LOTS of fireworks. Braden loved them and kept saying, "This is so cool." We were glad that the loud sounds didn't scare him. It was a wonderful way to celebrate and be thankful for our independence and the wonderful country that we live in.

I love this boy!

Shane and Gage

Brad and Braden

Braden riding Uncle Chad's shoulders.

Isn't my Granny cute?

My dad doing a back flip off the diving board.

My favorite picture: Braden jumping off the diving board!

Lowry Park Zoo

On Tuesday of our vacation, we visited the Lowry Park Zoo in Tampa. It was about a 45 min. drive form our condo and well worth it! Parents magazine had an article about the best zoos to visit in the US a few months ago and Lowry Park was in the Top 10,maybe even #1....I don't remember, but I decided then that since we were going to be so close we should try to visit. My friend Emily was coming up to visit us for the day so she met us at the Zoo.

Last summer we took Braden to Zoo Atlanta and he really enjoyed it. He was a little timid at the petting zoo at first but we stopped by on our way out of the park and he loved it. The patting zoo at Zoo Atlanta is really the only interactive area, as far as petting animals, but at Lowry Park Zoo you can pet a giraffe, ride a camel, feed lorikeets, and pet stingrays. Plus they have a really awesome children's area with water activities. The one thing that I wanted to do was pet the wallaroos, but it was closed for the summer.

We asked Braden which animal he wanted to see first and he said the monkeys, since he tells us that is his favorite animal. The monkeys were really neat, but I did miss seeing the gorillas at Zoo Atlanta. Next we visited the giraffe. It is amazing! He walks right up to a watch tower and will eat out of your hand and let you pet him. He has a HUGE tongue.

In one area of the zoo there is a camel that you can ride. Brad asked Braden if he wanted to ride the camel and he said yes. However, when he was on the camel he changed his mind! Brad had to hold onto him really tight because he was ready to get down! Oh well! He also rode the carousel which he loved, petted sting rays, fed birds, watched manatees swim, and played in the fountain! We only stayed for about 3 hours because it was SO hot, but it was a great zoo and we would love to visit it again!

Vacation 2009

Last Sunday we left early and I mean really early....4:30 am to be exact...headed to Madeira Beach, FL. I was a little apprehensive about traveling with a 2 year old like I always am , but he had his movies and snacks and he was great the entire trip! He woke up when we put him in the car, but fell asleep an hour later and slept until we stopped for breakfast around 7:30.

We arrived Sunday just after 12:00 and we decided that we would walk Braden out to the beach, then hit the pool and come back in to get ready for an early dinner. Our routine for the week was pretty much the same: On the beach by 11:00, lunch back at the condo around 12:15-12:30, back at the pool by 1:00 and Brad would bring Braden up for his nap around 2:15-2:30 and I would stay out for another hour, get ready for dinner, eat out, rest for the evening. It was such a nice relaxing week!

A few highlights from the week:
- We took Braden to Lowry Park Zoo in Tampa on Tuesday. It was awesome! That will be another post.
- My good friend Emily and her boyfriend, Joe, met us at the zoo on Tuesday and hung out with us at the condo for the day.
-On Wednesday, Brad got stung by a stingray in the ocean and was in some serious pain for about 5 hours.

Braden had a great time. His new thing is telling us his favorites. A couple of times during the week he would say, "Beach is my favorite momma", "I love the ocean", etc. And of course everything we did was "This is so much fun". It was well worth the long drive to see him get so excited about playing in the ocean. He referred to the condo as our "White House" while we were there and on the way home he said he wanted to stay at the white house and not back to the brown house (our house)! We felt the same way!

We did our traditional beach pictures on Thursday night...we had to bribe Braden with candy to get his picture taken...and the wind was blowing my hair everywhere, so I wasn't super impressed with our pics this year. Oh, I also got burned our 2nd day there....yes me who NEVER burns. I actually did all week. I think it has something to do with the prenatal vitamins I'm on, b/c I even wore 15 SPF and usually I only wear 6 SPF. I know that is bad and I don't need a lecture!

We did bring home a ton of fresh seafood that we cooked for my parents, brother and his girlfriend on Sunday. Until next year...

Vacation Here We Come!

Tomorrow morning, bright and early (5 am) we will be leaving for the beach! We are taking the laptop so I may try to blog while I am gone, but I doubt it! Check back next week for vacation pics!

2 Timothy 1:7

Yesterday was one of the scariest days Brad and I have ever had. Brad left work early to go to the doctor with me. My appointment had gotten cancelled the day before and rescheduled for yesterday at 1:30 so I was very anxious to get to my appointment. It was the big day when we were going to get to hear our precious new baby's heartbeat. The sound that I had been praying for and longing to hear for the past 5 weeks.

Dr. Kassam came in and met Brad and then told me that all of my blood work looks great and you know the rest of the drill. It was finally time to hear the heartbeat. Dr. Kassam tried for several minutes to locate the heartbeat all the while telling me that everything sounds great and it is still early to hear the heartbeat. He asked his nurse to go get a different sonogram machine and he continued trying to find the heartbeat for several minutes while trying to reassure Brad and me that it is still very early and everything is just fine. I was trying to remain calm and composed and screaming out in my head and heart to God to just let me me hear a heartbeat. Please Lord let me hear my baby's heartbeat. Brad looked concerned and started rubbing my arm. I think he could sense my panic. My biggest fear seemed to be coming true. Dr. Kassam must have sensed my fear because he asked if I would like an early ultrasound to check on everything and I said PLEASE!

While we were waiting for an appointment to be scheduled at RMC in the outpatient center I tried to not let the tears start rolling but they did. Molly, who works in the front office kept telling me that everything would be ok, but all I wanted was to get out of there so I could have my breakdown. When we got in the car the tears just started falling like crazy and Brad said it would be ok. Then he asked me how early we heard Braden's heartbeat and when I said 8 weeks he broke down also knowing that I was at 10 1/2 weeks already.

We had an hour to spare before our ultrasound appointment so we sat in the car and prayed for our baby and for peace if we were going to lose our baby. We didn't want to call and upset our parents so I called Lori to ask her to pray for us and some of the girls from our church were over for a play date and they started praying for us. I kept remembering what one of the ladies in my bible study class Wed. night had said while 4 of us pregnant ladies were discussing our fears and worries. She quoted 2 Timothy 1:7 which is a verse I'm sure all of us are familiar with: For God did not give me a spirit of fear, but of power, love and self-control. I kept repeating this over and over in my head while we were waiting for the ultrasound and I felt a spirit of peace come over me.

When we went back for the ultrasound we finally saw our baby with a BEATING heart! Thank you Jesus! Brad saw it right away and said there is the heart and then tears started rolling down his cheeks again. Do you see why I love my husband?

Thank you Lord for our new precious baby. Thank you for a heart that beats.

Baby Hoffman

Mommy's School

Everyday when we drive past my school on our way home Braden says, "mommy's school" and he is always asking to come. He has visited me at school a couple of times this year and my kids just loved "Braden the baby". It is really funny that they think of him as a baby since he is just 2 years younger than some of them!

The last week of school my mom brought him into play centers and eat lunch with us. We had to eat lunch in our classrooms the last week of school which I hate, but Braden had a blast. Being the typical boy that he is he went straight for the block center with all of the trucks and cars. Here are some pictures from the day.


Playing with the cars and trailers in the block center

Dancing in the middle of the "boys and girls (gurllls)" as Braden says.

Dancing with Amelia...he loves her!

Eating his ice cream treat...YUM!

Rockin' the Rod

Most days Braden wakes up from his nap looking rough! You can tell he sleeps hard! We always laugh at his hair and try to smooth it down because it sticks up all over the place! This afternoon when he woke up his hair reminded me of Rod Stewart. It was hilarious! So do you think Braden rocks the Rod as well as Rod Stewart?

Just Like Daddy

Saturday Brad, Braden and I spent the morning working in the yard. Brad was trimming the hedges and Braden was VERY interested in what he was doing. I remebered that Santa had brought Braden a chainsaw for Christmas and he wasn't interested in it at the time so I put it away. After getting it for Braden and showing him how it worked he followed Brad around the yard "helping Daddy cut the leaves". He was so cute. When Brad would put his hedge trimmer on the back of the truck for a minute Braden would sit his right beside it and when Brad would stand back to check what he missed Braden would follow him and stand right beside him to check it out. It was so precious!

Too Cute for Words...

Fat Belly Too

Brad, Braden and I were laying on the bed and Braden was jumping around like he usually does and Brad was warning him to stay away from my belly. We were showing him where the baby is and he was saying "hey baby". He looked over at Brad and started telling Brad that he had a baby too. Brad said, "No I just have a fat belly". Braden responded by lifting my shirt, looking at my belly and saying, "Mommy has a fat belly (be-wee) too".

It was so funny! Brad and I started cracking up laughing and Brad was trying to explain to him that under NO circumstances do you ever tell a woman that they have a fat belly! So cute!

Braden and Fat Belly Mommy!

Amazed

For You created my inmost being,

you knit me together in my mother's womb.

I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;

your works are wonderful,

I know that full well.

My frame was not hidden from you

when I was made in the secret place.

When I was woven together in the depths on the earth,

your eyes saw my unformed body.

All the days ordained for me

were written in your book

before one of them came to be.

Psalm 139:13-16

I am amazed by God and the job that he has given me. It is a huge job. Much bigger than I ever expected it to be. Somedays I am overwhelmed with my job. It is the type of job that can make the most confident person doubt their abilities. Most days I question if I am doing a good job....if I am doing enough...if I am doing it right. But everyday I am rewarded. And thankful. I am so happy to be a mom. And I have to admit that today is the first day that I have thought of myself as a mom of 2!

If you know me well then you probably know that our newest blessing was quite the surprise. I am a control freak which I openly admit and MY plan was not to get pregnant until July or August which would give us a nice due date somewhere in April or May. However, I have been very humbled by our little December addition. Each time that I found out I was expecting I have been overcome with excitement, fear, worry. This time my worry has not just been about me or this unborn child that I am carrying, but also about Braden and how this child will come along and completely rock his very solid little world. Is this fair to him? And then I know the answer because I can't imagine a world without my little brother and I know that I am far more blessed to have shared these last 24 years with him then I was the 3 before he arrived.

I am amazed when I think of this baby that is really just a mass of cells growing in to a beautiful baby and then I look at my amazing 2 year old and I realize how amazing creation truly is. How awesome is our God that he can take nothing and create this person with likes and dislikes, opinions, features that may or may not look like me. WOW!

I am amazed this Mother's Day with my two fabulous blessings. One that I know very well, who is opinionated, stubborn, strong willed, loving, loud, sweet, and very persistent. One that has ticklish feet like his daddy and sings just like his mommy (bless his heart). One that is curious and loves to explore, especially ant beds. One who loves aggravating the dog and playing outside. One who asks a million and one questions even if he doesn't want the answer. One who melts my heart when he says "I love you, Momma." And one whom I have never met. One whom I don't even know the gender yet. One who was a surprise and may surprise me again if it decides to come on Christmas (please no!). One whom I am eager to hear the heartbeat, feel the kicks, and meet. One whom I love already though we have never met.

Thank you Father for my blessings and for giving me a love for both of my babies and an acceptance of your perfect timing and will that are so very different from my own. I pray that I can be a mother who teaches my children about your gracious love and a mother who leads by your example and calls on your wisdom during the times when I am at a loss. Thank you for giving me a day to celebrate how special and important being a mom truly is.

Hoffman Family of......

.......4!!!!!!

Easter 2009

I am finally getting to my Easter post. What a week!

Saturday we had a church Easter egg hunt at the Hodges. Braden had a blast! Friday evening i hid eggs in the yard and gave him his basket and let him "hunt" so he was familiar with the concept on Saturday at the hunt and a pro by Sunday when we had our annual Easter get together at my parent's with our family.

Sunday morning Braden woke up around 8:00 and we did Easter bunny stuff. He got a sand and water table, Nemo dvd, cook book, sunglasses (he is crazy about sunglasses) and a few eggs filled with candy which he polished off in no time! Brad and I got ready for church while Braden played with his new stuff and then we headed to church to meet my parents. I had the toddlers on Easter,but I heard that the message was awesome. After church we headed to my parent's house to take Easter pics and lay Braden down for a nap before everyone arrived. I think that Braden felt the excitement because rather than napping for the hour and half that he was in his room he destroyed it! He pulled all of his toys out and pulled all of the extra stuff that I brought out of my bags! We had an awesome lunch with TONS of food and then an Easter egg hunt. I bought an Easter pinata and the kids had a blast trying to bust it open. It was a great Easter! By Sunday night I was exhausted from our super busy weekend.

Church Easter egg hunt on Saturday.

Checking out his Easter bunny stuff

Hunting for eggs....he liked to stop and eat some of the candy along the way




Rice Krispy Nests

Easter Post Coming Soon....

Super busy week + sinus infection = no Easter post.....Hopefully this weekend!

Dyeing Easter Eggs

Yesterday my cousin's son, Cohen, came over to dye Easter eggs with Braden. They had a great time plopping the eggs in the dye!

After they dried, Braden decorated the eggs with stickers and even cracked a few!

Easter Eggs

I saw this idea in my Paula magazine and wanted to try them. I was starting to think it was a stupid idea since it took so long, but I am pleased with the end result. My hope is that Braden will be able to keep these eggs FOREVER (especially considering the time and effort I put into these stinking eggs), but Brad has informed me that since he is a boy he highly doubts that he will care! Anyway...here they are 3 days and 9 coats of paint later.... YES I SAID 9!

Things I Wish I Knew Before I Became a Mom...

I usually don't watch Oprah, but I was at my parent's house on Monday and my mom and I were watching it together. It was all about being a mom and a lot of it was about things you didn't before you were a mom....you know those things that people never tell you and you just kind of have to learn them on your own, but then you realize that most moms are dealing with the same things they just don't ever talk about them. So here goes....things I never knew before I was a mom and things that I struggle with about being a mom.

• Listening to the radio will never be the same. I have not listened to the "regular" stations for any lengthy amount of time since Braden was about 6 months old. All that I have listened to are nursery rhyme CDs and kids songs. I miss the radio!


• Breast feeding is hard.....all that you hear are the benefits of breast feeding and there are many, however it is not for everyone and you shouldn't beat yourself up if you can't or choose not to do it.


• Your life is not your own anymore. This is not a bad thing it just takes some getting used to. Everyday all day there is another little life that depends on you and this begins from the minute you conceive. This precious gift sucks everything out of you- your energy, your body, even some of your hobbies because you just don't have the time for them anymore


• I can't watch the news without freaking out when I hear about a child that drowned at the babysitter's house or escaped from their daycare and got ran over by a car. It hits me so hard that I just have to stop and pray for that mother because I cannot imagine a worse pain than losing your child.


• You realize that parenting is THE hardest job on earth and you think twice before you judge the mom with the screaming kid at the grocery store. You realize that she is doing the best that she can.


• I loved Braden before I even conceived him. I prayed for my child before I even became pregnant, but when they laid him on my chest after I gave birth he was a stranger in many ways. I carried him for 40 weeks, I had seen pictures of him in my belly, I felt his movements and I counted the many days until his arrival, but I didn't KNOW him. It is ok to feel this way, in fact I bet that if more people were honest they would admit to feeling the same way. It takes time to learn about this new little person, what they like and dislike and what makes them tick and just because you don't feel an immediate knock your socks off connection with your child does not mean that you don't love them more than anything in this world. It takes time to bond.


• I truly believe that I suffered from a mild case of post pardom after Braden was born. At the time I didn't realize it,but looking back I can see the train wreck that I was. I have never been an overly emotional person. I don't cry over just anything, but I spent the first 3 weeks after Braden was born crying. I like to have control and for the first time in my life I felt like I had absolutely no control over anything. He didn't sleep when I needed sleep, he cried and fussed and was hungry when it wasn't his scheduled time to eat. I had small panic attacks whenever 6pm rolled around because it meant that night was coming and I didn't know what the night was going to hold: was i going to be able to sleep, was he going to scream and cry all night? When Brad went back to work my mom would come and stay with me for part of the day and I would pace the floor until she arrived and cry when she left. I would count down the hours until Brad got home. I just needed someone to be with me. When Braden would wake up in the middle of the night, after I would nurse him and rock him to sleep, I would cry because I felt so unworthy of the incredible gift that God had given me. After the first 3 weeks I felt much better and like I had somewhat of a grasp on life with a newborn.


• The days of sleeping in on a Saturday morning are gone. If we get to sleep until 7:30 am it feels like the best thing in the world.


• It will be LONG time before you can enjoy a dinner out at a restaurant with your child. Just in the past 3 or 4 months have we been able to take Braden to a nice sit down, order a salad and entree restaurant and been able to enjoy the WHOLE meal. It is wonderful! But just get used to take out for a while if you actually want to enjoy your meal.


• I L-O-V-E my job. I enjoy going to work. I truly do. However, each morning that I drop Braden off at my parent's house I feel a twinge of guilt for leaving him. I'm sure that all working mothers do and I am certain that if my parents didn't watch him I could NOT leave him.


• Forget about stopping on the way home to grab a loaf of bread. Or pick up a prescription. Or grab dinner from a restaurant that isn't drive through. UNLESS you plan on getting a sleeping child, or a 30 pound carrier or a 30 pound child from the car. All of the simple errands aren't quite so simple any more.

I am thankful to the women who have talked to me honestly about their struggles with being a mom. I have written this in the hopes that someone who is a new mom or is thinking about becoming a mom will know that whatever struggles you are going through or have encountered you are not alone. I promise you that somewhere at least one other mom has been through the same thing. And we are NOT perfect. Being a mom is A LOT of trial and error. It is ok to mess up. Your child will still love you and admitting your fears, worries, and mistakes can only help you to become a better mom.