Lots of Change (Warning: Long Post)

I realize the majority, ok all, of my posts are about this kid. I can't help it, he's just too adorable! Tonight was bitter sweet for me. It was the first night that I have ever put Brady to bed without nursing him. I have kind of been wanting to stop nursing for a while but have been resistant because I did not want to deal with his tears. But after being bitten and drawing blood 2 nights in a row, I am DONE! I am surprised how well it went! Most nights when I try not to nurse him he pulls my hand up and cries until I give in, but lately has been losing interest at night so tonight he just had some milk from his cup and then we went on to do stories, songs and down for the night. He didn't even fake cry! Though I'm sure he will have some reaction in the next few days, especially in the morning, I am going to try my hardest to hold strong and hopefully we will be all done with nursing!

It has been a crazy month with lots of changes. At the beginning of August we moved to a different house, and although it is a lot smaller and I am having a real hard time finding space to put all of our stuff, it has been a really good move for us! It's a lot cheaper than our last house and it's only one level so Brady is free to roam as he pleases. And he LOVES it! He is so much happier here having room to run around and I am happier being able to let him go without worrying he will fall down the stairs all the time! It's been a really great change.

Also at the beginning of the month, I returned back to work. I work 3 days a week at the only clinic here in town which is pretty perfect. The only bad thing about it is that the days I work are Monday, Tuesday, and Friday, which kind of sucks. But I'll take it for now so I don't have to try to find sitters for shift work! I was a little nervous to go back after being away for a year and have lost a lot of my confidence I had before I left, but it is slowly coming back as I get back into the groove of things.

When I am gone, Brady goes to a dayhome. We were really lucky to have found the lady that we did. She is awesome and really interacts with the kids and does her best to make sure they eat and sleep well and play lots. There are 2 other little girls and another boy who just started with her so Brady has lots of friends to interact with. It was a really rocky start, Brady screamed the whole time he was there and refused to eat or sleep, and the dayhome lady almost quit on us. We decided we would give it one more week and if there was no change then we'd have to do something different, but thankfully after lots of prayers and his top tooth finally popping through things started to look up and he is really warming up to the dayhome. The past two days he hasn't even cried when I dropped him off, which is a HUGE improvement. I'm feeling really grateful that we found such a good dayhome. She really worries about him not eating, but he is a pretty picky eater so I tell her not to worry.

And as far as changes go, Brady continues to grow and change a ton every day. He is getting so big and so smart! He now tries to run everywhere and hates sitting in the grocery cart. He doesn't ever want me to hold his hand when we are walking around the stores anymore. He loves to climb all over the park and is starting to get real good at going down the slide sitting all by himself. The park is a pretty good workout for me chasing him up and down trying to make sure he doesn't just step off the edge at the top. He still hasn't developed his sense of height and the dangers of it. He is learning to climb onto the couch and tries to daily to lay on Ruby and give her hugs. He has been successful a few times. Brady is a very picky eater. He won't let me feed him anything that requires a utensil and if I try he has to hold a spoon too. He doesn't know how to use it yet though so he mostly just plays and ends up throwing everything on the floor. The only way I can get him to eat any vegetables is to give him those squeeze packs of pureed veggies and fruits. He loves them. He loves snacks. Most meals he ends up eating either a peanut butter or grilled cheese sandwich, or a toddler breakfast bar. It's starting to be exhausting to try and get him to eat and I feel like it's not getting us anywhere but I guess he won't be this picky forever!

Brady is getting real good at drinking out of an open cup. We practice everyday and he mostly has it figured out. The hardest part of it is trying to stop him from putting his hand in it and play with the contents. He loves to play with water. Bath time is still one of his favorites.

Brady is starting to talk all day long. He doesn't say real words yet but is starting to try and getting closer on some. But he babbles all day long. Lately he will take the monitor and turn the volume up and down and then put it up to his mouth and whisper into it like he is talking to someone. It is pretty cute! He also loves the telephone and banging the cupboard doors and dresser drawers. He is a true little boy!

Of course this post wouldn't be complete without some pictures so here you go!

He always has to be pushing the cart

Loves the phone

He loves limes! The only thing he would eat when we went out for Cody's birthday.

Playing with his dinner

Playing outside before bedtime

We took Brady to his first fair this past weekend and rode his first carnival ride. It was the berry-go-round. It was also the only ride they would let us go on the ride with him.

Cuddles with Daddy. He has been SUPER cuddly lately!

Always getting into trouble!