29 December 2009

Christmas

Sara T made a post about Christmas on her blog for memories sake and I thought what a fabulous idea.  So, without further ado, a recount of December 24-27.

We were fortunate enough to see the Bible's on the 19th for Christmas, so we didn't have to leave our hometown from Christmas Eve - Sunday.  Christmas Eve, my mom made dinner for her side of the family.  Brody did the entertaining after dinner.  Typically we would attend church, but special church services just don't work out with Brody's schedule right now and with three more days of celebrating ahead, we hated to disrupt his schedule too much.  Christmas Day, Brody woke to find Santa had indeed visited our house.  Grammy and Grampy were there to witness him open his first Christmas gifts from Santa.  He didn't get much because there were still basically three days of Christmas left for him and he just had a birthday!

Brody has a love for chewing on his socks!  Only his socks though...I threw one of my clean socks from the laundry basket on the floor the other day and he had no interest in it whatsoever.


We joined Aunt Helen, Unky Dave, Cousin Mike, my grandparents and parents for a lovely Christmas morning breakfast.  Brody barely made it through breakfast before he was ready for a siesta though.  That Santa business was exciting stuff you know!

We spent the rest of the day at Grammy and Grampy's playing/lounging/napping/cooking for the BIG Yakey Christmas that afternoon/evening.  Grampy likes to take Brody into the nursery at their house to play.  He can lounge on the bunk beds and Brody can climb all over the bed and bounce!  He also thinks it is fun to climb on an off the bed...gets old if you ask me, but it's what the kid likes to do.


Christmas night all the Yakey's celebrated in style.  Brody had no interest in his own gifts, but wanted to help Aunt Vickie open hers.  Good thing she doesn't mind sharing the duty of unwrapping.  Brody stayed up until almost 9:00, which is unheard of for him, but he wouldn't want to chance missing some action somewhere.  Grandpa and Grandma Yakey gave both the boys a minature ATV to ride.  They have to 'fred flinstone' it to make them go, so a lot of pushing around took place.  Brody announced that he was going to be a BIG brother in July.  He shocked most everyone...pretty fun to see everyone's reactions!
 
Cohen was winding down for the day and found a comfy spot to drink his milk.  Grandpa is always thrilled to hold a little tike if they are willing to sit for a spell.  He also likes to get down on the floor and play with Brody and Cohen.  He might play heck getting back up, but he is determined to play.  So Christmas Day came to an end, and Brody fell asleep the instant we put him in the vehicle that evening.  Once home, Kurt had to place a few phone calls and shock his family with our expanding family news.

Brody was up at 7:00 the next morning ready to go to Grammy's to see Cohen.  We had a fabulous breakfast of bacon, eggs, and scones.  Brody and Cohen enjoyed sharing their breakfast.  I vacuumed up the leftovers and settled Brody in for his nap.  Michelle got Cohen down for his morning nap and we both enjoyed a breakfast uninterrupted!  That was a gift in itself!!

We opened gifts in a leisurely fashion.  Brody received a fabulous radio flyer wagon complete with canopy, a fun egg shaped chair that spins in circles, a tent complete with tunnel, some books/dvd's and the best gift of all, a baby trampoline.  Brody loves to jump...he will stand anywhere and jump and seriously get air time.  He also likes to sit on his butt and bounce.  So, Uncle Chris and Aunt Katy hooked him up with his very own trampoline, complete with a bar to hang onto.  Brody knew instantly what to do with it.  I have a video to post soon of him in action.  It's pretty funny stuff!

Uncle Justin was a busy guy leading up to Christmas.  He made a designer outfit, think Borat style, for Kurt.  Dear Kurt doesn't have a shy bone in his body, so he of course rushed to the bathroom to try it on for everyone.  He said he couldn't sit down because something might 'pop' out his shorty shorts!  I will spare you the pictures though and my video was horrible because I couldn't stop laughing at him.  Uncle Chris got a porta-pooper.  Justin welded up this lovely structure and attached a toilet seat and lid.  It also came complete with a toilet paper dispenser and hooks to attach a plastic grocery bag under the seat for easy disposal!  Luckily Chris didn't try his gift out for our viewing pleasure.  These gifts would be payback for the lovely plaque that Chris and Kurt gifted Justin last year...Justin's first bucks antlers that were just little bumps and of course the deers manly parts all displayed on one lovely board.  What will Chris and Kurt do next year to top Justin's gifts this year?

Dear Brody was wore out come Sunday morning.  He slept until 8:00 and probably would have slept longer, but I had to get he and his father moving if we were going to make it to church in time to greet.  After some fabulous waffles from my new waffle maker my dear hubby remembered to buy me for Christmas, we were off for the day.  Brody was rotten in church...it took the whole pew to keep him somewhat entertained for 75 minutes!  Thankfully he napped for 30 minutes after church so he was ready for the Jones' Christmas.  Dear Mama Merna makes fabulous spaghetti every year.  It's delectable right down to her yummy homemade meatballs.  After we were all delightfully stuffed and we had watched the Jones' boys try to conquer Super Mario Bros. on the Wii, another round of gift opening took place.  Brody actually slept through the gifts though, so Kurt and I got to sit back and enjoy.  The Jones' were again way to generous to our family.  Thanks for including us!

Each day, we carried our gifts in and stacked them on the dining room table. It seemed like as good of place as any. By Sunday afternoon, the table wasn't recognizable! Kurt and I quickly rememdied that though. I was starting to get an itch everytime we walked by it, so I knew I would sleep better if I made some attempt to put it all in it's rightful new homes.  We still have some organizing to do, but everything is seeming to fit right in.  We did put some of his toys up for a bit because between birthday and Christmas there were so many.  In a few weeks we will dig them out and have another round of new stuff to play with!

Well, that's that.  Now I must work on some video to post...



28 December 2009

Holy Pee Stick Batman...

Brody's going to be a BIG brother in July!

23 December 2009

12 month stats

25 pounds
31 1/2 inches long

22 December 2009

Brody's First Birthday

We celebrated in style Sunday.  Lots of family, lots of food and lots of cake!





Seriously studying a gift!

Hat courtesy of Great-Uncle Pat and Great-Aunt KathyBrody just couldn't go any longer.  He cuddled into Grandpa Yakey's lap for a long winter's nap. 

Thanks for all the birthday wishes, cards and gifts!

21 December 2009

Bible Christmas


Saturday evening we headed south to celebrate Christmas with Brody's Great-Great Grandma's, Great-Grandparents, Great Aunts and Uncles and cousins.  It was a long evening for our little guy, so not many pictures were taken.  It was nice to see everyone though and thanks for all the gifts!

20 December 2009

Happy First Birthday Brody!

At 3:36 pm today, Brody officially turned ONE!  We, of course, have lots of pictures thanks to Michelle and Justin taking over the camera and video thanks to Matt.  We are just too tired to download them today.  So for today, a picture of our Brody bug 365 days ago will just have to do!  Until tomorrow...

P.S. ~ We submitted his picture to WCIA for their Wonderful Ones segment so hopefully that will air tomorrow morning!

15 December 2009


Gabrielle came and 'swam' in our hot pool last night!
A smiley Brody B testing out a birthday gift at Grammy's...a week early!

14 December 2009

Great Grandma Yakey's Birthday Party


Grandma offered Brody a bite of her carrot cake as he was getting changed into his pajamas.


She had no idea what she had started though...Brody knows the sign for MORE PLEASE. So, here is he asking for more please, which was repeated over and over again!


She then went and grabbed a sugar cookie to share with him...Grandma is a diabetic, so maybe it was a cover so she could eat more sweets too?

Her actual birthday is the day after Brody's and she will be 88...most definitely a reason to celebrate!

A morning routine.


10 December 2009

Brr...It's Cold!


30 November 2009

Saturday


We took full advantage of the warm weather on Saturday!
Brody's Tonka truck will pick up blocks in the house and we found it will pick up walnuts and other yard debris.  I think next fall he and his Tonka will have a job.

28 November 2009

Happy Thanksgiving!


Brody's first Thanksgiving meal...those noodles were yummy Mama Merna!

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24 November 2009









Pictures By: Studio 21 Photography

21 November 2009

Brody's new found hiding spot.  Why under the table of course!  It's a great challenge to crawl through the chairs and then once you get to the center, you can flop like seal over the center support of the table!

An afternoon of picking corn.



13 November 2009

More Honor Flight


Although it's blurry, Aunt Helen and Grandpa are marching into the school for the welcome home ceremony. 
An American Legion group led the way carrying the flags.

Grandpa and Grandma were happy to see each other...Grandma gave Grandpa a big hug...aaahhhh!

Grandpa had to show off all his letters he received during Mail Call.  He didn't open but a couple on the flight...I'm guessing it was just a little overwhelming for him to have such a pile of mail to read. 

Uncle Pat and Aunt Kathy were there.

Aunt Vickie, Nicole and of course Courtney (without makeup, oh dear me).  Uncle Dave was drying corn and of course Emily was at the airport.

My parents and me (looking like a drowned rat).  Kurt was home with Brody and Katy can't stay up past 8:00 these days thanks to being pregnant!  Michelle, Justin and Cohen just live to far away.  They should move home!!

Uncle Bill, Aunt Kay, Brittney and Zach - Remy the dog was in the car even.  Brittney and Zach made a fast track back to Champaign so they could work the next morning. 

Of course Aunt Helen was still there and her hubby David was still hanging out with his veteran friend for the day, Earl.

Holding hands....how about another aaahhhh!

Courtney and I were just thrilled to take part in the day.  We were absolutely worn out and are 1/3 of the 52 veteran's ages so I can only imagine how they felt by the time they found their beds that night. Grandpa was still just in awe yesterday.  I think he was most awestruck by the welcoming committe at the airport in D.C.  It was one of those moments I personally will never forget in my lifetime nor probably seen duplicated! 

I still have some random pictures to share and hope to get Aunt Helen's as well maybe tonight.