Can You Guess?

I picked up B's Halloween costume yesterday. Can you guess what he will be this year?

Gracie will be wearing her big brother's hand-me-down monkey costume, I think. I haven't actually tried it on her to see if it will fit. I'll add that to today's agenda!

And since we're already playing a guessing game, can you guess what B is doing in this picture?

If you guessed "Painting a birdhouse made out of recycled materials that his Daddy built for him using a kit we picked up at Patuxent River Appreciation Days" - you'd be correct! In fact, his Daddy won a nomination from B for "Father of the Year". He had a blast with that little project. Unfortunately, if Josh is waiting on a "Husband of the Year" nomination, he'll be waiting a little longer. He set B up with this project right before he left for work. Guess who was left to supervise and clean up the mess? If you guessed the future "Wife and Mother of the Year" (aka ME), then you guessed right :)

Goodbye Summer, Hello Fall

I don't know about you, but I am so glad that the hot, humid, hazy, mosquito-infested days of Summer seem to be behind us. I am not a Summer person (in case you couldn't tell). I'm much more of a Fall/Spring type person. Cool, crisp mornings/evenings and warm days with cool breezes. Yes, that's my type of weather. We've been spending lots of time outdoors - which I don't mind doing now that the mosquitoes have disappeared. We even had an impromptu bon fire on Saturday night. Unfortunately for Brennan, we only had mini marshmellows so we couldn't make s'mores.

Speaking of, not really but I needed a transition, Brennan has learned how to ride his balance bike (video/pictures coming soon). A balance bike is a two-wheel bike without pedals that teaches kids to ride without training wheels. Three weeks ago he would only attempt to ride it if we made him, and now we can't get him off of the bike! He calls it his "motorcycle".

Here is a video of Brennan enjoying the gorgeous Fall weather at the park on Friday. Enjoy!



In other exciting news, I'll have my 20-week ultrasound next Wednesday (9/30) and we will hopefully find out if we're having a girl or a boy.

Remember me?!

It's been a while since I posted - sorry! We've just been enjoying a lazy summer at our house...meaning I've been too lazy to do much of anything let alone blog about my laziness! Here are some pictures from the annual Hammett/Biffel Family Picnic that took place over the weekend. B had a blast swimming in Grandmommy's pool, but after a couple hours exhaustion took over and he turned into a bear!

B and Uncle B

Big, blue eyes!

Picking crabs with Pops and Momma. No, that's not his beer!

Lean, mean, swimming machine!

That's My Boy!

I love my son. He never ceases to amaze me with this creativity and fun-filled spirit. Tonight, he wanted to go swimming in his semi-new pool (bigger than the dino pool). But it was after dinner and neither Josh nor I was really feeling like a dip in the freezing cold pool. So, I told Brennan to grab his floaties from the pool and bring them in the tub so he could "swim" in there. I washed his hair and lathered him up with soap as usual (we get the "business" part done first so he can play the rest of his time in the tub). I then left him so that I could change the laundry, etc. I called to him to make sure that he was doing alright and walked into the bathroom to find...

Look at how brown the water looks - ewe! Boys are gross!

Wordless Wednesday (it is Wednesday, right?!)

Guess where B & I are going?!

This Saturday. Oh boy! Pray for me :o)

Good boy?!

Houston, we have a miscommunication! For some reason, Brennan confuses being a good boy, with being a big boy. I don't know why. A couple months ago I told Brennan that if he was a good boy while I shopped I would let him have some Pez when we reached the checkout. He proceeded to tell me "I'm a big boy!". No son, good boy not big boy! 

Well, tonight while eating dinner he made a little mess with his shredded cheese. He started flipping out because, fortunately for me, he likes things to be tidy while he eats. He wanted me to clean it for him and I said "No, you can do it. You're a big boy." To which he replied (with a sad, serious look) "No Momma, I'm not a good boy. I'm just little". 

That's my boy!

Ever had one of those weeks?

You know, the kind where you feel like all you do is spend time doing laundry and scrubbing things with bleach and yet somehow your house is still a disaster? Yeah, me either :o) 

Oh wait, that sounds a lot like me this past week! Poor B spent the better part of this past week throwing up, taking baths, and laying on the couch. I'm fairly certain I did 5 loads of laundry on Wednesday alone just to wash his soiled clothes & blankets, oh, and don't forget the bath mat (which, by the way, had already been washed on Sunday when B's friend had an "accident"!). 

Poor B has a double ear infection and I'm not a doctor but it would appear he has some type of stomach virus on top of it. Just when I think he's feeling better, he gets that "leave me alone and let me lay on the couch with my bucket" look in his eyes. Poor thing. He only weighs 25.3 lbs fully clothed (per the ER scale on Wednesday night). I'm pretty sure that his 6-month old cousin Jonathan is going to out weigh him soon (if not already!). 

Needless to say, I've been reminded this week that I am truly blessed with many things. I'm blessed with a child who is, for the most part, healthy & happy. Who hasn't had to spend the majority of his little life in a hospital bed fighting every day like poor Gabe and Abby. And with a job that provides leave to allow me to stay at home with my sick child, and even let me work from home when he is resting. I have definitely been given more than beyond measure and way more than I deserve. But I guess that's GRACE - God's Riches At Christ's Expense.

Wordless Wednesday (Maybe)

Can you guess who has been fighting a stomach bug since yesterday evening? Poor little bunny!

Happy 3rd Birthday, Brennan!

I can't believe that it has been 3 whole years since I brought my precious little guy into the world. He didn't come willingly, he fought the whole way, and he's been a fighter ever since! Always aware and curious of what is going on around him and always looking for adventure. My mom used to joke that she would be amazed if my younger brother (Uncle B, Brennan's namesake) made it to school age. Now I think I understand what she meant :o) I don't know what I was expecting when we named B after Josh and my brother - both are quite the adrenaline junkies! 

Brennan has a smile and a personality that can light up a room. He never ceases to teach me new things, mostly patience :o) He is very mechanically inclined and always on the move. He started walking at 10 months and hasn't stopped since. He could climb out of his crib before his first birthday and would move toys/step stools to open doors and reach things on countertops by the time he was two. Now, at three, he knows how to use a screw driver; takes batteries out of EVERY electronic controller/remote/device we own; can unlock doors; he can ride a scooter; jumps off of our 2 1/2 foot deck; etc.

I could ramble on and on, but in short - I love my baby big boy and I feel so blessed that God chose Josh and I to be his parents. 

Happy Birthday, Brennan! 

ABC's of B

I just realized that B's "birth month" is upon me. My baby will turn 3 years old in just a few short weeks :o( In some ways it seems like the last three years have flown by, but in other ways, it seems like he has always been a part of our life. I can't really remember life before him. I'll save the mushy stuff for his birthday post though. For now, I thought it would be fun to have some fun with his name. Can you tell I have some free time on my hands while we wait for him to wake up from his nap?!

B - Bold

R - Radiant smile

E - Energetic, to say the least

N - Nana's boy

N - No fear

A - Awesome kid

N - Ninja Turtle lover

J - Josh's son

A - ALL boy

M - Momma's baby

E - Excellent ball thrower

S - Scooter rider

Brennan-isms

Momma: "B, when did you get so big?"

B: (Shrugs) "Friday morning." (Walks away)

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Momma: "I love you, B!"

B: "I love you back." 

Momma: (Heart melts and she forgets all about the 36 hours it took to bring him into the world!)

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Momma: "B, hold my hand so we can cross the street."

B: (Quickly shoves hands in pockets) "I can't, my hands are full." (Shrugs)

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Momma: "B, check out this (free) toy I got you at work today. Do you like it?"

B: "It makes me 'ha-hee' (happy)."

Momma: (Heart melts and she forgets about the major tantrum he threw in Wal-Mart last week!)

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Momma: (Bends down for 2 seconds to pick something up off the floor)

B: (Quickly jumps on Momma's back) "Horsey ride. Horsey ride. Give me a horsey ride!"

Momma: (sighs....then gives in!)

B: "Wee-haa"

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Momma: "Pops had to get a shot today, ask him if he cried."

B: (shrugs) "He din't cry, he big boy." 

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B: "Momma, I want pez."

Momma: "If you're a good boy while Momma finishes her shopping then I'll get you a pez."

B: (semi-loud and a tad annoyed) "I'm a big boy!"

Momma: "Good boy, not big boy"

Christmas fun with cousins!

Sadly, the Law family will not be joining us this year on Christmas. I suppose it is only fair that we share them with their other extended family, but they will surely be missed around Pops and Nana's Christmas tree. So for a little pre-Christmas fun, Brennan made the long trek to Ballston (Arlington, VA) with me today so he could visit with his cousins and have a mini gift exchange. Don't tell Pops though. He does not believe in opening presents before Christmas :o)

I was at work, but I heard that the cousins had a fun visit and Brennan was on his best behavior. I don't have any fun pictures, but B's Aunt LiLi was sure to capture a couple. They can be seen here.

You'll notice that Brennan has a nice boo-boo on his chin. He had took a little spill at my Aunt and Uncle's open house on Sunday and split his chin open. I had only told him four times not to run on the hardwood floors in his socks. Perhaps if I had told him a fifth time he would have listened! Fortunately, the emergency room was nearly empty when we arrived, so they took us right back and patched him up. Kids - never a dull moment! 

Like Father, Like Son!

Yup - he's dressed up like Daddy for Halloween! Well, it depends on when you ask him really...

Around the beginning of October, Josh and I started asking B what he wanted to be for Halloween. Every time we asked, B told us "Daddy". We had B's Sammy (Josh's mom -- who is a far better seamstress than I could ever wish to be) take one of Josh's old uniforms and make it Brennan size. So B was all set to dress like Daddy for Halloween. Then a few days ago, when asked what he will be for Halloween, B responded that he was going to be "Chris". Thankfully, Chris works with Josh so no costume change was needed!

What a compliment to Josh (and Chris!) to be so admired by a little guy. And what a reminder of how the things we do and say have a huge impact on little people.

Have a fun and safe Halloween!

Halloween Sneak Peek!

Here's a peek of Lil B in his Halloween costume:

Can you guess who he is?!?

An old friend

A couple of weeks ago B had a visit from an old friend, YuYu (aka "Fiona"). YuYu played hooky from preschool to visit with B for the day and they had a ball together. Here are some pictures from the reunion:

Are you ready for some football?!

B is! This isn't the best photo because it was taken with my phone, but you get the basic idea. B found his knee pads in the toy box the other day and insisted that I help him put them on so he could "play football". He's such a funny little monkey!

Summer 2008 in Review

Now that summer is officially over and the orangeness and crispness of fall is upon us, I thought I would share a quick video featuring snapshots of B thoughout the summer. Enjoy!

B's Summer 2008

Future Iron Chef?

Brennan, being the helper that he is, LOVES to assist in the kitchen and insists more and more lately that he be allowed to help. I've always tried to allow him to help me around the house with other chores (i.e. dusting, vacuuming, laundry, etc.) but not so much while I'm cooking. I guess before he always seemed to little for me to trust him a.) near the stove, b) near the sink (he likes to play with water, or c) not to make a complete mess in my kitchen. Anyway, now that he is a big boy and a whopping 2 years and 7 months old, I've been letting him sit on the counter and help me cook. He mostly enjoys stirring things which can tend to get messy. I just try to keep my cool and remind myself, repeatedly, that one day his wife will thank me for taking the time to teach him how to cook and clean :o)
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I'll leave you with a few pictures of my little man (and future Iron Chef America) helping his Nana make a rum cake. Lookout Bobby Flay!:






PS - we do not typically bake with our pants off!

Our New Site!

Brennan will be turning two this weekend (I know, hard to believe!), so I thought it may be time to move to a new and improved blog. Afterall, the old site was a "baby site" and Brennan is, well, not a baby anymore. This site should allow us to post videos as well as photos. In honor of my first post, below is a recent video of Brennan and his friend Nona (Fiona) practicing rolling.

Add this new site to your "Favorites" and be sure to check back with us soon.