How to Wake Up From a Nap

Straight from Brayden Mynor's Handbook for Being a Boy:

Step 1: Fuss at your Momma for waking you up.

Step 2: Try to scratch your eyes out as a display of your disapproval.

Step 3: BIG YAWN!!!!
Step 4: Hold the yawn.

Step 5: Hold it . . .

Step 6: Accept that the nap is over and try to find some hair gel.

Dr Appt Updates

Well, Blogger won't upload any of my cute pics right now, sorry!!! Here are some updates from recent Dr appts --

Brayden Mynor has been a little sick. What started out as a little runny nose turned into an ear infection (OF COURSE). We had to postpone his 18-month shots b/c he was sick, so he'll get those in a couple of weeks. He is growing -- now up to 21 lb 10 oz and 30 inches long. I didn't get the head circumference this time, and I forgot to ask what percentile he fell into on the growth charts. I know he's still relatively small for a boy his age, but he is trying his best to "tank up"! After the good results from the VCUG, the pediatrician consulted with a renal specialist. They did another renal u/s last week, and the results came back again showing some problem. We have an appt this Friday with the specialist to discuss some other test that they want to do. I can only assume that this must not be a very "fun" test, since they scheduled an appt to discuss it beforehand. Hopefully we will have started that string of good results you guys were talking about!!!

Parker is doing good. We might need to change her name to Porker, since she is already up to 6 lbs 9 oz. That means that she'll probably be an 8.5 lb baby if I go to my due date -- YIKES!! That sounds HUGE to me, but the dr says she's right at 55% for a 36 weeks u/s. Brayden was only 5 lbs at birth, so I think she's plenty big enough to come on out now :)

A little off the subject -- did anybody notice that I got to put a new name on my links list?? I am so excited about Sara that I just can't take it :) How about some big congrats for Jenn & Family?!?! Please pray for a quick and smooth process to bring Sara home. . . this family is definitely due a short process after the long waits that they experienced for Ali & Rachel and then for McCaleb! THESE are people who know about patience & I am inspired that they are ready to continue their journey!!!

CHD Quilt Block

The Congenital Heart Defects Awareness Quilt Project is an organization that promotes awareness of CHDs and honors those who were born with a CHD by constructing quilts made with 42 blocks that each represent one individual with a CHD. This week I got an e-mail with this picture of Brayden's quilt block:

They are correcting the spelling of Guatemala and will send me a new pic soon, but I wanted to go ahead and share this because I thought it turned out beautifully. When you register for a block to be made in honor of someone, you can specify things that they may like to be on their block (favorite characters, hobbies, etc). Since Bray Boy is so young, there isn't much that I could think of. I did mention that he was Guatemalan -- I am amazed (and very happy) that they included fabrics that represent his birth country so well! (Hey, Guatemala Rocks and we are proud of it!!) I will get another picture once Brayden's block has been put into a finished quilt.

And why I am posting mid-day? I took a couple of days of vacation, and I am loving it!!!

Big Park & Brags

OK, just for Julia, I'll give you a baby update :) Parker has been lovingly dubbed "Big Park" by Aunt Emma -- we're just assuming that she will be HUGE since I was over 10 lbs at birth :-O March 20 is the due date, so we are less than 5 weeks away. I am feeling fine. . . well, I'm tired, but aren't we all? I have had a really, really easy pg, so I try not to complain (too much). I have an ultrasound on Thursday, so we'll have a better idea of how big Parker is then. I've gained 5 lbs so far, so I'm pretty happy about that. . . if she is over 5 lbs at this point, I'll be really happy :) We're doing this u/s because they think she is breach right now, so we need to confirm and then come up with a plan o' action if needed. No, I have not been nesting -- we are totally unprepared for this child, and we have tons to do. The nursery has been painted, the furniture is in, but that's about it. The window treatments aren't up, I've bought nothing to put on the walls, and the closet is not yet stocked with pretty little clothes!! OK, on to some pics --

I can't believe that I'm actually posting this, but here is the belly shot that Julia keeps asking for!

And here is another from DH's favorite perspective. . . he says you can "really see the roundness" in this one.

And here is her crib. At least she has a place to lay her sweet head! Hey, Crystal -- this pic isn't very good, but maybe you can tell. . . I'm an aspiring PB junkie myself :)

Now on to the "Brags" part of this post! Here is proof that Brayden Mynor is now a REAL walker :) He was making a break for the foam pit at the gym!

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And here is a short clip of my gorgeous girl, Jordan. She recently started landing her lay-out full twist. Unfortunately, we CANNOT seem to get a video clip of it! Here is all I've got, just imagine that she adds a full twist to this :) Jordan's team is undefeated so far. They are in Atlanta for a competition this weekend, and next month they are headed to Nationals in Florida. Way to go Jor!!!


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FOREVER FAMILY DAY!!!!!!!!

I cannot beleive it, but we are celebrating our Forever Family Day -- 1 whole year with Brayden!!! The past year has been so amazing. We have received blessings on top of blessings, and this truly has been the best year EVER!

One year ago, Michael and I stood in the hotel lobby anxiously awaiting to be re-united with our son forever. I stared at the doors. . . then I grabbed Michael's arm and said, "I see Frida. Who is that fat, bald baby?" It was my Mynor! From that moment on, our lives were forever better and we were a Forever Family!!!!!

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Almost a Walker

Brayden is almost officially a walker. Crawalking is still his preferred method of movement, but he is walking more and more. He will usually take off walking, but once he falls it is over. You would think it would come naturally for him to want to try and stand back up, but Brayden has shown no interest in that skill. On Saturday, he did stand up without pulling up on anything for the first time. I thought that would be the official changeover, but then on Sunday, he pretty much refused to walk at all! Oh, well, he'll figure out that he's faster on his feet than he is on his knees soon enough :)

I heard some giggling coming from the living room this evening, so I peeked around the corner to see what was going on. . . I found Bray-My and Lilli-Pie spending some time together.

Lillith is getting old and crazy, but she really is good for Brayden Boy. He loves her a lot . . . he gives her loving by laying his head on her. It is very sweet! He also likes to hit her in the face, which isn't so sweet, but it does make him laugh :0

One more thing -- I meant to do this a while ago, but I forgot!!! Jennifer wrote the most touching post about sweetie girl Ali. . . If you need some perspective or if you just need a good cry, I suggest reading this post :) I know some of you guys will really enjoy it!!! A lot of the time, I get tied up in the "baby" world, where we are all celebrating our first year together or still waiting to bring our children home. . . it's great to see how things "look" after a few years - when the emotions of the process have worn off and you can actual focus on reality!

Misc Ramblings

I am really, really sad for Corey right now. . . and I'm even sadder for sweet Sophie. Sometimes I just can't understand why things happen the way that they do. Please continue to pray for this family.

I like winter. I like cold weather and snow. SO WHY CAN'T WE GET ANY?? On Sunday, we got a little dusting of snow, and again today we got a little dusting. This does not count . . .

That's all we get?!?! I need more snow!

Tia comes over to see Brayden on Wednesdays. DH was nice enough to take some pics of the kids playing this week. These pics crack me up b/c this is exactly how Tia plays with Brayden!! She is actually trying to protect him. . . she doesn't want him to go anywhere b/c she's afraid he will get hurt. She just wants to hold him. I laugh just thinking that soon Parker will be here and it will be Brayden Boy's turn to be the big kid!!!