Watch me Grow!: Spring 2013

This was a big time for me because I was no longer spending my days with Laura and Layla, now I was going to school!!! I enrolled in school and from day one, I loved it! Made lots of new friends right from the start and learned very quickly how to play and share with lots of kids! After being at ChildTime for 2 weeks, they decided it was time to bump me up to the 3 year old class because those kids read books, sing songs, are potty trained, and can hold conversations. The kids I was with that were my own age didn't do any of that and I was very bored. I love my teachers and my new class! I come home every night and tell Mommy and Daddy at dinner all about my days. I paint, color, play outside, make lots of pictures, and lots more! Some friends I've made are Benton, John John, Mikayla, and lots more.

When Daddy had his surgery, we spent lots of time at home relaxing so I got to watch lots of movies. I learned that Cars is my all time favorite and watched both Cars 1 and Cars 2 all the time! Daddy thought it'd be cool if I started to collect them so that's what we did! Once we played together, I got hooked and now I'm obsessed!!! I have every car character there is and lots and lots of race tracks too! We have so much fun with them!

In February, things started to change A LOT. Mema was sick a lot and very sad and my mommy cried all the time. It was very hard for me to understand but I knew I had to give lots of hugs! by March, we had lots of visitors and Mema was gone for a while. I didn't know it but she was in the hospital because she had a major major surgery. (She was diagnosed with Stage 4 lung cancer in January and by March, she had her entire lung, heart lining, and diaphram removed.) It saved her life but boy was this a tough time for us! Mommy was going to the hospital everyday and then coming home to eat dinner with us and put me to bed. What I didn't know is that she was going back after I was asleep and staying the nights with Mema. Thank goodness she wasn't alone.

During this time, I started to change. I was very needy and whiney. I mean, could you blame me?!? I missed my family the way it was before. But thankfully, Uncle Jeff, Papa, and God were looking down on us, making my Mema better! Spring was a tough time for our family but we got through it!

Eventually, Mema got better and I got to go and visit her more. The hospital is a weird place but the food was actually good! Once she got home, we got to hang out more thank goodness! Man I missed her!

Aunt Leslie came a lot which was super cool! She read me books and played with me a lot! Nanie came home too!!! I love them so much and it was so nice to see Nanie every week!! Aunt Leslie and Uncle Gary came to visit too and we had fun hanging out.... they brought me the coolest car that I brought with me everywhere for a while!

Even though things were tough, we still managed to have a lot of fun! We went to the Children's Museum and the Zoo a lot! We also played outside and hung out with friends. Mommy and Daddy tried really hard to keep me playing!! And I picked up on a lot of funny, cute habits too!

*Mommy taught me how to give wet kisses only I put my own spin on it. Brayden Wet Kisses are when you lick people's faces! It's sooo funny to surprise them with it!

*I became very lovey and started giving hugs and kisses all the time!!!

*I started saying "I love you" on my own without being prompted. I say it to my family all the time!

*Now that I'm potty trained, I think it's hilarious to tell people when I tooted, and even come out of the bathroom yelling, "I went potty!!" People cheer for me, it's the coolest thing!

Even good things come from challenging times!

We took family pictures in the park. I was very crabby but we were able to get some good pictures! As I would say, "I just love my pamly"

I spent the day with Kelly and Madden and had a blast riding around on Madden's car!

This is my "cheese" face... I know we are working on it. But what a great day with Gramps and Nonie at the U of A basketball game!

Pouting outside of Daddy and Laura's favorite sandwich place. Don't worry, I pulled it together and finished eating with Layla. (It only took a few times in public of me sitting in the corner before I stopped throwing tantrums. People may have thought Mommy was mean but it worked!)