Christmas Love

Halloween 2011 - New Sheriff in Town

This year, Halloween proved to be much more popular than in 2010.  Sheriff Young has come a long way from the angry little bat he was last year.



Brady definitely didn't understand trick or treating, but he had a blast following his buddy Simon, who is two and therefore much more well versed in the art of trick or treating.  Simon showed Brady the ropes and kept up an adorable running commentary on all things Halloween: "First, we very careful crossing the street.  Then, we knock the door.  Trick or treat!  We have pumpkins!".

We hit a few houses and then the sheriff called it a night, and his parents enjoyed opening the door for other little trick-or-treaters and devouring the sheriff's candy.

The only Young who still has mixed feelings on Halloween?  The sheriff's prisoner, who had to be detained after some poor Halloween etiquette.  Seven was under the mistaken impression that when children come to your door, you attempt to *take* their candy, not *give* them candy.





Pumpkin Patch

What happens when you take four squirrelly boy cousins to a pumpkin patch and try to get a group photo?

Maybe next year.

Brady at 12 Months

Mysteriously, my little baby looks like a total big boy in this month's photo. I don't know how it happened, but suddenly Bryan and I are the lucky parents of a 1 year old! 

We had a fun month celebrating Brady's birthday - it seems like we never really stopped celebrating his birth and somehow a year has gone by.  We decided to wait on a big party until another year and just celebrated with grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins - but there was no shortage of attention and gifts from this group. 

I am a total sugar fiend, so it came as no surprise that Brady enjoyed his birthday cake immensely.  He loves anything sweet, and anything he thinks is grown up food.  Currently his favorite way to score a taste of whatever we are eating is to dramatically smack his lips together and give a loud, "MMMMmmmmmmmmm". 

Brady was unsure how to handle gift opening but he did love the paper.

Brady weighed in at 24.5 lbs and measured 30.5 inches at his doctor's appointment and showed off 8 teeth and awesome clapping, waving, and walking skills.  Once Nurse Jaclyn appeared with her syringes, he also demonstrated healthy lung capacity, incredibly strong leg muscles, and an advanced ability to hold a grudge.  After his shots he was offered a toy baseball as a reward, which he indignantly hurled across the exam room.  He cannot be bought, Nurse Jaclyn.





Big Paws

Brady finally decided it was time to hold his own bottle. Only when I took the photo did I realize how very, very overdue this milestone is.




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You're My Boy, Blue!

I've spent the last 11 months hoping Brady's blue eyes are permanent, but not allowing myself to believe they are.  I have brown eyes, and Bryan has hazel - but thanks to some grandparental blue eyes, Brady has a chance.  They look pretty permanent in this shot...

Playing the Field

Brady has long been (and still is) enamored with Miss Molly May, but he's had a bit of a wandering eye in the last few weeks.  How can he help it with all these adorable girls around?

First, he made the acquaintance of the gorgeous Ms. Katie Rose.  They shared a delightful afternoon at Katie's house where Brady attempted to woo Katie with his toy handling skills and his ability to eat solid foods.  The date ended abruptly when it became apparent that Katie needed a nap.  Brady spent the rest of the afternoon with Katie's protective older brother Sam... we are pretty sure he won Sam's approval with a peace offering of a dump truck and by picking his nose at lunch, which Sam found hysterical.

Next, Brady met the lovely Miss Mary Adele, aged 1 month.  What a sweet, mellow baby!  I guess when you have four older sisters you learn quickly to go with the flow.  Sadly I neglected to take any photos, which I'll really regret if they get married one day.  The photos, if taken, would show Brady sifting through a bin of little girls headbands, ribbons and barrettes in complete amazement while Mary's older sisters kindly tried to interest him in more age (and gender)-appropriate toys.  He was distracted from the ribbon bin when the charming Miss Molly May arrived for a visit, and the two of them spent some time trying to keep up with Molly's older siblings and cousins with limited success on Brady's part.  Molly, now a seasoned walker, was able to get into the mix much more easily.

Last but not least, Brady shared lunch with Ms. Sophie Grace!  (And when I say 'shared lunch', I mean Brady inhaled anything placed in front of him while Sophie daintily sipped a bottle.)  Such a beautiful, fun little girl!  She and Brady had a blast 'talking' to each other across the table and attempting to poke each others' eyes out whenever they were within arms' reach.

What a week for this bachelor!  It may seem early for Brady to be dating but apparently this stuff is starting younger and younger these days!

Owning a Labrador Retriever - Pros and Cons

Pros:

- Unconditional love
- Companionship
- Excellent with children
- Never having to sweep under the high chair

Cons:

- Occasionally you may find your baby happily eating fistfuls of dog hair he has found on the floor.

Hopefully Lab hair has some nutritional value.

Brady at 11 Months

Every month I'm amazed at Brady's new developments, and this month was no different! In addition to his first haircut, this month included a fifth tooth and the big one, Brady's first steps. He took those right around the 10 month mark and has been gaining speed, distance and confidence since.

Aside from walking, a favorite new activity this month is clapping. Things Brady deems worthy of applause: his own reflection, his walking attempts, a meal being placed in front of him, most of Seven's activities, and anytime anyone says, "Yay!".

This month Brady took his first plane ride, to visit Grandma and Grandpa in Whittier. He did well on the plane thanks to a steady stream of snacks, and had a blast being showered with attention and new toys for a solid week.

Next 'first'? A birthday!

You Cut, I'll Drive

Brady, while continuing to be completely adorable, had taken on a decidedly Donald Trump-ish appearance in the hair area.  In related news, an alarming number of people had begun to comment on what a beautiful little girl he is.  I decided it was time to bite the bullet and find someone to tame his mop.  Some Yelping led me to a charming kids' salon in downtown Livermore (how does Pleasanton not have a place that cuts babies' hair?!), conveniently located near an ice cream place I've been wanting to try (verdict - delicious).  

Brady was unconcerned about his new surroundings and the woman wielding scissors, although he did seem to recognize the responsibility to drive his Thomas the Train chair as very serious business.



Half an hour later, I was no longer the parent of a baby - I had a bonified big boy on my hands, exhausted from the effort of keeping Thomas on course.





Brady at 10 Months

Another month has flown by!  The big news this month has been the arrival of Brady's two front teeth.  In related news, he also started eating solid food (July 19th, for my own reference).  By the truckload.  So far Brady is a great eater and gobbles up anything he is offered.  When he's not eating us out of house and home, Brady enjoys playing peekaboo and loves being chased around the family room, especially by his daddy.

Brady at 9 Months

Brady has had another big month - he added cruising to his list of hobbies and is very impressed with himself.  His current favorite pasttime is cruising laps around the family room. 

Brady's ninth month marked a first for Bryan and I - we left together overnight for our friend Carla's wedding in Carmel.  Gorgeous wedding and a great time!  One highlight of the event was when an older gentleman told Bryan he looks like Pee Wee Herman.  We are still getting mileage out of that one.  While Pee Wee and I danced the night away, Brady enjoyed the undivided attention of his Grandma and Grandpa and had a ball.  Here he is learning to ride the dog (which, by the way, is frowned upon in this establishment).

July 4th

This year was Brady's first time attending the Nova Court July 4th Extravaganza!  When we bought our house, the selling agent touted this party as a selling point, and it does not disappoint.  Every year, our friend and neighbor Madelyn (the Yankee Doodle Queen of Nova Court) organizes a really fun day for the kids (and grown ups too!).  Brady spent most of his time watching the action (which included a bounce house, snowcone machine, and water slide).



Sabine and Coco, official snowcone quality testers



Some grown ups also enjoy the slide.

Brady squeezed in a little pool time with his friends Coco and Sebastian.

That night, we had a huge potluck dinner and dessert, and then the kids piled onto our next door neighbors' driveway to watch a movie projected onto the garage door.  Overall, I'd say Brady's first July 4th was a success... he can't wait until he can slide with the big kids!



Travelin' Man

This month, we enjoyed a trip to Sunriver, Oregon.  My grandfather has a home there and Bryan and I have been lucky to use it since we've been married.  This year, Brady got to check out the Sunriver scene!  For anyone who might be wondering, vacationing with a 9 month old is a very different experience from vacationing without one.  You heard it here first.  Speaking of firsts, Brady experienced a few on this trip! 

He ate his first meal in a restaurant high chair.

Rode in a shopping cart for the first time (Yes, I let him ride in the cart without a protective cover.  I have a theory that the germs are good for him and build his immune system.  I repeated said theory over and over to myself when he leaned forward and started sucking on the shopping cart handle.)

First time on a swing!  By far Brady's favorite part of his trip.

First bike ride.  By far Brady's least favorite part of his vacation.  

Before



After



The Next Michael Phelps

Except Michael Phelps couldn't pull off this hat.

Brady at 8 Months

Brady has been a busy boy this month!  After weeks of rocking back and forth on all fours, he began to crawl.  Alarmingly, within days he was a speed demon.  For some reason I thought it would take longer for him to really get moving... not so much.  Needless to say, Brady spends no time sitting still anymore.  One of his favorite activities is inspired by Seven - Brady likes to throw a ball and then chase after it.  His own version of fetch.



Brady has transitioned away from his baby bath tub and is now taking big boy baths in the kitchen sink.  I hope he enjoys it because he may be bathing there until he can take a shower, as we have no bathtub at our house.

This month has been the most fun so far!  It is a blast watching Brady pick up new things so quickly.  Can't wait to see what 9 months brings... we won't have to wait long, due to how belated I am on this post. :)

Working on his core strength - it's bathing suit season, after all.

Fathers Day

We celebrated Bryan's first Fathers Day by participating in the Pleasanton Rotary Club Spirit Run.  Bryan, being a superior athlete, runner, and all-around show off, completed the 10k in 51 minutes and 38 seconds without having trained in a month.  We are very proud of him!  He's going to breeze through next month's half marathon.  I ran the 5k in 38 minutes and 9 seconds - slow, steady, and beet red.  We had a blast and hope to make the race a Fathers Day tradition.

Happy Fathers Day!

Brady at Seven Months

Brady is currently devoting most of his energy to attempting to crawl, so it's becoming increasingly difficult to get a monthly photo of him on his football blankie.  I can see a glimpse of him as a sullen teenager in the above photo, minus the thumb sucking.  Hopefully.

This month, Brady's two bottom teeth pushed through.  He is currently testing them on everything he can get into his mouth - his toys, his books, his blankets, his hands, MY hands... yes, Brady has literally bitten the hand that feeds him.





In other news, Brady's diet has expanded to include some veggies.  He is now demolishing man-sized portions of almost anything offered to him.  Almost. 

Peas are a polarizing vegetable in my family - my dad loves them and my brother hates them so intensely that at one memorable Thanksgiving dinner, he accidentally consumed one that was hiding under his mashed potatoes and threw up all over the table.  Having now prepared a big Thanksgiving meal myself, I have a much greater appreciation for the restraint my mom showed in not screaming/crying/refusing to make a holiday meal ever again.  That is a LOT of work to put in, only to sit down and have it covered in vomit.  But I digress.  Since peas seem to be a love-them-or-hate-them veggie on the Milhous side, and Bryan loves them, I was very curious where Brady would fall on the subject.  Without a doubt, I can report that for the time being, he strongly agrees with his Uncle Al.  Peas were the second vegetable I offered Brady - I tried sweet potatoes first, which he adored.  After three days of polishing off sweet potatoes like nobody's business, I figured I'd give him some peas.  He opened his mouth wide, probably expecting another heaping spoonful of delicious sweet potatoes.  When the peas hit his palate, his face registered shock, betrayal, and finally disgust, before spraying them all over his high chair in a way that would have made his uncle very proud.  I tried one more bite, thinking maybe it was just the shock of something new.  Upon being offered this poison a second time, Brady's face turned beet red and he began to grunt angrily and bang his fist on his high chair tray like a little dictator.  I ditched the peas and offered him some of his rice cereal, which he accepted hungrily until he detected trace amounts of pea contamination due to the use of the same spoon.  At that point he went back to red-faced protest, this time throwing in some violent back arching for good measure.  Message sent, message received - not a fan. 



Not amused.



A Star is Born

Yesterday, Seven filmed his first (and very likely, only) television commercial.  He will appear in a station identification ad for KOFY TV 20 here in the Bay Area.  Apparently anyone can sign up to do this with their dog, but there is a three year waiting list.  Proving it's not what you know but who you know, Seven managed to get in with only a two week wait.  He's very well connected (thank you Stacey!). 

Sev managed to also snag a call time for his best gal Piper, so they spent the morning rehearsing together(method acting, of course) and attending hair appointments (they both got the special Petsmart de-shedding bath.  Piper came home with an A+ report card.  Seven did not receive a report card.  I am guessing this is because he acts like he is being water boarded any time you try to bathe him.  Petsmart apparently follows the 'if you can't say anything nice, don't say anything at all' rule when filling out report cards). 

Once the stars were ready, we piled into the car for our glamorous ride into the big city.  If you have never been locked in a car for 40 minutes with two panting 70 pound dogs, it is quite aromatic.  We arrived at the KOFY station (reeking of dog hair and saliva) with almost 90 minutes to spare thanks to my neurotic fear of being late, and decided to take the dogs for a walk... our choices were the following scenic tours: the dump located literally across the street from the station, the freeway, or Cesar Chavez Blvd.  Once we finished taking in the sights and sounds of Cesar Chavez, we headed into the KOFY lobby.  We had already been tipped off by the location that the KOFY station would probably not have a glitzy lobby with free bottled water and a cheese tray.  We were not wrong.  The dogs were extremely interested in various spots on the lobby's carpet, but they did stop sniffing long enough to pose with the poster of KOFY's current mascot and some abandoned janitorial supplies. 

 


















After a few minutes, a producer came to retrieve us and it was time for the real excitement to begin.  Behind a set of double doors was our set - a fake living room.

For those who have never seen it, the commercials include a dog sitting in the leather chair staring at the camera.  The KOFY logo appears on the set's television and the dog looks at the TV.  The shot requires the dog to stay and stare at the camera for about 30 seconds.  At home, we spend most of our time trying to keep Seven off the furniture but at the KOFY set it took four failed attempts before we got him to stay in the chair.  Piper was a total professional and nailed her shot much more quickly.  And just like that, Sev's fifteen minutes of fame were up.  Well, that's not entirely accurate - Seven's fifteen minutes will be up when his commercial airs, May 24th during the 10:00pm showing of a Scrubs rerun.  We can't wait to see it! 



The Wrap Party