Developments for Ms. Brooke

This week has been a challenging week. Ryan has been gone to VA all week (coming home tonight, YEA!) and I had the kiddos all to myself 24/7. Brooke has FINALLY started to say mama. Now, I don't think she really knows that mama is me...but none the less, she's saying it. She's also starting to master the whole finger foods in the mouth thing. She is also getting a lot better at staying standing on her own. She still needs to pull herself up, but will stand without holding anything for 10+ seconds. I'm thinking she'll probably walk around the same time her older brother did...9-months.

Baby Austin has been moving quite a bit more now. I believe that Ryan will actually get to feel him tonight or tomorrow at the latest. At his ultrasound a few weeks ago he was in the breech position, but I think he's flipped over now. I'm feeling a lot of movement up high...but who knows. As long as the little bugger is head down (and face down please) by the time I deliver.

Play Date: Chik-Fila

Had a great first play date as a stay at home mom today with my great friend Melissa. I will certainly miss her when we move to Katy! Before Melissa arrived, I did a lot of people watching. It amazed me to watch the other SAHMs and how they interacted with other adults, their kids, etc. It sounds so weird like they are another species, but hey...I'm one of them now. It's sort of like this weird inside club. Melissa was filling me in on the etiquette for play area and such. I'm hoping I don't turn into the mom in spandex eating a salad at chik-fila...but from what Ryan tells me, there are more women in Houston that dress like that then San Antonio. Who knows, my new group of friends in the Katy area may be just that...spandex wearing, salad eating women...and I might just have to be okay with that.

A positive trip to the Pediatric Dentist

We just got back from James' dentist appointment (check-up). About a month ago he had to have his back left molar removed due to an infection which stemmed from an old cavity that was filled. Each visit to the dentist has been stressful, because they've either had teeth they were closely watching or he had full blown cavity, or he had to have his tooth extracted. Today was different!! He has some minor staining on his front bottom teeth, but other than that, he looks great. No cavities, no teeth they are concerned about, etc.

James was a little apprehensive when we first went because he remembers the previous times. He cried a little when they were scraping his teeth, but he soon cheered up when they started brushing him and it tickled. He got two prizes and a balloon. Brooke was a hit as well. Everyone loved her pony tail and thought she was just adorable.

All the hard work of brushing, flossing, and rinsing consistently was all made worth it today at the dentist.

Trying this again

Here we go...another shot at blogging. I've failed at it a number of times but hope to be successful this time. There is a lot happening in my life and it's a great time to start capturing it and recording it for future review. I'm recently a stay-at-home mom as of August 7, 2009. I left a wonderful job/career to be home with James and Brooke. Ryan got a job that will move us to the West Houston area and will allow me to stay home with them. I'm also about 5-months pregnant with baby #3.

Over the past 13 months, Ryan and I got married, had our amazing daughter Brooke, went through a stressful relocation battle with Joel, Ryan took a new job moving us to a new home/town, got pregnant again, and decided to stay home with the children. It's still very early in my stay-at-home adventure, but so far I am still very pleased with my decision. It will certainly be a financial adjustment, but it would have been either way with baby boy Austin on the way. The challenge has proved so far to be just that...a challenge, but a rewarding one. I'm thankful every day that I can watch my babies grow, learn, make mistakes, have successes, etc. Don't get me wrong, I think pre-school is essential, which is why I'm sending James to a pre-school 3 days/week from 9-2 in the new location. He needs time with structured learning and socialization of other kids his age as well as time away from me. This will hopefully prove to be a better transition for him into Kindergarten.

Keep your fingers crossed that I can keep up with this blog. I want this to be a documentation of the entire Rader Clan, not just me...not just the kids...but everyone!