Brayden update!

We are working on using a nice tone of voice - he thinks compliments are the way to be nice and make everything better.

He is really getting good at hide-n-seek.

He is doing some big boy things and staying quite when I ask him to...playing on his own downstairs. He is into dressing himself and getting undressed on his own.
He likes going to the bathroom on his own and he can zip his coat up (the only one in preschool).

He loves board games and transformers are his toy of choice. He REALLY wants Bumblebee for his birthday. Did you know he is having a Transformer birthday? He told our friend David that the other day. I’m glad we were there to hear it. We are going to combine all his friends from school, church, cousins and personal friends. There will probably be about 7 all together. We are going to set the jumper up in the backyard with all the backyard toys and have our own play gym/obstacle course out there. I think it will be fun. We are not going to do a meal, but ice cream cake. Brayden only likes frosting - no cake - so we figure ice cream and icing will be the best bet.

We are working on keeping our hands/head to ourselves so that Brynn does not get knocked over or bumped into things. We are talking about how big brothers protect their little sisters and try to keep them safe. He loves her so much and wants to touch her and play with her, but does not realize how tipsy she is and how one little bump gets her off balance. When she falls he must let her go gently so she can get a good foothold and stand steady. He is learning. If he doesn’t, she bites - so he will learn one way or another I suppose.

I love seeing Brayden holding Brynn’s hand and taking her around the house in the mornings. It is so sweet!

Bray tends to be very Interested in art. He loves art/crafts at school. At home he loves his art/paint spinner and Nonnie's cord art board. He is more creative than he lets you believe and he loves music/singing/dancing more than he will let you know.

He made up new words to the song “Gunk, Gunk goes the little green frog one day...” He changed the animals to an alligator with a snapping mouth and a bird with a chirping beak. I thought it was very cleaver to figure out the pattern with different animals. He is so smart with language.

He fell down the basement stairs the other day - scared me half to death. That is 13 stairs. Good thing they are carpeted. He cried just because it scared him so much and Mommy was screaming. Then, the next day, he fell from the top of the steep stairs at the park. He did get some minor scraps and scratches from that and managed to loose his shoe in the process. Needless to say, we have had big talks about being careful and holding tight to railings.

He makes his lips so raw from the way he kind of bites at his lip all day. It happens more on preschool days. I think it is a nervous habit. Jen says Ben used to do that all the time growing up.

Watching him read rhymes to Brynn and trying to read her books is so great!

Some phrases you might here him say:
“I know, I know...”
“I’m not cute. I’m cool!”
“I am precious!”

When Brynn gets to watch a movie Brayden protests and says, “That won’t keep my attention.” “It feel it will disappoint.” Where did he get those big word?

Here are more funny things he has said recently:

“Papa, you are just like a piece of cake. I could eat you up.”
Papa asked him if he would like to watch cartoons. Brayden responded with,
“Real men watch movies!” I think I need to thank Louis!

Before going to be on his own the other night he told me, “Mommy, I feel sad. You and Daddy leave me all the time now.” Boy did that break my heart. Tonight I kissed him and said goodnight and he looked so pitiful but calm. With his head on his pillow he sadly said, “Okay Mommy!”