::Easter was Fun::

What a week we have had since I posted last. Let's see...

Aunt LaLa - or as you will see from this video below Aunt "Crackers" - was home for spring break so we spent lots of time at MiMi and PawPaw's so we could see her. Almost everyday we either went there or she came to our house. We were glad that she was home and we got to spend some time with her! Here is a video of her and Brant.



Easter was this weekend and on Friday Brant had an Easter Egg Hunt at school. His teachers painted all the kids' faces with red noses and black whiskers to look like bunnies. They were SO adorable. His teachers said he didn't really want to keep the eggs as much as he wanted to throw them...That's MY Boy!

On Sunday we went to church and then over to MiMi and PawPaw's for a family gathering. All of mom's family came over, except for the sickies (Ash and Ken), and we ate lunch. Brant got his Easter presents from MiMi, Nanny, AND Aunt Claudia...sure does help being the only great-grandchild huh? My brother Bryan knows ALL about that, he was the only grandchild for almost nine years until we all came along. But, he got more cars than we know what to do with. We came home with about 20, and we left some there! He got CARS the Movie, car eggs, hot wheels, match box Cars, Cars from the Movie, Cars books, a Cars Blanket, a basketball goal, and more. The kid racked up! Here is a picture of Brant and his friend Haydo lounging on his Cars blanket...this was right after he got it! He was so excited...and I think Haydo might have been a little jealous.

Lastly, we are back to normal. Going to school and getting boo boos. Now he has gotten his first black eye. He was getting out of a chair in their library and fell into a shelf. He caught his fall with his left eye. Doesn't seem to bother him, but it looks like I beat my child. Mom says I have to be really nice to him now in public so people don't think that I did it.

Well now that I have written a novel, I will stop. More pictures to come when my sis emails me some from her camera. Love to all!

Oh yeah - and get excited...Braves Baseball starts this weekend! WAHOO!

::Lots to Share::

So...we have just gotten our hyper child down to bed and I decided to sit at the computer to update everyone.

Brandon and I spent the weekend in Knoxville for a wedding. It was beautiful and loads of fun. We were concerned for family and friends with the weather we missed and are glad to hear that there is no damage to speak of at my brother and Amelia's. We had rain there, but nothing like everyone had here. Here is a picture of us in front of the TN River where the reception was held.

Brant spent the weekend at MiMi and PawPaw's and was none too happy to return home to us today. Mom helped by getting him down for his nap, but when he woke up...he wouldn't even look at me. So mad MiMi and PawPaw were no longer here. He is talking a lot more. Saying lots more words and people's names. Today he said "Mama...crackers please" clear as day. I about died. And you will see from the video at the end of the post what he has been learning to say otherwise.

We also started using a booster seat tonight...and if tonight is any indication of what it is going to be like...I am pumped. He ate half of a porkchop...I didn't even put any on his plate because I just knew he wouldn't eat it. He saw my plate and pointed to it and said please. I cut some up for him and he was eating it faster than I could cut it. What a surprise...maybe he is going to become a good eater in his old age!

Lastly, we had an adventure with a lady bug today. As you can see from the pictures below, Spring has sprung at 2055 Greenhill Pass. Thanks to the elderly couple who owned the house before, we have beautiful flowers that are in bloom. One flower had a lady bug on it that Brant discovered and wouldn't leave alone. He was running everywhere with it and would drop it, then pick it up and exclaim, "I got it!" He didn't like it when the lady bug crawled on him though...that was a bit much. Needless to say, we spent the majority of the afternoon in the yard. I pulled weeds, Brandon washed, waxed, and detailed my car, and Brant ran around like a wild one. We were a sight to see. I was just happy to be outside and soaking up the sun!

Hope everyone's weekend was great and I can't wait to see my sister tomorrow! She will home for a whole week! I am SO ready!

::Not Much To Say::

Not too much to say on my end...

Brant has been in a weird little state lately...stomach issues and mommy issues. I guess I must be pretty cool, cause he doesn't want me out of his sight right now.

Other than that, there is not much to speak of. We (brandon and I) are headed to Knoxville this weekend to celebrate my DEAR friend Sarah's wedding. I will post pictures later hopefully. Brant is headed to MiMi's for the weekend, which I am sure he is STOKED about. He loves to say MiMi now a days!

Here are some pictures from Saturday...it snowed here most of the day. Brant was lovin' it, although he was a little confused by it.

::Scrapbook::

So, I know this isn't as cool as Bryan and Amelia's latest post (check it out by clicking on their names if you haven't seen it already). However, I wanted to show off my creation. I am no longer getting the service at school where they create a scrapbook page each month for Brant because the older lady has moved and the new person only does digital pages. I personally like the handmade pages better, so I have kept the CD program and have vowed to myself (and Brant unknowingly) that I will take that CD each month, and along with my personal pictures of him, create a page for his scrapbook. I will admit I am a tad behind, but I have to wait till the end of the month to get the CD, and it seems that it takes me a month to decide what to do and which pictures to use. So, according to that schedule, I am right on time!

So, just wanted to show it to you on here, since all of you might not be able to look at it in person. I love to do this kind of stuff, as some of you who have recieved home-made birthday presents might have figured out by now! But it is only a hobby, although, if I could make GOOD money doing it, I would in a hearbeat!

Here is to Brant in January, and please ask to see if you ever come and visit. Not only would it make my day, but it is AMAZING to see how much he has changed since only August!

::Quick Update::

The Lord has done a number on me.

Brant has been completely healed. He has NO infection, NO fluid, and his Tympanic test came back totally regular! It is a complete turn around from last month when he had an infection and fluid. Needless to say, we are NOT getting tubes on Monday. We are going to wait and see if he has finally beaten this or if another infection comes. First sign of another one, and tubes it is, no questions asked.

Thanks to all of you who have been praying for him...God heard your prayers! Let's keep lifting him up and maybe we will beat this!

Love to you all...have a safe and enjoyable weekend!

::Prayers::

Everyone keep us Arnolds in your prayers this weekend...

Tomorrow is Brant's pre-op appointment for the tubes he is getting on Monday. Pray that he cooperates and that his appointment is smooth.

On Friday, I leave to go to Knoxville for my friend Sarah's bachelorette party and a shower on Saturday. I am really excited, however, just pray for my safety on the drive alone.

Brandon and Brant are headed to Macon for the weekend to spend some much needed time with his parents. We haven't seen them since Christmas, and I am sad that I will not be there, but I am so glad that BA and Brant are going to make the trip. Brant has grown up so much since then and I can't wait for all of the Arnolds to see him!

Also - shout out to Ally, hope your finger is healing up quickly and that you are back at it in no time. Brandon just filled me in this weekend on it and I hope that things are back to normal for you and your game soon! I wish I was going to get to be there with all of you this weekend, so take care of my boys and send them home safe!

Love everyone and keep us all in your prayers!

::Get Ready for This::

BEST PICTURES EVER (or this month at least)!

Hope you all had a Wonderful Wednesday!

::This Week::

I realize it has been a while since I posted, however sickness struck our house. I guess it was not actually sickness, but I was not feeling well at all due to allergies that weren't responding to medicine. I am feeling much better now, which I am glad about. But alot has happened since I posted last.

For Starters:

1. I am now 25 years old. Can't believe it. Time flies. The main reason I cringe at each birthday is that means my sister is getting a year older too, and I just wish she could stay 15 the rest of her life and always be my little sis...because the older she gets, the cooler she gets. She is passing me going 90 miles an hour and it is hard to keep up...but she still hangs out with me anyways. Thanks La.

2. We had Brant's ENT appointment and they said he is a strong candidate for tubes. We had two choices. Wait to see if this ear infection that he has had for a month goes away, or go ahead and schedule the tube surgery and postpone it if things get better. We, or I, with Brandon's approval afterward since he was at work, chose the later. We have scheduled his tubes for March 3rd. We go for a pre-op appointment on the 28th of February and if things have improved greatly than we can put the surgery off and see if we improve more. However, since his ear infection has not responded to two rounds of antibiotics already, I assume we will be getting tubes on that Monday. I am excited however, and really think that Brant will be more comfortable and respond excellently to them!

3. We did a retreat on my birthday weekend for the church called Thrive and we taught 6th graders. Brandon said he wasn't sure if he liked the taste he got of what Brant will be like at 11. I just laughed.

4. I had a great birthday and Valentine's Day. Had lots of great gifts and thoughtful calls. Thanks again to all of you who remembered me on those days! I love my gift cards, my Vera bag, my Braves money, my collages, and the cold, hard cash!

Here's a pic or two of Brant. Not too many pics because I haven't been feeling well, but I promise more later. I feel like I have to take pictures of him everyday because he is changing so much.

Love you all!

This is Brant enjoying his snack and watching his Nemo!

This is Brant enjoying circle time at school. He loves to sing songs and dance with the teacher. It is a HUGE deal that he is sitting and paying attention...he is GO GO GO!

::Where is Spring?::

We so wish that the groundhog had told us that Spring was on the way...he didn't right?

Here is something to brighten up your somewhat rainy day!

We love you all...

Brant's Spring pictures are tomorrow...with a live bunny. And then on Friday we go to the ENT so keep us in your thoughts!

::This Week Re-Cap::

So, lots has happened since I posted last. On Thursday I took Brant to the doctor to check out his ears. He has a slight infection in his right ear and still has fluid present in both so they referred us to the ENT. We have made an appointment for next Friday.

We had a great weekend (Friday and Saturday that is). I went to a baby shower for a friend on Saturday and had a great time. However, on Sunday, I woke up with a stomach bug that would not give up. I missed work on Monday and Tuesday which is not like me, and Brandon took Brant to school and picked him up and did everything for him Sunday through Wednesday. I think he proved a lot to himself, but it also made him realize how much moms do. Especially moms that work and have to get a baby ready and out the door by 6 am. I was so grateful for him. He allowed me to get well, and took care of my every need. He even had Brant in matching clothes!

Wednesday took me back to work and in the routine. All the while Brant has been having a blast at school. He seems to grow up more every day. His new words are bubble, hi, bye, and he signs thank you very regularly. Especially when we leave school, I always make him say thank you to his teachers.

Also, for those of you who are in the know. My brother and his wife are having a baby in June and Brant will have a cousin just 2 years younger than him. Holidays are going to be DOUBLE the fun now. I have posted the link to their blog they are starting up under my fave blogs on the right side of my page...so check it out!

Here is our week or so in pictures...love you all. Will be trying to post a video in the next day or so that I took tonight. Classic! Getting excited about my birthday. I will be a 1/4 of a century old a week from Saturday. (How old does that make you feel Mom?) Enjoy...

Watchin my video with my popcorn and marshmallows

Am I cute or what?

This is just too precious not to put up.

Brant's fingers were yummy after Jello day at school. He licked them all afternoon.

This is Brant tipping back the Ginger-Ale mom needed for her tummy...it was empty.

This is Brant getting creative while Mom cooked dinner

Here is Brant having a meal with a friend at school!

This is Brant hugging the turtle outside the school...precious!

::Sorry its been a while::

So its been a while since my last post. A lot has gone on. Nothing too interesting to write about, but fun for our little family. Let's see...

On Sunday the 13th Brandon and I had been married a WHOLE YEAR! They say the first year is the hardest, and if that is the case, I am in store for a lovely, fulfilling, and EXCITING time, to say the least, in our marriage. My Mom and Sis were in Israel, so since the only babysitter we use here (MiMi) was gone, we opted to take a trip the next weekend. So, on Friday the 18th we left for Gatlinburg. I had never been and was really pumped. We rented a small cabin up the mountain between Pidgeon Forge and Gatlinburg. It was a very pretty time of the year to go, not as pretty as fall I am sure, but it was pretty none the less. We spent Friday looking around and getting settled and then Saturday we hit the shops (my idea of course). See, the holidays are a rough time of year for Brandon. He has Christmas, our anniversary, my birthday on Feb. 9, and then Valentine's Day, all in a row. Needless to say, he was excited for me to pick out some gifts and knock them all out while we were there! With no argument from me, I came home with two new Polo dresses and a new rain jacket! Both things I need and have really wanted for a while. We wanted to see some snow, and were even worried that we might get snowed in. However, we did not see ONE flake, which I was depressed about, although we got back on time to see our little one, who we missed desperately...sort of.

Here are some pictures to sum it up...

So, the week and a half for Brant has been fun. He saw his first snow, and maybe last for a while. He got to spend a weekend with MiMi and PawPaw eating popcorn and marshmallows, playing with his friend Haydo, and being rocked to sleep. Now he is back in the routine...getting up early, being at school all day LEARNING (Blah), and getting his second haircut today! Here are some pictures from his week or so...

::Brant's Photoshoot::

This afternoon Brant and I played outside and I took the opportunity to take some more pictures of him (like I need more). One day is going to ask me why I took so many pictures of him.

::Check Me Out::

This Christmas I got two pairs of footwear: An AWESOME pair of Nike sneaks, just like Pat Pat's...and a pair of rain boots. Since it was muddy outside on the playground today my teacher remembered to put the boots on so I wouldn't mess up the Nikes. Check me out!

::Yay It Worked::

Right after I was about to give up it finally worked! Here's saying HEY to Israel!

::Sorry So Delayed!::

To those of you who are mad at me for not posting in a while (Nanny), I apologize sincerely. It is no one's fault but my own, and I left my camera battery down in Macon and had to get it mailed to me (thanks again Ms. Debra). And I know that no one wants to READ my blog; they just want to LOOK at my blog. My words are boring without pictures of Brant, I know!

Anyways - this week has been great. Brant is really adjusting to our new schedule...we are now at school from 6:30am - 3:00pm instead of 9:30am - 6:30pm. I think we are both absolutely loving the change. Especially with this new weather, he gets to come home and play outside with Mommy...and Mommy gets to come home and actually get things done before she crashes on her pillow. I cook more, I hope I clean more, and I know I get to see Brant more. I really think this is a wonderful, positive change for the new year!

Mom and Lauren are in Israel so Brant wanted to give them a little shout out. Let's hope they can get it soon. I uploaded it but now it is not working. Go figure! Hopefully I can get it figured out tonight. My Dad is all by his lonesome this week, so if you feel like it, check in on him!

Sidenote...Brandon and I have our ONE YEAR anniversary on Sunday...I really can't believe it! We are going to have a little get away the following weekend which we are really looking forward to. I know my mom is looking forward to it after 10 days away from him!

Keep them in your prayers and I hope everyone is enjoying life after the holidays! It's back to the grind as they say!

Here are some pics from this week...he LOVES his Zebra tent from MiMi and PawPaw.