So long "gink"!

Ok so I'm a little behind with this one but, figured I better share the story with those of you who haven't heard it yet! By the time Brody was a year old I had him off the bottle and his binky. Well, after the accident we kind of went backwards with him and put him back on both, it was totally necessary then! He always took a binky but was never really attached to it but, after we gave it back to him he loved it!!!! He lovingly called it his "gink". It was a must have at all nap and bed times and even when he got upset.

I dreaded the day that we had to get rid of it! So as his second birthday slowly approached I started getting anxious at the mere thought of taking it away from him! We were going to make him throw it in the garbage since he has a thing about throwing things away (including his toys) but, I had a better idea! Since we had talked about going to Disney while we were in Florida I figured we'd take advantage of the characters that Brody has become so infatuated with and find one to give his "gink" to! For about 2 weeks before our trip we'd been telling him that since he was a big boy now he was going to give his "gink" away and we'd ask him who he was going to give it to and he said someone new every time..."Mickey", "Donoold", "Puto", "Goofy"!

Once we got there we waited for the perfect time to get rid of it and with some hesitation from both me and Brandon (and my mom) we finally had the opportunity that we'd been waiting for! While standing in line for Pirates of the Caribbean we spotted Goofy and ran over, "gink" and Brody in hand! We gave Brody his "gink" one last time and told him to give it to Goofy. Surprisingly, he handed it right over, I think he was a little overwhelmed because this was the first character he had actually seen up close! It was very bitter sweet for me and tears swelled up in my eyes, my baby was losing a part of his baby-ness and I wondered if I should really go through with it or not! After the "exchange" was made and pictures were taken we walked away and congratulated Brody on being such a big boy! We told him that Goofy was going to share his "gink" with a new baby and it all worked out because a couple weeks later my friend Anne had a beautiful baby girl named Morgan! So now when asked who he gave his "gink" to he says "Goofy, baby Morgan!" with a huge smile on his face! Too cute!

So, overall it was a really great experience and I recommend it to all mommy's who are struggling with ideas on how to get rid of their child's binky or bottle! I, too, have finally gotten over it, I think...although, I don't think you ever get over your baby growing up. And on that note, he pooped on the potty this morning!!

This kid's got rhythm

Again, sorry for the quality, this is another cell phone video and my old cell to boot. Thank God I had any camera available for this moment because it is priceless! I still laugh so hard I cry when I watch it! See for yourself and just FYI, he was only 17 months old here...

Brody singing ABCs

First off, I apologize for the quality of this video, it was taken on my cell phone!

This is one of the sweetest things I have been able to film of Brody since he was a baby! Every time I get the camera or cell phone out now to record him doing cute things he stops, of course... toddlers! My favorite part is "H, I, J, K, apple, P!" Also, you might notice at the end that he had an audience, his Toy Story toys (new obsession). He's so stinkin' funny! (and cute I might add!) ;)

The 4th on the "beach"

We had a very nice 4th of July weekend. My parents had a little picnic on Sunday. It was full of patriotic songs, red, white and blue attire, drinking, dancing and "ducks", hahahaha!!!

My cousin Alyssa and Brody have always had a special bond really ever since I was pregnant with him! I remember a time right around the time I started feeling his little kicks and Alyssa went up to my belly and said "hi Brody, I'm your favorite cousin Alyssa!" He started kicking like crazy and she got to feel it! It was so cute (although I think it kinda creeped Lyss out a bit at first, haha!) So when he was born they connected almost immediately! She loves him and he just adores her! That's his "Yiss".







This is Alyssa's big sister Steph, I love this picture! I think it's so sweet the bonds that are being made between Brody and my two cousins. Both Steph and Lyss have spent tons of time with Brandon and I growing up and we loved every second of it. Now they are growing up which makes me sad but at the same time it's nice to see Brody spend time with them now like they did with us for so many years!

Family picture time, but who can resist that background!!!

We love the "beach"! There's always something to entertain Brody there and everybody really!

Happy Independence Day!!!

Those summer nights...

We are thoroughly enjoying this summer so far, especially the evenings. I love summer nights because all of the normal schedules are kind of thrown out the window like bathtime, bedtime and even dinner time! Everyone just moves at their own pace! So this is what we've been doing in place of the "norm"...

We've taken in a baseball game or two,

our meals have been fresh, grilled and yummy, almost every night!

we've enjoyed a few bonfires on the beach! (or my parent's house, ha!)




This summer we got season passes to the community pool and they have a couple night swims a month, so we take full advantage!

(notice the filth on my son's face and shirt, haha!!)

And last, but certainly not least, a favorite pastime of mine and others here in Pennsylvania...catching lightning bugs!!! I think it is going to be one of Brody's too because every morning when he wakes up he points to his little bug cage and says "fireflies?!" He doesn't get this too is a nighttime activity!


Hope you are all enjoying your summer nights as much as we are!