Golden Brads

The nominations have been announced for the 2006 Golden Brad Awards. On-line voting is now open. Results will be announced during half-time of the BCS Championship Game.

Best Physical Feat:

• Climbing into Pack N Play
• Standing on Rocker Bike
• Reaching Faucet in Bathroom
• Dipping French Fries in Ketchup

Best Photograph:

• There's Something About Bradley
• Master of All He Surveys
• Reading with the Statues
• Hangover
• Front Yard Fun
  

Favorite Sign:

• Bath
• More
• Sit
• Car
• All Done
• New Diaper

Best Video:

• Hot Tub (Uno, Dos, Tres)
• Ball in Box Game
• Stair Master
• Strolling

Best Movie:

• Scar Tissue
• Sports Minute Olympic
• Sports Minute Football
• Gilligan's Island

No Jacket Required

We decided to celebrate New Year's Eve by having an early dinner at the Cheesecake Factory. Since it was an unbelievable 55 degrees, we left our jackets in the car. It was a double celebration because the Steelers beat the Bungles. Bradley ate a lot of the food on the baby plate and a little bit of orange chicken. He's got his appetite back and is almost back to 100% health.

Perfect Child?

While playing in the basement, Bradley brought me my pillow, blanket, remote control, and game controller. So, I laid down to watch football. (Now, I need to teach how to open the beer fridge.) He may have had ulterior motives. First, he asked me to watch a Baby Einstein video rather than football. Rookie mistake. Then, since he had tricked me into the supine position, he pulled off the blanket, lifted my shirt, and blew kisses on my tummy.

Merry Sickmas!

Christmas was rough this year since both Bradley and Dad were sick. Brad didn't even open all of his presents. It was still nice to have everyone over for the holiday. Mommy got sick later in the week.

Brad was sad to see Grandma and Grandpa leave on Tuesday.

12 Days of Bradley

Santa Swings Through Town

Overcast, 35 degrees, and melting snow everywhere: Hey everybody, lets go to the golf course! The course was technically open, but we just stayed in the clubhouse. There was an open house with free food and drinks and Santa. The first time we went over to him, Bradley was screaming like mad, but he calmed down when mommy joined him on the golf cart. After a few snacks, we went back and tried again, with better results.

It Takes A Village

We took a big trip to Hawaii over Thanksgiving. By "we", I don't mean the 3 of us. Bradley took a huge entourage with him, which was good, because mommy and daddy need all the help they could get. A big mahalo to the entire ohana for their helping hands. This is Bradley's last vacation for a while. A new family rule came out of the journey - nobody goes on vacation unless they carry their own luggage. (Good thing my dad doesn't apply that rule, or my mother would never get to go anywhere.) Thanksgiving week was extra special this year since Bradley got to see all of his forbearers in just a few days.


As you can image, with a big trip like this, there were many first for the little one.
1st real vacation
1st (& 2nd) tropical island
1st time in the Pacific Ocean - he really like jumping the waves
1st tan line
1st luau
1st cab ride & 1st limo ride
1st time getting air sick - thankfully that was toward the end of the flight
1st time walking on a moving side walk - he loved it, we must have rode it 40 times

During the trip he started talking more and is more comfortable laying and sitting on a real bed. Before he used to crawl off the bed he second you set him on it.

I will post more pictures later, but here is a short video for now.

Look Out Emmitt

Christmas came early this year for Bradley. Great grandma gave him a singing bunny before Thanksgiving. He likes to dance to the music and he uses Pooh bear as a partner. Click here for video.

Report Card

We had a parent teacher conference today and got a real report card from school.

Some of the categories he is doing well in are:

• Playing interactive games (i.e. chase)
• Separating from parent easily

Area for improvement:

• Talking (multiple words)

A couple categories that were not on the report card that I feel Bradley excels in are:

• Giving orders
• Closing doors
  
• Jumping into the pool, and now jumping off the top stair

No, No, No

Brad has been talking a little bit more lately. His favorite word is "No", which is usually expressed in triplicate. He will also occasionally say "Ya". There are unconfirmed reports of him saying "poppy", "grandma", and "football".