Halloween

Yes a little late... but here are some pictures of Halloween:) Brandon- a pirate, Tucker- a football player. We decided to hit up Grandma's neighborhood this year and did about a mile loop. The kids had such a great time... not sure if it's because they were all together or that they are all getting more into Halloween with each year. This definitely was the first year that Brandon really enjoyed Halloween. He wanted to be first to every house, get the most candy and had the most steam out of everyone. He was running so hard he even asked someone for water after he said "trick or treat". It was hilarious.... Tucker was just there for the ride, however he was the cutest little football player ever.

Cousins

Ready to go 

All the candy!

Little football player

Tucker 10 Months Old

Tucker is now 10 months old and boy is getting big:)

He stands very well by himself and will take a small step forward but not walking yet. He is super close.... so I'm sure it will happen before we know it! He loves playing with the doors and following Brandon around the house. He also is starting not to care for baby food anymore, once we started giving him real food- he has had no interest in baby food. He loves everything we have given him so far. He has also started to hold his own sippy cup (slowly transitioning him, in time for the cruise)

Tucker also has his very FIRST tooth! It came through on October 9th. Along with his lower incisor came very bad diarrhea which resulted in the worst diaper rash ever! Let's just say that he was in so much pain he would throw his body and scream. (his butt was bleeding:( ) We tried EVERYTHING! We ended up taking him to the doctor and it was a yeast infection, after about 3-4 more days of lots of cream and TLC he was better! I'm hoping this doesn't happen every time he cuts a tooth..... because it's going to be LONG couple years. 

Tucker loves playing with all of Brandon's matchbox cars, books, blocks, etc! Pretty much whatever Brandon is playing with Tucker is interested in.

Brandon is 3!!

It's SO hard to believe that our little man is now 3 years old! It's hard to imagine our life without him in it. He has such the little personality now and is becoming more and more independent everyday. Brandon loves cars, puzzles, his I-Pad, Disney Junior cartoons, reading books, chocolate milk, chocolate (Rolo's especially), and playing outside. Brandon is now completely potty trained (even at night) so we are done with diapers with him, yay!! 

We had some pictures taken of him yesterday and he was the perfect model. I was hoping for just one good photo because you never know how a 3 year old will be for pictures. Let's just say I did bribe with chocolate.... :) 

We wish Brandon a very Happy Birthday! We love him very much.

Potty Training Saga

Well we have hit a HUGE milestone in the potty training for Brandon. He has had the worst fear of going number 2 in the toilet for a few months. He has been potty trained since about 2 1/2 years old but not pooped trained. Let me tell you how frustrating it is to know that he KNOWS what he is doing but still pooped in his pants every time. Here is a little story of the last couple weeks.

September 8th- Brandon pooped in the potty for the very 1st time! I caught him trying to hide like he normally does when is pooping and scooped him up and placed him on the potty. I told him I would be right back with the pull up he could change into. (Meanwhile he is whining on the pot for a diaper) I took a little while getting the pull up and by the time I came back he was off the pot screaming that he "Pooped in the potty!" The utter excitement that came over me was overwhelming! I couldn't believe it! We immediately told everyone at grandma's house and Papa (as promised) left in the middle of the Patriots Game to take him to get ice-cream! Brandon was on cloud nine and so proud of himself. I knew this was a huge hurdle in which seemed like the never-ending saga of potty training.

Approximately 24 hours later.... Brandon pooped in his pants :( I could feel the frustration settling in again and figured he just had an accident. Well not the case... the next couple weeks were filled with nights of hysterically crying on the potty and hiding from us when he pooped. Now we decided that we would change from positive reinforcement to taking things away from him. I mean he really  knows what he is doing now. Especially since he has been dry at night now for a couple weeks...... we knew he could get this. So starting last week, every time he pooped in his pants we took one of his favorite things away. Below is the list of things that started going

1. Chocolate Milk
2. New Scooter from Nana and Grandpa
3. IPAD
4. Blankets & Duck

Well even after taking away all his favorite things, he STILL pooped in his pants!!!

So after work on Sept. 25th I decided to get ALL of Brandon's favorite chocolates. I got Kit-Kats, Rolos, Kisses and Reese's Cups. I showed him all the candy he would get once he went in the toilet. He was super upset that he couldn't get them then and I hoped this would be the break through we needed.

Well the very next evening, I was making dinner and Josh was on the phone. Brandon came up to me and said "mommy I have to go poop!" HOLY MOLY.... I dropped everything I was doing at the moment to help him. I went to get the iPad for him to watch while he tries (only time he is allowed) and by the time I came back...... HE WENT!!!! He was super excited and guess what was the first thing he asked for......CHOCOLATE! It was hilarious because he then asked for chocolate mil, IPAD, Scooter and his blankets. He knew everything he had lost and was super happy to get them back.

I must say never in my life would I think pooping in the potty would bring such happiness!

Even though he has only gone twice..... I'm hoping this is the breakthrough we needed. If not I might start crying.... lol!

9 month well check

Tucker Boy had his 9 month well check and as the doctor said "a healthy 9 month old". He has hit all the milestones such as clapping, pulling up, crawling! Our little Tucker boy grew 3 inches in 3 months so he is now 28 inches and 20 lbs. Which puts him in the 35% for both.

We love our little guy..... he just needs to stay a baby a little longer!!

Tucker 9 months old

This is a little late because things have been quite hectic around our house lately with trying to get our house prepped for being on the market. However Tucker is now on the move! He started crawling right after he turned 9 months old and now seems to be in 5th gear already. He pulls up onto everything and will stand there for some time. He has stood on his own for a few seconds too. 

Tucker's favorite time is bath time, if he is ever fussy just stick him in a bath:) He also loves going on runs and being outside. He still has some pipes on him- so don't make him mad! lol 

He is also eating everything! We have been giving him table food and while he doesn't have any teeth yet he will eat it- haha.

Tucker is 8 months old!

Tucker is now 8 month and is so anxious to start moving. He is up on all fours, rocks, turns in circles on his belly, crawls backwards...... but yet to move forward. I know anyday now I'm going to turn around and he will be crawling:) He has also mastered going from all fours to sitting. Now when I go into his room he will be sitting in his crib just playing. It might be the cutest thing ever. Tucker is also sleeping great at night, he has been going to sleep anywhere from 7:30-8:30 and sleeping until 7:00 or 7:30 the next morning. He loves all food so far... we have even snuck him some table food. He hasn't popped a tooth yet- but anyday know I know it will happen.

My favorite part about this age is their giggle:) Tucker is so ticklish, I love it.

We are trying to soak in every moment, because before we know it Tucker will be running around like his older brother.

Cousin Jessica's Wedding

We all made our way to New Jersey for mommy's cousin Jessica's Wedding. We headed up on Friday so that we could hang out with our great grandmother who will be 90 in September. She got to meet Tucker for the very first time and the last time she saw Brandon was when he was 3 months old. It was great hanging out and catching up with the whole Griffin Family! Brandon had a blast in Grandma's pool and also with Uncle Daniel at the hotel pool. Brandon especially enjoyed Uncle Pat's motorhome which he called a school bus.... he is going to have quite the expectations when the big cheese comes to pick him up one day! The first thing he said when he went inside the motorhome was "this is amazing!" and then when we went to the hotel he said "this place is awesome!" Gotta love his enthusiasm:)

The boys came to the church for the ceremony and then stayed back at the hotel with a couple babysitters during the reception. The wedding was perfect and we had a wonderful time. Good times spent with family- just wish we all lived a little closer!

Tucker and Grandma Griffin

The boys hanging out

Posing on the diving board

Before the wedding

Jessica and her dad

Photo Booth- Great Grandma and her sister June 

Brandon loved the whale!

Griffin Girls

Tucker just chill in

Obsessed with the tiny frog

Playing with Uncle Daniel

Loves the pool

Family Shot

Big Family Picture:) Withe EVERYONE!!! yay