Brayden is not so little anymore!

With a "To Do" list the length of my arm and a deadline I cannot avoid, things have been rather busy around here. That, and being pregnant in the heat of the summer is not particularly enjoyable for me... We are trying to transition Brayden to becoming a big boy before the baby comes. This includes the passing of the binki (hooray for success!) and moving to the toddler bed... Its been very exciting to have him grow up and I love to watch him learn new things, but at the same time my mommy heart breaks to see it happening so quickly. Where is my little boy? He is getting too big!

Story Time at the Library with Mother Goose. He got to wear the birthday hat. 

Sorting blocks by color? No problem!

Helping build his "big boy bed"

First pony ride at the petting zoo with Grandma

Despite the heat, we have been having fun! Brayden has always been a water baby... and he loved playing in the kiddie pool at the work party. We have been going to lap time at the library every week with a friend and our favorite weeks are the times Mother Goose comes to visit. A highlight from our summer was the trip to the petting zoo with Grandma S. Brayden was a little nervous about the pony ride but he sure didn't want it to end.

I love this little man so much!

Summer 2013 and a New Teacher

Wow, I can barely wrap my brain around things as they are... now I am looking ahead to the 3rd week of every month to teach a lesson in Relief Society! I am a bundle of nerves and excitement. I like my Relief Society sisters and I know they will be good to me, but I am intimidated all the same... (I may have mentioned that my 10th grade English teacher is in my ward... and she gives awesome 4th week lessons...) But I am also thrilled with the calling as a learning experience for me. I admit, my personal study has lacked... enthusiasm... the past little while as I have struggled to find a particular study to peak my interest. I see this as an opportunity to give my study a little direction throughout the month as I look ahead and prepare for my lesson.

What have we been up to?
We went to St. George with Bryce's family and we got to go camping with my parents. Also, I have reached the halfway point in the pregnancy and we celebrated by taking the awkward "baby bump" photo... I feel strange taking that picture, but I'll share it anyway...

Mary Poppins at the Tuachan 

Chalk drawing with Grandpa. I just loved Brayden's face!

Yep, I'm getting bigger... 

Is there any dirt left on the ground outside? Not likely...

Playgrounds are Brayden's favorite hangout!

To celebrate the 4th, the family went to see the Colonial Fest in the park. We also took Brayden to see the hot air balloons. He wasn't so sure about them at first, and he was very upset when the bear balloon set off and wasn't coming back... but we had a lot of fun.

Getting the dress-ups off was the hard part...

Where these crazy boys belong! 

Bryce was ready to protect his family

The Bear balloon as it floated away...

My "nesting instincts" have begun to kick into high gear with a list of crazy projects for me and the hubby to do to keep us busy until September... Hopefully I can keep the updates a little more frequent... but I can't promise anything.

Its a...

Brayden is expecting a little sibling... what will it be?