Big Achievements Today...

Well today my two youngest had some big achievements.  As most of you know Nathan and Liam have been on a swim team since May, last week we switch to a team closer to home.  They practice almost everyday of the week.  Since May Liam has gone from not being able to swim at all to being able to swim for very short distances.  Well today he surprise be BIG time, he swam 50M doing breast stroke without stopping.  He has never even swam 25M freestyle so he shock the heck out of me.  I just couldn't stop smiling.  He was so proud too.

Now Braxton has really been growing this past month, I think he is going to be our earliest walker.  Nathan was 12 months and Liam 14 months when they started walking.  This evening we were sitting in the living room and Braxton pulls up on the couch.  My baby is growing up, can't believe he will be 1 in just a few more months.

Tomorrow is meet the teacher for Nathan, he is excited to see who she is and who is in his class.  Then school starts Monday.

Goodbye Tally

I have never really experienced the death of a pet, when I was a kid we always got rid our pet before that time came.  It definitely hurts.

I brought her home to Matt one afternoon my freshman year in college.  I went to Walmart and as I was getting in my car there was a man giving away puppies.  I went to look and grabbed the last female of the bunch.  She was so cute.  When I got back to Matt's apartment I told him I had something to tell him, he thought I had wrecked his car.  No just a puppy.

She really was the best dog a person could ask for, hardly ever barked, was really friendly, and great with the boys.  It was funny the day we brought Braxton home this past November, we were sitting in the living room and down the hall she came.  Took one look at Braxton and turned around and went right back down the hall.  All Matt and I could do was laugh, it was like she was saying not this again.

About three years ago we brought her in to get two tumors removed from her leg, the dr didn't think it was anything.  They did her pre-op bloodwork and it came back bad, her liver enzymes were too low to operate.  The vet was afraid if she put her under she would never wake up.  We did a x-ray to see what was wrong and it should some damage to the liver but without more test she couldn't tell us for sure what it was.  We decided not to do additional testing.

In the past year things have slowly gone down hill.  From the outside she was a lively dog, for 12.5 years, but on the inside things weren't right.  Over the past couple months she had become withdrawal from us.  She hated being away from us but when we were home she didn't really want to be with us. 

After Matt brought her the the vet last week to discuss the problems she had been having we decided it was the time.  He brought her home so we could have a couple more days with her.  Then this evening he brought her in to be put down.  I didn't think I would be so sad but I am.  You get very close to your pet after spending 12.5 years with her.  It make me sad to think Braxton will never remember, I hope that both Nathan and Liam do.  She was there first pet and a great one.  Goodbye Tally.

We have a new tooth

To my surprise they other day I looked at Braxton's two bottom teeth and there was a third one poking out.  That seemed totally weird to me since both Nathan and Liam cut their top four after their bottom two.  I guess Braxton has decided he is going to be different.

Nathan and Liam both started on their new swim team this week.  It has been so nice not having to drive across town every morning.  Next week practice will change to the fall schedule which means we will have evening practices.  I lasts through October and then at that point we will see if they want to continue through the winter or wait until the spring.  They both enjoy swimming and have improved so much since May, I can't even imagine if they continue through the year how good they will be by next summer.

Next Thursday is Nathan's orientation, he will get to meet his teacher and see who is in his class.  He is really excited about starting back.  I am sure that will only last a week.  Then Liam starts the following week.

Nathan's 6th birhtday is just around the corner.  Can't believe my little boy has grown up so fast.  Just in the past year his look has changed now when I look at him he a kid not my little boy.  Just waiting for the day when he is embaressed to kiss me in public.

Visiting family

Been a few weeks since I last updated, was in Ormond for a week visiting with family.  The boys really enjoyed spending time with their cousins.

Nathan had asked a couple of weeks ago about going skating so we decided to take Nathan and Liam and Valerie, Christopher and Jonathon joined too.  The boys were actually pretty good, after falling a handful of times.  Nathan could even go around the rink without falling. 

We also spent one day at Wet n Wild with my Mom, Darin, Anthony, Dena, Christopher, and Jonathon.  The boys loved it, there was only a few rides they couldn't do because of height restrictions.

Of course we spent a afternoon at the beach, Braxton really enjoyed eating the sand. Everytime I turned my head for a second there was Braxton with a handful of sand going straight for his mouth.  Nathan loved boogie boarding, we really need to go more often it just is so "far" from our house.

In addition we went to the Orlando Science Center and the movies.  Matt and I actually was able to get a true date night, usually Braxton has to tag along because he is too young for KidsPark.  So we went to Bonefish for dinner and went to go see the finally Harry Potter. 

While away Braxton learned a new trick, he sits up in the crib now.  It was so weird the first time I walked in to get him up from his nap and he was sitting up sucking his thumb.  I almost cried, he is growing up too fast.  We also had to go buy him a new carseat today because his infant seat is just about too small.

Just wrapping up the last couple weeks of summer.  We start swimming again on Monday, going to try it for a week and then decide if we are going to join the new team.  I am hoping that both Nathan and Liam can do it but I am not sure if Liam is advanced enough to.