Ft. Lauderdale: Day 2

Both kids slept until 7:45 on Saturday which was really nice! Matt really wanted to go on an air boat ride in the Everglades; I was nervous that it would be too loud for the kids, but found a place for us to go anyway. I found some coupons for a place about 10 minutes from our hotel so we went first thing. Their first ride was at 9:00 and we were on that one. Charlie was our captain and he has been giving tours for 10 years. He knew all the best spots to find the alligators adn "Bubbles" came right up to our boat. It was a really neat experience and the noise put Brayden to sleep. They made Taylor wear a life jacket which he hated, and it was hot so he wanted to go swimming.(You can see tears in one of the pictures) Captain Charlie told us to not even put our arms on the edge of the boat because he's seen an alligator jump out of the water to attack, so then I was REALLY nervous. We all survived although I was nervous the entire ride!

After that we headed straight to the beach for the boy's first ocean experience! Taylor loved it. We put his floaties on and he would kick around and splash. He liked going up and down in the waves. Brayden enjoyed the cool water and then conked out on the beach for a nap. We made a sand castle and I got buried in the sand. It was a fun trip! (pics coming soon, they're on the video camera)

After that we drove A1a (highway along the coast) to see more beach spots while the boys slept in the car and saw the most elaborate yachts. They were amazing. I was hoping to find a way to make a new friend and get a ride but no such luck!

We went back to the hotel, showered and went to dinner where Taylor discovered his new love for Root Beer. He drank SO much and the carbonation didn't bother him at all! We went swimming in the hotel pool at 8:30 and came back to watch Peter Pan and eat popcorn. We had played hard and needed to leave the hotel at 6:15 in the morning so we fell asleep FAST! Stay tuned for our exciting trip home, you won't want to miss this one!

Ft. Lauderdale Trip: Day 1

About a month ago I found a GREAT deal on flights from Columbia, SC to Ft, Lauderdale, FL. A one-way ticket was $1.11 through Spirit Air. The times that price was avaliable wasn't very appealing, but I thought hey, why not, let's go! The total for our family to fly down there was $46.38 once you added all the taxes and fees. The times we had to fly were Friday at 3:30 and we left Ft. lauderdale at 7:55 in the morning on Sunday. We weren't there very long, but it was going to a nice break from Rock Hill. I found a rental car and hotel online for good deals too.

Both kids did great on the flight. It was only 1:19 and the entire row behind us was empty, so Taylor played there for most of the trip while Brayden slept in Matt's arms. By the time we got off the plane and got the kids car seats from baggage claim and made it to the hotel it was 7:15. We were all starving and ready for some good seafood (well, I was the only one in the mood for seafood, and I persuaded Matt that's what we needed to find!) We went to the really cool restaraunt called Rustic Inn. We got fried frog legs and alligator as an appetizer and it was AMAZING! It was so good. Taylor loved my lemonade!

We finally made it back to the hotel and Taylor was so tired. He curled up on his pullout bed and went right to sleep. Brayden slept great in the port-a-crib and Matt and I finally had enough room to sleep comfortably in our king size bed. Brayden got to share with us at 6:00 while I nursed in bed. Matt has his hands the exact same way Brayden does.

2 Months Already!!!

I can't believe that Brayden is 2 months old! He's such a good little boy adn we love having him in our family! He got a cough this week and it got so bad that I took him to the doctor and they prescribed nebulizer treatments for him. So this is what he's been doing for his "birthday."



At his appointment on Saturday he weighed 14 lbs. 12 oz. He is a BIG boy! This cough hasn't slowed him down either. He's starting to "coo" a lot now and smiles when he see people. We love our little boy!

We've found Taylor sleeping in some pretty interesting positions lately. I really have no words...

Brayden's Baby Blessing

Last weekend we were able to have both sets of grandparents, two uncles, one aunt and a set of great-grandparents come over to South Carolina for Brayden's baby blessing. It was great to have our families here to participate in that and for them to meet Brayden and play with Taylor. My grandparent's (Bradyen's great-grandparents) rode their Goldwing all the way from Texas. Thanks for coming guys!


The blessing was really great. I am so grateful for the gospel in our lives and for the sweet little boy we've been given. Brayden is so great and is really good with Taylor too! (meaning he lets Taylor do anything to him and doesn't complain!)

Lori, Lori Quite Contrary How Does Your Garden Grow?

So I posted back in February about starting the seeds for my garden. I started them WAY too early as we have threats of frost until the beginning of May, meaning a lot of things can't be put into the ground until then. Right now I have my "cold" plants out but it's getting too hot for them so they're all starting to die which is fine because it's time to plant the good stuff... watermelon and cantelope! I've started those seeds and they're coming up very nicely so hopefully in 80-90 days we'll have some good fruit. We had some good sugar snap peas and the tomato plants are looking good. The lettuce looks good, but it is REALLY bitter, I need to figure out what I did wrong.

We also planted some calililies (sp?) and they are gorgeous! Hopefully the cannas we planted will start coming up soon.











Taylor LOVES water, and he loves to water the grass and our garden. He usually just ends up drowing the plants but he thinks he's doing a great job. These were taken after a hot day of working in the garden.

Well, I've lost it! Taylor walked around for about an hour and a half tripping all the time yesterday before I realized I'd put his tennis shoes on the wrong feet. Do I get credit for at least putting shoes on him?

So I've been checking the local high school's websites since we moved here for coaching jobs, just something I could do on the side for fun. About a month ago I saw that the head swim coaching position was opening up South Pointe High School. I talked with a friend from church who teaches at the school to see if she knew anything about it or if it had been filled yet. She then talked with the Athletic Director and I called him. I went in for the interview a week after I had Brayden and I got the job. I'd like to say that I was a great interviewer and the best person for the job, but it turns out I was the ONLY applicant! He was worried they weren't going to find anyone. I met the principal the day I was hired and he asked me if I could swim, I said yes and he said "Well, that's my only requirement." I'm guessing swimming isn't where they put a lot of energy, and I know they don't put much money towards it! My pay will maybe cover gas prices to get to and from the pool everyday! But it will get me out of the house and I really miss coaching so I'm excited about it! We haven't figured out what time practices are going to be and what the boys are going to do while I'm coaching, but we have time. My season is only 10 1/2 weeks long from our first practice to the State meet. Wish me luck starting August 1st! I'm going to have my first team meeting tomorrow after school, hoepfully some kids will show up!

Here's the evidence that I really have two babies, not a newborn and a toddler- although Taylor wants to be a big boy sometimes...

So I thought when you have a new baby, they're the one keeping you up at night, not your 22 month-old! Taylor was up from 1:30-5 this morning... just wanting to play with his trains. I'm off to take a nap!

p.s.- Brayden thanks for sleeping for 4 1/2 hours straight, that's better than your older brother!

Today is day #1 with no one else here but me and the boys. So far so good! It was great to have the help around, and scary now that it's gone, but Taylor has been really good lately. Well, since the company left... for the most part.














Here's my before and after shot with Brayden. It looked a lot better in my head than it does captured in a photo.

I love this picture of Matt and Brayden I took right before we left the hospital.

Taylor had his first watermelon of the season, and it sure was a mess, but he loved it! After he was done the skin on his neck was so sticky!

And now here's some pictures of Brayden sleeping today, just because I think he's so cute and know you are all DYING to see more pictures of my cute baby. Did I mention that he is so cute? :)

Brayden is doing really well. He's nursing like a champ and gaining weight. He sleeps alot right now, which is wonderful- it gives me rest time and time to play with Taylor. Taylor loves to help out and any time I unswaddle Brayden, Taylor runs over to the diaper basket and gets a clean diaper and the wipes for me to change Brayden's diaper. Then Taylor wants to help because he thinks Brayden has "poo-poo" on his belly (really it's his unmilical cord.) I think Taylor's getting the idea that "baby" is here to stay. He does like sitting on my lap now and laying against me... with a baby inside there wasn't much room for Taylor up there.

Introducing:

Brayden Healey Conran

9lbs. 15oz. 21in long

Quick hit info: We went in to be induced Tuesday morning at 6:00. I finally got started at 8:00. I was given pitocin to help keep to contractions strong around 10:30. I got an epidural at 11:30 and was dialted to a 6. I fell asleep and woke up at 1:00 when Brayden's heart rate monitor alarm started going off. Matt had been watching them silence the alarm all day and not worry about it, so he was tempted to just do that, but I told him to go ahead and call the nurse in to check it. Once she came in I felt some pressure and they brought the doctor in and after 2 pushes Brayden was born at 1:19. A working epidural is amazing! It was so much different than Taylor's birth and Matt and I were really happy with everything. We got home from the hospital today so we're trying to get used to being parents to two... thank goodness grandma is still here to help with the adjustment!

Baby's Birthday is tomorrow, May 6th! Wish me luck! I'm scheduled for an induction at 6:00 a.m. See ya on the other side!

Splash Planet

On the second Monday of every month an indoor waterpark has a "mom-and tot" day. It's $3 for Taylor and I get in free. Otherwise it would cost about $16 for both of us to get in. We go every month and I'm always talking about the new things Taylor is doing to Matt that evening. Finally after the last time Matt said that he wanted to go adn he was going to take a vacation day and hang out with us and go swimming. Taylor enjoyed having his daddy there. He showed him all his spots he likes to go and how he slides down the slides and is not scared of the water at all! Matt and him played with a ball for at least half the two hours we were there. Taylor really liked that! Here are some pictures from our fun day! (I'm most proud of Taylor's follow through when he shoots!!!with BOTH hands!)
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