Fall 2014

Hi All!
We had an excellent fall this year - I was on a few lighter rotations in a row giving me a whole lot more time to spend with my favorite boys and we used that time to have a whole lot of fun!

Ian - demonstrating why sometimes its good to be small

Ian has really settled into the routine of school and is still enjoying it and is learning a ton.  Their theme this term was South America - and he's been teaching me quite a bit about the South American countries, animals and rainforests.  He has a much better understanding of the concept of time and planning, which has made discussing what he wants do for the weekend a lot more fun and productive.  He is so enthusiastic about outings, activities and life in general that he is such a joy to spend time with. 

Ian at the reptile zoo

Ian and Alex are starting to enjoy each others company a lot more now.   Ian has really started to take on a big brother role - often encouraging Alex and trying to entertain him.  As Alex is starting to understand more and more and to follow Ian's lead, they can really play together now.  Alex still idolizes his big brother and wants to do and have everything that Ian does.  Its very sweet and often very entertaining watching them play together.

Ian and Alex trying on their Santa hats

Alex's biggest accomplishment this fall was to learn to how to communicate.  He is learning new words daily and is starting to use them first when asking for something rather than indiscriminate crying - which is still his frequent back-up when silly Mommy can't translate his words.   He will often use gestures and shear persistence to get his point across if I don't immediately clue in.  He also reached another milestone as he started daycare in November.  He has been variably happy about his time at daycare - many days leaping into his teacher's arms with a smile on his face and not even a glance back to say bye, and other days clinging tight anad not wanting to go at all.  He is really starting to display his little personality, which, as I wrote on his daycare forms is "stubborn, independent, affectionate, fearless, headstrong and sweet".

Alex the baby dino

 We went on a number of fall mini-trips this year: to Appleland, to Children's museum, to Clovermead farm (twice!) and to Kusterman's farm.  We all had a lot of fun.  Ian and Alex (and their Mommy) all really love these outings - seeing and feeding the animals and enjoying all the activities on the farms. 

Alex at Children's Museum

 

Ian at Children's museum

 

Alex and Daddy at Appleland

 

Alex picking an apple

 

Ian the dragon

Ian and Alex watching the animals

 

Alex at the wheel

Ian bouncing out his energy

Ian the bat

Ian driving the tractor

feeding the goats

Playing in the corn

Bat Ian!

We also welcomed a new addition to the Brahm clan with the birth of Ryan Arthur Brahm on Oct 21.  Ian and Alex have gone a little baby crazy since Ryan was born - especially Alex, who now wants to look at pictures of babies all the time.   

Halloween was a blast this year - Ian and Alex were both pretty into dressing up and trick-or-treating this year.  We actually made it all around the block this time!  Ian and Alex also got to have two different costumes.  The weekend before Christmas we went to Storybook Gardens where Ian was Diego and Alex was Curious George, but on actual Halloween, Ian was a cow and Alex a duck.  They were both pretty cute in either outfit. 

Ian and Alex at Storybook Garden's Halloween

 

Riding the slide at Halloween

Curious GeorgAlex

Our pumpkins!

Alex checking out the pumpkin lights

Ian trying out the pumpkins

All lit up!

Happy Halloween

Alex walking Ian

Trick-or-Treating at Grandnan's

Trick-or-treating at Nanny and Poppy's

Daddy and the boys on Halloween

Dinovember was a huge hit this year - with both boys getting pretty excited each morning to head downstairs and see what those Dinos got up to the night before.  Its a good thing December comes right after so I could replace Dinovember mornings with advent calendar mornings....

 

Highlights of Dinovember:

The dinos arrive!

playing in a band

  

Playing train

 

Building a tower

 

Words and Numbers

 

PARTY!!

Mommy and the whole family got some excellent news on match day - we all get to stay together here in London while Mommy completes her Endocrine fellowship!   I am so glad that we don't have to worry about all the hassles that would have come with moving but mostly I am very happy that we don't have to leave all the loving and supportive family that we have here in London. 

 

We've also been lucky enough to have more time with Cousin Mattthew coming to visit and even sleepover a few times this fall.  Its been so much fun to have another little one to run around and play with on Saturday mornings.  Ian can't get enough of his favorite cousin and 'best friend'  and, after some initial struggles, Alex and Matthew are starting to warm up to each other as well.

Sleepover

Ian and Matthew- awww!

 

Matthew at the Reptile Zoo

 

Hi Matthew!

 

Ian and Matthew watching the reptile show

 

Ian and the Red Tegu

 

Matthew and the black and while Tegu

 

Alex and the Tegu

 

Well,  its been an excellent fall - with some much needed and much appreciated extra time to spend with my boys.  I've really enjoyed having the opportunity to reconnect with my little ones after the crazy few months I had over the late spring and summer and have tried to make the most of it. Now Christmas is just around the corner and we are all getting so excited for the big day.

At the Santa Claus Parade

Merry Christmas Alex!

 

Merry Christmas everyone and a Happy 2015!!!

Love Amanda