First KU Tailgate

On Saturday, we joined the Priers, Bouyacks and friends at the first tailgate of the 2008 KU Football season. Braylon made his tailgate debut and took in all the sights and sounds of KU Football Pregame. Since this was our first time and the weather somewhat warm, we only stayed for a few hours. Bryan made a onsie for Braylon to wear, showing his alliance to his parents' alma mater.
The Prier clan came as well, sporting their KU apparel. Tristan enjoyed "the hill", keeping his parents very busy running up and down and touring the stadium twice. Riley enjoyed her time in the shade and caught a little nap. We look forward to our kiddos enjoying many more tailgates together.
Braylon hung with Daddy most of the time, snoozing off and on. When he was awake, he was wide-eyed and happy! He seemed to enjoy his first tailgate of the season!

Road Trip

After the weekend in Manhattan, Braylon and I made the long trip home to Johnson, Ks to visit family. We caught a ride home from Manhattan with Bryan's mom, Grandma Jean. We turned a typical 5 hour trip into a 7 1/2 hour trip from Manhattan to Johnson. We stopped twice to nurse and change diapers;otherwise, Braylon slept peacefully in his car seat. While home, we visited Great Grandma and Grandpa Cook. They were very excited to see Braylon for the first time and he hammed it up for them, offering great smiles and chatting up a storm. From there, we paid a visit to my dad, Grandpa Grady and younger siblings, Josie and Wyatt. Braylon caught a quick nap with Grandpa. Tuesday evening, we spent some time with my mom and step-dad,Grammy and Papa Jerry. Uncle Marty, Aunt Kyla and the twins, Caelyn and Rylie came over for dinner and met Braylon for the first time. The girls were especially excited to see Braylon. It seems that Braylon is flirting with Rylie in this picture. He wouldn't stop looking at her and she was a little embarrassed! On Wednesday, we began our trip back to Lawrence and made a quick stop to see Great Grandparents Dewayne and Sally in Ulysses. Once again, Braylon won them over with his sweet disposition and adorable smiles! Our final stop came in Ashland, where we visited Braylon's namesake, Great Grandpa Arthur or "Pop". Pop really engaged Braylon, making faces and funny noises that caught Braylon's attention. Bryan's mom, Grandma Jean also made the trip to visit Pop and we snapped this four generation picture of the Ganson, Malone, and Ramsay clan. Bryan, Braylon and I then drove the last leg home to Lawrence. Once again, a normal 4 1/2 hour trip turned into a 6 1/2 hour trip. We were glad to get home and rest! It was an exciting week and we were glad to see everyone, but we won't be making that trip again until Christmas!

Wedding Weekend

Uncle Brian and Aunt Kassie were married on August 23, 2008 in Manhattan. Braylon sported this onsie made especially for the occasion by Bryan. It reads, "Congrats! Uncle Brian and Aunt Kassie. Love, Braylon". Everyone got a kick out of the outfit and Braylon enjoyed all the attention he got over the weekend. The wedding was beautiful and we enjoyed celebrating the union of two extraordinary people. Cheers to Mr. and Mrs. Brian Abbott! Unfortunately, we didn't get many pictures of the happy couple. We did manage to capture this family photo, though. On Saturday, before the wedding, Braylon and I met up my sister and nephew for lunch. Devin loves "Baby Braylon" and really wanted to help with pushing the stroller and consoling him when he cried. What a sweet boy!

Husker Girls

This past weekend my two good friends, Brandy and Sarah, made the trip from Omaha, NE for a short visit. This was their first time to meet Braylon and they absolutely loved it! Braylon loved all the hugs and kisses he got, in addition to the adorable clothes they brought for him! It was a sad day when they left, but we hope to see them frequently as they only live a few hours away. Thanks for visiting us Aunt Sarah and Aunt Brandy!

HELP ME!!!!!

If you're reading this right now...please help me escape! I woke up about 3 weeks ago in a strange place and haven't been able to get my bearings straight ever since. I've been held captive by two large humans...one male, one female. I believe the male's name is "Daddy", but I've heard the female refer to him as "Bryan" as well. The female is "Momma" or "Marci"...I've heard the male call her both. I've seen the female using this device I'm on right now frequently and I have to assume it's some sort of communication to the outside world. They also use another smaller device ALL THE TIME!! It flashes a bright light in my eyes and leaves me disoriented...but it seems to create a copy of whatever it's pointed at. I've managed to master the device and compiling evidence against my captors. Here is what I look like...
They are both sleeping right now, but when they are awake they are always guarding against my escape. They sometimes take me out, but when they do, I'm always confined to a chair with very strong restraints.
I believe they've also captured 3 small furry beasts. Two of them look similar and I've taken a picture of them...
They are called "Charlie" and "Sadie". They are very curious about me and sometimes lick me...gross! For now they seem harmless and fairly oblivious to their imprisonment...I believe their intelligence is limited. The other beast is called "Molly" or "The Cat". She seems to be slightly smarter since she is the only one that has found a way to escape. I still can't figure out why she keeps returning...she may be plotting revenge and waiting for the right time to strike. This is what she looks like...
I need to learn to communicate with the furry ones. If we can band together, maybe we can get out of here.
They are keeping me well fed through two cone shaped apparatuses attached to the female. The food is very good, so I can't complain about that. I try to spit some back at them out of disgust after every feeding...but they don't seem too upset about it. I think they're keeping me drugged as well because I can't control my movements and I'm always tired. My eyes go cross-eyed frequently and sometimes I'll punch myself in the face for no apparent reason. No matter how much I scream and cry and wake them up in the middle of the night, they just don't seem to want to let me out of here. I'm begging you...PLEASE HELP ME ESCAPE!!!

Mommy and Me

I am so amazed by the feelings that I have for this little guy! From the first moment that I heard him make a sound, I fell in love with him. I'm overwhelmed with the sense of love and joy he's brought to my life in such a short time. Braylon's been with us now for a little over 3 weeks and I have to say that these past few weeks have been the most amazing and fulfilling in my entire life! Watching Braylon grow and change everyday and realizing the impact he has had on Bryan and I is simply remarkable. I've always loved and admired Bryan for the amazing person that he is, but to see him with Braylon fills my heart with a greater appreciation for him. He's an amazing father and Braylon and I are lucky to have him! I am eternally thankful for this little blessing in my life. He's already changed my life for the better and I know that I will continue to be blessed by his presence in my life.

Bath Time

Braylon really seems to like bath time. Aside from the very first bath time, when he pooped on Daddy, we haven't had any problems. He just lays back and enjoys the warm water. He does fuss just a bit when we get him out of the water before he gets wrapped up in his towel. Once in his towel, he's perfect!

Daddy Time

This is a daily ritual for Braylon and Bryan. Braylon gets plenty of time with his daddy throughout the day. They enjoy cuddling while Braylon naps and of course, Charlie is always on guard. Bryan takes on the nightly "jammie time" ritual which helps out a lot while I'm getting myself ready for bed. As expected, Bryan is a great dad and he really enjoys Braylon. I love watching the two of them together! There is so much love and joy in this home and it's evident when you watch Bryan with Braylon. They are quite the pair.

The Many Faces of Braylon

We have really enjoyed capturing the many faces that Braylon makes throughout the day. It's hard to know whether these faces are actually expressions of his feelings or if he's just figuring things out in this new world. He'll go from being mad....
...to smiling and cooing in a matter of seconds. He is staying awake more throughout the day and is really wide-eyed and exploring his surroundings. Sometimes, we even think he's being thoughtful...especially when he gets his hands up near his face or head as if he's really contemplating his next move. The sweetest thing to observe is when Braylon is resting peacefully. He's such a sweet boy and we ask ourselves everyday how we got so lucky!