Brady's ear tubes

Brady in his Mercy Hospital gown last Friday, April 16.

Yes, he's trying to eat his fist. 
Hardest part about the morning was keeping him from eating
until about 2 hours past his usual morning bottle.

He did get his 4th ear infection a few days before and was

back on antibiotics.

Dr. Vos was amazing, done in about 5 minutes!

They said he immediately had a lot of fluid drain from BOTH ears. 

He has always been diagnosed with only having his Right ear have infections.

They just used some gas on him rather than IV, so he had a very quick recovery.

Our Happy Boy

Less than 30 minutes after the procedure we were outta there!

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Arneson head

Brady modeling some of his 6-12 month hats

we found when digging through Carson's totes.

Carson wore the cap above around 6-7 months, matched a cute summer outfit.

Had to peel it off B's head!

Ben often blames our children's big heads on the "Arneson genes," my mom's family.

Mom and I both have troubles finding hats that fit.

I don't think I've ever seen Uncle Steve in a hat.

Big heads hold big brains, Ben. :)

By that standard, Brady is going to be a genius!!!

Ella's Birthday Party Sunday 4/11; Hunting Rant

Ella was pumped up to check out her gifts!

Oh, her she goes again!

Free stand! Whoop whoop!

We hear that she has taken a few steps, 

but haven't witnessed it yet!

She's gotta be sooooo close! 

She was standing and pushing around toys and tracing furniture all day.

Plane spotter Carson

I guess watching OTHER kids open presents 

isn't nearly as much fun. 

Sorry, bud!

Your b-day is 7 months away!

What a cute family!:)

Bob, Julie, and Ella Swanson

It is going to be SO hard to call cousin Ella

instead of Baby Ella!!!! :(

Ella checking out Brady and giving him a "honk" on the nose!

Brady's only 9 months behind you,

Watch out, Ella, 

he may be able to get you back soon!

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Bass Pro Shops in Altoona visit pre-Ella Party

I don't get hunting.

Ben is obsessed.

Ben has brainwashed Carson already.

Like father, like son.

Carson stayed on this "sweet ride" for at least 15 minutes

while Daddy shopped for turkey hunting gear.

Above, Grandpa Swanson looks on, clueless about this sporting obsession (or insanity)

that runs through Ben's, and likely his grandsons', veins. 

Jimbo gets sports, cards and casinos; not the great outdoors! 

That's the gaming mom likes, too!

Take me to a Cubs game. Awesome!

Date night to Riverside for craps and live band. 
Like it!

Try to go to lots of home WHS and IOWA football and baseball games. 
Love it!

Go sit out in a tree stand or blind for hours 

waiting for something, anything, to walk by.....

and then try to kill it......

NOPE, still not ready!!!

Not sure that I EVER will be.

I love you, Ben!

But, I am NOT a hunter.

I'm glad we have boys for you to have future hunting buddies.

'Cuz it ain't me, babe.

Happy 1st Birthday, cousin Ella!

Happy Birthday to you,

Happy Birthday to you,

Happy Birthday,

Dear Ella,

Happy Birthday to YOU!

We love you, Ella!

(I will post more pictures from your birthday party soon!!!)

4/10--Family fun and SWIMMING!

First stop, Montezuma.

I am 

KICKING

myself for not taking photos

of visiting Cousin Thomas and Sharelle!!

Tom just got home from Afghanistan

 and we enjoyed seeing him, meeting his girlfriend, 

and spending lunch with some of Ben's cousins.

Next,

we headed over to see

Great-Grandparents Bob and Anita Sutfin.

They just got home from wintering down in Yuma, AZ. 

This was their first time seeing Brady.

Carson missed them, too!

We went to Adventureland Inn in Altoona 

to stay the night before Ella's 1st birthday

party on Sunday.

Above, Carson is showing a kid his wristband.

Mommy had to make a big deal

 about the "special bracelet" to get Carson to keep it on, 

so he thought he was pretty cool wearing it!

Carson LOVED the slide!

The first few times he was pretty nervous.

Can you see him holding his breath?!?

You can 

COUNT EVERY RIB!

He was a splishing and a splashing...

Playing with Grandpa Jim, Daddy, 

and his new girlfriend, 

Taylor from Dubuque.

This little girl latched onto Carson the minute we got there! 

She LOVED playing with him. 

At first we were a little annoyed, then it was pretty cute. He learned to crab walk, roll around, and jump off the side with her! 

He was braver with her around and didn't mind as much when his head would dip under!

Brady got in on the swimming pool scene.

He loved to kick his feet in the water.

With tubes scheduled for Friday, we only put him in from the waist down.

Speaking of that....Carson and Brady can wear the same size swim diaper!! 

LOL!

Brady went to the Doctor's Tuesday (tonight) night,

Yes, 

ANOTHER EAR INFECTION!!!

T-3 days until tubes! (Friday)

If you can't tell from this picture, we do have a chunky monkey!

18 POUNDS!!!!!

Ben had to drag Carson away from the pool

Kicking and 

screaming!!!

Bonus was an early, long night's sleep!

Friday, April 9--Road trip to Mt. Pleasant

On Friday, we took a road trip to Mount Pleasant

with some of mommy's Simpson friends

 to visit our newest friend, 

Caleb Shepherd.  

He's 6 weeks old now!  

Above is Mom holding Caleb and new mommy, Aimee, holding Brady.  

Caleb now weighs 9 pounds.....

Brady was 9 lbs 8 oz at birth, 

so mom was out of practice holding such a newborn-sized baby! 

Caleb is a doll with lots of blonde hair, blue eyes, and just starting to light up with smiles!:)

Mommy's Pilot was a full house with three carseats and three chatty gals!  

We had a pretty smooth trip, 

except for being stalked and ticketed by a trooper.

.Long story....registration paid now.

Brooke giving Collin Darrah and Carson some photography tips.

Proud daddy, Greg Shepherd

Simpson Pi Phi friends

Aimee (Seberg) Shepherd, Brooke Avila, Me, Anne (Detlie) Darrah

Time to go Home?

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Waiting at home to visit us, 

our friends Sean Helton and Gina Gregorie.

Sean helps daddy coach baseball.

He is a friendly State Trooper....

wish we would've ran into him on our trip!

Carson loves entertaining 

"Non" and "Nina!"

Easter Sunday

Chariton Swanson Easter Egg Hunt

Carson sharing his eggs with cousin Ella. 

Aunt Julie makes Ella's cute flower headbands!

Comparing treasures.

Family photo opportunity

Brady was chilling in his carseat on the front stoop.

Sorry, B, not big enough for these fun activities!

Grandma/Nana Margie and the boys.

Uncle Bob and Brady chilling.

Adorable Cousin Ella!

She's getting so big!

She's starting to stand up and has been walking around furniture.

Not long, Bob and Julie, until your house gets turned upside down!!!

Carson was pumped up all day.

Maybe it was the outdoor activities.

Maybe it was the extra attention.

Maybe it was the CANDY!!!

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Montezuma Easter with the Sutfins

G'ma Kathy and Brady.

Brady's cute Easter outfit only made it 15 minutes in Monte before a diaper leak made us resort to a sleeper!

171 eggs?!?! 

Yup.

Carson found about 30.

Candy-wow!

G'pa Dave and G'ma Kathy got some baby ducks for Easter.

We didn't get inside before Carson to see his initial suprise and excitement,

but he wouldn't leave the ducks alone!

"Poop!" 

"Ew!"

Ben threatened to dump the ducks off at West End Pond

if we had to bring them home.

They stayed on the farm.

Chariton Fun

A visit to our friends Jansen, Amy, and Cy Stuart's farm to see the baby lambs.

I have no idea why I didn't think to get a picture of the Stuart family, too!  Sorry, guys! My loss! Cy is about 8 months old and such a cutie!

Carson trying to talk to the lambs.  

He was a little too aggressive for them and excited to feed them. Most of them were startled and stayed away, but he still had fun!

Now for some child labor...

Lil Hercules?  

No photoshopping. 

BUT, 

it was a dead tree limb that came down in the storms the Friday before Easter in G'parents Swansons' backyard. We helped rake and bag twigs, too. 

Carson loves ANYTHING we do outside.

Muscles!

For all your hard work, kid, we'll take you to a park. 

G'pa Jimbo rattlling the bridge was scary but fun!

Brady napping in the fresh air.

Ben teaching Carson how to use the sand digger. 

He eventually got it, but had to work really hard to pull back with all of his weight to get it by himself!

Megan and "Nana" Margie. 

As the photographer, I don't have many pics of me on the blog!

My big kid. 

Ben's hiding to scare Carson when he goes to go down the slide.