No More Growing Up!

Corbin and I have an ongoing joke with Brayden that he can't grow up any more. I tell him he has to stay my little boy so he can fit in my lap. Corbin threatens to strap books to his head so he can't get any taller. Brayden laughs, protests that he will indeed continue to grow, and then sweetly says that we can come visit him when he's an adult...living in the jungle and studying _______ (insert favorite animal of the week).

I have no doubt that he will be doing something amazing when he grows up. Hopefully, it will be near his family, or maybe we'll just move to the jungle :)

Until that day, we are busy with Brayden's 2nd year of preschool. He is officially in "Pre-K", otherwise known as the year you prepare for kindergarten, otherwise known as my baby boy starts kindergarten next year! Where did the past 4 1/2 years go?

To say that we love Miracle of Minds preschool would be a complete understatement. We adore everything about the school, from the loving, positive environment, to the teachers, to the adorable little schoolhouses. What an amazing start to Brayden's school experience.

At the beginning of this year, Brayden:

- can write his name and all the letters of the alphabet

- can count to 40 (starts to get a little iffy after that!)

- loves to color and paint, but is sometimes a perfectionist about

staying in the lines!

- says the sounds of every letter and is attempting to sound out words

- can tell you the name and facts for any dinosaur or snake

- explains words such as nocturnal, venomous, awkward, carnivore, camoflauge, creative, and molting

- begins sentences with "Clearly", "As you know", "I was thinking...", and "Speaking of..."

- makes up words and then says "That's how you say ____ in Spanish!"

- loves to wrestle with Daddy

- has started calling us "Mom" and "Dad" (I don't like this at all!)

- has a love/dislike relationship with his little brother

- has endless energy

- has an equal amount of love and sweetness

Here are a few pictures from his first day, last year (just to prove that he's not growing!) and this year.

Notice his head measures right above the handle...

And now clears the lock! Nope, no growing there!

Apparently when you're in Pre-K, you're too cool to smile for a picture

There's a smile from the handsome dude!

Showing off his snake tattoo

Brayden and his sweet teacher, Mrs. Wostl...

just pretend he doesn't have a horrible face in this one!