Disney World

We had so much fun at Disney World!! My favorite part was watching Kade's reaction to all the characters. He loved them and wasn't scared of them at all. It was so fun to watch him point at everything he saw. When I was a kid we went to Disney World and I had an autograph book that I got characters to sign. So of course we had to get Kade an autograph book and his picture with the characters.
We ate at this really fun place at Hollywood Studios called The Prime Time Diner. The place looked like an old kitchen from the 50's. They have old televisions up and an old refrigerator. While you are waiting to go to your table you wait in the "living room" that looks just like an old living room from a scene in an old t.v. show. Mom screams your name when it's your turn to be seated; they say "Bailey kids time for dinner!!" Then "mom" is your waitress and all the people around you are the kids also, so she introduces you to everyone in the room. It was so funny because Tim got in trouble for wearing his hat to the table so "mom" made him set our table. Also Tim got in trouble for not eating his vegetables. It was such a fun place to eat.
We went to all 4 parks and were very tired at the end of our time there. We bought Kade a Mickey that he sleeps with now; he loves his Mickey and always hugs and kisses him.

Flying With The Bailey's

We just got back from vacation to Disney World and to visit Tim's mom in Tampa. I have lots of stories from our trip. We had lots of fun and experienced alot of craziness on our first trip with our little boy. I hope to post more about our adventures; for today I will tell you about our crazy plane ride.

Our morning started bright and early at 4:30 a.m. We left our house at about 5:30 to be at the airport by 6:15 for our 7:30 flight. We parked our car in the airport parking lot and had to ride a bus to the airport gate. The parking lot was pretty full so we had to park in the very back and carry all of our luggage up to the bus stop. The whole way Tim is complaining about why did we have to bring so much stuff. I didn't see him offering to put back the million things he had to bring. None of us are morning people so we were all in a bad mood.

We check our luggage, go through security, and then realize that our gate has changed. Now we are running to get on the tram to get to our other gate. Finally we board the plane and get ready to take off. We had chosen an early flight hoping Kade might sleep; well we were WRONG!! He was wiggling the entire time going back and forth between us. We tried milk, toys, goldfish, and books. I brought a coloring book and he threw the crayons at the lady behind us. He kept throwing his pacifier down the aisle. It was the longest flight ever!! Those 2 hours seemed like 24 hours. The last 30 minutes he just wanted down and he screamed as loud as he could. We tried everything and nothing would get him to stop. Tim and I were so embarrassed. Those poor people on the airplane were probably so ready to get off. As soon as we landed and got off the plane Kade was fine.

The plane ride home was much better. Kade slept for an hour and a half. When he woke up he had some goldfish and just sat there. We will definitely never forget Kade's first plane ride.

Uncle "B"

My brother calls himself Kade's Uncle "B" and encourages Kade to learn his name often. I decided to write about my brother who is 2 1/2 years younger than me. I am so proud of my little brother. He started his first real job this week. After lots of searching he finally got a job that sounds great for him. My brother has always been really smart; he can read something once and remember it forever. He graduated with his bachelor's degree in 3 years and then got his masters degree in a year and a half. His degrees are in finance and unfortunately he graduated at a very bad time for finance in our country right now. So after many months of interviews and applying to several jobs a day he finally got a job as a loan counselor for a mortgage company. We have all been praying for months for Bradley to get a job and when he called and said he got a job of course I wanted to cry I was so excited for him.
My brother is the loud outgoing "fun" one out of the two of us. He is never afraid to tell you or anybody else what he thinks. When we are out I usually have to tell him to talk quieter; he seriously has such a loud voice. My brother is very set in his ways already, sometimes I tell him he is like an old man. He enjoys living alone with his little dog and likes things his way. Finance fits him perfectly because he probably has the first penny he ever made, he is so cheap. Bradley is very funny and can always make me laugh; even if I am mad at him. Like any brother and sister we do fight and definelty get along better when we do not live together. When he came home from college he lived with Tim and I for awhile and our house was a battle field most days. When he got his own apartment we got along much better.
When my mom died I had a sense of motherly instinct that it was my job to take care of my little brother who was 18 at the time. We used to argue so much because he said I was acting too much like his mother and I wasn't his mother. I definelty had to learn to let go a little and realize that I couldn't worry about where he was 24 hours a day and what he was doing. My brother is the best uncle and loves Kade so much. My brother has helped us so much when we needed a urgent babysitter because Kade was sick and we coulnd't get off of work. Bradley even took Kade to the doctor for a shot once this year when I was stuck in Dallas at a workshop and Tim was stuck in a meeting. He usually babysits anytime we ask; sometimes I have to beg a little and we get put on a time frame but we are thankful to have him babysit. We joke with him that we are losing are daytime babysitter now that he has a job.

Memaw's House

Kade and I took at trip to visit Memaw this week. Amanda and Aubrey went with us; Aubrey was great for entertaining Kade in the car. We stayed for 2 nights and had a great time. The first night we were there we went to a tiny little restaurant down the street called "Weezy's." It was the best place, they are known for miles around for their onion rings and burgers. Memaw said that people drive all the way from "town" out to eat at Weezy's. Every time we go to Memaw's we always stay up late talking and laughing. The next day we decided to go into town and go shopping. In town they have one little shopping strip with just a few stores. When we came back from shopping we all took naps; it was so hot we were worn out. Amanda and I started looking through all of Memaw's old picture albums; it's one of my favorite things to do when we go there. We thought it would be fun to post old pictures of our cousins on Facebook. But for some reason they didn't like those cute old pictures. :)
Kade had lots of fun running around; I hope Memaw was able to get her house back into one piece when we left. The first day we were there he broke a dish on the coffee table, pulled all the movies and books off the shelf, slammed his finger in the toilet lid, and tried to eat a rock out of a kitchen plant. And that was just from the first day! Memaw's house is not Kade proof, so I spent alot of time chasing him around. It was funny watching Memaw with Kade and Aubrey she would just laugh hysterically at anything they did. We had a fun visit and it's always sad to leave.

Memaw and Aubrey drinking morning coffee.

Memaw makes the best breakfast.

When we were cleaning up breakfast Aubrey decided to get Memaw's lipstick and put it on her and Kade.

Doesn't her lipstick look pretty!

I love rocking on the porch at Memaw's house.

Kade loves the wind chimes.

He ran all over the yard.

If you are ever in Blossom you should stop by Weezy's.

Aubrey kept taking our picture with the play phone. I guess she sees everyone using their phones to take pictures. She is so funny.

Time to go home.

Clean Teeth, Climbing, & Chuck E. Cheese

This summer is going by way too fast! I have had so much fun staying home with Kade. I have to admit I have not been very productive as far as cleaning out drawers/closets, re-organizing things, reading those 3 books I'm supposed to read for school that are still in my school bag. He is such a busy little guy that keeps me moving all day long. Nap time is my quiet time that I should be doing all that stuff I mentioned earlier; but Facebook, working on Kade's scrapbook, or taking a nap myself are always so much more appealing to me.
Kade has discovered in the past week that he can climb, he is living up to his "Little Monkey" name. One night Tim and I were standing in the kitchen talking and we turned around and Kade was in the living room sitting "Indian style" on the coffee table smiling at us. And so the climbing began; the next day he learned he could climb on the couch and then I found him climbing up on his play kitchen to grab the blinds.
At his 1-year appointment the doctor said it was time for Kade to start brushing his teeth. So every night before bed time we brush his teeth. Do you know how hard it is to brush a wild 1-year old's all 4 teeth? Well, it can be a challenge some nights. He wants to do it himself and doesn't want me to touch his toothbrush. I guess at least he likes having clean teeth and is not refusing to brush. We are so excited that he is now on whole milk and doing great! He is down to 1 bottle at night; I'm so thankful that he is doing so good at giving up the bottle. Now, the pacifier is a different story. He is attatched to that thing. If anyone has any ideas of how to get rid of the pacifier let me know.
This past Friday night Tim had the idea to take Kade to his 1st Chuck E. Cheese visit. We all had so much fun. Kade loved running around and playing with the games. He was exhausted when the night was over.

Everything is "MMMMMM" to him now. He kept saying that over and over when he was eating the pizza.

He just stared at the big mouse.

He points at everything now.

Our Little Monkey Is 1!!

Our sweet baby boy turned 1 year old on June 21. I can not believe he is already a toddler and not a baby anymore. Life definitely changed in a year. I think we have all learned a lot; mostly Kade has taught Tim and I. :) We now know all about tummy aches, ear infections, and teething. Most importantly we had to learn how do the at home concussion check, because we have such a wild little boy who should be wearing a helmet most days. The Internet became our guide to parenting often, even though sometimes it gave information that scared us to death. In the past year our lives have definitely become crazier, our house is way messier and louder, and sleeping late is no longer an option. All of those changes are well worth the joy of seeing Kade's face when he learns something new, gives you a big kiss and hug for no reason, that little laugh that just melts your heart, and his cute little smile. I thank God everyday for giving me the wonderful blessing of getting to be Kade's mommy.

Each month I took Kade's picture with his age and weight. As he got older he added a little more challenge each month to take his picture. By the 12th month he was definitely done with me taking his picture. Looking back now it is so amazing how much he has grown and changed.

Getting ready to go home from the hospital.

5 Years Ago

Monday, June 21, 2004 I was sitting in a summer college class when I got a message from my brother to come home now that mom was sick and going to the hospital. What? Mom was never sick, couldn't be a big deal. So I left class and started driving home to Haltom City from Denton.

The day before was Sunday and mom had been in bed all day with a headache. She never stayed in bed all day; she got up everyday took a shower and put on her makeup even if she was just staying home all day. I was busy doing homework all day and really didn't pay much attention. I asked her that night if she wanted me to make her something to eat. Mom just asked for crackers. I usually slept with my mom and that night I woke and she wasn't there. I went looking and found her in the living room on the couch. I asked her what was wrong and she said her head just hurt and she couldn't sleep. I just went back to bed.

The next morning was a rushed morning as usual getting ready for my early drive to Denton. My mom was teaching summer school and got up to take a shower. I didn't pay much attention to her that morning as I was rushed as usual. She was standing in her room in her blue pajamas as a said in my rude morning voice, "Are you still sick? Why don't you just stay home?" My mom never missed work and was not going to today. I rushed out not even sure if I said goodbye.

I had called Brandy who is now my sister-in-law, she met me in Keller and drove me the rest of the way to the hospital. By now I was really worried. When we got there my mom's brother was there with my brother and my mom's friend. My mom's friend had driven her to the doctor where she collasped and was rushed to the nearest hospital. The doctors had already decided that she needed to be taken downtown to a more specialized hospital for strokes and head trauma. My mom was unconscious and when I saw her in that bed it was the worst feeling in the world. I will never forget the look on the nurse's face and she said, "I'm sorry." I became angry what was she sorry for, my mom was going to get better.

We went to the hospital downtown; tons of family and friends came. The nurses and doctors really couldn't tell us anything. It was such a long wait. They finally said that mom had a stroke caused by a brain bleed. It was late by then and they said the doctors would be back in tomorrow to see how the night went and where we would go from there. All we thought was okay she is going to have to have a brain surgery and she will be fixed. I just kept praying she would be okay; she was all we had in the world she had to get better. My brother and I slept on the hospital benches with some family and friends. Early that morning the phone in the waiting room rang. They said to call all the family to come back. My mom died early in the morning on June 22, 2004. I remember screaming; "No, you have to help her!!" It was like I was in an awful dream; I had the worst feeling inside that I can't explain.

The next week is all a blur to me. For a long time I was very angry and sad. Why did she have to die? That was the question I asked over and over. I know that God was ready for her to be with Him and I probably with never be able to understand the reason she had to go so soon.

I had just turned 21 and my brother was 18. We grew up really quick after that. My brother and I were pretty spoiled. I did not even know how to do my own laundry until my mom died and I had to learn. She was such a great person, with a kind heart. I can still remember how she smelled and what it felt like to hug her. When she first died I was so scared I would forget those things, but I think those memories will always be with me. I think about her everyday. Some days I still cry because I miss her; other days I laugh about a funny memory of her. I always think gosh I wish I would have asked her this or I would how she would feel about this. Like things a 21 year old would not think to ask her mom about.

4 years later June 21, 2008 I was back in the hospital for a happy reason. My baby boy was born. I think people are right when they say that "God works in mysterious ways," because he made a very sad life changing day into a very happy life changing day.

I am very blessed to have such a good family. I have two sweet aunts and cousins who love Kade and treat him so special like my mom would have. I have a great husband who goes on shopping trips with me (even though he hates shopping) like my mom would have. I have a good brother who listens to me ramble on about anything like my mom would have.

I wanted to share some fun pictures of my mom....

My brother's highschool graduation.

This is Christmas 2007; my favorite picture of mom.



My mom loved to have parties. She found an excuse to have a party for anything. This was one of the best parties I can remember that she had; it was a college graduation party for my cousin Tonya.

My 21st birthday.

This is mom with her friend Rita and my Aunt Sharon eating dinner before our annual Kenny Chesney concert.

Mom with Aunt Patsy.

Our dog Oliver loved her and was always where she was.

This is mom with my cousin Tonya having fun on one of our Girl's Trips.

Everyone piled in the bed before Bradley's graduation.