Welcome our newest additon!!

So, as you can see, we posted all of 2 blogs for 2012 -- wow, pretty lame.

I think it'd be best for me to just upload some pics and maybe give a quick update on what's been going on around those pics, so here we go...in no particular order  :)

This is a picture we took around Halloween of 2012 and I think it's pretty awesome!  This is the whole Dowdney Family...looks pretty "complete" to me!?!?!  lol

 

 

This year, on June 1st, we welcomed the newest addition to the Dowdney Family

Bradleigh Nicolynn Mary Dowdney!!! 

 

This pic was taken as part of her "baby" pictures, even though she was probably about 5 months or so in this picture (rough estimate)...we think she is BEAUTIFUL!!!!!!!!

 

 

 

 

More pics of Bradleigh...as most kids, she loves putting stuff in her mouth, so she decided to chew on this marker until I got my pic, and then I took it out of her mouth. :)

 

This is just too cute not to post!! Pretty sure she is on her way to the park in this one.

 

 

Again, another one too cute not to post!  Momma loves Ms. Bradleigh in little bitty bows -- HA!!  This girl has a gorgeous smile that just has to be shared!!!

 

 

This is Brayden at Easter in Palestine -- if you can see, he has a nice gash/scar in the middle of his forehead from trying to bring down our mantle with his head.  Bummer, but he got over it quickly and no stitches...this boy is a MESS!!!!  (and we love it)

 

 

 

 

Okay, so random pic here, but Mimi and Papa bought OUR KIDS mini-horses for Christmas (2012). Just don't tell Kelli they are for the kids.   LOL

 

 

 

 

This is B dressed up for the cold in Palestine on the day he met "Shake" -- his mini-horse!

We love this jacket on him and he has a couple really cool hats we put him in when it's cold outside.

 

Okay, I know this is sideways, and I'm not smart enough to figure out how to rotate it, but again, this is too cute not to post.

This is Brayden in his "blue car" at Mimi's house -- he loves to drive this around and this time Mimi found a wig for him to wear -- he LOVED it!!!

 



 

 

This is B at school for Thanksgiving and his teacher (Mrs. Sheikh) sent it to us. 

 

 

 

Okay, so I know this doesn't really cover the whole year, so here is a quick rundown of what happened in 2012

 

 

In June Brayden had his semiannual MRI and it was discovered the cyst on his spine has grown 2mm.  We freaked out and broke down in the office, so Dr. Roberts decided we would run some tests first before we dove into surgery.  We had his bladder tested and all came back normal!!!  No tethered spine and no blockages so we continued with our semiannual schedule. December came around and no changes to the cyst were noted, and no changes in B's demeanor was noted, so no surgery for now -- Jesus please heal our little boy so he never has to have back surgery...in your Holy, Powerful and HEALING Name, Jesus, AMEN!! (feel free to pray for this alongside us)

 

 

I transitioned into a new job in Jan of 2012, leaving the Federal Reserve and moving to PlainsCapital Bank.  This allows me NO TRAVEL and my office is only about 15mins from the house!!  So far, so good!! I'm a Senior Compliance Analyst for them, conducting audits of Consumer Bank Regulations to ensure compliance...I know...snoozer.

 

 

I mentioned we brought Bradleigh home on June 1st, and her "Gotcha Day" was December 7th...the day we finalized her adoption.  We are so blessed to have her, as she is an awesome baby, and has a wonderful smile!!  We love you Bradleigh...welcome to our Family!! Oh, and as of January, 2013 -- this girl is UP and WALKING!!!  ...gonna be a marathoner very soon (wink, wink)

 

Brayden was accepted into an Early Learning Program with Carrollton/Farmers Branch ISD (E.L. Kent Elementary) which is where that last pic is from...his teacher is Mrs. Sheikh and he is making big strides with learning his letters and numbers, as well as learning to write.

 

So...Brayden is doing or is working on the following:

     - He knows his letters and loves to sing the ABC song

     - He knows his numbers up to about 20 in both English and Spanish...we are trying to push him past 20, but it's a process.

     - He loves music, but has only just started "singing" songs.  He knew the words to a bunch of songs, but since a little after T-giving (2012) has he started inflecting his voice to try to match notes in the song -- SO CUTE!!  He sings Itsy Bitsy Spider, ABC's, This Little Light of Mine, You Are My Sunshine, Do You Know the Muffin Man, and several Go Diego Go songs.

     - He has begun to try writing...probably starting "squiggling" around August, and is now able to write a few letters on command, but I think sometimes he just writes something, and if it looks like a letter he'll call it as that letter.  :) 

     - He also knows all his colors and likes to call things by their color -- Blue jacket, Papa's Gray Truck, Nana's Green Car...etc.

     - Brayden has had to wear an eye patch since about November due to his eye muscles not matching with his brain communication.  If the patches don't work, we may be looking at surgery -- please Jesus, heal Brayden's eyes so he won't have to endure surgery -- in Jesus name, AMEN!

 

What is Bradleigh up to?

     - Bradleigh can now stand up as she pleases

     - She can stand up and walk wherever she wants to, but normally takes about 10 steps or so and then sits down to crawl the rest of the way.  She has great balance and can even walk backward...albeit slowly.  She can also change direction if she needs to with minimal falling.

     - She's gonna be a talker -- she makes all kinds of verbal noises, and we've somewhat taught her how to "get it" and "uh-oh."  I've even heard hear mimic a word here or there, but can only think of about 3 times that's happened thus far.

     - Otherwise, this little girl LOVES her big brother and wherever he goes...you'll find her.  She loves to be right up in his lap (to his shagrin) and lights up when she sees him, if they've been apart.

     - Momma puts this girl in the biggest bows she can find and the cutest outfits available...but she is 11 months and fits into 18 month clothing.  She is 1 diaper size below Brayden, at this point...granted he is super skinny, so not sure it that's her fault, or his.  :)

 

 

I think that's about it.  Kelli and I celebrated 12 years of marriage at the beginning of this month. In 2013 I am looking to go to India on a Mission Trip to help out an Orphanage. We are also talking about going to South Bend to watch my Sooners play Notre Dame, and heading to Baton Rouge to watch the Aggies play LSU.  No concrete plans have been made as we have some time before football cranks back up, but we are hoping to makes those 2 games.

 

At this point, there will probably be 4 people who still follow our blog, but that's our 2012 recap and look into 2013.

 

Love you all,

David D