Brynn turns 3!!!!

I have kindly been reminded that it has been MONTHS since I have updated our blog....I am sorry! We have been so busy this summer so blogging has been even more difficult than normal to keep up on. One major event that happened in May...Brynn turned 3!!! Up until now all her parties have been pretty small with just family and a very few close friends...nothing too big or exciting. This year we decided to throw her a real birthday party. Adam was actually gone on her real birthday with a work meeting he had to attend and we also had family coming in town for Addysen's blessing around the same time. So with everyone here... we decided to have a fun birthday party!! Friends, balloons, cupcakes, games, and even a pinata. Brynn was so excited and had so much fun...except for the couple times she cried (I think she got a little overwhelmed with all the kids and chaos going on)! A big "Thank you" to every who came and shared this fun day with her (and for the great gifts). She still talks about it!!

Brynn playing with the balloons (and cute Jaxton in the background !)

The popcorn came was a huge hit!! Everyone seemed to enjoy it.

At the end, Brynn crawled on the "parachute" and the kids wanted to bounce her....she was a little too heavy :)

Opening wonderful presents from even better friends!!

Basket toss

Brynn taking her turn at the pinata...it was indestructable!!

Everyone singing 'Happy Birthday"...and she is trying not to smile. She loved it, but didnt want to show every one.

We had to call in the reinforcements. After all the kids had a turn there wasn't even a small dent in the pinata. Who better to help than daddy!!

After the party we came home and Brynn took a nap. Adam and I knew what we were getting Brynn for her birthday, but had kept it a secret from pretty much everyone else. So during naptime I went to get her present and some 'accessories' we needed to go with it. I had been texting Adam to let he know when I would be home and he woke Brynnley up and sat her in the living room along with both sets of her grandparents. She closed her eyes....held out her hands.....and Adam placed her new present in her hands! As soon as she opened them and saw what was in her hands, the look of confusion and sheer excitement ran across her face. A NEW KITTY!!! Brynn had been asking for a kitty for awhile. So Adam and I decided that we would take her to play with some kitties at the shelters to see if there was one that would be a good addition to the family. While Adam was out of town for work, Brynn and I went to 2 animal shelters and it was a giant FAILURE!! We played with about 5 cats varying in color, size, gender, and age...and NONE of them were a good fit. They had no interest in interacting with Brynn and only cat that Brynn wanted to play with was one small black kitten. Unfortunatly this kitten ran away and hid the whole time we were trying to play with him. So I called Adam and told him this kitten thing was a bad idea...or maybe it was just the shelter kitties. So I got on craigslist and found the cutest little siamese kitten! I called the lady who was trying to adopt him out and arranged a time Brynn and I could go play with him. Brynn fell in love with him instantly and he LOVED Brynn!! I told Brynn we were just playing with the kitty and that the kitty belonged to the lady who lives with him. So we got in the car to go home. I let the lady know we wanted him and she was more than happy to hang onto him for another week until Brynn's birthday arrived. SO HERE HE IS.......Bocephus (or Bo for short)!!

This cat is so tolerant!
Opening presents from the family at home.

Lots of games!!! Thanks everyone for the wonderful gifts. Brynn loves them all!

HAPPY 3rd Birthday, Brynnley

My two girls...best friends in the making!

I had Addysen swaddled up an Brynnley wanted me to swaddle her . After I did, she wanted me to take a picture of her and Addy together....so here they are!

Brynn loves holding her little sister.

Adam picked out these jammies for Addysen and I found some matching ones for Brynnley a few weeks later. I had to get a picture of these cute girls in their matching jammies. Brynn thought it was so neat they matched.

I was the youngest in my family and also the only girl. I had two older brother growing up and I loved it, and I also didn't know any different. With that being said, I never knew what it was like to have a sister. I don't think I was ever sad about not having a sister, I was totally happy with the family that I had. Maybe that was because I family was complete and I wasn't meant to have a sister.

Time has passed and now I am a mother of two beautiful little girls. I had no idea what to expect once Addysen was born. I didn't know how Brynnley would react: would she be jealous, would she smother Addy, would she like/hate her?!?! It turns out I couldn't have asked for a better oldest child! Brynn loved Addysen from the moment she laid eyes on her. When Brynn came to visit for the first time in the hospital after Addy was born, she was such a great big sister. She was excited to meet and hold her little sister and was so gentle and nice to her. I am happy to report that things haven't changed. Brynn is always willing to help and knows when to back off a little. She doesn't smother her, but gives her lots of love and attention. Lately I have noticed the bond growing between them. Brynn frequently asks if she can hold Addysen and even invited Addy to cuddle with her when she watches a movie or TV. Addy loves her big sister as well. Yesterday morning I had Addysen on the floor and was talking to her. There was not much expression on her face. Seconds later Brynnley came over and was talking to her...and Addy was smiling ear to ear. Brynn started laughing and Addysen was trying to laugh back ( but she hasn't figured out the laugh yet...just the biggest smile ever.) I feel so blessed that I have such two sweet little girls, and girls who already love each other as sisters. After witnessing just these brief glimpses of what it means to be sisters, I am so excited to watch the little ones grow up together. I know they will be the best of friends. It may seem corny to say this , but I think they already are. Brynn is so patient and sweet with Addy, and Addy in return is always happy to see Brynn and is content to be in her big sister's presense.

Our counters

Here ya go mom and dad! After many weeks, here are some before and after pictures of the countertops. Before: After:

Blog Worthy!!

So, I have been absolutely TERRIBLE about blogging...obviously! Today is only half over and there is so much to document. I know I will look back on this day and laugh, but today is NOT that day.
Here we go! I woke up this morning to Addysen crying. I came downstairs to feed her and Adam was hanging out with Brynn. Adam infomed me that Brynn had a little diarrhea this morning and she had left a little "skid mark" in her panties. I can deal with that, at least she didn't UNLOAD in her pants, right?!
A couple week ago we bought Brynnley her first pet. A goldfish that happens to have two names. Some days she call him Dave and some days she call her Molly (names she came up with on her own). Not only does this fish have two names, but it also is male and female. Brynn has been very diligent about feeding this fish every day and likes to watch it eat. Well today, Molly (the name she picked for today) was floating in her side....uh oh, here comes the circle of life talk. After some tears and explaining to Brynn that Molly had died and it is ok to be sad, she wanted to give Molly a funeral. Brynn poured her in the potty and flushed it and said good bye. She handled it like a champ, but still shed a few tears. I felt so bad to have subjected her to it, but I guess it is just a fish and we can always go buy a new one. So that was our emotional morning.
After that, it was time to get ready to take Addysen to the doctor for her 2 month check up. I have mixed emotions about these visits. I am always excited to see how she is growing but dread the thought of those plump little thighs having multiple needles jabbed in them....and the screaming and tears that accompany it. It is soooo sad to watch. I told brynn that we were all gonna go, but of course she didn't want to. She has a little pimple looking lesion on her hand that has been hurting her. Yesterday she was excited to go to the doctor so that he could look at it. This morning was a different story. Once we all got in the car, she started screaming and crying bloody murder. I asked her what was wrong. She replied " I don't want the doctor to give me shots....I'm scared " :( So I explained to her that she WOULD NOT be getting any shots and the doctor was just going to look at her hand. She seemed fine after that. Well we are brought back to the room and things are going great. Addysen is now weighing 10 pounds 14 ounces (39%), her height 22 1/2 inches (32%) and her head is in the (38%)....very proportional!! After the nurse leaves and we are waiting for the doctor, Brynn tells me she needs to go to the bathroom. I was NOT willing to risk a diarrhea accident, so I found a nurse to hold Addysen, and brought Brynn to the bathroom. Well, all that worry for nothing...all she had to do was pee. Disaster avoided! Back in the patient room where we are waiting for the doctor. Brynn keeps saying in a super whiney voice "mommy, I dont wanna see the doctor. I dont want him to look at my hand, I dont want to get shots." Again I tell her she wont get any ouchies and if she doesnt want the doctor to look at her hand, then he wont! She seemed fine again. Well, in come the doctor. You would have thought the world was coming to and end! Brynn immediately starts SCREAMING/CRYING....Louder than she was in the car. I can't hear a thing the doctor is saying. I am holding Addysen (who is fussing) and trying to calm Brynn and attempting to hear the doctor. Brynn has my leg in a death grip and is hiding from the doctor. The doctor, thankfully, takes Addysen and was being super nice to Brynn (even gives her a new book). Brynn is begging to be picked up, so I accomodate her. Thats when I notice she just farted up the place...and REEKS!! She then says "I need to go potty." Based on the smell of her fart, I don't doubt that one bit. The doctor has even noticed the smell....great. Not the best timing however, the doctor is in the middle of doing his exam on Addysen and is talking to me about some important things. So the doctor hurries with the exam and off we rush to the bathroom...Addysen included. Well as we are going to the bathroom I notice Brynn's cute BRAND NEW skirt, has a lovely little brown addition on the back. That's right, it was not a fart...it was full blown diarrhea in her pants! Perfect..... Well I had to lay Addysen on a blanket on the floor ( who is now screaming) so I could take off Brynns skirt, leggings, and panties without smearing it all over her legs. Luckily I had an extra pair of jeans for her in my diaper bag...but not panties. My little girl get her first experience at going "comando." After multiple baby wipes I get Brynn as cleaned up as I could. We go back to our room and the nurse luckily has a plastic bag I can put the rank clothes into. Now Addysen get her shots....and screams, of course. It was so sad, I have never heard her scream like that...poor baby. After being fed Addysen is happy, Brynn is eating a snack and things have calmed down. I decided McDonald's drive thru was a great idea cause I was in no mood to fix lunch. Addysen fell asleep in the car, Brynn at her nuggets and fries, took a shower, and put on some pull-ups, and is now down for a nap as well!! I also forgot to mention that i have a cold or something...it is all in my chest. It is so thick that I can't cough anything up and my throat is super sore from all the pointless coughing. Well, that gets us through 1:00pm! I hope this day gets better. Even though today has been a minature nightmare...I do love my girls!!

Say hello to Addysen!!

We were so happy to welcome baby Addysen into our family on Friday Jan 14th. We are still working on whether or not to give her a middle name and what that name might be. Mommy and baby are doing great. Noelle had her by C-section and everything went very smoothly. She is working towards getting out of the uncomfortable hospital bed and back home but is doing well. Addysen is doing what one day old babies do, sleeping A LOT, eating a little and pooping enough to make the nurses happy. Brynnley is absolutely thrilled but misses her mommy and daddy at home. She is going to be a great big sister. Here are just a few pictures (btw, mommy and daddy were super tired after being at the hospital at 5:30 am) ...

Big sister (5 days old) - little sister (5 hours old)

The Good and the Bad

Good news....we are expecting baby girl #2 at the end of January!!! Brynn will get to have a little sister to play with and we are so excited!

Bad news...Adam has had a recurrence of his cancer. We are still in the middle of trying to figure everything out. He started a blog to journal about his fight through this time and has been very diligent with keeping it up to date. Check it out....

www.myfightadam.blogspot.com

Not much else to say right now...

Any suggestions?!?!

We found out late last week that Adam's cancer has returned. We feel like we are in a whirlwind trying to get through all this. We had some suggestions from family that we should set up a blog to journal Adam's journey through this time. We thought it was a good idea so we will be setting it up shortly. We are having a hard time coming up with a name though. If you have a suggestion or idea of what we could title this blog, leave a comment. Thanks!!

Busy summer, bad blogger

So I realized that my last blog was January. I can't believe I haven't updated our blog in so long, I'm sorry! As you can guess, its summer time and we have been veeeeerrrry busy. There have also been quite a few changes. Adam was faced with some big decisions regarding his career. We were faced with a decision to move to Houston, move to Boise or stay in Spokane with another company. All three were great opportunities so it was a difficult decision. In the end we realized that working for a different company and staying in Spokane was far and away the best thing for us to do. So, Adam now works for Medtronic and is based in Spokane. It's a great opportunity with a great company and he is super excited! Since we were staying in our home, we decided to do a little landscaping. Oh what fun. Adam has been working his butt off and still has a lot to do but we love it so far. Part of the greatness of landscaping is moving some very heavy materials. We had 6-7 large boulders, 10 cubic yards of crushed rock and 10 cubic yards of gravel to move around. So, Adam rented a fun toy for a day. Needless to say it was pretty funny watching a big guy squeeze into such a small machine. LOL! He actually did pretty good until he tried to load the bobcat onto the trailer. Pay close attention to the video below, its pretty fun and a lot scary especially since Brynnley was in his lap!!!



The next video shows the finished (well, mostly finished) product. We did something similar in the backyard. Also a cute video of Brynnley, she loves running through the sprinklers.

Takin care of business!!

For the past couple months Brynn has been notifying us when she has gone "pee pee" or "poo poo" or is about to do either of them! While I was out shopping this week, we picked up a princess toilet seat that Brynnley loves. We decided to try it out yesturday and she loved sitting on it. She sat on it for a little over 5 minutes and actually went #2!! I was totally shocked. I kept asking her if she wanted to get down, she kept insisting that she didn't. I left her alone for a minute and can back to a red faced little girl...she was going to the bathroom! Yea Brynn!! First thing she wanted to go when we got downstairs this morning was sit on her Princess toilet seat. She didn't go potty but ne thing is sure, she loves her princess potty. She is a crack up!!! Please disregard the crazy hair....it was a Saturday at home!!!

Our newest addition!!

This is kinda outdated...but in October 2009 we got a boxer puppy! We named her Roxy and she is so cute! We've been having a lot of fun with her but we have to remind ourselves that she is still a puupy!! She gets in trouble every once in awhile...but she is getting better. Brynnley absolutely LOVES her and asks for her every morning when we wakes up! Lukily Roxy is great with Brynnn. Brynn loves to come hug her, lay on her, kiss her, etc. They are quite the little pair together.

Halloween 2009!!!

Most of you already know this, but for those of you who don't know....Piglet is Brynnley's FAVORITE stuffed animal and friend! She sleeps with him, carries him around everywhere, goes on car rides with him, etc. The only time he leaves her side is when we have to wash him. Anyway, we thought it would be perfect if we dressed her up as her favorite friend this year. I found this super cute Piglet costume and knew it was meant for her!! She actually liked wearing the costume and didn't put up too much of a fight when we put the hoodie with ears on her. She was adorable!! She couldnt quite figure out whe whole basket thing.....she kept putting it on her head and would immediatly dump the candy out as soon as anyone put something it in. Her favorite part was definatly the gummy lifesavers!! We hardly ever give her anything that sweet, so this was a real treat. She kept saying "Mo"... her version of more. AFter about 5 or 6 we decided she had had enough...of course she still wanted more!! This Halloween was so much fun and we are excited for the future ones :)

Here she is as soon as we got her costume on...she's all smiles!!

Knawing on a gummy lifesaver that is in between my fingers. I was scared if I gave her a full one that she would choke on it. She isn't the best at chewing her food, she likes to swallow it whole. Yes, her face is a mess!

Playing with her basket. It was either on top of her head or sitting like this on her face. Oh well, she was entertained by it!

Happy Halloween everyone!!

What's a blog?!?!

I can't believe we haven't updated this since July...this is getting ridiculous!! Let's catch you up!!! Our summer has consisted of wakeboarding, sun, swimming, camping, and just trying to enjoy the outdoors while the weather has been so nice. We wen't camping a few times and Brynn absolutely LOVES it! The second she get out of the car she starts collecting rocks, sticks, pretty much anything. We bring the boat along camping with us so we do some tent camping, eat a meal, and head out on the lake till we get tired, hungry, or the water gets crappy. Our great friends Brad and Sharee come out with us most of the time and we really did have such a fun summer...for the MOST PART!!

A couple weeks ago (I was not there), but Adam got a concussion. WHAT?!?!? Let's start the story.... It was Tuesday and Adam, Brad, and Sharee spent the morning golfing. In the afternoon they headed to the lake and I was off to Young Women's in the evening. I get a text on my phone at church asking me to get some 'icy hot' on the way home. No big deal. Ya have a bad fall and your neck is sore, right? Well I get home and I ask Adam, "Did ya have a bad fall?" He tells me he doesn't remember and to ask Brad and Sharee. I am totally confused as to how a person doesn't remember if they had a bad fall. So Sharee and Brad go onto tell me that Adam decides to try a trick wakeboarding that he has never tried before. He has one of the worst falls they have seen! As they bring the boat around to pick Adam up, Adam tells them he is gonna go again and to just give him a minute. Well Adam quickly changes his mind and decides he is done. Apparently Adam asks them where I am. Doesn't he know that I haven't been on the boat with him all evening? Apparently he doesn't know where I am, what year it is, Brynn's birthday, or how the heck he got to the Lake or even where on the lake he is!!!! Luckily our great friend, Sharee, is a nurse practioner so she is keeping a close eye on Adam and evaluating his condition. The diagnosis; A CONCUSSION!! Thanks Sharee for taking care of Adam!! Well eventually Adam comes around and we didnt' have to take him to the hospital. He was so sore the next day he could hardly even lift Brynn out of her crib. Poor guy!! He is doing much better and has declared that he will NEVER try a blind 360 ever again!!

We are lucky that something like this hasn't already happened for as much time as we spend wakeboarding every year. As fall is approaching, we are now trying to redo some of the landscaping in the yard...wish us luck!

Adam doing a grab

Sharee getting some air

Brad and Brynnley chillin on the boat

Noelle and Brynn getting their feet wet

A view of the river from our campsite

Noelle jumping

Adam giving Brynn a quick lesson on the surf board

Brynn drinking her bottle and loungin' in her Texas A&M Chair!!

Hiawatha Trail ***4th of July***

So everyone knows we LOVE going to the lake!! The only time we don't love it is on holiday weekends...because it is too dang crowded and too many idiots out there!!! So we decided we would ride the Hiawatha trail in Montana instead. We left early on the morning of Sat. the 4th of July and drove out there. We had heard a lot of good things about it from friends and they were right....IT WAS AWESOME!!! It starts with a 2 mile trail tunnel that you go through that is PITCH BLACK. You have to use a headlamp, flashlight, etc to see your way through it. The temperature drops dramatically in the tunnel also (in the 50's). You ride through beautiful scenery , about 10 tunnels and over seven old railroad trestles. It is about a 16 mile adventure and we had so much fun.



Me and Brynn outside the 2 mile pitch black tunnel.

Adam on the bike and Brynn in the trailer.....taking a break to enjoy the scenery!!

More scenery....you can see one of the railroad trestles in the center of the picture (in the valley)
Brynn and I ready to start the adventure!
Adam ready to go...its getting hot already.
Brynn being entertained with a cup while Adam and I get the bikes ready to go. Yes she is chewing on the styrofoam...but we got it out before she actually ate any!!!

She's walking, we're in trouble...

Brynnley took her 1st real steps right around her 1 yr old birthday. In the last month she's pretty much mastered standing up on her own, walking and getting into trouble. Her favorite thing to do is open cabinets and throw the contents onto the floor. Needless to say our house is NOT kid proof, we're working on it. It sure is a lot of fun though. Her little personality comes out more and more every day. We've been pestered to provide some video so here it is. The quality is kinda crummy but it sure is easy with these web cams. Enjoy!!

Our Sweet Brynnley Turns One!!!!

I don't know how this happened....but Brynnley turned one this week!!! Time has passed so quickly. Adam's mom and his grandparents, Dodo and Gary, were able to make for the big celebrations. My parents were planning on coming down, but due to an unfortunate skiing accident a few days before the scheduled departure, my mom has broken her clavicle and her tibia......needless to say they weren't able to make it. We missed you guys and look forward to seeing you after you are healed up!!!

On Brynn's birthday, we went to the mall play area....which she loves!!! She loves spaghetti, so we had a spaghetti dinner for her. We kept the party pretty small, with family member (and some extended family)!!!! After dinner she opened her presents, followed by cake and ice cream. After her sugar rush wore off, she went down for bed and was happy to see her crib.

BRYNN, ADAM, AND I WANT TO THANK EVERYBODY FOR THE WONDERFUL GIFTS AND BIRTHDAY WISHES!!! We missed those who couldn't be there, but we felt your love long distance anyway. Thanks for such a fun and special day.

Here are some pictures of the day....I will post the cake pictures later! Let's face it, I am doing good just to be posting something. I know a few family members and co-workers who will check my blog expecting to see the previous post that has been on my blog for nearly 3 months.....with the slight glimmer of hope that MAYBE I updated. Well guess what.....I DID!!!




Grandma Allen, Brynn, and Noelle playing in a hot dog truck!!! Brynn wasn't sure if she liked all the motion, but she loved pressing all the buttons.



Our sweet little girl LOVES animals....at least fake ones. She was crawling around the play area and came upon this lion. She immediately put her head on the lion's arm. It was so cute....she just laid there for a minute or so.





At the top of the slide....thinking about which way she will go down.




We are gonna have to keep our eye on her!!! She loves to go down slides head first. No matter how many times we teach her to sit on her bottom, she tries to go down with her head leading.





Brynnley playing with her new lawn mower that Great Grandma Dodo and Grandpa Gary gave her. She LOVES IT!!!!

Brynn testing out the new couch that Grandma and Grandpa Allen gave her...it is so cute!!

This neat little couch is also a fold out bed with a sleeping bag attached. It is AWESOME!!!

Aunt Camie, Uncle Matt, and cousin Ryan gave Brynnley some adorable clothes!!! Thank you so much guys....they are so cute and will definately get plenty of use this winter!!! You guys are great.



Brynn sitting with Uncle Brand and Aunt Sharee!! She is set for the summer with these FREAKING CUTE clothes!! She got a swim suit cover up with matching hat, shirts, shorts, and a cute little jacket. Thank you guys so much, you are amazing!!!