Sweet, Sweet Summertime - Part One

Now that I have lost any of the few followers I may have had, I have found time for an update! Having a 15 month old during the summer has been wonderful, exhausting, exhilarating, cherished, and so much fun. We have lived our summer to the fullest and made the most of every second.

Our summer season really began when our small family of 5 (with the two Westie brothers) took a mini vacation and stayed in Atlanta. We were able to go to the Georgia Aquarium and Atlanta Zoo. Brenna loved the aquarium with all the colors and sounds. The zoo was a little more of a challenge because it is so much of a search and find game to see the animals. Even though our hotel was under construction and the boys had to be couped up in the room, we thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. Our trip reaffirmed for me that I do not ever want to live in Atlanta. It is way too hard to get around!


The next big event was Brenna's first birthday. Because we thought that some of her expressions look like a baby monkey, her 12 months pictures were taken with a monkey, and that she loves anything monkey, we decided to have a monkey themed party. It was a big event with many loved ones in attendance. My mom even joined us via Skype! I decorated the house in pink and green and Justin made the monkey cake and chocolate peanut butter cupcakes. I asked everyone in attendance to take a picture with a giant monkey and we compiled the pictures in an album so that Brenna will always know who celebrated her first year on her birthday.


My mom joined us for Easter. We celebrated with the McCullers at an Easter egg hunt that didn't happen. (We showed up at the hunt too early and our toddlers couldn't hold out for it!) As usual, the McCullers and my mom helped us make the most of the situation and we enjoyed the events that were pre-hunt events.


May brought CRCT time, spring practice, and all the things that teachers must do to wrap up their year. Everything was accomplished and our freedom was achieved! Between school events, we broke in our new bathing suits and "borrowed" as many friends' pools as possible. We also attended a super fun park and ducks party for one of Justin's football coach friend's son.




June was a busy month! Brenna and I would not have had it any other way. I realized quickly that she is not a good stay at home baby. She has an on the go personality, just like her momma. We started the month with my birthday and enjoyed sitting on a patio with many of our friends. The kids all ran and played and Justin and I had our first Gigi's cupcakes! (Thanks, Renata!) A teacher friend's daughter was the next birthday we celebrated. Her mother is a party extraordinaire! The farm themed party was complete with a full petting zoo and pony ride, not to mention all the scrumptious themed foods and too cute decorations. Brenna had her first pony ride and wasn't the least bit scared.




Toward the middle of the month, my godparents who live in Arkansas, were able to squeeze us into the tail end of their trip to Ireland. Living so many hours away had prevented them from meeting Brenna until now. Brenna was her usual never met a stranger self, and entertained us all night. She was somewhat wary of her god-grandfather's beard, but she still showered him and her god-grandmother with her smiles and babbling.


We piled all five of our family members in the car and headed to Nashville for a few days. A good friend of mine from high school was having a baby shower and we were able to include it in our visit with Brenna's Nana. There was lots of baby playing time and stealing kisses from lots of chubby cheeks! Brenna was the oldest kiddo there and wore her mommy out running in circles and trying to open all of Rachel's presents! B's Nana absolutely loved having Brenna close enough to squeeze on and even got some dance lessons in at the local Mexican restaurant.




June came to a close with a trip with Justin's family to Sarasota, FL. This was our third time to stay at Siesta Key beach. It is paradise! Brenna was able to really play and enjoy the beach and ocean. She had absolutely no fear, which sometimes scared her mommy! We all enjoyed the relaxed week with strolls and naps on the beach, swimming in the ocean, and visiting with the family. My baby girl came back a little brown biscuit with no sunburn the whole time and a love for the beach!






Wait patiently for part two...

Birthday Season

We have started our birthday season! As my good friend Julie told me...Justin and I have made it to five out of five of her son's birthdays, but now we actually have an excuse to be there! I love seeing all the creativity that the parents put into the parties and all the effort that goes into decorations, the cakes, the venue, entertainment and so on...Brenna has thoroughly enjoyed all the action at each party. I can't wait for her first bithday. (Which I am well aware is more for the parents than the child, but I just can't help myself!!)





Justin's nephew, Isaac's bowling birthday in December





Cam McCuller's fifth birthday - bowling







Marion Phillips' granddaughter, Riley's second birthday at 123 JUMP

In the next month, we have a Valentine's Day party and Maeve McCullers' second birthday. We are so excited!

Football Season

Brenna and I made it to 11 out of 11 football games! She did awesome and loved watching all the activity going on around her. Away games were a challenge, but we made it!

Holidays

Where to begin?...I have been a blogging slacker. Three months of updates...I think the easiest thing to do will be to cover the holidays.

Halloween was a blast with my little Boo! I think that she is going to love dressing up in costumes as much as her Mommy does. After searching the internet, and at least three Halloween shops, I decided that the perfect costume for Brenna would be a little lamb! She was a real trooper. The costume had a head piece and footies, but our little B didn't mind one bit.



We began our fall/Halloween season by meeting our favorite McCullers family at the local fall festival. Brenna's favorite part was playing in the huge box of corn.



We rounded out our Halloween celebrations with two parties. One was a kid party put on by Erica Golding. The kiddos in all the many costumes were precious! The other celebration we attended was hosted by David and Kendra Houghton. It was mainly adults, but Brenna did enjoy playing with her far away friends, Piper and Carson.



Up until now, Brenna had mastered the army crawl scoot. She could get anywhere she wanted by pushing and pulling herself along on her stomach. Within a few days at the end of October and the beginning of November, Brenna found her legs and achieved pulling up to a stand and crawling! She amazes us on a daily basis!

We were graced with a full week off at Thanksgiving and it was absolutely wonderful! Even though Brenna started our break with a stomach virus, we enjoyed our full days together and did some traveling. 16 hours total in the car and B was still a great traveler. We were able to visit with lots of family and friends. One of the highlights was meeting Ethan Lee Stroud!




The Christmas holidays have come upon us quick. Needless to say, Justin and I have more wrapped presents under the tree than we have ever had before. I know that Brenna will like the wrapping and the boxes more than the presents, but there are so many cute things I can't resist to buy for her! My mom is coming to stay with us and be here for Christmas, then we will go to Chattanooga to see Justin's family and join his sister and brother in law during their visit. I am looking forward to having two weeks straight with my Boo!

"Solids"

Brenna has started eating "solids." I write this in quotes because, as all mothers know, the new food is anything but solid. The cereal is a watery mixture of grain flakes and formula. At first, I had a hard time getting the mixture just right because the directions switched from ounces to tablespoons. I had mastered the bottle language of ounces and the cereal wanted you to add a certain amount of tablespoons! Ah! For anyone who knows me, you are well aware that any measurement language is foreign to me.

I finally was able to find the correct ratio and Brenna loved eating it. We started cereal one time a day. I quickly realized that my sweet little one was going to be a very messy eater. Now, I strip her down to her diaper and put on the biggest bib that I can find. It still gets everywhere, but at least we aren't staining clothes. Poor Brenna sneezes for at least five minutes after we are finished eating, trying to get all the food out of her nose. She, also, likes to have her hands in her mouth when she is eating. I think she uses her fingers like a bottle. She sucks on them and feels like she is drinking. So cute, but what a mess!

The first vegetable baby food that Brenna tried was squash. I mixed it with a little of the cereal and she gobbled it right down. She has now had carrots and sweet potatoes. Brenna has realized what the containers mean. She starts kicking her feet and cooing whenever she seems them. I hope that she continues to follow in her daddy's eating footsteps. Please let her like vegetables and things that are good for her!

Watch Me Grow...

Five Months





Four Months



Three Months



Two Months



One Month

Brenna's First Football Game

It's official...Brenna is a football daughter! She did very well at her first game. We were lucky that the sky had a nice, hazy cloud cover. It was still very hot, but not unbearable. Brenna loved watching the giant OC flags and was thoroughly entertained by all the action going on around her. She is at the stage that anyone smiling around her, makes her plaster a giant grin on her face. There were plenty of spectators to keep her smiles coming and to keep her entertained.

Brenna made it through the entire game and was able to greet her daddy on the field afterward. Ever since Justin has been coaching, he has watched other coach daddys with their kiddos. He loved when the children would run out on the field to greet their proud papas. It seemed to make the victory of the win even better and the bitterness of defeat bearable. Even though B is not running out to great him, he was still so proud to have her meet him on the sidelines!