Happy 1st Birthday Braylen

Well...it is official...our little girl has turned ONE YEARS OLD TODAY...whoa! This past year has been full of life changing memories and a beautiful, wonderful, special little baby! We are so blessed to have her in our lives and to be able to have familyand friends around to share our little joy with. So as I promised I would post some pictures of Braylens birthday party! I don't have many, my sister Lis has those so I am waiting for them because I don't have a camera anymore....I know, I know....it is on the list to get! I also have several videos of her birthday party...but those take a little while to upload so I will post those in another blog. So the birthday party was at Central park...a park close to our home....and Braylen invited all her friends to come play with us. The weather was perfect....we played on the playground for a while then we came back to the tables and had a picnic. Braylen asked me to make all her friends, PB &J's that were in shapes of flowers or butterflys and then they had goldfish, animal crackers, swisscake rolls, and a fruit cup...yum, yum! After lunch was eaten up, we then decided to sing Braylen Happy Birthday and let her dive into her smash cake. At first I don't think she knew what to do but then once she realized Grant or I weren't stopping her...she went for it....and I think she LOVED it! WHile she played with her cake....everyone else had a piece of the big sheet cake....which was DELICIOUS...or at least the icing was...which is my favorite part!

So after Cake, we then cleaned up Braylen and started opening all her fun gifts from her friends and family! She helped a little but wasn't super interested in just sitting there. Who could blame a child who is now all sugared up...geez! All in all the party was a success and I think everyone was pleased!

Since today is the real birthday, Grant and I decided to take Braylen to a pottery place and paint some pottery with Braylen...we plan to make this a tradition.....we will see how long that last. Since it is raining that is truely the only reason we chose to do it but I think we all enjoyed our time there and will do it again. I left the fun plate at the pottery place so they could fire it....when I pick it up I will take a picture and share her birthday tradition with you all. We then had some icecream at coldstone.....I thought to get the birthday cake flavor...but she didn't really go for it and neither did Grant or I....it was floury tasting...no lie!

So much more to share but I will have to do it later when I have more pictures to post....you know everyone would much rather see the picture....! HAPPY BIRTHDAY BRAYLEN......love you!!!!

Overwhelmed

Braylen's party was a SUCCESS....I was so excited how it all turned out and Braylen had so much fun with all her friends. I will share all the pics and details in a later post. But first, one of HER favorite, I mean, OUR favorite gifts that she received is her FOWARD facing Carseat...wahoo! Grammie and Poppie (my parents) gave that to her along with some fun clothes and books! This picture completely explains how she was feeling about it...overwhelemed...confused.....scared......! She just stares at me and watches everything I do. I think she has adjusted to it now but at first I am not sure what she was thinking....I think she was like "whoa, this is a whole new world!" We are excited about her getting to see the world facing forward now and I think she is getting excited about it too...especially not being mushed in her other carseat.....her feet were touching the seat.....it was definitely time!

The pictures below was Braylen's first day at PLAYSCHOOL! She was so cute with her bookbag and all....I just wish it would stay on her shoulders so I could get a picture! I think she likes playschool and having the teachers love on her. She loves to sit in laps so I am assuming she has already got the teachers doing that for her. I have had good reports on her except she crys every time they vaccum after lunch....I think that is so weird because I don't vaccum....so I guess just a new noise that scares her.

It just seems like in the last two weeks Braylen has transitioned into a Toddler. Her hair is longer and she just looks like a toddler and not a baby anymore. I just am completely amazed! Her REAL birthday day is this coming up Saturday....wahoo! I will post her party on that day! This past week her new thing is walking back and forth...about 8-10 steps and then she falls down. She is so funny....she gets so excited when she is doing it and then that is why she collapses. The walking phase is almost here....it has to be. I feel that her balance has completely changed! I will keep you all posted on that though. I do have videos but will post them later!

Almost 1 years old...

Well the time is almost here....Braylen is about to have her 1year birthday and we are celebrating her party this coming up Saturday! We chose to have it a little early because my side of the family all would not be able to attend on her actually birthday date....bummer! However, I would rather change the date to have everyone come....so we can't wait! More details to come on that!

The day Braylen turned 11 mths was the day I started the weaning process from breast milk! At that time I was only nursing twice a day, morning and evening. I decided to drop the evening feeding first, based on the fact that she usually falls asleep while I am nursing her and has become dependent on that putting her to sleep....most of the time she hardly even finishes her milk. So the process wasn't as difficult as I thought it would be. I tried putting her STORAGE milk in bottles and give it to her before she goes to bed but she wouldn't take it from me at all and then we learned quickly she didn't want the bottle at all either no matter who was feeding it to her. So then I switched the STORAGE milk to her sippy cups and started giving it to her before dinner and let her have it till she finishes.....this has WORKED WONDERFULLY and has been a success! As for me, it only took about a good 3 days for my breast to realize that I didn't need milk in the evenings anymore!

So I do still feed her in the mornings and plan on dropping that a week before she actually turns the BIG ONE! I think it will be more difficult on my part than hers but I am SO READY to be done! Once I run out of my STORAGE milk then I will start giving her Whole Milk...well actually I am going to start putting a little in her sippy cup with the breast milk so the taste isn't a complete shock to her.

That has been the big change thus far, still no walking....just pushing items and standing....she might take a step or two but that is it! She is defining more words and definitely is starting to mimick what we do. She holds the phone up to her ear, she trys to brush her hair with the comb, she just copies me or Grant....it is hilarious! We look forward to her party and I can't wait to tell you all about it!

Pictures from our Beach trip!

Just a few photos of my sweet family! I love them all so very much!!

Bray Reunion/ Beach Trip

This Beach trip was SO WONDERFUL! It intailed lots of RELAXATION, EATING, LAYING OUT, and BEING TOGETHER AS A FAMILY! LOVED, LOVED, LOVED EVERY MOMENT OF IT! Grant, Braylen, and I arrived on a Friday evening and we hung out with the cousins and their families and the sisters and just played catch up and ate pizza! Then Saturday we all got ready and went to the ANNUAL BRAY family reunion! It was so good to see everyone and sad at the same time because everyone is getting older. We aren't the little kids anymore running around....it is now our kids doing that. I know Grandmommy and Granddaddy and all the aunts and uncles have felt that for years! Anywho, we decided to play a little "Current Events" Game so everyone could get caught up with each other. It was a success but not sure if everyone loved it or not. Oh well, at least I walked away with some NEW "NEWS" on some distance family members! So then that night, my aunt and uncle and their families were the host of dinner...it was Italian and delicious. Then, everyone called it a night because it was such a LONG DAY! Sunday was Bodie and Braylen's first day at the BEACH....it was "somewhat fun." I am not a fan of SAND up the butt and all over you and not sure if Braylen was either....! She liked the water and the sand inbetween her toes but she also wanted to eat it. Our day at the BEACH was super funny though b/c Grant insisted on having the BIG tent out there and the little small one. Well we set up the BIG tent and it was NEVER used.....and I mentioned to him that it would be pointless to bring down....he didn't think so! The little tent worked for BODIE to fall asleep but Lis and Grant couldn't seem to get the tent folded back up....it took them a while but Hannah, Rodger and I were sitting on the side lines giggling....this was a moment you just had to be there! Then we headed to the pool to enjoy the afternoon and then that night was OUR NIGHT to host dinner....we did a TACO BAR...and boy was it YUMMY and SUPER FRESH! Homemade guacomole and salsa....YUM! Anyways, that night was also our FAMILY PICTURES night.....they turned out GREAT minus the WIND blowing all of our hair. All in All they were wonderful pics! The rest of the trip just consisted of...getting up REALLY early (she was always awake) so Grant and I would rotate on who would stroll her for the hour while the other worked out and then we would come in around 8:30 or so and someone would eventually be up! Then, we would all eat breakfast and then get suited up for the POOL.....come in for lunch and Bray's nap and then Grant or my mom or dad were so kind to stay up in the Condo while I went and relaxed by the Pool! Next, up to shower, eat dinner and then just hang out! Nothing to overly exciting on this Beach trip but it was wonderful and just how we wanted it to be....laid back, and stress free!

A 10 month old with a lot of attitude

So some of these pics are a little over a month old but I still wanted to share. Below is pic of Bodie (2 months) when Elisabeth came down the week before 4th of July....he is growing so fast. It is so cute how he has found his fingers and follows your voice......love him! Braylen hasn't changed much since the last update.....still into everything as always and she is very close to walking, I think! She stands up by herself and still pushes things to support her walking but hasnt' done it by herself.....but no rush! She is so funny though.....whenever I open the Refridgerator, the dishwasher, the cabinets....all I hear is SMACK, SMACK, SMACK, (that is her crawling really fast) she is hauling bootie to get over the the appliances before I close the doors....it is hilarious.....check out her below......!

Braylen has really enjoyed the pool which has been wonderful! She doesn't mind water one bit which is a plus....I am sure she will take after Grant and be a WATER BABY!

She loves running water in the bath tub so this Mushroom device thing at the pool was so much fun! We don't have one at our pool but our friend Sabrina does and we got together a while ago for a play date at the pool, along with Katie, Maddox, and Haley...it was a grand ole time!

We leave for the beach this Friday...can't wait! This will be the first time Braylen has ever touched SAND.....we are so curious how she will react considering she thinks the feel of grass is so weird. I look forward to sharing our trip with you all!

Poppie and Braylen

Dad comes over and watches Braylen once a week....usually on Tuesday afternoons....or he might swap with Grant's mom for Thursday afternoons. Anywho, I came home yesterday from the office and this is what I found

They must have wore each other out! LOVE IT!!! Braylen is still the same....still standing on her own for about 20 seconds and still uses the walkers to walk......ate a hotdog for the first time on Sunday.....and she LOVED it......! I will be back soon with some other pictures!!!