You're on candid camera!

This is just a cute video that Eric took of Braylee sitting in the cooler with all of her animals, making animal sounds...

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

Our small group got together tonight over at Ky and Anthony's house for a little halloween celebration and it was a BLAST! There was pizza, soda, candy, and LOTS of laughter to be had!
We love our friends and we are so blessed to have each and every one of them in our lives.

Enjoy some of the pics we managed to capture of Braylee...

*VIDEO FOOTAGE*
(especially for Nana & Papa Marshall)

Colorado Trip - FINALLY POSTED :)

Over the last weekend in September (the 24-27th) we made a long/quick trip to Colorado for an old friend of Eric's wedding. It was a busy trip, with not much down time, and definitely very quick, but it turned out to be pretty fun. Braylee was a GREAT traveler (mostly thanks to Kristin Hammler who lent us their portable DVD player for the car) - Braylee was memorized! Between her movies/snacks/napping we made the 8+ drive with no major meltdowns - INCREDIBLE!! Here is a little breakdown of what our days consisted of, pictures included:

• Thursday:

-Made the ridiculously long drive to Littleton, CO (just outside of Denver)

-Checked into the hotel

-Ordered Pizza Hut for dinner :)

-Went swimming with Braylee (see pictures below)

Getting ready to hit the road!

Stopped in Wyoming for a lunch/play break

Braylee was not super thrilled for this photo...

However, once we got to the pool, she was much happier :)

Playing in the water with daddy - it was FREEZING!!!

She got the biggest kick out of standing on the edge and "jumping" to daddy!

Just keep swimming...

Daddy and Daughter :)

• Friday:

-Woke up leisurely, well sort of...we couldn't figure out the "extra dark curtains" in the room and so Braylee was up about 7...ugh

-Eric made a breakfast run to the "SUPER Target" and got us muffins/milk
for breakfast...this was after we learned that breakfast at our hotel WAS NOT
continental (we will NOT be staying at a Marriott anytime in the near future, or
ever again, not cool!) ~ They also didn't have soda or snack machines...period.

-Braylee and I stayed behind while Eric went to rehearsal at noon - Luckily Braylee
was able to get a small nap in....then Eric picked us up on the way to lunch.

-We went to rehearsal lunch at a yummy italian place called Maggiano's Little Italy...
the food was really good and Braylee did pretty well, only got a little fussy at the end

-After rehearsal, the entire wedding party and spouses/dates went to a MLB game at
Coors Field ~ Rockies vs. Cardinals...that was really cool and Braylee did so good!
After the game we headed home and went to sleep.

The big city

Coors Field - a night of Major League Baseball

Getting ready to watch some baseball - we got special stroller access :)

• Saturday:

-Got up early so that we could make it to the Denver Zoo by 9am opening time!!

-Spent the entire morning/afternoon at the Denver Zoo ~ It was AWESOME! I think
I may have enjoyed it more than Braylee :) (lots of pics to follow)

-The wedding was at 6pm, but Eric had to be there at 4 for pictures...Eric's friend,
Zach, and him took the shuttle to the wedding site so Braylee and I could hang back
let her get a nap in before the wedding (didn't happen). Then, Zach's wife Natalie,
met me at the hotel and we drove to the wedding. It was at a really cool little place
in Parker, CO called "The Villa Parker" (click on that to see their website) - the
wedding and reception were both there which was really nice. They also had onsite
babysitting, so Braylee went and played in there a little bit (however, it made me
pretty nervous so she only spent about 1 hour in there, if that!) We stayed pretty
late at the reception and then headed back to the hotel and straight to bed!

YAY! I am about 100% certain I was the most excited :)

Braylee and daddy posing at the start of the zoo

A hungry hippo...

A SUPER stinky rhino

Heading into monkey territory...

I do not remember what this thing was...only that it had a huge red behind, with sores on it...and it kept poking its rear end and then putting its fingers in its mouth :(

OOoooooo....time for the BIG monkeys...

These gorillas were seriously surreal...

I was certain that these gorillas were men in suits...they acted so "human-like" it was creepy!

Big lazy bears...

Mr. cheetah

We ate at this little grill in the zoo for lunch - it was pretty good

Elephants

Momma and Braylee with the bronze hippos

Zebra friend

Sleepy Warthog

Meester Bison

This little guy was RIGHT up in your business...I was just waiting for him to urinate...

This alligator was scary - his weird rotating eye

Camels

Giraffes...prob my favorite animal there besides the gorillas...these things are HUGE!!

Baby giraffe

The pacing tiger...

Ostrich...this thing looked like it was about to attack

Lions

After about4 hours at the zoo, Braylee was spent :)

Happy little family :)

Eric and Braylee with "Uncle" Jon

• Sunday:

-Nothing exciting, just our long drive back home...it was SOOOO nice to sleep in our
own bed (except for the fact that is wasn't king size with a pillow top matress and tons
of glorious pillows!) and to get back in our routine.

New Stuff Coming Soon...

Sorry faithful readers!!

I had promised an entry tonight, but our other computer has the pictures/videos and it is malfunctioning right now...therefore, I will have to wait until Eric gets home to help me fix it!!

I promise I will have new material up by the end of this week!!! (We may have to take the other computer in somewhere)

Don't give up on me!!!

A hello and a plea...

Just to preface...
this has to be one of the most adorable outfits she has ever worn!!

WORDS

Our little lumpkin has really started talking up a storm lately!
Therefore, I decided to fill you all in on some of her newest words...

• nana = banana
• ow-wo = owl
• bu bu = puppy
• bumpa = grandpma
• daddy = daddy
• hi = hi
• heesh = fish
• googa = google
• day-doe = water
• bah-doe = bottle
• teedee = kitty
• cah-coh = cracker
• bah = ball
  

All these new words and she still won't say "ma-ma" - at least to my face :( Oh well...in time!!

P.S. Nana and Papa, we are working on getting these on video...but as soon as I whip out the camera she won't say them!!

Braylee caught on tape

Here is some footage of Braylee walking - she motors all over the place now, as you will see!

These videos are especially for Nana and Papa Marshall in Spokane, WA....

WE MISS YOU SOOOOO MUCH!!!

Time to play catch up...

I know, I know...I have been HORRIBLE about keeping this thing updated lately! But, what can I say...I have a very busy one-year old that takes up most of my time :)

Anyhoo...let's see, what's new?

Braylee is walking around like a crazy woman! She went from taking a few steps right before her birthday to practically running all over the house! She has also recently developed quite the 'tude! She recently had her very first timeout...she wanted something, momma didn't let her have it, in turn Braylee threw herself down on the ground and when I kneeled over her to tell her she was ok, she smacked me in the face!!! She was told NO (quite sternly) that we do not hit momma...she then proceeded to kick me...therefore, she received timeout in the crib for 1 min. Afterward I snuggled her to pieces and she has been great!

Eric is working away and still loving his job! I am so proud of him and how hard he works so that I am able to stay home with Braylee!

I am doing great! I had an amazing time this last weekend with the women from my small group. We went up to Chico Hot Springs for the night. I was originally not going to go due to my anxiety, but because of God's GREATNESS I was able to face my fears and go! I had a great time and experienced God's love and protection the entire time. It was a huge step towards freedom for me! YAY!!!!!

Well, here are some pictures from Braylee's birthday party up till today!!

ENJOY!!

Braylee loves to read!

Braylee also loves playing out on the balcony...its cute!
(How funny is her bed head?!)

This picture cracks me up!

My little beauty...

Eating eggs for breakfast

Fresh and clean :)



Braylee's 1st Birthday Party

Nana and Papa Marshall

Aunt B and Grampa Jerry!

Like mother - Like son :)

I can't even look at this picture without almost peeing my pants!!
Nana Cindy on the left (E's mom) and Grammy Darcy on the left....
and no, neither of them were drinking :)

Momma and Grammy pose with the Birthday Girl!!

Braylee Grace...enjoying her very first cupcake!

Momma delivering Braylee's birthday cupcake

Yum, Yum

She seemed to really be into it at first, but then she just started picking at it...

NUMBER ONE!!!

Happy birthday to meeeeee!

Auntie B and Eric waiting for the festivities to begin...

Brotherly love

My homemade signs...I'll admit it, I got a little carried away!

The birthday girl's chair...

Unky Adam

2 moms are always better than 1 :)

The food table :)

Braylee loves to smell the flowers...
Her great aunt Peggy taught her this!!

Braylee saying bye bye to Unky Adam

Eating her scrambled eggs like a big girl

Doing some banking...

Braylee's birthday baseball game...she wasn't cooperating and I got a little frustrated :)

Love Birds

Playing with unky's cellular

Braylee and Papa Butch

Vacuum Riding

The other day, Auntie B came over to visit. It was her ingenious idea to give Braylee a vacuum ride...and she loved it!

ENJOY :)

ONE

Dearest Braylee Grace,

You are one year old...WOW, I can hardly believe it!

It seems like just yesterday I was bringing you home for the very first time, too nervous to change your clothes, for fear I would break you. Giving you your first bath in the sink while you sleepily sucked on your fingers and didn't make a peep. The excitement of seeing your first little smile (even if it was gas) and the fear of your first little cold.

It has been a busy but oh so wonderful year!! You have developed quite the personality and enjoy eating cheese (in many forms), cooked carrots, and your all time favorite "nana" s :) Pointing and asking for one every time you see one...whether you are hungry or not! You love to cuddle your stuffed animals and have a special bond with your stuffed bear/rabbit, "Lumpy" and your new stuff doggie, "gee".

You keep my very busy these days, into everything and starting to walk all over the place. You get more and more brave each day, venturing off, taking more and more steps all by yourself!! It's only a matter of time before you'll be running all over the place!!

I love you so much my sweetheart, and you have been such and incredible blessing in your daddy and I's life. It's amazing how after only one short year with you in my life, I cannot imagine life without you.

~Momma

Braylee Grace - minutes old

Braylee Grace - ONE!