This was fun...

Matt was getting home from a day - moonlighting shift and I thought it would be fun to enjoy the pretty weather on Sunday night. I got the ka-bobs ready for grilling and got Brookie fed so she could play while we ate dinner outside...I think I see many more nights like this coming up this summer. It was too fun! B's new sand and water table...so far just a water table...but we'll get her some sand this weekend. Our dinner get up

YUM

Water is fun!!!!

B got interested in our food so she got wrapped up in the towel (she was soaked) and got a few bites of dad's food.

She loved the water...but she also loves to eat!!!

One Year Pictures

Well, back in February we had some one year pictures taken of Brookie. We had a great time checking out railroad park and Margaret did a great job for us! Thanks a million! Here are a few of my favs...

Not Awesome

Thanks to my sis in law, Rochelle, I've had this to ring this week... She gave me this really need vintage bell from Mexico for my 30th b'day in February. I thought it would come in handy, but I didn't realize how quickly. I started coming down with "something" on Saturday Night. I woke up after about 1 hour of sleep and tossed and turned for about three hours. I had a fever and muscle cramps but didn't realize I needed to take something until three hours had passed. Finally I started myself on these...

And got about three hours of sleep before miss B woke up. I proceeded to pop them all day long on Sunday because I just didn't know what was going on with me. Fortunately Matt was post call so he was able to stay awake for a few hours until Brooklyn's nap. At that point he was in need of some sleep so he took a nap and after B's nap I was up with her for about two hours by myself. It was so hard! I have so much more compassion for single parents who don't have ANY help ever! Anyway...so I kept feeling fever-ish and just achy all over and then my throat started hurting so badly it felt like it was about to give birth.

Sunday night was not a great night of sleep and Monday morning, I could not talk. I went straight to CVS for some of this...

and some of these...

These saved my life! If you end up getting strep like me - go for these and Advil. That is all I've been able to take to make life bearable.

One look in my throat and Matt said strep so we got an antibiotic and its starting to help. I haven't had strep or this bad of a sore throat since I was in like 2nd grade. I will have more sympathy on B whenever she gets strep throat!

Thanks to Matt for helping as much as possible with Brooklyn. And thanks to God for getting me through the past two days. My throat is a little less swollen tonight and I can talk a little bit. Hopefully tomorrow I'll be healed!

Oh, and our computer crashed...so we are on our old "crusty" computer from when Matt started med school...so that is also not incredibly awesome.

Let me please add at the end of this pathetic blog post that I really sort of feel bad for even posting this in light of what the country of Japan is going through. My trials this week are NOTHING in comparison to what they are going through and I think God just gave me a wake up call - I need to quit complaining and be THANKFUL for my home and saftely this week. So there Ashley, snap!

Need a good, yummy, and healthy recipe??

I do! Email me with any that you may have! I'd like to share one that my good friend Michelle introduced me to about a year ago and we have worn it out! We absolutely love this dish - its easy, not too expensive, tastes amazing and is healthy! Thank you Michelle for a keeper!!! Enjoy!

Baked (or grilled) Chicken on top of Salad (yes I made the name up)

1/3 cup olive oil

1/3 seasoned rice vinegar

1/4 cup sugar

1 garlic clove minced

3/4 tsp dijon mustard

Mix all together - that is the dressing - so tasty!

Feta crumbles

dried cranberries

cut up granny smith apple

sliced almonds or walnuts

romaine lettuce or spinach

2 chicken breasts

For the chicken - Matt and I used two chicken breasts - we pounded them really thin, coated with olive oil and spices - garlic powder, salt, pepper, lemon pepper, and chicken season from Pensys Spices...(have you been there? its amazing) and baked them on 350 for 25 minutes covered and then another 10 uncovered. Slice thinly and top salads.

Brookie's B'day Party...a month late!

We had too much fun celebrating Brooklyn's birthday! So much fun that its taken me a month to blog about it! Here are WAY too many pictures of Brookie's party. Thanks so much to all our friends, family, and neighbors for making it such a special party!

Kimmie and Christina enjoying one of Auntie Em's cupcakes...
Aprahamian family came!

Please note me holding the #8 - its Brookie's favorite for some reason and she carried it around her party most of the time...she carries it around our house a lot too - we see the #8 in several surprising places.

Nanny and Pa-Pa

Yummy cupcakes by Auntie Em

Brooklyn was making her "don't you think I'm cute" face for her crowd!

Aunt JJ came and brought the most awesome train!

Levi was excited about some sugar!

And so was Jesse

Sweet Baby Corrie came and got some tips from B for her upcoming 1st birthday party!

Baby Blake came to support Brookie...I don't think he got a cupcake though :(

Isaac came and enjoyed the kid gyms we had set up!

So did Ethan!

Baby Penny and Baby Ellis were born only three days apart...this may have been their first birthday party! Oh wait, no, Ellis' big brother had their first b'day party.

My sweet Aunt Ellen brought my grandmother and my great aunt to Birmingham for Brooklyn's party. It was so special that they could be there - they are amazing ladies!

Spann Fam

Avie cakes was also getting ideas for her b'day in 5 months!!!!

Roch and the twins, Em and Avie, and me and the b'day girl

Ray Fam

Thank you so so so much for helping us get through the first year of parent-hood. It has been the best year of my life - Brooklyn brings us so much joy. Her smile and laughter light up our home and we couldn't make it without guidance from the Lord and the gift of friends and family helping us along the way! Much love and Many thanks!

To Do List

When you have a February like we just had your to do list looks like this....this is for real! :)

When

12 Months!

Oh how quickly a year has passed...I can't believe how fast life continues to go by. Brooklyn is one year old today. I am so thankful for the healthy child that God has given me, I know this past year has been blessed by His goodness and I'm just so thankful. I don't deserve to be the mother of this sweet little girl so I pray that I can be 1/2 the mom my mom was to me and that God will cover up all of my short comings!

Here's what little B is doing at 12 months...

- you love to eat...you eat a LOT! Me and daddy don't know when to cut you off! You love veggies, fruits, meat...and you LOVED your first cupcake! You also loved your first pancake that you got this morning on your b'day. You have enjoyed milk in the last few weeks and hopefully that will continue!

-You wear 12-18 month clothes

- You wear size 4 diapers

-Not sure how big you are as far as weight, height but we'll find out tomorrow...

- You smile a lot! And you laugh when we tickle you or when we play with your stuffed animals, you think this is hilarious.

- You really like us to chase you or pop out from behind furniture, you crack up at this.

- We are transitioning to 1 nap because you absolutely do NOT want to take two...and its wearing me out!

- You sleep about 12 hrs at night, from 7:30 - 7ish

- You like Elle - you really want to play in her food bowl and water dish but this is a no no.

- You do understand "no no" but you don't like it

- You know one sign - and its "more" when you are eating...go figure!

- You are very use to mommy taking your picture!

- You have some new friends at mother's day out - you go on Wednesdays while mom works and you are about to go on Fridays so mom can get errands done!

- You love books - you like to carry them with you while you walk around and you throw them at Elle.

- You are walking! You are actually trying to run, and its hilarious b/c you really can't yet.

Here's a photo look back at your 12 months!

Month one...mommy was crazy.Month two...mommy was a little less crazy, but still crazy...

Month three...ah the thumb sucking...you still do that when you go to sleep! Precious!

Month four...first time in the pool!

Month five...this is one of only a couple of sleeping pictures I have of you and they are so sweet!

Month six...ready for Avie Cakes!!! Month seven...yay for Avie cakes! Month eight...happy Halloween!

Month nine...starting to stand up

Month ten...Merry Christmas!

Month Eleven...too busy

Month twelve...sugar!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Yay sweet Brooklyn! I can't imagine life without you!