2012 Randomness

As I dumped pics off my phone I decided to blog some of them so I could remember the random stuff of 2012 that was captured but not blogged. Here they are in no particular order.

Kendall wrote her name for the first time.  She's kind of a perfectionist like her mama.  She wouldn't do it for the longest time because she couldn't get past the "K".

We were part of a wonderful Life Group this year with some dear friends.  It's such a blessing to have friends who are your core support system.  One night the kids made card to send to children in an orphanage in Russia.

Often we hang around the dinner table after eating.  Here's one of those nights.

My dad met Brielle for the first time when she was a week old.

Back this summer Kendall hung with one of her favorite buddies, Seth, at the park.

And again at his house.  Mama was too big fat pregnant by this point to do much more than sit in a recliner and watch them watching tv.

Sweet sisters watching tv together.

On the way back from a family wedding we swung through Tupelo on a Sunday morning to visit the birthplace of Elvis.  Upon arriving home we had to give Kendall an American history lesson of who Elvis exactly was by pulling up You Tube clips.

Here's how we spend many evenings...playing in Kendall's room.

Kendall went on a school field trip to the pumpkin patch.

And another evening around the dinner table after Kendall's Thanksgiving program.

And another...

And another...

You're Halfway There, Brielle!

It's simply ridiculous that Brielle is HALF A YEAR OLD today! CA-RAZY!

Notice her newest trick this month...sitting up!

Brielle has several new firsts since her last monthly birthday

... ... sitting up ... She loves this new perspective.  She can't self correct yet; a tilt leads to a definite fall but she seems to be getting better each day.  On Thursdays when she goes to Nana Margaret's house while Mommy works she plays with Grayson who is fourteen months and almost walking.  Brielle stares him down taking notes.  I can see it in her eyes now.  She's saying, "Watch out, Grayson, I'm gonna take that push toy away from you ASAP!"

taking a bath in the big girl tub with her sis ... It's hilarious to watch Brielle laugh and splash in the tub.  But thanks to Kendall's camera aversion, it's hard to get a video.

eating baby food...She has realized there IS food out there she's been missing out on and she wants to play catch up.  She's a great eater like her sis so I hope it continues.

One milestone Mommy is not as thrilled about happened last night.  Little Houdini can now - somehow - weasel he way out of the bumbo.  Great.  First the miracle blanket, now the bumbo, two feats her sis was never able to master so it makes me a little trepidatious.

Brielle is quickly becoming a big girl and she knows it.  I have a feeling she's going to be hilarious once she begins talking and her personality really comes out.

Happy six months, Briellie Bop!

Firsts

Brielle did several "firsts" over Christmas break.  One being eating real baby food.  The poor thing seemed so sad and dejected at dinner time that we were eating and she was stuck with a measly ole bottle.  She figured out there was more out there and she was ready for it.  So far she's had apples, carrots and sweet potatoes.  She scarfs it all up.

Ha!  Here's her first taste of straight apples with no cereal mixed in.  Priceless.

And now that she can...SIT UP... she has graduated to the big girl tub with Kendall.  She LOVES bath time with her sister.  She always enjoyed watching; now she can join in the fun and is she ever a Little Big Shot now!  She cuts up and splashes all the while laughing at Kendall.  And Kendall is so excited that her little sister is now getting old enough to do a few things with her.

They're both just growing up entirely too fast.  Kendall is a little mama, and there's not a shred of newborn left in Brielle.

JuJu's Visit

We always love it when JuJu stays a few extra days to visit. And of course this time was no exception despite early bed times due to a certain unnamed little baby.  Kendall loves her aunt, and I think Brielle is starting to also.

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One night we had an I Love Lucy tea party.  We sipped on tea cookies while watching a few of our favorite episodes.

The next day we braved the cold weather to get out of the house for shopping and lunch.

Best Way to Start the New Year...

...is by snuggling til 9am with your baby.

Most mornings I hit the floor running to meet the demands needed to start the day on time.  Today, I took full advantage of the lazy morning.  The steady, dreary rain outside helped.  I shut off my busy bee brain and snuggled with Brielle for a morning nap.  It was fabulous reminder to slow down and enjoy these moments because all too soon they'll be gone.

Then I got the best of both worlds. After lovin on my baby and enjoying a lazy morning, Gabe took the girls to see the Grands and left me ALONE! I then promptly kicked it into high gear. These moments don't happen too much either. And how did I spend my day?? By taking all my decor of the walls and rehanging them. (That's my BFFs trick for free redecorating.) Then I ordered pics for all the new frames I had just hung. Then I caught up on Christmas blogging. 

Happy New Year!  So far it's off to a great start!