I Love to Read

I'm so grateful that I have an avid reader...already. And I hope to keep nurturing this quality and Brailyn grows into a bookworm. A very beautiful bookworm. She will always want to read LOTS of books before nap and bedtime, and throughout the day she will keep busy reading to herself or her stuffed animals. I myself like to read, and I think that I could live without tv, even though there are a couple of shows I do enjoy. Clint, however, couldn't (football withdrawls), but I'm hoping to have the tv off most of the time while Brailyn is up. I just feel really strongly about keeping your kids interested in other things, and tv is really a "sometimes" activity. And so far so good, Brailyn loves to read and doesn't even watch Sesame Street very often (it's the one show that I'm okay with her watching right now, besides Disney movies with Clint on Saturdays) So I wanted to capture a bit of Brailyn "reading" on video, even though she gets a little distracted when there is a camera pointed at her. She keeps wanting to smile and say cheese (I used my digital camera recorder instead of our video camera. Still haven't figured out how to edit and splice).

Momma's Tummy

Brailyn did the cutest thing this weekend. We were playing with her Playmobile people and we could'n't find the little boy. "Where's the little boy, Brailyn?" "He's in the Momma's tummy." We have a book about the human body and how a baby grows in the mother's tummy etc. So we've obviously talked about it and how Brailyn was in my tummy when she was a little baby. Well, as we were getting ready for bed, Brailyn wanted to be in my tummy again. "Brailyn go in Momma's tummy again?" So I she curled up in a ball on my stomach and I put a blanket over her. Then she came out and said, "I be born again, Momma!" I tell ya, this girl has quite the mind. She did this a couple more times and I just thought it was sweet. It will be fun when we have another baby and she can see my tummy growing. She's going to be a great big sister.

My Superstar

Boy am I a lucky Momma. I have such a cute little girl. This week we went to the library to get some new books and they had a craft table set up to make Olypmic Torches. Pretty easy, but Brailyn had the wonderful idea to put on one of Amber's softball medals that she loves to wear. So of course we had to take a picture of my little Olympian!


Today we had a great time playing at Jaxon's house. We posed for a few pictures in Ashley's new in-home studio (I'll post those when I get them. Hope they are cute!) and we played baseball with Jaxon's super cool T-ball/pitching machine. Lots of wild and crazy, falling asleep in the car, and of course not going back down for a nap when we get home. So when Daddy got home we are super hyper and tired, but made it to bed an hour early. Whew! While we were waiting for Clint to get home we were having fun playing with my New Orleans Mardis Gras mask. So pretty.

You are My Inspiration

Brailyn, I just want you to know that you are the reason that I am trying to be a better person. Even more than to be better just for myself, I am on this journey of cleaning up my past so that I can be as good a momma as I can be for you. I want to be healthy and happy with me so that you can grow up and be healthy and happy with you and know that you can do anything you want to do. You are a daughter of Heavenly Father, you have a divine nature, which makes you more powerful than any trials you may go through in life. I love you, and I am your biggest fan. I know that you can do and be anything you choose. And whatever you do choose, I will love you, always.

Favorite Movie

I don't like you to watch a lot of tv. In fact, most days you don't even watch Sesame Street. But you have watched a couple of Disney movies since we drove up to Utah, so when Momma is not feeling well, or as a treat with Daddy, you LOVE to watch a movie. You like the church Scripture videos (Jesus Movie), but right now your favorite is Disney's "101 Dalmations". You ask to watch it every day, and you love to pretend to be a puppy and need help walking on the slippery ice. You think it's so funny when Momma pretends to slip on the ice. Then we get all dirty like the doggies do in the soot and have to get cleaned off.

Playmobile Fun

I never want to forget how much you love to play with your "people". And this is one of your creative inventions. You turn your ice cream truck on its side and the people can sit and play inside. It's so much fun. And you looked so pretty today. Love the butterfly shirt from Pumpkin Patch, and your skirt- which I bought when you were still in my tummy.

2 1/2 Years

Brailyn, you are getting to be such a big girl, and so happy and kind and ready to learn. You love Music Makers with Jaxon Rogers and Parker (cousin), and this summer you’ve been learning how to swim with the neighbors, Shaylee and Caleb Klouse. I am such a proud Momma and swim teacher. You are only 2 ½ and can jump in and turn over on your back (rainbow dives), swim to the wall, and jump off the diving board and swim to your noodle. You LOVE swimming and want to do it every day! We’ve been living at Grandma’s house for the past few months while we waited for Daddy to find a job, and you’ve really enjoyed being around everyone. We keep pretty busy right now. We go to the gym in the morning and you play at Kids Club. Each time we pull into the parking lot, you always say “We find the Beetle?” There is a yellow VW Beetle usually, and we love to drive around looking for others. We have Music Makers once a week, we go to the library, Sprouts, play at Jaxon’s house, and have swimming every day after nap time. And on Fridays we’ve been going to the movies with Carter with the summer movie pass. It’s so much fun. We pack popcorn and grapes and you love to sit in the big chairs. We’ve seen Surf’s Up, Mr. Magorium’s Wonder Imporium, and Wallace and Grommit. You are still a good eater, usually eating your fruit, veggies (broccoli, tomatoes etc) and eggs. You love to have bunny cereal in the morning, or some plain yogurt with granola and cinnamon and blueberries. Yummy. Your imagination is growing so much. Your favorite think to play at Grandma’s are the Playmobile people. “Let’s go play the farm, Momma.” We sit everyone down around the food and they eat. Or we build the fence and everyone comes in and sits down together. You also like to make breakfast for me in the play kitchen and then wash the dishes afterward. Daddy has been traveling for his new job in Houston, so we miss him during the week. This has made you want to be with Momma all the time, so it’s a little harder leaving you at the gym or with Grandma. But you are so happy when Daddy comes home on the weekend, and we call him everyday and read and pray together before bed. We are looking for a house for us to move into soon, and then we can have fun decorating your bedroom. HMMM, some other things you like to do: go to the mall-of course, sing and dance to music (I even hear you sing “I got it from my Momma” sometimes!) and my favorite- you sit on my lap at the piano and we play and sing primary songs together. You are so good and singing the words because we listen to them while we’re in the car. I think your favorite is “Reverently, Quietly” but you like “In the Leafy Treetops” too. I just love to hear you sing those sweet songs. You continue to be such a joy in our lives, Brailyn, and we are so glad that we have you.

Learnin to Swim

Rescuing a Bee from Drowning Jumping in the Pool Airplanes Swimming to the Wall Happy on her noodle

I'm such a proud momma/swim teacher this week. I've been teaching a swim class with a couple of Brailyn's friends. It's mostly to teach Brailyn how to swim this summer, but I also earn some spending cash too! Brailyn has done SO well. She is a pro at turning over on her back and doing 'airplanes'. She just pops right up. She loves to swim everyday and to do lessons with Shaylee and Caleb. They are doing great too, by the way. I'm so glad that I'm able to do this.