Take 2

Ok, I guess trying to be private on youtube just doens't work... The video should work!

Yo girl, bring me yo shirt!

Sorry for the light coming in from the window, but after chasing Brierley around the house I finally decided to get a little video of her walking like a champ.

As for the gorilla move she's got going on, I did not teach her that.

Enjoy!

Brierley's 1st Birthday

We celebrated our little B's 1st birthday with a small family lunch at my parents' house. Both Austin's and my family came, and a few close family friends. I did a horrible job of getting pictures with everyone so note to self: have someone else take pictures at future birthday parties.

Sweet Brierley was sick but like the solider that she is, powered through the two hour event with good spirits till naptime. Here she is watching everyone arrive...

Brierley and her LeaLea...

This girl knows where the goods are! She spent about half her time playing with the presents...

Letting us know she's ready to open presents whenever we are...

Misty and I had fun finding creative places to hang streamers. I think I was pulling streamers down for a week!

Miss B showed off some walking skills with Daddy. I've been waiting for this moment, when she will walk and hold our hands!!! It's finally here!!!

Time for a little family birthday snapshot! No smiles from this girl today.

Well ok, maybe a little one with some clapping...

She's a clapping machine, that's forsure!

Aunt Misty and our little birthday girl...

Aunt Ann and Ms. Debbie...

Uncle Jarrod talking to Brierley about how she doesn't feel very well...

Mmmm!!! Rosa's tortillas!!!

Of course now that it's time to open presents, she wasn't as interested!

Brierley got her some Chucks!!

She definitely got excited about this Elmo book! Between her birthday and Christmas she got I think 10 different Elmo things. And trust me, she LOVES THEM ALL!!!

Sock monkey!!! I guess all those times I told my mom how cute I thought our friend Angela's homemade sock monkeys are paid off ;)

It was a battle of the schools that day... She got a Longhorn shirt from Wade and Holly, and an A&M pacifier from Uncle Jarrod and Aunt Ann. You can bet there's a good chance that A&M one will get covered with some bling! Jk!!

She also got her first pair of Nikes. Daddy already has big plans to go running together. I think I'll sit that one out ;)

Let them eat cake!

Not sure if it was because she was sick, she ate too much mexican food for lunch, or she just doesn't have much of a sweet tooth, but she was not that interested...

Don't let this picture fool you, she's not enjoying delicious chocolate cake... She's making eyes at Wade!

Ok, time to try a little cake.

Oops, no, back to making eyes at Wade!

And this was about .4 seconds before...

She threw her cake on the floor.

And that was the end!

Like Daddy, Like Daughter

So maybe that isn't how the saying goes, but for the purpose of this picture let's pretend.

I hear more and more that Brierley is looking like me these days, but Lord have mercy, if this picture doesn't scream Austin I don't know what does!

Merry Christmas!!

For to us a child is born,

to us a son is given,

and the government will be on his shoulders.

And he will be called

Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,

Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

 

Isaiah 9:6

 

 

 

(If Brierley hadn't sucked on my computer cord, thus leaving it no longer working, perhaps I'd have a sweet little family photo to wish everyone a Blessed and Merry Christmas. Ahhhh kids!!)

Happy 1st Birthday Brierley Beau!!!

I thought you were going to be born on the 21st. But being the little Miss Independent that you are, proved me wrong and didn't make your grand enterance till an entire day later. 8:02am to be exact. It was a long 23 hours, but you were worth every second. I wish I had the side shot of this pic, your head was about as coned as they come! You'd been stuck in the birth canal for many a hours, so even though you were a little c-section baby, you didn't look like one!

So here you are, just a few seconds old. You cried for maybe 10 seconds, and then didn't cry again till I snapped your tiny finger in the car seat 2 weeks later. Sorry!!

It was love at first sight. This was the second time I got to see you. Right when Dr. Sullivan pulled you out, he held you up over the curtian just like they do with little Simba in The Lion King. Except minus the curtain and on top of a giant rock. I could hear the music in my head.

Ingonyama nengw' enamabala

Don't worry, I'll play the movie for you one day and you'll understand.

I was soooooo tired and doped up, all I wanted to do was keep my eyes open to see you.

Your daddy and I both cried tears of joy. You were the most incredible little thing we had ever laid our eyes on. And you came from US! God sure is awesome!! Those were the two thoughts that kept running through my mind in those moments. Those and "Chelsi, keep your eyes open!"

You and daddy left for a little while so they could stitch me all back together and clean you up properly. We met back up in recovery and you and I shared our first of many moments. They laid you on my chest and I knew that I would forever love your little head there. You spent the next 8 months taking naps just like that. I'll show you a picture of that moment one day - I look too cracked out to put it on here.

Once we were out of recovery we got to go to our room. I don't know who put that ginormous hat on you, but I promise it wasn't me! Maybe the size of that hat draws attention away from the absolute ridiculousness of how swollen every single part of my body is. My lips looked like a giant hot dog bun! And all I remember thinking was, "Oh my gosh, my feet are going to explode! My feet are going to explode!!"

After the nurses assured me 15 times they weren't going to explode, it was just all the fluids pumped into my body over the last 24 hours I spent the next 3 days getting to know you in that room. Your daddy couldn't get enough of you. My heart melted everytime I looked at the two of you together. It still melts everytime I see the two of you together.

I managed to get a picture of the first time you opened your eyes that day and really stared at me. I couldn't get over how much you looked like your daddy in that moment. If I could have frozen that moment and kept it forever I would have.

You didn't spend a whole lot of time in that little bed. I never wanted to put you down. But I sure did love watching you sleep. You were the most beautiful little baby I had ever seen.

And you were mine!

Again, God is SO AWESOME!!

I was pretty nervous the first time I put you in here. The sweet hospital attendent had to show me how. It was Christmas Eve night, and we left the hospital for the first time as a family of 3.

I had spent 9 months wondering what you would look like. Blond hair like your daddy or brown hair like me? Blue eyes like daddy or green eyes like me? Well, you came out my little brown hair, blue eyed girl. Your hair has since gone blond. But those beautiful blue eyes are as sparkily as ever!

Here you are with your very first bow. My little bow head!

Well, use to be!

And here you are, 11 days old. First trip to the beach. You loved it that day and every day since. You truly are a little beach baby! Can't wait to take you back!!

Brierley Beau - 12 months has FLOWN by. You are one of the greatest joys I have ever known. I love you bunches Munch and thank God for you EVERY day!!

Happy 1st Brithday!!!!!!!!

One year ago..

That was me one year ago today. It was 7:30 in the morning and we were headed up to the hospital to have our little girl. I don't even know if I slept any the night before I was SOOO excited. It was nine months in the making. The LONGEST nine months of my life. They almost seem like a bad dream, which is good I suppose. ;) 

It was 10 days before my due date, but I was having serious trouble breathing. That little girl was all up in my ribs. And even though she had taken up whatever space was (and wasn't) there, she was still kicking away. I think my ribs are STILL recovering. Luckily, my doctor felt comfortable inducing - she was big enough, and also if I wanted to have any chance at having her naturally we better get to business on getting her out. 

And so, to business we got...