Photoshoot!!!

So, with Bria's 3 month birthday fast approaching I needed to book her photoshoot and STAT!  I can't miss the milestone of getting her head up while on her tummy.  Since she has been congested for the past month and sleeping on my chest at night (literally) I've been addicted to Craigslist and search for anything and everything...I found a lady who is taking photography classes and needs practice with new lights, subjects, etc. and is offering services at a discounted rate.  So, I contacted her to see if she could do Bria's pics and she ended up being SUPER handy!  She brought everything over to our house - she's on the lookout for a studio now - but really handy for me since it's easier to have everything on hand here at the house...And she seriously took these pics here!  She was so patient and did a really good job!  My main focus was on getting Bria's head shot and then I wanted to do a little Valentine's shoot.  In the middle of the switch Bria got hungry and tired and so while I fed her, Kathryn followed my mom and Brady around outside and got some really good shots of him!  She ended up taking 200 pics!!!  She said that typically 40-60 turn out good and I'll get a CD when she is finished going through them!  But, she posted a few on her website and here they are below!

Bria and Brady - Valentine's Day shot...Precious!

Brady outside - Mayme was pulling him around in the wagon!  He looks like such a big boy!  She actually used this as her main photo (profile pic) on her facebook page!

One of Bria with her head up!  I was sad b/c I had her in the cutest lime green tights, but I didn't turn her sideways so you couldn't see the tights...And, I had a precious headband with bow but she didn't like it too much so I took it off and then forgot to fix her hair!  And, there is a super cute black ruffle on this dress but you can't even tell!  But, they still turned out great!  Can't wait to see them all!  A BIG thanks to Kathryn for coming over and doing such a great job!  Thanks to Mayme for all the grunts to get some giggles and smiles from these 2 precious angels!

Heads up & down...

Here are a few more pics taken with my cell phone...We have been trying to do more tummy time with Bria and getting her some extra practice for her upcoming photoshoot at her getting her head up at her 3 month milestone!  Here she is practicing on her tummy time mat...And Brady is just chilling...He's gotten to where he will lay on the rug in the living room and watch TV while we change him, get him ready for bed, etc. and boy does he look like he's relaxed?  TOO FUNNY! 

It was a great weekend and I wish I would have taken some pics...Tom and Barb and Jackie came up to visit on Friday and stayed the night.  We took Brady to get dough doughs on Saturday morning since Daddy had to work...Jackie spoiled the kiddos and put some money into their piggy banks...Then my mom came up around noon and she helped with the photoshoot and we hung out.  Now she realizes I have my hands full when Richie is at work and I'm by myself!  HA!  She watched Brady so Richie and I could go to church on Sunday and then I went shopping with her to help her find some work clothes...Thank goodness she went before she came over on Saturday b/c we weren't too successful in finding her some stuff...But, of course we found some bargains for the kiddos!  I bought them several things for next winter on sale and she had to spoil them too!  hehehe!  These kiddos are rotten!  I love it!  Great weekend!

Gulley park!

Last week was a week of pretty good weather and I really wanted to take advantage of it!  So, I took Brady to the park by our house one day and then the following day my friend Poco texted me and told me that she was taking Maddox to Gulley park and wanted to know if we wanted to join them!  So, of course we did!  Brady loves the park and Maddox so it was a great combination...However, they both wanted to run in opposite directions and it was funny watching them go everywhere!!!  Here is a little train thing and as you can see Brady is trying to crawl through the window...And yes, he was successful!  HA!

Here is Maddox peeping through - isn't he so cute!  We are going to try and get together again this week!  We can't resist 60 degree weather!  Is this January or what?  I LOVE IT!

The lil gym!

Kim and Kate have invited us to join them at the lil gym in Rogers several times and it just hasn't worked out - today...IT WORKED OUT!  He had a BLAST!  It took him about 15min to warm up b/c he thought that I was just going to leave him there.  But once he realized I was staying, he had to run around and play!  His most favorite thing was the balance beam and all of the other mothers couldn't believe he would run across it with it being his first time there.  He LOVED it!  They played with shakers, bubbles and balls and it was a great time!  I'll have to take him back again for sure!  So happy we could join Kim and Kate!  Even though we didn't get to visit much...Too busy chasing our perfect angels!  Love this lil guy!  Can't wait for Bria to play too!  It will be here before we know it!  YAY!  What a fun day!! :)

The park!

So, yesterday I took Brady to the park!  Well, it is actually the playground at the school by our house, but it has a lot of stuff so it seems like a park!  Brady LOVED it!  It was about 55 degrees outside and sunny!  He is getting to be so independent and he wanted to do everything by himself!  I tried to let him do some things on his own, but of course there were a few things that he needed assistance with!  But, needless to say - WE HAD A BALL!  He is so much fun and I can't wait til Bria gets older and can play with us too!

Bria's Baptism!

What a very special day!  I remember Brady's as if it were yesterday and how nervous we were & hoping he would be good and not cry, etc.  We were once again nervous about Brady (one year later) and hoped that he would be a good boy in church and act good - and he was great!  He and Bria did so good!

Out of all the great pics that were taken today, this one might be my favorite & it was with a cell phone!  Bria is bright eyed and bushy tailed on her big day and Brady is being such a great big brother!  Richie looks handsome and I don't look huge! HA!

The above - Jerry and Rose Hellebusch - Bria's God Parents!  Rose is also Richie's God Mother!  They are such special people and Bria is one lucky girl!  Part of her Baptism gift was a precious bonnet that is also a hanky for the day that she gets married - PRECIOUS!  And, it was even blessed by Father John!  SUPER SPECIAL!  He even made a joke and said "she could use it on her wedding day unless she becomes a nun!"  He is so quick witted!  Love him!

Before the baptism started - Bria in her bonnet!

Brian and Alyssa Hellebusch - Brady's God Parents!  So sweet of them to come!

Baba and Brady - he was so good!

Father putting the oil on her chest...

Washed in Holy water...

Oil on the head...It smelled so good!

Father John Antony and Bria!

Everyone who came for Bria's special day!!  Front row - Alyssa, Mayme, Father John & Bria, Rose, Ally, Brian and Derek.  Back row - Papa, Baba, Richie, me & Brady and Jerry!

Bria with Father and her God Parents!

My precious family!  And our precious priest!

Bria on her big day!  The gown that she is wearing is so special - it is over 60 years old and so delicate and ornate and just gorgeous!  Barb's Aunt made it and Barb and Rose both wore it 60 years ago when they were baptized!  The majority of Richie's family (the girls) have worn it so it is EXTRA special!

After her baptism we went and ate at Hog Haus (just like we did with Brady)...It was DE-LISH!  However, we couldn't get our food fast enough - eating out with a 16 month is HARD...Someone was on Brady duty the whole time...

Brady giving the statue a "5" - could he be any cuter in his little jacket?  Just precious!

And, cake for dessert when we got home!  And, cookies and bread pudding (Alyssa was so sweet to bake and bring)...Bria opened her baptismal gifts - she got a couple of rosaries and a book of prayers and 2 precious pearl bracelets!  My dad & Ange couldn't be there, but they gave her a sweet gift for her baptism of a cross, her own Bible and a hanky - she is spoiled and loved by all! 

Couldn't resist!!

So, one of my most favorite things is matching...I love it when people have 2 little boys/girls and they are twinkies...I think it's just precious!  I sometimes try and color coordinate with Richie when we go out b/c I like it so much!  And, it makes for great pics!  HA!  So, one of my best friends (Kim) loaned me her precious little girl (Kate) clothes b/c they matched up exactly with Bria - WAY sweet of her to do that!  I appreciate it SO much!  And, when I saw this pink Superman onesie I had to find one for Brady!  I thought that would definitely be something they could wear that was matching!  I think it's just the cutest thing in the whole world!!!  Brady and I ran some errands this morning and I took him to get another "Big Boy Haircut" and they gave him a sucker for doing good - here he is in the car eating it.  What you can't see is that the sucker is BLUE!  Needless to say - his mouth was BLUE!  haha!  At least it matches his shirt, right??  I couldn't get home fast enough to take some pics of the dynamic duo!!  Love these lil angels!!

Another comparison!!

I think they are starting to look a little different!  And, he had SO much more hair than her!  I knew his hair grew fast, but in comparision - it's crazy!  We have two lil cuties!! 

Brady at 16 months!

Brady Ray is 16 months old!  WOW, how time flies!  He is the best lil guy in the world!  He is changing so much and doing something different every single day! 

Brady is wearing mainly 18-24 month old clothes, size 4 diapers but could be a size 5 anyday, size 6 shoes and his hair is really growing - he's needing another haircut!  HA!  OR, if I had my wish, grow it back out a little bit...Brady has 10 teeth & we think he will get his molars on his right side anyday...He is saying a ton of words and knows how to use them which is so funny!  (Example: We say "hot" for the stove, outlets - basically anything we don't want him to touch...He was in the car the other day and says "hot - hot - hot" and tried to take off his jacket!) - Who knew?  He knows his numbers pretty darn good now - 1 through 10...He was in the bathtub a couple of weeks ago and Papa asked him what number that was and he said "9" - grabbed it out from Baba's hand and turned it upside down and said "6" - OMG!  He knows all of his basic animal sounds and now knows a lion, tiger and snake.  He's picked up more words (can't remember which ones I've put on here in the past month) - keys, outside, inside, car, bubbles, remote, phone, bath, teeth (loves brushing his teeth & actually reminds us), paper (the newspaper), read, books, bed, drink, sippy, sissy, shirt...these are just a few...He also knows his hair, head, eyes, ears, nose, teeth, fingers, feet, toes, belly, belly button, and knees...He is getting better with his colors and his 2 favorites are purple and blue - but after that, it's a work in progress!  He is eating a little better but not great...Favorite meat is little burgers, breaded chicken bites and fish.  Favorite veggies - spinach, potatoes and sometimes sweet potato fries.  Favorite desserts - EVERYTHING sweet!  HA!  He loves anything sweet like his momma!  He is on more of a nightly routine with bathtime around 7-7:30 followed by books books and more books...Then bedtime at 8!  He will typically sleep until 6-7AM...I love cuddle time in the mornings when he just lays in bed with me and daddy and looks for daddy when he isn't there (when he's working)...My favorite thing is when he will just walk up and give me a hug.  Makes me feel so special!  Richie loves his donut Saturdays with Brady - I love watching Brady eat his "dough doughs"...I love it when he dances - it's just too cute!  And now, when he is really sweet to sissy - it melts my heart!  Every single day is an adventure and I love it!

The above picture is him getting ready for school this past Monday and his 16 month birthday.  It's flannel shirt day and he likes to participate in their activities!  I think he looks precious!  He doesn't look too excited here, but he woke up with croup AGAIN and isn't feeling 100%.  Poor guy!  We've really tried to get him in the same schedule as his schedule at school.  Which is lunch at 11:30 and nap after...So, 1 nap a day!!  Usually a long nap like 2-3 hours.  And now, just this week they have switched from cribs to cots!!  So, it should be interesting!  He may move into his toddler bed before we know it!  He is so special to us and we couldn't love him anymore!!

My precious angels!

It's really hard getting these 2 together...And almost near impossible to get them both looking...Definitely impossible to get them both smiling!  HA!  It's hard enough to get Brady to stay still long enough to even snap a pic!  HA!  But, I love these pics - great memories caught with my phone!

Bria playing peek-a-boo!!  I LOVE THIS PICTURE! 

Brady dancing to a song on Toy Story!  He loves him some Woody and Buzz!  Precious!!

Carla's Shower for little Paisley!

Paisley Layne Staggs Shower - Russellville, AR 

Of course I had to bring my little buddy Bria!  She wanted a little mommy/daughter time and let me just say that she was a PERFECT angel!!  The drive down she didn't make a peep and during set up for the shower her and Mayme got some cuddle time and everyone had to talk about how cute she was, etc. Then, during the shower she was great! After the shower everyone passed her around and held her and played with her and she LOVED it!  Then, the drive home - PERFECT angel!  Making mommy very happy!  It was such a great day and a great shower for Carla and Paisley!

The hosts for the shower - Tara, Meagan, CARLA, me, Sharon and Lane!

The food and decorations were GREAT!  And, she had a FABULOUS turn out and got some really awesome presents!  YAY!  Little Paisley is LOVED!

Carla, big sister McKynlee and Auntie Sharon!

Proud Mayme enjoying some precious time with Bria - she had so much fun during the shower getting to hold her and feed her, etc...She thinks Bria is the best girl in the world!  What a great day!