One Year Down...Many to go!

Brian and I can't believe little Bree-bird is already 1! We've learned so much about parenthood and we're sure to learn more. It's hard to believe how helpless a child is when they're born into the world and to see how slowly they progress and become more independent. Aubrey has brought so much joy into our family and we feel so honored to call her our little girl. She's crawling, pulling herself to a stand and almost standing on her own unassisted. It's just a matter of time before she's walking all on her own. To kick-off her milestone birthday we got some special photos of her big day in her birthday outfit. I personally love the pink polk-a-dot tights!

Happy Easter!

Aubrey's first Easter was beautiful and very warm. The ski was so blue. I tried to coordinate the family in purple. I thought I'd get a lot of push-back from Brian as he usually doesn't like to wear a lot of color. I'd like to think I'm rubbing off on him a little or maybe it's the influence of the metrosexual man of the East coast? Brian actually looks really good in this color and so does Aubrey. Our little trio received many compliments at church today as we tried to look as coordinated as possible.

I'm thankful for my Savior and for all that he's done for me. May everyone have a wonderful Easter and a chance to reflect what our Savior has done for us, and for all mankind!




After spending some time outside, Aubrey made it evident that she was not comfortable with the heat, so we made our way inside to see my parents before they were off to their church services and to see what goodies the Easter Bunny left. Luckily we were able to get a decent photo with Aubrey and her Grandpa Lafleur. Our camera was having some issues, or perhaps it was operator error? We also got a family photo, however both Brian and I were sweating from the heat and humidity outside that we looked like we were both about ready to pass out, and again the camera had a weird halo/glow thing going on. Don't worry my hair did look better for church service. It's hard to believe our little girl is a few days shy of being 6 months old -- her first 1/2 Birthday!!!





And finally, the Easter Bunny did come and left little Bree her first easter Basket, filled with goodies to the brim.






Aubrey enjoyed eating a few of the eggs too....







We tried to venture outside again for some photo opportunities. The end result...let's just say a pictures are worth a 1000 words...or in this case 4, "Let's go Home, now!"

Spring has Sprung

I've always loved flowers. I actually remember when I was 3 or 4 years old going over to the neighbors house and cutting all of their daffodils in the neighbor's front yard for my mother. I'm sure I was singing the song, "I often go walking in meadows of clover to the neighbors front yard…. And I gathered armfuls, of blossoms of blue yellow and orange. I gathered the blossoms, the whole meadow over…Dear Mother, all flowers remind me of you…”

I didn't want to get in trouble cutting the ones growing in our yard, so I figured the neighbors wouldn't mind. Needless to say this was one of my first lessons where my mom made me apologize to the neighbors -- a lesson of right vs. wrong.

I'm looking forward to the day where I get to plant my own flower garden, but for now this will have to suffice. :)

Here's a few more....

Nautical Theme...

One of my earliest memories of childhood was of my little brother and this really adorable nautical/sailor outfit my mom found for him. So I was thrilled to find when my niece was born that they had little girl nautical dresses too! So to keep traditions alive with the nautical theme, we bought Aubrey her first sailor dress.

A little off topic here, I hear our US Sailors no longer wear these handsome uniforms anymore! This is tragic; those young men looked so hot rocking the button-nose shoes, wide legged navy nauticals with cute hat. I'm sad to see them go :(

My Daddy and Me

When I was first married to my husband I think he only owned 2 pairs of shoes. Some shoes for church on Sunday and a pair of old VANS Skater shoes - black. My old job had me traveling all over the globe and sightseeing comes hand-in-hand with traveling. I've decided there are two types of travelers when it comes to shoe-wear. Those who feel it's important to look good and fit in with the culture that throw any form of comfort out the window purely for looks and those who wear shoes for comfort and support. I fit into the later of that group; my sister however would fall into the former (just ask her how many blisters she's gotten!).

I love, LOVE tennis shoes -- especially the good quality running shoes. I go through about a pair a year. I guess my dad got me hooked on running shoes back when I was on the track and field team in high school and college. Anyways, when my husband first moved out to VA he didn't have a job and was using the gym at our condo to work out. He insisted that his VANS were fine and that they'd do the job. I said we could go out and buy some new shoes if he'd like and again, he insisted his VANS were fine. Fast forward 2 years and a trip to Australia and New Zealand. I bought my husband a fine pair of ASICS. They're a fantastic running shoe. The first thing he noticed was that his feet could breathe. I can't tell you how many times he'd put them on and he'd remind me how he could feel the wind through his shoes up at the tips of his toes. LOL. Brian still has his "first" pair of running shoes, but they're not nice and new looking anymore. For Christmas last year, my dad gave his usual gift to me -- a new pair of running shoes and it looks like Brian has been added to the tradition. He received a new pair of ASICS too. He now refers to his old pair as shoes as "rain or bad weather shoes" and his new ones as "good weather" sneakers. He wore them for the first time today and so I figured it would be a good day to see if Aubrey's first pair of tennis shoes would fit. My $1 pair of NIKE baby shoes that I got at a yard sale last year. I love saving on baby items!!! So here's to new shoes and new beginnings!

My mother-in-law gave Aubrey this really cute outfit for Valentine's Day and her first pair of jeans. The outfit is so cute. I really loved the heart pockets too. Thank you for the cute outfit GG (Grandma Garside) :)

Bottle Milk or Rice Cereal

Lately little Bree has been acting funny when it comes to her food. We've wondered if it's because she's not feeling full or because she's getting tired of milk. She's starting to show an interest in food so we figure it's a matter of time before we'll be starting her on baby food. If only you can see the look she gives Brian and I as we eat our food; she stares you down as you move food from your plate to your mouth. Watching us ever so careful.

So we decided to start her out on rice cereal. We thought she'd take after her daddy; he loves cereal. He'd literally live off cereal if he could. Sometimes he even thinks cereal is its own food group. Naturally I thought Aubrey would enjoy cereal. So far the verdict is out. Here's some pictures of Aubrey's first tastes of cereal.

And of course we didn't want out little girl to get her pipes clogged, if you know what I mean. So some prunes were added to aid with any constipation that could ensue. Her reaction - priceless.

Feeding Time Awkward Behavior?

Aubrey has developed a behavior that Brian and I are a little concerned about. The baby feeding books and online articles we've read stress the importance of burping a baby periodically as an infant is fed his/her milk from the bottle. However, heaven forbid, if we try to do this, little Bree has a fit. Not just a little wee cry, but a full on tantrum fit. So to prove what we feel is an oddity, we've decided to capture this on film -- at least for posterity sake, right? Let's just say we're adding this to the, "must show future husband" pile of videos so he can truly be made full aware of her personality -- some of which developed at a young age. Has anyone else had these types of tantrums when it comes to food with their little ones???

Video 1 -- shows what happens when she's hungry and we give her the bottle and then we try to see what happens when we take it away.

Video 2 -- shows what happens when we try to burp her.

Happy viewing!

Baby Chic

This is one of the many outfits Aubrey received at her baby shower. As spring approaches, some days are just a little too chilly to not be wearing a hat, so head-ware is a must! Our little girl is getting so big. Here's Aubrey at 5 months with her matching hat and sporting the China Doll look. I sure wish my skin was so perfect and rosy as our little Bree's. Hardly a blemish at all!!

Of course one photo is not enough; below are a few more captured before little Bree-bird could just not take it anymore. She was H.U.N.G.R.E.Y. yep. *nods* 'nough said.