Visit from VanderLinden's & New Table

Last Friday night we had Austin, Katie & Brynlee VanderLinden over for supper and to hang out. We had a great time spending time with them! Bray-Lynne really liked baby Brynlee. She wanted to touch her head, hands, tummy ... if she could ask I'm sure she would've wanted to hold her. We tried to get a picture of her holding Bryn's hand but we missed it. We had to remind her to be "gentle" with baby Bryn; she did give her a good thump on the tummy which Bryn tolerated very well. We are blessed to have such good friends. We have been friends with them for a long time now and look forward to many more memories together!

Brandyn and I recently purchased our first dining room table. In our house in Grimes, our rental & purchase in Pella we've always had a hand-me-down or borrowed table. Soon, our parents will be moving into their newly built home down the road & will be taking their table & rug with them. It took us a long time and many trips to Homemakers to officially decide on one we liked. Even when we bought it we were a little skeptical if it was the "right" one. We just got the table delivered today. I got it dusted and put my runner & decoration on it ... of course I posted pictures of it on here. I am very proud of our first & very own dining room table!

Getting closer by the day

This is a "don't touch" but she sneaks away and does it anyway :)
Getting closer by the day ... Bray-Lynne will take a few steps towards each of us but usually only if we have a 'bribe'. One day we used chocolate pudding, another day it was Starburst candy, sometimes it's toys, a drink or snack. She thinks she's pretty funny when she's walking. She will giggle (a little 'hehehehe') all the way back and forth. She also walks somewhat sideways which is what she's doing in this picture. Brandyn and I get a kick out of trying to teach her to walk; we're usually giggling just as much as she is.

Bray-Lynne is quite the talker and already has a good sized vocabulary. She says many things and is learning how to point or motion to things that she wants. More recently she has started saying "mommy" very clearly...it's about time! :) She knows sign language for "more" but I haven't taught her anything else because she'd rather just learn the actual word that sign it. She is completely on whole milk and drinks everything via sippy cup. No more 'ba-ba's! She has a sippy cup that I use for nap times & bedtime that is similar to a bottle nipple but not really ;) Bray now has a total of TEN teeth ... yes, you heard me right ... that's TEN! I am pretty proud of that because I think it's a lot for a 14 month old. She has 4 on the top, 4 on the bottom and her 'baby molars' on the top. She doesn't have canine teeth yet; instead she got the molars first.

Getting closer by the day ... I know it doesn't seem like it but we ARE getting closer to spring. We are ready to see things turning green ... I think there is grass under that snow right?!

Let it snow...part 2!

Getting some use out of the baby sled
Mommy trying to keep Bray warm
"Weeeee!" down the driveway
All bundled for a sled ride


Today was a good day to get out and use the sled. There was almost too much snow in the yard but we made it work. We got all bundled and went from the house to the shop a few times then up and down the driveway. Bray-Lynne thought I was a little crazy at first but then was sad to go inside when she realized how fun it was. It was great to spend some time outside! Days like today make winter not seem so bad after-all.

Let it snow!

"smell my foot?"
Even Mittens enjoys snack time
What would we do without her blanky?
Our little monkey
Reaching for her blanky
Having some milk on the couch
Trying to get two 13 month old girls to sit still for a picture is not easy

One of her favorite places to play

I finally have a camera to use again so I could get some pictures. Bray-Lynne is becoming quite the little girl. She is getting more daring each day. Today she stood unassisted for quite awhile. She has her balance standing alone and has great control as she gets back down to her knees. She even took a few wobbly steps towards me. She giggled & smiled big as soon as she got into my arms. I thinks she was pretty impressed that she did that. We don't want to push it but I think she'll be walking soon. Brandyn and I continue to work with her to get her balance & take steps during lunch time & at night before bed which she thinks is pretty fun.

We had a night with Josh, Chelsea, Lake & Harper a couple weeks ago. They came over for pizza and the kids got to play. We have a lot of fun when we get together. We tried to get a picture of the girls but it's hard to get them to sit still at this age. Lake was quite the little man that night too. He has such a great personality. Brandyn and I were able to go out to eat this past weekend and leave Bray-Lynne with the Cowman's. They got some pictures playing and of bath time. Bray-Lynne loves her cousins!

1 year pictures

I finally got around to getting 1 year photos of Bray-Lynne. I had them taken last night at Hills Photo Center here in Pella. She wasn't really in the mood for them (pretty typical) but we got a few good ones and that's all I need :) I think she still looks like her daddy. She is getting curls in though so at least she'll have some of her mommy in her!

To see her pictures go to: www.hillsphotopella.com

*Click on "view studio photos"

*Click on Emily Van Zante under "recent photos"

*Our password is "Bray"


Enjoy!