Saturday, October 31, 2009

Halloween

I loved sewing Bryn's little skirt and hooded cape, even if the skirt turned out a little short and the cape seemed a little too dracula-like. Next time I'll use a pattern!
We went Trick-or-Treating at SeaCliff Shopping Center, and ran into some other cute kids from the ward.
I'm used to Utah Halloweens, so Brynlee's costume had white knit tights and a white turtle-neck. Today was h.o.t. so we ditched the tights and turtle neck and went with a thin white t-shirt.
Later on we strolled around Main Street, ate at Wahoo's, watched street performers, shielded Bryn's face from some interesting costumes, then went home and made a big Reeses Shake out of Brynlee's trick or treating loot. Great day!

Friday, October 30, 2009

Ten Months Old

Bryn ran off after three pictures during my first attempt at pictures. And the second attempt this afternoon wasn't much better! But the pictures totally catch her stage right now.
Bryn at ten months:
-Speedy little crawler, walks all over by pushing a plastic bin from room to room, and is getting better and better at walking without help.
-Very squirmy, curious, strong, and silly. So changing her diapers is really fun.
-Favorite foods are applesauce, fruit, rice cereal, and nursing. Plus most table food. So changing her diapers is really fun.
-Loves cuddling, reading books, piggy back rides, hanging upside down (for short periods of time), and emptying cupboards, drawers, and garbage cans.
-Has two bottom teeth, one top tooth, and another top one about to pop through -Is called a BOY the majority of the time, unless we cover her in bright pink and stick a big how on her. See above pictures.

Bigger and Better Things

The swings were Bryn's favorite part about the park. Until she discovered
The Tunnel.

Tuesday, October 27, 2009

We like Pumpkin Patches

Today we went to a pumpkin patch in Irvine with Michelle and Maddi. This one was smaller and less crowded than the last, and so much fun.
Such a model. We've been working with her on this particular pose.
Laughing at the hay.
Tasting the hay.
So excited to have made it through the tunnel of hay.
Smiling girls. Loving the little rides.
Brynlee really thought she was driving the rocket.
She loved this blow-up zone. She was doing lots of back flips and things, but I didn't get any pictures of that. Next time.
Yay for another fun pumpkin patch day!
P.S. Remember how she was taking up to 19 steps yesterday? Well, her record today was only 9. Maybe it was yesterday's diet, including one very large banana. I've heard potassium consumption is directly tied to the number of steps a toddler can take.

Monday, October 26, 2009

Biscuits and Walking

Brynlee tried out Gerber "Biter Biscuits" this weekend and they are a hit. They make a mess, but it keeps her entertained for a good 10-15 minutes as she gnaws on the little biscuit. It's like a dog biscuit for babies. In fact, they actually bring out the canine side of Brynlee as she eats them. See the above picture. Scrunching up her face, growling, and is that a fang poking over her lip? Oh, and I guess I should mention... ...BRYNLEE IS TAKING HER FIRST STEPS!!! Am I an overly excited first-time-mom or what!? Saturday she started taking two to three steps, and she's getting better and better. Today her record was NINETEEN! It's so funny to see her walk from thing to thing, taking a few little steps in between. She seems so old!

Upper Body Strength

When I began dating Josh, his family was quick to inform me about his "tremendous upper body strength" (I'm still laughing!), citing various titles from collegiate-level arm wrestling contests. Ha ha. And that's what sealed the deal for me! It appears Bryn has inherited Josh's tremendous upper body strength because all she wants to do all day is push things around or tip things over. Her favorite is to corral the kitchen chairs into one corner of the room then crawl through the bars. I'm glad I only spent $50 on our dining set because often her strength is just too great and bangs the chairs into each other or pushes the chairs over onto their sides. The chairs are already getting banged up and we're only on our first child! Crawling over the legs of a chair. Wild child.

Sunday, October 25, 2009

PACKAGE!!!

I've really been missing my family lately, so it was such a WONDERFUL TREAT to get a Halloween package in the mail from my Mom. It was making me emotional for some reason. Ha ha. That's how much I love candy and treats, I guess! The best was the little bag for Brynlee with Gerber Graduates treats. I couldn't take it.
The highlight was a little outfit for Bryn. My Mom has wonderful taste! I'm in love with this Ruffly red dress and little white shrug!!! It will be so perfect for December!

Saturday, October 24, 2009

Pumpkin Patch

On the hay ride. Bryn's not so sure of what's going on, but she warms up pretty quickly as you'll see. The petting zoo grossed me out at first. I mean who knows where have those goats been? But Brynlee was loving it!
Um. Freaky. I didn't let Bryn near this big guy.
Brynlee was more interested in the animals than smiling for a picture
Her favorite part was just playing in the pumpkins! She could've stayed there all day!
The cute little kids from the ward that we went with.
This was so much fun. It almost made it feel like Fall. If if weren't for the 85 degree weather! Fall just isn't Fall until the leaves turn colors. And I'm pretty sure the palm trees in our neighborhood will be staying green!

Friday, October 23, 2009

Oh Brother

Yesterday was such a great day: going to a pumpkin patch with friends, going on a nice long walk, baking and visiting a few ladies in my neighborhood, running errands, and playing outside in the courtyard. Today has been a little different. Here are some of the highlights: -Trying to go on my normal walking route, but Bryn was fussing so we only made it a mile before we had to turn around. -Brynlee smashing her fingers in drawers about six times, and counting. So sad. -Brynlee tangling her fingers in my hair and pulling, over and over. (It's time to get a hair cut!) -Brynlee somehow finding a piece of chicken and eating it. I only found out about the chicken because she threw up onto my shirt. Fun. -Brynlee finding my pile of coupons and ripping them up. (I thought about trying to tape them together, but I have too much pride to hand the cashier an unreadable, taped-up coupon for 55 sent off. ) -Brynlee and I sending Josh off for a weekend backpacking trip for scouts....which means a fun, car-less, husband/father-less weekend for little B and I. I am wonderfully blessed, so I really shouldn't complain. But some days are certainly better than others! Ha ha.

Thursday, October 22, 2009

Caramel Corn

My Grandma Tueller makes the best caramel corn this side of the Mississippi. (Not gooey, but not dry. And plenty of cashews). And she knows that Josh LOVES it, so she sends it to him any chance she can. We recieved a big batch of it from her this week and have been in heaven!

Wednesday, October 21, 2009

Mashy Hair

Bryn love, love, loves mashed potatoes. In fact, she usually gets so excited that she ends up with mashies in the hair. And what's cuter than mashies in the hair!?

Tuesday, October 20, 2009

Mmmmm

The best part about roasting a turkey is making turkey pot pie the next day! Talk about comfort food!
Brynlee has a new favorite meal!

Monday, October 19, 2009

Jason and Brandi

We got a surprise visit from Jason and Brandi and their cute girls on Saturday!!! I didn't even know they were coming in town, so it was so fun to see them! Perfect timing, because I have totally been missing our families in Utah lately!
We had lunch at Wahoos and walked out on the pier, through the mists of darkness. (Seriously, I've never seen thicker fog in Huntington!) It was so great hanging out with them for a bit! And Bryn was so glad to see her cousins, even though she was groggy and napping half the time.

Saturday, October 17, 2009

Woot Woot

I know this blog is usually about motherhood, cooking, sewing, and other domestic endeavors, but I just have to say
I'm proud of my YANKS tonight!
(2-0) against the team all my Cali friends are rooting for. Well, at least the team that their husbands are rooting for. I don't really talk about baseball at Mother's Group activities.

Friday, October 16, 2009

New Baggity Bag

I've been using the free diaper bag that they give you in the hospital because I couldn't find a diaper bag I really liked, so I finally decided to make my own bag (Amy Butler's "Birdie Sling" pattern) with some of my very favorite fabric from Anna Maria Horner. It was a really fun project and I'm happy with it. It's a huge bag! If I didn't have to carry around baby stuff it would be way too big!
Flaming orange lining. Maybe a little too intense, but at least it's not visible from the outside.
I had never done pleats or gussets before. Basically all I had ever done before this was sew in a straight line. So I learned a lot.