A couple hours after Madison was born, my mom and Brooklynn came to the hospital to visit.  Joe walked out to the parking garage to walk them in and show them how to find our room.  I asked him to record Brooklynn coming in for the first time from his angle, and I did the same.  I was SO excited to see her!  I have never been away from her for that long, and I felt like it had been forever since I had gotten to hug and squeeze her!  I was also excited to see how she would react to her new baby sister.  When they walked in, Brooklynn was excited to see me, but seemed unsure and scared of the fact that I was holding a baby in my arms.  She was afraid at first and  just wanted to keep her distance and look at Madison.  Eventually she warmed up and touched her and gave her loves.  It was so nice to have my mom there and to hear how things at home had been going.  I hadn't worried about Brooklynn really at all knowing that she was in such good hands.  I felt so blessed to have my mom there with us for this major event in all of our lives.  I know she loved being with us too, and loved holding her new granddaughter.  She held Madison while Joe and I cuddled on Bookie!
     My mom said Brooklynn hadn't really eaten much. I have heard of that happening when kids or animals are away from their parents, but I didn't think Brooklynn would ever do that.  She is such a good eater!  Joe had ordered my lunch to be delivered to my room, and Brooklynn sat on my lap with me and ate and ate and ate!  It was so fun to have her with us, and to get to spend time with her.  We had both missed her so much!  It was also fun to see my mom with both of her granddaughters.
     We had the sweetest nurses while we were there, and the one that was there with us the day of the delivery was one of the sweetest!  We found out she lives in Silverlake too!  I kept thanking her over and over again for all that she was doing for me.  When you're in the situation of not really being able to care for yourself, and you're dependent on others, it is very humbling.  I was so grateful for her and for how kind she was.  She came in our room later that afternoon to let us know that all of the postpartum rooms were taken, but they were trying to get some people checked out and rooms cleaned.  She also mentioned that there were some rooms that had been redone on that floor that were much nicer than the others, and hopefully we would get one of those.  It just depended who was leaving and when they could get the rooms clean.
     I loved just spending time with my little family and my mom that day, and being able to just relax.  Joe and I were both so tired, but somehow after the baby comes, it seems like we just run on adrenaline and excitement.  My mom and Brooklynn stayed until after 6, and then we knew she had to get Brooklynn home and fed, bathed, and ready for bed before she was too exhausted because it would make everything so much harder for my mom.  My mom called a little bit later to let us know they had hit traffic on the way home, but Brooklynn had done so well.  She also wanted to know if we lived in the Silvercreek subdivision.  In the dark, she had pulled into the wrong neighborhood, but it was just the one before ours.  That was her only mistake with driving the entire time she was here!  I was so worried about her before she got here, and she ended up being a champ at commuting in Houston!=)
     Our nurse came in to let us know that none of the postpartum rooms were available still, and that they had decided to put us in one the signature suites and comp it for us!!!  We were totally thrilled!!  We had always joked about wanting to stay there, but I think it's like $400 a night!  When we finally got moved over around 8pm, we couldn't have been happier!  My "bed" was much more comfortable, Joe had a pull out couch instead of having to sleep on the window seat, there were two televisions, the bathroom was SO much nicer, and the food was fabulous, and it felt like we were in a nice hotel room instead of a hospital room!  We got much better sleep that night.
     On Friday my mom and Brooklynn came and spent most of the day with us.  We ate lunch together, Brooklynn napped in my arms, and then my mom and I just kicked back and relaxed while Joe took Brooklynn to the Children's Museum.  It was nice to have so much time to just do nothing, relax, and hold my baby.  We had thought about trying to go home Friday, but my mom suggested that we stay another night since we had the suite.  She wanted me to just enjoy my stay and try and rest before I had to go home and take care of a toddler and a newborn.  She was so sweet to take such good care of Brooklynn while we were away.  I know that created a strong bond between them.  Brooklynn loves her "Nama."
     We got to go home before noon on Saturday.  It was so fun being able to take our sweet little girl home.  When we took Brooklynn home I think I was slightly terrified!  With Madison, I felt so much more comfortable, and very excited to get home to Bookie and my mom.  Madison was a champ on the ride home, and she has loved car rides ever since.
     We were so excited to be home!  Joe went in and brought Brooklynn outside when we arrived, and it was so fun to see her reaction.  She just kept saying "baby" over and over again.  I got to rock Brooklynn and put her down for her nap, which was so nice. This time I didn't have my big belly to get in the way.  It felt nice to have my body back to myself, and to be able to hold Brooklynn!   I had missed being able to hold and rock her and put her to sleep.  I was glad to be home with my sweet girl and with my mom!

Madison Grace Berg

This was typed up starting November 13, 2014

It's been a crazy and very special week!  A week ago today, my mom flew in to Houston to be here to take care of Brooklynn while Joe and I were in the hospital having our second baby girl!  Brooklynn was so excited to see her and followed her around everywhere that day.  Instead of saying "hold you" to me, she was saying it to "Nama." We spent the day practicing how to get to the hospital, and shopping at Sam Moon and Costco.  The GPS wouldn't give audio directions, so mom wanted to run through how to get there a couple of times.  So glad we did that, because she was a pro and didn't get lost once.   I knew Brooklynn was in the best hands, and I was able to relax and enjoy my time in the hospital.

 Joe and I checked in to Children's Memorial Hermann Hospital at 9pm on Wednesday, November 5th.  The waiting room was PACKED when we got there, and we ended up not getting a room until about 1:30am.  We were both SO tired, to say the least.  By the time I got changed, answered questions, got an IV hooked up, and got ready for bed, it was about 2:30.  I was dilated about 3 cm and told I could sleep until 5:30 and then they would start me on Patocin.  I never felt much pain as far as contractions go.  With the shift change, a new nurse came in to check on me around 7:15 and asked how I was doing.  She said the drs would be by around 8 to break my water.  A text that I had gotten from my sister-in-law when she gave birth to my niece a couple of years ago, vividly flashed through my mind.  "ALWAYS GET THE EPIDURAL BEFORE THEY BREAK YOUR WATER!  THIS HURTS SO BAD!!"  I told the nurse I really wasn't in much pain at all, and asked if it was okay to go ahead and get the epidural anyways before they broke my water.  She said that was a good idea, because once my water was broken, that cushion would no longer be there and the baby's head would put a lot of pressure on me.  You don't have to tell me twice!  Epidural was in and water broken around 8:15.  I was checked around 10am and told I was at a 6.  Joe and I had a bet going from earlier that day and I had said I would have her around 11:30 and he said 1:30.  I hadn't been checked again at 11:30, but James was working nearby and Joe asked if he could go meet him for lunch.  I told him that was fine, just keep his phone on him and don't go far.  They decided to eat at the cafeteria there in the hospital.  Around 12:15 the nurse came in to check on me and I told her that I was feeling a lot more pressure down there, so she said she wanted to check me.  She said I was a 9!  The baby's head needed to drop just a bit and my cervix needed to thin just a bit more.  She said "Where's your husband?"  I told her he had met his brother for lunch at the cafeteria.  She told me I should probably call and get him back to my room asap.  When I called I told him "I'm at a 9, the nurse said get back here."  His response was "Okay, do I need to like leave my food and come right now, or in like 5 min.?"  The nurse was right there so I asked her and she said he could have 5 minutes.  James and Joe came in the room soon after and I had my oxygen mask on.  They visited for a little bit and James helped turn off the alarm for the blood pressure machine that kept going off because my arm was bent and it wasn't registering.  Then he took a look at the monitor to see what my contractions were doing.  He said they weren't super regular so his guess was that it would be a couple more hours till I delivered. It had taken me a long time to go from a 9 to a 10 with Brooklynn, so it wasn't hard to believe.  The nurses came in again a few minutes later and started checking me again, and James said he was going to head back to work.
  It wasn't but a couple minutes after he left, the nurse said "Okay, this is it!  She's right there!"  A couple other nurses had come in too and were getting things ready.  The next thing I know, they are asking me if I want to feel my baby's head!! I reached down and they helped me feel her head!  So crazy!  Next thing I knew, Dr Cook was there in the room and he and the nurses were saying "She's right there.  Don't laugh, don't push."  Everything was happening so quickly!  I told Joe to grab the camera and hurry over next to me.  Dr Cook and the nurses said "Okay, here we go!"    I think they had me push one time.  My legs were so numb.  After I pushed they said "Okay stop!"  The cord was wrapped around her neck, so they took it off, and then Dr Cook said "Ok, Bre, reach down and pull your baby out!"  WHAT?!?!?  Did I dare do it?  I wasn't expecting him to say that!  It all happened so quickly and seemed so surreal.  I reached down and they helped me get a hold of her, and the next thing I knew I was pulling her out and then there she was, laying on my chest crying.  So so crazy!!  I was overwhelmed with emotion and the tears started to flow.  I can't really explain the emotions that overcomes me when I finally get to hold the sweet child that I have carried for 9 months.  All of the discomfort, the sickness, exhaustion, and pain are all worth it in that moment.  She was so little and her sweet little cry was music to my ears!  An incredible feeling of love overwhelmed me and brought me to tears.  Madison Grace Berg was born on November 6, 2014 at 12:58pm.  She weighed 6 pounds 12 ounces and was 20 inches long.  Dr Cook gave Joe the tool and told him to cut the umbilical cord.  He hadn't done that with Brooklynn, because he was kind of terrified and grossed out by the idea.  I think this time though, in front of Doctor Cook, he didn't want to seem like a wuss, so he went for it!  Everything always happens so quickly.  Just like that, it was all over!
     I got to hold Madison for a while, and got her to eat, and then got to cuddle her for a long while before they took her to do her measurements, foot prints, etc.  I always love and cherish that time when I just get to hold my babies.  We are so blessed to welcome another sweet little daughter into our family.  We love her so much already.

Catching Up!

There's been a lot going on the last couple of months.  At the end of June we found out at my 20 week ultrasound that another sweet baby girl will be joining our family!  I am so excited that Brooklynn will have a sister, and I just hope that they can have the type of relationship that I'm so blessed to have with my sister.

We went to Utah as a family for the big 4th of July celebrations this year! The day started at sunrise and ended well past sunset.  We went to the Provo Parade with Tiff, Michael, Braden, and my parents. Craig and Judy, Angie, Laura, Marlo and Gail and her family were all there too.   Luckily Grandad was able to get Brooklynn to fall asleep for a little bit towards the end of the parade.  Then our family went and met Dallin, Britt, Tate, and Luke at the Pizza Factory for lunch.  After lunch it was time for 7 Peaks!!  Joseph and his family were already there when we all got there, and the Hawkins family as well as Gary and Susan and Aunt Trudy joined later too.  This was my first year not going down any big slides.  One because I had Brooklynn, and two because I'm pregnant and can't go down them for safety reasons. We still had a fun time though!   Brooklynn had a lot of fun playing in the kids area going down the slides, and Joe and I did a few rounds in the lazy river.

Braden and Brooklynn waving their flags at the parade.

 

 Around 5 we got ready and changed into dry clothes and headed our for mexican food for dinner.  After that, we all went to the Stadium of Fire!!  Growing up that was one of my favorite traditions.   This year was Joe and Brooklynn's first time going to The Stadium of Fire.  My mom and dad went(because Carrie Underwood was the performer) and Tiff, Michael, Braden, Lindsey, and Jordan went as well.  It was such a fun night, I'm so glad we got to be there!  Surprisingly, Brooklynn did really well.  She fought sleep for a long time because there was so much going on, but eventually she crashed, and slept the rest of the time!

We had so much fun!  I'm so glad that Joe finally got to experience The Stadium of Fire, and that we got to be there with my parents and Tiff and her family!  The 4th of July is still one of my very favorite holidays when I am home with my family!

The trip that didn't go as planned

Brooklynn and I got to go to Utah in April from the 15th-29th to spend time with my family.  I was more nervous about this flight with Brooklynn than any before, because she is at a stage where she hates sitting still.  It actually wasn't too bad. 

She ended up even getting her own seat from Vegas to Utah!

Granddad was there to pick us up when we landed!  So fun to see him waiting at baggage claim when we came around the corner.  Brooklynn usually gets shy around men so I wasn't sure how she would react to my dad since she hadn't seen him for a while.  She went right to him and did just great!

One of our first days there, Brooklynn got to go spend time with Uncle Dallin, Aunt Brittany, Tate, and Luke while I went to get my haircut.  She absolutely loved this little car!  I sent this picture to Joe and when we got home, he had one waiting for her!  She's got him wrapped around her finger!

On Friday my mom threw the cutest little Easter Party for all the grandkids.  Everyone had their own place setting with bunny ears and treats.  

Grandma and all the grandbabies, except Brooklynn, who was taking a nap.

The kids didn't want to wear their ears for very long, so we mommies put them to good use!=)

Yeah, we're normal!=)

When Brooklynn woke up from her nap we snapped a pic with grandma.  It took a few tries to get this cute photo.

I had to try a few times because Grandma kept cracking up when I would make animal noises to get Brooklynn to look at the camera. This makes me laugh because it's like Brooklynn is saying "Come on Grandma, keep it together, lets get this over with!=) My mom is laughing, not crying!=)

After the Easter Party, we had a little Birthday Party for Brooklynn since she had just turned 1 on the 11th.  Everyone was so sweet and gave her the funnest things.  She loved ripping the wrapping paper.

My mom made a yummy strawberry trifle cake

The next day was Easter.  My mom woke up feeling yucky.  She felt like she had the flu.  I was so sad that she was sick on Easter!  We got up feeling good, and found out the Easter Bunny had come!  Brooklynn loved her little Easter Bucket!  It was so fun to watch her pull everything out and get excited about her new toys.

My mom ended up staying home from church because she felt so bad.  She had prepped me on the lesson for her Youth Sunday School class and I was going to teach.  Well, during sacrament meeting Brooklynn was so restless and wouldn't eat her snacks I had taken.  She took a nap before church so she shouldn't have been whiny and as fussy as she was.  I ended up having to take her out of the chapel because she was so disruptive.  After about 15 minutes of sitting in a chair in the hall, Brooklynn started throwing up!  I immediately leaned her over my diaper bag so the throw up wouldn't get on the carpet or furniture, and was grabbing for her burp rag or anything I could find!  I ended up lifting up the bottom of her dress to keep it from going everywhere and she just threw up all over herself and me. AWESOME!!!  I didn't know what to do!  I just grabbed her and walked as fast as I could to the bathroom.  I ended up taking her dress off and using paper towels and wipes to clean us off as best as I could.  Luckily sacrament meeting was almost over so we just went outside and sat on the grass near the car, and I sent a text to my dad letting him know what happened.  He wasn't too thrilled when I told him he was going to have to teach my mom's class.  I gave him a quick run down of the Easter Lesson, and then I took the car and headed home with Brooklynn.

When we got home I bathed her and put her in her jammies.  She ended up throwing up several times after that, so we knew she also had caught the flu too.  This picture breaks my heart.  I kept her on the tile so she wouldn't throw up on the carpet.  She felt so horrible, and watching her throw up was heart wrenching for this momma!  At one point she just wanted to lay down on the blanket.

My parents had Aunt Terri and her family, Joseph and Britt, and Michael & Braden over for dinner.  Turns out Tiff was sick with the flu too!  Right before dinner my dad was helping make the pizza sauce and dough, and all of the sudden he just had to run to the bathroom because he felt sick.  They were dropping like flies!  It was a complete bummer of a holiday.  Brooklynn didn't get to do her first Easter Egg Hunt, my mom stayed in her room pretty much the entire time, and half of our family wasn't there. Michael ended up getting sick that night too.  Craziness!!!  

Brooklynn took a really long nap and after she woke up I changed her into her shirt to share with our family that she is going to be a big sister.  I was feeling so sick, so I knew I couldn't keep hiding that I was pregnant, and that was the day that the most family members would be together.  It took them about 15 minutes to notice it.  Joseph was sitting in my dad's recliner and all of the sudden he jumped up, slammed the foot rest closed, and with his arms in the air, yelled " You idiots!  Breana is pregnant!!!  Look at Brooklynnn's shirt!!"  Everyone was so excited!!

We got to go to Tate's first t-ball game.  Talk about stinkin' cute!!  

The Fan Club

Brooklynn loves her Uncle Dal!  Since Daddy was home, she hadn't been tossed in the air for a while, and she loves it!

I ended up getting sick with the flu for about 24 hours.  Talk about miserable!  But I was so thankful to have my mom and sister there to help with Brooklynn.  We had been wanting to go to Jim's for breakfast ever since I got to Utah, but people kept getting sick!  So, after my round with the flu was done, my mom and I went.  

They have the best western omelet, hashbrowns, and omelet!  So yummy!  The best part is it's enough to last a couple days!

While we were there we got to celebrate Dallin's 27th Birthday!  It was so fun to all be together at their gorgeous house, and to eat some delicious cake and ice cream!

Brooklynn and I went to church with Ashley our second week, and when we got home we took a nap. Brooklynn woke up before I was ready to, so my mom came and got her.  When I came out, these two were cuddled up on the floor eating cheetos!  Brooklynn will love you forever if you give her food!=)

That night before we went to Korver's Family Birthday Party, we stopped to visit my Dad's Aunt, Yvonne.  This was the last time we saw her, because she recently passed away.  So thankful we went to visit her that trip.  She loved holding Brooklynn.

While Joseph was grilling burgers for dinner Tiff painted Brooklynn's nails and toenails, with the help of Michael and my Mom to hold her still.

Brittany threw the cutest construction themed birthday party for Korver.  Brooklynn loved her construction hat!

All the Griffin Cousins, except Raquel

Raquel likes to just play on her own and do her own thing, so these two don't really play together much, but they did have a moment at the birthday party.  Love these sweet girls!

Mom and Dad holding Brooklynn and Luke.  They are about 4 months apart

One of the big things that happened while we were in Utah, is Brooklynn learned how to walk by herself!  I knew it would most likely happen there as she watched all her little cousins walking around.  Sure enough!  Aunt Tiff loved teaching her!  My baby is growing up!  Not sure I like it, but it's happening!

All in all, we had a fun trip.  I'm hoping the next one is free from illness.  Things don't always go the way we think they will, but we just have to make the most of it!  We had a lot of fun dinners at Cafe Rio, shopping with Mom and Tiff, and lots of fun cousin time.  We love the time we get to spend with my family.  

Brooklynn was a champ in the plane ride home and pretty much slept the entire time.  I couldn't help but think that we only have one more trip with just one child!  Craziness!

We were both very happy to see Daddy when we landed.  Two weeks is a long time to be away.  

Helpless

Today I had my scariest mommy moment thus far with Brooklynn.  Well, besides the day we were told she would need surgery on her head.  This was a different kind of panic.  After lunch today, we headed over to Kroger to get some things that were on sale this week.  When we were parking, I noticed a firetruck parked out front and the firemen walking inside.  They were actually talking in the produce department when we got inside and I had to kind of maneuver around them to grab some cilantro.  We did our shopping, which was a fairly quick trip, and headed back out to the car.  I loaded the groceries in the trunk and then put Brooklynn in her carseat.  I usually set my diaper bag in the passenger seat before I buckle her, just because it's big and can be a nuisance, but there was a cart next to the door so I just flung it on my shoulder.  She was fighting me on getting buckled and was making the noise she makes when she wants something and was grabbing at the keys.  She loves to hold them.  So, I handed her the keys so I could get her buckled without a fight.  I closed her door and by the time I got around to my side of the car I heard "click".  Oh no, my heart sank!  She had locked the doors!!! I have given her the keys before, and this scenario had played through my head.  To get into my car, I don't have to pull my keys out, as long as my keys are in my pocket or purse I can just walk up to the door and push a button and it unlocks.  I figured that's what I would do if I were ever in this situation.  Well, when I pushed the button on the door it didn't work!  Turns out I didn't realize the keys needed to be outside of the car for that to work!  My heart sank to the pit of my stomach!  I ran around to look at Brooklynn and she still had the keys in her hand and her fingers were on the unlock button.  I started saying "Brooklynn, push the button, push the button!"  and she just looked at me and smiled and did nothing!  It was probably about 85 degrees or more outside- it was pretty toasty! All of the sudden this video that I had watched online about a mother leaving her little boy in the car in the summer while she did her grocery shopping flashed through my mind! It showed the little boy starting to sweat, then becoming drenched in sweat, crying, to eventually lifeless.  I started to get very anxious!  For a second I thought what do I do?!  Then I immediately grabbed my phone and dialed 911. I didn't have any time to waste!   I am SOOOO glad that I hadn't put my diaper bag in the car, because that is where I keep my phone.  I was connected to Pearland Dispatch and told the kind woman that my baby was locked in the car.  I answered questions like "Is the car on?  How long has she been inside, is she in distress, is she sweating, where was I and where was I parked?"  No the car was not on, Brooklynn had just been inside for a couple minutes at this point and wasn't sweating yet.  I stayed on the line while she radioed for an officer.  I was parked close to the store, and had glanced at the fire truck earlier.  I told her there was a firetruck there and didn't know if the firemen could do anything. She didn't respond to my question because she was busy trying to get me help.  By this time Brooklynn was starting to sweat and I was becoming even more anxious and scared.  When I told the woman she was sweating now, she said she was calling an ambulance to be on site to check her out after they got her out.  I glanced back at the firetruck, and my heart leaped with joy when I saw one of the firemen outside next to the truck smoking.  I told her there was a fireman and took off running towards him.  I hollered " Excuse me, my baby is locked in the car can you help me!?"  He immediately came running.  Luckily at that second, the other firemen were coming out of the store and he yelled to one of them to grab the lock kit.  I ran back to the car to check on Brooklynn and found a man standing there saying a baby was locked in the car.  I'm so thankful he cared to stop and try to do something.  I told him it was my baby and I had run to get the fireman.  I just stood next to the window and Brooklynn was still just looking at me smiling.  "Push the button!!" I said over and over again.  One of the firemen was trying to unlock the door by sticking a wire type thing down inside the window and pushing the unlock button.  By this time the policeman had showed up and there was a swarm of people around my car.  I just kept watching Brooklynn, and was growing more and more anxious by the second.  She was still doing well, just some beads of sweat on her forehead, and nose, and her face was a little bit red. I felt so helpless, just staring at her!  The Cop was next to me looking through the passenger window at the guy trying to unlock the driver's side door.  He told him "You're going to have to hit it dead on."  Great, I thought, this is going to take forever!!  "Push the Button" I just kept saying, to no avail!  Finally, I heard CLICK and all the doors unlocked, the alarm was going off, and I yanked the door open as fast as I could and grabbed Brooklynn and the keys! The fireman had been able to hit the unlock button dead on!  Brooklynn was fine, just a little sweaty!  I felt this huge sense of relief rush over me, and the deepest feeling of gratitude for these men who had been right there when I needed them, and had saved my baby.  I just kept saying "thank you" over and over again and I held her and cried.  They called off the ambulance since she was visibly ok.

The entire fiasco lasted about 10 minutes, and luckily Brooklynn never reached an extremely dangerous stage physically.  I was shaken up a bit afterwards and just felt like crying out of gratitude.  The officer told me to get her some water, and she'd be just fine.  I hadn't brought her water bottle so I started heading back into the store to buy one for her, and the officer asked if I had my keys.  I replied that I did, and he said my driver side door was wide open still from the fireman opening the car.  I hadn't even noticed!  All I could think about was Brooklynn and getting her some water.  He was so kind and said he would close it, which he did, and then drove away.  Just like that, the swarm of people that had been there to save the day, were gone!  How thankful I was for them!  I felt like I needed to repay them somehow!  All I could do was thank Heavenly Father that everything turned out ok.  And I learned my lesson the hard way.  I will never let Brooklynn hold the keys when I'm not in the car again!

Brooklynn Turns 1!

During the month of April our lives were on "full speed ahead" mode.   We had Brooklynn's first birthday party, and our big YW fundraiser at church that I was in charge of helping with on the same day!  Then Brooklynn and I went to Utah just a few days later!  Now that we are home I finally have some time to breathe and do some blogging.

Brooklynn turned one on April 11, 2014.  I can honestly say that that year was the fastest of my life.  I feel like I blinked and it was over!  Looking back at her newborn pics is just mind boggling!  My baby was so tiny, and now she's walking and jabbering, and she's right on my heels wherever I go!  

I had so much fun getting everything ready for her party!  It's kind of sad how much time and effort it takes to get everything ready, and then the party is over in just a few hours.  The theme was just turquoise and pink, so I kept it pretty simple.  We had a lot of fun though, and appreciate all the family and friends that came to celebrate with us!

Here are the decorations!

This was the dessert table that was set up in our dining room.

This was the gift table that was in our entryway.

I had to have one of her 1 year photo shoot pictures on display!  

Brooklynn got her first baby dolls, and the first thing she did was cuddle them and give them loves!  Isn't it so funny how that is just an innate quality in females?!

Her last gift was this shirt that Joe and I bought, that shared with everyone that she is going to be a big sister!! "I've got a whale of a secret....... I'm going to be a big sister!!"

With her great grandma, Norma

With Daddy!

Maggie, Grayson, and Chloe eating their lunch

Sharon, Bob, our friend Jason, and Dave
For lunch I made Hawaiian Shoyu Chicken, rice, salad, and fruit.  

Her cousins sure do love her!

I love this picture!  She was so excited for cake!=)

She wasn't too sure about the fire!=) 

It didn't take her long to figure out it was delicious!

Don't worry, she had some help from Daddy and a few cousins=)

It's hard to believe this sweet girl has already been with us for a year!  She has grown and changed so much during that time!  Words will never be able to adequately express our love for her, or the joy that she has brought to our family!   We couldn't imagine life without her!  We love you baby girl!!