Slip Slidin' Away

Shawn surprised Emerson by setting up the Slip 'N Slide in the back yard.  She was in her room watching cartoons while he set it up.  When he got it ready I called her in the living room just in time for her to see Daddy take a test run.  She could not get her swimsuit on fast enough to go join him!

Daddy showing her how it's done!

Probably not enough momentum to get the full effect of "slide"!

Maggie loved it!

It is a side by side Slip 'N Slide so they took off to slide together.

There wasn't a lot of sliding on her own but she got going pretty fast with some help from Daddy!

Splashin' Good Time

Today we went out to the pool at the neighborhood where we bought our new land.  It was Braelyn's first time to try out her cute little swimsuit and get in a pool.  We weren't sure how she would like it...she loved it!!!  I put her down at the edge of the splash pad and she started crawling as fast as she could further out into the water!  She did great for awhile but then she started shivering!  Our littlest angel HATES being cold!  Emerson did awesome.  By the time we left she was jumping off the side of the big pool even if Shawn wasn't there!  I foresee many good times at this pool!

This new little swim trainer helped a lot!  It helped keep her chest and face up out of the water.  She was so excited!

It was definitely a mistake on my part to not wear a swimsuit...I was soaked before it was all over!

The splash pad is awesome!

Heading back to trade off with Daddy

Time for fun in the big pool with Daddy

She did great listening to Daddy on how to start swimming.

Braelyn, is that you under there?!

There you are!

Having a blast at the splash pad together!

Braelyn crawling 90 to nothing toward Daddy and Em.

She was not a big fan of her hat but I was so scared that little bald head was going to burn!

So cute!!!!!

Sticker Fun

Give Emerson a coloring book and she will sit for no less than an hour coloring.  Add stickers and who knows how long she will sit there!  I have to watch closely because she will stick stickers on anything, furniture included!

11

Braelyn is 11 months old now!  How is it possible that it is already time to start planning her one year birthday bash?!  We are having so much fun with her.  She has the most hilarious little personality.  She loves to kid around with everybody.  More times than not she is perfectly content playing by herself, especially in Emerson's kitchen.  She is into EVERYTHING!  You can hardly turn your back for a second!  She tries to get the nightlight in the hallway, she pulls the rocks out of the fireplace and is constantly trying to play with the entertainment center.  She is starting to eat more regular table food but is still pretty opposed to a sippy cup!  She is still not walking but starting to get a little more brave.  She has taken one step but is not putting steps together yet other than pushing her toys.  She will walk all over if she has a toy to hold onto.  Despite getting the tubes she is still having some trouble and has had to be on antibiotics twice since thanks to bacterial sinus infections.  Hopefully we can get to the bottom of that because the medicine makes her feel terrible and she is such a happier baby when she is not on them. 

She claps for herself all the time and waits for you to say: "Yea Braelyn!"

I love that little smile!!!

The gap in her teeth cracks us up!

We are so glad she has turned into a happy girl!  It helps when you feel good!

She has some of the most hilarious expressions!

Very proud of eating big girl food!

Go Stros...or Rangers!

We took the girls to their first MLB game on today, and our first since having both girls!  It was the Astros and the Rangers and we were very torn as to who we wanted to cheer for.  We were always Rangers fans before we moved to Houston but have really tried to be hometown supporters since we got here!  We caught ourselves cheering whenever each side did something good!  Emerson yelled "Go Rangers and Astros" throughout the entire game!  We had a great time.  Sometime in the 6th inning Shawn told me he couldn't tell me one thing that had happened during the game.  The girls were really good but constantly were needing something: potty break, diaper change, drinks, food, a walk, etc.  Definitely not the same experience as when we used to go by ourselves but fun in a new way!

Top of the first inning she was already enjoying her ice cream in a pink helmet!



Ready to go with Daddy on a walk around the ballpark!

Look who they found on their walk!

Our family's first trip to Minute Maid!

It is hard to not cheer for Josh Hamilton, he is having an amazing year!

The stars at night, are big and bright (clap, clap, clap, clap) deep in the heart of Texas!

All that cheering can wear a girl out!

Mother's Day 2012

Mother's Day was perfect.  We got up and went to early service and after class Shawn asked me where I wanted to go eat.  Church is always exhausting for the girls so we just went home and let them sleep and grabbed some fast food.  For dinner, Shawn smoked a pork tenderloin and grilled corn on the cob...it was AWESOME!!!!  He also helped the girls get me the most precious gifts.  They are canvas prints of the girls with the most precious poems...I am so truly blessed with an amazing husband and 2 beautiful, precious girls!

Back Together!

When the girls and I got back to Houston, Daddy was waiting for us with 3 new water guns and the water fight began!  We ran all around the car in the driveway soaking each other!  It was so much fun!  After that we decided to go to a park right outside the Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavillion for a picnic.  REO Speedwagon was in concert that night so we grabbed some sandwiches and headed on over to listen.  It was great being back together!

Cheese samich!

Braelyn settled for some peach yogurt melts.

Mommy and her girls

Dancing her heart out to a little REO Speedwagon!

She would run and dance for a while and then come back to eat a little more.

One of the many flowers she picked out of the flower beds at the park!

There was a bride taking her portraits at the park and she came and brought Em the balloons they had been using.  Emerson thought she was a beautiful princess!

Daddy's Girls!

A Week With Gransan

Last week I had to go to the corporate office for the whole week-I had to get there on Sunday and stay until Friday!  We decided given Shawn's long days that the girls would really enjoy getting to spend the week on the farm with Gransan and the gang.  We drove over on Saturday in time for Gransan and Emerson to go to Disney on Ice and out for ice cream.  Thank you Janet and Patsy for watching Braelyn so Mommy could have a much needed girls' night out with Robin!  While I was gone, it looks like everybody had so much fun!  There were a couple of trips to the park and a trip to Gators and Friends, not to mention plenty of fun right there on the farm!  I got back in late on Friday but Emerson had waited up and it was a priceless welcome home.  She was so excited.  She had baked cookies and made a card for me and could not wait for me to have a cookie, partly because she was waiting on me before having one herself!  Thank you so much Gransan for all the new memories and thanks to all of Gransan's support staff!!  :)

To Infinity and Beyond!!!!

Emerson and Gransan on their special night

Gransan wishes she had video of Emerson watching the show...total amazement!  Especially when Buzz Lightyear flew in!

Is that Jessie or Emerson?

Gransan following in Muh's footsteps with baths in the sink!  Unlike if it was Muh doing bath time, Emerson did not still have to bathe in the sink!

Janet always brings a bag of everybody's favorite toys when she comes to play!

Feeding the ducks

Obviously having fun at Gransan's!

Nate and Emerson setting up for a game of bowling...I think as it turned out it was much more fun to chase each other with the pins!

Braelyn found an even better use for the pins!

This car has been a big favorite for both girls.

Having fun with the princess tent

Braelyn getting some hugs and kisses from Jon

Both girls had so much fun with Bailey.  They got to go up and play by the pool with Jordan, Jenna, and Jamie and nobody had a camera!!

The new toy for this trip: Elefun Busy Ball Popper!  Perfect for  both girls!

Feeding the animals at Gators and Friends

Gransan said that all the other kids were scared to feed the animals and if they did it was out of a cup...not Emerson!  She fed them all right out of her hand!

She even hugged a baby alligator!!!

Look at all those gators!!  As Em would say:  "Chomp, chomp!"

I am pretty sure Emerson got to do whatever she asked Gransan to do!(and Gransan won't deny that either!)

Making a special batch of cookies to welcome Momma home.

Too cute!  Watching the yard guy together.

I was so happy to get back to both my girls and so excited that at least one of them was able to wait up late for me!

She couldn't wait til the next morning to try her sucker that I brought her!