We have a new project....

So crazy Uncle Foquer had a wonderful idea last week that he wants to make a flip book of Bryce's progession as she grows. Now, I wish he had come up with this a year ago but I guess it's better late than never. He wants me to take a picture of Bryce every single day for an extended period of time. At the end he's going to make a flip book that will roll through the change she has gone through. I am going to ATTEMPT to do this for a year. We'll see how it goes. I officially started on July 6th, the day Bryce turned 11 months old!! Here's Day 1, we'll keep you posted on the progress.

Bryce's Baptism

We got Bryce baptized on Saturday June 26th at St. Paul. Father Henry was gracious enough to come to another church and perform the ceremony for us. I'm not sure why there always has to be issues at that church but there are. When Brandon and I got married it was a total fiasco. We were told one thing and then got pretty much yelled at for doing what we were told originally. Then they said that what I was told wasn't correct, yet they are the ones that made the rules, and that we were to do something entirely different. ANNOYING!!! This time around, we were about to start and Father Henry asked if I had set up the baptism with the church. I said yes and I called last week to confirm, why? He went on to say that apparently someone didn't get the memo and that the chapel where the baptisms take place was locked and that we'd have to wing it in the big church. REALLY....WHY???

We went back and forth a million times on who we were going to choose for Godparents. We initially thought that we would make all 4 of our brothers Godfathers. But really, we're gonna have another kid....NOT ANYTIME SOON!!...but we thought we would have Wesley and Blaine now and then for the next one we would have Kyle and Bailey. For me, Meredith was an easy choice. The next one will be a little more difficult but I'm sure we'll work something out!
All in all, even with winging it, the baptism went over really well! Bryce looked as cute as can be in her dress that my mom bought her and the hairbow that Brandon's mom got her. Not to worry, she sported her Texas Tech bloomers underneath from her momma and daddy!!

Now, Bryce normally naps in the morning but this particular day she was having none of that. By the time we got to the church she was doing okay and chatting incessantly! I'm talkin, she chatted nearly the whole baptism. Towards the end she started getting a little restless and fussy and was just pretty much done with the whole thing. The only thing that kept her quiet was me whispering patty cake in her ear, which immediately brought on a smile.

Father Henry performed a Mother's Blessing and a Father's Blessing. It was as if Bryce knew exactly what was going on. In the Mother's Blessing, Bryce literally turned aroung and followed Father Henry's lead and placed her hand

on my head like she was taking part in the blessing. Then when the Father's Blessing took place, she turned and looked at Brandon and smiled as if she knew what Father Henry was saying and totally taking part in the ceremony. It was really sweet!

At the very end Father Henry lifted Bryce up in the air to present her to the group witnessing her baptism. It was very Lion King, as Kyle put it.

You can see in one of the many photos taken afterwards the complete meltdown Bryce had. By the time we got home she was in such a coma she went right to sleep and slept nearly the entire party. She woke up just in time for a little lunch and for everyone to leave :)

Post baptism and much needed nap:

The Rocking Horse

When Brandon was little his dad built him a rocking horse. He painted it red, black and white....he didn't go to Tech and I'm pretty sure that when Brandon was a year old his dad had no idea Brandon would grow up and be a Red Raider. Now, nearly 30 years later, Brandon's mom and dad have passed that little rocking horse down to Bryce. It is still painted red, black and white and hasn't had so much as a touch up but still looks as perfect as it did the day he painted it.

Now, I've been told by Brandon's brother Blaine that he was sure that the rocking horse was his. Brandon countered the comment with "Well, he's 4 years younger than me. By the time he came around I'd lost interest and he probably just thought it was his!"

In any event, the little red, black and white rocking horse now sits in our living room for Bryce to play with. She can't quite sit on it by herself but absolutely loves riding it with assistance!! For Father's Day we took pictures of Bryce with the horse for her granddaddy. The pictures turned out really well and I know Reece appreciated it.

Oh To Swim and Talk!!!!

So I've gone a little nuts and WAY overboard and have bought Bryce, no lie, 7 bathing suits. They're just so darn cute when they're that small!! They're all different too....one has a board shirt and bikini bottom, one has a board shirt and swim shorts, one is a long sleeve board shirt and bikini bottom with ruffles and then there are the one piece suits.....the giraffe print, the pink with pieces of watermelon on it, the the pink with stitching like seeds and a green halter neck to look like a strawberry and the yellow one....that has a built in skirt....and a green aligator on it! Way too many options to just pick one! It's a good thing Bryce LOVES the water and LOVES to swim! We started slow and had a play date at Dustin and Janiece's and Bryce got to get in a kiddy pool with about an inch of water in it. She was in hog heaven!!!

Then we went over to Paul and Marlo's house for our annual "end of the season" softball party. They had set up a little pool over there as well. Now this time she was way more interested in playing with a plastic cup and drinking the water on the sidelines than she was about swimming. (Now I'm not sure why but apparently I only remember my camera when Bryce is wearing the yellow bathing suit with the aligator....stay tuned.....more pictures to come).

Apparently I like to use my child as a prop as well. I'm not sure what my problem is but I think it's hilarious to put diapers on her head or funny sunglasses. In this instance, Erin gave her a bathing suit with a sewn on "grass skirt" and she has already out grown it. But me being my innovative self put it to good use.....

We finally introduced her to Keek and Doodad's pool. She loves the waterfall, she loves "kick kick kick" and "splash splash splash", she even loves the ring that my mom got her so she can float by herself.
Now I'm not saying that Bryce is "advanced" by any means, but she's saying "doggy" and "fishy" and "listen"....I'm just sayin!!! Now, I've been working on Mama since she started making noise come out of her mouth and she still stares at me like I'm crazy. But the minute she sees the fish tank she busts out a very noticeable "sheee sheee sheee". Then once you make your way to the back door and see the dogs she starts clapping and pointing in such a way that one might mistake her for a Chinese dictator and starts yelling "doggy doggy". And finally, ever since she's been at my mom's during the day, my dad and brother come home for lunch. At my parents house it is very noticeable when someone opens the side door. The minute it opens, Bryce goes silent, and from the MILLION times my mom says "Brycie, who is it?? Listen"....she has started saying "hissen". No mama.....but wait....we have listen! Who is this kid?!?

Going to the Farm!!

This year we had the adventure of going to the farm in Simms, Texas for Memorial weekend. Let me tell you.....it was interesting! It was the first time we left with Bryce for an extended weekend. Who knew that to leave your home for 3 days you would have to pack your entire life!! We literally had the bed of Brandon's truck jam packed with stuff. We had to take her high chair, it folds flat so it wasn't a huge deal, her pack and play crib to sleep, her monitor since we were sleeping in a back house, toys, food for Bryce, the stroller, not to mention we were going fishing so we had to pack all that garb plus coolers, clothes and more food for Brandon and I and the party my grandparents host every year. Wow....it's going to be interesting when it comes time to pack for Hawaii in August. Yes we're crazy, we're taking a 1 year old on a plane for 8 hours to see the beach. It's going to be worth every minute though and I honestly can't wait. Hmmmmm what exactly do you pack to entertain a 1 year old for 8 hours....she likes junk mail and the remote for the TV. I guess I could take both :)

My grandfather has dug a new pond and has recently stocked it so that our fishing will be plentiful here in a few months. I took a few pictures of Bryce standing along a fence that my mom took pictures of me on at about the same age. The only difference is that there was a cow about 2 feet from my face. There are no longer cattle on this part of the property, only mini horses that Bryce squealed and yelled at the entire time we were there.

All in all it was a good weekend. We got to visit with Brandon's parent's for a bit, got some relaxing fishing in and had a picnic!!

9 Months and Happy May!!!

I can't believe Bryce is already 9 months old. May is proving to be a great month already. At her 9 month check she weighed in at a whopping 22.1 lbs and was already 30 inches long. We've had to upgrade from the infant carrier to a big girl car seat and she seems to like it so far. She's quickly getting around the furniture and isn't quite into everything yet but she's slowly figuring it all out. At this rate she'll be walking by July!!

I've completely rearranged our house, gates and all, so that Bryce is safe in the front of the house. We've got a "kitchen station" by our breakfast table, a tupperware drawer in the kitchen as well as the "open the fridge" trick, a reading station in the dining room and all of her toys and toy box in the living room. Not to mention some old Xerox brochures in the office, stuffed animals in my bedroom, and yes...she thoroughly enjoys playing with tampons. Not sure why but something about the crinkles of the wrappers just crack her up and entertains her for hours. And that's just at my house! Keek and Doodad are set up pretty much the same way. But in their room, my mom has a sack full of rosary's...still not completely sure why....but Bryce loves playing with them.

Bryce got to send Uncle Foquer (Wesley) and birthday slide show. Here's how it played out.....

Happy Birthday Uncle Foquer......Happy 20 May 1st!

Put on your party hat......

.....or glasses.....

.....or both!!!!

Have a cold bronson and hanky pank to celebrate!

This month was also Mother's Day and Keek's birthday. Bryce gave her a frame with her favorite picture in it :

Bryce Loves Reading!!

So we've figured out that Bryce LOVES to read books. Soft books, hard books, books with flaps with things hidden under them, plain books, colorful books...it really doesn't matter. She even likes the newspaper and coupons. She loves "Goodnight Moon", "Guess How Much I Love You", "Peek-a-boo I Love You", and my "US" magazine! I'm really not sure how she inherited that gene because I for one hate reading.....I shouldn't say hate....but I really don't think I've finished a book since middle school. Even when I read Eat, Pray, Love last year I didn't finish it because the 3rd stop on the woman's journey bored me to bits. I got 2/3 of it done though :). That's pathetic!