Gulf Shores

Every time one of us "kids" graduate from college, my parents take us all on a family vacation. It started after I graduated from ACU, and we made a point of taking a family vacation that summer, seeing as how we hadn't had a family vacation in several years since I was busy with college. My trip was a Caribbean cruise. My middle brother, David, graduated in the winter, so we went to West Virginia on a ski trip. And last week, my youngest brother, Andrew, graduated from Georgia Tech, and we all met in Gulf Shores, Alabama. Here is a picture diary of our family vacation:

My parents rented a four bedroom house directly on the beach. It was so nice to be able to walk out the back deck and step directly onto white sand. It was also nice that our house was close enough to the water that when Brylee went down for a nap, our monitor would reach the distance outside and we could continue having fun! We lathered this girl up in sunscreen every morning. It was her first bathing suit experience.

Uncle David loves his niece, that's for sure. I think the feeling's mutual!

David's girlfriend, Emily, is a personal trainer (who also just graduated college...way to go Emily!). Somehow, she convinced the entire family to participate in a morning 'boot camp' exercise session on the beach. We were all so sore the rest of the week!

My mom loves taking pictures (and I'm glad she does), so we have several great new family pictures! Sunset was beautiful!

My youngest brother, our most recent college graduate, Andrew

The weather was wonderful! During the day, it wasn't too hot, so we could stay on the beach in the sun all day without sweating. And at night it was cool and comfortable, and a light sweater was all we needed.

Clear skies without any rain the entire week. It was great!

I was able to put Brylee to sleep, and then we would all stay up late playing games. I love this time with my whole family!

It was a 12 hour car ride, and Brylee took it like a champ. Of course, we all had our moments where we wanted to be out of the car, but she napped most of the ride and surprisingly was able to stay on her schedule when we arrived. It was nice to drive because we got to bring all of her baby "stuff," like her Bumbo and pack-n-play.

Brylee's first experience at the beach

She would enjoy herself momentarily, playing with sand toys...

...or playing with Meme...

...or Gramps...

...and tolerated me making her wear a hat all the time...

....but it quickly turned to this!

Brylee wasn't the biggest fan of the bright light, wind, and sand, and her and Meme frequently left the beach and spent time together in the hammock under the house.

We played ladder golf, home-run derby, whiffle ball...

...and built many sand castles.

Andrew volunteered to be buried...

...onlyhis face was showing!

One of the activities Andrew chose to do was to go golfing. None of us were very good golfers...

...so we went to a fairly inexpensive course and played a scramble.

It was Team Andrew (Andrew, Bryan, and Me)...

... vs. Team Emily (Emily, David, my dad). Proud to announce that Team Andrew won!

We stayed home a few nights for dinner, but also went out to some very good sea food restaurants. Brylee sat in a high chair for the very first time!

We had a family "photo shoot" session. Here are our portraits...enjoy!

(Bryan was in charge of carrying Brylee's "stuff"...bib, burp cloth, extra bow, paci)

I just LOVE her expression here!

I love my family! And now that all of the "kids" have graduated college, we have to come up with a new tradition as a catalyst for our family vacation.

Gulf Shores, Alabama - May, 2011

Pre-School Year End

Last fall, our good friend Tara agreed to watch Brylee for us once I returned to work. While working out the arrangements for Tara to keep Brylee, it so happened that Brylee would be spending two days a week up at our church preschool. Tara is a teacher at Greenville Oaks Preschool, and because she watched Brylee Monday-Friday, Tara took Brylee up to school with her on Tuesdays and Thursdays. I wasn't sure what to expect from having my then 10 week old daughter traveling up to our church and spending time with other children all day. But what a blessing GO Preschool turned out to be. Brylee had the most wonderful teacher, Stacia, who loved on my baby every Tuesday and Thursday, and helped keep me up to date with Brylee's days through weekly emails. She made me feel 100% confident that my baby was in safe and loving arms, and if I wasn't going to be able to stay with her during the day, I'm so glad I had people like Tara and Stacia!

Brylee spent her Tuesdays and Thursdays in the preschool nursery with two of her new friends, Kinsley and Harper. Although it seems silly, I love it that my baby is developing social skills and friends, even at this age. Brylee was the youngest baby in the nursery, and "looked up" to the other sweet babes, learning and growing. She had a rough couple of weeks during the Spring time at preschool, but I am so thankful for Tara and everyone at school for helping her through it.

Every year, there is an end-of-the-year program the preschool hosts. It is a cute way for each class to sing a song and create a cute photo-op for all the parents. The last day of preschool was actually the week we were on vacation, but the program was just before we left. Brylee's "class," more accurately known as the "nursery" had a small part in the program, which was cute, and about all Brylee could handle at 7pm just before bedtime. She decided to be a little "needy" right during the program, and instead of riding down the isle seated in the crib with her classmates, Stacia had to hold her. Oh well...that's a baby for you.

Brylee actually will "graduate" preschool in the class of 2016, but Harper is a little older than the other two babies, so her graduation class of 2015 made the sign!
They all wore tutu's and matching butterfly shirts, doing a great job of being "tight-rope-walkers" down the center isle during the program, going along nicely with the circus theme.

The original plan was for the girls to sit in their bumbo seats in the crib while Stacia rolled them down the center isle. Brylee did not enjoy that view, and apparently preferred to be held. Despite a few tears, it was a good memory of her first time in preschool!

This summer we will adjust to our new routine. My plan is to stay home with Brylee half of the week, and work no more than 3 days each week. I have a "to-do" list a mile long, and am looking forward to being able to give more of my time to my family. We are so thankful we still have Tara to watch Brylee inconsistently through the summer, and we look forward to going to GO Preschool next fall!

Six Months - Happy 1/2 Birthday, Brylee!

What a beautiful six month old I have! Brylee actually celebrated her 6 month birthday last Monday, but we did not have our well-baby check-up until today. Brylee was a champ, and showed off her new motor skills to her pediatrician, but hated her shots! She screamed like no other. As soon as we got home she nursed and fell fast asleep. She's still growing, and the doctor said she looked great! I have been extra grateful lately and so thankful to God for a healthy baby.

She weighs 15 lb 11 oz (25-50%)

She is 26 3/4 inches long (75-90%)

Her head measures 17 inches (50-75%) We have had several friends have new babies in the last few weeks, and it brings back so many memories from six months ago. When Brylee was born, I loved her more than I have ever loved anything in my life. But I love her so much more now than I did then. I am learning to love. My love for her grows every time I look at her, every time I hold & kiss her, and every time she smiles and reaches for me. Six months old is such a fun age. And it is perfect timing for last Friday to be my last day of "full-time" work. I have had the last two days at home with my babe, and I LOVE IT! We haven't done anything big or special, just trips to the gym (she can go with me now because she can finally go to the daycare!), walks to the park, and playing at home. I look forward to being with her more as she continues to grow and figure out her world!

She is so much fun! Some things she is up to lately:

- She wakes up between 6:30-7:30 am
- She goes to sleep at 8:30 pm
- She sleeps through the night, although lately she has woken us up occasionally with just a few seconds of crying, then puts herself back to sleep. I think she might be starting to teeth.
- Our night-time routine is very consistent: naked time on the floor, followed by greasing up with Vaseline & lotion, followed by pajamas, followed by nursing, we rock and sing 1 song (the same song every night), then lay down awake in the crib & zip up in her sleep sack, one last kiss goodnight, then turn out the lights! I love our nights!
- She naps 3 times/day - approx 9 am -10:30, 12:30-1:30pm, 5:00-5:30pm
- She grabs her right ear as a comfort measure when she is tired or trying to go to sleep. Very cute!
- She nurses or takes her bottle 5 times/day, about 5 oz bottle
- She eats solid food 3 times/day after milk, about 3-5 oz each time
- Foods Brylee likes: apples, pears, pears & blueberries, mangos, peaches, bananas, carrots, & sweet potatoes. I think peaches are her favorite!
- Foods Brylee hates: peas! She spits these out, so I don't even try anymore (I don't like peas, so why should I make her eat them?)
- I still make most of her food, although when we travel she eats prepared stage 2 baby foods. The pediatrician told us today to go ahead and start letting her try soft table foods, like Cheerios & puffs, to prepare her to advance to other consistencies.
- She has also tried some formula, and took to it well, because we will probably have to start supplementing before she is able to drink cows milk
- We feed her while she sits in her bumbo seat, but it is probably time to transition her to a high chair

New activities she is doing:

- She can sit unsupported for about the last 2 weeks now! I'm so proud of her, and she enjoys it so much more than laying on her back. She does occasionally topple over, but she's good enough that I can sit her down & leave her to play
- She can manipulate her paci, picking it up off the floor, putting it in & taking it out of her mouth
- She is reaching for objects really well, while sitting & laying on her back or belly
- She hasn't rolled from her back to belly yet. As a physical therapist, I make her practice & help her roll over, but she just has no interest in that yet.
- She enjoys her exersaucer and is very fun to watch as she explores in it
- She still likes her swing and her bouncer, and likes sitting on her activity mat & grabbing all of the hanging toys
- Her favorite toys are not toys at all - she loves the TV remote, our cell phones, my hair, Bryan's tie when he's in work clothes, pieces of paper, etc.
- Brylee loves Paisley, but Paisley is only tolerant of Brylee. She reaches for Paisley, trying to grab anything she can - ears, nose, tail, etc.
- She went swimming for the first time this week. She didn't love it at first, but was having a great time by the end.

My Favorites moments:

- When we rock, Brylee reaches for my face, grabbing at my mouth, nose, & eyes. I love those times with her
- She loves being held upside down, and usually belly laughs because she is having such a good time
- She learned how to splash during bath time, and will sit in the bathtub content and happy for a long time
- Although I hate it when she cries, deep down I slightly enjoy that she is a "mama's girl" right now, and cries when I leave the room or leave her with someone else. It makes me feel so loved!

I have left her a few times in the nursery for Wednesday night class at church, and have left her a few times at the gym daycare. I am working myself up to leaving her overnight for the first time with Bryan's parents this weekend as Bryan and I celebrate our 5 year anniversary.

We love our happy baby, who is alreayd strong willed and occasinally a little dramatic. As hard as I expect it will be, I look forward to the years of "parenting" ahead, using this blessing of motherhood God has given me to teach my daughter how to honor Him.

We love you, Brylee!

Six Months - May 23, 2011