Easter Sunday

I was super excited this Easter because Brentley wore my dress that my mom passed down to Brentley. It fit her well and I thought it looked precious. This is the only decent shot I got of her in my dress.

Sunday morning Paul came home from the fire station and we hung out until time for church. Brentley gets up early on Sundays usually and we put her down for a (very) early nap so she can make it through church. This morning she slept from 9-10:30 then we changed her quickly and made it on time.

The Easter Bunny left her all kinds of play clothes, a new hooded towel, books and crayons.

After church, we headed over to Paul's parents house for lunch and a egg hunt.

My precious family after church!
She may look innocent now, but she can be (and is) so mischievous.

Brentley with her cousin Evan

Poor Evan used to be the only grandchild until recently.
Nora (2 yrs), Molly (6 mths), Brentley (16 mths)

Brentley was so over getting pictures made (and tired and hungry on top of that).

Sprinting out the door to hunt some eggs

"I found one!"

Brentley and Nora counting all of their eggs

She is making sure all of the candy is out of all of the eggs

Paul's aunt, uncle and cousins hanging out

After we got home, we played outside until she was totally exhausted

Dad and B having some playtime before bed.

Attacking him with those sweet kisses

Dad, Now it's my turn with the basket head

More pictures coming soon. We are having a "family day" at my parents house on Sunday since we didn't get together for Easter.

MDO Easter Parade and Egg Hunt

Last Thursday Brentley's school had an Easter Egg Parade and Egg Hunt. We received a note home asking us to bring her something to ride on in the parade and decorate it "like a float" with their name on the "ride". I got my creative wheels spinning (with the help of my in-laws) and Brentley's "float" turned out great. On one side we made it look like a (somewhat) Easter basket.

Woven together are the palm branches from "Palm Sunday" at church. My MIL made her a name banner (that Brentley would not leave alone).

We invited our sweet friend, Adalyn, to join us for the parade.

Brentley checking everything out

On the other side of the "float" was tissue paper flowers that I made.

She had enough riding, she wants to be in charge of this "float"

After a change of clothes (she was getting mad because she kept stepping on her dress), we made it out for the egg hunt. She was not really a fan of the egg hunt, I tried to teach her the concept but after she found one the m&m's in it she was done.

She kept running back to her wagon so this is how we finished the hunt

Can we say lazy bunny!

Phrase of the Day

For Valentines' Brentley got some magnet letters. We quickly realized she wasn't ready for the letters quite yet, she would put them in her mouth or just take them off the refrigerator and put them in the floor.

So Paul surprised us one morning with a little message. Since then it has become a little game with us. Trying to figure out something to say with a VERY limited amount of letters. It's more of a challenge to be creative using what letters we have. Here are a few of our creations. It was a rainy day out and I think this is my favorite so far. He is far better at this than I am.
We used all of the different ways to say "I Love You or Have a Great Day"

This was when he came home from the fire station one morning. I thought I was being creative using a "comma", but he had a hard time figuring this out.
And this is what he will come home to this morning.

I know it's kinda cheesy, but it's the little things in life that make us smile.

First Hair Cut

We went from this.......

(She is going to seriously hurt me one day for posting some of her pictures)

To this.......

on Brentley's 16 month birthday

She did farely well with the whole hair cutting process. I came prepared with M & M's, Rice Krispie Treats, Gummie Bears, Books and everything in between

Yes, I bribed her!!!

Jaclyn did such a great job and had awesome patience! Brentley faced me the entire time so Jaclyn had her work cut out for her.

Ms. Jaclyn always has to redo her displays after Brentley comes to visit

16 mth milestones

Our Brentley Rae is growing leaps and boundsI could just eat up those sweet cheeks

She is eating like a big girl in the restaurants (well sometimes)

Yes, we still have these moments too!

Waiting on Dr Scott at her 16 month check up

She loves her Dora purse (I have to admit, now that I got an iphone I have been taking most of the pictures lately on the phone so I can text them to Paul when he is at the fire station. So sorry for the blur!)

Playing in her cabinet

We had Sarah Allyn over to spend the night and Brentley absolutely adores her. I can't believe she let Sarah Allyn cradle her like that! I wish she would let me.

I haven't really commented (or blogged at all for that matter) on her new babysitter situation. It's working out wonderful!!!! We love Amanda (and Adalyn). Amanda sent this to me one day, I just love getting pictures of her being so happy while I'm not around.

We kept Adalyn for a while the other day so I got to see how Brentley plays with her. They did great. Adalyn just looks at her like she has completely lost her mind. Brentley loves "loving" on her.

Weight 27 lbs

Height-The Dr. said she was still measuring 90 % in height. He said if she continues that at the 18 mth check up he is going to change her "estimated adult height" to 5'9! What? Paul is 5'9 and I am 5'4! We have some height in our genes though!

Sizes 5 diapers

18 mth pants are like crops on her now so we are mainly in 24 mth clothes

Only taking 1 nap a day (usually 2 hrs)

Sleeps at night from 7:30-7:00

Talks all the time! All animals are "woof woofs"

Loves being outside. When we say it's time to go out, she runs and gets her coat.

She pretty much knows most orders- "Time to eat"-she goes to the high chair, "time to change diaper"-goes to get me one, "time for bath"......

Twelve teeth

First Hair Cut (more on that later)

Sweetheart and Smiles

Paul and I don't "celebrate" Valentines Day other than exchanging cards. We may do something thoughtful or silly for one another that doesn't involve going out to buy each other something. (Like if I have been nagging him about doing something around the house, he may do that "chore" that day!) You get the point.

So since Brentley is truly our Valentine, we wanted to do stuff for her. I woke up early that morning and ran to the store. I had made my mind up that Bisquick didn't have eggs in the mix and I wanted to make her heart shaped pancakes. So I substituted the egg with applesauce. They turned out good enough for her to eat (and enjoy) but neither Paul nor I really wanted them, so Paul cooked breakfast for us.

Brentley enjoying her chocolate chip pancakes

Brentley was NOT into taking pictures before church.
(Patience Paul, Patience! Ha ha) Does anyone else have Sunday mornings like this before church? I'm usually such in a tizzy by the time I get there that I can't function.

After a nap and church she was ready to par-tay!
"What, this is for me? Even after I threw that fit with Daddy!"

She got some bubbles, magnet letters, a Veggie Tales movie and Daddy went and bought her a special teddy bear.

She was so happy! Not really about the gifts, but about the packages they came in.

The Easter Bunny may have it easy this year if he would just bring empty boxes.

That afternoon we just hung around the house and Paul grilled steaks for dinner.

On another note:

My friend, Summer at http://thedeepefamily.blogspot.com/ (Ok, so I don't know how to tag someones name as a link so bear with me) received a blog award for the blog that makes you smile and she is passing it along to me. .

Now I must tell you 7 things that make me smile and pass it along to 5 more people. It's not hard for me to think of 5 things that make me smile so here goes:

1. My awesome, selfless, wonderful, hottie of a husband makes me smile all day everyday whether it is a good morning kiss, phone call to ask how my day is going, the sight of his truck coming home after work or the nightly good night kiss. (Can you tell who I love??!!! :) He is going to kill me for calling him a "hottie" on the blog. Ha ha!

I chose a fun picture of Paulie. Can you tell I'm ready for summer!

2. My precious blessing that I get the honor to call my daughter, Brentley. Seeing her sweet face smiling from ear to ear, listening her her talk all day, getting her sweet "Oh's" (that's her kisses) keeps me smiling all day.

Sweet Love

3. My families keep me smiling~ We have such a loving family that I couldn't be any more proud to be apart of. We are so blessed to have wonderful parents (and grandparents for Brentley). They are truly so special to us and we are so thankful to have their unconditional love and support.
Yes, Brentley is the only one looking at the camera

4. Moving on to some materialistic things~ Coming home to a clean house (the smell of Lysol mopped on the floor), the smell of dinner cooked when I get home, nightly family rides to talk about our day, a clean car (inside and out!), a full tank of gas when you thought you were empty, a unexpected letter or card in the mail.

And the sight of this little guy first thing in the morning makes me smile!!!!

5. Comments!!!! Whether it is a stranger in a store, random person you may run into shopping, a friend, a family member, or blog friend (or blog stalker, ha ha)....

Sweet comments always make me smile. That is something I'm trying to work on in my life, if I notice something I like I try to give a positive comment about it. It may be something simple, but just a friendly exchange at the gas station could make someone's day. With that being said, I LOVE COMMENTS PEOPLE!!!

I really don't know if I have 5 people that read my blog so here are a couple of fellow bloggers that I know stop by every now and then.

Jennifer at http://burnett3.blogspot.com/ ~ Jennifer and I met through her parents and I love that we can share mommy stories with each other. Her little boy is Pax that I wrote about earlier in the month.

Caroline at http://carolineandfredsmithwick.blogspot.com/~ Caroline and I go way back. I met her when she was in 3rd grade (probably earlier than that), her mom was my teacher. I love checking out her blog daily, we have so much in common that it's crazy!(Other than the exercising part, lol) We never get to see each other and work less than a mile away from one another and we run into each other on a flight to Cancun! Crazy!

Amy at http://thebeasleys2002.blogspot.com/~ Amy and I met through my aunt (actually Paul's aunt) Barbara they used to work together. She randomly found my blog through the girl that designs blogs. Amy's husband is a Memphis firefighter (there is always a special bond with us fire wives) and she has a precious son Mills that is adorable.

I'm not going to tag any one else since I'm really not sure if I have any other blog readers.