Fall

Well, this year has really been speeding by. I can't believe that I have not posted anything since September. Britton is now two years old and doing so well. We have suffered one bad cold, but no ear infections yet. I am still holding my breath waiting for the ear infections to start. It has been almost five months since her 2nd set of tubes were put in, I am hopeful that this really helps. This fall has been very mild so far. We have gotten to spend time at the zoo and Tanganyika Wildlife Park with our friends and planning a trip to the zoo next weekend if the weather continues to hold for us. We also went to the pumpkin patch with our friends.

In October we celebrated her birthday with a party at the zoo. Britton and her girlfriends had a ball. Even some of the older people (meaning those of us over the age of 6) had a good time. Chad's mom enjoyed being called grandma by all three girls. Halloween was a good time as well. Britton's daycare had a fall festival the Friday before Halloween and then on Sunday we took Britton out to Chad's grandparents and on Halloween we went to Amy and Ryan's to trick or treat for a little bit and then stopped by Nana's house. Little miss had a ball and made a killing on candy.

Britton had her two year check up at the doctor and is doing very well. She is in the 99% on weight and 88% on height. She is getting too big too fast. I still can't believe that she is only two. It feels like she has been in our life all along. We have been wonderfully blessed. We love her more and more each day. She is talking in full sentences, knows her ABC's, counts to 15 in English and 10 in Spanish. We are also in the process of potty training.


Grandma and her three granddaughters enjoying the zoo

Not so sure about the candles on the birthday cake.

Girls at Fall Festival celebration at daycare.

Trick or treating at Nana's house

One of our many trips to the zoo.

Britton and Carley riding a camel at Tanganyika

The girls at Walter's Pumpkin Patch

Best Friends (I love this picture)

Where has the time gone...

My baby girl is getting so big. We have officially started the potty training. I don't know who it is harder on me or Britton. She is doing great at school and dry most of the day, but at home she doesn't want to try and go. We are fully in pull ups, no more diapers for her. The daycare center has already moved her into the two year old room. I know she is smart and that her good friends are in there. It just made sense to do it now instead of waiting two more months. She is so silly.

In August we took a vacation to Seattle, since I had to go for a few days of meetings. My dad flew up from Sacramento and we got to spend some time with Uncle Steve and Aunt Nina. We really had a great time and Britton really traveled very well. Whenever the plane took off Britton was lulled to sleep. What a treat for us since she was sitting on our laps.


Britton eating her first ice cream cone. This was the clean picture. We went over to Emma's house for dinner and play time a couple of weeks ago. The girls had an absolute blast.

Lying around at the park. Even in the 100+ degree heat we decided to take the girls to the park one evening after work.

Mommy, Britton and Grandpa in Seattle.

Family picture at a mexican restaurant in Seattle.

Watching the fish eat with Uncle Steve, after Britton fed the fish and had to taste the fish food herself.

It seems so hard to believe that we are planning her 2nd birthday party. It seems like just yesterday she was a newborn sleeping in my arms. I thank god everyday for the blessings he has given us. Thank you for peeking in on us. I am planning to attend a scrapping event in the next couple of weeks, so maybe I can get some pages done and share those with you all.

21 months continued...

July was a very busy month for us. We celebrated the 4th of July, made a quick trip to St. Louis, barbecue with friends, a family wedding, and finally a weekend of family time.

We are very fortunate that Britton has made some great friends at daycare and they have become known as the three musketeers. We really enjoy both girls parents and enjoy spending time with both families.

How could I forget that June included Britton's first full hair cut and another very special day. When we were going down the adoption road we had the support of all of our family and a couple of very special friends that followed down the same road. I am so happy that now all 3 families are complete with children. We got together with everyone for breakfast in June and it was such a joyous occasion. I know that if it weren't for these two girlfriends the road would have been so much harder, at least for me. They have been a real rock and sounding board for me.


She definitely was not quite ready to wake up.

Getting her first full haircut.

All 3 families are complete. Some of the best friends with a bond that will never be broken.

Britton the morning of her 2nd ear surgery.

Mommy and Britton feeding the goats.

Britton and her cousin.

She is definitely a fish.

The girls at the barbecue.

21 Months Old

Well, let's start with May. Over Memorial Day Weekend we decided to jump in the car and drive to St. Louis to see my grandfather. We needed to just go, since Grandpa had not yet met his Great Granddaughter. We were there for the weekend and knew that we could not spend all day in his room at the nursing home. We decided to try and wear Britton out a little bit by going places. We visited the zoo, Grants Farm, and the Magic House. We also had to get Grandpa custard from Ted Drew's. Britton was a great traveler and did very well with her Great Grandpa. At the time, little did we know that it would be the last time we got to see him. Grandpa went to be with Grandma on July 5th. This brought another trip to St Louis this summer. It was wonderful to see all of our family and to celebrate Grandma and Grandpa's life together. The stories and time with family was truly special.

In June we stayed close to home with harvest going on and Chad working so much. We went to the zoo a few times and started really enjoying playing outside on the swing set or in her water table. We did finally receive the clearance to get little miss into the pool. June 13th Britton had a 2nd set of tubes and her adnoids removed. Hopefully this will give our baby girl some relief from these ear infections. She was a real trooper and did very well.

Then came the 4th of July. We went out to Chad's grandparents house for the afternoon and evening on the 3rd. We had a great time and Britton was scared to death of the fireworks. We continue to spend lots of time with my mom. Britton has surprised us a few times by telling us that Poppy is in heaven. It is absolutely adorable and can totally catch you off guard. She continues to be a happy little girl that is growing up way too fast.


Britton showing Monkey the Ipad after Great Grandpa's Memorial Service and remembering how to do raspberries. Thank you Aunt Debbie.

Allowing daddy to help her with her sparkler.

Waking up in a good mood over Memorial Day weekend.

Great Grandpa, Britton and Mommy - Britton just woke up from her nap.

Britton bottle feeding the goats at Grant Farms.

Easter, 18 months and so much more.....

This spring has brought so many changes with Britton. She has turned 18 months old and we are doing all sorts of things this year. I know kids grow up so fast, but now it is definitely going to fast. We had her 18 month check up and was informed by our doctor that she is doing things that a two year old should be doing. We also had a follow up with our ear specialist. I wish the news were better from him. Poor baby has been fighting ear infections in her right ear again. We had three rounds of antibiotics and the ear infection is still not any better. She will be having a second set of tubes put in and her adenoids removed next week. I know the procedure is needed, but I just wish the surgery wasn't they way to do it. I really hope this helps. Just before Easter we met Nana at Build a Bear to make a stuffed animal. This is not something i want to start all the time, but I would not mind it to be something special to do with Nana. Here is a picture of her "Lucky" dog. We could not help her, but any of the employees could do whatever they needed to. She went down the aisle with all the different animals and went straight to the dogs and said 'Lucky' since it looks so much like our dog at home.


We have had a zoo membership for several years. It has definitely been a necessity since Britton was born. This day we went over to the children's area. Britton would not have an issue with the account.

Easter Sunday was a cool day and we decided to go ahead and go out to Grandma and Grandpa's for the Easter Egg hunt. Once she caught on, she did not want to stop collecting eggs.

Our Godsons' had their birthday party at Cowtown as they both love to be cowboys. They had their cowboy hat, vest, and chaps on. Britton was the youngest one there and she was trying so hard to keep up with the boys. I was able to get this picture with her cowgirl hat on. We all had a great time.

The three musketeers. Britton has made some really great friends at daycare and we have been spending time with them at the zoo and at the park. Since where there is one the others are not far behind we have taken to calling them then three musketeers.

Bubbles.......

How do you keep a child in when the wind is blowing 90 to nothing that loves to play outside? We had that challenge last weekend. Britton wanted to go outside and play bubbles every night and all day on the weekend. She loves being outside and running around, but with her ears and the fact that we are fighting an ear infection I really did not want her in the wind too much. She was a trooper and of course we gave in a little towards evening. We went to the doctor today and had her ears checked as we have been fighting an ear infection for a week and instead of getting better with antibiotic ear drops it appeared to be getting worse over the weekend. The doctor wanted us to finish out the ear drops and then come in today to get checked out. The ear infection is still there and the tube has fallen out of the right ear. I feel so bad for Miss B as she has got to be in some serious pain. We are starting her on some strong oral antibiotics and this should be kicked by the time we go back to the doctor for her 18 month checkup in 11 days. We are also scheduled to see the ENT the same day. I am truly worried that we are going to have to put another set of tubes in. I just don't like the idea of another surgery (no matter how minor it is).

Last Saturday Britton went to her first birthday party. One of her friends from daycare turned two and Carley's party was at Chuck E Cheese's. Britton was not keen on Chuck E, but she didn't scream or cry.

I purchased my new lens for my camera so I wanted to try it out one evening. She is always good for a few pictures. You can definitely tell that we have the camera in her face quite a bit as she now says "cheese" when the camera is pointed in her direction. My new lens is a 50mm and I love it. I have used it a few times and love the fact that I don't have to use the flash that often.

I hope that everyone is having a great week. Here are a few pictures of Miss B blowing bubbles and at the birthday party.




Trying to get into playing the games.
Waiting for the bubbles from the bubble machine
She dumped the bubbles and decided it was more fun to play in it on the ground.

WOW

All, I can say is that these past several months have been hard to get through. For those of you that try to keep up with us, I am sorry that I have not been updating on a regular basis. I need to get better and I promise that I will try to keep up from here forward. The weather here has been crazy, Friday was close to 80, Saturday in the 60's, then last night sleet, rain, and snow. Today the weather has been cool, but now sunny. Friday evening we decided to join a couple of families from daycare at the park. Britton had an absolute ball. She went down the slide and was swinging. I did get a few pictures. Yesterday we spent the day with Chad's family and little miss got her bangs cut for the first time. Mommy did pretty well not crying but I tell you what she doesn't look like a baby anymore. She is truly one sweet and beautiful little toddler. I can't really believe that she is 17 months old. She has blessed our lives with so many things in such a short time. I am so thankful that she had almost a year with Poppy. She still floors me each and everyday with blowing Poppy kisses and looking at his picture and saying Love you! Tonight we were outside in the front yard and she kept wanting to go into the street. I finally made sure that she held my hand and then we walked together back to the house from the mailbox. She is just so smart.

First Haircut

At the park with Mommy and Daddy. Saying please for another push.

Wearing Poppy's baseball hat

Brent and Brian's Birthday party