Fall Family Fun

 

Last weekend, our whole family loaded up the cars and headed to Seven Springs (it’s a ski resort about an hour away) for Autumnfest. It was very important for Chris and I to have everyone together for Brody’s first fall trip. Chris and I have been going to Seven Springs every October since I moved to Pittsburgh in 2006.

While the rest of the boys went clay shooting, Grandpap thought it was very important to introduce Brody to skiing. After picking out skis and trying on helmets, Grandpap is sure he’ll be ready to hit the slopes next ski season.

It was a wonderful afternoon hanging out with family and making Brody pose with the pumpkins. After seven springs we headed to Ohiopyle for more pictures.

  It was really great that our whole family could make it and it really did mean a lot to us, so from Chris and I THANK YOU!!!

 

Also below is some pictures of Brody at the Kirkwood Farmers Market in St Louis.

Happy 4 months!!

Brody-

The only thing I can say is WOW! I cannot believe you’re four months old! You’ve gotten so big and interactive.

You love looking at yourself in the mirror. We tease you about hanging out with “your friend” Every time you see your reflection, you get so happy.

Another big change,  is my quiet baby is no more! You’re always talking and you have quite a set of lungs on you. I keep stressing “mommy” to you because I really want that to be your first word. I guess I’ll be ok if daddy is your first word. Your crazy Papa is trying to teach you to say “ I love me some Papa BOE” We’ve all explained to him that you’re just a baby .

Your daddy loves watching cartoons with you on Saturday mornings and I love it to because I get to sleep in. Your favorite is Mickey Mouse Clubhouse and of course that make your parents happy! We knew you’d be a Disney baby and can’t wait to take you there!!!!

Not only have you discovered your hands but you’re quickly learning to use them. You can successfully take your pacifier out and can get it back in sometimes. Nana even said you grabbed your bottle yesterday. Not only do you like playing with your hands, you also love kicking your feet. We put rattle socks on and your grandma calls them “fancy feet”

We tried out your exsaucer and were surprised how much you loved it. You can even turn yourself around in it and love trying to put all the toys in your mouth.

Speaking of your mouth, no teeth yet but you sure do love putting things in your mouth especially your hands.

You got to meet new “cousins” this month. Daddy’s cousin Wendy had her baby Juliette and you enjoyed meeting her. Our good friends Caleb and Val had their little girl Joanna and you visited her at the hospital. Joanna is doing good eating so we tease that you must have had a good talk with her while she was in her mommy’s belly about how good mommy milk is!  When we were taking pictures of you and Joanna you tried to kiss her! The moral of the story is you’ve become quite a ladies man not only with babies but also with waitresses!!! You also met Daddy's cousins Adam's daughter Alayna and got to help celebrate Daddy's cousin Ashley's son Jace's first birthday. It was crazy seeing how big you looked with your newborn cousins and how little you looked next to a one-year old!!!

Its amazing to watch you get bigger and remember how tiny you were just a few months ago!

Don’t forget Mommy loves you!!!!

Happy 3-month Birthday!!

Dear Brody-

Wow you're already three months old. I cannot believe how big you're getting. Sometimes I don't like to think about it because it makes me sad but I really am happy about watching you grow up.

Well we finally put you in your crib to sleep. I was concerned the entire night and watched the baby monitor the entire night. I think you enjoyed your first night more than mommy did. Its getting a little easier to put you down in your crib because Daddy and I can tell how much you love being able to spread out in your "big boy" bed!

We also tried out your bumbo seat for the first time and you have so much fun sitting in it and looking around. Throughout this month, you've become so much more interactive with us. When daddy gets home from work, you love sitting with him and smiling at him. You also found out that he is fun to talk to because he talks in "baby language" too! We've noticed you like to follow me around with your eyes when I get  up and you've really began to recognize certain people's voices.

The amount you've changed this month is overwhelming and I cant wait to see you grow this month!

Mommy loves you!!1

Sitting in your Bumbo seat for the first time

Tummy Time- it looks like you are about to take off crawling!

A month of LOVE

August has been filled with events celebrating love.

The month started as we celebrated the marriage of our good friends Whitney and Eric in New Jersey. It was a whirlwind weekend trip filled with great memories. Luckily my mom traveled with us so she could watch Brody while we attended the wedding festivities. I was honored to be a part of their wedding and wish them many years of happiness. While at the wedding Brody finally was able to meet his "Aunt Michele".

Chris and I also recently celebrated our two year wedding anniversary. As I look back over the past year of marriage I can't believe everything we've done this year from buying our first house to welcoming Brody into our lives. I hope the future holds as much love and adventure for us as this year has.

August 14, 2009

Our Bridal Party

My cousin Jennifer got engaged in July and I'm so excited to be her matron of honor (OK maybe not super excited because I feel like matron means old) but seriously I'm beyond honored to have been asked to play such an important role in her wedding. We spent last week busily planning her special day in St Louis. Nana kept teasing Brody that he was doing too much girlie stuff!!!

Jennifer and I when we were little at Silver Dollar City in Branson!

Lastly I attended Breann's bridal shower.For those of you who don't know, Breann was my college roommate and Chris's high school lab partner. I'm thrilled to be  able to be a bridesmaid in her wedding coming up in November.

As you can see we have been busy with all kinds of lovey dovey stuff this month and anyone who knows Chris and I know how much we love weddings. It has been a wonderful month watching so three of my best friends experience so much love in their lives. I love you girls!

Happy 2-month Birthday!

We celebrated Brody's 2 month birthday about a week ago and I'm gonna steal an idea from a friend's blog by writing a monthly letter to Brody.

11 lbs 6 oz and 22 inches

Brody-
I cannot believe you are already two months. Everyone told me you would grow up so fast and I didn't understand it until I look back at how much you've changed in a such a small amount time. You are beginning to be able to hold up your head and even though you can only do it for a couple of seconds its so fun to see.
I love feeding you in the morning because you are so awake after and love smiling and interacting with me. Ceiling fans are your new favorite thing to look at. You are absolutely intrigued by them!!

When you get upset you love to have your daddy swing you in his arms. Sometimes its the only thing that soothes you. We laugh because you look pretty funny swinging on your tummy in his arms but you sure do love it! Besides swinging with daddy you LOVE your lamb swing from Uncle Chris. I may love it more than you because it allows mommy to get things done while you swing and look at the mobile. 

Well you're getting too big for your bassinet and I know its time for you to move into your crib but mommy just can't seem to do it. You have started to sleep with your arms not swaddled and you seem to really like it.

As I give you a kiss goodnight, I always say "Mommy loves you" and don't worry daddy is quick to say he loves you too!

Love, Mommy

Visiting Dubois

For almost two years, Chris and I lived in Dubois/Clearfield PA. This past weekend we traveled to visit and attend my good friend Val's baby shower! It was so nice to visit and it made me think about everything that had happened while living there. Chris and I spend the first nine months of our married life living in the Hampton Inn in Clearfield, PA. Our big adventure while living in Clearfield were our daily visits to Walmart. After life in the hotel we moved into a rented apartment in Dubois where we welcomed Sammy into our family and also where we found out we were expecting our baby boy. Because I spent 37 weeks of my pregnancy in Dubois, it was kind of emotional for me to visit our old apartment.

While in Dubois, Chris and I joined a life group at Tri-County Church where we met three amazing couples. I cannot express how much their friendship means to us. It really shows that sometimes you can meet someone and feel like they're your lifelong friends!

On Saturday, our friend Rachel from our life group took some awesome photos of Brody and some family pictures. The photos turned out great! (For those friends in Pittsburgh, she does travel for weddings etc) Here is a couple of the photos she took!

Rachel Anne's Photography


On Sunday, we met our co-work, Chassidy and her daughter Ivy at our favorite breakfast spot, Dubois Diner. Chassidy and I became great friends while living in Dubois and spent many lunches together!

After breakfast,Brody and I attended Val's baby shower. Val and Caleb found out in December that they were expecting their first and it has been amazing experience to share the journey into parenthood with such great friends.



The ladies of our life group



Our entire life group, we miss and love you all!!!!

Packing Up

Last week Brody and I traveled to Houston to help my parents pack their house. For those of you who don't know my parents are moving to Pittsburgh next week. I cannot even began to describe how happy I am. When I was pregnant I never imagined that this would happen. The whole thing has been quite a whirlwind! To make the story short, my dad was offered an awesome opportunity to come work for a company up here!

As exciting as it that they are coming, it was bittersweet to be home and help them pack. Ive been away from home for a little over six years now so I didn't think I would be affected by the moving boxes. It was strange to think that I may never set foot in "my home" again! It really didn't hit me until the last day when I was leaving so I made my mom take a picture of me and Brody in front of our house. When I got home and looked at the picture it made me laugh to think I stood in that same spot for numerous school dance photos.

The real point of the post is to share the exciting news that my Mom and Dad are going to live so close and I really couldn't be happier!!!!!