They're Getting Hitched!!

Congratulations to Ashley and Jeremy!!!

Yesterday afternoon, Chase and I got to help Jeremy surprise Ashley with his proposal at Aldridge Gardens. It went perfect and she was very surprised. I'm so glad that Chase and I got to help out. Britney helped a lot too and she did a great job of getting Ashley to the gardens and around back to the proposal spot. HERE is the video that I captured of Jeremy popping the question. Please excuse my commentary!
 Click HERE to go to Ashley's blog and read the proposal story. So sweet!!

Tummy Time

Brantley Rae is getting better at holding her head up every day. She's such a cutie!!

 

  

  

  

  

   Brantley Rae is starting to like her swing a little bit more every day too. It's such a relief for me. I can put her in there and eat breakfast, lunch or take a shower. Yay!

 

Today BR is 4 weeks old. I have started putting her to sleep awake so that she can start teaching herself to fall asleep by herself. Last night was our first attempt and she did pretty well. My hope is that it continues to go well and that nap time and our nights will be better once she can do this really well. More sleep for mommy is always a good thing.

I hope everyone is having a good day!

Oh guess what...today I met Stephanie Fisher at the doctors office. She was really nice! I SO wish we could afford to have her take pictures of Brantley Rae. She does amazing work!! If you haven't seen her work, head on over to her blog and take a look at her pictures. I wish I had at least half her talent.

Too Cool for Her Stroller

Sunday was a beautiful day here in Birmingham so Chase and I decided to take BR for a walk in her stroller for the first time. He and I both needed the exercise and I don't think we could have sat inside on such a beautiful day anyways. 

Check her out...

She was asleep pretty much the whole time we were out walking and she looked really cute with her sunglasses on. She stuck her arms up straight in the air so many times. It was really cute but I don't see how that was comfortable. My arms would have gotten tired!

Anyways, I need to get better at taking more pictures. For instance, I should have gotten a picture of Chase pushing the stroller with Marley running along side and I really wish I had taken a picture of me by the stroller with her in it. I guess I'll get better with time, right?

I hope everyone is having a good week. BR will be 4 weeks old on Thursday! Yikes! I'm gonna try to take some more pictures so be on the look out for those.

Visiting Grandmother

Last Saturday afternoon, my mom and I took BR to meet my Grandmother. It was such a pretty day to be out and about. We had such a great time visiting with Grandmother. BR was a very good little girl while we were there and Grandmother LOVED holding her and watching her facial expressions.

 

I hate that I didn't take any more pictures while we were there since my Grandmother's eyes are closed in the first picture, but I didn't think about taking more pictures until it was time to go and BR was already back in her car seat. Next time we're all together I want to take a 4-generations picture with me, BR, my mom and my grandmother. 

It was a great afternoon and I'm very glad BR and I got to go visit my Grandmother.

3 Weeks Old

Thursday BR turned 3 weeks old. I can't believe how fast time is flying by. Next week she'll be ONE MONTH old!! ahh! She's going to be 16 before we know it. ha!

  We went to the doctor on Tuesday for our first doctors appointment and got a very good report. Brantley was 8lbs 3oz and 21 inches long. So she has gained over her birth weight and grown 1/2 an inch. Yay! Dr. Simpson was really impressed and so was I. He was that everything from her exam pointed to normal development and he doesn't foresee ANY problems. Hallelujah! Not that I was worried about her but it's still great to hear that she's doing so well.

We did however go through 5 diapers while we were at the appointment. I mean seriously!! 2 just wet ones and 2 poopy and 1 for the ride home. HA! I would get a clean diaper on her and then before I could get her outfit buttoned she would poop again. She was SCREAMING at the top of her lungs and I couldn't get her dressed so that she was stop. (It was cold in our room and she had been undressed for her exam.) Finally, when we ran out of diapers I just told her she was have to stop pooping or sit in it until we got home. Mean, I know but there wasn't anything else I could do at that point. Thankfully she was done and I got her dressed and in the carseat and she went straight to sleep. Exhausted from all the crying! Poor baby!!

Oh FYI to all the Mommies that read my blog...BR had a pretty bad diaper rash on Tuesday so while we were at the doctor I asked him what he recommended. He told me to use Aquaphor Healing Ointment. I had been using Desitin and Boudreaux's Butt Paste on it but it wasn't getting better, but after using the Aquaphor for only 1 day the diaper rash was totally gone! Life Saver!! I would definitely recommend this product.

  Yesterday morning BR was in a really good mood so I decided to take some pictures of her playing in her crib. Right now "playing" means that she just looks around and moves her arms and legs. She's still trying to figure out what those things are for. haha I love to watch her sweet little facial expressions. She's so cute!

 

She is starting to stay awake for longer periods of time during the day which is so fun for me. At least it's fun while she isn't being a Fuss Bucket. No matter her mood I love her and I'm still amazed that she's my daughter and I'm her mommy. Thank you Lord for such a sweet little blessing!!

Yesterday afternoon, Chase took a nap with Marley and Brantley. It was so cute that I had to take a picture!

 She had her paci in her mouth and she was snoozing!!

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Let me explain this one...

I was "throwing her out with the wash!" haha Not really, but I thought the picture would have been cute but then she started screaming so it isn't as cute as I had hoped. What can I say, she's a smart little cookie! She honestly doesn't like bath time yet but we're working on that and eventually she'll like it, I hope!

Anyways, that's all for now! BR is napping so I've got to take this opportunity to take a shower. Thanks for reading. Have a happy Saturday!

Wordless Wednesday

 

  

  

 

Meeting Alyssa

Last Saturday my parents brought my niece, Alyssa over so that she could meet Brantley Rae. She was so good with her and loves her so much already! It was so sweet to hear her talking to BR. She kept telling her "It's okay, Brantley." She's adorable!!

 

Alyssa did such a good job holding BR. She would have held her the whole time they were at our house if we had let her. Alyssa was right by her side making sure she was happy. It really was so cute!

See look how happy Alyssa is to have a little cousin. Hopefully, the rest of her family will get to come meet Brantley Rae soon. She needs to meet her uncle, aunt and other cousin.

My hope is that even though BR and Alyssa are 4 years apart they will still be close one day. I love having cousins so I'm glad they get to share that bond.

We can't wait so see Alyssa again!! We love her lots!!

Brantley Rae's First Snow

Friday was Brantley Rae's first snow day. We had almost 4 inches up here on the mountain. It was really beautiful!! I hope that one day when BR is 2, 3, 4 we'll have another snow like this so that we can get out and play in it together. I only took her outside about 3 minutes for this picture. Short and sweet!!

  I love living in Bluff Park because when the rest of the town gets a dusting, we usually get a couple inches of the fluffy white stuff. It's great!!

 

Chase decided to be a little artistic with these last 2 pictures. Seriously, the snow was gorgeous! I love snow! This snow and the winter Olympics are really making me want to go skiing soon. It's been a few years and I'm sure it will be a long time before I can go again but I really love it and wish we could take a vacation soon.

Until that day, I'll just keep savoring our Alabama Snow Days!

The Greatest Day of My Life

January 28th, 2010
Brantley Rae was born!!!!!!!!!!!!

I got to hold her skin-to-skin immediately after she was born. It was amazing!! Her eyes were wide open the whole time she was on my chest. I couldn't actually see her face since she was on my chest but holding her like that was simply AMAZING!!!

 7lbs 10oz of pure joy!!

  

 First bath

  

Our first family photo in the labor and delivery room.

We were so excited and I was extremely happy to no longer be pregnant. BR was finally out of my belly! haha!

   

 Once we got up to our room we took another family photo. Chase and I were overcome with joy for this tiny life that we had made. She was and is absolutely perfect!!!!!!!!!! Family Photo Op #2

  

Beautiful little face!! I feel in love immediately!!

  

Such CUTE little feet!!

 

Seriously HAPPY mommy!!!!

2 Weeks Old

Today Brantley Rae turned 2 weeks old so I decided to take a few pictures while she was good and awake. For the most part she didn't mind but she didn't last very long. I think she got kinda cold after a few minutes. Poor baby! BUT I did get some cute shots. Sadly, no smiles but that's okay!

  

Her eyes are looking bluish gray these days.

  

 She's about 8 lbs now. I'll get to weigh her again on Monday morning but I'm pretty sure she's gained more weight since last Monday. A little cross-eyed. hehe! She's okay though, it's not like that all the time!

See her eyes aren't crossed now! She's perfect if you ask me!!

Her toes are so cute!

  Stop using the flash, Mommy!! She looks so big sitting up like this in these shots.

  

Precious!!

OKAY, I'm DONE!! Stop taking pictures of me, please!!! 

BR is such a joy and I feel that my life is complete for now. I'm the wife of an amazingly wonderful man and the mommy of an adorable baby girl! Life is so sweet and I couldn't ask for more!! God is SO good!!