Merry Christmas Everyone!

A new family member..

NO, we're not pregnant! Wouldn't that be crazy? Meet Snowman (creative name, right?), our VERY FIRST SNOWMAN made as a family!

As we rolled the huge balls of snowman-perfect snow, I realized that this is also the first snowman Darren and I made together. In TWELVE YEARS?? But it makes sense: we met back in 1996 and rushed right off to Dallas. 14 months later, we packed up and headed to the desert, where it did actually snow once when we were there (Valentine's Day 1999) but of course it melted upon contact. Two years ago, we finally moved to Denver, and in our first winter we had a record number of inches of snowfall but with two babies (yes two... neither Tevin nor Brynlee was able to walk), we weren't outside too often! Last winter, Brynlee was just crawling, so cabin fever was the name of our game once again. FINALLY, this year, we've got two walking, talking kids, and it's been SO wonderful to experience the fun of the cold weather with them.



Our next door neighbors happened to be outside at the same time so we started building snowthings together! Darren made the Snowfish, and then all of us built a fort around Tevin and Dylan. FUN DAY!

Sitting Pretty

They say if a child starts to ASK to use the potty, that means he or she is showing interest and *might* be ready to start potty training, right? Well... does it count if she asks AFTER she's already done her business in her diaper? On more than one occasion, she has come to me to tell me she has "tooted" and wants to use the potty. It only took twice (I'm a slow learner) for me to realize that I need to clean her up BEFORE sitting her on the potty (eew, what a mess). Anyway, here she is, all glammed up and just kind of waiting. She did actually "go" the other day but she didn't even associate it with anything positive so I wasn't sure how to reward that! She was just excited that she gets to sit on the potty like all the other people dwelling in this house. Go Brynlee! ;)

November

The month started with unseasonably warm weather. Darren and the kids got outside one Saturday to finish raking leaves before the inevitable first snow (we knew it was right around the corner). I was out at the salon getting a manicure, pedicure, and haircut (a birthday treat from my mom!!) while they had fun playing in the leaves. Brynlee got an "owee" on her chin and decided she wanted to put her own BandAid on. Nice, eh? Tevin just sat and watched his silly sissy.

The warm weather stayed around through my birthday, which we celebrated with my dad at our house. Darren bought me a really delicious Raspberry Truffle cake from Cold Stone. I got some new winter boots, a new purse, and some "diamond" earrings from Darren and the kids. My dad sent me some beautiful flowers, and I got Starbucks from my brothers Trent, Logan, and Ryan and more from my friend Eva! Randy and Sandy and Mike and Helen sent me cards with cash so I'll be headed to the mall soon for even more new digs. Thanks everyone for making this a fun birthday!

Snow finally arrived on Friday the 14th. I took this picture when the ground was finally covered, only to watch it continue to snow and snow! By the time it was done, I think we had nearly 3 inches! Of course, two days later, it's 65 degrees out and sunny. Such is "Fall" in Colorado!

Happy Halloween!

Or Happy Sugar Rush Day! Seems we've been on a steady diet of Sweet Tarts and Twix bars this week, but it all came to a grand finale this evening when the kids went Trick-or-Treating to the familiar neighbors this evening. Tevin chose to be a race car driver, and Brynlee thought the lady bug outfit was the best (thank God for unseasonably warm temperatures this year or she would have been a lady bug wearing sweat pants!). Here the kids pose outside our house before their big adventure.

Brynlee's Birthday Party

Alas, she's been 2 for over a week, and I have yet to post pictures of our fun gathering on October 19th. How time does fly!

We opted to have Cinnabon Cinnamini's instead of cupcakes or cake. It was a good change from the ordinary!

The kids decided to eat theirs like dogs do!

It seems like only yesterday.... (long but worth the read)

Well, just 2 short years ago, we were a one-kid family. Then, our lives changed forever with the birth (via scheduled c-section) of Brynlee Charisse. I am amazed at how quickly these two years have gone. At the risk of sounding terribly cliche... "It seems like only yesterday..."

I picked my mom up at the airport the morning of October 20th. It was a Friday, and in true Phoenix Fall Fashion, it was to be in the 90s that day. Mom and I went to Target to pick up some last-minute provisions (the candy I would surely need in the hospital). We went back to our condo to play with Tevin. Little did our Big Dude know this was the last time it would be "Just Us".

At 11 a.m., I was admitted to Scottsdale Osborn. After much preparation, I walked down the hall into the OR, waving to what I knew to be my family up until that moment. At 1:19 p.m., Brynlee came screaming into this world. We both got cleaned up and then were able to have that first bonding moment when I looked into her eyes and knew we were meant to be together. She was grunting softly, something I thought was so cute, but it turned out she had fluid stuck in her lungs. Away she went to the NICU, where she spent nearly 48 hours away from me. During the time she was away, she developed a heart murmur. Talk about an eventful first couple of days! A specialist had to be called in on a Sunday to do a sonogram on Brynlee's heart - they wouldn't release her until she was cleared. I watched them do it; the cardiologist documenting verbally every step of the way and stating, "There's the hole..."..... My own heart skipped a beat. I prayed so hard at that moment that God would make my baby okay. I swear on my life that in that very second, I heard the cardiologist say, "Wow, the hole... it's actually closing as we speak... Umm, I've never seen anything quite like that before...." Tears filled my eyes (as they do to this day when I recount the story) and about an hour later, my baby was out of the NICU and snuggled in my arms. Take it as coincidence or take it as Divine Intervention. I thank God every day for the countless blessings he's brought into my life. I thank God today for bringing Brynlee into my life!!! Happy Birthday Baby Girl!