Brinley's First Christmas (part 1)

This is a quick update of Brinley opening a present from the Manes Family.

Our Sweetheart!

Brinley just keeps getting sweeter and sweeter (I guess she is appropriately pre-named sweetness). She is walking (at least trying to walk) everywhere now, really understands things and sometimes even does what I ask of her, and is just super sweet. Here are some super cute photos that I just haven't posted yet. They are from 9 months and 10 months (she's 10 months right now). Enjoy!

Blueberries

You will notice a common theme after this photo...

Brinley really enjoys pulling things out of their homes. 
This is trash...(don't worry, not yucky trash).

Of course she loves her books, but really loves pulling them off of
her shelf.

Happy Baby!

Crazy hair after dinner one night.

She had to go straight to a bath.

As soon as Brinley gets out of the tub, she
strains to see herself in the mirror--she loves
to see herself in her towel and laugh.

Normal hair again, phew!

So....I'm sorry Brinley to post this, but it's just the cutest ever.
Brinley had bed head when she woke up....and wasn't
too happy that I was taking a picture...sorry babe!

Being silly.  I was wearing Brinley one day and got
cold...so I put my robe on, and just fastened it
around Brinley.  It was actually very

convenient  for cooking in the kitchen because she couldn't grab anything!

Again...pulling out trash bags this time.

Decorating her Christmas tree

Putting up some ornaments

This is Brinley's tree--eventually it will go in her room and
we'll actually get one for the living room one of these days!

She found the plastic bags

This time she actually helped put them away
when she was finished--Thanks Brinley!

Decided all of the paper towels needed to come off of the tube

And if you're wondering, yes, our house is always a mess!

We love our baby!

Trip to Florida!

One of my sorority sisters, Megan, got married this past weekend to her soulmate Matt!  Megan and Matt are going to grad school at the University of Florida...and that's where the wedding was!

Brinley is still attached to me...(and it's probably more like I'm attached to her)...so she came on the trip with Karl and I.  The bonus part of the trip is that my mom came as well to help babysit (and have fun).  It was WONDERFUL having an extra hand to help entertain, feed, and look after Brinley so Karl and I could have some fun!  Thanks Mimi!

Brinley has been to lots of states so far, but not Florida--she enjoyed seeing palm trees, moss on trees, and Alligators!!

Here are some highlights from the trip!

Brinley enjoying a rest stop with Dad

Eating lunch at a rest stop--this is a great picture because
you can see the truck in the background!

The University of Florida is the Gators for a reason!
There are swamp-like places everywhere.  This is Lake Alice
with snapping turtles

Cute Turtles!

Mimi, Brinley, and an Alligator--you have to look to the right
to see the gator in the photo!

So creepy to see them in the wild!

Enjoying the Florida weather

Mimi and Brinley going out to dinner

Karl and Emily going to the wedding

Fun times with my sisters!

Karl and Emily

The Beautiful Bride and Groom!--It was amazing to see such a
perfect couple get married!!  They are just perfect
together!  Congratulations Megan and Matt!

Happy Thanksgiving!

We have so much to be thankful for this year and always!  We are so happy to spend Thanksgiving with Grandmother!  Brinley had a wonderful first Thanksgiving.  She had a yummy turkey dinner (although today she didn't eat her turkey...), sweet potato, carrots, prunes, apricots, green beans, cheerios, rice chex, and water.    It will be fun next year when her food isn't pureed!

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Visit with Oma and Opa

Oma and Opa came to visit!  We had a great time, and we are so glad they came to play!

Playing with Opa

Hanging out with Oma

Reading!

Brinley's hair keeps getting longer and longer!

More reading

Little Mae loves to cross her feet when she's sitting

Happy Girl!

Looking forward to the next visit Oma and Opa!

Walking!

Brinley is 10 months old!  She's 18ish pounds, and really trying to walk a lot now!  She is saying a few words consistently--baba for byebye; ba for ball; and woof for doggy.

Brinley has been taking a step here or there for a week or so.  But now she can string a couple together and we finally caught it on video!  Watch as she takes her longest stroll to date!

Happy Halloween!

Daddy and our Cheerleader!  Go Miami!

Happy Halloween!  Brinley had 2 Halloween costumes this year :).  We went to a party--and we were all cheerleaders (Karl and I were cheerleaders from SNL and Brinley was a Miami cheerleader).  For the 31st, Brinley was a ladybug!

Here are some of Brinley's friends at the party.

Brinley anticipates the flash on our camera now..so it's hard to get
a good shot of her with her eyes open :).

Fall Festival at Grove Center

Brinley ran into her buddy Solomon at the festival!

Trying out her costume--super excited

Going for a walk in her costume.

Picking out a pumpkin!

Found one!

Photo opportunity

At "pumpkin patch" #2 to pick out our pumpkin (actually
it was the church on the turnpike...but it did look like a pumpkind patch).

Carving the pumpkin! 

Excited for Halloween!

Our pumpkin!

Brinley had a great time going trick or treating (even if she only went to one house...)...but also enjoyed answering the door to the trickortreaters before bed!  We're looking forward to next year when it will have a little more meaning :).