Even though at this time Breleigh wasn't actually crawling yet she still managed to get to the dogs water dish and knock it over... it was of course full! She was soaked!
Breleigh is 9 months old now! She can finally crawl! She still seems to be very content and likes to play on the floor with her books and toys. She will probably be a hurricane like her sister with her toys! Breleigh is enjoying baby food and trying other table foods. Many things make her make the "gag" face but we keep trying things. She drinks her formula from a sippy cup until bed time when she has a bottle. She has toast and yogurt for breakfast every morning. She is growing up so fast!!! I had to laugh at the doctor's office the other day. She was in the 25% for weight, 25-50 for height and 95% for her head! Helaina was always bottom heavy... Breleigh is top heavy!!! I told her not to feel bad because it runs in the family. Her papa has a large head too!!!! She didn't seem to mind one way or the other!
Helaina attempted scissors for the first time. She did a pretty good job for a first attempt. She didn't really understand why I wouldn't let her keep the scissors with her other writing stuff!!!
Painting on her new easel that she got from her Nana and Papa for Christmas. She REALLY likes to paint. What colors did she choose for her first artist work.....? BROWN GREEN and YELLOW!!!! Interesting choice huh? I hung up her first three masterpieces in her room in frames and they actually look great!
Jim will probably want to kill me for posting this pic but I made him stand sideways so I could take a picture of his new body! I am so impressed and a little in awe of how much weight he has lost and his commitment to it. He reached is goal of losing 75 pounds, is working on maintaining that has now accepted a job as a consultant for Weight Watchers. Amazing where life takes you sometimes. Replenishing his wardrobe has not been easy but thank goodness for after Christmas sales!

Random January

Helaina made a picnic for her daddy! The best part was that he didn't even have to use any of his Weight Watcher points!
Breleigh was just learning to crawl and managed to go backwards under Helaina's bed one morning! She wasn't too fond of it!!
The kids were supposed to wear beach wear to dance class. I couldn't fathom putting her in a bathing suit this time of year so I made her a MuMu (spelling) to wear instead! I thought she was adorable... Jim wasn't too sure!! I decided to make it the evening before we had dance class the next evening. I think I channeled my mom for that one!
Breleigh getting ready to crawl away from the camera! I wanted to get her little crawling buns in the shot but she wasn't cooperating this time I guess!
Our first and only snowman this year! Thanks to our neighbors, "The Wuest's" for the snowman kit. It worked great!!! I am a real wimp and had a lot of trouble picking up the snowball for the middle section. Geez my mom was strong when I was a kid!!! Incredible!! I have to Jim to thank for this shot. They day he took it things started to melt and our cute snowman became a pin head!

Cousins! Me, my sister Heather and our Cousin Jenny grew up together during our summers at North Long Lake and many times in between. We are only a couple years apart in age and were often mistaken for triplets. We have now all had children relatively close together. We decided to take a picture of the next generation of cousins together! It wasn't EASY!!! Helaina-3 Breleigh 8 month Grayson- almost 4 Reagan 3 months Nick- 1 1/2 Bailey 1 month (almost 2) As you can see the set of girls were born pretty close together this year. Maybe they will be mistaken as triplets one day?
Just the new girls of 2009! Breleigh, Bailey, and Reagan.... say that 5 times fast!!!!
I just love Reagan's eyes in this picture!!!! Don't play poker Reagan- you won't be able to win with expressions like that! hehehehehehehe Love it!

Christmas 09

Breleigh checks out her Santa Gifts
Helaina checks out her stocking and finds a PEZ!
The girls are waiting for it to be time to head to the family room to see what Santa brought!

I felt that Santa did a great job on the big gift for both girls but was rather lacking in the stocking department. Santa always did a MUCH better job when I was a kid. He (ok it's really she) is going to work on that for next Christmas!

Christmas 09

Breleigh on Christmas Eve- thanks for the outfit Auntie Heather!

Helaina and Breleigh getting ready for bed on Christmas Eve
Trying on Santa Hats just days before the big EVENT!!!
Helaina on Christmas Eve in her Christmas dress!
Helaina must have been trying to stay on the nice list by showing some love for her sister.... either that or she is getting ready to choke her... only Breleigh knows!

Breleigh is 8 months

Breleigh is 8 months old!
She is interested in EVERYTHING that she can get her hands on. She is a very happy and easy going baby right now. She just kind of goes with the flow and only shows her demanding side when it comes to eating! Then she can be very vocal!

Breleigh highlights!
- working on sleeping without the pacifier... so far pretty good!
- eating baby food like a champ and starting to try real solid food
- not a huge fan of bread and bread products.... yet
- likes the taste of ice cream and whip cream
- rice makes her gag!
- while laying on tummy can scoot backwards but has no idea about going forwards
- enjoys tearing tissue paper!
- turns in circles while sitting on her buns
- smiles a lot
- has six teeth and the drool to prove it
- still loves Helaina if she is saying nasty things to her
- cuddles with her "sleep sack" at night. We fear she will have to wear one until she attends college!
- Gives the best smiles upon waking up in her bed
- Is a JOY JOY JOY!

Happy 3rd Birthday!

Helaina's friend Camyrn and her mommy and daddy joined us for our birthday celebration.
The best part of the cake is licking the frosting off the candles ,right?
It took about 16 blows to get the candles out... too funny!

It was a Tinkerbell birthday and even Breleigh wore wings!
Helaina is proud to be 3! Look at that round face!

It was a great birthday!
Jim took the day off and we went to the mall to let Helaina do a build a bear. She made a bunny and named her Tinkerbell. She WAS wearing a pink tutu but Helaina decided to "naked" her the other day so she is just a bunny now. Then we headed to see Santa. Helaina was still timid but did talk to him and stand by him. She wasn't keen on sitting on his lap, maybe next year.
Helaina got to choose lunch and she chose to eat at Zebra's (Steak and Shake) where she had mini corn dogs and our waitress gave her an ice cream sundae! Then it was home where she didn't take a nap but instead laid in her bed and talked. After that she got to open a couple of presents and then it was off to Happy Joe's to meet Wendy and Ted and Camryn. We had a great dinner and then came home for cake and to finish opening presents.
Over all it was an awesome birthday. I sure hope Helaina enjoyed it as much as I did because I was glowing all day!