Company & The Move

Pure cuteness

Heather came down earlier this week to keep us company and help out and I'm so grateful she did. I was able to mow the lawn and get some errands run without getting Bria in and out of the car. Although the errands may not have been totally necessary, it felt good to get out of the house without a little one in tow.

Bria of course had fun with Heather and gobbled up all the attention. She's a lucky little girl to have so many people love her...

...including me who is just smitten with this angel.

Heather always takes a million pictures of Bria and I just love it. She captures awesome pictures and I just love it. While Bria was eating a snack, Heather set the camera down on the table and then used the remote to take pictures. Bria thought it was pretty funny when the flash would go off even when no one was standing by the camera.

"Arrgh me matey, how is that camera doing that?"

"Oh it's taking my picture, I better give it my innocent smile."

"Ohhh! This is so fun, I LOVE having my picture taken!"

After a snack and photo session we ran to Corvallis to see Marna and then go to the fountains since it was really hot outside. Bria was in heaven (ya know, since water was involved and this girl thinks we should live in water).

The second we got there she took off and ran all around. She had so much fun stomping and splashing, it was adorable to watch.

Sooooo happy

Screaming for joy

I'm not sure if she ever closed her mouth, that's how happy she was.

She was having a blast running all over, I love that she'll go run off and play independently.

Drinking the filtered, and very clean water

Showing impressive balance

Toweling off after a fun day in the fountains

Me getting some cuddles in

We grabbed dinner with Marna and Terry and then headed home for some last minute giggles and eventually bedtime.

Flying high

Saying goodnight to Mr. Horse

What a great day.

This weekend is the official move where we grab our things (spend hours packing boxes...or watching my mom pack because she is way better at it then I am) and unload it at our new place in Portland. I'm so excited to have a home where all our stuff is available to us and not packed in boxes or suitcases. I'm thrilled to be able to see Brian everyday and have him come home at a decent time. I'm looking forward to having less square footage to clean.

I'm just really excited.

It would be nice if I could snap my fingers and have everything moved without having to do all the work, but what fun is life if you can just snap your fingers when things are hard? ;)

I'm stuck in a dryer

A couple weeks ago I was in my bedroom folding laundry and Bria wondered into the laundry room. I heard her wine and start to cry so I go in there to find this:

Priceless.

It was taken with my cellphone so it's blurry but I'm glad I captured it. I was laughing pretty hard.

Bria was not.

Singing my heart out

The Carrie Underwood concert was just flat out amazing. I had the best time out and I'm grateful to so many people for making it happen :)

Heather and Amy: Who found the amazing seats

Kayla: Who made me smile and laugh the whole night

Marna: Who made Bria smile and laugh...and then sleep all night :)

I haven't been to a concert in about 10 years and dang they are fun. I had such a good time and loved singing along. Billy Currington opened for her and I was surprised at how many songs I knew of his, he's a cutie. It was nice to get dressed up and get out on the town...although it took us twice as long as it usually does to get up there due to random traffic, but all of that was forgotten after the music began.

Soccer excitement

Bria and I started our Saturday by going to Jaidyn's soccer game. It's amazing to see how good she has gotten, her team isn't running in a herd around the ball anymore. They have positions and stay in their zone. It was so much fun and Jaiydn is really good, she's a fast little thing!

Jaidyn running in for a little break

Bria decided she liked the big girl water bottle

Schuyler put Kailey's soccer shoes on Bria and she thought it was pretty cool. She especially liked "tying" the laces.

Uncle Schuyler helping take off the shoes

"That was so much fun Mom!"

Pure excitement

"That was fun, let's go to more soccer games."

If it wasn't for Bria's nap time I would've gone to Kailey and Porter's too. But fortunately there are more games to come. Bria had a good time loved watching the game, she would clap and yell, "Go Beabers!" Apparently she has Bieber fever ;P

Early that evening I headed out with Kayla to the best concert I have ever been to: Carrie Underwood. Seriously, best time ever. But I'll go into detail a little later. Marna watched Bria and they had a great time together and I was so thankful to be able to have a night out.

Tea party

Just trying to stay busy here and entertain Bria. Seriously, all you single Moms out there just rock and I bow at your feet because this is tough stuff. Fortunately I have lots of family who is willing to spend time with the little one and she doesn't complain about all the attention. Keeping our calendar full of family visits helps make the time go by faster, only a week until Daddy comes home!

Jaime and Porter stopped by the other night while the girls were at soccer practice and Bria just loves Porter. He was playing with her little teapot and climbed in the rocking chair so of course Bria wanted to sit with him:

They were being so sweet together, it was adorable.

"So, are you gonna pour me some more tea or what?"

Today she climbed in the chair again and asked for her teapot. These are the precious memories in the making :)

The weather is actually suppose to get pretty warm over the next week so I'm looking forward to lots of outside time. Bria still has a runny nose which means we are going on a week of this little cold, really wish it would go away already. She still manages to be spunky and hilarious throughout the day...mixed amongst her tantrums of course.

Brian's mom came over the other morning and took Bria for a long walk so I could get some packing done and just have a little break. It was great and I know Bria enjoyed spending time outside with Grammy.
She is obsessed with wagons right now and everytime we go in the garage she hops in and wants to go for a walk. Guess this girl wants to keep me in shape...I like it!

Game day and stuff

Saturday was the first Beaver home game and although it rained the whole time, we still managed to have fun. Plus the Beavers won!

Kaitlyn, Me, and Amy sporting our designer ponchos

Ponchos are pretty much a necessity here in the great Northwest, at least at football games. They're the one place it's okay to wear a plastic bag.

Me and Kayla still smiling through the rain

Sunday was a lazy day and it felt nice, especially since it was our last day with Daddy for 2 weeks. And we got the most wonderful surprise, talking to Lance on a webcam for the first time since he's been at war!!!!

It was pretty delayed and hard to hear but it was so incredible to see him.

Bria had fun saying hi to her uncle.

Then we ended the day with some milk in our rocking chair...

...well Bria did. Instead of milk I had wine and instead of the rocking chair I sat my butt on the couch. All and all it was a nice weekend and the rain didn't even ruin it.

Fine motor skills and 18+ months

A couple weeks ago when we went to the coast I mentioned we stopped at a cute restaurant. Well they had a cute little game sitting on the tables and Bria had fun trying to stick the little pegs into the holes.

I was excited because I knew it was helping her develop her fine motor skills.

I'm such a Mom.

Concentrating

"Yay, I did it!"

Another one

"Victory!"

Bria loving on the bear outside the restaurant.

I keep meaning to do an 18 month post for Bria but since she will be 19 months tomorrow I think I missed that boat. So here is an update of Bria-isms:

• Wears 12-18 months pants and 18-24 month shirts (gotta cover that buddha belly!)
• Wears size 4 diapers, although they are a little big but still work
• Runs now, although all she does is swing her arms and hips back and forth while she walks but she thinks she's going faster
• Can count to 5 and sings most the ABC's
• Has blond curly hair that gets longer every week
• Wears size 4.5 shoes
• Is such a cuddler and will come give me a hug while saying, "Mommy hug." Yeah, best part of my day for sure
• LOVES dogs
• Is such a good little talker and will try to say every word you do
• Loves to sing along with me
• Does not like the car
• Is bossy (she is often telling me to sit on the couch with her or go over here or there)
• Has developed into such a little character and has about 56 silly faces she makes on a daily basis
• Has 12 teeth (4 front on both top and bottom and 4 molars)
• Currently has a cold, bleh
• Could live outside, she doesn't care if it's raining or sunny, she wants to be outside all the time, many of her tantrums are when I tell her we can't go outside...I'm such a meany

I still need to get her into a pediatrician but her current one is booked for a month so I think we'll just try to find one in Portland. My guess for her weight is 23 pounds and she's probably 31 inches or so.

She is such a talker and it's so nice to be able to communicate with her. When we were leaving Arizona my Grandma took us to the airport and I put her in her car seat and then sat up front. My grandma started the car and Bria goes, "Uh-oh." We turn around and I ask, "What's wrong Bria?" She looks at me and says, "Buckle." I had forgotten to buckle her in. My grandma and I couldn't believe that she reminded me to buckle her in, too funny.

She is doing pretty well with our transition, but I do notice a difference in her demeanor sometimes and like I have mentioned her sleeping has regressed. But this moving back and forth is hard on all of us so I don't blame her.

She keeps us busy and I now know why everyone said to enjoy it while she just laid there, this stage is full of exploring every cupboard in the house and testing my patience to the limit. But it is seriously so fun to see her many faces and her silly personality. I love it.