My Sweet Baby

Hi Baby Girl,
For the last two weeks I have been wanting to write this letter to you, but you keep me so busy it has been hard to find the time to sit!
Brynners you are so special, there is a love and bond between us that is so strong, I marvel at the feelings holding you and just being with you brings me.

You recently have moved from the crib to a big girl bed, but you still like being rocked before I lay you in there.  I ask you if you want me to sing and you usually say "no, uh-uh" but that is just your last fight to try and avoid falling asleep.  I go through all our songs and you will say no to each of them.  Then I try again and eventually you can't resist and will let me start singing one, then another, then another, and before long you're sound asleep.  Then I begin to just watch you sleep and I can see that tiny newborn that was placed in my arms almost two years ago.  I begin to understand the incredible human being that was/is stuffed inside this little body and I feel so much love and gratitude for you.

You are so sweet and smart and funny.

You are simply BRIGHT.  A bright shining light.  Hot and blinding.  Warm and welcoming.  You catch onto everything so quickly.  You are a joy and wonder to behold.

You are really starting to talk now.  This is the big transition taking place, the last of babyhood's grip is loosening, pretty soon you will a toddler with all the rights and privileges of sassy talk and funny words.  Already you say, "Q's me" when you burp and fart!!  It is seriously to die for funny!  What little one year old knows that?!?  I love your new talking, it always amazes us how well you communicate.  When you do something you're proud of you'll say, "yay Brindee" (that's how you say your name!).

you can definitely say ice cream- "i ceam"

Another favorite Brynnly thing of mine is how much you LOVE getting dressed, I would say dressed "UP", but it really doesn't matter what I put you in... you will RUN and hold your hands out for your siblings, EACH ONE individually, to have them tell you how cute and pretty you look.  Your sisters always make a BIG deal and gasp and clap and fawn all over you.  Baylor has caught on and it is the sweetest cutest thing to hear him say, in varying degrees of care, "wow Brynnly, you look pitty" to "pitty" to completely  ignoring you until you scream "BBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBB" at him and I tell him to just tell you how pretty you look and he'll creep out a "nice Binny".

Yes you are darling.  Your cute feathery white hair stands up a lot on the top of your head, but I can comb it now and yesterday I attempted curling the ends, which you were NOT a fan of- the iron pulled your hair and you were so sad!  But man did you look adorable!  Speaking of yesterday, YOU WENT INTO NURSERY FOR THE FIRST TIME!!!  It has taken 3 months, of which you were NEVER left because you could barely be torn from me, I mean even when I was in there with you you just sat on my lap, barely ever leaving to play.  Yesterday was the same and so we left and I was talking to a friend in the hall whose little girl you really really like, Ryah.  Ryah went potty and was going in, to the "big" nursery where Baylor is, and I asked if you wanted to go with Ryah and Baylor and you said yes!  I said, "Say bye-bye to Mama" just to make sure you understood THIS IS IT, and sure enough you said  bye-bye and walked right in without a tear for the whole two hours!!!!  HAPPY DAY!!!  That is so totally YOU, everything has to be on your timetable and your way.   I don't always love it, but  sure do admire it!!  You're strong and independent and just all round awesome!!

 I think these pictures give you a hint at just HOW independent you are!  I was REpainting the living room and you climbed up AND down the ladder so easy- even Baylor couldn't go back down!!  You got it girl, and it's fabulous!!

EASTER CHICK

Even though this wasn't your first Easter, it was the first Easter where you were big enough to participate in all the glory of the holiday, and participate you DID!

First there was the Easter Egg Hunt, which girlfriend, you knew exactly what to do, like it was just in your blood to find those eggs!  It was soooo CUTE!

you took off after B.

Finding the CANDY!

Eating the candy!

love these simple moments

your little fingers, already full of jellybeans cheeks, wispy blonde hair

you are so perfect

so lovey

so wonderful

Oh yeah, a mouth FULL of jellybeans, life is good.

Showing Dad your loot!

Later that day we decorated eggs!  You were pretty interested in all the colors.  You kept blowing in the glass and you even tried mixing colors, much to the distress of your big sister Julia!  ;)

Lauren so lovingly was teaching you about this

getting a closer look.

LOVE this shot of you!  You got so excited when you saw the eggs come out colored.  Not sure if you were really impressed or just mimicking everyone else's reaction, but it was precious!  You are really into mimicking right now.  ;)

you're always right in the midst of the action- you're not about to miss out on ANYTHING!  Love that you're down to your diaper - Mama knew you would be dangerous around all those dyes.

We finished the night with some yummy treats- your favorite thing ever- TREATS!

EASTER MORNING....

you had just tooted really LOUD and we were all cracking up!!

wearing your new sunglasses "mama style"!

CAAAAAAAAAAAAANDY!!!!!!!

You were crying and freaking out about not being able to get into everyone's baskets, until you figured out there was a BUNCH of candy in YOUR basket.  Then you was all sorts of happy.

 Looking for easter eggs from the Bunny.  Not the most thrilling event of your life.

 CHOCOLATE FACE

quintessential easter morning picture

you rock!

Some shots we took before church....

 i made these skirts for each of you girls this year.  it was a challenge, but they turned out so cute!  i love dressing up my little dollies!

 Oh, angel girl.  You have sooooo much personality.  You pose, you make the BEST faces that are always so full of expression, and you have very strong opinions.  I love what a STRONG spirit you are, you are confident and determined.  You are sweet and obedient as well.  All these things mix together to make you just one AMAZING girl and I am so so so very thankful you are MINE and that you came to our family.  You are such a miracle and blessing and I am grateful EVERY DAY for you!

even when you give me your pouty face! ;)

 You're adorable and you know it!

MOMMY'S Girl

Oh baby love, nobody has loved me as fiercely as you!

It really is intense and I LOVE it!

You do not do nursery at church- nope, not even if your Dad stays in there with you, it has to be ME.

That and the fact that it is your nap time, we alternate taking you home for your nap.

You are the most insistent and resistant of our children.  

Sometimes that is a good thing, but mostly, we're anxiously awaiting you to "grow out of it".

 When all that determination is focused on sitting with me or laying with me or rocking with me, there is NOTHING better in the whole world.  I love that I am your safety zone, your comfort and peaceful place, your Mama.

 And your kisses- GIRLFRIEND!  I could live on your kisses alone!  They are the sweetest, softest, most gentle and powerful kisses EVER!  I adore your kisses and I physically get so happy when you give me one.

 It cracks me up to think about when you were a newborn and I thought you didn't even like me.   I think you are the MOST attached to me!

Brynnly there is just SOOOOO much to you now.  You have such a personality!! You are FUNNY and quick and so so smart.  You mimick and copy EVERYTHING your siblings do, which honestly is a GOOD thing.  In fact you even dance with them when they are doing the Wii- it is hands down THE cutest thing on the planet!!  You got some moves girl!!!
The other cutest thing on the planet, is listening to you sing "Happy Birthday"  you say, "Happy To Do" in such a singsong voice. You LOVE birthdays!!  You are so happy and excited for the birthday person, it is darling.Your birthday will be A BLAST!

You are a GREAT communicator, talking is so awesome!  You already are putting two words together to make sentences.  "Bye-bye Dada" is one of the most popular or "Ni-night GG".  You say every single one of the Sesame Street characters, most recently learning Grover- "gofer".  You say your color words and are getting better at knowing the right word for the right color.  You are learning the ABC's and will count "two free" when jumping into my arms on the stairs.
"Meme's" (excuse me) you say this whenever you burp, fart, or need to get by someone. IT IS AMAZING! I don't even recall really teaching it to you, and that you use it at all the right times, just impresses me and tickles me so much.  How smart and good and sweet can you be?!!?

And another total Brynnly thing you do is run to show everyone what you're wearing when you get dressed. Oh man, it is soooooo funny!  I always make a big deal once you're dressed about what a PRETTY GIRL you are.  You will say, "pitty" and then ask where people are, like, "B?" or "Youlu?" then you RUN to show them.  When you find them you pose!  Seriously, you open your arms and tilt your hips and stand there until they tell you how beautiful you look!  Baylor has even caught on and will always say, "nice Binny".  If by chance they don't pay attention when you come running, you YELL their names until they look at you, it is pretty darn hilarious.  I LOOOOOVE YOU!  I love your self confidence, already, you KNOW you are special!

You LOVE baby dolls and have taken to walking around with your Snow White baby "singing" Lala-Lu to her, wrapping her up in a kitchen towel.  "Towel" would be another word you know, mostly because you are ALWAYS wiping up something you have spilled, you are a messy girl!  ;)  But HOW COOL are you that you run and get towels??

Brynners, seriously I couldn't imagine my life without you!  You are a challenge, as any toddler is, but you bring a life, an excitement, and so so so much joy, our family is ONLY complete with you here!  We love you, we are grateful for you and your sweet sweet AWESOME personality.  It is so much fun to watch you learn and grow and do new things.  ALL of us love watching you and entertaining you and being entertained by you!  And me, most of all, feel so incredibly lucky to have your 110% love, I am the luckiest most blessed mom EVER!