This Isn't My First Rodeo...

Actually, this was Brandon's first Rodeo and we technically didn't see the actual rodeo, so the blog title is a bit misleading but I liked the sound of it anyway:) We did, however take Brandon to the Stock Show for the first time (and it was my first time in as long as I can remember) and he loved seeing the baby animals and being able to pet them! He went right up to the baby pigglet and started petting it on his own. It made me a litte nervous because the pig was eating and Brandon stuck his hand in right above the food trough as the pig was eating so I pulled it out right away.

We took Brandon with his Grandma and Grandpa Linster, he pet the animals, ate some cotton candy, turned blue from the cotton candy, daddy ate some candied cashwes and mommy left with a failed attempt at finding ANY popcorn :( You would think that if they make kettle corn, they'd at least make normal popcorn....but no.

Moving on....

It was so fun to watch Brandon experience something new, petting a pig,a pony, a sheep, a guinea pig, a llama and a calf. He loved it all!

 

Being fearless...

 

He accidentally tickled his face

Such a fun time!

Brandon Took His First Steps!!

After months of thinking Brandon was behind everyone else, he FINALLY started walking on Thursday! He hasn't fully committed to it yet, but it's a start!

 

 

Toys? What Toys?

Brandon has hundreds of dollars worth of toys, books, cars and stuffed animals. Do you think he pays a bit of attention to any of them? No.

Instead, he would rather play with the BBQ grill utensils, dig in the cupboards and pull out all of the pots, pans and their lids, empty out a vinegar bottle all over the kitchen floor, pull out any and all dish towels and empty out the panty (at least the bottom two shelves).

Several times a day, I take him down to his playroom to show him all of the toys that are just sitting there waiting for him to play. He'll fondle a few toys, push a few buttons on Elmo and flip through a few books but 15 minutes later, I hear rumaging in the kitchen again.

He also likes to rearrange his surroundings. For example, on Wednesday I opened the cupboard to pull out a cookie sheet and found 2 bibs, a washcloth, 2 plastic cups and a box of baking powder. At my mom's house a few weeks ago, I pulled open a drawer to look for some paper and a pen and found a bottle of Vanilla extract and some tooth picks. At Mitch's parents' house the other day, he put his pajama's in a filing drawer. There's always a surprise :)

With all of the time he likes to spend in the kitchen, maybe he'll be on the Food Network in 25 years?? Haha....one can only hope :)

It's All Fun and Games....

Throughout the last 6 weeks, we have fought off an Influenza-type virus/WORST cold ever, along with the flu that Brandon caught at the Dr's office which he handed off to me and I handed off to Mitch. (Thank God I saved my prescription of Zofran from my morning sickness days back when I was pregnant....I think that is the only reason I'm alive today). We also traveld three times, flew twice, and my sister unintentionally got a little too close to a couple of raccoons.....add Christmas and New Year's into the mix and you've got yourself a brand new reality TV show...

The important thing is we got to spend time with family and loved every minute of it :)

Here are some pictures from the past few weeks:

Ready for his big trip to AZ!

 

 

B even got in some uncle time!

 

Helping Aunt Madison make her baby signs for Baby Linster

Studying that menu hard...

 

Helping me make peanut butter banana chocolate chip cookies...it's not easy baking with someone who wants to dip their spoon in everything and then put it in their mouth....

 

 

The beginning of the flu epidemic.

 

I love this little face!

Happy 15 months B!

The 2 Stinky Petes :)

 

 

 

Out With the Old, In With the New....

This is a week late, but Happy New Year! This year was filled with so many mixed emotions....some very happy, exciting memories were made with the 1st full year of Brandon being with us! And there were some sad, challenging times in 2012 as well. For myself now, and for myself and Brandon in the future, I want to just pin point some of the major events that happened in 2012.

• New Year's Eve 2011- Brandon was Baptized in the Catholic Church! Such an exciting time for Mitch and I and our family.
• January 2012- We kicked off the new year by visiting Denver to see Amy, Shawn and my Dad. I got the flu while there, so Amy had to play mom for a day while Mitch and my mom headed back home for work.
• February 2012-This was a big month for Brandon. He experienced his first plane ride to Florida where he went swimming for his first time, which had mixed reviews :) Brandon even had his first taste of carrots after we got back from our trip and was not a fan. This was also the month that he was first introduced to Elmo-life has never been the same. Last but not least, it marked the first time that he ever slept in his crib! He was always in our room in his pack 'n play. I was a nervous reck that whole night. The joys of motherhood.
• March 2012-Brandon rolled over for the very first time! It was such a huge milestone for Mitch and I. We really felt like our baby was growing up after this point. And this was the month that Brandon had rice cereal for the very first time....it's kind of nice not having to worry about that stuff anymore!
• April 2012-Brandon celebrated his first Easter and his first high school Prom! He turned 6 months old and started sleeping on his stomach (which he still does to this day). My good friend Kriste and I went to a tye-dye party and made Brandon and Archer (who was still in his mommy's belly) many different tye-dye outfits :)
• May 2012-I celebrated my first Mother's Day as a mom. It was such a great day and will never forget it. Elise graduated from STM. Aunite Amy and Uncle Shawn came from Denver and Unlce Kyle and Aunt Madison were here from AZ to celebrate graduations!
• June 2012-This was another busy month for us! Mitch celebrated his first birthday AND Father's Day as a Dad. We went golfing (I attempted it) for his birthday and we had a giant cake that Brandon "helped" me decorate :) Mitch and I also celebrated our 4th wedding anniversary too! Brandon went on his first hike up Buzzard's Roost in June and had his first park play date with Ellie Waider, where he put his arm around her like a nice little gentleman :) Brandon's newst friends, Archer and Emsley were born!!! AND we got our house re-sided. Whew!
• July 2012-This was when our year took a sad turn. My grandpa was in and out of the hospital twice and ended up in Hospice at the end of the month. Brandon went to Canyon Lake for his first picnic and watched the geese roam around. We celebrated Emsley coming into the world with a nice little baby shower :)
• August 2012-Brandon climbed the stairs for the first time and hasn't looked back! I celebrated my first birthday as a mom, but spent it with my grandpa in his final days. My grandpa passed away on the 13th and we said goodbye to him on the 16th-the hardest day of my life. I am so happy he was able to get to know Brandon. After he passed, Mitch and I decidced we needed to get away for the day and took Brandon up to Keystone and Mt. Rushmore.
• September 2012-Brandon took his first swimming lessons at the Swim Center. His friends Ellie, Finn and Dalton all joined too! He also enjoyed his first Drive Inn movie, spent time with Grandpa Alan, and went to the pumpkin festival at Main Street Square with Archer!
• October 2012-Brandon celebrated his 1st birthday!!!! I cried and couldn't believe how fast that first year went. We had a big party at our house and went to dinner with our family at Alpine Inn. Brandon went to his first pumpkin patch with Archer and went to the Spearfish Canyon with Mitch and I to look at all of the beautiful leaves. Brandon and I went Trick or Treating (Daddy was sick) and he dressed up as Spider Man!
• November 2012-Brandon played in the snow for the first time! He also celebrated his 2nd Thanksgiving and was able to participate in all of the eating! Then he got a big boy haircut from his Aunt Lisa AND helped put up all of the Christmas decorations :)
• December 2012-We went to Storybook Island to look at the Christmas lights (a first time for all 3 of us!) and took a Christmas trip to Denver to see Amy, Shawn and my Dad. Brandon also celebrated his 2nd Christmas! The day after Christmas, Brandon went on his 2nd airplane trip to AZ to see his Uncle Kyle and Aunt Madison and his future cousin! He also rang in his 2nd New Years sound asleep:)

What a memorable 2012 for our family. Can't wait to see what 2013 has in store for us all! Hope the next 365 days are filled with love, happiness and good times :)

Christmas 2012

Christmas is my absolute favorite time of year. The music, decorations, the anticipation of gift giving (and receiving!), baking, and all of the festive activities that come with the holiday. I love it all! I didn't get much of this done this year with being sick the 2 weeks before Christmas, but I did my best for Brandon and I think we had a pretty successful holiday :)

Mitch's parents flew to AZ on Christmas Eve, so we had both Christmas Eve and Christmas Day with my family. On Christmas Eve, Mitch had to work until 1:00 so we just had a relaxing day with a few presents, chilli, snacks, games and church. Brandon ate more cookies than I could count! He's got a sweet tooth (both of his grandmas gave him that).

We watched Momma and Auntie's favorite Christmas movie (besides Holiday Inn of course) while daddy had to work Christmas Eve morning.

Eating in the same highchair that his grandma and great aunts all ate in as babies!

Opening one Christmas gift on Christmas Eve....

On Christmas morning Santa came to our house and brought Brandon a cool Lightening McQueen couch that pulls out into a bed. It was a huge hit! After we got ready, we headed over to my mom's for breakfast and it turns out Santa went there too (weird!)...Santa hooked Brandon up this year!

Santa came to Grandma's house!

Later, we went to my Grandma's house for Christmas dinner, gifts and wine :)

We missed a special part of our family this Christmas. We know that Grandpa was with us though....before we ate, we all went around the table and talked about a few memories we had of him. As we were talking, one light bulb above the kitchen table where we were sitting flickered off. Twice. It was the BEST feeling I've had in a long time and it made my Christmas the most special of my life. We love you so much grandpa and miss you more than you know.