Merry Christmas

There's Something About Mary

No worries about any type of "gel" used...this is just how Brynn woke up from her nap today!

Making Cookies and a Gingerbread House

Grandma Debbie came and spent the day with us on Friday to make cookies and she also surprised Brynn with a Gingerbread House.

Brynn thought it was pretty fun to "open" eggs. The above is a picture of one that she "opened" all by herself. Surprisingly none of the shell fell in the bowl.

Brynners loved making the Gingerbread House. I am sure it is because she was able to sample a few different kinds of candy and frosting. These are things she very rarely gets.

Getting Dwessed

Just in the last week Brynn has taken a great interest in dressing herself. This morning after getting out of the tub and before I met her in her room she had both her legs in a pair of jeans and was trying to pull them up herself but couldn't figure out how to stand up. Tonight she wanted to run around "makin" or naked as the rest of us call it. Kate was folding laundry and Brynn thought she better put some underwear and socks on. If you look at her butt you'll notice the tag is sideways and down on her cheek...that's because she has her hips through a leg hole. I wish I could fit my hips through a leg hole!

Cuddling with Mommy and Ollie

Brynn's new favorite thing to do is "cuddle." She can get me to drop just about anything to cuddle with her. And of course, if we are on the floor we usually have at least one, if not two, dogs joining us.

Christmas Tree Farm

Brynn, Darren, Katie, Tom, and I spent the morning at the Christmas tree farm in Hampton. She had the most fun encouraging all of us to run as we were pulling her sled. You would think it wouldn't be hard to pull 22 pounds around, but her sled was not made to be used in deep snow. We all sure got a work out--her giggles were enough to keep us going though!

We went on a sleigh ride with Santa and even got to pet the reindeer (mules) when we were finished.
Brynners watching Daddy cut down the tree.

Family photo op!

Brynn loved being pulled around in her sled. As we dressed for the weather she had a difficult time walking. She got out of her sled a few times, but always decided it was much easier being pulled around.

Hop Up In There

Brynn was waiting for me to finish making her breakfast last weekend and was getting quite impatient. I took the tray off her high chair and told her to hop up in there. To my surprise she did and continues to do so at almost every meal--she's getting really good at it too! She is such a little monkey these days!

SNOW!

We had our first big snowfall Tuesday night to Wednesday morning. Brynn had a great time out helping Dad shovel. She even took a little break and played in the big snow banks. It was all fun and games until snow got into her gloves!

Earning Her Keep!

Katie let Brynn help her with the breakfast dishes this morning. It took her 25 minutes to wash 4 items and there was more water on the floor and the chair she was standing on than in the sink, but she was sure proud of herself for, "helpin.'" Let's hope she doesn't think she needs to help every time!

Holidazzle Parade

Last night Darren and I took Brynn to the Holidazzle Parade. Unfortunately we missed all the parades last summer so we were quite anxious to see her reaction as the last time she was at a parade was when she was four months old. She LOVED it! As it is held on the streets near the Nicollet Mall traffic continued to travel with the traffic lights. Every time the light was green for the traffic and the parade was stalled Brynn would look up at us and sign and say, "More?" We kept assuring her there would be more. She would squeal with delight as soon as she saw the first hint of a lit up float. The best part was when she saw Santa. We had previously talked about him and that he brings all the good little boys and girls presents on Christmas morning. We pointed him out and she quickly said, "Bynnie pesents!" and "ho, ho." Christmas is going to be so much fun this year!!

Water Park

We met the Eckhoffs on Tuesday night in Owatonna to go to a water park. Brynn and Peyton had so much fun. Unfortunately, this was the only picture I got of the two of them. It is hard to keep two toddlers in the same place at the same time! Brynn especially loved the BIG waterslide. Darren took her down the first time and they dunked under after hitting the water. I was quite nervous about Brynn's reaction as she typically doesn't like to get her eyes wet. But, to our surprise she surfaced and said, "AGAIN!" She even stayed up until 9:30 that night! This is the latest she has ever been awake in the history of her life.

Helping Daddy

Darren recently painted the entire downstairs--which doesn't seem like it would be a huge task, but it was. As every room leads into another there really wasn't a stopping point until it was finished. Brynn was fascinated with the ladder and would climb on it at every opportunity. Clothed or not, it didn't matter. The downstairs, by the way, looks fastastic. If this whole band thing doesn't work out I think he has a career in professional painting!

Hiding

One of Brynn's favorite new things to do is hide. It doesn't really seem to matter where...behind the couch, behind her shower curtain, or in a cupboard. Once she is in her hiding place she likes to yell, "Where are you?" and we have to go looking for her. She is so much fun!!

"I Swimmin'."

Each night after Brynn's bath, while the tub drains, she thinks she has to go "swimmin'." And she repeats over and over again, "I swimmin', I swimmin',..." Swimmin' consists of laying in the tub on her belly and squirming around. She is such a goon. As soon as all the water is drained she'll look up and say. "All done."

Potty!!

Last week was a HUGE milestone for Brynn. She began going pee on the potty! Lynn, Brynn's daycare provider, told us she was going to have Brynn potty trained before Christmas. Darren and I were both quite skeptical and really didn't know that that would happen. Well, once Brynn sets her mind to something she rarely will give up. I am so proud of her determination--what a great quality to have! Potty training began on Monday, November 3, and she had accidents all day. Tuesday, November 4, was a huge success with no pee accidents. This held true for the rest of the week. The one area we are still working on is pooping in the toilet...although tonight she was successful. I believe we will hit the Christmas goal and if I was a betting woman I would say she will be fully potty trained by Thanksgiving...at just 20 months! Congratulations, Brynn. You are such a BIG GIRL! We love you so much!!

It's always best to watch the pee come out!

Cookin'

Auntie Key (Katie) loves Brynn's help in the kitchen and Brynn loves helping her just as much. When we ask her what she is doing she will reply, "I cookin."

Not too sure of the sticky dough for the pie crust.

Mmmm, mmmm, mmmm Spaghetti

Spaghetti is the one meal Brynn absolutely loves. As most of you know she is darn close to being a vegetarian. In this meal she doesn't even bat an eye at the ground hamburger or turkey. You may wonder if she is even getting any in her stomach by the looks of her face, but I assure you there is much more in her belly than on her face!

Happy Halloween

Brynn had a great time trick-or-treating. We only stopped at three houses in our neighborhood, but she said trick-or-treat all three times as well as thank you twice and love you once! It's ok to get a little confused when you're only 19 months, right?!?

We ran into Batman and Robin (aka Max and Keagan) at one house. They are one of the kindergarten teacher's 4 year old adorable twins.

And what Halloween would be complete without Ollie and Colby's annual photo? Cheesy is a pumpkin and Ollie is a fire hydrant (that he is busting out of...because he is so beefy!) Hopefully we can upgrade next year...

Chocolate

Brynn had her first taste of chocolate today. She had a party at Lynn's today and received several trick-or-treat bags. One bag had a couple Krackel candies in it and she firgured out how to open it right away. She took one little bite and said, "Mmmm." I asked her if Mommy could have a bite and she said very firmly, "No, Brynnies!" Most often she is very good about sharing her food or at least will offer it to us then trick us right before it gets to our mouths. Not this time!

I Love Peanut Butter Sammiches

Especially when it was Daddy's.

Jammin'

Rockin' out with Dad's iPod.

Fall Fun

Smelling the pumpkin. Yeah, she's a little strange. By the way she did say pew after taking a big sniff out of the pumpkin.
Helping Mommy "keen" out the pumkins.

"Daddy's kumpin, Mommy's kumpin, dats Brynnie's kumpin."

This is so much fun. Do you think Mom will notice if I take my hat off?

Making My Daddy Proud

Apple Picking

Brynn thought the best part of going to the Apple Orchard was picking the apples, of course! She had a great time pulling one apple after another off the trees and sampling each one of them. If she didn't like it she would spit out that bite, throw the apple on the ground, and try another. She's such a nut!!

Apple Orchard

Darren, I and Brynn enjoyed a beautiful Saturday afternoon at an apple orchard. We're finding the older she gets the more fun it is to take her places. She had a great time...

mooing like a cow,
taking a ride on Dad's shoulders,

going for a hay ride,

and picking apples.

Look how much Brynners has grown in just one year!