Springfield---Walk Down Memory Lane.

For our 3rd wedding anniversary we decided to head down to Springfield (where Bry spent most of his "growing up years") for a walk down memory lane.

Famous frozen custard from Andy's.

after attending church at his old ward.

We spent the weekend with Ben & Ashley.
Thanks for EVERYTHING guys!

After a visit with the Zahn Family.

Ben & Ashley made us breakfast in bed AND THEN watched Brie ALL day long so that Bry and I could enjoy our anniversary just the two of us.

Bry's old house was up for sale and the real estate agent was so nice to let us walk through it. It was fun to hear Bry reminisce and share fun memories associated with each room.

We got AMAZING sandwiches at an international market...French & German sodas too.

We visited Bry's old high school....KICKAPOO High.


One of Bry's science teachers.

I have to admit that nausea hit me HARD on this trip, but other than that we had a WONDERFUL time. It was so fun to finally see Bry's old stomping grounds AND so sweet of Ben & Ashley to let us stay with them.

Twenty-Two Months Later.

I recently did a post ALL about Brie...so you'll have to check there to read about what she's been up to lately. But just wanted to post a picture from a photo shoot I did of her yesterday. For more pictures, see my Belle Petite Photo Blog.

Hope you're all enjoying this Autumn
weather as much as we are :0)

Play dates.

Can I just say that one of my favorite things about living here is the built-in community?! There are AT LEAST 8 other LDS stay-at-home moms who live in our complex and it's been so nice having them around for play dates, walking groups, and so on. They have made the transition SO much better!

Here are a few pictures from a play date we did (9 August 2010) at the complex's club house.

LOVE THESE GIRLS!
(Diana & Anna, Lissa & Kylea, Lea & Mazy, Cynthia & Peter--
Laura & Hannah had already left for nap time)

YAY for Park Forest!
Yay for other stay-at-home Moms!

Grant's Farm.

(14 August 2010)

(I love how beautiful and GREEN it is here in St. Louis. Wowsers.)

(Hmmm...I wondered why we were interested by the storks :0))

(You can tell it was a little warm that day. The best time of year would be later in the Fall or maybe in mid-Spring. It was a little warmer and more humid than we would have preferred, but we still enjoyed ourselves. After all, it's not every day we get to do outings with Bry!)

the Best Birthday Present...is coming.

(13 August 2010)

Bry's bday started off with biscuits & gravy for breakfast.

(In honor of his Dad's bday cookies, I made a
Ranger Cookie in the shape of a B. B for Bryan.)

It was later that morning that I found out that I was expecting! I decided it'd be fun to tell Bryan as part of his birthday present.

Growing up his Mom often did scavenger hunts that led to the birthday individual's presents. I decided it'd be fun to follow suite.

(some of the clues)

(Bry about to find his present)

(My card to him...with some particularly important information)

Later that night we had Kate & Steve over for quesadillas and then the four of us put together Bry's raspberry triple chocolate trifle.








Without Bry knowing, I had invited the families from our ward (who also live in our complex) over for some birthday dessert. After dinner families started showing up. Within 15 minutes the living room was full, Kate & Steve were dishing up trifle and Bry & I were handing it out. I was so touched by all the families who came...having known us for less than a month. Anyway, it was so wonderful celebrating Bry's bday AND especially finding out that Baby Graden #2 would be coming to our family!

RAMS.

(11 August 2010)

Although I am really not much of a sports fan---other than a little BYU football here and there thanks to the Gradens starting to rub off on me :0)---Brie and I decided to accompany Kate & Steve to watch part of the Rams training Camp. They wanted to see the new rookie play... worth at least $50 million!







Kate & Steve really know their way around St. Louis so I'm trying to to get out with them when I can. Little by little I'm getting to know St. Louis.

Our little girl.

(Yes, I finally cute Brie's bangs. It was time :0))

I have to dedicate a post to Brie. She has grown up SO much since we moved! Her vocabulary has taken off and it's fun to understand more and more of her words. She has also started putting words together to make simple sentences. It's fun to see how just that has expanded her ability to communicate with us. She is definitely in the parroting stage so we have to be extra careful how and what we say :0)

Some of our favorite phrases include:

"Frozen nummy" (our friends' yummy ice cream dessert)

"Mowing grass" (when the yard crew is mowing the lawn)

"Thunders loud" (after getting scared by a loud clap of thunder, I explained to her what the sound was.)

"Mama sick" (she usually says this when I'm having a yucky, nauseated, tired day and am resting on the couch)

"Baby sleeping" (referring to her dolls in their crib)

"Whatch'ya doing?" (when I was working in the kitchen on dinner)

"Hi, how's it going?" (coming down the stairs and greeting me and Bry on the couch :0))


Aside from talking, she has definitely entered the TWO yr-old stage. She likes to do things on her own and gets frustrated when she can't figure something out--that's about the only time she doesn't mind being helped. She LOVES putting on different outfits and shoes. She pulls out a variety of shirts and pants and showcases her latest ensemble, which is often very creatively worn :0) She is such a girly girl...not to mention her fetish with shoes.

She is my new helper around the house. Since our washer and dryer are in different closets (4 feet apart), she helps me transport the wet clothes into the dryer. Last night I even got her to load on the dirty clothes into the washer. It's so cute to see her helping out in little ways, and it's fun to work alongside of her.

When she's not playing in her room she usually likes being in the same room as me, or running up and down the hall from the living room to the dining room and back. Her new favorite hideout is in the dryer closet.

Let's see what else?

Typically in the morning I go into Brie's room, get her out of her crib, change her diaper, get her dressed (she usually insists on wearing a "clip"), then we walk down the stairs together hand in hand (which is something else she usually requests---"[h]and, [h]and"---it's so sweet holding her little hand as she carefully steps down each stair.) and then she runs into the dining room and says "good morning" to her dada where he's studying at the table.

She has starting jumping and it's done with such vigor and vim :0)

She LOVES music and always points out the "[m]usic" playing when we go into stores and such. She also loves to sing and to plunk away at the piano!

OH, we taught her to give "bisous" like they do in France...one kiss on each cheek. We love it! Bry is also teaching her to say, "je t'aime" (I love you, in French).

In any case, our little Brie is growing up, and it's crazy how fast it happens. Like I recently commented on a friends' blog, Watching them grow up is so bitter-sweet, eh? Sometimes I think of Brie being all grown up and no longer our jabbering, giggly little toddler :0( It's good that they grow, but sad...and that's good too I guess. It reminds us to treasure the moments as they come.

Now I DO just need to remember to treasure the moments as they come and to graciously handle the hiccups along the way.

Sure love you Brie. Lots and LOTS! And hope you know it...every day :0)