Busy Week

It has been a busy week. Being one is hard work. I now have 6 teeth, four on top, two on bottom. Last night Daddy took Mommy and me to the Greeley Stampede for fair food. I had my first corn dog. It was ok. Then we walked around the fairgrounds looking at the games and rides. We even watched the rodeo horses being herded into the arena. Mommy didn't get any pictures of that, but she got a few others this week. Here's one of me from this afternoon. All that shopping wears me out!! Starting tomorrow I get to sit in a new carseat. I'm not quite heavy enough to be forward facing, but I am almost too long (I have a 1/4 inch to go) before I am too tall for this one. So Mommy decided that I needed a new seat, one that can convert from rear to forward facing once I reach 20 pounds.
When I woke up from my nap, I went swimming in my new pool! It was very fun. I like being outside and I especially love water!
I learned how to TaDa this week. I throw up my arms and say "Da". However, in the video, Mommy forgot that I had picked up my pacifer and so when I finally get around to throwing my hands up my mouth is full so I don't "DA". But it's still cute so Mommy wanted you to see!Mommy is lucky. She has such a wonderful place to work. This week a doe and her twin fawns came to visit. Mommy got a picture of one of the little fawns. I just get to "torture" a kitty everyday!
I also learned how to really climb this week. So now the couch is not safe from me.

Birthday Surprise

Daddy surprised Mommy and I for my birthday. I was busy playing, starting to get ready for my morning nap, when I look up and Daddy is there. He came early to pick me up so that we could go take Mommy out to lunch. When we get up to Estes, Mommy was busy at her computer when I walk into her office. She was very surprised to see us. Daddy is always full of suprises!! Mommy thought it was a wonderful birthday surprise, both for me and also for her birthday (which is on Wednesday).

I am now officially one year old! Daddy says my birthday celebration is the longest he's seen. We had my party Saturday, at church people sang Happy Birthday to me and then today Mommy came into my room this morning to say Happy Birthday first thing!! But it has been a good weekend. Yesterday after church we had our annual mountain picnic. Mommy was miserable because the pine pollen was very thick in the air and she couldn't stop sneezing or blowing her nose. So we only went on a very short hike, whereas Daddy did the whole hike. I also got watermelon straight from the rind--very fun and very messy! Notice that I have to have one for each hand!!

Growing Up!

Here's just a few pictures to show how much I've grown in the last year. The first picture is from Father's Day last year (6 days before I was born). Notice Daddy's beard!! The 2nd picture is my Baptism Day, when I was 2 weeks old. The last two pictures are from my birthday party! Not only have I grown, but the oak tree behind us as also grown this past year. It's taller than Mommy and Daddy now.

Let's Party

Yesterday, I had my birthday party. I wasn't quite sure all day whether I would have fun or not. Mommy and Daddy were busy with things, and I was in misery breaking through a new tooth (my 5th one!). All I wanted was to be held, but Mommy kept saying that she had to get things done. Finally she realized I was in pain and gave me some medicine. That helped a little, but things really looked up when people started arriving and I finally got ALL the attention! Most of Daddy's family was able to come, Aunt Rachel, Pastor and Irene, and friends from down the street. It was fun to have so many friends to play with. Daddy grilled hot dogs and Mommy had bought watermelon, so supper was excellent. After we ate, Mommy cleaned me up so that I could open presents. The box was pretty fun to play with!!

Then came the fun part--cake!! The frosting was the best part of the whole thing.

Well, all in all I had a very Happy Birthday party. I imagine my actual birthday will be just as good.

Random pictures!

Here are some cute pictures of me!! I have decided that the closer I am to my toys the better.
You should hear me play piano, I'm pretty good. Notice my cute ponytail.

Blueberries

Mommy made waffles last week and had blueberries with it. Once Mommy put the blueberries on my tray, I ignored everything else. Here's just a few pictures of my excitement and the mess I made.

Family Time

We just got back from a vacation, just a short weekend getaway. G&G gave Mommy and Daddy a timeshare week more than a year ago. They finally got around to using it and decided that they just couldn't be away from me that long, so they took me with. We had lots of fun. We took our time getting to the condo on Saturday, stopping to let Daddy get a hair cut and to eat lunch. Once we settled in Mommy and I explored the resort and decided to go swimming before supper. I found another thing I love about the outdoors--pools!!! The best thing about our room was that it was on the ground level and had a fenced in patio. Mommy and Daddy would leave the screen door open and I could walk in and out, in and out--loads of fun I tell you!

Sunday morning when Mommy and I got up we decided to go for a walk and explore the town of Avon where we were staying, while Daddy was still relaxing. When we got back to the hotel, Daddy decided since it was Father's Day he got to decide what to do for the day. Mommy and I discussed it and agreed that was a good plan. Daddy chose to go for a drive. So we headed out of Avon and started towards Leadville on the scenic byway. It was an absolute gorgeous drive, although I slept through most of it!!! But Mommy and Daddy enjoyed it! Once we got to Leadville we tried to find a spot to have a picnic lunch. While looking Daddy saw a sign saying that Independence Pass was open. So after consulting a map (to see where Independence Pass led) Daddy decided we should continue on. So we headed to Aspen, driving past Mt. Elbert (highest point in Colorado). I started getting a little hungry by this time, since we weren't finding a picnic area. We finally go to the top of the pass and stopped to eat, with all the snow still on the ground! There were tons of snowboarders, skiers and snowmobilers all having fun. Without consulting me, Daddy decided it was too windy to have a picnic, so we started back down. But at least Daddy jumped in the backseat with me so that I could eat some cheese and have some apple juice. Almost at the bottom we finally found a picnic area. After eating we went on a short hike to go see some ice caves and cascading waterfalls. Mommy even let me hike some. I'm getting pretty good at this whole walking thing. Just watch!!

We got back into the car and continued to Aspen, which was pretty busy with a wine festival and skiing. That's right--skiing in June. Aspen got so much snow earlier this week that they decided to open the very top runs for Father's Day weekend! So in the town of Aspen it was 70+ degrees and people are skiing! Anyhow, I fell asleep again on the way back to the interstate. When we got to Glenwood Springs Mommy and Daddy checked out the hot springs and decided that might be the thing to do the next day.

So Monday morning after sleeping in some (almost 8 am!!) eating breakfast, and packing a lunch, off we went to the "stinky" pools. But I didn't let the sulfur smell stand in my way of having fun. Since I slept in the car on the way to the pool, I just needed to eat and then I was ready to go. I swam up and down the length of the pool. I tried out the kiddie pool, but Mommy wouldn't let me walk in it without her holding on to my hand and I wasn't too keen on the fountain in the middle so we went back to the "big" pool pretty quickly. I learned how to "jump" off the side into Daddy's waiting arms. We stayed and played for almost 4 hours. I was pretty tired when we got back in the car, so I slept all the way back to Avon.

Tuesday morning our time was up at the condo. However, we still had time to go for a quick swim in the hotel pool, where I perfected my "jump" off the side and the steps. Well, now we are home and I have to go make sure all my toys are still in order. Plus I need to help Mommy fold laundry.

Pictures

Yesterday Mommy took me to get my pictures taken. I can't believe I am almost a year old. This year has been so busy and so filled with all sorts of learning. I was a little unsure at first about the whole picture thing, but I got comfortable near the end. Mommy kept laughing at my response to the flash; my facial expressions and eye blinks!! But hey it was bright. This is just a sample of pictures that we didn't purchase. Mommy was even trying to get into the picture!!!

Walking

I took 6 steps yesterday evening. Watch my video, Mommy caught it on camera!! I have walked a few times, but usually just a step or two, but last night I was on a roll. I walked at least 5 times in the course of the evening.
Another exciting event in my life was that on Sunday Mommy took me on a hike using the backpack. Here is a pretty good picture of my family. Mommy really thinks I look like Daddy in this picture. Mommy also had to take a picture of me sleeping. Appartently I look pretty cute. I usually end up in the corner of my crib, on my belly with my feet under me and my butt in the air. But this time I twisted myself around and am grabbing the side post.

Well, that is the excitement in my life. I will keep exploring and get back to you soon.

Sunday Mornings

I have decided that Sunday mornings are my favorite time. Like every morning it is just Mommy and I awake (we let Daddy sleep in on Sundays since usually he is always the first one up and gone!), but Mommy is not in a rush to get to work so she actually spends time playing with me rather than just a quick tickle or two like weekday mornings. Besides its bath day and what is more fun than baths?! This morning I decided to sit and read my books while Mommy laid on the couch trying to wake up. It's like she thinks 6:30 is early or something. Anyhow, enjoy this picture of me sitting in my Elmo chair reading.

I've had a busy week. Early Wednesday morning my aunt Rachel came into town to work at the YMCA all summer. She played my favorite game with me that night. She's pretty good at "Going to Get Brileigh" game! Although she was attempting to change the rules by trying to get me to chase her. I only play those rules when playing with Daddy (or so he told Mommy)! Last night Mommy's cousin Zach came into town. He's going to go to church with us this morning. Two visitors in one week, how lucky can a girl get!!

I also had a few big accomplishments this week. Thursday morning I cut my fourth tooth. I'm still working on one more, but I can only handle one at a time. I also climbed the whole staircase this week. See the video below for that excitement.
Mommy also finally got around to putting my seat on the back of her bike. Once we did that then Mommy and I went for a bike ride while Daddy was working. It was pretty fun. I got to see a lot more of the neighborhood then when we go for a walk in the stroller.

The only down thing about this week is that I got a cold from all my playing outside last weekend. So my nose as been runny all week. I have learned though when Mommy comes and "attacks" me with those Kleenexes she is just trying to help, so I don't fight as much as I used to. I just let her do her thing and then its over and I can go back to playing!

While I better get back to exploring my world so I will have something to update you with next time.