Christmas Break

We hope everyone had a great Christmas! We had a long and uneventful Christmas break. We spent a lot of time at home because of the snow. Unfortunately, we still haven't celebrated Christmas at the Maddens' due to the weather and the flu. Hopefully, they all feel better soon! Brody and Brynn got to go play in the snow for the first time over the holiday and they loved it! I wish we could have let them stay out and play longer. A big thank you to everyone, especially Grandma Farnan, for all the fun toys and money they got! B and B have had a lot of fun playing with everything! They are continuing to surprise us everyday with all the new things they are learning. Bryan told me that when he was changing Brynn's diaper the other day, she said, "it's cold in here." She is also trying to tickle everyone, including Truman, saying "ticka ticka ticka" while she does it. It is too cute! Brody told me "nighty night" the other day when we were playing....too bad he didn't mean it at the time:) He has really been fighting sleep lately. He has been saying "no" a lot, probably because he has heard me tell him that a lot over the last 5 days being home with them:) We love to watch them interact with each other. We often see them passing their sippy cup back and forth when they're in their high chairs and even hold hands sometimes! They have definitely developed their own language because we hear them jabber back and forth when we put them in their cribs and they just laugh and laugh. It is really sweet to hear! We hope everyone has a safe and happy New Year!

Busted!

First Time Meeting Santa!

This weekend we took B and B to see Santa Clause at Bass Pro Shop. Brody couldn't get away from Santa Clause fast enough and started crying! Brynn didn't mind sitting on Santa's lap at all. She was smiling and might have even been flirting a little with Santa! The girl knows how to get what she wants already:) B and B are really starting to pick up a lot of words. I told Bryan we are really going to have to start watching what we say in front of them. Brody is still running every chance he can get and loves it when you chase him! He is "all boy" and loves to play with his tractor, hammer, and anything he can carry while he runs. He has a great sense of humor and loves to laugh and be goofy. Brynn is becoming quite the girly girl. She loves to carry bags around and play with my shoes and clothes. I caught her trying to wear my shoes the other night! I have started letting her play with some of my purses and jewelry. She is a very good "sharer" and I often find her trying to feed Brody or trying to give Truman a drink out of her bottle or food from her high chair. They both have learned to scream (LOUDLY) when they don't get what they want or when they are fighting over toys. We are working on them using their words and not "blood curdling" screams, but the progress is not coming as quickly as we would like:) Bryan celebrated his 32nd birthday on Friday! Happy Birthday Daddy! We love you!

The Flu Bug Landed at Our House

We have all had the flu this week. Brody got sick on Wednesday afternoon, and then the rest of us woke up Saturday morning sick. Thankfully, it was just the 24 hour flu! I am surprised that B and B and I got sick because we all had the flu and H1N1 vaccines. However, B and B still need to get 1 more flu vaccine to be totally immunized, but I am thinking what's the point now? Bryan and I were pretty bummed that we were sick on Saturday night because we had a big work Christmas party that we missed. I'm sure it won't be the last one we miss due to sick kids. Brody says to tell Grandma Farnan that he is awfully sorry he got her sick, but he sure liked his cuddles he got when he wasn't feeling well:) Also, thank you to Grandma Madden, Lexie, Avorey, and Tavia for bringing us OJ and Sprite! Today, we went and finally got new carseats! Brynn seems to really like her new seat. She kept sitting in it while we were getting them all ready to put in the car. Hopefully, we get some LIGHT snow this week. We can't wait to see B and B's reaction to their first snow! Plus, Truman loves snow!

Thanksgiving Break

We hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving! We had a nice and busy Thanksgiving break. Grandma Farnan, Fred, and John came down on Thursday. We had a fabulous Thanksgiving meal! Bryan did a great job on the turkey! Thursday night we celebrated at the Maddens. Then Mom and I decided to head to The Legends at midnight to do some Black Friday shopping. I think I am safe to say that we will never do that again! The amount of people out shopping was ridiculous. Mom and I both decided that we are just not that "die hard" of shopppers:( However, I have always wanted to get up early and go shopping, so now I know why I haven't before:) On Saturday, Bryan and I went to the MU game. It was great to get to hang out with Valerie and Phil. Congrats to the Tigers for their victory and for crushing KU's chances of getting a bowl game! Thanks to Grandma Farnan and Fred for babysitting! Today we put up our Christmas tree, or maybe I should say Christmas tree topper, on top of the dining room hutch. After spending some time at Grandma Madden's on Thanksgiving with all her Christmas "pretties" out, we decided not to put up a tree. We don't want to spend the next month yelling at our kids to leave the tree alone. However, our little tree topper looks pretty and serves it purpose:) Hopefully, next year we can go "all out" for Christmas again!

Brody's First Haircut

After much debating, we decided it was time for Brody to have his first haircut! He did really good (the sucker helped)! He wasn't so sure about the clippers though. After he got his haircut, I was shocked at how much I thought he looked like me. B and B have become quite the climbers over the last week. Brody climbed out of his crib Friday night. We got quite the scare when we heard the "thunk". His crib mattress was at the second lowest setting, now it is as low as it goes. I have no idea what we are going to do if he climbs out again. Brynn is really starting to love getting dressed up. I am having so much fun dressing her! I love it when she has something on that she likes and feels pretty in. She walks all around the house waiting for someone to comment on her outfit and make a big deal over her. It is quite precious! She grabbed a bucket out of the toy box the other night and took it over to the corner and sat on it and pooped her pants! I am hoping this is a sign that she is going to be an easy potty trainer! She has also started whispering. I tell her secrets a lot and I guess now she wants to tell me some! We got our family pictures taken yesterday. The shoot went as well as expected with two 12 1/2 month olds and Truman. Hopefully, we got some good ones!

1 Year Doctor's Appointment

Last Thursday, B and B had their 1 year doctor's appointment. Brody weighed 23 lbs. and was 30 3/4 inches tall (50%, 75%). Brynn weighed 23 lbs. and was 31 inches tall (90%, 95%). They each received 4 shots:( Brynn cried a little and then was "over it". Brody really cried for a while. Their appointment went well, but Dr. Gilmer doesn't want them taking bottles anymore. We are working on that SLOWLY. Their next appointment isn't until they're 15 months. This weekend, we went to the circus with my friend Angela and her boys. B and B were good for the first hour and then they got bored. I can't even remember the last time I went to the circus. It was probably over 2o years ago:( Next weekend we are getting 1 year/family pictures taken. Fingers crossed that EVERYONE behaves for some good photos!

She Did It, No He Did It!

We're a little late posting about Halloween, but this picture captures our kids to a "T"! A lot of people have asked us what we dressed B and B up for Halloween this year and we decided not to dress them up. For one thing, we didn't want to spend the money on costumes that they would only wear one time and plus with the weather and it being flu season we decided to just stay home and greet the trick-or-treaters. We promise we will dress them up next year! B and B are growing up so fast! We switched them to whole milk a couple of weeks ago and they are adjusting well. They are still getting about four bottles a day, which sounds like a lot, but is an improvement over the numerous 4 oz. bottles they were getting throughout the day. It was just easier to give them 4 oz. at a time since one can't have a bottle if the other one does. We are slowly switching them over to sippy cups. Brody is now running instead of walking! He is still on the move all the time and can't seem to get places fast enough! He loves all things "boy" and being outside as much as he can. He is really getting interested in books, but doesn't quite have the attention span for the longer books like Brynn does. Brynn has become very interested in dancing and is quite the "booty shaker" and has even got Brody "shaking it" to some tunes. She definitely has a mind of her own and is quite independent. She loves to play in the closets and go "shopping", as we call it, and sees what all she can get off the hangers. She loves being outside also and all things "girly", except bows in her hair:( I'm hoping she starts letting me put things in her hair again. They are keeping us quite busy! This week they have their 1 year appointment, so we are anxious to see their stats!

Brody and Brynn's First Birthday!

On Halloween, we celebrated Brody and Brynn's first birthday! We had a party at our house with family and friends. We couldn't have asked for a better first birthday party for B and B. Thank you everyone for the great toys and wonderful clothes! Also, a BIG thank you to Grandma Farnan for helping us with the party and for the wagon! B and B love it! As happy as this celebration was, I am a bit sad my babies are already one. They are growing up faster than I ever imagined.

It's Party Time...Almost!

On Friday, B and B turn 1 years old! Wow, I can't believe it has been a year! We are having their birthday party at 1pm on Halloween at our house. Everyone is invited! B and B are both feeling better and getting more and more onery by the second. Brody has really been talking a lot this week. Unfortunately, I have been waking up to him jabbering away at 5 am in his crib. He usually just jabbers and laughes for a while and then goes back to sleep. He has also discovered how to flush the toilets, which is not a good thing because he also likes to throw his toys in the toilet:( He must have flushed the toilet 10 times on Saturday. So, now the bathroom doors are staying closed! Brynn's new favorite play area is the kitchen. She loves to sit in the tupperware cabinet and play in the Lazy Susan and our walk-in pantry. We had her out of the pantry for a while by making sure the doors were shut tight, but the 'lil stinker found out that she can get her fingers under the doors and if she pulls hard enough, the doors will open. She is a very determined little girl and if she wants something bad enough, she WILL find a way to get to it! Bryan and I went to Columbia yesterday for Homecoming. A big thank you to Grandma Madden and Avorey for babysitting! We had a good time, eventhough the Tigers lost:(

Both Pumpkins on Antibiotics:(

We have had another busy week as usual. On Tuesday, Bryan took Brynn to Urgent Care at KU. She had a sore on her bottom that became infected. They started her on antibiotics and she is doing much better! Yesterday, Grandma Farnan, John, and us went to Red Barn Farm, the apple orchard, and to Pirtle Winery in Weston. B and B enjoyed seeing all of the animals and even got to pet a goat! Apparently, Mommy got to close to the goat because he bit my sweater! Fortunately, I noticed it before he could actually take a bite out of it. Today, I spent the morning in Urgent Care at Children's Mercy with Brody. He has had a cold for several weeks and it had gotten a lot worse on Friday. He started having difficulty breathing and was retracting, his nasal drainage turned green, and he was coughing a lot. They gave him a breathing treatment and he got deep suctioned. He really didn't improve much after that so they did a chest x-ray. Fortunately, his chest x-ray was clear so they diagnosed him with bronchiolitis and an ear infection. So, now I have two pumpkins on antibiotics. Thank goodness, our kids are good medicine takers! Hopefully, everyone gets feeling better soon because we have a birthday party to plan:)

Brynn is Walking!

Well, we have been in our new house about 2 weeks now. We are mostly settled in and it is starting to feel like home. Surprisingly, we like Raymore more than we thought we would. B and B have adjusted well to the move. Brody is constantly on the move and never seems to slow down much! He loves to walk around the house carrying anything he can get his hands on. He has had a huge appetite lately. He's going to be a good eater like his Daddy:) He is also becoming quite the Momma's boy and doesn't let me out of his site for too long. Brynn starting walking the weekend we moved in! She is a very curious little girl and in to everything! Her favorite play place is in the toilet, so we have to be careful not to leave the lids up:) Bryan and I are continuously amazed at how smart she is. We love to watch her "read" her books. She opens up her books and points at the words and just jabbers. It is so cute! B and B are also starting to play together more. I love hearing them both giggle when they play together, which is mostly in the curtains. I have enrolled them in Raymore's Parents as Teachers, so we are looking forward to getting them involved in some of the local activities.

Brody and Brynn's Baptism

Last Sunday, Sept. 27th, Brody and Brynn were baptized. Brody cried while he was getting baptized, but Brynn did pretty well. Church was long for them because I forgot to pack toys and they were both tired. We really did not have much time to celebrate after church because we were moving that day. However, Brody and Brynn sure enjoyed their cake!