Cleaning up to catch fire

Today was a cleaning day. 

Brynlee even helped me with the laundry! 

It was a pretty successful cleaning day. 

We'll finish up tomorrow though because we didn't accomplish all of it today. 

Which was okay. 

We spent some of the day cleaning, and some of it spending time together.

I helped Brynlee grab her toesies,

Then Greg and Brynlee sang nursery rhymes together - it was so cute :)

The time spent bonding is what really matters :)

That's why the Mr and I even took time tonight to go on a date to watch Hunger Games: Catching Fire. 

Let me tell you, if you haven't seen it yet, go! 

Definitely worth it. 

Oh, and we were the only ones in our theater. 

But don't worry, we still focused on the movie! ;)

Well, except for when our friends watching Brynlee sent us these photos of her: 

The texts included praises about how amazing and easy she is. 

I'm so happy (and grateful!) other people love and have an easy time watching our precious little daughter. 

we are tired

the past three nights little miss Brynlee hasn't slept as well as the previous week. 

the Mr. and I got used to her only waking up 2-3 times during the night and having at least two 5 hour stretches. 

well, Saturday night she didn't get to bed at her usual time and it has since messed up her sleeping schedule and she is struggling to get back on it. 

we are all suffering.

Sunday night was just awful because every time we put Brynlee in her crib, she would scream bloody murder like we were leaving her and she was being neglected (which we weren't!).

she'd get to that even if she had fallen asleep in our arms!

so the end result was, she spend all but two hours of the night in bed with momma and daddy. 

therefore, we didn't sleep well because we were too much on "alert" so we didn't squish the baby in our bed. 

here's to hoping this week we can get her back to her normal schedule! 

(how we all felt today)

Little Moments

I love these moments where little miss Brynlee and I can just lay on the floor and bond. 

Greg said we must've been having one of those "mother-daughter" talks because Brynlee was very talkative - and he wasn't allowed to interrupt. 

It's the little moments like this that make motherhood worth the sleepless/restless nights and sacrifices completely worth it. 

love :)

(nomnomnom... we're getting to the "everything goes to the mouth stage)

(oh, no... not the duck face already!)

and for pure random enjoyment... we were honored to see this guy while ordering fries at Chick-fil-a

(the "eat more chicken!" cow hanging out by the drive-thru speaker)

mesmerized

this little girl is already mesmerized by technology.
she loves looking at herself while we take photos on my computer. hehe
what a cutie :)

 "hm, what is this weird effect?"

 alien effect...weird!

 "the screen keeps changing what i look like!"

siamese brynlee!

January has been full of firsts!

shortly after the new year started, Brynlee spent her first night alone in her bedroom.

(she had been sleeping in her bassinet in our room until then)

i hardly slept that night. 

she did great though! 

then, the second week of january she had her two month doctor's appointment.

during which Brynlee experienced her first vaccination shots.

poor girl - she was miserable afterwards. 

good thing she slept most of the rest of the day!

(after shots)

tonight, Brynlee is sleeping in her crib for the first time!

we'll see how well she likes it compared to the bassinet.

so far, so good!

here's to many more firsts for my baby girl.

Christmas, Blessings, and New Talents

This year, we went to California to spend Christmas with the Harston side of the family.

I have to admit, it was weird not going home to Washington for Christmas.

On top of that, my family had a hard Christmas, and I wasn't there to help be support.

That was hard for me.

However, it was wonderful spending Christmas in California.

We got a break from the snow and freezing temperatures for a week!

Greg and I actually went for a walk without jackets - it was splendid!

Brynlee was a little tired after our walk (pictured below)

Such a cutie! (notice the minion hat - credit to Katie for making it for her)

(better picture of the minion hat)

This is how Brynlee spent Christmas - with a cold - sleeping all day long!

Poor little girl! 

Good thing she doesn't partake in the fun of Christmas day and opening presents - yet. 

She got to cuddle mom & dad all day. We didn't mind one bit! ;)

Once we returned to the frozen city of Rexburg, my parents came to visit! 

We celebrated my dad's birthday while they were here. 

And Brynlee enjoyed hanging out with Grandma & Grandpa Zumstein - Grandpa told her lots of stories

(Brynlee listening to one of Grandpa's stories)

Then, on the 5th of January we had Brynlee's baby blessing at the LDS church! (Questions? - ask me about it!)

It was so wonderful watching my husband and father standing up there giving my precious daughter a blessing.

I loved being able to see her surrounded by wonderful men who hold the priesthood power.

(family there for the blessing)

(our beautiful little family <3 p="">

Here are a few more pictures for your viewing pleasure!

(She loves Mr. Monkey! They nap together)

(caught playing with her new toy! she can grasp it and move it around)

(enthralled by the front-facing camera on my phone and the baby staring back at her!)

Now, for a few videos!

(playing with her new toy)

(she looks as though she's trying to ride the horse! hehe)

I had another cute video of Greg singing to Brynlee before bed, but he did not want it on the internet. So you'll just have to imagine that one. :)