2013 Fun

So far, 2013 has been a pretty good year! I mentioned in my last post that Brianna's Aunt Erin has been in town visiting from Pittsburgh for almost two weeks and we have had so much fun spending time with her!  She is getting ready to leave to go home and we are really sad.  Brianna and I love Erin so much because she is so laid back, kind and funny.  We really wish she and Conor would just move to Cincinnati!

One of our fun outings with Erin and Grandma Peggy was to Hamilton's Ice Fest.  The weather was in the 50's and sunny so I wanted to do something outdoors and after we learned this little festival was going on we decided it would be perfect.  The problem is... while WE enjoyed the warmish sunny day in the middle of January the ice did not!  The amazing sculptures were dripping and some had even broken or shattered from the warm temperatures and crazy winds.  I didn't take many pictures but here are a couple that I took with my phone.  I thought the Ice Fest was pretty fitting for Brianna since ICE is one of her favorite things on this planet.  

Erin & Brianna

Ice Sculpture of Union Terminal

We spent the rest of the afternoon and early evening hanging out at Grandma Peggy's and they introduced Brianna to Madagascar 3 which was pretty cute.  I have never seen any of those movies but Brianna talked about it for the rest of the night.  

This next picture I took while Brianna was playing with Erin one night.  I can't believe how long her hair has gotten.  Look how tight those little curls are!  When I stretch one of those little spirals down her hair reaches half way down her back.  She still hates for it to be touched and will yell "Be easy, Mommy!" when I try to brush it.  This battle is just going to go on and on and on!

Curls!

Last Friday was a busy day for my little girl.  We went to visit Adam and Katie and she got to meet baby J.R. for the first time!  We washed our hands right away and then she went and sat on the couch between Grandma Pam and Katie.  They asked her if she wanted to hold him and she said yes.  They started to lay the baby on Brianna's lap and she got the funniest look on her face!  She didn't know what to do.  

Look how sweet his little face is!!!!

Brianna, J.R. & Katie

Then it was my turn!  I love him so much.  And I love little tiny newborns.  You can cuddle them all day and they don't try to wiggle out of your lap to run around.  And they can't say NO :) Have I said he is sweet?  He is SO sweet! 

J.R. & I

While I was getting those cuddles... Brianna was getting some cuddles of her own... from Henry!

Both Henry and Murphy are so good with Brianna.  I love this picture because Henry's expression cracks me up and she has her little lips puckered for a kiss.  She meant business.  There is another picture and she is grabbing his face so that he can't escape from her kisses!

Henry & Brianna

Next I took about a million pictures of my sweet little nephew.  

This one is my favorite: 

J.R. Brumley- 1 week old

After visiting with the Brumley's a couple hours, Brianna and I headed to Loveland for a play date at Libby's house.  We have been trying to get together for months and between all of our busy schedules, sickness and the holidays it was difficult but we finally got to hang out last Friday! Tara brought baby Graham in her belly (we had no idea he was actually plotting his early arrival), Valerie brought Leah and Nate and Libby invited a friend from Jack's school who has three little ones and of course Julianna and Jack were there being wonderful little hosts.  Brianna and I both had a great time. 

Julianna is still the sweetest little girl.  She still has her Mommy's contagious loving and kind personality and I just love her.  Jack is almost as tall as Brianna and he is five months younger.  And Brianna is tall for her age!  Jack seems much more adventurous than his sister ever was.  Every time Libby would turn around he was climbing something or trying to escape.  He is so funny!  He looks a lot like his Mama!

Julianna

Jack

All of the other kids let me take their picture and Brianna said "NO!"

The last time I saw Valerie's little Leah and Nate was this summer when Valerie had us all over to her house.  They have gotten so big! Poor Nate was just trying to keep up with all of the girls and ended up in a princess dress.  Nate is really going to love these pictures when he gets older. 

Leah & Nate

 I'm sad I didn't get any pictures of Tara and her belly.  Little did I know that would be my last opportunity outside of the hospital.  We were at Libby's on Friday and Tuesday morning Tara's water broke while she was at work so she went to the hospital where they had to jump start her labor four weeks before her due date! I'm going to write another post dedicated to baby Graham soon. 

All of this talk about babies and seeing J.R. has made Brianna love her baby dolls even more.  She has been like a little mommy to them this past week and I just love watching that.  

Brianna & her baby

I hope everyone has a wonderful weekend!  

A Little of Everything

Since my last post we celebrated Christmas, New Year's, AND my first nephew was born!  

Brianna's second Christmas was a lot of fun.  She was excited by the presents and that Santa came but she was pretty overwhelmed.  She was also sick and we had A LOT of separate family celebrations to go to.  It was very fun though and she has many new toys that she is loving to play with.  

Christmas Eve morning was spent with Grandma Peggy where she was spoiled rotten.  We had breakfast and opened gifts and it was a wonderful morning.  She had so many gifts to open she didn't know what to do with herself.  Her Daddy was even the best Daddy and wore her Minnie Mouse earrings that she got from Grandma. We headed home after that to try to let her get a little nap before heading to our next family gathering.

She had a very runny nose and wasn't feeling great so I had Michael call his cousin in advance before going to celebrate with his Dad's family Christmas Eve evening.  They said that it wasn't a problem so I packed some anti-bacterial wipes and off we went.  Michael's Dad's family buys gifts for all of the children that are school age and younger.  It is absolutely insane the number of gifts that are under that tree.  We ate some yummy food and then the kids all ripped into their gifts.  It was madness.  Brianna's favorite toy was a little computer from Great Grandma Rosie.  She sat on the floor and played while all the other gifts were open around her.  After the kids open their gifts the adults played some super fun games and I won one of the prizes.  

When we got home way past Brianna's bedtime she went was in bed for about 20 minutes before the screaming began.  When I went to check on her she was burning up with fever.  I gave her some baby Ibuprofen and held her in the living room until 1am until she finally fell asleep in my arms.  Santa had come after I put her to bed but didn't put all the toys together so I was up until 4am setting everything up.  I have a whole new appreciation for my parents... 

When she woke up she was so excited but again overwhelmed.  I tried to not do too much this year but I started too early and had accumulated a lot more gifts than I realized.  It was perfect though and she was so sweet!  After opening gifts, her stocking and playing with her toys she was ready for a short nap because she still wasn't feeling very well.  As soon as she woke up we rushed to get ready and went to my parent's house to exchange gifts with them and Adam and Katie.  This is my favorite Christmas tradition because it always makes me feel the magic of Christmas just like when I was little.  We went straight to my Aunt Cathy's from there and spent a couple hours and had a late lunch.  Then we drove straight to Hamilton to Michael's Grandpa's house to celebrate with them.  We don't get to see them near enough so I really enjoyed this.  AND all of the great grand kids were there which was so fun.  I love watching them all play together.  It was a wonderful Christmas and so many great memories were made.  

I had to work a few days in between but then we rang in the New Year like an old married couple at home.  By then Brianna was on antibiotics and was feeling better so that was a relief.  Michael didn't even make it until midnight but I was able to Skype with Kimberly even though she ditched me this year and didn't come home. New Year's Eve is up there with Valentine's Day as my least favorite holiday so I wouldn't have rather spent it any other way.  

Now onto my ADORABLE new nephew!!!  He was born this past Sunday January 13th.  Katie was a rock star and gave birth and managed to remain gorgeous the whole time.  I'm pretty sure she was born to make babies.  And cute ones at that.  And I'm so proud of my brother for being such a great supporter and I can tell how much they are in love with their baby boy.  And so am I!  

Take a look at Joseph Raymond Brumley... he weighed 8 pounds 12 ounces and was 21 inches long.  He is absolutely perfect.  I can't wait to spoil him rotten and watch him and Brianna play for many years to come.  I know she is going to love having cousins as much as I did!  

 Now I'm trying to give Adam and Katie some time to settle in to parenthood before I start bugging them to come visit... it is hard :)  

Aunt Erin is in town for TWO WEEKS to visit so we are going to try to spend as much time with her as we can.  Michael, Brianna and I are all very excited about this!  Here is a little picture that shows the kind of fun we have with Aunt Erin...

In other news... on the way to work today I had a moment where I was definitely feeling my age.  The radio station was explaining a contest where the winner won a trip to see a Justin concert, go backstage and win an iPad!  I was thinking... man... that would be awesome... Justin Timberlake AND an iPad.  Best contest ever.  Then they said Justin Bieber and I was totally bummed.  Nice, huh?  

Okay... I'm going to go look at some pictures of my new nephew and browse Tara's baby registry.  There is ANOTHER baby on the way soon... I can't wait!