Time doesn't stand still.....

So 15 weeks ago we had our little sweetie, and 14 weeks ago we brought her home. The first picture is the day we were able to take her home and the second one was just taken this past Thursday. I can hardly believe how tiny she used to be. Not only has she grown a ton, but her whole appearance changes every day. I am starting to realize that she wont be so small forever. I feel like that Kenny Chesney song "Don't blink", because I feel like if I do she'll be all grown up! She has been such a blessing to our little family and I can no longer imagine what our life would without her.

Family Portraits

So we took some new family photos for our 2010 Christmas Cards.   I think they turned out really cute.   Here are just a few from that day.  



Braleigh's Blessing Day

Sunday was the big day for Braleigh's blessing. Brad had to take off a couple days but I am so glad we finally were able to get it done! Brad did such a good job blessing her and everyone complimented on how cute Braleigh looked! (which she did look pretty adorable) My neighbors made her dress, it is amazing and adorable. I made her bow for her headband with one of Grandma's earings. I am super happy that my grandpa is still in good health and was able to stand in the circle, I would have asked him to bless her if he wouldn't have said a couple years ago that he was done because he was "too old". haha. I love him so much. He was teary eyed after she was blessed, and I know that he misses Grandma alot. I do too, but I know that she was with us in spirit. Afterwards we came back to our house and had a lunch for those who came to support us. I now have have a new-found respect for my mother who has that many people, or more, at her house various times through out the year. I don't know how she does it and stays sane. I wanted to crawl in a dark hole and hide! I probably was onery to everyone, I guess thats what stress does to me. I'm glad its over with. My mom told me that this is only the begining and that I have many more events like this to look forward too. Maybe after I've been "hosting" for as long as she has I will be better at it.

4 generations

Other pictures I needed to post...

Braleigh's First Sink Bath

Braleigh's First Christmas Ornament

I hope everyone had a great thanksgiving, I know I did!   It was great to see all our family and visit with them.  I only wish it could have lasted a little longer.    But oh well.   I'll be posting some pictures a little later.  I am hoping bigtime that I can get my Christmas decor up today, but we'll see how well that goes with the baby.  Wish me luck!

So it's seems like forever since I posted last, so let me catch you up on the past couple days.  Thursday Brad and I had the chance to go to a concert.   We went to see a band called RED, which are one of Brad's favorite bands.   We went with Brad's cousin Danny, who lives in Kansas, and a couple of Danny's friends, Bonnie and Tim.  We had tickets to an Acoustic performance where only 7 people got to go on their tour bus and meet them and they performed a song for us.  It was awesome!  They were all so NICE :)   

Brad and I with the members of RED



Danny with the Band



Bonnie and Tim with the Band.

It was a fun night but I was glad to get home to my sweet girl!  It was a long day away from her.  Friday we headed to Vegas for the weekend.   Brad goes every November to take pictures at the Enduro Cross finals.  We stopped to see his dad in St. George and then made it to Vegas around 9 p.m. (10 MST)  It was a long trip with the baby, but it was nice to go somewhere.  We stayed with our good friend Betty.  Braleigh and I hung out with Betty on Saturday while Brad shot the race.   We attempted to head back on Sunday, but because of the weather, we opted to stay with his dad and head home Monday morning.   We have spent the past couple days relaxing after such a long drive.  Now its time to get ready for thanksgiving!!!!  I can't wait to see everyone!  I'm thankful that the "blizzard" we were supposed to have was not as bad so our family can make it here safe, I'm thankful for vacations, but even more thankful for the time when we get back home.  I'm thankful that I get to make my favorite things for Thanksgiving... pies and deviled eggs (they are delicious) and I'm thankful for my sister and her husband who cared for our puppies while we were gone!   I probably wont write again til after Turkey day, so hopefully everyone has a good one!!! 

Braleigh with Betty

We took Braleigh down to the track so Brad could show her off to all his friends.

Tired girl on the way home.

Some snow storm.  LOL



It has been a couple days since my last post.  First off, here are the things I'm thankful for today and the past couple days. 

1. I'm thankful for our home that provides a roof over our head and keeps us warm.  Even though I've been complaining about how COLD it is in here lately because the temperature has dropped outside and it has been so darn windy, making our house much colder and forcing me to turn the furnice up, but I am still thankful that we live in this house and not our old appartment which was freezing all the time.  :)
2. I'm thankful for my sister Ashley who I can talk to on the phone for hours and ask questions about Braleigh and for her help.  Her little boy is only 2 weeks older than Braleigh so she is a great one to ask for advice right now.
3. I'm thankful for having a clean (or mostly clean) house.   It makes me feel much better inside when I can see my countertops and tabletop. 
4. I'm thankful for my mom, Megan and Chris who are watching Braleigh for us while we go to a Concert. 
5. Lastly I'm thankful that Brad's been home these past couple days.   It's been so nice to spend time with him after his long 10 day work week.  :)

Okay now here are some pictures from the past couple days

Braleigh bundled up to go outside.

We went outside to rake leaves.

I use this as my extra set of arms so I can attempt to accomplish somethings around the house.  :)

Helping mom make dinner...I realize now that it looks like I'm about to chop my thumb off.   haha.

I am thankful that today is Sunday.   I am thankful that I was able to make it to sacrament today. I am thankful for sunday naps. I am thankful that today is Brad's last day of work for the next 10 days. I am thankful that we are going to have some much needed time to spend together as a family. 

Today I am sitting here with the smell of jerky marinade on my hands which makes me thankful for a couple things.    Firstly I'm thankful for the freezer full of meat that we have from Brad's deer/antelope harvests and meat from our generous friends and family, it makes it so nice that we rarely have to by meat.    Secondly I am thankful for the awesome Jerky recipe that I got from my mom because deer Jerky is the best!    I am also thankful for my dishwasher because not having one really sucks even though I rarely do the dishes.  I am super thankful for Meg and Chris because they keep me company when Brad works nights and yesterday they brought me dinner!   And lastly I am thankful for Brad and Braliegh, even though I mention them all the time on my posts, but it is because they are my WORLD!
I'm looking forward to tomorrow because its Brad's last day of work and then he has the next 10 days off and we have a busy week ahead, Red on Thursday and to Vegas on Friday til Sunday.  Then Thanksgiving will be the next week! 

I am thankful for a hot glue gun! Here is a felt flower clip that I made for Braleigh today. I am thankful for my brain that allows me to come up with ideas and then make those ideas real. I am thankful that my husband supports this crafty habit of mine and lets me buy the things I need to make it. I am thankful for other peoples craftiness and talents that helps inspire me every day. and last I am thankful that Braleigh has been sleeping so I can make these!! :)

Yesterday I took Braleigh in for her 2 month checkup.  I was AMAZED how much she has grown.   She now weighs 11 lbs 8 oz and is in the 61% for her weight.   She measures 24 1/4 inches and is in the 93% for height!!!   So she is a tall skinny girl.  Her doctor said that it is likely that she will grow up to be around 5' 9".  Her check up went well besides at the end when she had to get her shots!   I wanted to cry with her.  It seriously broke my heart to watch her go through that.

Now to my thankful list. Today is Veteran's day and there are many things I am thankful for.

• First off I'm Thankful for our Veterans who have served, who currently serve and those who have gave their lives for our country!   
• Second, Speaking of our country, I am thankful to live in the United States and beable to enjoy the freedoms that our Veterans work so hard to protect.   I know that sometimes I take for granted the freedoms we enjoy every day and there are many people in this world that are not as fortunate.
• I am also thankful for my freedom of religion.  I am so glad that I am able to decide what I want to believe and where I choose to worship.  I know that everyday my family and I are blessed by our Heavenly Father!
• Fourth I am thankful for my family. I am so blessed to have a loving husband and a beautiful baby.   I am equally as blessed to have such great parents who raised me and my sisters in a loving and caring home.  My sisters are amazing friends and I'm blessed to have them in my life and to have a close relationship with them all. 
• Last I am thankful for chocolate milk!   It may seem like a small unimportant thing, but it's a comforting thing in my life and lifts my spirits whenever I feel down.

Although I am thankful for many things, I have a hard time putting down five, so this will be a great challenge for me the next couple weeks.  Hopefully it will broaden my perspective and help me realize how much I am fortunate to have. 

I AM THANKFUL!

So November is the month of being thankful, and so I've decided to say 5 things I'm thankful for each day until Thanksgiving.   Hopefully this trend will last :) 
  First I am thankful for the internet, because without it I would not beable to stay in touch with many of my friends and family. 
 Secondly, I am thankful for my wonderful husband, who went to work today even though he felt terribly sick this morning. 
  Third, I am thankful for my mother, who is driving over here today to see me and Braleigh and go to Braleigh's checkup with us. 
  Fourth I am thankful for my home.  It may be old and small, but it is a roof over our heads and keeps us warm, especially on this cold day.
  Last but not least, I am thankful for my a sleeping baby, which allows me to be writing this now.

We head to the docs later today for Braleighs 2 month check up.    I'll update you on what she weighs and measures!!!  

Have a Happy Halloween!!!!

I waited to post these pictures until today because today is the REAL Halloween.   Utah is probably the only place that does not celebrate Halloween if it lands on Sunday, instead they celebrate it on Saturday.   Okay we are probably not the only place that does this, and having Halloween land on Sunday just gives you a whole weekend to celebrate... right?   ANYWAYS..... Even though Braleigh is only 2 months old and its not like we can go anywhere, I was still pretty excited to dress her up.  With the help of her Aunt Megan who made her tutu, we crafted up Braleigh a Bumble-bee!  I think she looks adorable if I do say so myself.  haha.

5 Generations

Yesterday we had the opportunity to take a 5 Generations photo with Brad's 90 year old great grandma Mildred.  She absolutly loved Braleigh and was grinning from ear to ear the entire time we were there.  Not very often does an opportunity come along for someone to have four generations let alone FIVE!  Although I was so excited for Braleigh to have this picture done, but it made me really sad that she will never beable to meet my grandma Lloyal Hunter. I only have one living grandparent and that is my grandpa Hunter.  It makes me only realize how important it is to spend as much time with him as possible.  

Afterwards Brad and I had tickets to the Utah Football game, and that meant leaving Braleigh for several hours. I didn't think that I would have a hard time, but when it got closer for us to leave, it started setting in and I BAWLED!  It wasn't that I didn't think she would be taken care of by her Grandma Bentley, but I just didn't want to leave her.  Honestly the more I think about it the more I never want to leave her for a long time again!  I know the time will come again when I have to leave her with a sitter for a while, and I know it won't be any easier.  I'm not quite sure if I'm normal or just a big boob (maybe a little of both).   I will say this, after we left I ended up being fine after about an hour and we had a great time at the football game.  We were rained on for the first half, but the Utes blew their opponent away 59 to 6.  

All and all it was a pretty good day, but exhausting.  I totally crashed when we got home.

I just love this picture!!   My two favorite people, my adoring husband and adorable daughte :)  Just thought I'd share it with you all. 

Moto and Braleigh discovered eachother yesterday.   It was really funny.  Normally when Braleigh lays on the floor I keep the dogs away from her, but I decided to see what would happen if I let Moto get a little closer to her. 

 I think she liked him!!! I am pretty sure that Braleigh and Moto are going to be good friends.  

Braliegh got this adorable jacket from her Grandma Bentley.  I've been a little curious to see if it fits or not.  So I decided to try it on.  She loved the fur and was trying to eat it. She looks like a little eskimo!  The coat doesn't quit fit yet, but it still cute.