Back to Blogging!

After an unintentional break from blogging, I am starting up again!! Life is full and fun--I am excited to get back to to sharing bits of it here.

Brenna is nearly two and is so fun. She loves to laugh, enjoys la escuelita (her school is in Spanish!), and is very busy. Recently she has taken to saying some words in Spanish and some words in English--such as only saying mano (hand), suave (gentle), and chichi (for leche, or milk). Some words are always in English, even if you say them in Spanish to her, such as bye bye. It really is amazing how little brains work and that she can translate so fluidly already!

This weekend Pat is in Kansas City for Erin and Derik's wedding. I had a meeting this morning so Aunt Colleen babysat. Brenna and Colleen had a wonderful morning taking a bus ride! Brenna was captivated by the bus, looking out the window, and saying hi to everyone. Brenna and Colleen had so much fun today that when we dropped Colleen off at home Brenna cried when she left. I get it, Aunt Colleen is pretty cool. Good thing we talk to her all the time and our next visit won't be too far off :) Here are a few highlights from the bus ride with Aunt Colleen.

Easter Celebrations

We had a great time celebrating Easter this year! Brenna got a few fun gifts from the Easter bunny...a new backpack, crayons, and a coloring book. She loves putting things in bags and carrying around my purses, so I thought it would be fun if she had a bag of her own. The backpack is practically as big as she is, but she loves it!! 

Easter backpack...a dog of course!

coloring in her new coloring book

Brenna was very lucky to get a car for Easter from Grandma Ann and Grandpa Bill. Pat enjoyed putting it together and now Brenna absolutely loves her car. Many mornings she has had her morning bottle while sitting in her car :)

I couldn't get a great picture of Brenna after mass because she was more interested in running around. At least this one there are cute flowers even if she is on the move.

For Easter dinner we went to my Uncle John and Kathy's house. Yes, between mass and dinner Brenna got a huge bruise on her forehead. She was walking while holding a big, wooden cube toy and fell, hitting her head right on the corner. Thankfully there was no blood, but she has a pretty nasty bruise. She didn't let that stop her from having a great rest of the day!

Brenna coloring with cousins Parker and Chloe. Brenna was loving playing with the big kids!

March Madness

Today GU lost in the Elite Eight after an awesome season. It was sad to watch them lose to Duke, but Brenna and Nolan still loved cheering for their Zags!

12 month photos and first birthday

It's hard to believe the Brenna is ONE! This week Pat and I have been reminiscing about where we were this week last year and what we were doing. On December 4th I texted Colleen to say "this day last year I was in labor the entire day...and it's not Brenna's birthday" to which she replied "Happy Labor Day!" 

It's amazing how much she has grown and changed over this year. She is such a happy, fun, inquisitive, funny, outgoing, and wonderful person!!

Here is her 12 month photo shoot:

I think this photo represents that challenge it was to get her to sit down for any pictures :) 

 For her birthday we celebrated with some friends and family at our place. Brenna enjoyed her first (and second) cupcake and loved seeing many of her (and her parent's friends). Her favorite gift was actually one of the cards, from Paul and Madison, that plays the Star Wars song when you open it. Pat was over the moon that this was her favorite :)

Here are a few highlights from the birthday celebrations...

she is obsessed with this card, and dances every time she opens it and the music starts :)

just a little frosting :) but notice, almost the whole cupcake is gone!

so much birthday fun!