New Tricks

(He's jumping off the container to Dad)

I just love when I find out Beckam has learned to do something new by walking into the room and there he is displaying his new skill showing no fear and me freaking out. That was the scenario about a week ago when I found out Beckam can now climb up on things (he was standing up on an overturned storage container). And since then he has turned into a climbing fool. He is now climbing up on Brylie's bed using her little stool and climbing up on the big rocker in his room. I'm just waiting for the first trip to the ER for stitches.

On top of climbing on to things he likes to climb into things. Earlier this week it was the dryer as I was trying to load it (I quickly stopped that one) and a few days ago it was an empty space in the changing table. Brandon got him out and Brylie quickly climbed in to show she could fit. Beckam then decided to join her. We're in for so much fun!!!

Fun Weekend

Other then our outings to the zoo, we've been pretty much been shut in for the last couple of weeks. The heat has been crazy and Beckam has had a bit of a cold (we think). With the end of summer approaching our ward planned the yearly bar-b-que for this last Saturday and we jumped on the chance to get out and hang out with some friends. Since our ward is pretty much made up of only our neighborhood, the bar-b-que was held in the common area that is just across the round about from us. It was great to not have to get the kids in car seats to attend a function. Brylie was excited to play with her friends from nursery and Beckam was just happy to have some open space to walk around.

On Sunday Katharine (and Justin) invited the whole Harward clan to their house for Sunday dinner. I was thrilled with the invite but when we pulled up to their house we were greeted by a Happy Birthday sign for Beckam. It turned out that this dinner was also a celebration for Beckam's birthday.

The food was excellent! The kids had fun playing. The adults had fun talking. And we even got a picture of all the grandkids together, something that hadn't been accomplished in so long and no one was crying (miracles do happen!!!)

Thanks Katharine for hosting the get together, everyone for the food, and all for Beckam's presents. I married in to the best family!!! We had a great weekend.

Grandma's Wedding

Last night Brandon's cousin Cody and his adorable new bride Ashley had their wedding reception at Brandon's parent's house. When the time came to get ready for the reception I got a little dissension in the ranks from Brylie. She told me she was already dressed and didn't want to get changed. I didn't feel that a mismatched tee shirt and shorts would quite cut it, so I tried to explain that we needed to get dressed up to go to a wedding reception at grandma's house. Well Brylie's three year old ears heard wedding and she quickly perked up to put on her wedding dress and go to grandma's wedding.
When we got to the reception, Brylie quickly ran to play with cousins and then play with the bubbles. I was glad it was outside so Brylie could run around and not be disruptive. It was great to see Cody and Ashley again and so much other family. As we were heading back to the car Brylie commented on how much she had had fun at grandma's wedding and really liked the bubbles. And as she was going to sleep she asked if we were to going to grandma's wedding again tomorrow and if so she would wear her wedding dress. (With Brylie's memory going to grandma's house will bring up grandma's wedding for awhile and her brown with white polka dot dress will now be known as her wedding dress.) For my little girl who is getting more and more interested in getting married and weddings I would say the reception was a success and thanks for the extra bubbles she brought home.

Look Who's One!!

During the early days of late night feedings, major sleep deprivation, and constant spitting up I never thought this day would come. But it has and Beckam is one!! In one oh so short year Beckam has gone from a little baby to a walking, thinking about talking, adventurous, crazy, funny little boy.

On the day of his birthday we kept things pretty low key. After a couple of hours of prodding from Brylie we finally had Beckam open his presents. By the third one he started to get into unwrapping them. But by the forth he had had enough, so Brandon became the honorary present unwrapper. (The little broom in the first picture is a gift and not just something he's holding on to. Beckam loves brooms.)

Brandon wasn't putting together Beckam's little bike fast enough so Beckam decided to start helping. Once it was put together Beckam tried it out and figured out how to get on and off by himself.

Saturday Beckam woke up with a cold and after some calls we decided to still have his little birthday get together with family and friends. Brandon's brother Adam showed up a little bit early and was so great with keeping the kids entertained so Brandon and I could finish getting last minute stuff done. Unfortunately a few minutes later the get together fell apart. We quickly turned the rest of the day into a trip to the zoo. We all had so much fun (Beckam in between his tantrums because he wasn't getting to do what he wanted ie. sitting in the middle of the sidewalk with his blanket) with Hillary and the great friends who joined us. Beckam even got a little bit of a birthday treat.

(Beckam and his best friend, his blanket)

The day was ended at home with the eating/demolishing of the birthday cake. Beckam has a thing about what textures he likes and doesn't like to touch and frosting turns out to be one he doesn't like on his hands. He kept getting handfuls of frosting and then working to get it off his hands. Needless to say the cake got torn apart but very little was eaten.

It has been a blast watching him change and discover new things. I am constantly amazed what the first year brings with a new baby growing to toddler. The first year has been great, here's to many more!!! We love you Beckam and are so happy you're part of our family.

At 1 year old Beckam...(just the highlights)

Likes: Playing with Brylie, annoying Brylie, following Brylie around, playing outside,playing with his cars, throwing balls, throwing anything he can, cuddling with his blanket, his bottle, Brylie's sippies, learning new things, playing in rooms he shouldn't, squealing, pointing, getting into everything, spoons

Dislikes: Being told no, not being allowed to do what he wants to do, being left behind, eating anything after Brylie has left the table, squishy food and fruits, going to bed

He has his 1 year appointment in a couple of weeks so we'll see where his weight and height come in at.

He Screams for Ice Cream...Cone

(Please ignore the bruises. Part of being a boy and walking fun.)

Beckam is not one to be left out of anything, especially eating. Last night Brandon and Brylie were having ice cream cones and Beckam didn't get one. Well he obviously didn't think that was right because he started screaming and crying like he does every time he doesn't get what he wants. (And when he starts he won't stop and it's not easy to ignore.) A cone with no ice cream was quickly produced and Beckam was immediately happy. Oh if all of his other fits were this easy to handle.

(He has started laying down to eat if he's not in his high chair)

A Celebrity in my House

With Brylie and the Disney Channel being best friends I guess I shouldn't have been surprised by what happened last night. Brylie was singing and dancing around the house and I asked, "Brylie what are you doing?" Her response was "Call me Hanna Montana." I couldn't believe it. She's only three and now she wants to be Hanna Montana. I didn't even realize she watched let alone liked that show. (Guess teaching her the channels on the remote for PBS and Disney has come back to bite me.) So now I have Hanna Montana at my house constantly dancing and singing and sometimes even finding a stage to preform on. Guess I'm going to have to learn some of the songs so I can sing along.

(Her stage)

Tag You're It

8 things I am passionate about (in no particular order)
1. My Hubby
2. My Kids
3. My extended family
4. The Gospel
5. My Hobbies
6. Birthdays and Christmas
7. learning new things
8. Shopping - Finding deals

8 books I have read and enjoyed
1. Breaking Dawn
2. Eclipse
3. New Moon
4. Twilight
5. Kite Runner
6. The Pelican Brief
7. The Firm
8. The Notebook

8 words/phrases I say often
1. Be nice
2. In a minute
3. How do you ask?
4. I love you
5. Are you o.k.?
6. What do you want?
7. No
8. You're such a good helper

8 things I want to do before I die (in no particular order)
1. Get scuba certified
2. Be financially independent
3. See my children happy in and with their lives as adults, whatever that may bring
4. Go back to school just to take classes in areas I'm interested in
5. Serve a mission with Brandon
6. Find my true self and to constantly be true to that self
7. Increase my gospel knowledge
8. Pick up and go somewhere on a whim

8 things I've leaned this past year
1. Being a mom is harder then I imagined, but so worth it!
2. My little family is my life! As long as they are o.k. I'll be o.k.
3. It's o.k. and sometimes necessary for me to take a timeout from my kids and I'm not a bad mom for doing so.
4. I can try again tomorrow
5. Trying to sell a house really stinks and I don't want to do it too many more times
6. My personal happiness lies within myself and I control it.
7. Brandon and I make a great team and together we can concur anything!
8. I need to let things go easier for my sanity and those around me

8 places I want to see
1. Australia
2. Europe
3. Africa
4. Puerto Rico
5. Yucatan Peninsula
6. Boston
7. India
8. Vancouver, BC

8 things I currently want/need
1. to sell my house
2. to get out and have some fun with the kids
3. to have some alone time with Brandon
4. to have Brandon or I employed (preferably Brandon)
5. to do laundry (definitely not a want)
6. To stick to exercise and eating better goals
7. more time in the day
8. some peace and calm

8 people I want to tag
1. Any one who reads this and hasn't done this yet!!!
2. Your name here
3. Or here
4. Or here
5. Or here
6. Or here
7. Or here
8. Or here

No More Fear

I'm not sure if the fear was forgotten or overcome but regardless Brylie had a break through last night. For the longest time she has been less then thrilled with big things that made lots of noise to the point she either runs away, starts crying, or has to be held as long as they are around. The Harwards are big motorcycle fans and all of us have been trying to get her to at least get on a motorcycle for over a year. She's fine around them as long as they aren't on, but as soon as they rev up, she's out of there. It was the same story with Brandon's parents Razor they got a couple of months ago. All the other grandkids love taking rides in it and would fight over who's turn it was, but Brylie kept her distance. Well last night, of course when I wasn't around, Brylie took her first ride in the Razor and loved it!!! She came running inside to proudly tell me she had taken a ride in the four wheeler. I couldn't believe it and didn't at first. I asked Brandon if she really had taken a ride and he said she had. She quickly headed back outside to get another turn in the four wheeler and was quite devastated when it didn't come fast enough. Her turn finally came and she was quickly all smiles.

I was really starting to wrack my brain with how I was going to help Brylie handle loud, noisy, things and then she did it on her own. You would think I would have learned by now (it has been three years) Brylie does things in her own time and it always works out fine. You can't force her to do anything sooner then she is ready and when she is ready she does whatever it is with a bang. My little girl is getting so big and I'm looking so forward to the rest of her growing moments. (If they could come with a little less drama it would be great!)