Sunday, November 25, 2012

Kaitlyn 3 Months

Oh my where has the time gone!  My baby girl is 3 months old today.  Totally feeling blessed right now.

So she's 3 months.  She is giggling a lot and smiles all the time.  She loves playtime and is staying awake longer.  She loves to sit in her bumbo on the couch and watch Noah play video games.  She loves to be outside and go for walks.  She hardly ever cries unless she is hungry.  She is sleeping through the night most nights and wakes up so happy and ready to play.  She recognizes faces and voices.  When she hears Noah's or Chris' voice she lights up and starts looking for them.  We just recently bought her a Baby Einstein fish aquarium that hangs on her crib.  SHE LOVES IT!  It puts her to sleep almost every night!  She loves the fish and crabs and the music it plays.  She is growing so fast and changes every single day!  She is so much fun and we love having her in our family!



Take 20...

I have been trying to get some really good pictures of the kids so that I can have some huge canvas' made of them this Christmas.  So far we have had some pretty good shots but getting the family one done is going to be a little harder considering I have to set the camera on the tripod and run back for the picture.  As this has always been easy for our family this year we have a baby so if she sees me running she is going to be looking at me not the camera.  The family picture will be done by Portrait Innovations and they do amazing.  I LOVE THEM and will only go there for our pictures for an indoor studio.  We have those next Saturday so you will have to wait to see those but I wanted to share my adorable kids with you so here ya go...



























Noah's 6th Grade School Picture/1st Camp out

Noah is growing way too fast.  He is now in 6th grade which is middle school.  Am I even old enough to have a child in middle school?  Anyway, he is adjusting well.  He started off a little rocky with his grade as he was adjusting and was well over a month behind as Colorado starts school the beginning of August.  He has since caught right up and is doing great!  He is making good grades and working hard.  He has made a ton of friends and spends most of his time outside running the neighborhood with all of them.  He is enjoying scouts and got to go on his 1st camp out a few weeks ago.  He had a blast and can't wait for the next one.  I am so proud of the young man that he is becoming and love him to pieces!  Even though he is 11 years old he is still a mommas boy and I LOVE IT!






Things I am grateful for...

 I am thankful for my children who bless my life everyday! I have always wanted to be a mom and now I have two of the most amazing kids ever! Noah has been such a joy to have as a son. We do a lot together and have a very special relationship which I am so very grateful for. I also now have a daughter. She is our miracle baby. We prayed for her for so long and finally have the wonderful opportunity to be her parents. She is so cute and her smile brings happiness to our family every day!

 I am thankful for my mom. She is not only my mother but she is also my best friend. When I am feeling sad, happy, excited, lonely, or just need someone to talk to..I call her! She is a terrific mother and has taught me so much! Mom, Roxanne Perdue Brandeberry I AM THANKFUL FOR YOU!!! I LOVE YOU MORE THAN WORDS CAN SAY! 

 I am thankful for my wonderful husband. He is my best friend and I love to spend every second I can with him. He is such a loving husband and a devoted father. He loves his kids more than anything and would do anything for them. He is a great provider and makes sure that we have what we need and what we want. He is such a great example to me and he loves our Savior Jesus Christ. I am so blessed to have such an amazing man in my life!

 I am thankful to live in a country where I can worship freely. I love my church and feel incredibly blessed to have the opportunity to go each week and to learn more and grow closer to my Heavenly Father! I am grateful that my children are able to learn about Jesus Christ and his love for them! I love my Savior Jesus Christ and feel blessed to have such an amazing relationship with him!

 I am thankful for my beautiful niece Lexi Boo! She is so quiet, Beautiful, and sweet! She always knows how to brighten my day with her beautiful smile! Today is her special day..she is turning 6 years old! I remember when she was just a little baby and now she has turned into a beautiful princess! Happy Birthday Lexi Boo, Aunt Amy loves you to pieces! :)

 I am thankful that I am able to be a stay at home mom. I am thankful that my husband sees the importance in it and that we are able to do it financially. I am really thankful that my daughter let me sleep til 9am this morning! I needed that!

 Today I am thankful for my mother in law. She is an amazing woman, who raised 3 amazing kids. I was blessed and married one of those kids. She is such a great friend, one of my best friends. She is always there to listen and give great advice!Donna Smith, today I am thankful for YOU! I love you!

 I am thankful for Kaitlyn's birthparents Ashley Butler andDeon Davies. They gave us one of the most precious gifts ever and have become a part of our lives as well. We love them so much and enjoy the relationship we have with them! They are both such great people and I wish nothing but the best for both of them! I am thankful for an open adoption where my daughter will always know that she is loved by so many wonderful people!

 I am thankful for 4 day weekends with my husband. There is nothing I love more than spending time with him! Excited for our lunch date today!

 I am thankful for great friends! I have the most amazing friends ever. I love that we can facebook, call, text, and email and I still feel so close to them. I love that even if we don't talk everyday when we do talk we just pick up right where we left off! I feel so blessed!

 I am thankful for all those who have fought or are fighting for our freedom! Nothing is free, it all comes at a price and I am thankful for the men and women who sacrifice so much for me! I am thankful for their families who support them and stand behind them! I am extremely thankful for those who made the ultimate sacrifice! God Bless these wonderful men and women and their families!

 I am thankful for my brothers. Even though they are all sarcastic at times they always make me laugh. They are all amazing men and terrific husbands! They have been the best Uncles ever and I love them to pieces! Two of my brothers are true Heros (Police Officers) and the other is such a great example to me and one of my closest friends! I am extremely blessed to have such amazing siblings! I love you guys! 

 I am thankful for the simple things in life like music, laughter, sweet baby coos, boys making chaos, and so much more. All of these things bring joy to my life and I am so grateful for them. Noah has kept this family interesting since he made his debut in April 2001 and now Kaitlyn is adding in too! I love that Noah plays the piano and has a love for music. I love that Kaitlyn loves to listen to me sing and play the piano to her. I am grateful that Chris just tolerates it all! Our house is filled with laughter each day and I LOVE IT! This house is truly blessed!

 I am thankful for the opportunity to live in Colorado and to meet so many great people and have some amazing adventures! I feel so blessed to be able to move around and see the world. This world is truly one of God's greatest creations. So many amazing things to see! I LOVE IT!

 I am thankful for all my nieces and nephews. I have 9 total and can't wait to get some more! Each one has a unique personality that I absolutely love! They are all so darn cute. (we don't have ugly babies in this family) :) They always brighten my day with skype or a picture on facebook. Although we are far away I feel like they are close. I have pictures of them all over my fridge and then I have a family wall with pictures of them everywhere. I just love them! Brayden (7), Allison (7), Lexi (6), Emma (4), Carson (4), Bentley (2), Addison (1 1/2), Wyatt (almost 1), and Cooper (4 months). Aunt Amy loves all of you!!!!!!!!!

 I am thankful for my dad! He is such a great man who loves his family so much! He has always been there for me and supported me when I needed him! He always played with us at the beach and brought me flowers to my dance recitals. He sat in the heat at swim meets cheering us on and is still cheering me on in all that I do. He is a remarkable grandpa and has such a special relationship with Noah which I love! If there was a best dad award...he would get it hands down! Thanks dad for always being the best! I love you! 

 I am thankful for my father in law Clayton Smith Jr.. He helped raise 3 amazing kids and is an amazing grandpa! He laughs at most of what I say (I think he thinks Im funny but maybe he laughs cause he thinks Im crazy...LOL) and I always enjoying being around him! I am grateful to have married into such a great family!

 I am thankful for the opportunity we have to spend thanksgiving with so many great families! Although we cannot be with our families as we live too far away, it is always nice to be able to spend it with your church family! Happy Thanksgiving!!

 I am thankful for a nice kitchen to be able to cook cook cook in! I Love it! The past 3 years we lived in married student housing and our kitchen was super duper small so it is so nice to finally be able to cook and have plenty of room for all my fixins!

 I am thankful for the laughter that fills my home! We laugh often and I love the sound of my childrens laughter! Noah has the best laugh and I absolutely love it! Kaitlyn has just started to giggle and it is one of the sweetest sounds! Chris and I laugh every day and I am grateful for the fun that we have as a family! We may be crazy but we sure do have fun with it!

 I am thankful for all of my sister in laws! None of them is perfect but they are all perfect for our family! (both sides) I love that when I need them they are there. I love that each one of them is different and have many great talents to share with me! They are a great group of ladies and I don't know where my life would be without each one of them!



Happy Thanksgiving!

I absolutely love Thanksgiving.  There are so many great opportunities to feel grateful and to serve those around you.  This year our family has been able to do both and it has been a great experience for us.  This was also Kaitlyn's 1st Thanksgiving.  Too bad she wasn't able to enjoy the turkey but maybe next year she can.  For Thanksgiving this year we were able to attend a dinner at our church where we helped serve a meal for families who would be alone, single soldiers, and family members of deployed soldiers.  It was a great experience and tons of great food!  We had a blast.

I was in charge of bringing 5 centerpieces.  I had three around the house already and got 2 of them from Hobby Lobby for 80% off so it was a great deal!  I also made 10 lbs of mashed potatoes and a green bean casserole!


We had tons of helpers which was nice.  So many senior missionary couples helped to put the whole thing together.  They did a great job and fed us well!



 Kaitlyn was having her Thanksgiving meal too.  Hers was just a little different from ours!  I gave her a little bit of mashed potatoes on my finger but she wasn't too interested so we just stuck to milk.  LOL
We also did our own family Thanksgiving on Friday.  I made EVERYTHING.  I started cooking at 9am and didn't stop until we sat down to eat at 2pm.  We had Turkey, mashed potatoes, gravy, stuffing, deviled eggs, rolls, mac n cheese, green bean casserole, cranberry sauce, yams, sparkling cider, and chocolate silk pie!  It was the 4 of us but only 3 could eat.  It was great but I sure was tired after all that cookin!


Sunday, November 4, 2012

Denver Aquarium

Since coming to Colorado we have wanted to take advantage of the area.  There is so much to see and do around here.  ITS GREAT!  So this weekend we went to the Denver Aquarium.  I love going to places like this!  We had a BLAST!  Kaitlyn even would get fixated on the fish.  She was too cute!  Noah had so much fun too!  There was so much to see.  I am hoping to go back so Noah and I can snorkel with the sharks.  That would be awesome!  Then we drove around Denver just site seeing and went to the Broncos stadium!  We also found a Cafe Rio so we had that for lunch!  It was a great day full of fun and adventures.  Can't wait for next weekends plans!