While Grandma Has Been Gone...

While Grandma Murphey has been on vacay for 2+ weeks, we have been busy! (And by "we," I mean Brooklyn.)

Lots of opening cupboards and playing with pots and pans...She's a natural musician (kind-of like Justin Bieber -- I might have made Curt watch 'Never Say Never' with me for our date night...maybe.)

Toilet paper shredding..(It the TP is never on the roll if you use our bathroom, well, you can thank this girl.)

Picking grandma's flowers (Don't worry g-ma..I didn't let her actually pick it). She has spent lots of time outside planting, watering and assisting grandpa with the lawn. And they do good work! The yard looks great!

Eating yummy desserts. This girl is a mooch to the max! She hears a dish rattle and she's there in a flash with her mouth wide open..smart girl!

Newspaper spreading (or magazines, or the mail..anything paper ends up all over the floor!)

Playing in the dirt. We try not to let her eat it but we don't always succeed..

And of course, looking cute (at least Brooke and her daddy do. I thought I should post at least one pic of Curt and I...yes, we do exist).

We can't wait to see you tomorrow Grandma! Brooklyn goes wild when you're gone :)

That's my girl!

This little babe loves herself some chocolate! What a mess!

She makes me so proud...

Photo Shoot

With Brooklyn wearing a cute yellow outfit yesterday, and with the beautiful daffodils in full bloom, it was the perfect time for a photo shoot! She wasn't totally her normal, smiley self due to a cold, but we still got some cute pics!

And now for a Brooklyn update:

• She is officially binky and bottle-lessl--We went cold turkey on both at the same time about a week ago. And she didn't even seem to notice! She does great with the sippy and had only been using the binky during night and nighttime anyways, so it was pretty easy to take it away. She has slept through the night since (minus last night d/t above mentioned cold).
  
• She is very self-entertaining and independent. She will just walk/crawl around the living room/toy room for over 30 minutes at a time just playing with toys. We've had to relocate several plants d/t leaf tearing and dirt eating, and the tall lamp is for some reason the most attractive "toy" but no major injuries so far.
  
• She is walking all over the place (until she decides crawling is faster and switches over).
  
• Brooklyn is such a easy going, fun, sweet girl--she is happy in the morning and happy at night (doesn't get that from me :)
• She loves everything about outside, except grass on her bare skin. We've actually had a few nice days where we have been able to watch Tate play tennis and go on wagon rides. It's sad when 60 degrees feels HOT (that is, after 6 months of winter weather)!
  
• She has become a challenge to bathe. I knew the time would come, but didn't want it to. The girl will NOT sit down in the bath! She is always standing up, down, forwards, backwards...baths have become a wrestling match :)
• She is becoming a little copy-cat. And we love it! (At least for now). When we click our tongue, she does it. She'll try to copy what we say (doesn't always sounds quite right, but cute). We'll hit the side of our head and say "oh no," and she hits her head.
  
• She points to her tummy when you ask "Where is your belly button?" and she can point to her ears when asked where they are. It's amazing how much toddlers pick up on! They are smarter than we usually give them credit for.

Mother's Day makes me happy!

I love celebrating Mother's Day! I have been blessed with so many wonderful women in my life. I am especially grateful for and indebted to my wonderful mother who has sacrificed so much for me, and who has supported me in everything I have ever had an interest in. Now that I have been a mother for just over a year, I wonder how she did everything she did with 6 crazy kids, and I have gained an even greater respect, love and appreciation for her. I am thankful for the mother that she is to me, and for the wonderful grandmother that she is to Brooklyn. It is so much fun to watch how much Brooklyn loves her grandma, and it is wonderful to live so close to my mom and to be able to learn so much from her.

"Motherhood is more than bearing children, though it certainly is that. It is the essence of who we are as women. It defines our very identity, our divine stature and nature, and the unique traits our Father gave us." --Sheri Dew

There is so much joy in motherhood! I am so blessed to be a mother. The hugs, wet kisses, cuddles and cheesy, messy face grins make even the most tiring days so worth it! There is not a job in the world that rivals being a mother. I wouldn't trade it for the world. Happy Mother's Day to all you wonderful moms out there!!



How could you not love this cute little face?!

Surprise visit from...

The Easter Bunny! (A couple weeks ago that is..always behind we are!) Best $5 after-Halloween costume I ever bought! She looked so cute as our little bunny, and we had such a fun Easter! She wore her pretty dress to church (thanks to Grandma!) and we dyed Easter eggs, had a yummy ham dinner, had an Easter egg hunt and got Easter baskets. Best of all, we were able to remember the Atonement and Resurrection of our Savior which makes possible eternal families, for which we are so grateful! We want to spend forever with our sweet little Easter Bunny!