One Year Ago Today

I got to see my baby for the first time!

I remember being a little bit nervous, but mostly excited. We were able to get a little ultrasound that day to determine my due date and make sure everything was going well. I loved hearing the sound of her heartbeat, it's a wonderful sound. We also got to see her move around a little bit, it looked to me like she had the hiccups because it was very rhythmic  Louis said she was just dancing around for us though. The year that has followed that day has been my best year yet. (maybe minus the 9 weeks of throwing up) I loved being pregnant, I loved my pregnant belly! I didn't really love labor, but I loved the outcome!! Avery makes my life so happy every day, she is such a joy to have in our home. She is always smiling, and talking now "aaaaaaah aaaah oooooo aaaaah!" I love watching her learn and grow, I'm blessed to have such a wonderful, happy, healthy baby and so eternally grateful for my chance to be a mother. And I sure am grateful for and love my Avery baby!!

just 1 day old and 1 month old

2 months and 3 months

4 months and almost 6 months

Happy Mother's Day!

Yesterday was my first official mother's day since last year I was just in my first trimester! This mother's day was much better of course! We went down to Ogden to spend it with our mothers and to talk to two awesome missionaries! We started out with Louis' family again because that morning we had a mission farewell for one of his cousins. He did a great job speaking. The luncheon afterwards though was outside and it was a little windy and chilly and started raining towards the end, but it's always nice to be with family. We headed over to the Brandley's after and just talked for a while then Kamilla called from Ukraine and we got to chat with her for a little bit before she somehow got disconnected. Phillip called at around 2:30 and we each got to talk to him. It was great, you can tell he's grown so much in the 5 months he's been out. Only two more calls left for him.
Louis left to go home and sleep after he talked to Phill and headed over to Ben and Sarina's after I was done. They are so great, I love spending time with them, they're both so nice and fun. They made a turkey for the Mother's day dinner and there were rolls, home made garlic mashed potatoes, (which Sarina was nervous about, but they were delicious) jello, and veggies. Matt brought dessert, banana cream pie and some other Italiain chocolate, almod cookie thing, that was really good. I love spending time with my family and enjoyed the night.

My mom is so wonderful and has taught me well, I know I can always count on her and I'm glad that we're so close. I am very grateful for Annette (mother-in-law) for the amazing man she raised and all that she taught him. I'm grateful for the mom's in my life, not just Louis' mom and my mom, but my sisters and sister in law too. They are all great examples to me of what I want to be as a mother. I really hope every mother or mother to be had a great Mother's day and enjoyed themselves, and I hope they know that they are all appreciated for all the things they do, big or little.

Now here's a few cute pictures because what's a post without pictures right??

Very cute picture of Avery

The reason why my life is so awesome, my great little family


The newest member of our family born April 26, Teancum Mark Brandley

The difference 5 months makes!

Easter

I know Easter was a few weeks ago, but I've been slacking here a little bit. On Easter we were able to see both mine and Louis' family. We started out with Louis' family, This was my third year being with the Brandley's the first year Annette hid baskets, last year she came up with this awesome scavenger hunt, and this year she hid baskets again. Louis and I shared a basket so I let him go off and find it for us. He eventually found ours under the sink in the bathroom after finding everyone elses basket first. He even found Avery's under the TV. We also read some scriptures and talked about Jesus and each said why the atonement/resurrections means to us.
We left around quarter after 2 to go to my parent's ward for sacrament, but first we needed to stop at their house to get a bottle for Avery that I had forgot there. So I run in and after I close the door I start to hear this beeping. It takes me a while to figure out what it is and then, OH GOSH I JUST SET OFF THEIR NEW ALARM SYSTEM!!! I felt stupid, but what could I do then, I don't know their code, so I go and start warming up the bottle and I leave. When we get into the chapel at church I told my parents that I had set off their alarm so my dad gets up to go meet the police. He got there about the same time they did and told them what had happened. Since they were at church and couldn't get a hold of my parents they called their emergency contact Ben and so he was heading over too, but it was all resolved when he showed up. Does anyone think it was stupid for me just to leave? I figured I can't do anything, I'm on my way to see my parents anyway and they're the ones who will have to take care of it. The whole situation was talked about the whole day, it was great.
So that was our Easter in a nut shell we didn't give each other our baskets until the next day I think. We still have a ton of candy, it's ridiculous.