Dear Diary,

 Or not.  What I am trying to say is I am writing a Journal-type entry today.  For those of you that hate to read- Get over it.  Just click the back button and check some other blog with more pictures.  For those of you unfortunate souls that have chosen to read on, I have a lot to say to say.  Sorry. :)

I would like to say that March has flown by.
Unfortunately, I can't.

    I feel like it took FOREVER to get to April.  Its not that I have some vendetta against March or anything.  I am just sick and tired of this crappy cold weather.  I am usually not a complainer. (okay, that's a lie)  What I mean is, I am usually not a complainer on my blog.  I try to keep it mostly upbeat.  *Key word- Mostly*   

To summarize the month- It was way too long.  Too cold.  Too snowy.  Too rainy.  Too cloudy.  Too Gray.  It really wasn't all bad. Really.  Bryan had 2 four day weekends.  That was awesome.  One of which we took a trip to Washington D.C. with the Nelson's to go to the Temple and to check out some historic sights.  It was a blast.  And I bet you wouldn't believe me if I told you when we left Pittsburgh, it was snowing. (gasp!)  
We went to Mt. Vernon and walked through George Washington's estate.  Pretty freaking cool if you ask me. We also went to the Museum of Natural History, saw a St. Patrick's Day Parade on Constitution Ave, walked about 40 bazillion miles, saw most of the war memorials, took a picture with Honest Abe, took a potty break in what has to be one of the nation's busiest (and smelliest) bathrooms underneath the Lincoln Memorial, ate lunch on the grass in front of the Washington Monument and discussed all the incredible biking possibilities around the DC area.
     

    Brooke turned one.  That was probably more fun for me than for her.  She also had her 12 month check-up.
       Stats: Head Circumference- 75%
                Length: 31 inches- 90%
                Weight- 21 lbs- 50%
 I am shocked that we actually have a kid that is above the 50% for anything.  And for as much as this one eats, I would have thought it would be weight!  (She is a garbage disposal.  Her Uncle Ryan would be so proud!)
  
     We switched Pediatricians offices too.  What a relief.  The place I was going to had great doctors, but every time I went we waited at least 1.5 hours to be seen.  It was my worst nightmare- Germs everywhere combined with bored kids.  It produces pretty poor results.  Especially with an obsessive compulsive/germ-a-phobe mother.
 
     Bryan had to grow a mustache for one of his classes (how in the world it relates to dentistry is beyond me).  I have one word for mustache's in general- Ewwww.  He may or may not have looked like Hitler.
He kept the darn thing for the majority of the month.  Maybe that was why it seemed so long.
  
I read a bunch of books this month.  I have added about 20 more to read soon.  I love when I find some good reads and can find the time to sit and enjoy a book.  (It is very tricky to do that!)  I am going to read our book club book, Life of Pi written by Yan Martel.  Another on my list is The Count of Monte Cristo written by Alexandre Dumas.  I also have a couple cake decorating books and photography books on my list as well as the usual Book of Mormon study.  Which brings me to one of my goals this past month.  I am FAR from perfect on it, but I have found that if I do my scripture study before I read anything else or turn on the TV, I actually get it done.  Otherwise I am putting it off until bedtime, and I end up falling asleep reading them.  Wow.  That sounds terrible.

Bryan and I have gone for quite a few bike rides.  Regrettably, they have been in the snow, rain, wind, and cold.  Every once in a while we have been graced with the sun's bright presence. We are planning on doing our crazy bike ride to DC the end of April.  I am really hoping the weather cheers up a bit because we have some high mileage rides to get in to be ready.  The kids love the rides.  Our little trailer is perfect! 
 
     Peter has become enraptured with the alphabet.  It is pretty awesome.  He loves Word World and when he is done watching it he wants to 'build a word'.  He gets all the fridge magnets and arranges them into his own dictionary of words.  He also goes around making up his own spellings for everyday objects.  For example, the table would be "b-e-e-g-h-a-t-e-l".  Or something of the sort.  I didn't say he was good at spelling.  He is just learning the concept, which is really cute to me.
     He is also loving his train set, as usual.  But now he has added the element of conversation to his trains.  He sounds just like George Carlin.  Kind of.  "Thomas is a really useful engine, said Sir Topham Hat" and "The troublesome trucks wiggled and giggled...said Percy"....  It cracks me up.  I love listening to him ramble on and on about the next big adventure his trains are going to take!
  
     Brooke is, well, into everything.  EVERYTHING.  Including the toilet.  And the dishwasher.  And the my clothes hampers.  And my kitchen cabinets.  And I mean that Literally.  She loves climbing in things.  I am just glad I caught her before she was totally in the toilet.
 
I promise to post pictures soon.  I have a ton.  Way too many probably.
   Until next time, peace out!
           Jamie

Brooke's Big "ONE"!

 I love this girl!  She is such a sweetheart!  We had a fun little party, complete with red velvet cake and pin the crown on the princess.  Bryan took Brooke out for ice cream about 2 hours before I gave her cake, so she was on an extreme sugar high.  She ate the cake, but honestly, what doesn't this girl eat???

 Sugar coma....

 I had a blast making her decorations.  My favorite was the topiary ribbon flower.  I think it turned out so cute! And it was really easy.  I can't wait to make another one.  I also had a blast making the cake.  Thanks to my mother-in-law I have a really awesome toy to help me make cakes....

 She is crawling everywhere, and pulling herself up and walking along the walls and furniture.  She refuses to even try to stand on her own.  But I know if she gave it half a chance she would be walking in a couple days time!

They change fast.

so tiny.

I think they go through so many different looks. This look is definitely different.

Chubby.

Alert.

Sleepy.

More chubby. (doesn't his fat little face just make you smile?)

1st Birthday

Moving to Pittsburgh

Picky Eater Phase.

We are still in that phase.

The start of the "monkey" obsession phase.

The "Ice Cream" phase. (I don't think he will grow out of this one)

Independence.

Brooke's First Dance

(With some help from Peter)

This is her "hip hop" dance.

This one is lyrical. 

Anyone else think she needs some help stylizing different types of music?  She is also one of the most solemn soloists I have ever seen.
I think its time to put her in a real dance class.  What do you think?

I hate thinking of titles to posts. So I am not titling this one.

1. I really like sleeping.  But why am I so insistent on staying up late? That makes no sense. 

2. Month 2 of "Insanity" is proving to be a little insane.  Needing over an hour for a workout? With kids? Ya.  That is insanity. I only have 1 more week.  Hallelujah.

3. Brooke's first word (other than Mama and Dada) is "Bathtub".

4. My computer hates me and has a plot to ruin my life by down loading spyware on its own.

5. I just finished a 4 book series that was somewhat of a let down.  And then sort of not.

6. I don't think I can handle another cloudy day.

7. The only thing worse than a cloudy day is a day where something is coming out of the clouds.

8. I just ate a really yummy cup of ice cream.  Samoas ice cream.  It is Better than the cookie.  I swear.

9. Brooke is also boycotting liquids.  Since I am weaning her, she won't drink ANYTHING.

10. I have that song by Bruno Mars stuck in my head "...Gave you all I had and you tossed it in the trash...
     YOU TOSSED IT IN THE TRASH"....

11. Don't order the Black Bean soup at Panera Bread.  Its kinda yucky.

12. I don't know why I am numbering this post.

13. Bryan is growing a beard for extra credit. You heard me right.  So much for maturity in a doctorate school.

14.We had to make JoMax a bed of his own downstairs.  JoMax told me he was feeling a bit smothered and needed some personal space.  Unfortunately, Peter doesn't agree.

I swore I wouldn't spoil her.

Sometimes in life you have to eat your words.  

 I admit it.  I really like having a girl.  For the cute, frilly, pink and purple, flowery crap that I could NEVER get away with putting on a boy.  Don't get me wrong, I love playing cars and trucks and trains, but there is just something about the color pink that makes me happy.

I have been planning Brookie's 1st birthday party for a while.  Here is my latest project.  It was pretty much idiot proof.  All that was needed was the ability to sew in a straight line.  Which, by the way, is a challenge for me.

 "The Throne"

(complete with matching crown)

Its going to be fun to watch her have her first cake and eat it too!