Taking our first steps

Today while I was at my parents house Erin had Brielle walk to me. I wasn't expecting her to let go of Brielle's hands and Brielle taking 3-4 steps on her own! I couldn't believe it. Matt was working out in the garagemahall so I called him to come and watch her. It wasn't quite as good but he saw her take a couple of steps. By the time we pulled out the video she had caught on to our game and kept trying to sit down because her safety net was gone. This videos still capture a couple steps.

figured out the stairs

Brielle can now climb up and down the stairs. She offically climbed down the stairs today. I think I am going to have a climber on my hands becuase last night she climbed up from the truck floor onto the seat, tried to climb the baby gate, climbs the little tike slides (by herself), climbs the stairs, and anything the might have a few steps (for instance our stepping stools). I love watchinng her figure this out and how fast she picks up on things.

One wet night

Brielle last night had such a wet diaper it soaked through the diaper, her pajamas, and left a huge wet spot on her sheet and soaked through onto her mattress cover. It was so bad that I could see it on the baby monitor in the middle of the night.

little miss curious

I had to run upstairs to grab a few things and kept hearing a banging noise. I thought maybe Brielle was rocking the kitchen chairs so I ran back downstairs to see. Before I made it into the kitchen I heard the noise again and found Brielle. Of course I had to grab the camera and as I turned it on she turned and smiled at me.

I hurried and washed her hands and ran out the door for a massage. It looked like she had fun and it taught me to close the bathroom door.

Our boating adventure

We we had an adventurous day. Matt was so excited to go down to Fallon and go wake boarding. We haven't gone to the lake all summer and we were dying to get out and into the water. Matt and his dad worked on the boat for a little bit and then we headed out. We took Julie, Tyler, Rachelle and Tiffany, Brielle, Matt, Merlin, myself and Madison. We knew Lahontan's water level was low but we tried to launch off the boat dock anyway. Once we headed out the prop was hitting the ground and tossing dirt everywhere. Right then I said we needed to be done but Merlin insisted we keep going and we would be fine once we got out into deeper waters. We got out and stopped the boat. The water was perfect! I have never seen afternoon water that calm. I was excited but Matt was choppin at the bit, he could barely contain his excitement. So we stopped the boat and Matt got ready to go. Threw the rope and himself out into the water. He sat out there and Merlin attempted to start the boat.....but it wouldn't start. Matt eventually had to swim in and wait, just hoping after some time it would start up.


Matt drove us out to the middle of the Lake. Merlin and Julie were enjoying the wind brushing through their hair.

We put the kids and Rachelle up front

The water was calling it's name

Look at how happy Matt is. He loves to board.

Safety first. He is never allowed to board without earplugs and a helmet (NO MORE EAR DAMAGE)

Tyler and Merlin couldn't wait to see what Matt was going to do.

While we were wating we told everyone to enjoy the water and play for a little while. Tyler wasn't sure if he wanted to jump in.

Brielle and I hung out with Grandpa inside the boat. Brielle didn't have her swim suit.

Rachelle wasn't too hopeful and started to pull the boat.

Matt was so sad to have to come in and wait. I had him play with Brielle to try to cheer him up

Look at Matt's face, that is what you call feeling defeated and not being able to board.

The problem with waiting was the battery wasn't charged from the last time we went out (just for a test drive). We knew we were out of luck and had to do something. Matt took off all his gear and jumped in to pull the boat. He had to tie the rope to his life jacket and pulled us in. Poor guy got a work out. Rachelle tried to help by pulling on the rope too. We threw a tube out so the kids could swim on that and try to make it to shore. We were so blessed that there wasn't any wind and the waters were clam. It helped a lot. Once Matt made it to shore (and the kids) a boat came and rescued us. They pulled us back to their campsite and drove Matt to his truck and trailer. I was so grateful or else it would have been a REALLY long afternoon. Luckily everyone had high spirits and made the best out of the situation. But let me tell you, it was an exciting adventure!

The tube for the kids to ride on

Matt is way out there swimming/pulling us in while the kids are making there way to shore.

Rachelle was trying to help pull the boat

I took Brielle's life jacket off for a little while because it was so hot and let her play on the floor.

Rachelle finally went to the front of the boat and would push it instead of pulling. She didn't like it because the vest would come up into her face.

Matt finally made it to shore....Yippee!

And so did the kids!

Here comes our hero! Our rescue boat (the only boat in the lake)

Matt had to swim back to the boat to help (meanwhile the kids were trying to get back too)

Brielle and I were sure happy to see some help, we were HOT. Brielle's facial reaction says it all.

Matt couldn't believe his luck- no boarding and no help until he reached shore.

The kids were happy to be back in the boat

I am not sure what this was about but I liked her face.

The poor girl was so hot we dipped her in the water to cool her off a little while we were waiting to be pulled.

It was slow movin but better because it was horsepower and not man power.

Finally solid ground and an end in sight!

While we waited for Matt I let Brielle play in the sand and rocks-her favorite thing

Matt got the boat loaded and we were ready to go home.

8 months old-almost 9

This is how I find her most mornings, ready to be picked up!

She is standing whenever she can

I have a camper on my hands!

She loves the outdoors

She enjoys taking items out of containers

I see you! She loves to look around when she rides in the car. She will lean forward to look.

She still has the pretty blue eyes

The more we are outside, the better

She loves her daddy, and sticking her fingers in any one's mouth

Yum, ROCKS!

She enjoys the days both Mom and Dad are home

Doesn't see look so peaceful??

She is walking along furniture and anything that she can hold onto

FOOD, FOOD and more FOOD

My little swimmer, how she can't get enough of the water

I tried not to swaddle her and caught her sleeping with her butt in the air!

Brielle LOVES dogs. Pictures and real dogs. She gets so excited.

My little girl is getting big very fast. Things she can do:

lean over and kiss the book pages when we are reading.

the more finger food the better

crinkle up her nose and breath real hard through it a couple of times

words: up, more, woof, mama, dada-her first word association=woof

bottom 2 teeth came in

push herself up to a standing position and yell at us (only when she is expressing her frustration)

climbs up the little tikes slide

climbs up the foot stool

climbs up and down the stairs

loves to play with books and magazines

loves to play with a pile of clothes- she will sit there and hug them and toss them and eat them.

likes to rock items-standing in her crib she will shake the rail back and forth, standing up on the little tikes toys and will rock them

imitate some sounds

when she is hungry she will smack her lips together

eat anything and everything off the floor

I still have to swaddle her, they are rough nights if I don't

taking naps in her OWN room :-)

sticking her tongue out (to feel her new teeth)

waves

kicks the ball