RANDOM UPDATE

Just a little update on what's been going on around our house. Well yes folks, it's a long time coming, but Brianna is officially sleeping in her crib 100% of the time. She's been taking naps in her crib for a couple of months, but I still had her sleeping in her car seat at night. Why you ask? Well when she was born she was really burpy when she laid down to sleep. So every time that we laid her down, seriously in less than a minute she was awake screaming. We found out that she slept a ton better in her car seat when we took her home from the hospital and hence what started the car seat sleeping. Well I've known for a long time that I really needed to break her from this habit, I mean she has this cute crib and had never slept in it. So I started weaning her slowly by just putting her in her crib during naps. But I still kept her in the car seat at night, well because she slept so stinkin good in it (therefor, mom slept really good - get where this is going?). I think she's probably been ready for quite some time but it's been my hesitation of being afraid of getting less sleep that's prolonged this. Well after coming home from Utah Bri had a really messed up sleep schedule, so the mean mom that I am, thought I would just throw everything at her all at once and get it over with. She actually has done way better than I expected. She has her occasional bad nights where she'll wake up 3-4 times at night, but for the most part she's stayed at her usual 1-2. So I really can't complain - and yes, I should have done this along time ago - but oh well. :)

I know she's not sleeping in this photo, but I thought it was a cute one of her in her crib watching her butterfly mobile.

Bri is also trying really hard to roll, she's so close! She hasn't quite mastered getting all the way over because that stinking arm gets in the way. This picture is as close as she's come, see she's even on her belly,but that blasted arm is so hard to move out of the way. :) It's a work in progress.

And then I had to add these funny pictures of her in the bath. It's like she's saying, "Get me another drink and some peeled grapes while I lounge in my jacuzzi". (BTW- I showed these pics to her dad last night and he told me I had to delete them. He was very worried that I would let people see naked pictures of our daughter, but I promised I would edit them before I posted them. He's such a funny dad when it comes to protecting his little girl)

PUPPY LOVE

This was too cute not to share (at least I thought it was cute). Ever since we got pregnant with Bri we've been worried about how our dogs were going to react to the new addition to our family. We were worried that Daizy would be jealous, because being our first "child" she doesn't like anything that takes away from her attention. And we worried about Alley, well being Alley. We were afraid she'd be the goober that she is and feel threatened and attack Bri. (She doesn't get along with children very well.) But to our surprise we haven't had even one little problem with them. They've both been really good around the baby.

So last night as Brianna was having tummy time Daizy kept coming over to me and wanting to be pet. I kept telling her to go lay down because I didn't want her accidentally stepping on Bri. So as we were finishing up I rolled Brianna over on her back and here came Daizy again. It was really funny, she weaseled under my arm and laid down with Bri. Daizy has always been really fond of children (I think it's more that she has learned they drop a lot of their food, so if you follow them around you'll get treats). And then she started "nibbling" on Bri. Ever since Daizy was a puppy she has always nibbled us when she's getting pet, it's like her way of showing us affection. She'll grab a piece of your clothing that you have on and very gently nibble it. I felt bad because I kept having to tell her to stop because I was afraid she would accidentally pinch Bri. But it was just too sweet seeing my little girls playing together for the first time.

BRIANNA'S BLESSING

Well one of the main reasons that we made the trip to Utah was to have Brianna blessed . It was such an amazing day. The day was gorgeous, Bri was an angel and she looked like one too. (Oh man I'm already crying! :)) Bri's very proud grandpa gave her a beautiful blessing which we are so thankful for. Bri's such a special little angel and we are so lucky that she was sent to us. She has made our little family perfect. I pray that Justin and I can teach and guide her so that she will be proud to call us mom and dad. WE LOVE YOU BRIANNA!!!

Many of our aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends were able to come share Bri's special day - it was great. Thank you to everyone that came and helped out - we love you guys!!! After getting home I realized that this was the only picture we got on my camera of her in her dress (I think most were taken on my parents). We were running late for church that morning so I thought we'd just take pics that afternoon after the blessing dinner. Well our little stinker showed me - she pooped all over her pretty dress and I mean all over! This picture is actually after she did the deed, we're just strategically hiding it. Oh well, she's still beautiful!

FRIENDSHIP

So while I was in Utah two of my favoritest people were there visiting too. Chantel and Nicole have been my longest, bestest (yes it's a word) friends for forever - let's just say we've been friends since it was cool to have satellite dish bangs! :) Even though none of us even live in Utah anymore, it worked out perfectly that we'd all be there at the same time. I've really come to realize since moving away how very important good friends are. And even though I don't see or talk to them all the time (I'm a moron when it comes to talking on the phone - I hate it), it's so nice to know that when I do get the chance to talk to these girls we just start off where we left off. There's no awkwardness or loss for words, we can tell each other anything and everything. I know that these gals are still going to be my friends when we're 80 and going senile. The nurses in the old folks home will be listening to stories of "licking your face", Russian hats and New York adventures.

It was so good to see them and catch up. They both have two beautiful, crazy, fun kids and since none of my siblings have children yet, they've been a great help in helping me through my new baby fun. I am so fortunate to have these gals in my life and am very indebted to them for being such great friends.

I really hope that one day we'll all be back together in Utah again and be able to get together more often. And one day when Chantel's husband is a rich doctor and Nicole's is a rich lawyer, will be able to go on great vacation together. And well since they'll be rich they can pay for me - right? Ha, Ha, Ha! (Yes, I will never forget that Nicole still owes me a trip because she was the first to get married)

Here is a picture of us with our kids.

Love you girls!!!

IT'S A GOOD THING SHE'S CUTE

Well we are back from our trip to Utah. We had a lot of fun and so didn't want to come home. It was so good to see family and friends. Usually by the end of our trip I'm really ready to go home, but this time I really could have stayed a couple more weeks. Brianna had a really fun time seeing Grandma & Grandpa Anderson again and meeting her aunts and uncle. (I'll post more about our trip later.) Since we've gotten home Brianna has had a rough couple of days. Let's just say I think she got a little spoiled in Utah. She got constant attention from everyone while we were there and I think she's missing it. She's been really fussy since we've been home and every time you go over to her to see what's the matter she just smiles at me, like saying "stop ignoring me". She just wants to be held all the time. Which is kind of weird because she was almost too overwhelmed in Utah with everyone and we'd have to just lay her down on the floor and leave her alone for awhile. Also her sleep schedule is so messed up right now. She adjusted really well to Utah time, even falling asleep early at 8:30/9:00 every night (which is 6:30/7:00 Alaska time), but now that we're back home she's having a hard time readjusting. We're doing okay at keeping her awake as long as we can without a terrible meltdown, we've made it till 9:00 the past two nights, but she wakes up at about 3 or 4 in the morning and thinks it's time to play. After rocking her back to sleep 3 times in a row last night at 3:30 she woke up again and thought she'd tell be a big long story. I try really hard at night to keep talking and playing at a minimum, but she was wide awake and it was hard not to smile at her really exciting story that she was telling - it went on and on forever. I keep telling Justin that it's a really good thing she's cute cause this is getting a little annoying. Oh well I guess that's the whole point of staying at your grandparents house - to get SPOILED! :) She loved it!

Here are a couple of pics from the first couple of nights that we were there. My little sister Kristy had a softball game the day we flew in, so we decided to start Bri off on a good old Anderson tradition and take her to the ballpark.

And then on the 24th of July we went and saw the fireworks in North Logan. Brianna loved them! She'd start fussing when there was a pause between fireworks and as soon as they'd go off she was mesmerized. Too cute! Then we had a family firework show the next night - also a fun Anderson tradition.

A TRIP DOWN MEMORY LANE..

1. As a comment on my blog, leave one memory that you and I had together. It doesn't matter if you knew me a little or a lot, anything you remember!


2. Next, re-post these instructions on your blog and see how many people leave a memory about you. If you leave a memory about me, I'll assume you're playing the game and I'll come to your blog and leave one about you. If you don't want to play on your blog, or if you don't have a blog, I'll leave my memory of you in my comments.

BUSY SUMMER

Well we've been quite busy the past couple of weeks and the rest of the summer looks about the same. Nana and Grandpa Walker are here visiting. They drove from Vermont in their RV and are here to see us and check out all of Alaska. We haven't seen them since we got married so it's been really nice to just get to hang out with them. We took them down south salmon fishing over the the 4th of July which was really fun. The weather was great and to my pure enjoyment there was hardly any bugs. Whoopi! So I actually was able to sit outside for a little bit and get some sun while Justin fished. It was so relaxing just hanging out around the picnic table with the family. The sad part is that in Alaska you really can't celebrate the 4th with fireworks cause it's light outside 24/7. So it was really weird but we still had a lot of fun.

I was stupid and didn't get the camera out and taking any pictures except for this one of Justin with one of his fish.

After salmon fishing the grandparents went and stayed in Valdez for a couple of days and now are back at our house until we leave for Utah next week. The bad thing is his mom has been really sick so we haven't been able to hang out with her as much as we'd have liked. Hopefully she doesn't hate Alaska by the time she gets over this nasty cold. But they were really nice this week and watched Bri while I went to get my hair done. I went back to brown which is really weird cause I've been blond for forever. I'll have to get some pictures and see what you think. I haven't quite decided if I like it yet.

Brianna is doing really good. Except for she's been kind of cranky the past week. I swear she's trying to cut teeth. Isn't she way too young for this? She gnaws on her hands constantly, drools all over the place, and gets so upset. I've even given her a dose or two of Tylenol to help her calm down because she screams from the time she wakes up in the morning until she goes to bed. I keep telling her if she's not old enough to hold onto the teething ring herself and put it in her own mouth, than she is too young for teeth. I haven't felt any teeth in her mouth though, so maybe she's just practicing. :) I forgot to blog her stats from her 2 month check so here they are.

Weight: 12 lbs 2 oz - 75th percentile

Height: 22.5 in - 50th percentile

Head: 15.25 in - 50th percentile

She's turned into a big jabber mouth which is so stickin fun to hear. She tells me great stories all the time. And she giggled for the first time on Thursday. It was so cute!!! Justin and I were making dinner and I was giving her kisses on the neck and she made a little laugh. Both Justin and I looked at each other not really believing what we heard so I kissed her again and she let out this big giggle. Man she is too cute!

Well I had one of those "Only in Alaska" moments the other day. (Even though I'm sure it happens in other places too) The dogs were outside playing and I was on the phone with the bank when I heard Daizy barking and barking. I looked out the window and saw this big old moose standing in the front yard "playing tag" with my two dogs. I hurried and got them back inside before Alley got herself trampled or got the camper damaged. Every time the moose charged she'd run and hide under the camper. So crazy! I guess that's what you get when you live in the woods. He's been back 2 or 3 times this week - I guess we have good eats on our property. :)

So I don't know how much blogging I'll get down in the next couple of weeks. As I mentioned above we are headed to Utah to see my family and get Brianna blessed. We're so excited so see everyone. I can't wait!!! Except I'm a little nervous about flying alone with Bri for the first time. Our flight is in the middle of the night so hopefully she'll just sleep the whole way - or we'll just really tick everyone else off on the plane who's trying to sleep. Oh cross our fingers that she's good!