4th of July

We had a wonderful 4Th of July weekend. Out of our four years of living in Philadelphia, this was our first 4Th of July because normally we are visiting family in Utah. Since we live so close to the place, that is the reason for the 4Th of July, we decided to take advantage and brave going into the city. Greg's parents came into town, so they were there to help us with the two little ones in a VERY crowed place.

We walked around the historical sites and then went to Penns Landing for an orchestra concert and to see fireworks on the Delaware river. They were amazing and we all had a fabulous time.

Brinley was not happy, because she wanted to pet a dog that she saw instead of getting her picture taken






Eating lunch at Reading Terminal Market.


Stocking up with treats before fireworks.


Brinley plugged her ears when she thought the fireworks were to loud.


Happy 234Th birthday America!

Funny Girl

Brinley makes me laugh! She is doing the funniest little things lately that I just don't want to forget so I'm writing them down now while they're fresh in my brain.

As of about two months ago she has become very interested in Disney movies. Her favorites as of now are Lion King, Enchanted, and Beauty and the Beast. She has watched them so many times that sometimes I catch her, while she is playing, reinacting parts of the movies. For example:

A few nights ago at dinner I gave her a bowl of green salad with tomatoes and cucumbers. She pulled out one the tomatoes, looked at it and said "Hakuna Matata" then she slurped it up and after she swallowed said, "Slimy yet satisfying."

Then one night when I was watching her play outside I noticed her lying down in a patch of grass on her side holding a dandy lion up in the air. I could tell she was singing something, but couldn't hear, so I went over closer and heard her singing, "And for once it might be grand to have someone understand. I want so much more then they have planned..." That's from Beauty and the Beast for those who don't know.

She is becoming a good big sister. The other day I had made Julianne a bottle and set it on the table where she was sitting in her bouncer fussing because she was hungry. Brinley was eating lunch at the table and I ran in my room quick to grab a burp cloth. While I was in my room I suddenly didn't hear any crying anymore and rushed back to see why and I saw this. Brinley ended up feeding her most of the bottle. It was so sweet to see.


Whenever Julianne is crying Brinley goes over and kisses her on the head and says "Don't worry, Daddy will be home soon."

On Saturday Greg had a school function in the morning. Brinley was eating breakfast and saw him put on his back pack and she quickly got off her chair and said "I need to get my backpack like Dad." She came back wearing her back pack so she could be just like her daddy.


Sometimes this little nugget can really get me frustrated. She definitely is in her terrible two faze of life and just when I think I can't take it anymore she seems to do something that makes me laugh or smile and suddenly she is all worth it again. I just love her!!!

All about Julianne

Well, I'm feeling kind of guilty. By the time Brinley was Julianne's age she had her face plastered all over our blog and pour Julianne just hasn't had the same attention. I guess that's what comes from being a second child. So I decided to dedicate this whole post to her.

Our darling Julianne is now 2 months old! In some ways it has gone fast but in others it has gone very slow. For the first month of her life she was pretty fussy. I nurse and bottle feed her and the formula I was supplementing her with was bothering her tummy. Of course I didn't know this until after a few weeks of giving her a bottle. After talking to some friends of about her symptoms they suggested I try a lactose free formula to see if it made a difference. HOLY COW!! The minute I switched, she turned into a whole new baby! I couldn't believe how much happier she was and how much happier that made me feel. We definitely still have our rough days, but for the most part she is a very happy baby and so stinkin' cute!!! She just melts my heart. We love her so much! I can't wait to take her to Utah to meet all her family. Here are some cute pictures that we took of her today.

Thanks Heather for this darling outfit!

Kirtland Ohio

Over memorial day weekend we decided to take a trip to Kirtland Ohio to visit the historical church sites. Greg's cousin Katie lives near Pittsburgh, which is only 2 hours away from Kirtland, so all of us went together. We had a wonderful time. I'm so lucky so live near so many amazing places!

Kirtland Temple





Brinley loved the sister missionary's


Johnson Farm, where Joseph and Emma lived when Joseph was tarred and feathered.



While we were staying at Greg's cousin house we went to a park near their home. It had the mother of all slides!! It was the fastest, longest slide I have ever been on! Brinley was to little to go down by herself so I went down with her about 10 times. It was a blast!!!





Our cute girls stretching after a long car ride home.

Missy comes to visit!

Last week, Greg was gone to sunny California for an externship. To help me from going insane from being all by myself with two kids all week, I asked my cousin Mythanne to come and stay with us. She was a huge help and all of us had a blast hanging out with her.

We went to Amish country one day and Brinley got to decorate a gingerbread cookie. It was a lot of fun!







We also went to the park one day. Brinley is terrified of swings, so is was miracle Mythanne got her to swing with her for just a minute. I had to get a picture because it has never happened.





Julianne had fun sleeping in her car seat.


On our way to pick up Greg from the airport we stopped at the zoo. It had just stopped raining when we got there and was nice and cool. The animals must love that kind of weather, because they were so active! The lions were all awake and the tigers and leopards were walking all around. Brinley loved it!









Thanks for coming Mythanne, we miss you already!

We're still here

Wow! It has been a busy month for us! I can't believe how adding just one more baby to your life can make everything change and become more complicated. I'm hoping that things will calm down soon.

Our little Julianne is such a sweetheart! We love her so much and honestly can't imagine what we did without her. Brinley is starting to get more use to having a little sister. She loves her a lot and when we're in public she'll go up to strangers and tell them she has a little sister named Julianne and that she is a big sister now. She is so proud!


Julianne's first bath! She loved it.


Since having Julianne, Brinley has really started to exercise her independence. For example she wanted to dress herself the other day, this is what she came out in! It was so funny.

Baby Julianne is here

Our sweet baby Julianne was born on the 16Th of April at 2:12pm and weighed 6lb 12oz and measured 19 inches. I'm sorry its taken me so long to post pictures but we have had such a crazy week!

It all began Friday morning when my water broke. I went to my Dr. before going to the hospital and for some odd reason, not knowing before now, he discovered that the baby was breeched. Total surprise! So what I thought was going to be a normal delivery was now going to be a c-section. Because my water had already broke I started having contractions right away. At first they weren't too bad, but once we got to the hospital they started getting a lot more intense. I had to wait about an hour and a half before they could take me to the OR but it felt like FOREVER! I was having crazy painful contractions every 1-2 minutes. The Dr. checked me right before going into the OR and told me I was at an 8. No wonder I was in so much pain! Once we got into the operating room I finally got my spinal injection and all the pain went away! It was crazy because I could feel all the pressure of them pulling and tugging but no pain, then all of the sudden they dug down way deep and pulled our baby out!

When Greg and I first saw her we both said she looked just like Brinley, but now we are definitely starting to see her own little look coming through. So far she has been a wonderful baby! She is so content and pleasant.

We got to come home 4 days later, but on Wednesday when we went to get her bellyruben tested they told us it was really high and that we needed to take her back to the hospital. So Greg and I went to the hospital, they admitted us and I got to spend another lovely night in the hospital next to my baby under lights. Luckily after a night under lights they tested her again and her count went down. They took her out of her lighted bed and we waited another 6 hours for them to test her again to make sure her count was still going down and it was so they let us go home!

Things are going well now for us. Brinley is adjusting very well to being a big sister. Sometimes she can "love" the baby a little to much, but for the most part she has done great. My Mom has been here since the day before we had Julianne and has been a lifesaver in helping us out. As far as my recovery, it has been as good as it could be. It's a lot harder getting around, but I'm really not in any pain. We just feel so blessed that every thing turned out they way it did and that Julianne is healthy and doing well.

Right after delivery.


Greg and Julianne waiting for me to come out of the OR.


Mommy and baby after a long day.


Brinley holding Julianne for the first time.


Our first family picture.


Our awesome friends Bryce and Miranda.


Elizabeth and Julianne.


Brent and Julianne.


The day we brought her home.


In the hospital for the second time.


We love our little girls!