One Year Ago Today

I can not believe that one year ago today we were spending our first full day with our beautiful daughter. Just to reminise a little here is her birthday story. I was due on August 23 and went for a regular check up on Aug 22. I had planned on working a half day that day because it was my first year in Bristol City teaching and I only had 6 weeks maternity leave. I did not want to waste a day off before she was born, I really wanted to spend every day of my 6 weeks leave cuddling my little girl. I had only taken a half day off for my doctors appointment. Well, I had contractions all night off and on so I called in on the 22 to tell my principal that I hadn't had any sleep, I was having contractions and I needed a full day off. She was happy to oblige so I went on with my day and went to my doctors appointment. Of course, there was nothing happening with my exam: no dilation, no dropping, no nadda :) However, they had decided that she was getting to big and decided to induce me the next morning so we set our plan into action. Cooper was going to spend the night with Uncle Hayter Dee because we had to be at the hospital at 6am and they were going to bring him to the hospital the next morning. I got home from the doctors office and told mom the news. She had planned on picking Cooper up and taking him to Hayter Dee's. Shortly after getting home around 2:00pm I started to have contractions and I noticed they were getting more regular and closer together so Bryan and I decided perhaps we should start timing them. They started around 8 minutes apart and were getting closer and closer in a short period of time. I called mom again and told her she might want to come on to get Cooper because we were going to go to the hospital SOON. Mom and Dad finally arrived at our house to pick up Cooper. Against everyones advice I decided to take a shower (I didn't want to go in and deliver a baby all nasty, go figure). By this point I think I was making my family a little uncomfortable they were definitely ready for me to be at the hospital. We finally arrived at the hospital and the doctor checked me I was at 4 and things were progressing pretty quickly. He thought Brylee would make her arrival by 12:00 pm. I got my epidural immediately and the labor went quick and smooth. Brylee Grace our amazingly beautiful daughter was born on August 22,2007 at 11:27 pm weighing 7 lbs 10 ounces.

Conversations with Cooper

We just got home from school and Cooper announced he had to go poopy. I took him to the potty and sat him on the "mode." He instantly hopped off and ran to the door. Here is what followed:

Me: "Coop where are you going? You said you needed to go poop."
Coop: "I'm shutting the door. I need privacy. Can you go away?"

Brylee's FIRST Birthday Party!

THE BIRTHDAY GIRL!!!!

THE BIRTHDAY CAKE

We had Brylee's Birthday Party yesterday and it was absolutely WONDERFUL!! A Huge Thank You to everyone who came and shared in our little girls First Birthday, you made it so very special for her. We had her party at Wetland's Water Park and it was so much fun. We started out with a picnic and then went into the waterpark for a day of splashing sliding fun. Brylee absolutely loved being the center of attention and really enjoyed opening all of her gifts. She truelly was the "princess" at her princess party. Cooper being the expert on birthday cakes and presents shared his expertise with his little sister. She took her big brothers advice and handled the first birthday party events like a pro. It was absolutely an amazing day again Thank You to everyone who shared it with us WE LOVE YOU ALL!!!!!!!!

Catching a few zzzzz's before the party. When he woke up the first thing he said was "did I miss Sissy's Birthday party" lucky for him the festivities were about to begin and he woke up just in time.

Brylee resting up for the BIG PARTY

One of Brylee's biggest Birthday surprises: her Uncle D!! Uncle D and Aunt Abby drove in from Nashville to spend Brylee's special day with her!Uncle D, Aunt Abby, Cooper and Brylee! We kept it a surprise from the kids that D and Abby were coming in. The kids absolutely adore them and we wanted them to both be surprised. They were SOOOOO excited to see D and Abby!

Brylee sporting her princess tiara her daddy bought her

She loved every minute of her party

Cookie for the adults

Yummmmm chocolate

Uncle Hayter Dee and Aunt Lee

Brandon, Cheyenne, Piper, and Asher (Brandon was being a complete dork: I told him to say cheese and he stuffed his mouth with pizza. I guess he thought it would keep me from posting his picture on here. Oh well, he thought wrong :)

Brylee with my Grandparents (her great-grandparents: Mimi and Papaw)

Coop and Brylee with their great-aunt and great-uncle Mike and Jill

Bryan's mom (Nanny) and Lynn enjoying the party

Sarah and Griffin eatin some pizza (atleast this time I gave you some warning :)


Brylee showing off her ring her Daddy gave her. She is a typical girl that loves shiny diamonds. When Bryan put it on her finger she proudly prounced around showing off her ring. Her Uncle D warned her: she could wear the ring because her Daddy gave it to her but no man could put a ring on her finger until she is atleast 40.
Cooper giving Brylee some pointers: DIG IN!!


Showing his little sis how it's done


We are so blessed

Wow this whole thing is MINE


Brylee sharing her cake with her cousin Samantha or as Coop calls her "Mansa"
As you can tell she finally got the hang of it. I had to take her to the bathroom and put her in the sink to get all of the icing off of her. She had it ALL over her.

Present time


Brylee LOVED LOVED LOVED the Elmo chair Mike and Jill got her. She ended up sitting in it while she opened the rest of her gifts.
Thanks Uncle Hay Dee and Aunt Lee for the Loudest gifts we got. She loves them and she has played and loved on her Pooh Bear all day today.
Trying to get Uncle D to take her to the water slide


WATERPARK TIME!! sliding with Daddy


Brylee was all pooped out from all the fun. She spent the rest of the afternoon napping in the shade with her Uncle Hay Dee

Josh and Griffin enjoying the water slide


Coop's turn on the slide with Zack and Hayter Dee

Jumpin to Aunt Abby

Splish Splash


Horsin Around

Cooper and Josh playing

Cooper, Aunt Abby, Gaggy and Poppy (my mom and dad). Cooper was waiting on Uncle D to come down the "big slide" so he could play some more.

Josh and Griffin (he really wasn't to sure about the whole water thing)but he finally decided that it was FUN

Coop shakin his booty

Birthday fun
Doing what they do best: PLAYING
Brylee finally woke up when it was about time to go home

Coop enjoying Sissy's Birthday gift from Mommy and Daddy: an outdoor grill table set

Gymnastics !!

Cooper went to his first Gymnastics class tonight. He absolutely loved it and had so much fun. He didn't want to leave but I quickly assured him that we would come back next week. It is so neat that they have a 2 and 3 year old class. He is going to get spoiled however, because there is only one other little girl in his class. He was thrilled that he made a new little friend. He got to swing on the bars and even did a flip on the bar, he jumped in the foam pit, jumped on the trampoline and did all of his stretches like a champ. I'm not sure who had more fun, him doing the gymnastics or me watching him.

Family Reunion at South Holston

The first saturday in August you will always find us on the lake enjoying a great time with Bryan's family. They hold their family reunion at the lake every year and this year was full of food and fun for everyone, especially the kids. Cooper and Brylee both pigged out and swam the entire day away. Cooper LOVED the jet ski rides with his cousin Zach and Uncle Hayter Dee. I enjoyed a quick ride with him however I decided to leave the jet ski riding to the experts :) I was surprised by the fact that our little speed demon that travels at warp speed at all times did not enjoy going fast at all and kept telling his Daddy to "swow down." Brylee loved all the attention and love she got from all her relatives, some of Bryan's relatives live out of town and this was the first time Brylee got to meet them.

Brylee cuddling with her Aunt Lee after a long afternoon of swimming.

Cooper pigging out on his favorite food, watermelon.
Brylee chowing down her dinner in her comfy coozy seat Aunt Lee made her out of her float.
Swim time with Daddy
Coop catching one of his shoulder rides with his cousin Zach
Zach teaching Cooper the rules of the jet ski
Coop catching some waves. (Don't worry mom the jet ski wasn't even turned on and Zach was standing right behind the jet ski. I told him to back up so I could take this picture )
Both the babies on jet skis