Landscaping Round #2

Even though, we did new landscaping last spring on the front and back, it was time to step it up a level. Here are the new photos. Aaron demolished a nasty bush that was in the front part of the walkway....yes!! We have an apricot tree (hopefully) growing in the front, lots of new stones, ivy, and handmade planter boxes in backyard now. My husband is too nice to me!

Old Backyard:


New Backyard:



New Frontyard:
(sorry, I couldn't find the "old" pictures of the front)

Childwatch

Tonight marked the first night that Aaron and I both headed to the YMCA and dropped Brooklyn off at the childcare watch center while we worked out. I was pretty hesitant, but she has reached a "stranger danger" stage here lately. She cries nonstop when she is with Papa de Wolfe and there is no Momma, Dadda or Nana around.
So, I felt the time has come to begin an acclimation process. I want B to be able to go to various people and not throw a fit. And now that we have booked a flight up north to visit the de Wolfe Family....she definitely needs to be a flexible baby!

She was not-so-sure at first, but ultimately did great. Aaron and I were both checking on her numerous times and there were no major meltdowns! I was ecstatic. Not only do I want her to be "easy going" in all environments, but it felt GREAT to hit the elliptical and weight-lifting machines again!! I have enjoyed running outside and can certainly feel the improvement it has made (by how easy this workout felt compared to the old days), but it was nice to do something different for a change.

We will be gradually increasing our visits to the Y and the summer time will be a daily occurrence for this Momma. I am excited about the opportunity for her to interact with other kiddos.

Ahhhh, working out feels so refreshing :) We will all sleep good tonight.

Sweet Nana

My Nana takes such good care of me everyday. We go on walks together, we shop together and we play and play all day! She is constantly buying me goodies when we are out and about. She even started using momma's sewing machine and made me my own BEAUTIFUL blankie.



I love you Nana!
XOXOXO Brooklyn

ADHD

Aaron and I cannot sit around and not do "something." Every time we have a spare moment, we are sprucing up the landscaping, cleaning house, running errands, etc. Today, it rained majority of the day and Aaron was still in the front yard, placing some new landscaping stones and what not. We had began our "update" to the front yard yesterday and we only got a portion of it completed. We are soaking wet, monitor cranked up full blast(Brooklyn was napping) and we literally had to talk ourselves out of continuing in the rain. It was a muddy mess!!

But it was only 3:00pm, the job was not complete and our alternative was sitting and relaxing in the house.........HMMMMM?!? And we really did have to talk ourselves into quitting!

A Whole New Playtime

Now that we have entered a new, sitting up stage, bath time has become a new playtime. We tried it for the first time tonight. Brooklyn sat in the water and reached around for her toys. She splashed and enjoyed for a few minutes and then it was back to business: washing and scrubbing.

Here are a couple of "censored" pictures.

Little Big Foot

We gave Brooklyn a ribbon to play with......

Finishers!

Aaron and I completed the Big "D" Half Marathon in 2:06:26!! (around 9:40 miles) I reached both my goals for this event and felt really good afterwards. I can see now why people get the "running bug." It is addicting completing a such a challenge and crossing the finish line. No walking, no injures, overcast and slight breeze.....GREAT day for running!!

Team Hein will continue on their ventures :)
It was so uplifting running with my best friend :)

Getting There

Brooklyn has been working on sitting up for quite a while now. It is definitely work in progress, but she can stay up for a minute or two at a time now. She has finally figured out how to use her hand to stabilize herself when needed.

It is funny when she slightly kicks the ball to her hand! Although, all her kicking gets in the way of sitting!!

Brooklyn's First Easter

We began at church with Nana and Papa de Wolfe and ended exhausted at Gamma and Gampa Hein's House. Lots of food and fun times!!! It was truly a wonderful Easter.
The photo album on Picasa is a "must-see" to capture all the activities and laughs....this Momma is too tired to even attempt to describe everything!

"The Bet, Baby"

Victory is such a sweet taste in one's mouth! Duke's defeat over W. Virginia tonight gave me the winning point I needed to beat Aaron in the March Madness Bracket. It was really close, but looks like Momma will be enjoying a relaxing day with a pedicure, manicure, pampering and probably some shopping!!! NICE!

Intruder

Of course Aaron is out-of-town turkey hunting and this is what I have to deal with on my own.....


(picture from my phone)

It must have been right up against the back door, so when I opened it, it basically fell inside. I had to scoop it out and then over the fence because I was worried that Chip would mess with it. YUCK!!!!!

Luckily, it was an immature thing, just about a foot long or so. Nice, good timing on Aaron's behalf!

Oops!

When the snow fell again in February here, Aaron and I put Brooklyn to bed and went outside and acted like 10 year olds.....we threw snowballs at each other, made snow angels and ran around being silly!
Well, unfortunately, Aaron lost his wedding ring during our adventures. I know, no surprise, that ring ends up in food, snow, you name it!! (This is why we did NOT spend a fortune on it in the beginning :)

Anyhow, he finally got a hold of a metal detector, a defective metal detector apparently! No ring, but definitely some giggles.