80◦ in January

We have been having the most beautiful weather lately.  For the past week or so Brynn and I have been racing home from work and daycare to go for a walk or to the park.  We spent the entire weekend outside and hours upon hours at the park.  Brynn enjoys every moment outside and loves being able to just run and run and run.  She played with all of the puppies who came her way and gained enough confidence to go down the slide without any help.  We now need to watch her closely while she is on the jungle gym as she has absolutely no fear.  I hope we continue to have this weather as Brynn is always much happier when she can go outside and play.   

Social Butterfly

Being the performer that she is, we now take Brynn to classes once or twice a week where she can play and dance till her little heart is content.  The classes are filled with one and two year olds running from station to station (in no particular order) doing different activities.  Brynn stops in between stations to talk with friends or dance to the music.  Throughout the class the instructors set up more structured activities to work on different skills in short ten minute intervals.  The balance beam and pretend roller coaster are her favorites so far.  They even have separation time where the kids play without the parents hovering over them.  It is always interesting to see how Brynn acts when she does not think I am around.  She actually seems to be more caring and loving when I am not looking.  She is always very sensitive to the other kids’ feelings and does not like to see them sad.  I am also trying to decide whether she is a town boy at heart or just boy crazy as she always seems to be playing with the boys.  She loves to rough-house and play with trucks but is just as interested in having a tea party.

These classes have been great for her and she loves going.  She runs straight to the door the second I tell her we are going to class and that all of her friends are going to be there.  Brynn has definitely gained confidence and balance since she started attending the classes.  She is always so wore out after class that I need to have a snack and water ready to go before we depart.  Her snack is always gone before we get out of the parking lot and she is fast asleep before we are even close to home.        

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

This Christmas was especially fun for us.  Brynn was fascinated by all of the Christmas lights and decorations.  Every night when we arrived home she would stand in front of the Christmas tree just waiting for us to turn the lights on.  And every time she would stand there in amazement and say OOhhhh!!! 

On Christmas morning she was her typical animated self.  She was not quite sure what to think in the beginning but once she dove into her stocking it was over.  Brynn started opening her gifts and helping everyone else out with theirs.  She had so many gifts to open that we did not even get to all of them.  Good thing too.  As the next morning when she awoke she went into the living room looking for more presents.

Look!! This is has my name on it!

Look what Santa brought!

Lucky for us we got to spend both Christmas and New Years in South Dakota.  We were able to spend tons of time with family and friends.  Brynn especially loved playing with her cousins all week and already misses getting spoiled by all of her Grandmas’ and Grandpas’.  Mom took away all of the candy, cookies, and bottles once we got back home. 

We had a great 2011 and are looking forward to 2012.  2012 is going to be filled with adventure now that Brynn is a little bit older and is starting to understand what is going on.  I cannot wait to relive all of the things that I did as a kid as Brynn explores and learns new things.    



Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from our family to yours.