only 4 days left..

WARNING: My baby girl is turning 1 this Sunday. I may or may not be having a hard time accepting this. This post may or may not contain way too many pictures. Deal with it.

Brynne Noelle, January 18th 2008Hard for me to believe that this was one year ago. Our sweet girl entered this world on Jan 18 at 4:14am weighing 7lb2oz, 19"long. Her delivery was FAST and drug free!

So happy to meet our baby girl and become a family of four!

Landon...not so happy (at first!)

From the minute she was born Brynne has been a very aware baby...

...and she LOVES her big brother and thinks he is the greatest thing in the world...

...she knows the importance of a good hair accessory...

...and will forever wear pink...

...and be our sweet baby girl...

...with the BIG blue eyes...

...and that curious stare...

...and those unbelievable eyelashes...

The girl who is always smiling, but rarely laughing...

...who calmly takes in everything around her...

...who LOVES attention, but doesn't NEED it...

...who never tires of her Big Brother...

...who LOVES cuddles, but only for 4 seconds...

...who happily hits her milestones and stages quickly and effortlessly.

This sweet girl lights up for anyone...

...she is calm, and pensive...

...bright, and reserved...

...sweet and silly...

...concerned and curious...

...fearless, and patient...

...active and cautious...

...excitable and charming...

...docile and good-natured...

...inquisitive and interested.

Brynne is SO different than her brother. I have said many times that although she was our 2nd baby many times she felt like out first. So many things I had learned as a mother through Landon just were not applicable with Brynne.

Brynne definitely is her own person and knows what she wants.

Brynne is an outgoing baby who wants to be involved in everything. Landon is more reserved and takes things in from afar.

She has been in LOVE with her daddy and Grandpa since day 1. She loves people and has no 'stranger anxiety' at all. Landon was GLUED to Mama until he was about 14 months old.

Nothing gets to Brynne, she is not easily upset. She just goes with the flow and is always learning. Everything upsets Landon. He is definitely more sensitive than she is.

Brynne likes to get her way, but if you tell her no she will occupy her time with something else. Landon also like to get his way, but if you tell him no, he will be persistent in getting his way.

Brynne is very independent and likes to explore and play by herself. Landon is very dependent and rarely spends time by himself.

She loves her brother so much and tries so hard to keep up with him. She thinks it is amazing that he can run, jump, roll, and climb, and tries HARD to do everything Landon does.

Brynne LOVES to eat and has since she was born. She will eat anything and does so slowly and carefully enjoying every bite. Lunchtime in her highchair is probably the happiest part of her day.

She wakes up in a great mood and is ready to eat and then play. She starts her day about 7:30 and by 10am can barely keep her eyes open. No matter what time she wakes up she HAS to have her 10am nap.

Brynne loves being in the stroller but hates being in her car seat. She is not a happy car baby and does not do well on longer car rides. I pack lots of snacks and toys but usually within 15 minutes she is crying whenever we go anywhere.

She has just learned how to wave and call for Mama. She waves at everyone we see in the mall or in the store. She loves attention from strangers and lights up whenever anyone talks to her. She calls loudly for Mama after each nap or if she wants my attention throughout the day.

Brynne likes to be involved in everything we do. Landon was always the same way. If I am carrying in bags from the car she wants to go in and out like Mama. She usually just ends up in my way! If Dad is working around the house or in the garage Brynne will be close by with a tool in each of her tiny hands.

As I mentioned before Brynne has a special relationship with her PopPop (my dad). She has always loved him and has always been drawn to him since she was born. Landon wasn't really close to anyone besides me until he was about 12 or 14 months old. Now Landon is VERY close to both Auntie and Grandma. He has a special relationship with each of them. It is so sweet to see Brynne and PopPop together. Her face always lights up when she sees him.

She is such a silly girl and loves to make people laugh. It takes a lot of work to get her to laugh though. She is ticklish but will only smile or grunt when you tickle her. This girl makes you work hard for her laughter. But when you hear it it's the best sound on Earth!

Brynne is a natural Mama herself. Since Daddy and I gave her her very first baby on Christmas she has amazed us with her sweet actions. She carries her baby so tight and kisses it on the face. She brings me her baby on and off throughout the day and shoves the baby in my face until I kiss it. Then she smiles so big and continues playing.

She likes to be a little helper too. Anything she finds on the floor she hands to Mama. She shows us everything she has hiding in her mouth or hands. She loves to be told that she is a "good girl" or a "big girl."

Recently Brynne has discovered her LOVE for playing outside. She will wander around the backyard following Landon for hours if the weather is nice. She picks up sticks, rocks, dirt, and leaves. She will fall on the uneven ground over and over but always gets back up without so much as a whine.

Our beautiful baby girl has brought so much JOY and HAPPINESS to this Mama. I am so BLESSED and THANKFUL to have this sweet girl as my daughter. It is so hard to watch her growing up so fast and becoming more and more independent. What really breaks my heart is knowing that in just 18 months she will be at the age Landon is right now. Although I know the coming years will be both fun and frustrating, I just wish she could be a baby just a little longer! Nothing, and I mean NOTHING, beats holding your sweet baby in your arms!


Brynne 01-11-09 at Matthew's party.