Girl's got moves!

So Lydia has learned to walk as we have mentioned before. My mom, I know, is dying to see her in action so I thought I'd post a little taste on the blog. We were asking her where her belly button was and she was pulling up her dress to show us as she walked around. Pretty coordinated to walk around with your shirt up if you ask me.

Going for a Stroll

She can walk, she can walk, she can walk!! The other night Chad put Lydia behind her doll stroller to take her for a little walk like they sometimes do, but she took off by herself like it was nobody's business. Ever since then she has been a walking!! It is so cute to see her hobble down the hall. She is really pretty good, especially since she decided to just go for it. So fun!

Picking Up

Someone once asked me how old Lydia was and when I replied she said, "Oh, she's at that age where she loves to dump things out, pick it back up again, and then start all over." I replied that Lydia indeed loved to dump stuff, but had yet to put anything back. She loved to empty the diaper bag of every single item all in sacrament meeting, she loves to throw her shoes on the floor from their perch on the second shelf of our bookstand, and she loves to throw her diapers, one at a time, over her shoulder when she finds them neatly stacked in the cupboard downstairs. Chad even said of her, "Disorganization is her happiness." And I loved her for it.

Well, in this video, for the first time ever, she started picking up one of her messes. She had shredded a tissue all over the front room floor. Chad, for whatever reason, picked up one of her empty snack cups and put in a shred of tissue for her. I guess she liked the idea because she kept filling her cup (and sometimes accidently dumping it so she'd have to start over) and it kept her entertained for quite awhile. We caught it on video. Ah, my little girl is growing up.

Busy Bee

So Lydia was a bee for Halloween and I thought it was ADORABLE. I must say that Halloween has seemed lame to me since I grew up. But having a baby to dress up and take to the ward trunk-or-treat brought all the fun back for me. Maybe even more than when I was the one being dressed up since I usually feel a little silly when I'm not dressed like myself (and even sometimes when I am). Lydia's little friends Claire and Derick also looked killer in their adorable costumes. And you haven't seen adorable until you've seen magnetic earrings in the pirate ears of a six-month old boy! I almost died. We tried to teach Lydia to say "Buzzzzz" before the big day, but she didn't quite get the hang of it. She was so cute that the sound effects would've put her over the top I'm sure. See for yourself.

Happy 1st Birthday Lydia!

Lydia turned ONE on October 29th. I can hardly believe it. We celebrated the event with all the pizzazz that I have ever mustered for a birthday (I'm not a big party planner). Chad put up all the streamers you see in the picture below and I spent the better part of the day baking Lydia's cake, cupcakes for our guests, and then decorating the goodies.

After all the guests had arrived we brought out the cake. She loved looking at it. We sang, and then I tried to help her blow it out. One little candle and it took me like four tries. Obviously it's been awhile since I blew out candles. Let the mess begin! We stripped the birthday girl and let her go at the cake. She was a little timid at first which is just like her. But by the end....

Well, you can see for yourself.
She got tons of cute presents, and then we carved pumpkins. She was all about helping Chad gut our pumpkin. She at one time had a spoon in each hand and was pushing Chad's hands out of the way--she wanted it all for herself.

Here Lydia is with her best gal pal Claire. Thanks to all who came and made it such a fun night, especially Grandma and Grandpa Carrigan who only had to drive 820 miles to be here.

Life With Lydia

The other day Chad was standing in the kitchen and he said to me, "Come here for a second." I obliged him and when I got to his side he turned me around and said, "Look at your house." This is what we saw: The picture isn't that great, but you can see that our little busy-body has stuff every foot or so over our entire front room. The messes have only escalated. I can no longer keep her out of our lazy susan where she gleefully unloads the marshmellows, chocolate chips, flour, and even once, the cornstarch. I'm constantly moving her from one place while saying "no" to a place I wish she would stay for more than one second.

The other battle that has come about is the transition from baby food to table food. Honestly, I don't think she cares much for either. Thus I find myself in the wonderful world of worrying about her "nutritionally balanced" diet. If all she'll eat is crackers and puffs, what should I do? She refuses to let me feed her table food from a spoon so whatever I give her has to be hands-on. And one of her favorite things to do is rub it all over her face and hair, and then throw it on the floor. I find shampooing her hair is a waste of time though I do it anyway, and I now mop the floor at least twice a day. This picture is from one of our battles over baby oatmeal. As you can see she wasn't as interested in putting it in her mouth as she was in putting it everywhere else.

She'll be a year old in a few weeks and I can't believe it. I'm researching bigger carseats and planning a small, but celebratory birthday party. (If anyone has any carseat suggestions, feel free. There are just too many choices.)

And even though she is a bit of work, with faces like these:

How can you help but love her to pieces anyway!

Grandpa Russ's Funeral

I thought I would post just a few pictures from the funeral we had for Chad's grandpa. It was such a beautiful day. We'll miss him.

I've been tagged (thanks, Tash!)

4 Random Things I Love About My Husband
1. He is part cowboy which means he can ride a horse and let me tell you, he is hotter than the man from Snowy River when he does!
2. He lets Lydia be his "helper" when he washes the dishes, waters the garden, or just goes outside.
3. He cooks amazing breakfast food.
4. He never had a girlfriend before me.

Four Jobs I've Had
1. I was a Dental Assistant for five years
2. I interned as a Search Engine Optimization Specialist my last semester of college (sounds fancy, eh?)
3. I was a consumer writer for toptenreviews.com
4. I was the executive secretary for the Morgan School District Superintendent.

Four Movies I Have Watched More than Once
1. Pride and Prejudice (over and over)
2. EverAfter (I love her dresses in that movie)
3. Footloose
4. Dumb and Dumber

Four TV Shows I Watch
1. The Office
2. American Idol
3. Biggest Loser (while I eat a bowl of ice cream)
4. Chuck

Four Places I Have Been
1. North Carolina
2. Brazil
3. Costa Rica
4. Disney World

Four of my Favorite Foods
1. Mashed Potatoes and Gravy
2. Chocolate Chip Cookies
3. Homemade Rolls
4. Cantaloupe

Four Places I Would Like to Visit
1. Ireland
2. Hawaii
3. New York
4. London

Four things I look forward to in this coming year:
1. Having another baby hopefully
2. Moving back to Utah
3. Going to the Black Hills
4. Enjoying Nebraska while I'm here

I tag Jamie, Debbie, Brooke, and Heidi

Off to the Races

Running. Many who hear that word think "no thanks, I'd rather not", others think of pain, and still others think of their daily passion. I have fallen into all three categories at some point or another. Though I've been a "runner" off and on since seventh grade, those off times were expansive and the word "running" brought a sour expression to my mind--especially when I was pregnant with Lydia.

Though I attempted running a few times after Lydia was born, I just couldn't get into it. Then, I literally woke up one lovely June morning this summer and wanted to run. Who knows where the extra super-dose of ambition and drive came from, but come it did. I've been running ever since. Chad fueled the fire by signing us up for the Columbus Annual "Downtown Run-Around" (pictured above). It was a simple 2.1 mile race, but it was so much fun. And when the announcer at the finish line made a big deal about my finish because I was the first "Mom pushing a stroller" to cross the line (and I crossed three minutes faster than my goal), well that made it even funner. And to say nothing of Lydia's accomplishment at being the first baby across...well, I think she should've gotten a ribbon or something for that.

And so it has gone. I don't run every day--more like 3-5 times a week--but when I do, we head out just after eight, iPod strapped to my arm, Lydia strapped in her new jogging stroller (yes, we had to invest--there is no other way to go when running with a baby), the Red Hot Chili Peppers singing Dani California in my ear from my "run, baby, run" playlist, and we go anywhere from 2-4 miles. I've found running addicting as I've felt my body getting stronger and faster. I feel myself doing something that goes against the grain of my natural lazy instincts. Sweat drips down my face and back, and I feel empowered. I pass several women walkers when I run (one who wears yellow crocs--you can see her feet moving a mile away) and I can't help but think, "Ha! I'm running and pushing a stroller." Now, is there a marathon in my future? Probably not. But I am thinking that I could possibly do a half marathon with some persistent training or at least a 10k. I found only one more race this year to participate in (there are more, but they are all on Sunday). Hastings, NE has a 5k in a few weeks and I'm pretty sure I'll be there stroller-pushing and Chili Pepper-listening.

Filing a Complaint

Can I just say that I LOATHE the smell of cigarette smoke? I have really enjoyed living here in Nebraska. I like the small town lifestyle, the branch of the church we attend here has revitalized me, and my apartment is huge, cheap, and has lots of windows. Problem: I think every single one of my neighbors smokes! Just when the fall weather takes on that perfect, cozy temperature that makes you want to turn off your air conditioner and revel in the joy of having fresh air flow through your open windows, I can't. The neighbor next to us smokes on his deck frequently and for whatever reason, we are always down wind. If I happen to have my deck door open hoping that I can get a few hours of fresh air and hear him go out onto his deck, I have to hop up and close the door unless I want the repugnant smell of his particular brand filling my house. Every time I go to shut the door what I really want to do is yell, "QUIT SMOKING ALREADY!" The neighbors underneath us smoke too and though everyone who lives here is supposed to smoke outdoors only, not everyone follows the rule. If I open the cupboard under our kitchen sink or go into the downstairs bathroom, I am assaulted by the old, stagnant fragrance of someone's most recent cig. We got some of the air fresheners that absorb odors. The kind that you slowly take the lid off and are supposed to last for months? Well, this morning I looked at the one that had been in our bathroom for only two weeks and it was completely shriveled and black. Disgusting!

You know, being a member of the church, of course, keeps me away from a few worldly habits. However, I can maybe see why people drink socially with all the pretty wine glasses and glittery outings. I can see why people are addicted to coffee. But I CANNOT understand why anyone would want to smoke. Hello! You are practically paying to give yourself cancer besides that fact that you permanently smell along with everything you own. I truly don't get it. Don't get me wrong, I know that smoking doesn't mean you are a bad person. I just think it makes you a smelly one.

Well, until the neighbors give up the habit or move, I will be carefully looking at any and all air-freshening products to see if I can help my cute little house smell as good as I try to make it look. If you come over, please feel free to give me an evaluation, and if it smells, you'll know that it wasn't me. And because I don't really dare yell at my neighbors, let this be my protest!

Summer Fun

Here are some of our favorite pictures from this summer. We thought we would save your scrolling finger some work and put it in a slide show. Enjoy!

Grass, Dogs, and Parks--Utah Fun

The picture above says it all. After all, how many hours can a kid spend in a car seat or stroller in one week? We took the 12 hour drive to Utah in two days and stayed for a week over the fourth of July. This is us at Heritage Park in Salt Lake.

Lydia was so hot walking around the park. You can see her receiving immediate assistance from the hydration team consisting of Grandpa Carrigan and Chad.

Swimming with cousin Josi in Logan.

Hanging out with Uncle Kyle.

She found the grass at Grandma's especially tasty. Utah does have good grass though.


Lydia LOVED my mom's dogs. She couldn't get enough of them even when they had had more than they could take of her.

Here is a four generation picture. Great Grandma Holyoak, Grandma Carrigan, me, and Lydia.

Flowers and VooDoo

Lydia met VooDoo, the beloved kid horse, at Grandma and Grandpa Kimber's and took a short ride. She also pulled up one of Grandma Kimber's flowers from her many beautiful gardens.

Five Weeks!

That is how long our computer was at the stupid repair shop! Just a little ridiculous. I can't tell you how many insulting speeches I thought up in my head for the guys who run that store. Luckily I'm all talk so no one was hurt. But we have it back. I'm updated on everyone else's blogs and will soon my updating my own. This weekend hopefully, so check back with us soon!

Broken Promises

So I know I promised a post about our Utah trip and that I did so weeks ago. Well, the night that Chad and I finally sat down to update our blog....our computer broke. We took it in to the shop to be fixed and they said a week. A week later, they said another week. So I broke my promise to my blog readers and the computer guy broke his promise to us. For now, I'm relying on the library and kind friends who let me get some computer usage when I can. We still don't have our computer and have given up hope of having it any time soon. So much for paying for our unusable internet service. We'd cancel if their wasn't an installation charge. But as for blog updates, for now, this will have to do. And cross your fingers for us that we don't lose any of our pictures off our hard drive. They are so cute that it would be a loss to all mankind, not just us. Until our computer returns......this is Brenna signing off.

Busy Girl

I've mentioned before on this blog that one of my favorites moments of the day is when I go into Lydia's room to get her up from a nap or from bed. You just never know what position she'll be in, what mess she will have left me, or, as you can see below, what state her clothes will be in. I laughed for a very long time when I went in and found her bare arm hanging out the neck of her pajamas. I still don't know how she managed that one. She hasn't done it since.








In the other picture, it is kind of hard to see, but she has the worst bed head she has ever had. She must have been rubbing her head along the bumpers or something because it was crazy.






As you can see, she also gets a little messy when eating prunes. And she loved crawling all over our boxes when we moved in.

We did just get back from Utah so a future post with details and some really cute pictures will arrive shortly.

The Westward Advance

We've chronicled our trip from Durham, NC to Columbus, NE in a reader's digest fashion. Our last days in Durham were filled with friends and last minute chaos. Thanks again to the Christians and the Kellers for literally saving us that last day. We headed for Asheville around 8:30 p.m. on June 4th with a loaded car and exhausted passengers, but we made it. Our first major event: The Biltmore Estate.

Here you can see the Biltmore home behind Chad. Completed in 1895 under the ownership of George Vanderbilt-a multi-millionaire railroad tycoon. It boasts 175,000 square feet including over 250 rooms, an indoor pool and gym, a bowling alley, a library with over 10,000 volumes, 65 fireplaces, and a banquet room with a 70 foot-high ceiling. It is gorgeous and of course, enormous! The most fascinating thing about the place is that the Vanderbilt children called it home. I imagine them running through the halls playing impossible games of hide-and-seek, having sleep overs, and every other thing that normal children would do.

Here you can see the outside of the grand staircase that spirals through four stories.

Seeing me in front of the building with the stroller might give you an idea of how big it truly is.

We loved it and we recommend the audio tour to anyone who might visit.

The day after Biltmore we spent the entire day driving. Destination: Lexington, KY. Chad decided to take the scenic route through the Smoky Mountains. To all you Rocky Mountain natives, I must defend the Smoky Mountains. They are indeed mountains in their own right and they are beautiful. The trees are endless--blanketing every square inch of the land. Chad said that driving through them reminded him of Brazil. You can see in the pictures above and below.

Lexington, Kentucky

If Chad had met his maker while driving through the beautiful city of Lexington, KY, he would've died a happy man. That is how much he LOVED Lexington with its gorgeous, rich horse farms which were beautifully manicured and fenced. While there we visited a horse farm that keeps retired race horses, the Kentucky Horse Park, and we took the "Dreamer" driving tour where you drive through Kentucky and see all the places where that movie was filmed. It was BEAUTIFUL.

This horse lives at the Kentucky Horse farm. We saw some thoroughbreds there with some impressive resumes.

Below, it may be hard to tell because of the windshield glare, but some of the roads in Lexington are narrow, lined with stone walls, and arched over with trees. They are picturesque.

After Lexington, we drove on--passing through St. Louis in the middle of the day. We stopped to see the gateway arch. We paid $20 to ride a tram to the top and look out these tiny windows to the huge city of St. Louis 650 feet below. This is a picture of the view from up there.

And below is some of Chad's photography magic.

We drove for two more days and finally arrived in Columbus, NE population 21,000. It is an industrial town, but it has its charms. It feels safe here and it feels like we're back in the west. Our apartment is huge and relatively cheap compared to Durham. All our stuff arrived safely with the exception of my laundry rack which was broken by one of the mover's heavy foot, and my spoons which have somehow managed to disappear. Lydia loves having her own room without a treadmill or computer to cramp her style. The branch here is friendly and I already love it. Imagine you have a glass of something bubbly and non-alcoholic as we toast to our new year here in Columbus.