Christmas Time is HERE!

This weekend has been quite exciting at the Reidhead Home!  For starters, we all have colds, which put a damper on us going out Christmas Eve.  So, instead we had a mexican fiesta at our house (yum!) and prepared for the big day.  Paul put shelves in B's closet, and assembled B's big girl bed until about midnight!  I enjoyed watching him, providing conversational support  :)  Then B woke up crying & hacking a lung like she had been all night, so off the the ER we went.  They said there wasn't much they could do since it is a cold only, so it was sad to see B so sick with little relief.
But Christmas Day was great anyways, and B loved her gifts!  I loved Paul's gifts to me: the Hunger Game series (books), and a Petunia Pickle Bottom diaper bag!   I bought Paul an RC Flight simulator, Gap shirt, personalized Engineer mug, and a few xbox games.
We spent the later afternoon at the Reidhead's and enjoyed being with family- B got lots of attention, which she loved!  We feel very blessed this year and are excited to have 2 kiddos to enjoy Christmas with next yr!  What a  blessing to remember the Christ Child at this time of year and give thanks for his wondrous birth.

 Me & Brightlie- cutie pie!  

 Christmas Eve dinner- fajitas, bean dip, chips, martinelli, yum!

 Leapfrog 'Leaptop' toy for B!

 A BIKE!  My baby can ride a bike?! She is getting so big!

 What did Santa bring for such a good little girl?

 A polar bear animal, a book, sidewalk chalk, and the DVD 'Tangled'!

 No more crib/toddler bed, now she has a BIG GIRL BED!

It's a trundle (pull out mattress) & the bottom drawers pull out for storage!

LOVE IT!!!!

 B likes it too!

 Pretty girl- with a lovely new pink comforter!

All i want for Christmas is you (babe!)

It's been a very Merry Christmas indeed!

Tutu & bun, but not very fun....

December at our home is going great!  I love that it is cold outside.  I love that Paul is on break from school. I love the smell of our live Christmas tree.  And a delicious candle burning in my kitchen.  It's nice to see friends, and family, and go shopping!  Sadly, i have been not taking pictures of anything  :(  Bummer.
But, Brightlie did participate in her very 1st dance recital yesterday!  It was so adorable... she stood up there with her adorable leotard and tutu, hair and makeup done... the teacher introduced the class... the music began.... AND............................ Yep, B got stage fright.  She started screaming/crying and ran off the stage/dance floor.  So, i really didn't get any video or pics.  She refused to go back up there, poor thing was scared to death with all those people watching.  I felt bad, and sad, and a little mad (she did so awesome during the practice) and then my wise hubby reminds me that she just turned 2 years old.  It helped me gain a better perspective  :)  And helped me realize that as a mommy, i needed to be a little more understanding, smile, and tell her that she did great.  We love our little dancer and hope that her next recital goes a little bit better!

oh, and ps. - MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Oh Christmas tree, oh Christmas tree!

This weekend our family got into the holiday spirit!  It is finally cold outside, and the chilly weather makes it feel like winter.  :)  We had fun picking out our live tree, busting out the inside holiday decor, putting up outside lights, cuddling up with hot apple cider, and more!   I love this time of year, and it is so fun to share it with a toddler-Brightlie loves all the Christmas lights, and of course we went to the mall to see Santa!  She happily climbed up on his lap, before instantly deciding that she couldn't handle it.  But, even with some tears, it was well worth the effort.  

 picking out the perfect tree,

for our merry little family,

 decorating with pretty lights,

 daddy makes sure it turns out right,

  Oh how we love this Christmas time,

Happy holidays, for your fam & mine!

Think PINK!

Today Paul and i got up bright and early, in order to attend my doctors appt.- today's appt. was especially important because we would be learning our baby's gender!  I was up all last night, hardly could sleep, in anxious anticipation!  In my heart, I really wanted another girl, but I was trying to not get my hopes up. Dr. Beck saw us at 9AM, and it was great to have Paul and Brightlie by my side!  Brightlie was so worried about me being up on that table, but she soon became interested in the ultrasound screen.  Dr. Beck did a full evaluation: the baby was measuring just about 18 weeks in size (just right), had a good head circumference, brain looked like it was developing nicely, the thigh bone looked good (not a dwarf), heart valves all looked wonderful (very healthy. w/ strong heartbeat), no spine problems, no cleft lip, no down syndrome.... so far the baby is looking great! Despite the fact that i have been feeling a little better lately, i originally lost 12lbs. the first 3 months, and now have gained back a whole 1.5 lbs.  Not very impressive, but at least baby is healthy.  :)  Then came the fun part.... although baby was in a breech position at the moment, Dr. Beck announced that we were having a little GIRL!  I was so excited, and so was Paul!    It's funny, and kinda special i think, because we have been asking Brightlie all week if the baby was a boy or a girl, and everytime she would say girl... although i am not really sure she knows the difference.  Still, maybe she knows more than i think she does, and the windows of heaven are open to her.  :)
We are joyful to be bringing another little princess into our family- And Brightlie will be an awesome big sister!  Hurray for little girls!!!!!

November blessing!

This month as we celebrated Thanksgiving, it was nice to take a 

moment to be thankful for what we have, but especially the little things.... 

 bed time stories. a loving daddy. daddy-daughter moments

 good health. growing girl. happy girl. 

 (one of the nurses, who gives both shots & treats)

 grandmas who care.

(Grandma Biggs took us out to eat to celebrate B's birthday!)

 mother-daughter moments. dance class. tutus. adorable dancer.

 love. marriage. happiness. togetherness.

 special events. weddings.

(Paul's sister got married! Congrats to Chelsea & Danny)

 fun toys. imagination. childhood.

(large gift from Auntie Steph- happy 2nd birthday B!)

 food. fun. family time!

 date nights. movies. twighlight!!!

 God's creations. sunny days. adventures at the zoo.

(At the zoo with Tiffany Stradling & Christy Christiansen- our little girls had a blast!)

Thansgiving cooking. Turkey. Friends. Family. Black Friday!

(I made cream-cheese swirl brownies- delicious!)

We are very grateful to the Lord for all we have, 

and are very excited about our recent blessing of being pregnant....

we are excited to welcome a new baby into our

 home this spring, and can't wait to see our little family grow! 

My Angel Girl

BRIGHTLIE
2 yrs. old - 33lbs. - 36in. - 97th (%) percentile, 3T clothes, size 7.5 shoe 


How is it possible that one little girl has stolen my heart so completely?  It seems like just yesterday i was sitting in the hospital, happily holding my new baby girl, after 9 months and an extra week of waiting in anticipation.  She was perfect- everything a parent could hope for- everything my heart desired.  She had daddy wrapped around her finger instantly, as well. He loves his little Princess.  Today, 2 yrs. later, she is still just as wonderful!  

I love everything about her, my fun-loving toddler! 

- her hazel eyes & curly hair

- the way she says "hi momma, hi daddy!" with great enthusiasm

 - her cheesy smile (and her dramatically pouty scowl)

- how she waves to everyone, and how strangers smile and way back at her like she just made their day

- how she is the cutest, most spastic dancer ever!  She loves to move, jump and dance around!

 - the way she loves music... at home, in the car, where ever 

  - her energy for life & her curiosity for everything around her

- her sweet/tender Spirit... a love of Nursery & Jesus (she points Him out in pictures), and strong concern for others, including saying "sorry" and asking if you are okay or if you have an owie.

- her LOVE of animals, especially 'doggies'

- her intelligence and ability to notice details (a little OCD about arranging her stuffed animals)

- the way she gives us hugs and kisses (as well as family, friends, our dogs, and other children her age)

- how she ADORES books and bed time stories with Daddy

Yes, the list could easily continue... but to sum it all up B is everything we could ever want in a child.  Her bright personality shines each day and I know that her name truly was inspired.  It breaks my heart to think of how fast time flies... how big she is getting... yet, i LOVE LOVE LOVE watching her grow, learn, explore, and thrive!  She is our special blessing and we are so grateful each day that she is ours for now and eternity!  We love you Brightlie!!!!
Happy 2nd Birthday!

Part 2: Brightlie's PARTY!

The 2nd exciting event of this past week was the celebration of our princess Brightlie!!!  Since she is turning 2 soon, so we threw a party in her honor! It was so much fun, and the weather cooled off just in time (65 degrees!) What a great start to November- the only downfall was that all of our Mom'sClub friends were ill with a virus epidemic, so I was worried the party would be a bust.... luckily it turned out ok!  :)

BRIGHTLIE's 2nd BIRTHDAY PARTY!

 (our cousins/friends) Clay and Jenny!  B loves them!

 Anna Christiansen & Brightlie- birthday's are only 1 day apart!

BESTIES!  :)

 My Mom'sClub friend Jackie & her kiddos, Giada and John Steven!

Brightlie and Giada love going to dance class together!

 The AUNTS! (Paul's Sisters!) 

 Aunt Chelsea!  (Paul's sis) 

She spoils B rotten, and B loves every minute of it-

And yes, that bear is as big as B!  :)

"Why is everyone singing at me!?"

She was a little nervous... but the cake looks great!

 Opening presents!

 She got lots of wonderful gifts

I can't believe my baby is nearly 2 yrs. old!  Time flies when we

are busy having a blast!  Hurray for Brightlie girl- what a wonderful day 

full of friends, family, and lots of great memories!

Part 1: Halloween!

This week there were two major events as Oct. ended and Nov. is beginning!  

Part 1 was Halloween- I put together a group date on Friday Night with all my besties...most were able to make it and we had a blast carving pumpkins, eating smores and cobbler, and just enjoying the AZ desert! 

 Also, it was so fun to have Brightlie dressed up & participating in Trick-or-Treating! She got to eat a little bit of candy too and she loved it (of course!)  What a great way to end Oct.! 

The SPOOK-tacular DATE NIGHT!

 Leigh & Robert Root

 Laura & Dallin Ellingson

 Tiffany & Richard Stradling

 Erica & Nathan Faler

 Christy & Zach Christiansen

 Paul & I!!!!!!

Kim & Bryce Tieman

 Brightlie is so pretty!  What a cute little bumble bee!

 Our Family!  (Yes, Paul and I look scary, but B looks great!)

Trick or Treat,

 I'm so sweet! 

Give me something 

yummy to eat!

Simple moments, lasting memories

Life at our house has been rather simple lately, but still, we are enjoying simple moments.  I am prego-sick, Paul is super busy, and Brightlie is all toddler!  But we are happy and life is good!  It's the small things that make each day, each week, and yr. add up to a lifetime of happy memories of joy, love, and laughter.

 B- our little acrobat!  Her favorite place to sit is on top of

her car... makes mommy nervous, but she has not fallen yet! :)

 Vertuccio Farms play date with Tiffany & her girls, and my Mom's Club.

B had fun seeing the animals,but LOVED realizing that her shadow moved when she did

while on the swing (on her tummy).  

 Kristi & Brightlie!  We love our Mommy-Daughter adventures!

 A quick treat at ColdStone- yum!

 Don't worry, Daddy and B spend lots of time playing, laughing, and 

making funny faces in her play room!  She is Daddy's lil lady!

 Say CHEESE! 

 Princess B is ready to go out

 shopping!  She is our pride and joy!