Brody's Day!

Today is Brody's 1st birthday! We started the morning off by singing to him! We had a great day hanging out together. His party is next weekend but we wanted today to be special. It was all about Brody! The pictures will tell you about our day...

The birthday boy getting sung to. He looks so impressed with our voices!

An early morning smile sitting together on Brody's new Pooh car.


The big sister on the way to breakfast.

The birthday boy dancing and shaking his hands to the music in the car.

Can you tell someone was excited to see his Gamma at breakfast!

Daddy and his boy waiting for yummy breakfast at the Pancake House.

Mommy, Daddy, and Brody

Auntie Lou and Casey were leaving this day to go back to San Fran so they were able to join us for Brody's birthday breakfast! We had such a fun week with them. Next, we are going to take the kids up north to see them!

After breakfast we went to the park for some fun. It was still freezing outside so Maddy and Brody had the park to themselves! We had fun on the swings. Brody giggled a lot this morning. He knew it was his special day.

Maddy tried to get the clouds and wanted Daddy to push her higher!

Trying to get a picture of these two smiling at the same time is nearly impossible. Mike and I look like fools calling their names and making silly sounds so they look at us. It is quite a scene!

We went home for Brody's nap and when he woke we sang Happy Birthday to him again.

Then Maddy got to give him his present from us. A new basketball hoop for kids...He just wanted to pat the box like a drum.

Slam Dunk!

Taking a ride on my Pooh car!

Off to the park for a picnic lunch and baseball fun!

Brody's first time swinging a bat! I could see the excitement on Mike's face!

Finally, it was off to Ruby's for Brody's birthday dinner! We took Maddy there for her first birthday too! He was very excited and clapped a lot!

Shwam- Party of 4!

Brody didn't even want a spoon for his ice cream sundae because fingers are better!

Me and my babes!

We ended the night with a tickle party on Mommy and Daddy's bed...

What a day!

This is how the birthday boy felt after his day! It is tiring to be ONE!!! Happy Birthday Brody! We can't wait to celebrate at your party you little slugger!

Happy Birthday Brody Boy!

Dear Brody Michael,

Happy 1st birthday little guy! This year has flown by so quickly! You have been a dream baby since the day you were born. I was nervous to have a boy- coming from a family of all girls and having a girl first. But you made me realize that there was nothing to be nervous about. You are sweet, funny, loving, and curious. You are adorable and my little man! You cuddle into my shoulder, which makes me melt. You have the biggest blue eyes that people comment on all the time!

Throughout this year we have enjoyed watching you become YOU! You are funny and laugh at everything. You are curious, and want to do everything that your sister does. Most of all, you are such a BOY! You would rather play with tupperware than your toys. You would rather climb in drawers than play with your toys. You will try to climb on everything. You have had many bumps and bruises the past couple of months learning to walk. You are walking everywhere! You love to dance anytime you hear any music. You wave at everyone and love Dakota. You are my best eater yet (since your sissy is so picky). You love green beans, bananas, chicken, pizza, sausage, anything! You have been teething this past week, which has made you unusually grumpy. But today you are happy! You were laughing this morning at the park and LOVED your birthday pancakes, sausage and bananas!

Brody, you are so special to us! We love you to the moon and back! You have filled our lives with so much joy and made daddy and I realize what it is like to have a boy. Maddy protects you and says all the time "I am Brody's big sister!" We can't wait to hear you talk and enjoy all the sweet moments with our Brody Boy!

We love you,
Mommy, Daddy and Maddy

A Christmas with Four

Brody's 1st Christmas and Maddy's third was amazing! It went on and on for the whole week because of all the celebrations we had! It was so fun this year to see Maddy into the whole spirit and idea of Santa, the reindeer and giving. Brody was in awe of the lights, people and singing. It was a great holiday season. Christmas morning the kids slept in- which never happens :). Mike and I were not about to wake them so we started our morning off relatively late for the Shwams, around 7 am. After realizing that the cookies were eaten and the carrots and milk gone, then Maddy was ready to dig in to her gifts, and Brod too. We stayed home and had mimosas, pastries and egg casserole that I made. My parents, grandparents and Auntie Lou and Case came over for breakfast and too see what Santa brought. We played in the street and played with our toys. Later in the day, we went to Mike's sister's house to spend Christmas Day with the Shwams. Maddy loves to play with her cousins Jack and Hayley because they are older and bigger than her. She has fun with them and Jack is so good with Brody. We had a relaxing Christmas Day with the Shwam family. Christmas was magical this year. I felt extremely blessed to have my amazing husband and beautiful children to share this special day with.

Getting everything ready for Santa on Christmas Eve.

Someone was excited for her "sticky blocks".

I have a picture of Maddy just like this on her first Christmas.

In her Dora tent from Santa.

Daddy liked it too.

Kota got a toy from Santa too.

Daddy and his kiddos.

I love this picture! So sweet how she is hugging her daddy.

Caroling at the Club

I love this picture of me and my babes!

They both looked so cute in their Christmas outfits this night.

This year at the SACC we had a yummy pre-Christmas Eve dinner. We celebrated with my grandparents, cousins, aunt and uncle, as well as my family. Alyssa and Casey had just flown in from SF to be with us all for Christmas. The carolers are always so amazing this time of year and they did not disappoint this evening either. Maddy and Brody were in awe of them! The table mom picked for us was perfect because we were in the corner and there was plenty of room for the kids to run around without disrupting the other people. The food was the best it has been and the atmosphere always gets you really into the spirit of the season.