Christmas 2009

Sorry, the 1st two pics are out of order.

We had to take a family picture since the last one that we have of all of us was from a year ago. Addy and Uncle Corey. He's leaving on his mission in March. He's headed to Brazil and we are so excited for him!

We had a wonderful Christmas this year. We were so excited to finally be in our own home again and be able to decorate! We could only put ornaments on the top half of the tree because Addison liked to rearrange them and the gifts had to be kept in the closet, but it was so fun to see how excited she got. A couple of days before Christmas, we decided to do some baking. Addy was a big help.

It was so fun to see Addy open her presents. This year was quite different than last, and she was really excited to tear into the gifts. Aunt NiNi bought her this little ATV. She is a little nervous each time she starts to ride it, but soon catches on and is in love. She rides around in circles screaming "weeeee". We have to keep it at my parents house for now because they have a lot more space than we do.

She wasn't quite as thrilled about the clothes as the toys.

Addy got so spoiled this year. Uncle Matt bought her tons of Elmo stuff. She loves to talk on her little Elmo phone, and her eyes light up everytime she hears Elmo on the phone. Matt is way too good to her, but she sure loves "wex" as she likes to call him.

Nini, also, bought her these little clogs. They were so soft Addy wanted to wear them all over.

Sadly, we had to take our tree down the day after Christmas to make room for Mamaw, Papaw, and Corey. Addy loved having her rocker in the living room and watching her "shows" on Saturday morning.

Since Jamey's family was in town, we decided to take them to Electricritters. Rick, who could rival the Griswold's in Christmas decorating was amazed and got tons of ideas for next years lighting display.

Corey wasn't as impressed. It was really great to have them here and for Addy to get to spend time with her other grandparents. We wish they didn't live to far away!

Merry Christmas

We hope you have had a wonderful year. Our year has been filled with a lot of change and excitement. We have been extremely blessed and continue to be.
In January, Jamey began his Seasonal Law Enforcement training program. He had such a great time with his training and was really excited to start his career with the National Park Service. In March, we learned that he had been hired at Glen Canyon National Recreation Area in Utah/Arizona. He started work in late-April. Due to the lack of available rental property, Addison and I stayed behind in Colorado. We went to visit him several times during the 6-months that he was gone and got to do a lot of fun things. During our many visits, we visited Lake Powell, Zion National Park, Bryce Canyon, the Grand Canyon, Antelope Canyon Tribal Park, Flagstaff, as well as went on many hikes, and hung out at Jamey’s apartment at Dangling Rope Marina in the middle of Lake Powell. Jamey had a great summer and made a huge impact at work. He was involved in multiple arrests, helped save individuals from a sinking boat, assisted in numerous medical calls, and helped fight a boat fire. Jamey is looking forward to May, when he gets to go back!
Addison turned one in April and has continued to be a joy and a blessing in our life. She began walking in March and has been going non-stop ever since. She is so smart and adventurous that it sometimes makes my life a lot more interesting. I was blessed to get to be home with her every day until just recently. Now, it is Jamey’s turn to spend his whole day playing with her. Addy’s favorite activities involve coloring, playing her piano, and playing with her babies. She knows what almost every animal is and can tell you what sound most of the make. She is also working on learning her numbers and colors.
I spent most of the year at home with Addy. It was such a blessing and I am grateful for the time we had. Recently, I have begun working. I am really enjoying working, but the best part of my day is when I get home and see Addison standing at the door waving to me with a huge smile on her face! I was also blessed to be able to help with the Young Women program at church. I learned so much from each of the girls I was involved with and made some really great friends.
Please check out our blog to stay updated on all of our adventures. We hope that you have a wonderful Christmas and a blessed New Year!

Merry Christmas,
Jamey, Stephanie and Addison Brazell

Update

We have had a few changes in our lives recently. Jamey came back from Arizona the last week of October. We found an apartment and moved to Pueblo. Finally, I started working at Target. Jamey is getting to live his dream as a stay-at-home dad. I don't think it's all he expected! Addison is really excited to spend everyday with her dad, and she loves our new place. We started in a new ward on Sunday, and I'm not sure how I feel about it. We know quite a few people, but for the 1st time in 5 months, I had to go to Relief Society instead of Young Women. I have to admit that I got a little sad. I loved our old ward and my calling. It will take some time to get adjusted!

Halloween

Our Halloween this year was jam-packed with activities. On Friday, we took Addy trick-or-treating at my dad's office. She loved running from office to office gathering up candy, and everyone loved her little kangaroo costume. She filled up her bucket in about 10 minutes.

Next, we took her to the nursing home where my mom works for a costume parade and contest. Last year, she won 1st place in her bumble bee costume, so everyone was excited to see her this year. This year, she won 2nd place. I was pretty happy because the little boy who won was way more excited about the whole thing that she was. They gave her a huge bag of candy and a trophy.

Friday night, we carved and painted pumpkins. Addy wanted Elmo and a pig, so I carved Elmo for her and we painted a pig together. She loved her little piggy and oinked everytime she walked past it.

On Saturday, it was time for the church trunk-or-treat activity. We had a big chili/soup cook-off and ate a little too much food. Then, we headed out to decorate the truck. Jamey went all out with a black light, fog machine, scary pumpkin man, and cob webs. All of the kids loved it. I took Addy around the parking lot a few times and she raked in more candy than we know what to do with. We had a great time!

Jamey getting the truck ready for trunk-or-treat
Jamey was a kangaroo hunter and I was the sheriff and Addy was obviously a kangaroo

Addy's piggy pumpkin

Helping dad carve his pumpkin.

Addy and her two Elmo's.

At the costume parade

Hmmm.... I think I'll take two

Okay, where's the candy...

She was really good at picking the candy she likes.

Making sure it's all still there.

Update

Jamey's job got extended yet another week. He won't be home until the 25th. I know I should be excited that he is still employed, but this is getting a little frustrating. He really loves his job and looks forward to going back next April. Hopefully, he can find employment for the next 5 months!

I am doing really well. I love spending time with Addy every day. I am not looking forward to having to go back to work in the next few weeks. I'm trying to figure out what kind of job I am even qualified for these days. I would love to do child care, but I'm not sure that Jamey is so supportive of that idea. I am also looking forward to actually getting our own place in Pueblo. I can't wait to decorate and get my brand new furniture out of storage.

Addison is growing up so much! It amazes me to see all the things she learns every day. She loves to tuck her babies into bed when it's time for them to seep (sleep). She also thinks that Duke is perpetually cold and needs to be covered up with her ameet (blanket). She loves to play outside and I'm so grateful that we've had a few nice days this week. She didn't do so well when it was in the 20's last week, and I made her stay inside. She loves to climb all over everything, and is an expert at getting onto the bathroom countertop. She is obsessed with sitting on her potty chair (only if she's fully clothed). I just wish she would sit still when I take her diaper off. She went to nursery for the first time on September 27th. She loved it, but she's missed both Sundays since (the 4th for conference and the 11th because our ward cancelled church). I am crossing my fingers that she will have fun on Sunday. She is constantly talking and coming up with new words and phrases everyday. Here is a list of some of her new favorite words and phrases:

Sorry (she says this to everyone we pass at the store)

excuse us (another fave when we are shopping)

Where'd ___________ go? (duke, it, dada, mama, papa, milk)

Hi ______________ (nini, mama, papa, dada, duke)

Night night (usually whined as she heads to her crib)

Amen (and she finally is getting the concept of folding her arms)

Ameet (blanket)

Jesus (she loves showing me pictures of him)

Seep (sleep)

Bless you (she tells everyone when they sneeze, even Duke)

One more

hide

Duke house

milk

juice

poop (she loves to tell me when she poops, if only i could convince her to tell me before!)

eat

potty

necklace

arm

leg

no mama (probably her favorite!)

touch down

run, run, run

cookie

She loves to hide under blankets from me and slide when it's warm enough to go outside. Her favorite food right now is cheese. She asks for it right when she wakes up. She loves to use her toy vacuum and pushes it all over the house. Too bad, she's too little to use the big one. Right now, I'm working on trying to teach her trick or treat, but it's coming out more as TT. Hopefully, she will get it in the next few weeks because she has a jam-packed Halloween schedule!

Jamey's Coming HOME!

I am so excited for Jamey to be here! His last day of work in Arizona is the 17th of October. It is a little bit scary though, because he won't have a job when he comes back. I am searching the papers and Craigslist every day to find people who are hiring, but so far no luck.

Here are a few pics:
I saw these deer as I was leaving the church yesterday.
Addy and Uncle Matt after the Air Force game.

Addy got bored with the football and found other things to entertain her.

Kristi cut my hair a few weeks back. I love it!

Update

Things have been a little crazy this past month. We've done a bunch of travelling. Here are some pictures of our latest adventures. Sorry, some of them are out of order.

Today, Addy kept wanting to sit under my blanket, so I built her a fort in the kitchen.
She took her snacks in it and loved it!

One of Addy's favorite things to do is to play on the lawnmower.

Any time I let her play in the backyard, she automatically goes to the lawnmower and climbs on it.

At the end of August, Jamey's grandpa passed away, so we went to our 2nd family funeral of the summer. It was sad, but also really good to see family. Addy loved playing with her uncles, eventhough her favorite (corey) was missing.

Addy showing Great-Grandma Robbie the pictures from our summer adventures.

Addy finally discovered the tunnel under her slide.

Addy and dad before the funeral.

Addy and uncle matt at the Denver Zoo.

We went hiking with NiNi, Aly and Lauren in Boulder.

During one of our trips to Arizona, we visited Antelope Canyon. It's a Navajo Tribal Park. I highly recommend it.

this shot is called "monument valley at sunset" if you've seen monument valley, it looks exactly like the picture.

On the left side of the picture is the "heart of the canyon"

More Addy-isms

Sometimes, it is hard for me to believe that Addy is only 16 months old, she is such a good talker and adds words to her vocabulary every day. I am amazed at some of the things she says and often wonder where she learned them. Yesterday, she pointed to a picture of a cow and said cow. I don't think I've ever taught her what a cow was, so I have no idea where that came from. Here are a few of her newest words and phrases:
"Oh Wow"
Whoa
MMMM (only when she smells flowers)
oh my
uh-oh
be-be (belly button, sometimes it sounds a little too close to baby for my comfort, especially when she is pointing to my belly button)
alright
nice
mouth- and she can point to it
eye- you better squeeze your eyes tight if she's going to show you where it is
ear- she loves putting her fingers in ears
down
helpin- she says this when she thinks she's helping, it's usually more destructive than helpful
pees- please
mato- tomato which she says as she's "helpin" to pick the unripened tomatos
pish- fish
kitty
mama- llama
dog
seet- sweet
pity- pretty
boppy- potty
fower- flower

And now for a few pictures....
My mom bought her this slide. Instantly Addy climbed up the slide instead of the steps, but she has a great time on it and says "wee" everytime she goes down it.
She absolutely loves bugs, I have to watch her to make sure she's gentle with them.

I love her pouty lip. I think she's trying to do an impression of Adam Lambert.