Happy Halloween!!

Could we be any more predictable? I'm sure you guessed what she was going to be dressed up as... she's the cutest ladybug ever!

Brynn had so much fun tonight! The Essicks held a "Chili Cook-Off" in their driveway and whoever didn't make chili brought a side dish. Well it didn't end up being a cookoff, The Essicks, Chad and I and someone else were the only ones that made chili! Oh well, Chad was all excited because our chili turned out really good, he kept telling people that "Amanda made the chili and I made the spice!" it was some really spicy chili!

LOTS of people came over and hung out, I'd say there were probably about 20-30 people who stayed for the whole thing... there were lots of trick-or-treaters that came by too!! We ran out of candy by about 8:30! Brenda, who watches Brynn, her daughter and husband came by... so I finally got a picture of them together!!

Here's a picture of our goofy neighbor Craig holding Brynn... it would be a really cute picture if she weren't spitting up!! Oops!

Here are Chad's pumpkins that he carved - they turned out awesome Babe!!

OHIO FOR THE HOLIDAYS!

OUR FLIGHTS ARE BOOKED! (THANKS DAD!!)

I really don't think I've ever been this excited to go back to Wooster!! Ok, let me correct that. I KNOW I haven't ever been this excited.

2005 was pretty neat because I got to take Chad to Ohio for the first time. He met a lot of my family and more than anything, it was a fun trip because it was such a culture shock for him!!

Chad's from California, around Huntington Beach so when we went back to Wooster and it was about 30 degrees outside, he wasn't liking it a whole lot. I made sure that I took him to Kidron to see the Amish Oak stores, we even got stuck behind a buggy on our way into town.

This year, there are lots of reasons why I'm excited to go back:

#1 - Everyone gets to meet Brynn! I am so excited that Brynn gets to meet Mimi (my Grandma!)... Brynn's middle name is a combination of Mimi's middle name and GGMa (Chad's Grandma)'s middle names. One is spelled Mae and the other is May, so we combined them and named her Brynn Maye West!
#2 - Everyone who hasn't met Chad gets to meet him this trip!
#3 - I have been in contact with SO MANY of my old friends from school, it's crazy. What's even more crazy is that most of them are either pregnant right now, just had a baby or are trying to get pregnant!! I can't wait to see everyone!!
#4 - Having Brynn has made me kinda homesick. It would be really nice to have my parents closer... anyone find those winning Powerball tickets yet? OH! Speaking of which, I finally submitted that video to America's Funniest Videos, it got shipped out today. Keep your fingers crossed that we'll win that $100,000 grand prize!

I really hope it snows this year (A LOT!) while we're there. I kinda miss it. It's still in the 90's here!!

The only thing that I'm bummed about is that we're flying in ON Christmas Day... into Columbus. I really really wanted to be there Christmas morning but oh well. Atleast we're coming!! There is NO WAY that we'd be coming back there if it weren't for my parents buying the tickets. THANK YOU!! YAY!! Love you guys!!

We will be in Ohio from late on 12/25 until early in the morning on 1/1.

Mother Nature's Farm

Chad took Brynn and I to this really cool little "farm" to pick out pumpkins and to see some baby chicks!! We didn't stick around for too long but next year we're planning to take a hayride and check out some more of the animals. What a cute place!!







What a goofy Daddy!!

Video!

I posted one below Steph's birthday blog, I took it after we got back from taking her 3-Month pictures yesterday!

Here's another one!

Happy Birthday Stephanie!!

This was a very big birthday year for Steph!! Everyone kept asking what she wanted and all that she asked for was to have Junk Ditch Road play!! So, Jenn, Amy, Ann, TJ and Brad (and others!) planned a big party, the weather was perfect, lots of decorations were hung, lots of fun was had, childhood memories were shown on a dvd that TJ put together with some music AND...

Brynn attended her FIRST CONCERT! How cool is it that it was at Steph and Brad's house one year ago that we became Mr & Mrs West and this weekend, we were back at the same house with a baby in our arms (when she wasn't sleeping...)!!

We're still trying to get the hang of taking pictures at night with our camera, so we didn't get a whole lot of great ones BUT here are some I thought you might like!! (The ones of JDR "up on stage" didn't turn out!)

Happy Girl!

3 Months Old

Today, Brynn is officially three months old!! She's getting so big and has changed so much!!

She's smiling like crazy!! (Now only if she would look at the camera while she was doing it!)


She loves to watch cartoons and movies, her favorites are Tom and Jerry, The Tigger Movie and Happy Feet. Her eyes are glued to the tv when there is singing on it, she loves music! (She likes it when we make her dance too!)

She's sitting up like a big girl in her seat that she borrowed from her boyfriend Luke.

(AND she falls asleep in it!)

*** UPDATE - We just realized that this chair has been recalled!! (10/25!) You aren't supposed to put her on a table or anything while she's in it either. (We knew that but Chad was sitting right next to her. Oops!) ***

She has tasted ranch dressing and a fudgesicle.

She is outgrowing her clothes like crazy, she's wearing 3-6 month outfits now!! We are realizing that she has way too many summer clothes and not enough winter stuff, it's starting to get a little chilly outside!! She's also outgrowing her socks that she's been wearing too, her feet are getting big!! (She can almost wear her Nike's!)

When she straightens out her legs, her feet hang over the edge of her swing!!

She's getting super squirmy and if she's laying on her changing table and we have to step away for a minute, we have to buckle her in so she doesn't scoot herself off!!

She stomps her foot when she's mad. (Yeah, I know Mom... she gets that from me! Chad says she'll be slamming doors before we know it!)

There are lots more but this is all I have time for right now!!

We love you Baby Girl!!

Hmph.

Why can't we have some good luck? We've had a lot of bad luck lately and frankly, I'm sick of it. We need a break.

Why is it that bad things always happen to good people and good things happen to bad people? I don't get it. We're good people and bad things keep happening.

Everyone keeps saying that things will get better, just be patient. WELL, WE HAVE BEEN AND THINGS ARE NOT GETTING ANY BETTER.

So, now what?! I needed to vent.

One year anniversary!

Happy Anniversary Babe!!

I can't believe that exactly one year ago today, Chad and I became husband and wife!!

Being married to Chad has been amazing. Who would have thought that I found him on match.com?! He really is the best husband that anyone could ever have. I am the luckiest person in the world. He treats me better than I've ever been treated. He loves me for who I am. He makes me laugh. He's a hottie with a great smile and some really kissable cheeks! He's perfect. This is the man I love and want to spend the rest of my life with! (This picture cracks me up, we took it last night at dinner!)

I can't believe that it was a year ago last night that we were having our rehearsal at Steph and Brad's house and then dinner at Oregano's! I remember that I started getting really nervous that night... not because I was getting married to the man that I want to spend the rest of my life with, but because I wanted everything to go perfectly. I remember going to Bashas at like 10:00pm and buying cold medicine, gum, magazines and other things that I didn't really need... just because I wasn't tired and had so much on my mind!! I remember staying the night at TJ and Jenn's house (in Luke's room!) the night before the wedding, since it's bad luck to see the groom before you walk down the aisle.

I can't believe how many people flew in from other states to share such a special time with us!

I can't believe it's been a year since we went on our amazing honeymoon for 12 days to Puerto Vallarta, where we snorkeled, swam with the dolphins, went on a sailing trip, went to a tequilla factory, went on a pirate ship dinner cruise, bought some Crocs!, rode in some SCARY cabs and thought we were going to die as we were whipping around and realized how much we love American food... and Dr Pepper (we went to the Hard Rock twice!).

Last night, we celebrated our anniversary with dinner and a movie. TJ and Jenn watched Brynn for us - thanks guys!! Chad took me to The Melting Pot, which I had never been to before. It was really yummy and was a unique experience!!

And we topped off the night with some tequila from the factory that we went to in PV. YUM!

One down, many more to come!! Thanks for being so great!!

I love you Babe!!

Not a soccer mom... a LACROSSE mom.

Yep... We traded in the Accord and the Saturn and bought a Honda Odyssey!!

I'm a 26 year old Mommy with a minivan.

I love it!

Tongue - UPDATE

What a goofball!! (She gets this from her Daddy...)

Here's an even better one that we took today!! (Her eye looks goofy because I tried to take out the red-eye...)

FOR SALE

This is what happens when your neighbors don't want you to move...

Thanks Essicks... ;o)

Comfy?

In Daddy's chair... with the remote.

Hair, hats and CHUBBY CHEEKS!

In no particular order...

White and pink onezie: Daddy was playing with her hair again yesterday. LOOK AT THOSE CHUBBY CHEEKS!!!!!

Hat: Last night we went out to visit with the neighbors and it was a little chilly. She didn't mind it until it went down over her eyes!!

Yellow and pink outfit: We took these today right after her bath! (Lindy, like her moccasins???) Mommy and Daddy teamed up and did her hair together. ;o)