Independent(s) Days of July

Dear Miss Independent,

It has been SUCH a joy to watch as your personality continues to blossom.  You want more and more independence with each passing day (so please just be easy on this momma's heart...I would love to keep you little forever).  There isn't much that you don't try to do on your own, from getting dressed, to brushing your teeth, to walking into the house (even up the step!).

One of our very favorite things about you is your love for music.  Your daddy and I love to listen to music, and you certainly are no different.  You love to sing and dance, and you are always playing with your noise-making toys.  (Your current favorite songs to dance to are "Get" Up and Dance with Me and Honey I'm Good.)

Daddy said his favorite/funniest things you do are your heavy breathing with your teeth all out (you have quite the flair for the dramatic) and when you squelch your face all up.  We also love it when you help us make our bed, picking up the pillows...even the ones that are bigger than you!!

Mommy loves your latest "thing" where you sit down on the floor with one of your books and then pat the ground next to you for me to come sit down and read with you.  My favorite is when I sit down next to you and then you crawl up in my lap while we read the books together.  I love that you love your books.

It is so fun to teach you new things and watch how quickly you pick up on things these days.  Every day you do something new that amazes us.  We are so proud of the little lady you are becoming and we can't wait to see what the months ahead bring for you!  We love you so much and we are so incredibly thankful that God gave you to us.

Let's take a moment and check out the serious hair growth that has happened in 18 months!! ;)

Eighteen Month Stats
Wearing:  Absolutely no changes here.  Bryleigh is still wearing some 9 month things, but mostly 12 months, and some 18 months.  She got LOTS of cute 18 months clothes that are still a little big, so we are ready for those to fit while the weather is still warm!

Eating:  Anything and everything.  If we give it to her, she will eat it!  Bryleigh LOVES grapes, strawberries, and bananas, and she also can't get enough vanilla wafers ("cookies") and graham crackers.  She doesn't eat quite as well as she used to, but she still does a great job!!

Sleeping:  I'm not sure where we went wrong, but for those of you that purchased VuDu dolls in honor of our epic sleeper, you can put them away. She forgot how to sleep...or the fact that she actually likes it.  It's bad enough that Brad has sworn off future children!  She wakes up pretty early these days, and she fights us EVERY.SINGLE.NIGHT. at bedtime.  There have been long trips in the car, snuggles in the rocker, and test-runs of the "Cry It Out" method (which failed miserably).  She has been sick, so we aren't sure if that's causing an issue, and we also learned about a so called "18-month Sleep Regression"

Teeth:  Bryleigh is still holding steady at 16 teeth, but she is working on cutting some of her 2 year molars. (Lord, help us all!!)

Official Measurements:  Praising the Lord today for GREAT numbers!!  Bryleigh weighs 24 pounds 6 ounces, and she is 33 inches tall, which is 75% and 90% respectively.  Her head is 49.25 cm, which is still well off the charts.

Eighteen Month Highlights


Bryleigh is the best little helper! She is always up to run errands with us, and I'm pretty sure we clean the house "a lot faster" when she is helping out!! ;) (And how could I resist showing off that cute, growing ponytail!?)

Bryleigh loves hanging out behind the vacuum cleaner while it's running so that it blows her hair like crazy.

You know me, I like to celebrate EVERY.LITTLE.THING. with cute outfits, and Bryleigh had LOTS of "America" clothes, so we just wore them all week long!!

Outfits 1 and 2 ;)

We kicked off the 4th of July by heading out to the 50th Annual Arlington Parade, and we were so excited to have our friends from Moldova - Efim and Irina - with us.  They loved it, and Bryleigh was interested in EVERYTHING!! The bands were definitely her favorite, with the horses a close second.

Outfit 3...my fave! Love a good romper!

After the parade, we headed over to DeDe and Poppa B's for a cookout and some swimming.  Although Bryleigh is still anti-swimming (and now anti-baths), it's still a good chance to rock out her really cute swim suit!!  (Bryleigh the Bumble Bee)

Outfit 4 (and a really cute swimsuit!)  Not pictured is outfit 5 on Sunday. ;)

Bryleigh was SO happy to have some special guests stay with us this month!  The Orbu's are missionaries in their home country of Moldova, and they are in the states to meet with their current supporters as well as raise new support for their family as they serve God in Campus Crusade for Christ.  This was Irina's first time getting to meet Bryleigh...last time she was here, Bryleigh was just starting to grow in my tummy!  It was also my first time (and Brad's) to meet Efim.  Needless to say, the guys really hit it off, and Brad did NOT want to leave for the week!!

Bryleigh absolutely loved Efim and Irina!  She was always so sad when they left for their meetings.

July has NOT been a fun month where Bryleigh's health is concerned.  We still don't have any answers, but this little girl is a TROOPER!!  She is so tough and brave, and she doesn't let almost 20 days *and counting* of fever and diarrhea slow her down...there are way more details than that, but we'll spare you the fun stuff! ;)  (It has certainly slowed this momma WAAAAY down!!)  We are hoping for some new direction at her 18th month "Well" Visit.

3 doctors visits in 3 days = This baby is scarred for life...or at least the time being!

Daddy was SO glad to be home after hearing all the scary news about his baby girl, and Bryleigh was so glad her daddy was home for some good cuddles and lots of playtime.

This girl.  She is SO much fun!!  She makes me smile and laugh EVERY.SINGLE.DAY.  Even the bad ones.  I am so thankful for her life!  We are the luckiest, Bryleigh Renee!