Mother Dear I Love You So

I am no doubt the luckiest Mom in the world. I know many people probably feel that way, so I'm happy to join the Motherhood club this year. Last year Brynlee was due just before Mother's Day. Did she come? No, she came after. This year is my first official year as a Mom. It has been one of the best years of my life. I can't imagine a better calling than motherhood.

Today I decided to bring Brynlee home from church during the last hour for her nap b/c she has been running a fever. I love to take advantage of the times she is sick and will let me snuggle her and rock her. Yes, I've learned that being a Mom is not easy. Lots of days I don't know how I'm going to make it to bedtime. But it's the moments like rocking my baby, getting an unexpected sloppy kiss on the lips, having those tiny arms wrap around my neck and hug, when she smiles and laughs just b/c I'm looking at her- these are the moments that make every frustration worth it.

There are so many amazing women in my life. I am so blessed to have a beautiful, strong, supportive, and capable mother who has loved me every day, always been there to listen, given life changing advice, and really has been one of my best friends. She has taught me more than I ever realized growing up, but now that I have a little one of my own, I realize how much my Mom has taught me. She has always been an example to me of what a daughter of Heavenly Father should be doing. I think about how I'm ever going to teach Brynlee the things my Mom taught me, and I can only pray that I do a good job! Thank you Mom for your example and for loving me in spite of all my mistakes. You are the mother I hope to become! I love you.

I am also truly blessed to have 4 older sisters and a sister in law who I look up to more than they know. They are so creative, patient with their children, full of life, and strong LDS women. It's nice to have so many examples of Mothers raising young children. I admire all they do and the relationships they have with their kids.

With marriage comes in-laws. I have a wonderful Mother in-law who is the perfect example to me of selflessness. She hardly ever puts herself first. She is the first one to offer to lend a helping hand or babysit the neighbors kids. I am so grateful for her example, and know Brynlee will learn much from her. My sister in-laws have become my great friends, and I am so grateful for eternal friends who accept me for who I am and are always there to help. I am so blessed!

And just a little thank you to all my girlfriends who are more like my sisters than my friends. I am amazed at the bond that we have. It has been so fun to have and raise our first babies together. I know that no matter where we all live, or what we're doing, I can always count on my besties to be there for me. Thank you for all you do for me!

So... Happy Mothers Day! I Love you all :)

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February Madness

It has been a while since I've updated our blog. We've had quite the February. February is know to the world as "the month of love," but it is extra lovey dovey for us b/c our anniversary is February 17. 

Well, Valentine's started out great. I got lots of work done, took this cute picture of Brynlee, and made sugar cookies.

Right before Rob got home I started to feel sick. I decided to lay down for a bit and see if I would feel better. Not so. Before I got worse, we decided to run over and see Brynlee's Valentine, Mason! They were so cute, and it was so fun for Brynlee to have a special Valentine on her first Valentine's Day.

 Well, our night didn't go as planned after that. We usually do a picnic w/ Subway in our living room while we watch a romantic comedy. We did that, but ended up going to bed feeling really sick. Long story short, I had strep and was sick through Valentine's Day and our Anniversary! Way to ruin a great weekend, right? Rob was so great and understanding, and the perfect husband. It was an eye opener for me that life can always throw you curve balls, and this weekend I felt more loved than I ever have as Rob put aside his busy schedule to make sure all my needs were met. He also took care of Brynlee who had a double ear infection, and come to find out Rob has a sinus infection.

So... not the wonderful month we planned on, but we're all getting better and back to our normal happy, healthy selves!

We did get to go celebrate our Anniversary this past weekend, just a week late. We went to the temple to do sealings, ordered pizza, rented a movie, and went to the Little America breakfast buffet the next morning. It was a great way to celebrate, just not what we had planned.

Here's a few pictures we took this month:

 She is loving bath time! How can you not want to kiss that cute face?!

Brynlee fell asleep snuggling w/ Tigger. It was so cute! But she really doesn't look all that comfortable.

Hope your Valentine's Day was wonderful and you spent it with the people you love!

Minute to Win It

We did a fun date night with our friends... Minute to Win It! It was a last minute idea, and was easy to put together. I think it took a total of an hour start to finish. I highly recommend it. Very entertaining and a night full of laughs. We had team names, and every team dressed to match. Meet the teams:

The Flying Ostriches

 The Bee Gee's

 The Growling Cougars

 And here are some of the games we played:

Bite Me

 Face the Cookie

 The Elephant March

 This Blows

 Penny Hose

We had tons of fun and loved spending time with our friends! Thanks for a great night and great laughs.

Holiday Happenings 2012

Well, I'm finally catching up with life after the holidays including updating the blog. So... take a little look at what we were up to this year.

 We took a trip to St. George for work, and had a little fun in the hotel room with Brynlee. We've officially retired this shirt b/c as you can see, it is too small for her head.

 We got to go see the lights on Temple Square, the ZCMI candy windows (a favorite childhood memory of mine), and listen to Mom and Dad sing in their Christmas concert in the Assembly Hall. It was cold, but fun!

 One of our family traditions is to open Christmas PJ's on Christmas Eve. This was Brynlee's first encounter with unwrapping presents. She wasn't too interested.

 And here we are in our Christmas PJ's.

Here is Brynlee Christmas morning with her big pile of presents and stocking made with love by Mommy :) We are excited for next year when she'll be a little more excited about presents. This year all she really loved was pulling tissue paper out of bags.

But it was a great holiday season, and we had lots of fun with family and friends!

Happy Halloween!

 Happy Halloween from the Draper home! Brynlee was so fun to dress up as a cave girl/baby, and she played the part well! She grunted and spoke caveman language perfectly if you ask me :) 

 We had a lot of fun getting together w/ the Ellingsons and the Taylors for our annual Halloween party. It was especially fun this year b/c we have all added a cute new edition to our families. Adalynn was the cutest little lady bug, and McKae was a very convincing Waldo baby! Aren't those glasses hilarious?!

Our first Halloween as a family was a wonderful one full of parties, candy, family, and friends!

Pumpkin Patch

Brynlee and I got to go out for an afternoon w/ our best friends to a pumpkin patch. Brynlee was a trooper to sit on all the hard pumpkins and hay so we could take pictures :)

 McKae, Adalynn, and Brynlee sure do love to be together, and we are so happy they have each other to "play with!"

 It was lots of fun to go out with Kait and Audge, and it's even more fun to all have baby girls together who we can watch grow up and go through their first year of life together. We will be so sad when everyone is done with school and parts their separate ways. If we had it our way, they would stay right by us no matter where we go! I couldn't ask for better friends :)