Toilet Training

A screamer in itself. Lily is actually doing really well, despite the occasional traumatizing occurrence of pooping and peeing incidents. I find that the easiest way to potty train has been to allow Lily to roam around "free" all day. It seems to help her become more in tune with her bodily functions. Knowing this, you can imagine the little toileting mishaps that I have had to deal with. Example: Lily pooped in the toilet on Thursday night! We sing the toilet song that I made up to the tune of the Dora Explorer song "We did It!" (This seems to be quite encouraging and getting great feedback.) A few minutes later I am sitting on the couch and naked bottom Lily comes and squats behind me with her hand on my shoulder. I heard her let out a toot and she laughs when I point it out to her. She then leaves the couch and I look down beside me to find a poop sitting next to me. I guess she wasn't done. A couple days before that, she was too busy with whatever activity she was doing and pooped in her Dora the Explorer underwear. She thought this was funny until I told her that Dora doesn't like being pooped on. Then she started freaking out (Dora is her idol at the moment.) She only calmed down after I rinsed her panties in the sink and told her Dora was okay now. Lily also has this habit of throwing a huge crying tantrum when she gets in trouble. Occasionally she loses control of her bladder when these moments occur. I always know when she pees on the floor. Her cries turn to screams. All in all, the last two weeks have been pretty successful. She likes using the toilet. I am just counting the days 'til she can do it on her own! GO LILY!

Computer Update

So, a most fabulous friend of mine has kindly taken on the task of cleaning out and fixing our computer for us. I am so happy and excited! So, hopefully I will be back to blogging regularly soon! I miss it! Hope everyone is doing well!

UGGGHHH!!!

So the reason why I haven't been posting any recent blogs is because my computer is CRASHED!!! We are in the process of tryin to get it fixed, but it has been so frustrating! We are hoping to have it up again soon, but at the rate we are going. . .anyway, I know you will all miss my blogs =) I miss doing them, so hopefully this will all get fixed soon! Love to you all!!!

Name Game

1)Your Real Name:
Carrie Brown

2.YOUR GANGSTA NAME: (first 3 letters of real name plus izzle.):
Carizzle

3.YOUR DETECTIVE NAME: (fav color and fav animal)
Pink Horse

4.YOUR SOAP OPERA NAME: (middle name, and current street)
Eilleen Carefree

5.YOUR STAR WARS NAME: (the first 3 letters of your last name, first 2 letters of your first name, first 3 letters of mom's maiden name)
Brocaman

6.YOUR SUPERHERO NAME: (2nd favorite color, favorite drink)
Purple Cranberry Limeade

7.YOUR WITNESS PROTECTION NAME: (Mother's middle name and father's middle name)
Diane Harrison

8.YOUR GOTH NAME: (black, and the name of one your pets)
Black Tinkerbell

Now go and do it. :)

Giddy Up and Yee Haw!!!

I just love Lilyana and the fact that she is a total GIRL!!! She loves to pretend to do hair, makeup, cook food, tend to her baby dolls, dance and dress up. Today I taught her how to be a cheerleader with pompoms and we did a D-A-D-D-Y cheer for Michael. She is such a riot! Anyway, like I was saying, Lilyana loves to dress up and this particular outfit caught her fancy today and it gave me the giggles. I just had to share with everyone else. Oh, and she came out saying "Howdy Partner, Yee Haw! Giddy up Horsey!" which just added to the cuteness and the funniness of it all. She totally thinks she's the BOMB, by the way. (And I would have to agree ;)

Guess I may have to break down and get her some cowgirl boots to complete the ensemble! Daddy is so proud!

"Helping" Mommy

Now that Alexandria can pull herself to stand, she gets into everything within her reach. Sometimes I forget this when I spend hours folding laundry and then leave them in piles on the couch to be put away. Yesterday morning, I came into the living room to find her doing this.

I am so glad that I spent so much time folding this laundry. She is lucky she is so darn cute! Thank you Alex for your help and seeing that the laundry is given your personal touch! :)

Alexandria's Blessing Day

While we were visiting in Arizona last week, we took the opportunity to have Alexandria Eilleen Brown blessed. We were very thankful that Michael's uncle Karl (Alex's great uncle) agreed to bless her. The blessing he gave her was so beautiful and heart felt. We truly felt the warmth of the spirit. Listening to the prayer for Alex, I felt so truly blessed to have the knowledge of the gospel and to know the truth of His word. I am so grateful for my loving family, all of its members, and for the gift of eternal families. I am happy that most of our immediate family (and some extended even!) could be there to witness the beautiful moment. I truly hope that Alex always has the love of and for the Lord in her heart. I hope she knows how blessed she is to have family who love her so much and would do anything for her. I pray her faith will always prevail and take her to higherplaces. I hope that as a mother I will be able to teach her all that she she needs to know to be a good woman and a devout follower of Christ. I want her to know that mistakes will always be made, but that it is never too late to to accept the gift of repentance and the atonement of the Saviour. I pray that I can set a great example worthy enough for my daughters (and future children) to look up to. I love them so much and I never knew it possible to love someone so much.

Trip to Arizona

Cousins: Leia, Kyle, Brittaney, Lindsey w/Alex, Lily

(Best pic I got. Not easy trying to get six kids to look at the camera at once. Of course my kid is the grumpy one!)

We took a short, and much needed, vacation to Arizona last week to catch up and visit with family and friends. We had such a blast, but of course there is never enough time to be with those you love and don't get the chance to see often. Busy schedules and chaotic lives seem to catch with everyone and, half the time, though intentions are good, you don't get to see all those you would really like to. (Miss you Ali.)

We got to hang with my parents and brother's family for the first couple of days. It was really great just talking and laughing together. I really enjoyed seeing my nieces and nephew. They are all so darn cute and so much fun to play with. Leia and Kyle are so funny and loved "helping" with Alex.

Unfortunately, (as I said before I have a lousy camera that likes to delete pics on its own!) the pics I took at my parents house and Wayne and Julia's have been lost! I really wanted to cry; still do. Think maybe I even did. Such cute photos GONE! (So, if anyone knows about camera cards, please contact me! The pics are still on the card, I believe, because they are still taking up the space, but they are not showing up! HELP!!! Hopefully getting new camera soon! Can't wait to post blog about it! HAHA!)

Then we drove down to St. David to see Michael's family. Michael's high school was having this all class reunion for all those who have ever attended St. David High School. You'd think that there would be thousands of people there! Haha! For anybody who knows a small school, St. David would classify. There is like 20 people or so to a graduating class, so like all alumni combined equals to about the size of one normal size graduating class as most of us know it! Crazy! Anyway, it was stinkin' hot outside! I forgot how hot the Arizona weather could get because Colorado weather is rarely above 90 degrees. They had a small carnival for the kiddos. We were all sweatin' like pigs. Lily loved riding on the little "train." The happy expression in her pics are surpressed by the miserable heat, but she really was excited to be on the ride.

The Tractor Train. . .Gotta love small towns!

Lily sad because the train ride is over
It was fun hanging out with the family and getting to play with Halie. She is so adorable and we sure miss her!Sweet little mis Halie

Lily loved playing with her Aunties and Alex was all smiles for Grandpa once she got over her fear of his beard! LOL!

1. Lily w/G. Brown 2. Alex w/G. Brown

Michael's family also decided to have a small family reunion (I was happy because my family was also invited) that same weekend. My parents were able to bring my two nieces. I haven't been able to see her or her sister Brittaney since we moved here to Colorado almost 2 years ago ( WOW, has it really been that long!) I was SO happy to see my Lindsers!!! She's always been my girl. I can't believe how much they both grew! Lindsey and Brittaney loved seeing their cousins. They loved holding and playing with them.

Brittaney, Lindsey and Alex All Lindsey wanted to do was cuddle Alex! She loved it!

1) Alex and cousin Riley 2) Silly Miss Lily

Michael and his cousin Travis enjoying good food

Gramma Starla

1) Wayne after the rain shower 2) Lily and Felicia getting their boogey on!

Lovin' my hubby bubby
Old fashioned tire swings are the best!

Nieces Brittaney and Leia

1) Travis and Alex. See a resemblance? tee hee 2) Nephew Kyle=little stud

1) Amy, David, and Halie 2) Dylan, Kylie, Josh

Yes, we are from a special family

My sister n law Julia w/Kyle

and Me w/Leia and Alex

A worn out Lily

And since we had both of our families together, we thought it would be a great opportunity to have Alex blessed. She looked so pretty and angelic in her white dress. Michael's uncle gave her the most beautiful baby blessing! (I will write about Alex's blessing in another post. Didn't want the special moment to be lost in the chaos.)

It was hard to say goodbye because the time just flew by so quickly. The drive home took forever, the girls did so good, but had their stressful moments of being trapped in carseats. Home was a relief! I love coming home after a vacation. It makes me appreciate my house and my space more.

Well, I know there are a lot of pictures, but they were all just so fun and worth sharing that it was hard to choose just a couple!