I vaguely remember promising to post the loads of pics I have from Elizabeth's blessing back in September. At last, here they are (in exquisite detail).

These are a few shots taken by Kate, the same auntie who hand made this beautiful blessing dress with love. Thanks Kate for making our little family's first heirloom.


Here's the proud mom and dad (please note the obvious sleep deprivation on their faces)

We were so spoiled by the generosity of both our large (and ever growing) families that so many of the were able to make the trip out here to Texas to be with us.

Here's when Elizabeth first met her Papas.

And reunited with Auntie Courtney

And first met Aunt Michelle

Her cousins Emma and MacKenzie

Her [honorary] Aunt Marisa

Here's a wonderful example given by her grandpas of how to share...

This is how she greeted her Grandma Braun

And her Uncle John

Her Grandpa Jeff managed to wrestle away from her Papas for some alone time

But that was short lived and then her Uncle Jacob took over

And then, back to her Nana who was there when she was born and hasn't found a good excuse to put her down yet.

Thanks to the Brauns, Lazerbeams, Fairbanks, Edwardsons, the W.E.s and Johnsons for being a part of such a wonderful weekend for us. Elizabeth is blessed to be welcomed into the world by so many people who love her. We love you all right back.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Ours was a bit different this year. We were supposed to be over at the Braun's for the holiday but Adam got so busy at work we couldn't leave. I thought it would be sad and lonely but it was so relaxing and wonderful. Look! I actually got to set a proper table! Woohoo! (when does THAT ever happen at my house? Never!) Adam cooked a brilliant turkey (which I have been banned from posting pictures of), we made all the sides just how we like them and we stuffed ourselves silly. You can see even Elizabeth's mouth was watering at the sight of it. And one more thing to be grateful for...Elizabeth let out her first real belly laugh on Thanksgiving Day. I'm having a rough time with the sound but even just seeing it is adorable, isn't it? (The video is long but there is such a cute part at about 30 seconds that I couldn't crop it. Feel free to fast forward.)

Fess up!

Take the Quiz and Share Your Results!

First, take the quiz and tell me which Cullen you are. Next, has anyone seen the movie yet? What did you think?

Hanging out with the folks.

I don't know why but I find Elizabeth to be impossibly cute in her little Baby Bumbo. Maybe it's because she's just to petite that it looks like her seat is swallowing her. Anyway, it's a good thing she likes it in there because that's where she hangs out every evening while we make dinner and wait for Dad to get home.

She's so curious. She follows every sound she hears. The kitchen is great that way. There are enough sights and sounds in there to keep her entertained forever!

Here's Adam at his favorite time of day. He's all over story time before bed. That's good news for Elizabeth since he's way better at doing Brown Bear's voice than I.

Are you all sick of Elizabeth pictures yet?

I'm a little late.

Here's Elizabeth in her Halloween costume. Sadly, she was feeling a little under the weather and didn't much feel like smiling but I still thought she was the cutest little witch in the world.

And I just thought this photo was hilarious. We went trick or treating with my nieces and nephew in McKinney. Nate, the littlest, had had enough and so Adam mercifully carried Humpty Dumpty the rest of the way. Isn't that costume a riot?

Farewell, Old Friend

After just two years, I said good bye to my life as a lawyer. Monday would have been my first day back. Did I feel a twinge of sadness about closing that chapter of my life?

Anyone who knows me well will tell you I've dreamed of being a lawyer since I was tiny. It's the only thing I can ever remember wanting to be and it was everything I thought it would be. And then, from one day to the next, I went from Tamara Braun, Esquire to Mommy. Now my days are filled with things like bathtime...

and naptime

and playing dress up

and my personal favorite...snuggling.

It's the best job I could have ever asked for. It's the job I'd have wished for all my life if I'd known it was an option. Thanks for giving me this promotion, Elizabeth and Adam. I promise I won't let you down!

You'd do it too...

This is a fun game! Shannon tagged me to post the 5th picture in your "My Pictures" file. Here's mine.



It's my little brother and I with Cosmo at a BYU football game in 2004. That brings back such good memories.

I tag Carrie, Michelle, Carrie and Karlye. Let's see it girls. The 5th picture in your "My Pictures."

Like it's 1999!

So, I'm a little late but here's the low down on my B-day. Let's just begin by saying look at this awesome cake Adam whipped up! Mmmm. Look how happy it made me!



Adam rounded up my nieces and nephews to help him throw me a surprise party the Saturday before my big day! See? Nothing says love like decorating my SIL's kitchen in crepe paper.


Adam made this perfect double layer birthday cake for me while I was sleeping! I had no idea. Not bad for a first attempt, huh? It makes me hungry all over again just looking at it!

Elizabeth helped me blow out my ample supply of candles.

And here is a table full of my very favorite party girls.

Thanks Adam for yet another perfectly executed party. It was so fun. I couldn't have loved anything more...and yet he still managed to outdo himself on my real birthday! Some girls get all the luck!

Guess what?!?

I wasn't excited about it...but I did it.

Happy Birthday, Mommy!

Mom, thanks for...

dressing me up real pretty,
reading me fun books,
entertaining me during diaper-changings,
doing all your funny mom voices,
letting me cry on your shoulder,
helping me roll over,
teaching me how silly Dad is,
taking me on long walks,
feeding me the finest foods,
letting me set my own curfew.

I love you so much,

Baby Ellie

Big Fish, Little Fish

Meet Nate. Nate is Elizabeth's 1 year old cousin. He is the cutest, sweetest, happiest baby ever and he happens to live right by us here in Texas, together with his 3 big sisters and his parents. Honestly, you've never met a more endearing little guy and anyone who's ever met him says so.

We were over at their house the other day and my SIL Katie was good enough to take some pictures of the two babies together. I love this shot because this is how they most often seem...just sort of trying to discover each other and make heads or tails of one another.



And, just for good measure, we did a side by side comparison (notice the symmetry of the postition of their legs!) Look of the size of that boy! Elizabeth has her work cut out for her to achieve that kind of stature but she likes a challenge. Besides, it's good to have lofty goals. Thanks Kate for the pics and thanks Nate for being so dang cheerful! You're the best...both of you!

Let's try a brain teaser...

First person to solve this gets a warm, fuzzy prize:

Imagine you have a pulley and a rope. On one end of the rope hangs a monkey (holding on with his hands) and on the other end of the rope (on the other side of the pulley) hangs a weight. The monkey and the weight weigh exactly the same amount. The monkey decides it wants to climb the rope. Which direction will the weight go when the monkey climbs?

Back in the Saddle Again

As I have been accused of being a hermit in the past weeks, I wanted to assure you all that I'm fine and am not hiding from anyone. Quite the contrary, though, Elizabeth is the best toy I've ever had.

However, in full recognition of the fact that I deserve all the ribbing I've been getting for being remiss in my blogging, I thought I'd provide an update of what's been going on at the Casa Braun. Since a picture is worth a thousand words, I'll let the following photos do the talking.






Yep, that'd about sum it up. Collapsing in a heap the minute Elizabeth decides to go to sleep. What a great reason to be tired though. The day before Elizabeth was born, I read a quote that said "many speak of the toil and frustration that comes when a new baby is born, but few whisper of the wonder." So, if I'm honest, that's the real reason that I've been lagging with my blogging. I just can't stop staring at the baby. We just LOVE being parents!

Stay tuned, though. Elizabeth was blessed this weekend and so I've go tons of great pics to post.

Party at the Braun house!

We're having more fun than we can handle. Our good friend Adam Findley came into town and was absolutely magic with his super awesome camera. I am now in possession of an entire CD of adorable candids of my baby like this one. That kid should charge for his work. He's unreal!



And my sister Courtney came into town. I always feel a little cooler for having hung out with her. Elizabeth loved her, as evidenced by the fact that Courtney could get her to go to sleep when Adam and I could not.



We had the best time and can't wait until she comes back at the end of the month. (and yes, for all of you who noticed, she is in fact the younger cuter version of me, but I try not to hate her for that.) :)



Elizabeth also got to meet another of our all time favorite people, Miss Rhia Jean. I'm pretty sure these two will be fast friends and if we have any luck, some of Rhia's awesomeness will rub off on our baby.



Last but not least, Elizabeth got to meet her Uncle Sam. She decided he looked snuggly enough to spit up on right away. Fortunately, Sam didn't seem to mind too much and was no worse for the wear. Besides, she could sense his love for AI I think and that bonded them instantly.



We have been so blessed to be the beneficiaries of so much kindness and visits from people who had to travel quite a ways to get here. Thanks for all your help. It's too bad that it seems you get the most help at a time in your life when you have the least time to appropriately thank those who give it or are willing to give it, but we'll catch up one of these days I hope! (I will, won't I?)

More Baby Elizabeth Pics

Yes, I'm officially a nerd magic parent. I took an inane number of pictures of Elizabeth after her first bath at home last week. These will of course be kept in the file for blackmail with respect to future dates but in the meantime, why not post them on the internet for her fans far and wide to see?

Turns out my baby hates the bath! Could she really be mine if she hates water? I'm a bit perturbed. I'm hoping its just a phase.

She felt much better once we put her in her pretty dress and got a bow in her (lack of) hair.

It's amazing. These pics are only a few days old but her little face has already changed so much! Don't be alarmed, by the way. The scratches all over her face were just from her tantrum while she was splishing and splashing. They went away just a few minutes later. It was a pretty impressive tantrum. Perhaps that's the proof that she's my baby. My mom HAD to wish me one just like me, didn't she!!!