2009 by the Numbers

55 The number of days in 2009 before we closed on our house.
3 The number of times our front door was stolen before we moved in.
1 The number of holes Mark put in the U-haul by driving it into a tree.
10 The number of hours we spent at the Houston Rodeo.
12 The number of seconds Mark lasted on the mechanical bull.
5 The number of pig races we watched.
3 The number of green bean crops we got this spring.
8 The number of weeks the green beans lasted until it got too hot.
10 The number of hours we sat on a plane to Amsterdam.
5 The number of days we stayed on Herbst Street in Holland
9,000 The number of tulips we saw.
356 The number of stairs we climbed in the Niuwe Kerk tower.
3.5 The number of hours it took to get to the sand castle competition in Galveston.
1.5 The number of hours it should have taken to get to the sand castle competition.
197 The number of miles we drove to see “Wicked.”
4 The number of times we went to the NASA space museum.
300 The number of popsicles we consumed this summer.
2 The number of years we were married as of July 26.
5 The number of green paint samples we used in the baby’s room.
999 The number of mosquitoes that got in our car on the way home from Corpus Christi.
4 The number of tickets we had to the BYU vs. OU game.
4 The number of nosebleeds we should have gotten based on our seats.
20 The number of minutes it took to scream ourselves hoarse when we won.
269 The number of days in 2009 before Brielle Anne was born (Sept. 26).
6,11,20 Brielle’s birth stats (6 lbs. 11 oz., 20 in.).
73 The number of spots on Brielle’s dalmation costume.
½ The number of inches of snow we got in Houston.
80 The number of degrees the week after it snowed.
12 The number of out-of-town visitors we had this year.
Infinite The number of glad tidings we bring to you and your kin.

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Go Elf Yourself

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

Brielle's Blessing

Brielle was blessed today in our ward in Houston. Mark gave her a wonderful blessing, and she had a beautiful dress made by her Great-Gran (my Grandma Crowther). We were fortunate to have my parents come down as well as many of our friends visit us. We are so thankful for our beautiful baby girl, and are so happy that Heavenly Father blessed us to have her in our home.

Little Miss Independent

Let It Snow!

Look closely at the pictures. What do you see? Yes, it is snowing in Houston, Texas!! It started around 8:00 this morning, and has slowly accumulated on the ground. Brielle has been staring out the window at all that white stuff falling from the sky. It's beginning to look like a lot like Christmas to these snow-deprived Utahns. Yay for snow!

Christmas Movies Top 10

Tonight our Christmas Advent Calander activity was to list our top 10 Christmas movies. We agreed on the placing on most of the movies, but when we sure butted heads on a few. Mark suggested that we make 2 "Top 10" lists, but I insisted we do it the hard way and make one list. After much debate and a little compromise, here is our list:

10. Dr. Seuss's How the Grinch Stole Christmas. It's just a classic. How many years do you remember watching this on TV? Heck, we still do it now!

9. Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. Once again, another classic. My personal favorite character was the elf that wanted to be a dentist.

8. Polar Express. Great animation, great story, great narration by Tom Hanks...

7. Elf. "I'm sorry I ruined your lives and crammed eleven cookies into the VCR."

5. Mickey's Christmas Carol. It's Mickey. What more can we say?

5. The Muppet's Christmas Carol. Gonzo and Rizzo really spice this one up.
(Yes, there are two number 5's. We debated about which Christmas Carol version was better, and finally decided that they can tie.)

4. Holiday Inn. Bing and Fred are the best ever!

3. Miracle on 34th Street. Pick either the new or old version. We love being reminded that there is sometimes, we just need to believe in Santa Clause.

2. Home Alone. So many memorable quotes: "Kevin, your such a disease!" "Look what you did, you little jerk." "Guys, I'm eating junk and watching rubish! You better come out and stop me!"

1. It's a Wonderful Life. Jimmy Stewart. A reminder that no matter how bad things are, they may be worse without you. It really is a wonderful life.

What are some of your favorite Christmas movies?

Happy Thanksgiving

For Thanksgiving, we went up to Dallas to spend the holiday with Mark's sister, Rachelle and her family. Brielle traveled like a champ. She slept almost the whole car ride to Dallas and back. The cousins had a great time playing with her. Here's a quick breakdown of our trip:

Day One: Thanksgiving. The food was so yummy! Rachelle has a tradition of making everyone's favorite pies. We had Pecan, Pumpkin, French Silk, Buttermilk, Cookie Dough, and Apple pies. SOOO good!

Day Two: We took advantage of the beautiful weather and took a walk to the park. Then we left Brielle home with her Aunt Rachelle while Mark and I took Spencer to see "The Blind Side." Our Rating: Excellent.

Day Three: A trip to Costco for Diapers and Christmas items. Then we watched the BYU/Utah game. Go Cougs! Brielle even did the Cougar cheer that we'd been practicing for weeks. :)

Brielle loved playing with her cousins

We are so thankful for great friends and family!

8 Weeks

Brielle had her 2 month check-up today. Besides the vaccines, which did not go over well with her, everything was great. Here are her stats:

Height: 23.5 inches (92 percentile)
Weight: 11 lbs. 9 oz. (79 percentile)

We have a good eater!

Brielle also had a play date with her friend Brayden yesterday. Brayden is almost 3 months older than Brielle, so we got a few "size comparison" pictures. Boy did they have fun! I promise! Even though they're crying in the pictures!

Brielle: Um, I not really too exited about having my picture taken
Brayden: I'm beyond not excited! This is lame, guys!

Brayden: Well, I guess it's ok as long as I get my paci...
Brielle: Whatever! Take that camera away now!

Finally... two semi-happy kids!

Smile, It's Playtime!

Brielle can smile! After days of unsuccessful attempts, we finally caught it on camera.


Brielle LOVES playtime. We put her on the floor and she will amuse herself for about a half hour or so, blissfully cooing to herself. She can really get those legs going!

A Tribute:

This nation will remain the land of the free only so long as it is the home of the brave.
As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them.
-John Fitzgerald Kennedy-

Buon Appetito!

We love to eat. Plain and simple. From Thai to Mexican, Italian to Armenian. We love to try new things. We love to find new places to eat. Our favorite places are the little out-of-the-way restaurants that we find. No big, fancy, national chain reataurants for us (although we definitely do our fair share of patronization at them). Give us a little mom-and-pop operation any day.

This week we found just one such place. Our friends took us to a little place called Buon Appetito near Downtown Houston. Best. Italian. Food. Ever. 'Nough said. Not only was the food delicious, the atmosphere was charming. The tables were small, and the rooms were cozy. And the little old man playing guitar and singing old songs was adorable. In fact, when he noticed Brielle, he came up to our table and played and special lullaby just for her. So cute! She loved it, too. Just stared at him with wide blue eyes.

So, if you're ever on the corner of Greenbriar and Holcombe, stop in at Buon Appetito. It's definitely 5 stars!

Jekyl and Hyde

Today was Brielle's first Sunday at church. We started off the day very well. We got ready and out the door almost on time. Brielle looked so cute in her little dress and didn't even spit up once during church. She only fussed once the whole three hours.

And then the tables turned. Exit Jekyl and enter Hyde. As soon as we got home, Brielle turned into Miss Fussy. Nothing could sooth her. She fussed all day long. Poor little thing. I think she got some tummy troubles. We gave her some Mylocin and finally, she let out a huge burp and blew out her diaper, and she seemed to calm down a little bit after that. Hope it won't be too long of a night...

Happy Halloween!

4 weeks and Fall Festival

Brielle turned 4 weeks old on Saturday. I can't believe a whole month has gone by! She is growing bigger and more precious by the day. Saturday was also our ward's Fall Festival, so we put on our prettiest duds and went to check things out. It was so fun! There was a chili cookoff, a pumpkin decorating contest, and a place for pictures. It was great to just get out, relax, and enjoy the cooler fall weather.

Our First Family Picture

I promise, she does wake up sometimes!

Halloween Trivia

Halloween has snuck up on me this year (I blame it on having a baby). I usually do a quiz or trivia list in honor of one of my favorite holidays, so I figured I better get it posted before Halloween slips right by me! The answers to the questions are at the bottom of the post. Ready... Set... Go!

1. What was the first wrapped penny candy in America?

2. What are the signs of a werewolf?

3. Why are orange and black associated with Halloween?

4. What per cent of parents admit to sneaking candy from their childrens' trick or treat bag?

5. According to superstition, what will you see when you look into a mirror at midnight on Halloween?

6. What were the first jack-o-lanterns carved out of?

7. How many women were burned as witches at the Salem Witch Trials?

8. If a black cat enters your home, what would folklore suggest you do to ward off bad luck?

9. Where did pumpkins originate?

10. Where did bobbing for apples originate?



Answers:
1. Tootsie Roll
2. a unibrow, hair palms, tattoos, and a long middle finger.
3. orange is associated with the Fall harvest and black is associated with darkness and death.
4. 90%
5. Your future spouse
6. turnips and beets
7. None. Those executed were hanged. One was pressed, and many died in prison of natural causes
8. Be kind to it.
9. Central America
10. Rome

Bunny Slippers

A couple friend of ours came over the other night with a present for Brielle. Inside was the cutest pair of bunny slippers ever! We just had to try them on. Thanks Ken and Meagan!

Week 2 Checkup

Brielle had her first checkup on Friday afternoon. She was a little trooper. They had to do another newborn screening test, which meant more blood work. She hates the needle, but she was so brave. I was mad at the lab tech because she wouldn't let me hold Brielle while she took the blood samples, and Brielle was mad about it too. She cried and cried. Last time when I held her, she didn't cry at all.

Then it was time to see the doctor, and that was painless. Brielle is in the 73 percentile for height (21 inches) and the 26 percentile for weight (7 lbs 10 oz). She gained about a pound and a half from when she was discharged from the hospital! I'd say we have a champion eater on our hands.

We've been trying to get some good pictures of Brielle when she's awake, but she won't cooperate very well. She's such a little wiggle worm! Here are a couple we managed to snap with her eyes open:



And another sleeping pose. She just looks so angelic when she sleeps!

Week 1

Dear Brielle:

I can't believe it has already been one week since you were born. Where did the time go? Already I can't remember or imagine a time when you were not in our home. You have made life more fulfilling for Daddy and me than we could ever have dreamed possible. We are so happy that Heavenly Father sent you to us.

Here are some things about your first week home:

1. You had some jaundice, so we had to take you to the doctor the first two days you were home to get your biliruben levels tested. They pricked your foot and took some blood samples, and it just broke Mom's heart to hear you cry at that first doctor appointment. Luckily, the second appointment was not as bad, and the nurse let me hold you. You didn't cry at all that time, and we were so proud of you for being so brave!

2. You sleep ALL the time. We even have to wake you up to feed you! Dad changes your diaper, which you hate, so that works for a little bit, but by the time you are 10 minutes into eating, you are fast asleep. Then I have to tickle your feet or get a cold wet washcloth and wipe your face with it. You hate that too.

3. You love the sunshine. You are happiest when we put you in a sunny window and let you sleep.

4. You also love your baby swing.

5. You can't sleep at night without being swaddled.

6. You already love story books. Mom and Dad read you a story at least once a day.

7. You can't go a whole day without at least one 20 minute episode of the hiccups. Poor little thing. At least they don't seem to bother you!

8. You are a born sucker. You took to a paci like a fish takes to water. You love it!

9. You are never fussy.

10. You are very alert when you are awake. You love to look around you, and you especially love to study Mom's and Dad's faces when they're holding you.

We love you so much, Brielle!! We are looking forward to many many more weeks with you!

Love,
Mom and Dad

Daddy and Brielle
Chillin'

Bringing Home Baby

We're home and ready for fun!

Welcome to the World, Baby Girl!

Our sweet baby Brielle Anne Herbst made her debut into the world this morning!

It all started around 9:00 last night, when after going out for yummy pumpkin shakes, Mark made me laugh, which made my water break. Woops! So, we were off to the hospital. By the time we got there, my contractions were 5-8 minutes apart. They hooked me up to the IV and waited for my contractions to get stronger. We didn't have to wait too long, and I was uncomfortable enough to ask for the epidural. Just a little plug for epidurals: I LOVE them. It made my life so much more comfortable.

At around 7:30 this morning, I was fully dialated, so we started pushing. We pushed for an hour and a half, with no success. The baby was just not moving down like she should. Her heart rate started dropping dramatically with each contraction, so the doctor decided it was best to do a C-section. I wasn't thrilled, but I was concerned about the baby. So, they got me ready, wheeled me into surgery, and baby Brielle entered the world at 10:00 this morning. She weighed 6 pounds 11 ounces and was 20 inches long. She is so precious! It was such a great experience for both Mark and I. I have never felt so close to the Lord as the moment she was born and I heard her cry.

In the few short hours we have spent with her today, here are some things we have already discovered about our baby girl:

1. She has just a little bit of dark brown hair covering her little head.
2. Her beautiful eyes and long feet come from Mark.
3. Her long fingers and long legs come from me.
4. We're not sure yet just who she got her cute little nose from.
5. She is very alert and is very good at finding her fists to suck on.
6. She doesn't like her fists to be wrapped up. She has to have them near her mouth.
7. She doesn't like having her diaper changed or being chilly at all.
8. She hardly ever cries, and is a healthy eater!

Welcome to the world, Brielle! Your daddy and mommy are so happy that you have come to our home, that our Heavenly Father has entrusted you to us. We're so lucky to have such a sweet little girl!!

What Matters Most

I've been thinking a lot about this topic lately. I love what President Monson has to say on the subject. Click here for the message.

Rise and Shout, the Cougars are Out!

One of our favorite things about fall:

BYU FOOTBALL!!!!!

We love the anticipation of the game. The donning of blue, white, and khaki. The masses of tailgating fans. The chill in the air (thank heavens for air conditioned Texas stadiums!). The rollercoaster ride of emotions as the score flops back and forth. Singing the fight song at the top of our lungs. Analizing every play after the game.

That's what we wanted when we drove up to Dallas this weekend to the BYU/OU game with Mark's family. We weren't disappointed. I've never been to any game quite this exciting! The stadium was jam packed - over 75,000 screaming fans. Most of them were cheering for OU. But what our small BYU section lacked in numbers, we made up for in spirit! We screamed ourselves hoarse, jumped up and down over our touchdowns, and hugged each other when the game was won. It was a sweet victory!

The Fam - Brian, Rachelle, Kyra, Mark, Spencer, and Paul

Nothing like seats at the very top!


Our view of the field. Thank goodness for that JUMBO screen!


Look at that sea of "Crimson and Cream"


Making a Victory Phone Call to the fam


Proud to wear the BYU Blue!!

Baby Shower!

Saturday morning was my baby shower. Mark went skeet shooting with the guys, and we got to have a girl's day in. A big thank you to my friends Charlotte and Cathi for putting it on for me. We had such a fun time, and I got so many cute things for the baby!

Weekend Getaway

When Mark goes to visit the Corpus Christi office, I sometimes get the opportunity to go along and hang out at the beach while he's at work. This weekend, Mark's sister, Rachelle, and her family were heading down to check out the beach. So, Mark and I headed down too. Mark worked at the Corpus office on Friday while I hung out with the fam, then we played Friday night and Saturday. We must have played really hard, because we came home tired, sunburned, and sore! It was fun times.

Highlights of the Trip:

1. Soaking up the sun at the beach in Port Aransas.


2. Quotes like these from the kids:

"Kyra, does Mark still work at that gas place, you know, where you fill up your car with gas?" - Emma
(Yes, Mark does still work at that gas place. No, it is NOT the gas station! ha ha!)

"Let's go souvenir shopping tonight." - Cami
"Why do you want to go souvenir shopping when we're still in Texas?" - Emma

"Hi Mark. I take a shower!" - Zach (with a huge smile on his face)
"You sure did! Kicked and screamed bloody murder the whole time, but you took a shower!" - Mark

3. Shuffleboard. Coolest. Game. Ever.

4. Eating bluebell ice cream in a funky shop in Port Aransas. And then finding out that the lady who runs the shop keeps a dog in there. Pretty sure that's against OSHA regulations...

We were also teaching Zach to lick his ice cream cone fast so it didn't drip all over the place. It turned out pretty funny:



5. On the way home from Corpus, Mark and I stopped to get a picture of a cotton field. We jumped out of the car (leaving the doors open), snapped a couple of pictures and hopped back in the car. Only to find about a bajillion mosquitoes in our car! We jumped out, opened the doors, shooed as many as we could out, and then drove with the windows open halfway home, slapping mosquitoes as we went. Quite the adventure! We did get some fun pics though: