The Blog of the Braddocks

Halloween Harvest

2010-11-14T21:05:00.000-08:00

This Halloween we went up to Jordan and Kindra's in Longview to go out trick-or-treating with them and their family. Being Penelope's first time truly experiencing the joys of the treats it was a wonderful success. We had been talking to her the week before about trick-or-treating, and she seemed to be in shock when explained that people would give out candy if you just say trick-or-treat at their door.

Nana Gail made cousins Eden and Penelope matching fairy princess gowns.

Fairy Princess Penelope with her mighty Dragon cousin Avery.

The Braddock & Lehner Clan:
Eden (Fairy Princess #1), Penelope (Fairy Princess #2), Daphne (Ballerina), Ireland (Gypsy), Ethne (Chicken) and Avery (Dragon).

Daphne was a pretty ballerina...she spent the whole time trick-or-treating in the stroller. Training for next year, when we'll see twice the candy haul.

Our ballerina and princess girls.
This is one of the few pictures we have of Penelope actually smiling. You have no idea how hard it is to get her to smile when the camera comes out.

The whole family is in the Halloween spirit. Especially Eric Beaver and Katie Farmgirl.

4 New Holes

2010-11-07T13:13:00.001-08:00

So, after Daphne was born I (we?) knew that we wanted to get her ears pierced. It took awhile but Jordan, my brother, convinced his wife Kindra that it was a good idea for them to get their youngest daughter, Ethne's ears pierced as well.
(She's 10 weeks younger than Daphne, can't you tell?)

They seemed so content looking at all the jewelry at Claire's before hand. Little did they know of what was to come.

The first 2 holes.
I think Daphne may be confused about why I seem to be enjoying the process. She definitely is the second child.

And Ethne with the 3rd hole, almost the 4th.
It took quite a few tries with Ethne trying to get the dots in the right spot because they couldn't see around her preciously large cheeks.

All 4 holes and aren't they so pretty.
Daphne seems to be doing great with her earings.

Pumpkin Time

2010-10-23T20:01:00.000-07:00

Penelope was very excited about going to visit the 'Pumpkin Patch.' We tricked her and took her to a farmer's stand in Aloha. We don't think this will be one of those tricks that turns your kids against you in the long run... At least we hope not!? Daphne is still happy going anywhere. Talk about an easy kid! After picking the pumpkins out we got to carve them. Penelope just wanted to draw on the pumpkins, and Daphne wanted to eat snacks. Silly girls...

These were most of the pumpkins at the 'pumpkin patch'. It was sort of like a booth at a carnival. Much cheaper then the real thing though!

Scooping the guts out of the pumpkins might have been the best part. After that, Penelope just wanted to draw on the pumpkins.
Daphne was bored, so we let her play with the big pumpkin. She wanted to eat it. We did not let her do that. Didn't want to ruin her appetite for dinner.
We were able to convince Penelope that using a knife on the pumpkin would be more fun then a pen. And it was true! Check out the eyeball we just pulled out!!
Even though Daphne had the least to do with carving the pumpkins, she is clearly the most excited. We like her attitude. Team player.

Daphne's First Intentional Food

2010-06-21T14:50:00.000-07:00

Daphne had her first bites of cereal a couple of weeks ago. I say her first bites of intentional food because when she was about 2 weeks old I came into the living room to find that Penelope, the sweet big sister that she is, was sharing her goldfish. To my knowledge Daphne hasn't had another other food since.

Here she is waiting in anticipation.

She did well...honestly, I think she was hoping for more goldfish.

Penelope's Second 2nd Birthday!

2010-06-21T14:16:00.001-07:00

On Penelope's birthday we wanted to make it special so we took her on the MAX to the children's museum. Eric and I decided that she would've been just as happy riding on the train all day, but we decided to get off at our stop.

Happy wife, happy life...and momma's got her coffee so she's happy!
(We're not so sure about how Daphne is feeling here.)

Penelope loved the train!

She changed seats about a dozen times, trying them all out.

I think the water room was her favorite.

She did enjoy the dig-it room too.

"No Penelope that muffin isn't real."I guess she didn't care.

Penelope drove a Tri-Met bus as Mommy and Daphs wait to be picked up.
(Notice she's steering a little close to us and I don't think she's watching the road. I guess it's good she'll have another 14 years to practice.)

Daphne was a trooper. We think we might let her try out for Cirque De Soliel-notice her lovely C shape.

Eric's picture face.

After the musuem and train ride we headed back home for a nice nap. Then we traveled to Mt. Angel Sausage Co. for some homemade sausage, some delicious Octoberfest Beer and to meet up with our friends! Let's be honest, the latter part of Penelope's birthday fell more under the Father's Day catagory.

She enjoyed some cupcake.

As you can see, she enjoyed the cupcakes a lot!

Penelope's First 2nd Birthday!

2010-06-21T13:59:00.000-07:00

For Penelope's birthday Eric had a great plan to have over her friends from church and there families for a BBQ. What a great idea! And then it rained, and rained, and rained! And still it worked out wonderful thanks to our gracious friends who endured being packed into our house like sardines. Thanks friends!

We made a dirt cake with worms and all!

The kids made there own individual servings with help from there parents (aka I didn't have time to make them in cute little cups).

Eric made Penelope's cake that the parents enjoyed.

Trying it out...

And yes! Success! She likes it...a lot!

Visit from Grandpa and Grandma

2010-03-29T20:28:00.001-07:00

Grammy and Gramps came up for a visit this weekend. We had a great time. We read stories and played in the yard. Grammy got the girls matching dresses. I wonder if we'll get them to wear matching dresses in 15 years. I doubt it, which is why we do it now.

Dancing Penelope

2010-03-29T20:21:00.000-07:00

Penelope shows off her dancing spirit. She is becoming quite the spirited girl. Maybe she's always been spirited.

Welcome Baby Braddock #2

2009-11-27T21:29:00.000-08:00

Daphne Louise Braddock was born today, November 27th at 2:45 pm. Both baby and mommy are healthy. I have attached some pictures, working on her first movie.

We picked the name Daphne because it goes good with Penelope, and her middle name, Louise, is her grandma on her dad's side middle name.

We feel so blessed, and only slightly overwhelmed.

-Eric

Turning 1!

2009-06-26T16:41:00.001-07:00

For Penelope's 1st Birthday we lunched. Penelope, Courtney, Nana Gail and I all went for Thai food. My mom was taking this picture because Courtney and I are both due the same week.

Eric and I took Penelope to The Old Spaghetti Factory for dinner then we had strawberries with angel food cake and whipped creamed. Turns out you can whip whipped cream too much.

She opened a few presents, and as usual liked the tags and paper more the gifts themselves. I, however, sure liked the clothes:)

We did not give her free reign with the candle and helped her blow it out. It was a lovely day for turning One!

Just one year ago...

Penelope "The Big Sister"

2009-05-10T19:53:00.000-07:00

Penelope would like to announce (since her mom and dad haven't been blogging) that she is going to be a big sister in November, the 21st to be exact. She's excited about having a little brother or sister that will be so close in age, 17 months! Her parents are looking forward to the wealth of attention being spread to another child. And no, this wasn't planned but not prevented either, enough said.

Squinty Smile!

2009-03-17T20:33:00.001-07:00

This is Penelope's newest "I'm so cute-and don't you think so too- face!"

She'll look directly at you and then smile and squint at the same time. I must say this picture doesn't do justice to the Squinty Smile!

It's amazing what can happen in a Little over a Year!

2009-03-17T20:08:00.000-07:00

Here we girls are just over a year ago. Becky (on the left) and Mike (behind the camera) had just had sweet little Jack and Ang and I (each carry our own little ones) were so naivee to all that was ahead.

Once babies arrive on the seen, it's amazing to see how time actually changes and morphs into something fantastic and scary all at the same time.

(January 2008)

The six of us just got together again and it was so fun to see the kids interact with one another. Who would have believed in 1999 that the 3 of us (along with many others from our dorm at the WBC, Jennifer Spurgeon Werner included) would have had babies within 6 months of eachother. Life is so fun and surprising. I think it just goes to show, that God does have a sense of humor running intertwined with His perfect plan.

(March 2009)

Gone, the days of the Comb-Over!

2009-02-25T15:16:00.000-08:00

So, a few weeks ago I took the plunge and finally cut Penelope's wisps off. She had a comb-over and I felt like on a 7 1/2 month old (at the time) maybe that wasn't the look we wanted for her. Comb-overs should not be a look for anyone, especially not a cute baby girl:)

She can Stand!

2009-01-06T12:36:00.000-08:00

Penelope showed us just after the New Year that she can stand. We saw her doing it to get a better look at the fire in the fireplace. We decided it would be safer if she stood trying to get her curious george monkey. This is only the 3rd time she had ever stood, immediatly followed by the third time she had fallen.

Wrapping paper, my favorite gift of all!

2009-01-06T12:22:00.000-08:00

I wasn't lying, Eric and I did bring the snow back with us from Wyoming. We really did have a White Christmas.

Like father, like daughter. HuH?

Turns out that wrapping paper was Penelope's favorite gift. If only I would have known-it's so cheap. We would have continued to let her eat it, except for the fear of paper cuts, choking and general concerns of gestation of paper products. I never knew that paper could be so dangerous.

Skipping Church for a Snowday

2008-12-14T12:49:00.001-08:00

We skipped church this morning to go play in the snow and I have to admit we did sleep in a little. The weathermen reported that snow was coming and this time they were right!

Mom Spent her Snowday taking care of the small children inside and getting them bundled up for the cold weather.

Eric, Penelope, Dad, Eden and Ireland posing for a picture.

Cheese...

Penelope's first Snow experience.

Crawling Penelope

2008-12-14T12:12:00.000-08:00

Penelope has mastered the army crawl. All of a sudden her world is much larger.

Thanksgiving at the Braddocks, with Grammy and Grampa

2008-12-14T11:27:00.000-08:00

We spent Thanksgiving with Eric's folks in Pasco, WA. We got to hang out with Jenny and our 4 nephews. Much fun and food was had by all.

Penelope meets her new cousin Forest

Hi Ho Cherry-O, Gavin won every round. I think the secret is not wearing a shirt.

Penelope with her pretty blue eyes, don't bother her she's watching football

Cousins' Closet...Congratulations!

2008-10-24T21:17:00.000-07:00

I'd like to congratulate Becky Bunch and Sarah Thompson and they're families on their amazing consignment sale. It turned out great and they've still got another day. They've been blessed, but I think it's even bigger than they imagined. Good luck tomorrow ladies! They ended up having a news crew there at the sale today and Penelope ended up being on the news this evening. She's our little celeb now. Becky and Mike posted the clip on their blog "theBunchBunch" if you want to take have a look-see. Thanks Mike and Becky!

The Pumpkin Patch with Penelope

2008-10-21T17:01:00.001-07:00

We went to our first pumpkin patch as a family Saturday.

We met up with our friends, the Bordens and the Parkers.

The sweet kids dressed up. Penelope was a frog and the other little girls were ladybugs.

It was a brisk day and all the kids missed their naps, but amazingly there were no tantrums (not children or adults). Chili dogs, curly fries and apple cider slushies never tasted so good. At times I look forward to Penelope walking and talking, then I see the other small children doing these activities (although very well behaved) and I think, I should really enjoy every minute of Penelope's immobility.

The perfect moms picture; always something going on.

Courtney with Braelee, Penelope and I, and Kristen with Wren.

The frog was very tired and still put up with our antics.

The spoils. Good work Jeff.

Rolling Over From Back to Front!

2008-10-16T16:37:00.000-07:00

Penelope rolled over from her back to her front for the first time last week. This is some video from today of her showing off her multitasking of sucking her fingers and rolling over too.

Ode To Uncle Gabe!

2008-10-16T16:13:00.000-07:00

Look at me, I'm just like my Uncle Gabe!

I suck on my middle fingers too and like my mommy, I suck my thumb.

Go Beavs! Go WYO! & Visits

2008-10-07T10:33:00.001-07:00

Grandpa and Grammy for a Visit

Relaxin' with Grandpa Rick.

Gettin' loves from Grammy.

Having a wonderful time.

Shelby and Syd came for a visit 2 weekends ago. They went to church with us and then came over for lunch and some relaxing Sunday events.

Sydney wanted to hold here cousin Penelope...

then Sydney decided she didn't want to.

(But look at how composed Sydney is staying, I think she's learned it from her cousin Max :)

She curled up next to Eric and played her Nintendo...aah how cute.

Go BEAVS! Go WYO (Wyoming)!

We are starting Penelope early on her college football scene.

Some More of Penelope!

2008-09-22T21:52:00.000-07:00

Smiling at Mommy!

Getting warm to go on a walk with Mommy and Daddy!

"No, pictures" (I think sometimes she feels like we are the paparazzi).

Caution: This video clip is only 3 seconds long, but may cause dizziness!
We are not responsible for any harm to ones self due to the contents of this clip.

Penelope has enjoyed the swing in her short life, yet has just finally felt comfortable enough (I believe due to the thumb sucking) to fall a sleep in it.

(She woke up right after this footage was filmed.)

Cute pictures of Miss Penelope

2008-09-16T16:45:00.000-07:00

Penelope and I got dressed up to go on a date with Eric.

Cute sweater outfit thanks to Uncle Gabe and Aunt Lyndsay!

Penelope's tired, can you tell?

Penelope rolled over for the first time on Saturday!

She starts on her belly and then can roll all the way onto her back. She's still working on back to front, but getting close.

Penelope meets Mae Borges

2008-09-09T10:53:00.000-07:00

Mae, keep your hands to yourself. :)

Ang and Penelope

Holding hands...cute!

Mae finding her new friend.

Penelope and I were lucky to get to meet our little friend Mae for the first time last Friday. She is so cute and I know Penelope had fun with her. Ang and I had a great time sharing with one another about our babies and found out that they are a lot alike. I also took a quiz about Penelope from the book, The Baby Whisperer, she is touchy and spirited.

For those of you that don't know, Angela is one of my best friends from college. We lived in the same hall in the dorms, were RA's together in college, both graduated with education degrees from Western Baptist (now Corban), were in each others weddings 2 months apart and now had our first baby girls 5 days apart. Now we both get to be homemakers and take care of our families together.

Bringing Penelope into the World

2008-08-26T13:52:00.000-07:00

6 lbs. 12oz. 21 inches

Nana & Papa

Grammy & Grandpa

Our Family

Mommy and Daughter

Daddy cutting the umbilical cord.

Sweet Penelope Rose's first appearance.

~Labor and Deliver ~

Eric and I had a very blessed experience laboring for our little Penelope. As many of you know we were unsure of the gender and were very excited the moment she appeared in the world to find a girl. Penelope was really the only name that we had both agreed on before hand (an awkward boy name).

Husband Coached Child Birth was the method that we used to have Penelope naturally. All the woman that I talked with before hand about natural child-birth said that it was difficult, but soon afterward the pain is gone when the beautiful baby arrives. It's true too! We were overwhelmed with joy after having our baby girl. We will definitely do it again!

Our First Blog

2008-08-25T17:06:00.000-07:00

Well, we have officially hopped on the blog-wagon! We've decided like many of you that this is a great way to update everyone (assuming that anyone is interested) on our life as a new family. Who knows though, it may just be a realization of how boring we truly are.

We are made up of parents, Eric and Katie, and currently one child, Penelope Rose. Penelope is a very new child and we are really enjoying finding out all of the things that we really don't know, which is a lot being a new parent. It truly is amazing that any of us make it into adulthood.