Broden Riley Park, The First Year

Warning: This is 35 minutes, mostly due to me running out of time and either the editing program or my computer being inadequate for video editing. I wanted a 15 minute video, but since I could no longer see the video to make edits, I had to quit and accept the 35 minute video. I am really thankful though that all was not lost and I was able to produce a final copy to burn on DVD for Brody to see 17 years or so from now.

So most of you won't have time or won't want to watch it, that's why I warned you! But I know a couple of you want to see, so I posted it for you :)

My computer kind of hates me, so I don't even know if this plays or not. Can't say I didn't try :)

1st Birthday Party

Present time.

After the party was over Brody really dug into his gifts, like this box, which he found really handy as a step to get to places he's not supposed to go.

Cause every birthday boy needs a bow, right?

Max, Claire, Brody, & Andrew all posing wonderfully for the camera. (Everleigh was there too.)

Friday Brody visited the farm and Papa had to find him a hat (Odenthal Meats, shocking) so they could go down to Great Grandma/Grandpa Docken's for coffee. Word has it he got cake?!

Brody had a great first birthday party. Great food, tacos (thanks Barry) and great cake, fish bowl and cupcakes (thanks Bethanie). Brody had lots of company and received lots of gifts, he's one lucky boy, so thank you all! On his actual birthday I may post a video that's painfully long (35 min) and I don't recommend sitting down to watch, I just know that there are a couple far away that may want to see it.

Walking

For Audrey

Fresh Photos

"Hey Brody, let me show you how it's done."

"No, let me show YOU how it's done."

Trying to sit still with Brody, always a joy!

Random

So I'm making (or trying to at least) a video recapturing the last year in pictures and videos for Brody. After doing way too much computer work (so much so that I'm embarrassed to say just how many hours especially given the fact that it isn't and might never be done), I have realized two completely separate things.
1. A person should never try to make a video unless they have a nice, relatively new Apple. and
2. Brody was never small. I kept thinking that as I went back in time looking at video and pictures that I would be shocked at how I forgot how little he once looked. Nope, aside from week 1 and 2, he's always been solid Brody.
Boy do I love him though! He cried inconsolably yesterday during the day for the first time and I just felt so bad that there was nothing I could do for him except hold him, distract him, and hope that the ibuprofen helped him feel better from his cold and teething.
Today he is back at daycare with Omi at Josh and Whitney's house. Claire and Brody were so excited to see each other. Now that he's walking to get around, I hope they play nice. It makes such a difference for him to have someone to play with! Although Omi might need some Tylenol by the afternoon if Claire and Brody have their scream-off competition. (Max was pretty good too, he was chillin in his swing, trying to eat his swaddle blanket, looking cute as ever.)

Mexico!

Here are some more pictures from our trip to Mexico. I put most of them on Facebook because it was easier.

Akumal, Mexico

We had the most amazing week in Akumal, Mexico with Barry's family celebrating his brother's wedding. Brody was such a trooper. He was perfect on the plane trip down, but had some ear trouble the last 20 minutes of the flight back. 1 out of 2 is pretty good though if you ask me! We were able to snorkel right outside the condo we stayed in as well as in a nearby lagoon. Brody had his first dip in the ocean with his new wetsuit from Grandma Cindy and Grandpa Steve, pretty darn cute! He even had swim shoes from Omi!

Overall we did lots of exploring, lots of beach and ocean time, lots of Mexican food, and lots of quality time for Brody to catch up with Grandma Cindy, Grandpa Steve, GG Marian, Uncle Eric, Uncle Zach, and Aunt Aimee!

More pictures to follow!

Buh-bye GG, I love you! Brody had some nice visit time with GG over the holidays. Now she's back in warm AZ and Brody cannot wait to see her lots this summer!

Omi had a nice holiday vacation while Barry was home from school on break. She had to come rescue us a couple of times though because she's the only one skillful enough to sit Brody down and cut his nails.

Playing games with Omi :)