Monkey and Me

Time flies ...

2011-06-08T18:52:00.000-07:00

... when you're having fun! And this girl team sure is!!!!!

Imagine the laughter in the room when we looked at the proofs from our Easter shoot w/Click Photography. Don't worry, fans ... this is a sincere "silly face", not a mean one. And no, I didn't have a clue that she was doing it ... which makes it even more my favorite.

Meet "Mr. Jason". He's a "sweet boy". We like him a lot. :)

He took us to the All-American Fun Park. Our adventure ended with bumper boats. The girl team vs. Mr. Jason. Judging by our level of wetness, I think we have to hand the trophy over to Mr. Jason. All in all, it was "super fun"!!!!

This is our most recent school picture of Olivia. Of course, taken by our very own Nana.

This is Princess Ladybug at her first dance recital. In my complete biased opinion, she stole the show. Don't believe me? There were hundreds of witnesses!

She had lots of hugs to give afterwards. Of course, she had to run "super fast" in order to give them.

Monkey and Me. "Grangee" made her some beautiful flowers.

Oh, and did you hear?? She's not a baby anymore. She's 3. Had a big pool party. All of her family and friends joined us. We had a good time.

In this pic, our actress was caught off guard by everyone singing to her. What's this?? It might be an embarrassed look on her face. Little uncomfortable and speechless. Imagine that!

I know that a lot of our "fans" are family and friends that just aren't gutsy enough to have a Facebook page. I promise to be better at posting pics/videos to keep you all up to date.

On a more mushy note, I did want to thank everyone who has supported us this past year. There were definitely a lot of changes and some hard and snotty-nosed times ... but we are fighters and two strong ladies.

God doesn't give you anything that you can't handle. That's for sure.

~Monkey and Me

'10 brings new things

2010-04-10T05:59:00.000-07:00

Mel and Liv. We are now a two-girl team. 2010 has brought many changes for us. Scary ones, different ones, but ones that we are going to embrace nonetheless. Everything happens for a reason; right??

Here are new photos from our recent photoshoot in March. Tried a little "tea party" theme.

Here goes ....

God is great ... God is good ---- thanking Him for all his blessings!

We went to the Pumpkin Patch!!!

2009-10-19T21:11:00.001-07:00

Me and Mommy talked Daddy into going with us to the Pumpkin Patch ...
It involved a lot of "pleeeeeeease?"

Olivia really knows how to get daddy to melt! Workin' that bottom lip!

Daddy's girl ...

Happy fall y'all!!!
Love, the Browns

Fairy in the Flowers

2009-10-07T18:55:00.001-07:00

Today Olivia and Mommy did our first photoshoot alone! And here's how it turned out ...

Mommy quickly learned that you need help when you're doing a shoot with a toddler ... for distraction purposes.

... so Kim of K&R Photography came and helped to make Liv all smiles and gave Mommy pointers.

All in all, it was a success. Hot, but a success.
The End.

Leaf Blower

2009-10-06T08:50:00.000-07:00

Casey did yard work Sunday and Olivia chased him around as he blew out the driveway and garage. You'll see why .... she liked it. Don't worry, no children were harmed during the making of this video. ;)

So ....

2009-08-15T09:26:00.001-07:00

Our favorite expression, one of surprise, as you can see.

Drew taking Liv for a spin in the Jeep at Nana's

We took our annual big Coleman beach trip this month and Nana tried to take some pretty pictures ...

but we QUICKLY realized that Olivia DOES NOT like the sand. "Is somebody going to help me???"

We had a new photoshoot with K&R!

tried to catch a little Livi-Mommy time on camera

just thought I'd throw out a quick update in between Saturday nap time!

New words: beach (sounds rather interesting), water, outside, inside, here, come here, "memo" (elmo), say, Granny, Lala, Papa, "Dodie" (Jodie), Andrew, hairbow, off, on ... the list goes on. As mentioned before, DEFINITELY a chatter box!

Videos

2009-07-28T07:13:00.000-07:00

This (left) is Olivia's newest word .... We don't like it as much as the others .... especially when we're trying to brush teeth and eat. Sigh ....

And the right video is just Olivia being ... Olivia. We love her laugh. She thinks Daddy is funny in this one.

Forgot that We Never Shared these

2009-07-17T07:19:00.000-07:00

These are photos from the session that K&R did for us before Olivia's 1st birthday party. Forgot we didn't share them with all of you! These are just a few ....

We LOVE Kim and Roger!

"Up!"

So What's New???

2009-06-26T07:33:00.000-07:00

Daddy's second Father's Day! We love this picture!

Such a ham! "Cheese!"

Playing Daddy's PlayStation

Olivia is a climber. Up and Down ... up and down ... up and down. But loves mommy's new picture!

Reading with Grandpa, but briefly distracted by Daddy. Imagine that!

Loves to play on Nana's fridge now!

We have had a few Hat Day's this week. Loves her hat.
She can say "hat", too.

She sleeps in her big girl bed now!!!

We are enjoying every step of being parents ... to the temper tandrums that we try hard not to laugh at to hearing her try to mimic our every word. She is our little doll. I'm not quite sure what I did before God gave us Olivia.

Her new words are apple and walk. Speaking of walking, she's taken eight steps at the most now. Totally capable, but unwilling at this point.

We hope that everyone has a good weekend. Tell those who mean the most to you that you love them!

"It is only possible to live happily-ever-after on a day-to-day basis" Margaret Bonnano

Going to Granny's

2009-06-17T05:59:00.000-07:00

Sunday was a beautiful day! We decided to go visit Granny.
She made this blanket herself ... even sewed in various family member's names, dates of birth and cute pictures on it! You know how I love sentimental things ...

Granny and I took a stroll in the backyard.

Our sleeping beauty ...

Liv and Daddy in Granny's pool!!

"I ruff you!!!" See you next time!
(Granny's toy dog from when she was a little girl.)

2009-06-03T06:09:00.000-07:00

This is Olivia's newest word. "Baff"
Among the others are: mama, daddy, uh-oh, duck, cup, eat, baby, thank you, uh-oh spaghetti-oh, twinkle-twinkle, hey, bye-bye, hello, Mmmmm ... and a lot more jibber-jabber. We think she is going to be quite the chatter box!

April Showers Bring May Flowers

2009-06-02T08:04:00.000-07:00

From Easter to now, life has gone by in an instant for us. A big, fun, crazy instant. So I thought, because I know the thrill of anticipation has been killing you all, I'd update. I promise we will try to do better this time.

Olivia's turns 11 months old just in time for Easter! Yay!

We started trying to drink out a big girl cup. Didn't like it too much at first.

Olivia loves big girl food! Mine!

Standing up. Daddy caught this on camera! She is almost walking now!

Turned One!! Had a fun birthday party!

Took her first beach trip for Mother's Day. Little Diva.

Casey let her "swim" in our bathtub. Yes, this was supervised. And she DEFINITELY loves the water.

Loves Daddy

See ... told you she loves the water!

Celebrated Aunt Lala's birthday! Leslie and Olivia were supposed to share a birthday. God had other plans.
Loves her Papa and Lala. They are funny.

The Girls. Good lookin' huh?

Melissa And Casey

We took a beach trip for Leslie's birthday. We talked about selling all of our personal belongings, making a plan on moving the ENTIRE family with us, and braiding hair and doing jet ski rentals to make a living. ;)

More to come ...

Princess in the Park

2009-04-07T17:48:00.000-07:00

We went to the park Saturday ....

... and found a pretty princess there to play ...

Her glasses sat crooked, but we still thought she was beautiful!
(LOL)

(Liv and Ella Kate)

"Where's my prince?" (Daddy was looking on in the distance.)

At 11 months ....
She tries to mimic every sounds Mommy and Daddy make.
"Huh?"
"Oh, yeah."
"Stop."
"Duck." (sounds like Dut)
"Ba-ba" (bottle)

And, of course, Moma and Da-da.

Every time we look into those pretty blue eyes we are reminded of how thankful we are!!!

I Don't Feel Different

2009-03-26T13:23:00.000-07:00

I turned 27 on Tuesday. I don't feel different. I suppose in some ways I wanted to wake up and finally "feel" like an adult. And I also wanted, in some point in that day, secretly, to find a VW bug convertible somewhere for me to find ... with a big red bow on it. Didn't matter the color.

But I did realized a lot of things that DID happen at 27 years of my life and how things changed in one year.

I'm a mommy.
Last year, I was cooped up in my house on my 26th birthday ... totally unaware of what a precious thing I had in my belly ... and not knowing that one year from that very day I would have a little jibbery-jabbering princess banging on my laptop keyboard while I'm trying to write this. ;)
Somehow I have become a full-fledged germaphobe. The friendly, household dust bunny makes me anxious.
I am becoming my mother, in the flesh! And my daughter looks just like my daddy nowadays.
I am becoming what I said I would NEVER be. Hahaha! ... my parents!
I'm still married, which in this day in time is such a rare thing to be able to say.
I'm learning "stress management". i.e. not working when I'm already too overwhelmed, taking rides with my sunroof back and the music blarring, shopping.
Learning to be satisfied with what I have. (Make note: Try to find another venue for stress management besides shopping. Woops!)
I'm trying to laugh more, and try to surround myself around happy people. Laughter is so good for the soul.
Judging less and loving more.
Listening to my Drama-dar. Steering clear of people and things that bring me down and cause me stress. Stress is apparently not good for the shopaholic's credit card. (Making another mental note)
I respect the adults in my life so much more!
My family is the best.
Trying to have FUN! Something about having a child makes you realize how we really AREN'T guaranteed tomorrow. Have fun, people!!!!!!!
Funny how years passing sort of filters out all the people you used to consider friends, and you realize who the real ones are.
Wondering where does the time go. A week in the life of Melissa Brown flies by. Weeks turn into months ... maybe that's why I'm astonished to be planning Olivia's 1st birthday party!!! She should only be a few months old!!!!!!!! Not right ...

Well, Princess Pitchin-a-fit is pulling out the dramatics. More later.

Happy Spring

2009-03-25T18:15:00.000-07:00

Happy Spring everyone!!!!
From our beautiful little blossom!

(Updates to come later)

Spring shows what God can do with a drab and dirty world. ~Virgil A. Kraft

What a fool!

2009-03-10T19:18:00.000-07:00

This week has been crappy for me (Melissa). I am stuck in the beginnings of a long trial. Heightened security is everywhere. Anxiety is everywhere, and pumping wildly through my veins. I have long days ahead of me, as it is assumed that this trial will run through next week ... and I am as backed up as I've ever been in my entire career.

I sit in the courtroom, going over and over in my head which door to run to if something "goes wrong" ... all while wondering when the judge's pickle jar will finally overflow and when his belly button will start burrowing a hole through his spine.

I looked around to friends of the defendants ... some of who are proud, arrogant, defensive and sad. And to family of the defendants ... hopeful, shocked, ignorant. I always try to remember that these are somebody's "babies". And to the family and friends of the victims ... full of sorrow and dramatically prayerful that peace will come.

"It's been a crappy week! I am just not myself! I need a vacation!"

"Let's stop for lunch" is much like the sound of a hallelujah choir of angels to a court reporter's ears and hot diggity dog was it today!

I left. I let my sunroof open and I let the windows down. I went through Taco Hell drive-thru.

With much time to spare, I wondered where I could go and park my car to eat my fine cuisine. I wanted to go somewhere that would make me feel better ....

I went to Goodwill.

Sounds silly; doesn't it?

But all of a sudden, I didn't feel like I was having such a crappy week anymore.

I was sitting in a parking lot, not worrying at the moment that the car note for the vehicle I drove was going to be paid for this month. I was able to pay for my lunch with cash. I sat in that parking lot with nice clothes on. I had air conditioning in my car. I have a job. I have a job. I have a job!! And I don't have to go to Goodwill to find clothes that I need. I have the privilege to go to Goodwill to to see if there are any "finds", not to choose which pair of used shoes will do for a job interview.

I have a healthy child. I have a loving, big family, none of which have had their lives taken by murder. I am in good health. I have been blessed with much and forgiven much.

"To whom much is given, much is required."

Just a little reality check. And, yes, I thought so much of the enlightnment of an experiance that I took pictures. ;)

2009-03-10T16:31:00.000-07:00

So what's new???

Olivia is 10 months old!!!

Seems that we are planning a first birthday party very soon ....

With 10 months comes: "Uh-oh", slapping, fearlessly navigating through the house holding onto furniture, becoming attached to a baby doll and attached to mommy and daddy, screaming, showing independence, "Bye-bye", table foods, mimicking words and so on ...

Helping Mommy load the dishes away

Catch me if you can!

Still working on the whole sippie cup thing. Not going so well!

Little feet aren't so little anymore ....

Getting into whatever I can get away with ...

Love my grandpa!

Outback's new theme song: "Let's go out like a light."

Olivia LOVES lemons. For 10 minutes she licked and licked and bit and bit ...

Hey, if life gives you lemons, lick it to death and move on to the good stuff!!

Happy Birthday, Nana!

2009-02-24T10:23:00.000-08:00

Happy Birthday to you! Happy Birthday to you!

Happy Birthday dear ....

... cheesemiester ...

.... easter bunny ...

... Mama ... secret keeper ... friend ... Rhonda ...

Santa Clause ...

... Nana ....

Happy Birthday to you!!!!!!!!!

We love you!!!!!!!!!!!!

2009-02-11T18:25:00.000-08:00

My Nana took some pretty pictures of me yesterday ...

They turned out so well that Mommy and Daddy sent one in to the Regis & Kelly show ...
Move over Hollywood!!!

Thank you, Nana!

What's going on this week:

Olivia weighs 19.4 pounds. And we thought she was a 20-pounder!
She fed herself.
Olivia started a new daycare. All is well!

Dear Lord ...

2009-02-09T19:27:00.001-08:00

Things I pray for my daughter ...

That she will always be fair, honest and real.

That she will not ever look down at another person because of what they don't have. And that she will always look up to the Lord Our God.

That she will love, care for and have compassion for the lowly and see them as He sees them.

That the things of this world and materialism will not be a part of her, and that she will see that those things are fleeting and meaningless.

That she will adore the simple things in life, like beautiful weather, the cheap seats, expression of art, family, children's laughter and the occasional apple.

That she will not hate me when I won't let her date until she's 17. I don't know why 17. 16 just seemed too young for me.

That she will find a job that she loves without money being a factor of influence.

That she will get excited when she sees the used car sitting out in the driveway when she turns 16 and will be grateful. Then learns about hard work, good stewardship and taking care of what you've been given.

That she will love her family so much it will hurt when they pass away, and she will be proud of the legacy they've left behind ... and tear up and laugh at old stories.

That she will always lend a helping hand when no one else will.

That she will not be anxious or fret about things she cannot control, and put her trust in God.

That she will experience true salvation at an early age and never let Satan "pffff" blow it out. I pray her little light shines!!!!

That she will lead older generations in joyful worship.

That she will have an unnatural desire to stay pure, be modest and think that it's cool to be that way.

That she loves hard, even it it hurts most times.

That her spirit will be free and she will be OLIVIA.

That she will take up for herself when needed. Cool girls wear glasses.

That her heart will be tender like her daddy's.

That she will be expressive like her mama.

That she will be smart like her Aunt Leslie, cheesy like her Nana, steadfast like her "Grandbo", strong like her "Meme", funny like her "Granny", giving like her "Ga'ma", and herself-no-matter-what like her Aunt Lauren!

In Jesus' name I pray, Amen.

Creations by Stacie Photoshoot

2009-02-08T05:53:00.000-08:00

Yesterday I had my first photoshoot with Creations by Stacie, Mrs. Stacie Hamsley.

These are just SOME of the photos that she took.
It's so hard to be beautiful!

This was BEFORE I got so happy and bounced off my chair and tried to dive into the tracks. Instead, mama literally dove onto the tracks like a super hero and got her hands under my noggin!!!
Gotta have my be-be doll ...

This is me wearing some of Grandma Brown's jewelry! I love jewelry!!

Happy Valentine's Day!!! Love you lots!!!
~Olivia Claire

Cheese!

2009-02-04T11:12:00.000-08:00

Olivia has FOUR teeth now!Hi! Can you see them?

What about now???
Say cheese!!!!

Lauren's b-day and fun at The Brown's

2009-02-04T11:08:00.000-08:00

Today we celebrated Lauren's 19th birthday early at The Brown's. Lauren is Casey's step-sister, Olivia's aunt, and a super cool chick!

Loves her Aunt Lauren ...

Trying to find the doggies ...

She's become quite fond of animals lately ...

Olivia got to meet her cousin Jayda for the first time in about 4 months today. What pretty girls!

Look at this face! Think she might grow up to be a little comedian!

What a proud daddy!

Olivia, Grandma Teresa, Aunt Lauren, and Grandpa!!!

Okay ... maybe she got the comedian part from her mommy.

The Crew!

"Call it a clan, call it a network, call it a tribe, call it a family:
Whatever you call it, whoever you are, you need one."
Jane Howard

We are family!!!

2009-02-03T13:21:00.000-08:00

"As a given to anyone who knows me, my family is most important. " Melissa

Our cup runneth over with family, especially since our marriage --- we have triple the family!!!

These are some of the most important girls in my life. Thought we were all sisters??? Nope! The hottie in the back is my mom. ;)

My best friend .... taken a minute back in time when we both thought we were fat. This picture makes us say, "Pa-leeeeeze!"
We are friends, partners in crime, secret keepers, shoulders to cry on, comedians, comrades ... when it all goes down, we're sticking together! Oh, and she's a nurse (and the easter bunny).
This girl has more strength than anyone that I know. Love her!

Christmas card picture '08.

In our family we hug, say grace, do real, make mistakes, laugh loud. We have faith, hope & love ... all gifts from up above.

The family. We were a strange little band of characters trudging through life sharing diseases and toothpaste, coveting one another's desserts, hiding shampoo, borrowing money, locking each other out of our rooms, inflicting pain and kissing to heal it in the same instant, loving, laughing, defending, and trying to figure out the common thread that bound us all together. ~Erma Bombeck

Bath time is lots of fun!

2009-02-02T13:14:00.000-08:00

Bath time has always been lots of fun .... especially for Olivia!

First "real" bath at 9th Avenue house. (3 wks)

Always scootin' down as deep down as Mama and Daddy will let me. "Mmmmm .... warm ...." (3 months)

At Grandbo and Nana's house. (2 months)

We said "bye-bye" to the baby bathtub.
... and "hey" to the big girl tub!!!

Scrub-a-dub-dub (8 months).

Welcome!

2009-01-28T10:52:00.000-08:00

This is the first entry to our blogger page, in an effort to keep all family and friends up-to-date with the exciting events of the Brown's ... and for some therapeutic reasons!

Kids stay at grandma's night - Bowling with some dear friends.

Current events:
The Brown's are officially over "the bugs."
Love is casting out fear.
Olivia is crawling ... all of a sudden.
Olivia is 9 days shy of being nine months old. (Wow)
She has four teeth.
All of my friends have had their babies except one. I think that makes 7 babies now.
Olivia now has 4 current boyfriends to choose from. If I could arrange a marriage now, I would. ;)

Our little "Bernice Matice" is finally started to adjust better with her glasses. Still trying to find a perfect pair.

"May brooks and trees and singing hills

Join in the chorus too,

And every gentle wind that blows

Send happiness to you."

~Irish Blessing

Peace and love. Melissa Brown.