I'm like a bird....I wanna fly away

I promise the title of this post will make sense once you watch this video... Whenever Brooklynn is on her back, she moves her arms and legs and Paul and I laugh everytime because it looks like she is flapping her wings. One of these days I am going to get a shot of her doing this first thing in the morning because she gets out of control with the wing flapping as soon as she sees Paul or I and knows she's going to get picked up! It's hilarious, but enjoy this one for now.

Play Time

Brooklynn is doing extremely well at sitting up on her own these days. And as I mentioned before she loves to do this rocking motion whenever she is sitting, and it tends to get pretty wild when she gets excited. It's really cute. She is doing well with her solid foods too. She seemed to really like squash and sweet potatoes, but had to acquire a taste for carrots. We're (meaning me, myself, and I) still trying to get her back on her amazing schedule, but ever since moving here to Texas, her naps have only been a brief 45 minutes! But every day she is becoming more and more alert and more fun to play with, especially since she is starting to need entertainment more frequently. This video is of today, hanging out in the office and playing!

Giggles

I finally captured Brooklynn laughing...thanks to Auntie Stephy. This just makes my day...hope it brings a smile to yours as well.

Bye Bye California

Most everyone knows now that we left California and moved to San Antonio, TX for the remainder of the summer and the extension. It was a hard decision and sad to leave my family behind, but we are hoping San Antonio will be a better area for Paul's office. We are so grateful for my family and all their help, love, and support. It was so great to spend the last several months with them, and for Brooklynn to really get to know everyone. She started off a momma's girl but by the time we left she would go to anyone and everyone! Brooklynn and I will be going back to Cali at the end of August for Skyler's mission farewell, but Paul will not be able to make it, so this was his good-bye to Skyler for two whole years! Still can't believe he is leaving on a mission. We have promised to show Brooklynn many pictures of her Uncle Skyler over the next two years so she won't forget him. She just loves her Uncle Skyler so much and we will all miss him! Just like we already miss all the fam in California.

More to come about San Antonio, but so far we really like it! There is so much to do here, oh but wait...no one to do it with. Bummer.


This is the family, only missing Ryan. Last picture together for awhile. Ah...tear drop.

Paul and Skyler...last time together for two years.

Rocking Chair

Here is Paul's old rocking chair that Brooklynn thoroughly enjoyed at Grandma Giddings house. This was the best I could capture but she was rocking the chair back and forth all by herself...it was so cute.

Meeting Cousins for the First Time

Before we left California, Paul's Auntie and three little cousins were visiting so we were able to go say hi and then bye. It was Paul's first time meeting his three little cousins and it was a fun little visit. Grandma Giddings pulled out Paul's old rocking chair from when he was little and put Brooklynn in it. I was nervous at first, thinking she would slip out, but she did great and absolutely loved it! Really no surprise there because recently whenever she is sitting down, whether on the floor or on someone's lap, she does this rocking motion...back and forth. So the rocking chair was great!

Grandma could hardly believe that Paul and Josh used to be as small as Nate and Zach, and now they both tower over everyone so we had to take a picture of the difference in size to really show what a giant Paul looks compared to the younger twins. We all wished Joshie was there because it would have made the picture- both sets of twins! Maybe next time!

Daddy Daughter Bath Moment

Paul loves to give Brooklynn her baths. If he ever happens to be home when it is time to give her a bath he volunteers to do it. And he is so cute when he does. As he is washing her, he will name the body parts. He'll say... "Washing the tummy, washing the triceps, washing the biceps, washing the legs..." etc...etc. A couple weeks ago I heard him doing it again so I ran to get the camera... I was a little late and he caught me taping so he quit, but it's still cute.

Standing on a soapbox for a minute

This morning I have a lot on my mind and for me, writing is extremely therapeutic so I hope you don't mind if I share a little with you about my thoughts today...

I find it interesting that we tend to want everyone to think that life is always peachy (especially in the blogging world). However I strongly believe that things are not always as they seem. So why do we find it necessary for others to perceive our families as always doing great, as if sad moments never befall us? I believe our generation is plagued with the mentality of "keeping up with the Joneses", therefore always tempting us to "put on our best face", and I admit I at times fall victim to this mentality. However, we are all experiencing mortal life and this human existence together...not necessarily in the same way but definitely in the same manner... meaning we ALL experience ups and downs. For some of us the ups may be greater than the downs and vice versa but no one is exempt from experiencing both. We are always quick to share those great, happy moments, but much more hesitant to share our struggles- the experiences that really make us grow and the experiences that really can help lift another in need...especially when we put an arm around a friend and can sincerely say "I understand". There's nothing like connecting with another person when we realize we are not alone...others are not perfect...we all struggle. And even though it is a reality we all understand as part of our test here on this earth...we fear we may be judged or disliked by our peers. I wish that could change. I think we should spend less energy on building up a persona of our so-called "perfect life", which feeds into the mentality of "keeping up with the Joneses"...no doubt aspiring to have that one day...but in the mean time really being truthful, and helping our fellow brothers and sisters overcome the downs of life, as we are overcoming them ourselves. Of course we want to engage in the joyful moments of life and celebrate with others as they experience those moments as well, but let's also build each other up by walking side by side through those moments of darkness or weakness.

Life for us has been very nice this year. At moments I have even thought things were too perfect and so I had been waiting for struggles, upsets, and/or disappointments to come our way. Now I have no doubt that life is and must be full of opposition in all things. To you my family and friends... I hope I have not put on a fake persona that would belittle any of you to think you were less than me and my growing family, or make you feel jealous in any way. If anything, I would rather you see and understand that we are all human and struggling just as much as we are grateful and joyful, because that is certainly the case with us. I am sure we are all experiencing our own Gethsemane's and I want you to know that you are not alone and that you are loved, just as I know we are not alone, and we are loved. Who am I to judge anyone's test as being greater than another?... for we are all individuals and at different stages in our progression. I just want to lend a loving hand to any who may be experiencing a down moment of life...at the same time celebrate with any who may be experiencing an up moment of life. I know they both come and go and I want you all to know that they do for the Giddings family as well. Lots of love!


On a side note...the following are recent captures of our up moments...Brooklynn is that in our life right now.