Some More Brooklynn.May Design Bows

If you are interested in placing an order, email me at brooklynn.maydesigns@gmail.com

Bows, bows and more bows!

I finally completed one of my to-do list tasks that has been looming over me for about 2 months now.

Our dreaded mess of bows and hairbands...

Just a mess..

Our new "Bow board" that my mom got us. I just covered it with fabric and had Paul put the knobs on. I ran out of ribbon, so I need to get more to tie around the knobs so that we can finishing clipping the rest of bows and flowers on. But I am so excited now to be able to see all of them! Thanks mom.

Really Brooklynn!?

This girl is quick. The other day I turned my head for 2 minutes and came back to find she had "colored" "so pretty" on her hands and her belly! Despite the fact that I KNOW she understands when we give her coloring utensils that we ONLY color on Paper...her body must be just too tempting! Either that or it gives her an excuse to get in the tub!

Showing off her artistic skills

The other night I was working on FINALLY cleaning out the dreaded, disorganized bow drawer and finishing our "bow board". While re-organizing, Brooklynn kept bringing me the bows and flowers to put in her hair...by the end she had quite the head of hair! Take a look...

When daddy came home, he got quite the laugh and went on a picture spree...

Being silly in her chairs from Grandma and Grandpa!

Her and Maylee wore matching jean jackets the other day...unfortunately Brooklynn was not being very cooperative that morning so this is the only picture I got, NOT a one with the two of them together! :(

Smiling Maylee

Wish she was looking at the camera...this would have been a PERFECT picture!

Love the Jean Jacket.

Crazy hair...

First smile caught on Camera... 2/22/10

Just happy hanging out!

Enduring the dreaded tummy time!

A few more 2 month shots

** Since my post on her 2-month birthday, Maylee has started to sleep through the night! Two nights in a row now she has slept 8 hours straight! I am one happy and proud mama! I feel a little bad because Brooklynn started sleeping through the night at 7 weeks and I thought her sister would take way longer, but to my surprise only a week longer! Two nights in a row now makes me think it was not a fluke and our sleepless nights are over! WOOHOO! Now hopefully within the next two months, that 8 hours will expand to 12, just like it did with Brooklynn!

Maylee Kate- 2 months!

It's hard to believe 2 months have already passed since giving birth to our beautiful baby girl! She is growing and changing everyday. We are all so in love with her. Her 2-month check up isn't until next week so I'll have to update her stats then but for now we have a few other things to document about her...

* She loves to be moving...she is pretty much addicted to her swing (we've already gone through so many batteries because she loves to be in it). I'm trying to break her habit of napping in it...super tough because she will sleep for 4 hours+ in that thing without making a peep, but anywhere else her naps are short lived.
* She gets this pouty frown when she cries and I think it is the cutest thing ever!
* She is sleeping about 6 straight hours a night (so anxious to get this to be longer).
* When she first falls asleep she doesn't close her eyes all the way...it's so creepy looking to me that I gently close her eyelids for her!
* She has some strong lungs and has a difficult time soothing herself....either that or I give in too quickly and don't give her enough time to "work it out".
* She takes a binki.
* She has reflux and major gas problems which cause her belly to hurt quite often...poor thing. In fact, we have upgraded to receiving blankets as burp rags because the small cloths just were NOT cutting it anymore, and we SOAK a receiving blanket EVERY feeding.
* She is not a huge fan of tummy time.
*She just started smiling more frequently and responding to our playfulness. Last night was the first smile caught on camera...we were so excited!
* She loves to have her bum patted while being held.
* She loves the swaddle blanket my neighbor, Beth, made. When she is wrapped up in it, we call her "The Maylee Burrito".
* She loves bath time.
* She is a great nurser.
* Her fingers are double-jointed and bend far backwards...especially when she is sleeping in your arms.
* The thing people notice the most about her and comment on ALL the time is her hair...she has lots of it!
* She looks more and more like her daddy everyday and less and less like her sister Brooklynn.
* She has the cutest dimple in her left cheek.
* Still has those blue eyes and her eyelashes are starting to grow very long!
* She loves to be held over your shoulder

We are enjoying every moment with her and are happy to see her grow. Bis sister Brooklynn is anxious for her to be a little more playful so she has a playmate EVERYDAY! It must be said, we simply can't get enough of our Maylee Kate!

Flower headbands

Okay... I have so many people ask me where I get all my girls' hair accessories that I have finally decided to make some, for SUPER cheap. So if you are interested...I can do any colors and the flowers are below. I also have the crochet and the stretchy hairbands, along with the crochet beanies. If you or anyone you know is having a GIRL, these make great gifts! You can never have enough accessories! Email me at brooklynn.maydesigns@gmail.com to place an order. Large flowers are $5 each with a headband or 5 for $20. Small flowers are $3 each with a matching headband or 6 for $15. The crochet beanies are $5 each and any extra headbands are just $1.

Colors: Peach, Lavender, Blue, Brown, Cream, Orange, Pink, Purple, White, Red, Yellow, Black, Burgundy, Lime Green, Hot Pink, Turquoise, Silver, and Animal Print.

large flowers: Mums and Peonies

small flowers: peonies

small flowers:Lillies

**Daisy flowers, large and small also available.

A first

My mom and brother were telling me I needed pictures with the girls! Since I am always taking the pictures, I'm rarely in them. I had to make a very conscious effort to get this picture! But I am so glad I did! I love my girls!

P.S. I also did my annual "had a baby, cut your hair" a few days ago, and I am loving it. I'm sure Maylee is also appreciating the fact that my hair no longer gets in her face while nursing or carrying her. Paul loves the new sassy look too...maybe a little too much! Thanks Jess...you did a great job...even with my passing out and all!

So happy to be with them FOREVER!

I miss my family. I was so spoiled over the holidays to spend so much time with all of them, that now as things have calmed WAY down around here, I miss them ALL terribly! We have so much fun together and I always look forward to the times we get to spend together and the memories we make. Although I love where I am at in life, and to finally be settled in a home with my own family, I'm always eager to make trips to California to see my family. Just ask Paul, I bring it up ALL the time. Lately my family has had so many exciting things happen and many more exciting things to look forward to. I just wanted to give a little shout out and document all the happenings.


Mom and Dad... Coming up on 29 years of marriage and still blissfully in love. Their marriage is so real and I love that about them. They have always been and continue to be great examples in my life. They are simply THE BEST parents I could have asked for and I know the lord truly blessed me when he sent me to their home. Dad is such a great mentor for Paul and he looks up to my dad and respects him more than he will ever know, and that means a great deal to me. Mom is coming up on her 50th birthday this summer and I am excited to be there to celebrate it with her! Both are amazing grandparents and I love them for loving and supporting my family so much! All this would not be possible without them!

Ryan... is of course busy planning his upcoming marriage to Brooke! He is also in school and working hard. I am really excited for Ryan to enter this new phase in his life and for us to be in the same stage of life once again. Seriously, I can't express how excited I am about it. I am so proud of him, who he has become and the life he is leading! Lately we have been able to talk so much..I just love my older brother! He truly is one of my best friends!

Skyler (AKA Elder Ridley)... 18 months down, only 6 more months to go until we are reunited with this champ! Skyler, although younger, has always been and remains such a strong light in my life! I know he has touched the lives of so many while serving in England. I miss him terribly. I am excited for his future and what he will make of himself. We are hoping for him to have a great opportunity with the BYU football team upon his return. And I am simply excited to have him here, at least one member of my family, in Utah with me! I know he will do great things, because he does so everyday! I miss him!


Cody... was recently crowned Senior Winter Formal Prince and also just received an acceptance to BYU-Idaho. I am SO proud of him. He will be graduating in just a few short months and I can't wait to be there with him to celebrate his hard work and accomplishments! He is a rock and never wavers! We can't get enough of Code. Love him!

P.S. Isn't he so handsome!!??

Little Miss Shayna Paige...isn't so little anymore! She was also just crowned Sophomore Winter Formal princess (I am the only one in my family who never had such an honor in high school...all 3 brothers kings/prince's and my sister, a princess...but that's ok, I have enjoyed all their moments of glory!) Shayna has turned into a BEAUTIFUL young woman...everyday she reminds me how grateful I am that the Lord answered my prayers and sent me not just any sister, but he sent me Shayna Paige! I wish I was around more often to be apart of her life, to talk about boys, to meet her friends, to help her with her make-up and hair (well these days she would probably be helping me with mine), just simply making memories. I love her, more than she will ever know!


Hard to believe that all my brothers and sister are so grown up. My mom frequently laments about becoming an empty-nester in just 2 short years, while I am anxious and excited for all them to enter the same stage of life I am in and begin raising their own families. Hopefully we can all do so near each other!

Today, I am just missing them. I'm beaming with pride for the people they are and the blessing it is to call them MY FAMILY. I love them deeply, eternally, and I am grateful for their love and the love they have for my Giddings family.

XOXOXOX!

Silly Girl

I want to make sure I remember all the cute things Brooklynn says and does. Not sure if I have documented this before but I always call Brooklynn "pretty girl". I started asking her, "Are you a pretty girl?" She would say yes. I'd ask if mommy was a pretty girl, and she would say yes. I'd then ask if daddy was a pretty girl...totally thinking she would say yes and we'd get a good laugh, but to my surprise she said, "No, daddy's a handsome boy!" Where she comes up with this I have no idea. She knows the difference between boys and girls...and girls are pretty and boys are handsome! Too cute.

The other day Brooklynn came over to me and stuck her right hand out to shake my hand...I didn't get what she was trying to do until she said, "Nice to meet you mommy." I could not stop laughing. I quickly responded with "Nice to meet you too Brooklynn", and shook her hand. Once again, I have no idea where she learned that. Guess she has been very observant lately as we have been meeting lots of new people in our ward. We must say "Nice to meet you." This age is so much fun and the rate at which Brooklynn is learning is incredible!

Her Valentine's gift from daddy...a soft, fuzzy heart pillow and blanket which she absolutely loves!

Classic Brooklynn look.

I heart you!

Her new thing also of rolling her eyes and looking to the side...especially when she is being shy or doesn't want to do something you are asking her to do! So sassy, but makes Paul and I laugh, EVERY TIME!

Nighty-night!

I Love You and it will never ever end!

Happy Valentine's Day! Today was a great Sabbath day. I feel so inspired, and so happy! I felt the spirit so much today! It was a special day because Paul and I got to speak in our ward for the first time. I love listening to Paul speak...he truly has a gift...and I love listening to him bear his testimony because ultimately that was ONE of the major reasons why I first fell in love with him. We spoke on Living a Virtuous Life. After preparing and studying this topic for the last few weeks, I am more devoted to making a conscious effort to do so. Virtuous living encompasses so much and although we are not perfect, we have a perfect example in our Savior, Jesus Christ, and through Him we can do all things! We are capable of so much more, I think, than we give ourselves credit for.

The Relief Society lesson was on love and this sweet sister, who I am so grateful to call my friend, Lori Birchall (she has made our family feel so welcomed and loved and has offered so much...including watching our girls EVERY week so that Paul and I can have a regular date night) shared a precious story that really touched my heart. Since having her firstborn child (they have 5 now...1 boy and 4 BEAUTIFUL girls), her and her husband have always tucked their children into bed at night and said, "I love you, and it will NEVER EVER end". One night, her son said, "Mom, I love you circle". When she asked him what that meant, he explained a circle never ends and neither will his love! So, I want my family, and all those so near and dear to me, to know that "I love you and it will never ever end!" I love the phrase.

I recently have felt so blessed and grateful for our ability to love and for that love to multiple...

When I gave birth to Brooklynn and became a mother for the first time I was amazed at how instant I was able to love someone so much and so deep! I was also amazed to see how much my love for my husband, Paul, could grow in that same instant. When I was pregnant with Maylee, I'll be honest, I worried about my ability to love her as much as I loved Brooklynn. I can even remember having conversations with my parents and saying, "I don't care what you say, I know you love Ryan more than the rest of us" (since he was their first born). Of course they denied that and tried to explain to me that our ability to love multiplies with each child and although we cannot comprehend it, it does indeed happen. At the time I shook it off in disbelief. But I have learned my parents are always right and this time was no exception. The day I gave birth to Maylee and everyday since, I have been amazed at how instant and deep my love was and is for her, JUST LIKE BROOKLYNN! I am so grateful for that gift and ability I know our Father in Heaven has instilled in each one of us. I am so grateful for all the loves of my life...Paul, Brooklynn, and Maylee... I love ALL 3 of you, and it will NEVER EVER end! Happy Valentine's day...XOXOXOXO

Love #1... Paul William

Love #2... Brooklynn Merie

Love #3... Maylee Kate

Simply Cannot get Enough

This girl is starting to scare me. Please tell me it is just the age. She is naturally a klutz...always running into things and tripping..even when she really shouldn't. Last week she fell down the stairs..so scary and this morning she was trying to climb on our barstool (right after I had just put her down) and it tipped over, she fell back and the barstool landed on top of her legs! Luckily she didn't hit her head on our tile floor when she fell, but she already has some nice bruises on both her legs! She snuggled with me for a long while after and has said she won't climb on our chairs anymore but ask mommy for help. We shall see. I see a trip to the ER with her sometime in the near future with the rate she is going.

This picture is blurry but to me Brooklynn looks so much like my sister Shayna Paige in it. And wow, her hair really is starting to get LONG!

Love this one...sisterly love! I see so much of Paul in Maylee.

Brooklynn really adores Maylee! I love it! Everyone always asks me how B has adjusted to having a baby around and the truth is she loves it. She understands when mommy has to feed Maylee, she is so concerned for Maylee if she is crying..she'll say "It's okay Maylee, don't cry", while pushing her in her swing, giving her the binki, or rocking her in the cradle. She loves to be close to Maylee, but is not overbearing. I really cannot imagine her have adjusting any more perfectly than she has!

So sweet.