Sometimes it is the small things

I read something this week that made me think - on average, an adult laughs 14 times a day and a child laughs a hundred. Hmmm....we should all be laughing more! Brenner is great entertainment so I think that we pass the 14 mark but we could always use more laughs! Some other phrases hit home that come from a book that Aunt Rhonda gave Brenner (You are my I love you) - it said "I am your quiet place, you are my wild", "I am your finish line, you are my race", and "I am your way home, you are my new path". Brenner is all of these things and so much more. The chaos he brought to our lives is fantastic - I could have never imagined this - and we are that safety net that brings him peace - so oddly wonderful.
This guy is a HOOT. We were blowing leaves the other day and he was laughing so hard that he almost fell over.
BHP started feeding himself with a spoon this week. Some bites were more successful than others - but each bite was accompanied by a "mmmmm"!
"How you doin'?" He is always on the move - hard to snap a picture. Thanks for the Yellowstone shirt Grammy Vo - can I go next time?
Another parent lesson learned....Grandpa Bob gave Brenner some birthday money so we were looking at the toys in Target. We got down all of these fancy ones with music and lights and moving parts. What does Brenner pick up - $1.49 Halloween bucket - so that is what we bought! He walked around the store with them - had people stopping and laughing at him - it was great! And to my surprise the bucket was made in the USA - go Target! Well at least on the bucket...

Another busy week

Brenner has had a different schedule this past week. He went home with Grandma Val on Friday night so that momma and papa could go have dinner (and have a good night's sleep) - it worked! Grandma Val and Grandpa Hinck went to IA to see Grandpa's new dozer being built so momma was home with Brenner on Tuesday and Wednesday - they had a really good time. Melissa and Reagan came to visit on Wednesday and the kiddos got along fine - stealing toys from one another, "patting" one another pretty hard, knocking each other down, and some cries (but no tears)! It was a fun day!

Brenner didn't quite get the concept of how this toy was suppose to work! This was a toy that Cousin Krystee got on her first birthday from Grandpa and Grandma Hilbrenner - crazy that it is still around (and works)!
Playing at Grandma's is hard work!
Check out that chin - can you say "I look like my papa"!?
This is what we like to call Brenner's serious centerfold. He sits likes this a lot and Grandma Val finally snapped a picture. He usually has a serious expression when he sits like this - perhaps he could be on SNL's Deep Thoughts.
BHP has acquired some new skills this week - unrolling the toilet paper and eating rocks/leaves. He does like to be outside - if you stand next to him - he will hand you whatever he picks up.

Fall Festival

The family had a big weekend at the Fall Festival in Jo's home town. There were plenty of friends and family to see and food to eat. We had a bit of a tough time finding food for Brenner to eat as the only vegetables served at the fair we potatoes (of the chip or German potato salad style), corn (disguised as breading wrapped around a hot dog), onions (cooked with the beer burgers), and pickles. So we toted Brenner's food around as his momma wasn't ready to give into the typical fair food -she knows he will get plenty of it in the future. It was a fun but tiring weekend. Below are some of the highlights. We also had a chance to see the bench we got for Grandpa and Grandma Hilbrenner at the veteran's cemetery. They would have really liked this - we miss them dearly. Jo met up with some high school classmates to let the kiddos play. Jo, Brenner, Melissa and Reagan, and Stefanie and Logan had fun catching up. Logan, Reagan, and Brenner....Reagan does not seem too impressed with the boys. Matt and Brenner getting ready to ride the Merry Go Round...... It wasn't such the hit with Brenner...... Yeah - Brenner won third place in the baby health contest! He thought it was so great he clapped for himself! He was in the 5th percentile for both weight and height - but hey - size isn't everything! He was really charming to the doctor during his examine :)

Brenner really became worn out- luckily Grandma Val was close by.

The end of summer

Summer is coming to end - can you believe it?! Brenner had a first this week - a black eye. Grandma Val - no (her MO is bruises on the head)....Grammy Vo - no (she too favors the forehead).....momma - sad but true. Brenner was walking and bit it on the end of the rug - carpet burn to the cheek! No fear - he was romping around two seconds later but the shiner looked bad at first. Brenner is entered into the baby health contest this weekend at the Concordia Fall Festival - check back for his final standing!
Check out the bruise under his left eye - ouch! He has been sitting like this lately - looks like he is stretching for track and field competition!
Brenner is getting his balance - picking up things while standing. Ahh - the look of concentration.
We got this great Ergo carrier (thanks Mic and Andi for the recommendation) before Brenner was born, but he is finally big enough now to ride in it during our evening walks. He usually falls asleep by the end!
Brenner climbing Mt. Viva!!! He will climb up on ANYTHING so we have really had to watch him closely. Notice how his little toes are streeeetched out!
Aunt Lynnie and Brenner hung out on Labor Day - yeah! Uncle Chris and Cousin Krystee also came. Brenner is so infatuated with Krystee - he got used to her coming this summer and they definitely have a special bond.