Independence Day 2012!!

Happy 4th of July everyone!! Jason and I had planned on taking Bree to see her first fireworks this weekend at the Op Fest but it started raining and Bree was in one of those moods where we weren't sure if she would make it. Apparently, Op Fest is a huge deal to the New London/Groton area. Huge deal as you can't park there, you have take a shuttle bus in. We were a bit nervous that if she lost it we would be a bus ride away from our car. So we waited a weekend and found some fireworks in the Lebanon area. It was a nice park with loads of entertainment, but still small and quiet. We were able to drive right in, found a spot, and set up our picnic blanket ready to view the show. I was nervous how Bree was going to react to her first fireworks. Would she like them? Be scared of them? Cry? Laugh? Turns out it was a little bit of both. It was amazing to watch her figure out if fireworks are a good thing or a scary thing. Immediately after the first firework, Bree turned towards me, clung to me and whimpered. No full out cry, but definite whimpers. After a few more fireworks went off and after Jason and I did the whole "ooooohhhh...ahhhhh...." thing, she continued to cling onto me, but would turn to watch them, like she was interested by still nervous. Soon after that, she left my side and turned to completely watch them. She sat there on her little blanket, eating her puffs, and watching the fireworks. I know this probably isn't a big deal, but I always loved watching the fireworks while growing up and love the fact that I can pass on this tradition with her. I can't wait until she's a little bit older and can have her first sparkler. I just imagine watching her twirl in circles with the sparkler in her hand, trying to write her name with the sparkler before the image in the sky burns out. I'm definitely glad Jason and I waited to try a smaller fireworks display. This way, I can tell her all about her reaction to fireworks with an excited tone ! Happy Independence Day!!!

 Bree's 1st 4th of July sundress....love Kohls!

 She's so adorably cute!!

 Mommy and Bree

 Daddy and Bree

 Jason loves this pic!

 Leaning on her daddy

 Jason trapped her in his feet and was walking around like he was the daddy penguin and she was the egg!

 Daddy, what are you doing??

 She was in the middle of a huge tantrum in this one

 4th of July outfit my parents bought Bree (she got it dirty before we could see the fireworks)

Waiting for it to get dark

 Watching the fireworks for the first time!!

A visit from Gigi and Pappy!

Soon after Father's Day, my parents (Bree's Gigi and Pappy) came to visit for a weekend. The last time they had seen Bree in person was in January when she was 6 months old. Big difference now that Bree is almost 11 months old! I still look at Bree and can't believe she's the same person as the little baby I carried around a few months ago. She's now crawling, eating table foods, and babbling like no other! In the beginning, Bree pulled her separation anxiety act around my parents, but within a few minutes of them sitting by her, she warmed up. She started a new game while my parents were up. My mom and I were sitting on the couch with Bree between us. I passed Bree her turtle, Yertle. Bree would then turn and pass the turtle to my mom. My mom passed the turtle back to Bree, who then turned and passed it back to me. It was the cutest game in which she played for quite a while. You could see the wheels in her head turning as she figured out the pattern and how to pass objects from person to person. My mom brought these adorable monster cupcakes to celebrate Bree's birthday (11 months anyway). The cupcakes got a little squished on the ride up, but they were still super cute. We put a candle in the cupcake and sang to Bree. She had no idea what to do with the cupcake. She poked at the frosting with her finger one or two times, but didn't dig in. I broke up her the cupcake and fed her a piece or two. She still didn't want too much to do with it. Strange child...ha. I wonder if she'll do the same for her 1st birthday cake.

The next day we took my parents to the Mystic Seaport. This weekend they had a wooden boat show, in which all sorts of vendors set up shop selling different nautical objects. I really enjoy the Seaport, they do such a great job and making it a nice place to visit. The morning of their leave, we took Bree and my parents to The Shack (a small breakfast diner nearby). The food was great; however Bree decided that she didn't want to sit in the highchair without screaming. I had to hold her the entire meal. She did decide that she wanted to each most of my buttered toast. Meanwhile my ham and cheese omelet was getting cold. We had to ask the waitress to warm it back up. My dad had to cut up my food for me as Bree wouldn't let me sit her down. Soon after that, my parents had to leave for the drive home to Maryland. We had a great visit with them. It was nice seeing them and Bree play especially now that she's older and can play a bit more.

 Bree at Mystic Seaport

 Bree and mommy at the Seaport

 She has the cutest, cheesiest smile in this shot

 We tried for a family shot...didn't work :( Poor Bree was at her breaking point

 Playing with her toys...she got a wee bit sun burnt on her face

 Bree and her Pappy

 Bree's monster cupcake

 Poking at it with one finger (this is a Bree trait)

 Love these shots!!

 Bree and her Gigi

 We tried for a photo shoot with Bree and her grandparents

 Love these!!