Lots of Pictures in no particular order. obviously

Tyler was so sweet and came with me to get Alex's 6 month pictures taken. She was so funny, and we even got a picture of the "signature" face.



she was super cute in her dress. Smiling in all the pictures



She loved sitting in the chair like a big girl and stayed there so well.



The photographer was so impressed that at 6 months she could stand up so well on her own. I don't know anything about babies really, so I don't know if she was just trying to make me feel good, or if that really is an accomplishment. Either way it made for a great picture.




the photographer was a little intense and made Alex cry after the first picture. So we tried a tummy shot.



I thought she looked so elegant with the red background.



We had Kara take some family pictures in the back yard. I got these new pants at REI and I felt so pretty in my new outfit, so I insisted we take some pictures. I even had on my clip on earings I bought to show Tyler I didn't need to pierce them.



Alex LOVES the grass and rubbing her feet and toes in it and the dirt.



Ahhhhhh, so in love.



We found out that by throwing Alex in the air she would laugh and laugh.



It was HILARIOUS!!!!



On the way home from pictures we were driving behind this truck. Can you tell whats in it?! PIGS!!! I was convinced they were going to jump out. This was on the freeway.




Alex adores Kate. She smiles for Kate more than she smiles for me or anyone else. So I couldn't help snap some pictures of the two of them. Alex was being adorable and putting her hands on Kates belly (bonding with Archie her soon to be best friend).



after a couple of minutes she started opening her mouth and "kissing" Kate's belly. It was so funny and cute!!



Alex in midair, and loving it.



So Tyler and I are going on a vacation to the Oregon Coast in November. We decided that instead of throwing away our money on hotel rooms, we would 'invest' in some nicer camping equiptment and winter clothes and such. This is the snowsuit we bought for Alex to sleep in, in the tent. We got it a little big so she could wear it for a longer amount of time. She was pretty content. We decided to buy "nuteral" colors so if we have boys they could wear it too. Unfortunatly for Alex, everyone is going to think she is a boy, because the choices were pink or blue.



I'm really not that short, Tyler was standing on a hill.

husband, pictures and photo restoration

My Tyler is Home, by baby is pretty much sleeping through the night, and therefore everything is great! Tyler got home on Wednesday afternoon and his first words were.. "She's HUGE!!!!" This was referring to Alexandria, and not me. It has been so great having him here! So far we have just been running errands and relaxing, but today we are taking Alex to get her 6 month pictures taken, I am very excited.
Tonight we are going to knock off one of the events in our family "decathlon". If I have not explained this yet, I will later. I am so glad that Kate (and now Kara) are around to play with. We have had some great times and done some hilarious things and if I have to be separated from my husband, I'm glad they are here to play with.
I've been thinking about this alot. And I have officially decided to try and open my own photo restoration business. I took a class in highschool and loved it, and now I can't help but look at old pictures and think "It would take me 5 minutes to make that look good as new". So, I don't quite know how to do this, I figures I'll advertise at geneology centers, but if any of you know anyone who is looking to get some old photo's retouched so the cracks and water damage is gone, let me know.

Molly and Jamison I can't access your blog, you need to add me "abradyfamily@gmail.com" so I can check up on you guys. And thank you so much for your compliments, yes I did take those fall pictures. I've always loved photography.

Megan, when I'm done with the book I'll let you borrow it, if you haven't gotten a copy from the library yet.

pictures from a fall drive

Alex's new face. A mixture of the "oohhhh" face and something like she is curling her tongue.



She pulled her bow over her eyes while she was in the car, and then just left it. She wasn't asleep or anything, she just sat there contently like she had ment to do it all along. She has done this a few times and it's just so funny.



Adorable picture of Alex with her Aunt Kara.

healthy sleep habits, healthy child

So awhile ago one of my Mom's friends mentioned this book she had read that really helped her with her kids sleep habits. Alex has never been that bad, but I everything I read says at 6 months she should be able to sleep through the night, so I thought I would check this book out and see what it said.
MIRACLES! One of the first things it mentions is that if you are trying to put your baby to bed when she is already yawning or acting tired, it is to late. You need to do it like 30 minutes before. So I tried it. The last 6 months Alex has slept more than 4 hours at a time half a dozen times. That night, she slept from 7:30 pm until 5:45 am, and then from 5:45 until 8:00am !!!! 2 hours later she took a 2.5 hour nap!!!! I was amazed.
The next thing the book mentioned is that if your child is ever just sitting there in a stupor not really playing for fussing or doing anything, try to put them to bed. So last night at 6:30, I noticed her doing just that. I took her to bed, and she whined for about 2 minutes and then fell asleep until 7am this morning!!!!
I really hope this is not a fluke, because I am getting spoiled on more than 4 hours of sleep at a time!!! This book is great, it has sleep suggestions for all ages, and I can vouch, it works! Alex was more cheerful during the day and was able to play by herself for a much longer stretch of time. "Healthy sleep habits, happy child".

Lemonade and girls night

So this was going to be a "woe is me" post about how Tyler's boss decided they were going to stay in Oregon for another 20 days, and how we wouldn't have seen him for 34 in a row. But he just called and said some big wig in Idaho denied their crew's request and they are coming back on WEDNESDAY!!!!!!
In other good news, I finally came up with the PERFECT lemonade recipe. Most of you know that i have been experimenting for about 4 months trying to come up with the best lemonade. Finally I cheated and checked out a bottle of Winder Farms lemonade and did the math, converting grams of sugar per oz, and percentage of juice per bottle, into usable information. IT WORKED!!!! I am debating wether to share it or not, it was so much work to find...... Oh ALL RIGHT.
For a regular sized 2 quart pitcher you will need a tiny bit less than 1 cup of sugar, and 1 1/3 (i think) cups of fresh squeezed lemon juice. Boil the water and sugar, then let cool. add the lemon juice and some ice, and there you have it.

Friday and Saturday the Brady's had a girls night while the men had a camping trip. I think all the girls would have joined the boys, but Kate is 8 months pregnant, I've got a 6 month old, and there was only room in the car fo 6, not 8.
Sounds like the guys had a great time, saw some pictographs and hiked a dozen miles. The girls on the other hand had a super great time. We rented some movies, painted our toes and did scrubs and soaks and stuff (very girly).



We had a yummy dinner and then Kara did our hair. She spent 2 hours putting my hair into pincurls, but boy was it worth it!!!!!





Saturday we had a wonderful brekfast. We made waffles out of brownie batter and put icecream, fresh peaches and strawberries on top.



Then we drove to a craft fair and had plans to drive up the canyon and take pictures and have a picnic, but it rained and we were exhaused.

More pictures for the grandparents.

I got a bit of skepticism when I made the tutu for Alex. I understand it's not a very 'functional' piece of clothing, but cute none the less. I have found though that it serves an additional perpose to being cute. Whenever I want her to sit in one spot and not move an inch or make a sound, I put her tutu on her. For some reason she will just sit there, won't even move her arms. Pretty funny.











bad lighting, but cute picture




one of like 10 giant pumpkins at Grandma Jakes. picture doesn't do it justice



Alex with her Great Grandma Jake



Caught in the act. Alex won't take a pacifier, but she LOVES sucking on her rubber ducky.



Goofy kid on the rocking chair

Saturday Alex and I drove up the canyon to help Shuttle Michael, Danielle and Stephen back to their car after a canoe and fishing trip down the Provo river. We met up at Vivian park and Michael made pancakes over a little camping stove for us all. IT was a pretty good time. There is nothing quite like the Asay humor, especially when it's just Asay's (i'm still one at heart).



A photo of the group in the park



I have been going through box's of Alex's clothes trying to make sure she doesn't grow out of things before she gets the chance to wear them, and also looking for some warmer options. I have found that most of the clothes I set aside as "ugly" or "dorky" are actually some of the cutest things and most hilarious. For example....



This is Alex's signature face. Whenever she isnt squeeking or smiling this is what she looks like.

european bread and tutu's

Kate and I decided to try a recipe for dutch oven bread. Our hope was that it would turn out all "European" hard on the outside and soft on the inside, the kind you just can't seem to find in good ol' USA. We succeeded. The easiest bread recipe in the world also happens to be the most delicious. Here is a picture of our big round loaf






I've hit a creative streak (for about 3 months now) and started a bunch of projects. The latest, and most recently completed project was this tutu. You can find them at craft fairs for 20-30 bucks. I made mine for $5 and have fabric to spare. I'll post a picture of it on properly later.

Imagine

Monday we went to "Imgaine" a beetles cover band, at the scera shell. It was a lot of fun. Alex enjoyed dancing and hanging out with Grandpa, and the weather was great. My favorite part of the entire thing though, would be the dark haired little girl pictured above. Her name is Sume and she is the daughter of Kenny, one of Ben and Kates friends. She was hilarious the entire time! Running around, eating other peoples food, walking around like a ghost with a blanket over her. She is a little doll.



I just thought Alex looked funny in this picture


Monday

Here is Alex at the concert.

If I'd had my flux capacitor I would have "back to the futured" myself out of that ticket.

So I was in Montana. I drove up with my mom, long 10 hour trip in a jam packed car. The whole week I was there it rained and rained and rained. It was FREEZING, Alexandria actually wore clothes. None the less, it was fun. I got to see my grandmother and we took a 4 generation picture. I played some "heroscape" with David, apparently the next big thing in kids toys. I had some great conversations with my Mom and overall had a wonderful time.
Unfortunately Tyler arrived home right after I left, with no prospect of leaving for any fires soon. So we talked and after a LOT of thought and prayer, I decided that I needed to be with MY family. I felt terrible separating Tyler from Alex and having him miss out on so much of her life. It was a very hard decision because I really wanted to be with Mom and David, but I decided Tyler was worth it. So we took a gamble. Tyler was on call, and could have been sent out on a fire any minute, but Alex and I packed up the car, jumped in and drove 10 hours back to Provo, 5 days after arriving in Billings, to surprise Tyler.
He would have been surprised too! If I hadn't spoiled it by calling him in the moments after getting a speeding ticket in Idaho. If any one had ever deserved a speeding ticket, it was me, on that trip. I don't think I went anywhere near the speed limit that entire trip, I was so afraid Tyler would be called out before I got there. so right before Idaho Falls, the nicest police officer in the world pulled me over, going 88 mph in a 75 zone. My very first speeding ticket.
Interesting though, how 14 over is speeding in Idaho, and in Utah it's ' going with the flow of traffic'.
We got to see Tyler for 2.4 days before he left for California again. Worth the hassle, YES!!! For those of you who are having marital problems, and dwelling on all the little petty things. One of you needs to go fight wildfires for a season. Not only will this make you worry daily about the welfare of your spouse, it will...

1. help you realise all the million things you love about the other person
2. help you realise that the little things really don't matter AT ALL
3. help you realise what does matter
4. make the few days you do see that other person, super fantastic, even if all you do is sit around and stare at the baby.

Berry Pickin

Kate, Susan, and Alex helped me fulfill yet another dream by going blackberry picking with me before I left Utah. It was a blast! Alex even got a few.