Stats 'N' Stuff

Kalai had her 6 month doctor's appointment at 7 months since we had been traveling during that time. Here are her stats:
Weight: A whooping 12 pounds 8 ounces... less than 5th percentile. Gotta beef that girl up! That's our goal,so hopefully by our next appointment she'll chub up.
Height: 26 inches- that's in the 25-50 percentile. So maybe that means she's is gonna be average and not necessarily so extreme on the height scale like her mommy and daddy.
Head circumference:17 inches- 50th percentile
Here are some skills Kalai has been learning!
* She is beginning to scoot. She wants to crawl so bad.
* She began signing her first word! She can sign milk when she wants to breastfed!!! It's so amazing to watch her little fist pump open and close and to know exactly what she wants.
* She can sit up on her own. Still a little wobbly. But once she has her balance she can stay there a long time.
* She grabs for the spoon when we fed her and brings it to her mouth.
* She's really good at the fake cough.
*She sleeps through the night 9pm to around 6 and 7, feds, then she sleeps in till around 9. I know, I'm lucky.
* When she sees another baby, sometimes she will squeak and try to communicate with them.

Funny story. Kalai and I were walking around the library and I looked down and Kalai's pants had fallen right off her bum. Good thing, I was able to find them. Anyways, if she gets a little fat on her legs maybe that won't happen.

38 days of Vacation!!!

My Family from WiddlyTinks.com


Kalai and I have been on vacation for 38 wonderful days (29 in California and 9 in Northern Alabama)!!! Wow, that is by far the longest vacation I have ever been on. We have not gone to church in our own ward (congregation) for six Sundays in a row. We have loved visiting with our family and extended family. Nicole and Ben came from Utah and in Alabama all of Michael's siblings came for the holidays. Kalai has now been to Utah, Wyoming, Nebraska, Iowa, Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Texas, California and Nevada. That's 14 states in 6 months. By the time I was 16, the furthest place I had ever visited was Texas to visit my Aunt. This girl has seen the world! It is really nice being a stay-at-home mom and not having to ask for vacation time. I think Michael had a nice relaxing much-needed break from law school and is now ready to hit the books. He is taking Evidence, Property, Contracts, and Civil Procedure. Today we are heading back to Birmingham...I can't even remember what it is like sleeping in my own bed.
Here's an overview of what we did!
* WICKED*Creche Festival*Went to an Opera House play*Kalai sat on Santa's lap for the first time*CrepeVille Restaurant*In-N-Out*Pier 39*Hard Rock Cafe* First Friday* Roasted Chestnuts*Christmas Parties*Reclette*Trader Joe's* Outlet Shopping*Sacramento Temple Wedding*Reno* Mission Companion's Wedding Reception*Mongolian Grill*Spent time with friends and Family*
Good times, good times.
Also...


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Alabama won the Rose Bowl against Texas and are now the National Champions! It is an exciting time to be living here in Alabama. It is a whole other world down here. I would say on an average day half of the people I see are wearing either a Alabama t-shirt. There are some loyal fans down here. It's intense.

Also, tell me, if this sounds a little suspicious. The day of the Alabama game, a ton of schools announced that they would be closed because of snow the next day. The next morning, Michael woke me up to tell me that it was snowing. He pulled open the curtains to show me and honesty, I couldn't see any flakes. I looked on the ground and yes, there were a few patches of snow here and there. But still school was cancelled, and people all over the state were sent home from their jobs. Hmmmm.....sounds like to me the people of Alabama just needed an excuse for a day off so that they could stay up late to watch the game, then sleep in and not have to go to their jobs. They should have just made it a state holiday. And why shouldn't they? They did win after all :) What do you think? I can't complain though. My mother-in-law was sent home from her teaching job at the local campus so we got to spend some extra time with her.

That's all for now. Here's to a fantastic 2010!!!

Santa Baby...I've been an awfully good girl!

I posted pictures earlier today of Kalai at Christmas time but realized it had been three months since I updated the blog so I have added more pictures of Kalai (Sorry but I am obsessed with two things 1. My family 2. Pictures).

This is an old one but I just stumbled across it at my mother-in-laws and decided to post it sinceit is adorable. This is of us on Kalai's baby blessing day.

My parents came to visit us in Oct and it was so fun having them out here. We visited alot of the sites in Birmingham. Here is a picture of them taken at the 16th St Baptist Church.

Roll tide

Bama Pride

Family reunion on Michael's side of the family
Now......

Santa Baby....I've been an awfully Good Girl!!!

Truly He taught us to love one another, His Law is Love and His gospel is peace.
Love,
The Browns

Baby's 1st Christmas!!!

For about the past month Kalai and I have been kickin' it here in California!I can't believe I haven't been to California since Aug of 2007. Michael had to take Law School finals so we flew out here a couple weeks ahead of him and then he joined us later. He was ready for a vacation! And vacation we did! We have been so busy going around to Christmas parties/activities, homeschooling visits with my mom, and hanging out with the family and close friends. I for one have been loving my time in Cali and from the smiles and giggles from Kalai, I think she would agree too. She has been so spoiled with hugs and kisses from her grandparents, aunt, uncle, great-grandparents and family friends. We are sad that are vacation is coming to an end. In fact, we dropped off Michael at the airport already today so that he could have a few days of peace and quiet to get ahead in his studies before we head to Elkmont to spend New Years with his side of the family. For here is an overview of the past month.

Michael and I were given Wicked tickets for Christmas presents from my in-laws!!! So we spent the night in San Fran. and saw the most amazing musical. When Michael and I drove across the U.S. to move to Alabama, we bought the Wicked CD so that we would have something new and exciting to listen to as we were traveling. Ever since then, we have been obsessed with the music. And let me tell you, Wicked was SSSOOO wicked!!! The songs, sets, acting, costumes were fantastic and I couldn't take the smile off my face. So thanks Larry and Julie for the tickets! Thanks to my mom and dad who babysat Kalai during the play and who swear she didn't cry once. I think Michael and I were the happiest people in the theatre.

Also, we having been piggin' out at

We went to a good family friends wedding at the Oakland Temple. Rachel Stapp was sealed to Benjamin Betts. The wedding ceremony and reception was beautiful.

I also went to an old mission companion's wedding reception. Sister Sarah Svetz and I served together in Toronto, On. and she and Jeremy held their reception in Reno, Nevada. She didn't know we were coming so that was a fun surprise.
We also went to a yummy Mongolian grill while we were there. It was interesting because you could dish up your own plate and they would grill it on the grill right in front of you. But at this grill you could also make fijitas and italian pastas which is unusual at a mongolian grill.

This beautiful baby enjoyed her first Christmas!

She sat on Santa's lap and got spoiled by him too. This year from Santa we got a group gift. Santa gave us a brand new camera! So those of you who know me, know I am obsessed with taken pictures. This obsession is about to take on a whole new level.
From my parents we also got a book-a-month gift. This means we will be getting a book every month sent out to us. The book is picked out specifically for each person. Michael and I just bought a new bookcase but it looks like we will need a new one soon.
For a few weeks before Christmas, I have been working on different projects trying to have some homemade gifts made for Kalai. Here are somethings she was given by me and my mom.

Two homemade dresses (one reversible), an applique onesie, a puzzle with Kalai's footprints (for Michael and Kalai). Kalai also got some savings bonds, pajamas, clothes, bubbles, ornaments, book of the month membership, and toys. It was so fun to watch her open her gifts. She is working on her hand/eye coordination and she absolutely loves reaching for tissue paper and pulling it out of the gifts. This year was also special because we acted out the Nativity story (an old family tradition) and this year Kalai got to be baby Jesus.
There is so much more to tell except that this is getting long already. I'm just making up for lost time. I can't believe Kalai is 6 months old already. She turned 6 months old on Christmas Eve. It was so fun to have a baby in the family this year for Christmas. It definiately gave me a different perspective on Christmas. She is so wonderful and it was so nice to spend the Christmas season here in California with family and friends!

Picture Update

Click on these links to see a picture update of what my family has been up to. Even if you don't have a facebook account, you are allowed to see these photo albums.

http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#/album.php?aid=316586&id=648775056
Russ and Sarah's wedding photos

http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#/album.php?aid=319956&id=648775056
Coolest baby on the Block!

http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#/album.php?aid=316638&id=648775056
Austin Wedding Reception

http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#/album.php?aid=324943&id=648775056
What a Bod!

Austin wedding

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In August Michael and I attended his brother's, Russ, wedding. The wedding was held in the San Antonio Texas LDS temple. Here are some pictures! My aunt Janette took the ones of us and I took the ones of Russ and Sarah.