364th day, still our baby

I know the title is weird, but as i sit here writing this i have to admit i have already cried 3 times today. Our baby will be 1 tomorrow. Yes, that is right, 1! While it is so wonderul, it is probably one of the most emotional things i have ever gone through. Can it really be that it has been a whole year since i sat in the hospital, watching football and pushing at the same time?! Has it really been a year since i looked at Graydon and said, "it's time..." Or since i looked up at my mom right before allie harris was born at the hospital crying and saying, "mommy, i don't think i can do this, i am scared." And she told me lovingly while stroking my hair, "honey you are not the first person to have a baby and you will not be the last. " Scared, that is something that you can let hold you back when it comes to being a mom. I finally had to let go and realize that Allie Harris was going to live, WE were going to live and happily at that! As Aubrey and I prepared some things for AH birthday, i giggled because i am not having some huge party which a lot of people may expect. In turn we are having only a few people over to soak up what will be such a defining moment in her life and our families life. Each night around 6:30, Allie Harris and i go back to her room to rock, have her bottle and say her prayers then go to bed. Tonight, i was timid to go back there knowing it was the last time i would rock her as a little baby, not my 1 year old little girl. As we sat in the dim light, i whispered in her ear while she drank her bottle. The same things i always whisper, mommy loves you, daddy loves you, jesus loves you and don't ever forget that sweet baby. I began to choke up, tears streaming down my cheeks. In this little moment Allie Harris must of known i need her because she pulls her bottle out of her mouth, looks up at me, puts her hand on my cheek and leans in to give me love. PERFECT. If i could freeze that one moment in a time capsule, i can promise you i would. To us, she is the most amazing, loving, precious, giving, remarkable and happy little blessing in the whole world. Hands down. As she finished her bottle she nestled her head on my shoulder, just for a minute as if to let me know she is still my little baby. Then in a second, she looked up and looked at her bed and said nigh-nigh. I squeezed her one last time, kissed her fat soft cheek, told her i loved her and to have sweet dreams because her 1st birthday was tomorrow. I balled crying as i left her room, and went to the den to cry on Graydon for a bit. Through it all, we know one thing for sure-she will always be our baby girl. Just like i will always be dede and dibs little girl and so on. And knowing that makes me okay! We have enjoyed every moment, we have loved her every second and we have given her life. Thank you to everyone who has been there for us, helped us and loved us. Thank you to Graydon for giving me such an amazing gift. Thank you to allie harris for forever altering the path of my life in a way i never knew before.

11 months old

Well, it breaks my heart to say that Allie Harris is 11 months old! Which means she is about to be one, so i am going to be crying very soon! I cannot believe how fast time flies! I am afraid she'll be in college tomorrow. she is such a blessing to us and we can't imagine our lives without our precious, perfect little girl. And though it is sad, it is also wonderful. Because she only gets better and better. It is hard to believe that she could get any sweeter, cuter and adorable but amazingly she does each week. We just about melt when she looks up and Graydon or me and says "dada" or "momma." You can't understand until you have one, but she makes our lives so full and she makes you appreciate the little things in life...

Playing with Mommy after Church

Allie Harris and i went to church on sunday while Graydon was in cleveland, mississippi. Afterwards we had mommy and me day and we played inside. Inside because it was finally raining! We really can't go outside anyway right now because it has been 100 degrees with a heat index of 105-110. So needless to say, TOO HOT!

Hi mommy, i love you...
You caught me drinking my sippy cup...


Smile for the camera!

Cheese Please

Before dinner one night having a cheese snack and she kept getting confused why the piece she had in her hand but it didn't make it to her mouth. That is because it is stuck all over her face! it was too cute so i just had to take pics!

Pawley's Island, South Carolina!!!

We had our annual diddle/bruner family vacation to Pawley's island, SC and it was such a great time! We moved to a bigger house to accomodate the 7 couples and 2 babies! We have all been looking forward to this for so long and it went by way too fast. I already miss everyone and can't wait until next year with ANOTHER baby from the Bruner side! And Allie Harris loved the ocean, beach, water, birds, what have you... I am so happy that she is such a beach baby! Here are some pics from our trip...Enjoy!

Hey that is my suppy cup...
okay, we will pause nicely for the camera (notice murphy's smile...)
and we're ticked off! As allie harris peers over his shoulder as if to say, well, i tried to tell you that was my sippy cup! They are two peas in a pod!

Justin and Graydon filling the baby pool the better way...

Here is our little fourth of july outfit that we didn't wear on the 4th! so i moved the buttons and we got to wear it during the week...


allie harris and collin hanging out in the big chair. Collin was soooo good with the babies, good thing because he is about to be an uncle!
in her adorable Juicy swimsuit from LaLa and Papa...

My best friend AK came to Pawley's Island from Charleston to take some pics of our family. It was great to see her and she took some wonderful pictures for us! I am so proud of her and all of her hard work! Visit her website at http://www.akvogel.com/
mom and murphy reading before bed time.
AK was bored so she took these two pics of me looking through Sabi's camera and i thought they were quirky cute!
Hi greasy face!
Yes, this is my oldest brother, in teeny, tiny EMBARRASSING shorts! He pretended his name was Sven and he strutted down the beach with sabi all day. Hilarious! i don't even know what to say about it really?! How about jsut because your girlfriend is from France doesn't mean you are! Haha! She is a sport to put up with his short shorts!

DeeDee and Allie Harris
The Murphster hanging out in a beach chair...
walker, meg and murphy playing in the water
Hot Grandmama DeeDee!!! We had a guy at our bed and breakfast in Charleston say, i am sorry to ask this but who is the mom of the baby? She loved that one! And it is so true, she is so beautiful and THE BEST grandmother!
Hi, i am just playing in baby jail (the play pen)

Sabi, Wes and Allie Harris chilling on the beach...

AH and Daddy
Graydon working hard with that little bucket to fill the baby pool! He is such a good dad!
In her own world and loving it

Walker, Meghan, Austin and Collin on the porch...
Helen and Joe keeping the spark alive!!! They are high school sweethearts and are still so in love and it is precious!
My daddy and me hugging in the kitchen...
Hanging out on the porch...
Playing in the second pool, up by the house before we go down for nap time...

Some of the Beach...

The family! During an afternoon bocce ball tournament.
Allie Harris got the most tan out of everyone, i swear!
the murphy man standing up and watching some Dora...
The table after our 1st Annual Pawley's wine tasting party. We each bought one red and one white and then we put them all in paper bags taped up to cover the labels. It was so much fun and absolutely hilarious too!!!
Tired after all the food and wine...
Allie Harris entranced by Sabi. She was singing and dancing with her in her arms. AH LOVES Sabi and when we got home i was naming all the people we went to the beach with and after i said Sabi she said "ssss" "ssss" and i was like yes, thats right..."ssss!"
My two favorite people, together! Need i say anything? They are hooked on each other...
Ticked off murph at dinner time...Still precious!
He crawled around with this towel on his head and it was too funny...

Um, Murph, can i have my baby seal back when you are done tasting it? No? okay well i'll just be sitting here waiting!
How about i give you some kisses to distract you?!
Wendy and Allie Harris playing... Miss Wendy is having a baby girl named Abby Ann Bruner (Abby) this december. We are soooo excited and can't wait for her to join our beach trips!

Eating at the Fish House before we go unload all of our stuff at our house! We always eat here on the first day, it introduces our bodies to the greasy food to come in the next week!!!
Murphy laughing for the camera, he is terminally happy!

This is kinda scary! She leaned in right when i took the pic and she looks like someone took an air pump to her face! How funny!
Allie Harris and Miss Sabi the first day on the beach having a good time!