Getting ready for Easter!!

So...Daniel and I braved the crazy shoppers last week all looking for their Easter clothes and this is what we decided on...

Just call us the banana family.  I really was leaning towards a blue dress (to match her eyes) at baby Gap, but Daniel was set on this yellow one and in the end I really liked it too!!  Once we found her outfit we matched ours accordingly.  Isn't it funny that we had to find her's first and then buy ours???  Guess that's how it is when you have kids...I didn't mind though.  I never mind an opportunity to look for pretty dresses for Briley Ann!!

While shopping for our clothes we decided to get in line with all the other crazy parents that make their kid sit with a huge bunny that is actually pretty scary and yell and scream for them to smile...she actually did pretty good.  She cried for just a second but then was ok :)

This week we have done a lot of fun activities to get ready for Easter!!  The school I teach at now and the school I worked at last year, both were holding Easter Egg Hunts for the staff's children.  Luckily, Roanoke's was on Wednesday and Sendera's was on Thursday so we could enjoy both!!  It was so fun getting to catch up with friends at Roanoke and see all of the precious kiddos at Sendera.  Oh yea...Briley had fun too!!

Here are our pictures from Briley's 1st Easter Egg Hunt at Roanoke..

We came home and the weather was so beautiful we stayed outside a little longer for some more picture opportunities of course!!

Easter Egg Hunt at Sendera...

Briley will be a pro by Easter Sunday...we even have a Easter egg hunt at church tomorrow night!!  After our egg hunt at my school, Daniel, Briley, and I went into town so I could get my hair highlighted (finally) and Daniel went to hang out with his parents while they were waiting on me.  I had to share this picture because it is AMAZING...

Love you Nonnie and we are so proud of how strong you are!!

I also want to share one of my favorite verses to celebrate Good Friday today.  How can we even begin to comprehend what Jesus did for us...HIS love NEVER fails and he is so GOOD.

Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die." John 11:25-26

Reading that puts an amazing sense of peace in my heart.  MY REDEEMER LIVES!!!

I want to end this blog with a video of our little one...she is dancing to a cute little bunny her Uncle Scotty and Aunt Erin gave her.  Thank you Uncle Scotty and Aunt Erin, Briley loves her bunny...we have already had to replace the batteries!!  She also takes a few steps!! (Sorry it's sideways..I can't figure out how to turn it??)

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I hope everyone has a blessed Easter weekend!!

Love,

The Bufe's

Trip to the fire station, our first fever, and 9 month well check...

The end of our spring break was very busy.  On Thursday, we went with Nonnie, Auntie Mariah, and the sweet Wise family to visit Daniel at the fire station.  It had been a while since Briley and I had visited Daniel, so it was a fun trip!!  Here are a few pictures from that day...

My Auntie is the best!!

All the kiddos at the fire station :)

In her Daddy's gear

Daniel taking a picture of us from the ladder....YIKES!!  

He even asked me to climb up there with him...NO WAY!!

The next day, Briley and I were enjoying the beautiful weather by taking a ride in her wagon and just having fun playing outside on a blanket in the front yard.  

I noticed when we came inside that she felt a little warm but I thought it might be from playing outside.  I let her cool down a bit and took her temperature and it was right around 100.  I was a little nervous because this was the first time I had ever seen her temperature over 99, but I remained semi-calm until Daniel got home :)  Her temperament stayed the same Friday night but her poor temperature kept rising.  Saturday and Sunday she pretty much stayed in my arms...which was wonderful to cuddle with her all day but SO HARD seeing her sick and not feeling well.  We scheduled to get her into the doctor for Monday because her fever wasn't going away and luckily they were able to do her 9-month well check then too.  Her fever finally started to come down on Monday and the doctor looked in her mouth and found the problem...a very bad sore throat :(  We were directed to give her popsicles (which she LOVED) and just watch over her the next couple days.  Luckily, the yucky germs in her throat disappeared and by Wednesday she was back to normal eating one of her favorites...Lasagna!!

I can't believe our little girl is 9 months old!!
Here are her 9 month stats:

29' inches tall (95% percantile)
21 lbs (95% percentaile)
17 3/4' head circumference (75% percantile)

The doctor was really pleased with how she looked (except for the sore throat) and that he will see us at 12 months...WHAT?!?!?  We have a 1 year old??

It amazes me how fast she has grown...we are so lucky to be her parents!!

 Love,
 Melissa

(Next update...Easter Fun!)

St. Patrick's Day and Daniel's Birthday!!

We had such a wonderful day celebrating Daniel's birthday and just relaxing as a family.  In the morning, Briley and I set out Daddy's presents while he went for his teeth cleaning (even went to the dentist on his birthday!) and when he came home he opened his presents from us...

Briley helping get Daddy's present ready!!

Ready for Dad to open his presents!

Helping Dad open his card

Reading her card with Dad

Happy Birthday Daddy!!

After opening presents, Daddy went outside to mow the lawn and Briley and I started a tradition I hope to do each year for Daniel's birthday...making red velvet cupcakes from scratch!!  I saw an episode of Paula Deen where she made these and I have wanted to do it ever since.

Briley needed to have some breakfast though before we got started so she had to wear her cute St. Patrick's Day bib!!

Halfway through...starting to rethink this idea!!

Ran out of red food coloring so they look like pink-velvet cupckaes...but we made do!!

Briley approves!!

As you can tell we are missing two because Daniel and I tried some early and they were delicious!!

Overall, it was a really good recipe...the only thing we would change is to not have so much cream cheese in the icing.  Here is the link to the recipe if you are interested...

Paula Deen's Red Velvet Cupcakes

To continue celebrating Daniel's birthday we went out to eat with his family for one of his favorite foods...barbecue of course!! We went to Coopers in downtown Ft. Worth and I have to admit for someone that isn't that big of a barbecue fan it was really good!!  Here are a few pictures from dinner...

Briley Ann all dressed in her St. Patty's Day outfit

"More puffs please Mom!!"

 

Family photo time!!

Overall, it was such a fun day celebrating Daniel's birthday and just spending some good quality time together over Spring Break!!

Next update...trip to the fire station and the rest of our spring break!!

Love,
Melissa

Thank goodness for SPRING BREAK!!!

The title of my blog this week says it all...

I love being a teacher and seeing how my precious kindergarten students grow and change throughout the year...but God knew what he was thinking when he let teachers have breaks throughout the year.  It can be very exhausting and I am so excited about spending this week with my sweet husband and precious little girl...who by the way if you haven't heard is taking STEPS!!  She is 9 months today (where has the time gone??) and I have a feeling we will be chasing after her sooner than later.

Here is a quick video of her using her walker that Papa and Nonnie got her for Christmas...she flies across the room with this thing.  It's so cute!!

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We have so much fun letting her stand and try to take steps toward us.  The most Daniel and I have seen her take without falling forward is 3 steps.  We aren't calling it "walking" yet...but I have a feeling we will be able to sooner than later!!


This past Saturday Briley's cousins, Michaela and Maguire, came over to deliver her Christmas present.  Yes, we know it is March!!  However, it was a red wagon and they really wanted to give it to her when it was pretty out so they could see her in it for the first time.  We had such a great time with the kids, Melissa, and Aunt Martha!!  Thank you guys so much for her present...she is going to get a lot of use out of it!!

Here are a few pictures of riding in her new wagon...

Mikki and Briley Ann

Ready for cousin Maguire to take me outside

She loves it!!

Thank you Mikki and Maguire!!

I had to save this picture for last because as much as my husband teases me about how people say she looks like him...I had to show everyone that she does look like me too!! 

Not that I mind that she looks like him :)

Here is a picture of myself as a baby and Briley Ann...

Definitely some resemblance right???

I know my Mom will agree with me at least...hahaha love you Mom!!

Hope everyone has a wonderful week!!  Next update will be about celebrating Daddy's birthday on St. Patrick's Day.

Love,

Melissa

God's Blessings...

I have decided to start my first blog of 2010 (yes I know it's the end of February) with writing about the tremendous amount of blessings I have in my life...

1. I am blessed with a God that loves me unconditionally even at my worst.
2. I am blessed with a husband who loves me everyday and is my best friend.
3. I am blessed with a beautiful daughter that has shown me even more how amazing our God is.
4. I am blessed with a Mom that puts everyone and everything before herself...talk about selfless love!!
5. I am blessed with AMAZING family.
6. I am blessed with AMAZING friends.
7. I am blessed to not only have a job, but to do something that I love.
8. I am blessed to have such a wonderful team that is so supportive on my tough days at work!!
9. I am blessed to have a home.
10. I am blessed with two amazing women that take care of Briley when I cannot...what a wonderful thing God did when he brought them into our lives. 
11. Finally...I am blessed to be the the daughter-in-law to an amazing woman who is fighting and WINNING her battle with cancer.  Cancer sucks but GOD HEALS!!!!  Love you Tammie!!

I feel like it is so easy to forget about the things that we have in our life everyday and I feel like God spoke to my heart about starting my year off with thinking about the blessings that I have been given.

I know it has been forever since I blogged but I am really going to try and keep everyone updated!!  

Can't think of a better way to end this blog than with a picture of June-bug!!

 Love,

Melissa

Briley's Baby Dedication

I wanted to share a video from the day of Briley's baby dedication for those family and friends that were not able to attend. What Pastor Jeff said about Briley's name, Daniel and I will never forget. We are so blessed to have Briley in our lives and we owe it all to HIM.

God is SO good!!

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Briley's 1st Halloween!!

Briley had a great 1st Halloween!! A week or so before we decided to carve pumpkins with Briley and try to get her picture inside of a pumpkin...needless to say she was not having it AT ALL!! Oh well, they will make great pictures in her wedding slideshow when she gets married :)

"Whatcha doin' Daddy?

I can't tell you how much I LOVE this picture :)

"Get me out of here!"

Daddy trying to soothe Briley for a minute in hopes of getting a smile.

One more try...Mommy said no more after this!

One of our wonderful sitters, Kyle, took pictures of her son Max and Briley the day before Halloween. We had to have pictures of the firefighter and dalmatian together!!

On Friday we planned to go "trick-or-treating" to all the grandparents. Our first stop was Papa and Nonnie's but before we could make it there Gigi (my mom) called to say she had burned herself with HOT boiling water and was at the ER. So we changed our plans up a bit and I headed to the hospital while Daniel went to my Mom's house to feed Briley (didn't want June-bug around all the sickies in the ER). When I arrived at the hospital my Mom was not moaning in pain like most of us would be doing...she was talking the nurses ear off about who else...Briley Ann!! Did I mention she was making dinner for us when she spilled the boiling water on herself?? I felt pretty bad about what happened but my Mom was a trooper and we made it home with her leg all bandaged up and even took some pictures of Briley next to the pumpkin Gigi gave her.

"My pumpkin is bigger than me!"

Briley is wearing a onesie that was her Uncle John's...he wore it on his 1st Halloween too!!

Poor Gigi!! She is doing a lot better though!

On Saturday, for Halloween, Briley and I took her first trip to the fire station to visit Daddy, eat dinner with the fire crew, and take pictures by the firetrucks.

Station 3 puppy :)

Our 1st Halloween as a family of 3.

"Mommy you're such a hoot!"

"Nonnie and Papa came to see me at the fire station too."

On Sunday, we made it to Papa, Nonnie, and Auntie Mariah's for Briley's last trick-or-treating stop. She was all pictured out at this point! Can you blame her??

"Mom and Dad...I never want to see this costume again." :)

My Halloween basket and Elmo and Ernie pumpkin from Papa, Nonnie, and Auntie Mariah...I might be a tad bit spoiled :)

Briley LOVES her Auntie!!

"Papa-can I please touch my pumpkin??"

Briley enjoying her Elmo pumpkin...nice carving Papa and Auntie Mariah!!

Overall, Briley had a wonderful and busy 1st Halloween. We are so excited about the holiday's coming up...many more pictures to come :)

Love,

Daniel, Melissa, and Briley