let's play a game

Flashback Friday. 31 weeks and one of my very favorite pictures when I was pregnant!

1- I never take selfies. It's so much easier to post pictures of me with other people because a) I feel so awkward taking selfies (aka they always look awkward) and b) no one focuses on me if there are other people to look at. Phew! But I want to start having more confidence in ME, so watch out for the random selfie every now and again on Instagram :)

2- I will probably have hearing aids at a young age. I got tubes put in my ears when I was a little girl and the holes in my ear drums never closed up. I ended up having surgery to close them up and I suspect my hearing sucks because of that whole process. I usually have to read lips to catch every word that is said.

3- When I turned 16 I borrowed my dad's car all the time until I got my own car. My parents told me I had to get a job (babysitting didn't count anymore) if I wanted to keep borrowing. I collected job applications from locations near our home, thinking I'd just turn them down (because I wanted a glamorous job) if they actually wanted to interview me. When I returned my application to Arctic Circle... they hired me on the spot. And I went home and bawled my eyes out, ha ha! This definitely wasn't the "glamorous" job I had in mind!

4- I H A T E feet. I almost died in cosmetology school when I learned that pedicures were a requirement to pass. And I've been quite rude in the past, pointing out my friend's ugly feet to their face (I am SO sorry about that! I've learned to keep my mouth shut!). BUT, I could kiss Mia's feet all. day. long. I dread the day that she starts getting gross, stinky kid feet.

5- I have to have a treat (or 2 or 3 or....) every day. This is the reason I work out. And have permanent cottage cheese on my bum (if that doesn't make me avoid treats, I don't know what will)!

6- I was the queen of babysitting while growing up! I've always loved kids and I'm really good with them, too. Because of that I think people were shocked that I didn't start having my own babies right after marriage. 5 years later..... and I could not be happier about it!

7- I was voted "most likely to look 911 up in the phone book" in 9th grade. Charming, I know. I've definitely grown out of the "ditsy" stage but I'm still very naive. I don't understand why someone would say something if they aren't being honest, you know?

8- One thing I regret most about high school is that I didn't get involved in extracurricular activities. I actually quit everything because I thought my social life was most important. I didn't realize you could have both!

9- I danced (ballet, to be specific) for years and I've never done the splits. Not even once.

10- I feel totally and completely satisfied being an almost stay at home mom. I work one day a week (because I truly love doing hair and I love my clients. I just can't let them go yet. Also, I feel it's a good thing to have Mia around other people than just me.) and I don't have the desire to work any more. Days that are filled with Mia are the BEST kind of days.

Tell me one thing (or 10) about yourself that most people don't know. I really want to get to know YOU better! Seriously, don't hold back!

give it to me straight

It's strange how a complete stranger can touch your life in a matter of seconds. He can say something so simple, yet so powerful, that it stays with you forever. Once upon a time (because that sounds better than "years ago" or "back when I was engaged" because I've been realizing that I wasn't just engaged last year... oh my. I'm getting old!) a man walked into my salon and asked for a haircut. I sat him in my chair and excitedly told him of my upcoming wedding plans and bragged about my amazing fiance! He asked if he could share some advice and of course I said yes! He told me (and I wish I could remember his exact wording but this was years ago and I suffered from pregnancy brain and now I've developed mommy brain) to bite my tongue when I get tempted to call my husband a bad name because no matter how often I compliment him, or how many pet names I have for him, or how sweet and loving I am to him... he will always remember "that one time I called him _____". At the time I couldn't imagine ever wanting to fight with Eric, or yell at Eric, or call him an awful name... but goodness, marriage tests your patience in ways I never knew it could! And it only takes one word to break down the heart. That moment of anger is not worth the heart ache that will be remembered for far too long. When I finished the haircut and that man walked out the door, he walked out of my life, but those words will stick with me forever! Thanks to that obvious but needed advice, I hope to always take it to heart and be a better wife, mom, friend, person.

What piece of advice do you just love? I am always in need of words that help me become better!

 

An endless river hike

No photo (especially photos from a cell phone... when you have to choose between lugging a camera or a baby, the baby wins. every. time.) could do this hike justice. It was incredibly beautiful! I'm so happy I got to share this day two of my favorite girls- Mia & Shay. I am so blessed!

weekend review {beauty contest & county fair}

So the fair came to town this past weekend and I couldn't wait to enter Mia in the "beautiful baby" contest! I wanted to do it at the other fairs we went to but you had to be a resident of the county, which we weren't! Heaven knows I have the prettiest baby ever so I was totally looking forward to this win (ha ha)! The theme was "Cowboy boots and ______ county roots".  Well, we aren't from this county (in fact, the town that hosted the fair is super tiny) and I don't have cowgirl boots or clothes for Mia.... so I dressed her in a cute dress with pink sparkly shoes! When I stood Mia in front of the mirror she totally eyed herself and then started clapping, ha ha! So she definitely liked the way she looked :)
I've never been to a beauty baby contest before, but our judges sat in a corner while we all lined up with our babes. They didn't come look at our babies, or have us walk up individually... is that normal? I wasn't very happy about it because there were 12 babies (and moms) in front of us so how were the judges supposed to get a good look at Mia? I wasn't surprised to hear that we didn't win, but I was super peeved! The baby that won Mia's age group was actually WAY cute (almost as cute as Mia, ha!) but the other babies that won? I'm pretty sure the only reason was because they were dressed in cowboy gear from head to toe. Anyway, this momma has a lot to learn from her baby. Mia handled the loss with grace (in fact, she didn't even care, HA!) and I, well, I'm a sore loser. So that ends our toddler and tiara career, ha ha!!

That night we headed back to the fair with Eric (you know how everyone had an extra long long weekend? He worked the WHOLE weekend... we are livin' the life I tell ya, ha!) to play games, eat junk and check out the booths. It was raining when we got there so we sat in the car, Eric explained that he didn't want his shoes (or mine) to get muddy or his hat to get wet. So let it be known that we turned around and came home because he loves his shoes/hat more than he loves me ;) ha! But he did make up for it!
While Eric was at work on Monday (Labor Day) Mia and I started the day with a 5k with our friends! And then Eric took us back to the fair where we are mini donuts and fry bread (and were sick the rest of the night, ha!) and let Mia play a duck game and won her very own little duck! It ended up being a pretty good weekend even though Eric had to work the whole time. We love whatever time we can get with him!

We got there late and didn't get our numbers before the race, so we had to hold them up just to prove we really did it, HA!

Mia was actually really nervous about this pool full of ducks :)

But she loves the ducky she won!!

P.S. Last day to enter this giveaway. It's a good one so hurry up and enter if you haven't already!

Linking up with Kelly for Trendy Tot Tuesday!

insta-life

I forgot to post this one from July... This happened the same week that Mia became mobile. Perfect sneak peek into life with my crazy baby ;) HA!

Eric and Mia were so excited about spending the day at Lagoon, ha ha! We really did have the best time!

Mia's first time pulling herself up by the couch. There was so much grunting involved that I thought she'd just made the messiest diaper ever. Luckily, she was using different muscles than I thought ;)

"Babe, there's no way we would have made it to Vegas and still be in love." -Eric Brinkerhoff 

Hunger and love don't mix in this relationship, ha ha! So thank you In n Out for saving our marriage! 

Mia was so proud of herself for walking with the help of the pack n play and diapers! (Don't mind the mess, we were packing to leave town.) Mia has become SO mobile in the last month. It's so fun (and crazy)!

 It's been the best summer EVER thanks to my little bestie! We are so thankful for Mia, she is such a blessing. We love our miracle baby!! 

Mia's first time swinging. I think she LOVED it :)

I wish I could put instavideos on here because I have posted some of the CUTEST snippets of our love bug. If you want to check 'em out just follow along at courtbrink!