First time with Grandpa and the Splash Pad (8 weeks old)

We went to Dakotas cousin Casons birthday party when Dakota was 8 weeks old on June 23 at the Riverdale Splash Pad and it was alot of fun... I wasn't planning on getting Dakota wet we just were going to hang out but my dad loves his grandkids and always wants to do something fun with them so he came and got Kota Bear from me and striped him down to his onesie and went and tried out the water.  Kota loves the water but I'm not sure he loves cold water but he did pretty good for his first time at a water park

He finally decided he had enough cold water.... I love my dad so much and love how fun he always is and is willing to have so much fun with his kids and grandkids... Thanks for everything dad I love you!!

Dakotas first weeks (1-8)

This experience has been so great to have a new baby in our family Daniel and I couldn't have asked for a better baby we are so lucky!!! Sorry for the picture overload but I have to catch up somehow and these aren't even all the pictures there are tons more:)

This is the first time Boz and Dakota met I think it went over pretty good. Boz wasn't sure of him at first and kept trying to lick him but I made a stop to that real fast!

Aunt Susan and Steve! They just love Dakota and he loves them:)

Auntie Lori and Hailey (These girls are my buddies at chruch) I love these two so much they have been so great to our family and I love their friendship!

Boz making sure everything is alright with Dakota while he makes his baby noises

Mama's cute little monkey I just love dressing him up!

Cousin Brody they are so cute with Dakota and make him feel so loved

Great Grandma Ivie and Dakota

He is just so little and cute in this picture it is crazy how fast they grow up

Grandma and Grandpa Brinley at a little over 2 weeks old

This happened alot for the first month I loved cuddling and sleeping with him it was the best!
I love you Kota Bear

Uncle Jesse with his little buddy, Dakota loves his uncle Jesse so much probably the most....
It is so cute because Jesse is the only one that can get Dakota to laugh as hard as he does with Jesse plays with him

Daddy and his little man!! These two are the most amazing boys in my life and I am truely lucky to have them both!!
I love you both:)

At the Drive-In at 3 1/2 weeks old... He was such a trooper and loved hanging out with friends

Great Grandpa Ivie and Kota Bear... I just love grandpa so much he always makes me laugh and he is such a great man..
Thanks grandpa for all you do!!

First trip!! Kota Bear and I went with my family to Fish Lake Daniel had to stay behind and work but it was such a good little get away.. Dakota did so good and slept through the night.  Don't you just love his coat it was big on him but it was perfect it kept him so warm and comfortable with the wind and rain.

Fish Lake Day 2 Still cute as ever and ready to go hang out by the lake

Don't you love his cute little hat

Introducing Dakota Chase Brinley

DAKOTA CHASE BRINLEY

April 27, 2011

9:22 p.m.

8 lbs. 12 ozs.

21.5 inches

He is finally here and I know that I am a little late on this post but I feel that I can actually do something and let me son down. He has been so much fun and I couldn't imagine life without him. I know that the pictures are out of order but I still haven't been able to figure out this program the best but all these pictures are from the hospital.

I will start with the story of the "Big Day". Dakota is just like his parents and has a mind of his own and is very stubborn so when the doctor said that he was due on April 22, 2011 he was determined to let them know he would come when he wanted which ended up being 5 days late! I was going crazy waiting for him because I quit work early and I had everything done around the house a week before he was due. So on the 21st the day before I was due I had my last doctors appointment and the doctor informed me that she would not let me go more then 5 days past my due date so she scheduled my induction for April 27th and said she hoped to see me before then so every day I would go on a walk or something active but nothing would happen so on the morning of the 27th I woke up at 5am to head to the hospital by 6 for my induction.

We packed everything up and headed off when we were leaving we said that it was going to be a different life the next time we came home but we were ready. So we checked in the hospital at 6 and I was hooked up and my water was broken at 6:30 am and I was given the pitocin. In the previous posts I had explained that I was going to have him natural so I didn't have an epidual at that time. I started off great and was dialated to a 2cm which I was excited about then an hour later the contractions were getting close together and I was still at a 2 this continued for 6 hours but the contractions became very intense and would come on every 2 min. I wasn't going anywhere and I was pretty disappointed so then we decided after awhile that the best thing to do was to have an epidural because I wasn't letting my body relax through the process like I wanted. So as soon as I was given the epidural I started to dialate fast I went from a 2cm at 1:30 to a 4cm an hour later and then by 7 I was dialated all the way to a 10cm he was finally coming and I was so excited I pushed for 2 hours and then at 9:22pm Dakota was born!!!!! It was the most unreal feeling I've ever felt in my whole life. I couldn't stop smiling and to watch Daniel through the whole process was the best thing in the whole world you could see the love daniel had for both Dakota and I and we knew we were all supposed to be a family... Our families were there the whole way through with support and I couldn't ask for a better family both my side and Daniels. When Dakota was cleaned up and brought to us we couldn't have been happier. It was a feeling I can't explain but it was Joy, Happiness, Love, and excitement all in one.. Our families were waiting outside the door and couldn't wait to come in and meet our little one below are all the friends and family that were there while we were in the hospital I know I'm missing a few pictures of some of you that came and for that I am sorry I wish I had all of them but for some reason they weren't taken so if you took one when you came to visit please send me a copy I would love to have them all!! Dakota is the biggest blessing in the whole wide world and I couldn't ask for a better baby! Thanks to everyone for your help from start to know in this journey I couldn't be where I am without you and you all know who you are;) I love you all!

Our Beautiful Baby Boy
Dakotas first outfit for his first day home.... Isn't he so cute

Dennis and Dakota

Awesome friends Brian and Lizzy

Dakotas Basketball buddy Kyle

My awesome best friends Lindsay and Kylee

Aunt Kylee:)

The pool for Dakotas big entrance with my brother Jesse's picture of Kota bear from Brother bear where we got Dakota's name from we call him Kota or Kota Bear

My best friend Malena who is now pregnant and I can't wait for her to experience this blessing!!

Dakotas Great Grandma Chase

Aunt Randi

Uncle Adam

More cute pictures at the Hosptial

Grandpa Brinley

Grandma Brinley, Dakota is her first grand kid and you can see her love for him

Grandma Ivie, Dakota is #11 grand kid and she still is as excited as if he was number 1

Grandpa Ivie loves babies and you can see it how he looks at Dakota and because he came a couple times while I was at the hospital with him

Daddy's first picture with Dakota he is the best dad in the whole world!!

Our first Family picture:) Even though I just went threw 15 hours of labor I think this is the best picture in the whole wide world!!

Mommy's first picture with her baby

All ready for mom and dad (give him to me now!!!)

So cute

My favorite nurse of all I think she made the experience that much more special!!

This has been amazing and I couldn't imagine life without Daniel and Dakota. They mean the world to me and I am the luckiest girl/mom/wife in the whole world!!!

Update Before Dakota Arrives!!

Well it has been very busy around here lately and it is only going to get more crazy in the next day or so. So I thought before it was to busy I would give you a little update of what has happened in out lives around here. First of all today I am 3 days overdue! Who gives due dates anyway they are never right it just makes the mom (me) go crazy over any change because it could be "the day" but I can't complain I have loved every minute of being pregnant and I think that I am going to miss the kicking and punching my insides and I'm serious it has just been a miracle and I love it! I will say that I can't wait to meet Dakota and I'm sure it will be better then anything I have imagined my whole life and that is what excites me! I just can't wait to see Daniel with him I feel like I have known him forever and I really want Daniel to be able to feel the same way so I can't wait to see them together. I told Daniel the other day that I will be surrounded by boys with him, Dakota and boz so Im going to have to hold my ground and make sure to keep some girly in me...

I am so pound of Daniel he has been working so hard for our family and this is us at his graduation... Such a great accomplishment and I couldn't be happier of him. This is also my 40 week picture so I'm glad we had something on that day to make sure I had a picture I am not very good at taking pictures I seem to always forget about it.. Daniel and Jeromy my brother went into the same degree and graduated the same time which was so fun that we could celebrate this day together. Jeromy is the first person in my family to graduate which is such a huge accomplishment I always thought it would be me but he beat me to it haha but I won't be far behind;)

Last week was my last day at work and I came to work with it decorated and it was super fun to see that you will be missed. I really enjoyed working where I did and will miss the people I worked with but I am super blessed to have the support of Daniel to do what we both feel is what I should be doing in staying home and raising our family.

I told everyone that I had been trying to get everything ready for Dakota to arrive and I finished everything for his nursery room and I love it! I made the blanked and the wall decorations, the window valance and the crib skirt.... It took me forever but I love how it turned out especially since I did everything without a pattern... Hopefully you will agree!

I had so many fun baby showers to prepare for Dakota and I loved them all this one to follow was done by my sisters/mom. Alicia my older sister wanted to make sure that everything was perfect for me and it was she put so much time and thought to make everything match perfect and let me tell you it was perfect!! Alicia worked so hard and is such a great example to me I love her so much... I have the greatest family in the whole world and they all mean the world to me I couldn't have asked for a better support!

As you can tell with all my pictures our theme for Dakotas nursery was farm animals Daniel and I have wanted to live on a farm when we move next and so as for right now this is as close as we will get to one. But they found the cutest decorations for this shower I loved it all!

My sisters made these cute little farm animal cake bites and I was super impressed! Seriously look how cute they are they make me smile everytime I look at them. They made chickens, ducks, cows and horses and they were adorable!

Aren't they all so cute!!!!

Last but not least Daniel and I decided to take maternity pictures I have always loved them and I want to remember this special time in our lives.... I know it isn't when I've looked my best but I know when I look back on these pictures I will always remember how amazing it was to know we are starting our little family and this was just one step in Daniel and I's life time of memories! Cheesy I know but I love every minute of it! In these pictures I am 38 weeks along!

Dakotas first little pair of shoes

One of my Favorites!

I love this picture!! Its my favorite

Sorry it was so long but I promised I would get you updated so I am all up to date and hopefully I can get the next pictures with Dakota up soon!!!