It makes me sad that I am so incredibly behind on posting pictures of our sweet little girl!! Yes little girl...not baby. All of a sudden she appears to be this small child to us...and we can't seem to figure out where time went...
I think I'm going to request a few hours from Brooks...that I can just sit and upload pics! I think I will feel better about life. But...until the pictures can be posted...I will re-cap...once again a large time of span...the last month!
Brooklyn pulled up for the first time at her birthday party...and since then she has been a furniture/wall cruising machine!! A couple of weeks ago she got brave and took a step from one ottoman to another...and did this again at Great Great Aunt Jo's house...from chair to coffee table!! She then began taking just a few steps here and there...before she goes "boom" and sits down. However...her steps are getting more and more. She can now walk from Mommy to Daddy...or from couch to Grandma/Grandpa! She is doing so so good at this new "walking" skill!! We are always in awe of her when she does something new...she simply amazes us!! Her new found mobility has created for some fussiness when she is in shopping carts, highchairs...etc...because she wants to get down and explore herself!!!
If you tickle her and say "ticka ticka ticka"...she will touch her tummy and say it herself! This cute skill came from Grandma Jan!! She knows where her nose, mouth and eyes are...and can point to yours too! Her favorite book lately is "Pat them Gently"...a great find from the Target dollar spot (and a great gift from Gina and Rowan). She LOVES this book!! She brings it to us all the time...and it is short enough that she can pay attention to the whole book! AND...it has taught her to pat Khloe and Shelby gently...it is too cute watching her give them the lightest pat!! However...one day Khloe did get a rough tug/yank on an ear...thankfully she is so well tempered!
I have been beyond busy with Thirty-One, which is truly a huge blessing...I just need to figure out how to get organized!! I have had two promotions...Senior Consultant...and most recently, Director. During the month of October there was sales contest and I won a digital camera, HD pocket video camera and a 42" plasma tv....we are pretty excited!! It is going in our game room!!
Speaking of our game room...we recently sold our "like new" treadmill...and bought a "like new" recumbent bike from someone on craigslist. We are hoping that we will use it more than they did. It is the exact same model that we wanted from Academy...but we got it for 50% off!! Gotta love craigslist!! So far Brooks has used it twice...and I have yet to get on it. Since you can sit and it has a back rest...and we will have a nice new tv up there...we are hoping for some motivation...
Brooks has been doing well at work. His neighborhood just released some more lots...woohoo!!! His latest change is going to "KB wear" which takes effect on December 1st. He's super excited about his new ties that sport the KB logo..and Blue, Tan or White shirts! Yup...that's what his uniform will consist of. In reality...it's not that bad...the ties all say KB really small in some sort of geometric pattern...and his favorite color is blue...so he'll survive. Free ties from the company...yes....but free shirts...not so much, we must make a trip to Kohl's...they have his favorite broadcloth dress shirt!! Brooks also went on a canoe trip with Steven up/down the Colorado River and they camped out. For some reason he first invited me...glad he came up with plan B. This past week he went deer hunting with his friend Tim...and shot his first deer, which is currently at the processor...steak and ground meat coming soon! (we'll see what I think about deer).
We just got back from Thanksgiving in New Braunfels. It was at my grandparents house...where it has always been...except it wasn't Mame and Popeye's house...it was Aunt Jamie and Uncle Johnny's house. It was really nice and everyone had a great time...except for the dogs. They have two dogs...one of which isn't the most social. Poor Shelby walked in the door and immediately got greeted by Mitford with a clamp down on her snout...and so the fun began! We kept Shelby away from the other dogs...for some reason they were scared of her size...however, she was probably the sweetest and most well behaved out of the 6. Yes SIX dogs at Thanksgiving...mixed with food flying and cooking in the kitchen...there's bound to be some canine jealousy and a fight here and there. ...after the initial skirmish...they did pretty well.
Brooklyn however treated us with waking up at 3:45 on Thanksgiving morning/night. For some...this might not seem odd...but when I tell you that she has NEVER done this...I mean NEVER. I tried putting her back to sleep...but she was ready to go! So...Brooks and I got up with her and had her in the living room. She was playing, crawling, crusing...talking..having a grad ole time! Grandma got up to go to the bathroom and Brooklyn saw her and said "HI"...we couldn't help but laugh. Finally, by 6 a.m. she was back asleep....and Brooks and I slept in the living room. I think part of her problem was that she had gotten cold...she usually doesn't sleep in the same room with us and we had the fan on high...and then on top of things, we were in her space. She slept fine...alone....form 6 until 9:30.
Ian and Seda came over to NB to have turkey with us...we all stuffed our faces with roasted turkey, smoked turkey, dressing, gravy, corn casserole, green beans, sweet potatoes, mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce, crescent rolls, brown n serve rolls...and appetizers of cheese, crackers, sausage, pickles, olives, okra, stuffed celery (umm...which lead to us not being quite so hunger for dinner...oops). It was nice being with family...and our family isn't that big...so it was the usual crowd (minus Scottie and Maggie who have moved to Las Vegas)...us, my parents, aunt/uncle...joined with Ian and Seda. The usual. However, Aunt Jo and John stopped by for a visit on Wednesday, which was nice. Brooklyn didn't pull her hair this year (remember last year..she grabbed her hair and didn't realize that SHE was the one hurting herself and didn't realize all she had to do was let go?? yeah, that was funny...and geez, she has changed a TON in the last 12 months...)
I think this about sums up our last month. Betsy, Quentin, Gracie and Brinin should be here tomorrow...which should be fun! Not sure what we have planned...talked about the zoo, children's museum...or something! We'll see what the weather has in store!! :)
....again, hopefully pictures coming soon!!!
Friday, November 27, 2009
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Beach, Midland...and More!!
I had the best intentions of making the "beach" it's own blog...but time is simply getting away from me...so let me just recap on life since Brooklyn's birthday!!
We (my parents, Brooklyn, Brooks & I) went to South Padre from September 18th-22nd. I really really want to be able to take Brooklyn to the beach each summer....but REALLY wanted a baby picture of her in the sand!!
I bought a cheap-o umbrella stroller at Wal-Mart with the intentions of it getting junked out and ruined on the beach...but wanted something to push her in. It mainly turned into a chair...and something to carry her in...because it didn't push through sand very well (but the thought was there).
Our first stop was in Port Isabel...WAL-MART (because we don't have those here, ya know!). It seemed to be a better bet for a grocery store than the Blue Marlin grocery store on the island. We stocked up on sandwich stuff, breakfast goodies...and snacky stuff! We went out to eat about once a day...which worked for Brooklyn!
We showed up looking like 100% tourists...video camera, camera...and 4 crazy adults staring at Brooklyn clapping and cheering for her as we set her down in the water! She loved to splash in the waves and to crawl around! I quickly decided that the beach was a safer place for her to be than the pool...because she couldn't "fall in." We built sand castles...chased her across the sand...watched grandpa fly a kite...went to the pool and more. Overall, we had a great time...and made some great memories! She had a few facefulls of salt water...but seemed to survive it all!!
She was such a trooper too! She did so great taking naps and sleeping in her pack n play! Mommy and Daddy were a bit nervous because we haven't shared a room with her since she was 3 months old. We had to whisper again...I think we are more cautious than we need to be, but she is seriously a super light sleeper (a GREAT sleeper, but yet a light one).
The only time she woke up was at 1 a.m. the morning that Daddy and Grandpa were supposed to go fishing. I woke up in a panic and SWORE that the sun was up! Turns out, it was the light outside our room and it was only 1...not 5. Ooops! Daddy wasn't very happy with me, but luckily I got Brooklyn back to sleep! Once 5 a.m. hit, they did have a successful day and caught a few redfish and some mangrove snapper!!
We also took her to the Sea Turtle Rescue center, which was pretty fun! We showed all sorts of super old turtles (we tried to be educational!). We ate at one restaurant on a pier (Pirates Landing) and they gave her a paper pirate hat...to our surprise, she kept it on for a very long time!!
Other than coming home with her 2nd ear ache, I think her first trip to the beach was well worth it!! :) I just remembered the WORST part of the trip...the car ride!! My mom and I sat in the back with Brooklyn. Did I mention that she likes to keep the backseat to herself? Apparently she does not like to share and feels like we are in her space! She is perfectly content in the car...and sleeps just fine, when she is ALONE! However for us, our darling girl screamed herself into a tizzy the way down and the way back. We finally learned to put up a pillow on either side of her so she couldn't see us...and she went to sleep. Crazy kid...
We came home for about a week and then left for Midland! Betsy had holiday open house with Thirty-One, Scentsy and Mary Kay! Everyone did great and the day flew by!! Then on Sunday it was Gracie's 5th birthday party which was also fun!! Monday we pretty much hung out at home and then it was time to go on Tuesday. We are always SO busy when we are there, it just flies by!!
Then...we came home for another week or so and left for San Angelo! Teri had a Thirty-One party!! (talk about two great sister-in-laws who are helping me out with these parties!!) Teri also did fantastic!! She also had some of the most beautiful and fun Halloween decorations I have EVER seen!!! If I could pay someone to come decorate for each holiday...I might decorate more! But I simply don't want to store all these fun things...nor set up or take down (thus I am dreading Christmas...I sware we JUST put everything up!!).
Alas, we came home...and don't feel like nomads. We have no where to go for quite some time...and that is a nice feeling!! I went to the Yardhouse at LaCantera for my 28th birthday (yes, I'm feeling OLD!). My parents, John, Jamie, Gina, Jonathan, Mike, Sandy and Ian were all able to come!! It was opening night for the restaurant...so they had a few glitches here and there, but the food was AWESOME!!! We will totally be going back!!! I got my drivers license renewed today...it doesn't expire until 2015!! I'll be 34, which makes me feel even older :(
My mom has a stuffed animal chicken that when you squeeze it's wing it lights up, dances...and you guessed it! ...it does the Chicken Dance!!! We have all started to teach Brooklyn the Chicken Dance in preparation for Wurstfest!! A family tradition for I don't know how long...so we are sure she is going to have fun! She loves to dance and bop around to music...what better music than German polka, clogging and chicken dancing?!?! November 7th...here we come!!
Brooks, Ian and Steven are going on a canoe/camping trip the beginning of November on the Colorado River (he invited me, I said NO thanks!). I have been super busy with my Thirty-One business and feeling really blessed. I will be promoted to Director the end of October (my 2nd promotion). I still can't believe how much I am loving the company and how great it has been for me, and for us as a family! I know have eight consultants on my team (none of which I have personally sought out...everyone I meet simply loves the product and the company) and a total of 18 on my team!! It is a wonderful blessing!!
Brooklyn is still taking 2 naps a day...and I am thankful for that. We can get by with only one, but it is not very pleasant. She cruises around furniture and ANYTHING that she can get her hands on! She is great at pushing her little "walk-along" things...or small tables or chairs! I got her bangs cut for the 3rd time...and I guess the 3rd time was the charm!! I sat her in my lap today and she didn't shed one single tear! Was happy as a clam!! Lesson learned...DON'T put her in the cute little car!! She looks SO much better and "kept" and not like and orphan!
Brooks and I took her to a pediatric opthamologist (Charles McCash) on Monday to get her poor little eye checked out. She has had tear duct issues since she was born. I have massaged them, we have given her drops and ointment...and she still struggles with that eye...always having crusties, goopy tears...her hair will get stuck in it, or sometimes it gets stuck shut...it's all pretty sad. Her left eye cleared up on it's own about 3-4 months ago...but the right eye is more stubborn. He told us that her eyes look great and her vision was right where it should be! Checked to make sure that the duct issue was not caused by something else. She proceeded to tell the dr "no, no" and wave her hand in his face. He said "I'm very glad you have an opinion." This is her latest..."no, no"...she is quite good at "no" and knows exactly what it means...unfortunately she says it a bit much. Anyways, he said that she did need surgery. Babies that are 8-10 months can be probed in the office...but much older than that, they have a greater anxiety so it is just easier to do it under anesthesia. It makes us nervous...but he said it's a super quick procedure. We will probably get that scheduled for some time in November.
Speaking of Brooklyn "speaking"...she also loves to say "hi" and it is just the sweetest sound!! Sometimes she will put her hand/arm up to her ear like she's on the phone and say "hi, hi!" Too cute!!! One day the phone was ringing and she picked it up and handed it to me!! She also knows that shoes and socks go on her feet...and hats go on her head. She will try to put things in their respective places...it's fun watching her try to put things on! She will say "da da" and pat her chest...because that is what Brooks does. She also says "di duh" for diaper. She will make the "ma ma" sound...but I have no clue if she knows what she is talking about. However, she must...because she LOVES to talk and has the longest conversations with herself!!
Brooklyn has also become quit the picky eater!! She used to eat any and everything we gave her! Her diet now consists of vanilla yogurt, peach yogurt, pear yogurt, apple yogurt...and thankfully YoBaby has 3 in 1 meals...Green Beans, Pears and Yogurt...and more!! Ok, not really...but yogurt is the only thing we can get in her without a challenge. Last night she did eat a tub of green veggies, which was a shock! She also likes meat balls...and hot dogs. We quartered a hot dog (no bun) and then sliced it in little pieces and she ate the ENTIRE thing!! I need to go find veggie or turkey dogs!! She also loves the Gerber Graduates Crunchies...I think they look like Cheetos...which can't be a good thing! ...but she's a big fan!!
I think that pretty much sums up the recap on our lives lately! Halloween is Saturday and her Grandpa K bought her a Dallas Cowboys cheerleader outfit...so we are going to make her a cheerleader for Halloween! Gina's mom has graciously invited us and my parents over to her house for dinner and trick-or-treating...so that should be fun. Otherwise I doubt we would go...because it would be silly for us to take her since she's not walking yet...haha. At least this way we are with a group!! Rowan is going to be Tinker Bell, Chloe/Jeremy and parents are going to be Goldy Locks and the Three Bears....and then Brooks and I...yeah, I think we are going to be the duds...and just be ourselves! Should be fun though!!
...and SERIOUSLY, hopefully pictures will come soon....
We (my parents, Brooklyn, Brooks & I) went to South Padre from September 18th-22nd. I really really want to be able to take Brooklyn to the beach each summer....but REALLY wanted a baby picture of her in the sand!!
I bought a cheap-o umbrella stroller at Wal-Mart with the intentions of it getting junked out and ruined on the beach...but wanted something to push her in. It mainly turned into a chair...and something to carry her in...because it didn't push through sand very well (but the thought was there).
Our first stop was in Port Isabel...WAL-MART (because we don't have those here, ya know!). It seemed to be a better bet for a grocery store than the Blue Marlin grocery store on the island. We stocked up on sandwich stuff, breakfast goodies...and snacky stuff! We went out to eat about once a day...which worked for Brooklyn!
We showed up looking like 100% tourists...video camera, camera...and 4 crazy adults staring at Brooklyn clapping and cheering for her as we set her down in the water! She loved to splash in the waves and to crawl around! I quickly decided that the beach was a safer place for her to be than the pool...because she couldn't "fall in." We built sand castles...chased her across the sand...watched grandpa fly a kite...went to the pool and more. Overall, we had a great time...and made some great memories! She had a few facefulls of salt water...but seemed to survive it all!!
She was such a trooper too! She did so great taking naps and sleeping in her pack n play! Mommy and Daddy were a bit nervous because we haven't shared a room with her since she was 3 months old. We had to whisper again...I think we are more cautious than we need to be, but she is seriously a super light sleeper (a GREAT sleeper, but yet a light one).
The only time she woke up was at 1 a.m. the morning that Daddy and Grandpa were supposed to go fishing. I woke up in a panic and SWORE that the sun was up! Turns out, it was the light outside our room and it was only 1...not 5. Ooops! Daddy wasn't very happy with me, but luckily I got Brooklyn back to sleep! Once 5 a.m. hit, they did have a successful day and caught a few redfish and some mangrove snapper!!
We also took her to the Sea Turtle Rescue center, which was pretty fun! We showed all sorts of super old turtles (we tried to be educational!). We ate at one restaurant on a pier (Pirates Landing) and they gave her a paper pirate hat...to our surprise, she kept it on for a very long time!!
Other than coming home with her 2nd ear ache, I think her first trip to the beach was well worth it!! :) I just remembered the WORST part of the trip...the car ride!! My mom and I sat in the back with Brooklyn. Did I mention that she likes to keep the backseat to herself? Apparently she does not like to share and feels like we are in her space! She is perfectly content in the car...and sleeps just fine, when she is ALONE! However for us, our darling girl screamed herself into a tizzy the way down and the way back. We finally learned to put up a pillow on either side of her so she couldn't see us...and she went to sleep. Crazy kid...
We came home for about a week and then left for Midland! Betsy had holiday open house with Thirty-One, Scentsy and Mary Kay! Everyone did great and the day flew by!! Then on Sunday it was Gracie's 5th birthday party which was also fun!! Monday we pretty much hung out at home and then it was time to go on Tuesday. We are always SO busy when we are there, it just flies by!!
Then...we came home for another week or so and left for San Angelo! Teri had a Thirty-One party!! (talk about two great sister-in-laws who are helping me out with these parties!!) Teri also did fantastic!! She also had some of the most beautiful and fun Halloween decorations I have EVER seen!!! If I could pay someone to come decorate for each holiday...I might decorate more! But I simply don't want to store all these fun things...nor set up or take down (thus I am dreading Christmas...I sware we JUST put everything up!!).
Alas, we came home...and don't feel like nomads. We have no where to go for quite some time...and that is a nice feeling!! I went to the Yardhouse at LaCantera for my 28th birthday (yes, I'm feeling OLD!). My parents, John, Jamie, Gina, Jonathan, Mike, Sandy and Ian were all able to come!! It was opening night for the restaurant...so they had a few glitches here and there, but the food was AWESOME!!! We will totally be going back!!! I got my drivers license renewed today...it doesn't expire until 2015!! I'll be 34, which makes me feel even older :(
My mom has a stuffed animal chicken that when you squeeze it's wing it lights up, dances...and you guessed it! ...it does the Chicken Dance!!! We have all started to teach Brooklyn the Chicken Dance in preparation for Wurstfest!! A family tradition for I don't know how long...so we are sure she is going to have fun! She loves to dance and bop around to music...what better music than German polka, clogging and chicken dancing?!?! November 7th...here we come!!
Brooks, Ian and Steven are going on a canoe/camping trip the beginning of November on the Colorado River (he invited me, I said NO thanks!). I have been super busy with my Thirty-One business and feeling really blessed. I will be promoted to Director the end of October (my 2nd promotion). I still can't believe how much I am loving the company and how great it has been for me, and for us as a family! I know have eight consultants on my team (none of which I have personally sought out...everyone I meet simply loves the product and the company) and a total of 18 on my team!! It is a wonderful blessing!!
Brooklyn is still taking 2 naps a day...and I am thankful for that. We can get by with only one, but it is not very pleasant. She cruises around furniture and ANYTHING that she can get her hands on! She is great at pushing her little "walk-along" things...or small tables or chairs! I got her bangs cut for the 3rd time...and I guess the 3rd time was the charm!! I sat her in my lap today and she didn't shed one single tear! Was happy as a clam!! Lesson learned...DON'T put her in the cute little car!! She looks SO much better and "kept" and not like and orphan!
Brooks and I took her to a pediatric opthamologist (Charles McCash) on Monday to get her poor little eye checked out. She has had tear duct issues since she was born. I have massaged them, we have given her drops and ointment...and she still struggles with that eye...always having crusties, goopy tears...her hair will get stuck in it, or sometimes it gets stuck shut...it's all pretty sad. Her left eye cleared up on it's own about 3-4 months ago...but the right eye is more stubborn. He told us that her eyes look great and her vision was right where it should be! Checked to make sure that the duct issue was not caused by something else. She proceeded to tell the dr "no, no" and wave her hand in his face. He said "I'm very glad you have an opinion." This is her latest..."no, no"...she is quite good at "no" and knows exactly what it means...unfortunately she says it a bit much. Anyways, he said that she did need surgery. Babies that are 8-10 months can be probed in the office...but much older than that, they have a greater anxiety so it is just easier to do it under anesthesia. It makes us nervous...but he said it's a super quick procedure. We will probably get that scheduled for some time in November.
Speaking of Brooklyn "speaking"...she also loves to say "hi" and it is just the sweetest sound!! Sometimes she will put her hand/arm up to her ear like she's on the phone and say "hi, hi!" Too cute!!! One day the phone was ringing and she picked it up and handed it to me!! She also knows that shoes and socks go on her feet...and hats go on her head. She will try to put things in their respective places...it's fun watching her try to put things on! She will say "da da" and pat her chest...because that is what Brooks does. She also says "di duh" for diaper. She will make the "ma ma" sound...but I have no clue if she knows what she is talking about. However, she must...because she LOVES to talk and has the longest conversations with herself!!
Brooklyn has also become quit the picky eater!! She used to eat any and everything we gave her! Her diet now consists of vanilla yogurt, peach yogurt, pear yogurt, apple yogurt...and thankfully YoBaby has 3 in 1 meals...Green Beans, Pears and Yogurt...and more!! Ok, not really...but yogurt is the only thing we can get in her without a challenge. Last night she did eat a tub of green veggies, which was a shock! She also likes meat balls...and hot dogs. We quartered a hot dog (no bun) and then sliced it in little pieces and she ate the ENTIRE thing!! I need to go find veggie or turkey dogs!! She also loves the Gerber Graduates Crunchies...I think they look like Cheetos...which can't be a good thing! ...but she's a big fan!!
I think that pretty much sums up the recap on our lives lately! Halloween is Saturday and her Grandpa K bought her a Dallas Cowboys cheerleader outfit...so we are going to make her a cheerleader for Halloween! Gina's mom has graciously invited us and my parents over to her house for dinner and trick-or-treating...so that should be fun. Otherwise I doubt we would go...because it would be silly for us to take her since she's not walking yet...haha. At least this way we are with a group!! Rowan is going to be Tinker Bell, Chloe/Jeremy and parents are going to be Goldy Locks and the Three Bears....and then Brooks and I...yeah, I think we are going to be the duds...and just be ourselves! Should be fun though!!
...and SERIOUSLY, hopefully pictures will come soon....
Sunday, October 18, 2009
Brooklyn 1 Year Pictures
I'm totally behind with this blog (and I think it secretly eats at me every day)...I need to post some old pics...and catch us up to date...but in the mean time, here are some WONDERFUL pictures to enjoy!!
These were taken by Catherine Lopez...a good friend and photographer. She took these cute pictures to celebrate Brooklyn's 1 Year Birthday!! Family pics coming soon...
These were taken by Catherine Lopez...a good friend and photographer. She took these cute pictures to celebrate Brooklyn's 1 Year Birthday!! Family pics coming soon...
Friday, September 25, 2009
1 Year Old...
Wow...I have no idea where the past year has gone. In some ways it feels like a big blur. We lost Mame a year ago today, which still doesn't seem real. I still think about her everyday. Sometimes when Brooklyn is smiling or laughing at "nothing"...I think maybe Mame is making her smile.
Anyways, this little girl (which totally describes her now) celebrated her First Birthday last week. On her actual birthday, we went to Osaka with grandma and grandpa and watched them cook on the table. We thought this might entertain her...but turns out we might need to wait a year or two more...or just make sure she has a fresh nap first. She was a tad fussy...which was finally relieved by an order of mango ice cream. She was also graced with a visit from Great Aunt Jamie on her birthday!! She made the trip to hand deliver some flowers...and to sing to the Birthday Girl.
That night Mommy, Daddy, Grandma, Grandpa...and the BIRTHDAY GIRL went to dinner at Osaka. We thought it would entertain Brooklyn if they cooked on the table. Ahhh, maybe this will be more entertaining in a few years. It caught her interest for a bit and then she was bored. However, considering she didn't really nap all day...she did quite well. Some mango ice cream seems to be the trick!!
We had her actual party on Sunday, September 6th. The Nethery clan won the award for coming the farthest. They drove down Saturday and stayed with us through Monday! Brooklyn had fun with her cousins!! She and Gracie and going to have so much fun doing all the "girly" things as soon as Brooklyn gets a tad older. Well actually, Gracie LOVES doing the girly things with her now...but Brooklyn will be able to participate more in the future! ;)
Grandma S-L-A-V-E-D away in the kitchen all day on Saturday baking and decorating cupcakes and cakes (yes, plural...because Brooklyn had to have her own cake to SMASH!!). My Mom always made my cake each year (one might think I would want to tackle this tradition for my own daughter...but my Mom is so great at it...I thought she should continue with the tradition...maybe I will take it over in the future). We had a #1 cake pan, which matched the invitations perfectly!!! ...and when I say perfect, it is because Grandma took the time to ice each little pink and white square with the star tip...and then gave it a green border...TOO CUTE!!!
Talk about a HUGE party!! I think there were more people here to see this little cutie dig into her cake than we could ever get together!! Let's face it...we don't really through parties...haha. Just to name a few: Grandma & Grandpa K, Nethery Family, Great GREAT Aunt Jo, Great Aunt Jamie/Great Uncle Johnny, The O'Brien Family, Katherine, Mary Lynn, Steven, Jennifer, Ian, Pamela, Yokley Family, Melissa (Tillie), Danielle (Christian), Martin Family, Dawn (Arianna), Benavides Family, Heather (Cindy)...and please forgive me for those that I forgot!! Let's just say this girly of ours is LOVED!! I bought bubbles, sidewalk chalk and play dough for the kiddos to play with...they seemed to be entertained!!
However, I totally overestimated how much food we needed...so we had enough to feed an army. We had fruit and veggies galore (and literally enough fruit dip for an army...9 cups to be exact...oops!). Yummy spinach dip (Thanks Aunt Betsy!!). Delicious tortilla pinwheel sandwiches (Thanks Target!! ...the best deal in town!! ...one tray would have been plenty). And did I mention cupcakes, cake and more cupcakes??
Everyone gathered around to watch the Birthday Girl eat her cake. I have to say, she was a bit hesitant at first. I think the icing might have felt funny to her. Since it was done with the icing tip, it was kind of textured. She basically picked at the edging for a while. Finally, I gave her a good taste and she delved a little deeper. Never made a huge mess...but she did get pretty darn sticky and had icing everywhere!! I stripped her down and dunked her for a quick bath in the sink before her festivities could continue.
After cake, most of our friends left...and we just had family here. It seemed like an appropriate time to let her open her gifts. Cousins Gracie and Quentin were her helpers!! Needless to say, Brooklyn seemed to be more interested in the boxes that her gifts were in vs. the toys! WOW...I think we know own a complete Little People village!! It is so incredible and they are the cutest toys!! I love it that she will be able to play with them for so long!! Quentin is 7 and was still having fun with them!! She got: Happy Sounds Home (Grandma Q/Grandpa Joe), Car Garage/Race Track (O'Brien Family), School Bus (Jennifer/Karol), Tractor (Aunt Maggie), Boat (Ian), Airplane (Steven), SUV (Danielle)...and the Farm!! She also got a ton of clothes and a Little People Parade push/ride along (Grandma/Grandpa K). The Netherys (ahem, Cousin Gracie) gave Brooklyn not only her first baby doll...but a Baby Stella Doll...which Gracie has too!! They were soo cute with their little dollies!! She also got a ton of fun bath toys and a tent/tube (Aunt Jamie/Uncle John). Some other fun goodies that she got included puzzles, books, jewelry and much more!! Yes, I did say jewelry.
Brooks and I gave Brooklyn her charm bracelet. It is actually my old bracelet that I ran out of room on when I was younger and upgraded to a bracelet with more links. I thought it would be neat for her to have and for us to be able to start that tradition for her. She has the "B" and a cupcake!! The other jewelery that she got is a diamond ring from her Daddy (it is a marquis, solitaire). Brooks came up with the idea all on his own...and didn't even tell me about it!! He wanted her to have something from him that was hers her whole, entire life (or nearly!)!! Brooks gave it to her with a super sweet note that basically said that it is to remind her that he will always be there for her no matter what. He wanted her to have this ring to keep with her as a reminder, and then when that special day comes...when she finds a person that makes her feel the way that he feels about me, that person can replace it. How sweet is that?!?!
Aunt Betsy and Uncle Curtis were also so generous to give us one of their Little Tyke outdoor slides!! It is so awesome!! It is a small slide and swing that is perfect for Brooklyn!! We don't have anything like this...so I know it will be used a lot!!! Speaking of outdoor play stuff...Brooks and I also got her a water table....which we FORGOT to give her. ...and have been so busy, that it is still in the box!! We will give it to her soon...I mean, the girl LOVES to splash in the dog's water...just think of the fun she will have with this!!
Another neat present that she got was a hand crafted t-shirt from Melissa!! Melissa has her own company, Melimba, and she makes the cutest creations!!! Stationery, clothes...and now her very own fabric!! She is quite the talented friend!! I wanted Brooklyn to have a cupcake shirt for her party...so Melissa designed one!!! ...AND she even gave us some stationery with cupcakes that have Brooklyn's name on them!! Fancy!!
TAADAA!!! The big finale!! After Brooklyn finished opening her gifts...she PULLED HERSELF UP!! Our little girl had not been wanting to stand...but how amazing is it that she did it when we had the camera out!! She acted as if she had been doing it her whole life!! (all 12 months of it!). She only did it one time that evening...but after that she was on a roll!!! It was funny, at first her legs would get so so wibbly wobbly and she would stand there crying...not knowing how to sit. Thankfully (for her sake), her legs have gotten stronger and she has figured out how to sit! She is know a furniture cruising fool!! ...and PS - a few days later she learned that she can also climb stairs!! (did I mention that I just ordered two baby gates? yes, yes...one for the top and bottom of the stairs...).
To wrap things up....my Mom and I took Brooklyn to JC Penny (a few days after her birthday) and had her picture taken with a little round cake from HEB. These were purse diaper shots digging into the cake. This icing was definitely more fun for her to touch (either that or her cake digging experience has improved)...but she was such a mess and had a blast!! Our favorite was when she stuck her foot in it!! She LOVES to do things with her feet!! Then, she had enough and there were pink hand prints ALL OVER the sheet!!
Today, our wonderful friend Catherine (Four Creative Studio) took pictures of Brooklyn in her tutu. A minor detail that I forgot. I bought Brooklyn a tutu for her Birthday...I thought it would be cute for her to wear. She actually just wore it during presents...and kind of looked like a little peacock when she stuck her hiny in the air and crawled. It was pretty fun! Aunt Jo even thought it made a festive hat! I agree, don't you? Anyways, we met Catherine today...and she was so gracious to take Brooklyn's picture!! She kind of reminded me of a little fairy in a garden! She just wore her birthday tutu and her multi-colored corker bows from Grandma. I can't wait to see the pictures!! We are doing family pictures with Catherine this next week!!
Alrighty, I seem to be a bit long-winded...but it was a BIG day in our little Brooklyn's life...so I had a lot to say. I think this seems to sum up all things 1st Birthday. Pictures you ask? Yes, that will be my next step...to add pictures for this post....AND the last!!
Anyways, this little girl (which totally describes her now) celebrated her First Birthday last week. On her actual birthday, we went to Osaka with grandma and grandpa and watched them cook on the table. We thought this might entertain her...but turns out we might need to wait a year or two more...or just make sure she has a fresh nap first. She was a tad fussy...which was finally relieved by an order of mango ice cream. She was also graced with a visit from Great Aunt Jamie on her birthday!! She made the trip to hand deliver some flowers...and to sing to the Birthday Girl.
That night Mommy, Daddy, Grandma, Grandpa...and the BIRTHDAY GIRL went to dinner at Osaka. We thought it would entertain Brooklyn if they cooked on the table. Ahhh, maybe this will be more entertaining in a few years. It caught her interest for a bit and then she was bored. However, considering she didn't really nap all day...she did quite well. Some mango ice cream seems to be the trick!!
We had her actual party on Sunday, September 6th. The Nethery clan won the award for coming the farthest. They drove down Saturday and stayed with us through Monday! Brooklyn had fun with her cousins!! She and Gracie and going to have so much fun doing all the "girly" things as soon as Brooklyn gets a tad older. Well actually, Gracie LOVES doing the girly things with her now...but Brooklyn will be able to participate more in the future! ;)
Grandma S-L-A-V-E-D away in the kitchen all day on Saturday baking and decorating cupcakes and cakes (yes, plural...because Brooklyn had to have her own cake to SMASH!!). My Mom always made my cake each year (one might think I would want to tackle this tradition for my own daughter...but my Mom is so great at it...I thought she should continue with the tradition...maybe I will take it over in the future). We had a #1 cake pan, which matched the invitations perfectly!!! ...and when I say perfect, it is because Grandma took the time to ice each little pink and white square with the star tip...and then gave it a green border...TOO CUTE!!!
Talk about a HUGE party!! I think there were more people here to see this little cutie dig into her cake than we could ever get together!! Let's face it...we don't really through parties...haha. Just to name a few: Grandma & Grandpa K, Nethery Family, Great GREAT Aunt Jo, Great Aunt Jamie/Great Uncle Johnny, The O'Brien Family, Katherine, Mary Lynn, Steven, Jennifer, Ian, Pamela, Yokley Family, Melissa (Tillie), Danielle (Christian), Martin Family, Dawn (Arianna), Benavides Family, Heather (Cindy)...and please forgive me for those that I forgot!! Let's just say this girly of ours is LOVED!! I bought bubbles, sidewalk chalk and play dough for the kiddos to play with...they seemed to be entertained!!
However, I totally overestimated how much food we needed...so we had enough to feed an army. We had fruit and veggies galore (and literally enough fruit dip for an army...9 cups to be exact...oops!). Yummy spinach dip (Thanks Aunt Betsy!!). Delicious tortilla pinwheel sandwiches (Thanks Target!! ...the best deal in town!! ...one tray would have been plenty). And did I mention cupcakes, cake and more cupcakes??
Everyone gathered around to watch the Birthday Girl eat her cake. I have to say, she was a bit hesitant at first. I think the icing might have felt funny to her. Since it was done with the icing tip, it was kind of textured. She basically picked at the edging for a while. Finally, I gave her a good taste and she delved a little deeper. Never made a huge mess...but she did get pretty darn sticky and had icing everywhere!! I stripped her down and dunked her for a quick bath in the sink before her festivities could continue.
After cake, most of our friends left...and we just had family here. It seemed like an appropriate time to let her open her gifts. Cousins Gracie and Quentin were her helpers!! Needless to say, Brooklyn seemed to be more interested in the boxes that her gifts were in vs. the toys! WOW...I think we know own a complete Little People village!! It is so incredible and they are the cutest toys!! I love it that she will be able to play with them for so long!! Quentin is 7 and was still having fun with them!! She got: Happy Sounds Home (Grandma Q/Grandpa Joe), Car Garage/Race Track (O'Brien Family), School Bus (Jennifer/Karol), Tractor (Aunt Maggie), Boat (Ian), Airplane (Steven), SUV (Danielle)...and the Farm!! She also got a ton of clothes and a Little People Parade push/ride along (Grandma/Grandpa K). The Netherys (ahem, Cousin Gracie) gave Brooklyn not only her first baby doll...but a Baby Stella Doll...which Gracie has too!! They were soo cute with their little dollies!! She also got a ton of fun bath toys and a tent/tube (Aunt Jamie/Uncle John). Some other fun goodies that she got included puzzles, books, jewelry and much more!! Yes, I did say jewelry.
Brooks and I gave Brooklyn her charm bracelet. It is actually my old bracelet that I ran out of room on when I was younger and upgraded to a bracelet with more links. I thought it would be neat for her to have and for us to be able to start that tradition for her. She has the "B" and a cupcake!! The other jewelery that she got is a diamond ring from her Daddy (it is a marquis, solitaire). Brooks came up with the idea all on his own...and didn't even tell me about it!! He wanted her to have something from him that was hers her whole, entire life (or nearly!)!! Brooks gave it to her with a super sweet note that basically said that it is to remind her that he will always be there for her no matter what. He wanted her to have this ring to keep with her as a reminder, and then when that special day comes...when she finds a person that makes her feel the way that he feels about me, that person can replace it. How sweet is that?!?!
Aunt Betsy and Uncle Curtis were also so generous to give us one of their Little Tyke outdoor slides!! It is so awesome!! It is a small slide and swing that is perfect for Brooklyn!! We don't have anything like this...so I know it will be used a lot!!! Speaking of outdoor play stuff...Brooks and I also got her a water table....which we FORGOT to give her. ...and have been so busy, that it is still in the box!! We will give it to her soon...I mean, the girl LOVES to splash in the dog's water...just think of the fun she will have with this!!
Another neat present that she got was a hand crafted t-shirt from Melissa!! Melissa has her own company, Melimba, and she makes the cutest creations!!! Stationery, clothes...and now her very own fabric!! She is quite the talented friend!! I wanted Brooklyn to have a cupcake shirt for her party...so Melissa designed one!!! ...AND she even gave us some stationery with cupcakes that have Brooklyn's name on them!! Fancy!!
TAADAA!!! The big finale!! After Brooklyn finished opening her gifts...she PULLED HERSELF UP!! Our little girl had not been wanting to stand...but how amazing is it that she did it when we had the camera out!! She acted as if she had been doing it her whole life!! (all 12 months of it!). She only did it one time that evening...but after that she was on a roll!!! It was funny, at first her legs would get so so wibbly wobbly and she would stand there crying...not knowing how to sit. Thankfully (for her sake), her legs have gotten stronger and she has figured out how to sit! She is know a furniture cruising fool!! ...and PS - a few days later she learned that she can also climb stairs!! (did I mention that I just ordered two baby gates? yes, yes...one for the top and bottom of the stairs...).
To wrap things up....my Mom and I took Brooklyn to JC Penny (a few days after her birthday) and had her picture taken with a little round cake from HEB. These were purse diaper shots digging into the cake. This icing was definitely more fun for her to touch (either that or her cake digging experience has improved)...but she was such a mess and had a blast!! Our favorite was when she stuck her foot in it!! She LOVES to do things with her feet!! Then, she had enough and there were pink hand prints ALL OVER the sheet!!
Today, our wonderful friend Catherine (Four Creative Studio) took pictures of Brooklyn in her tutu. A minor detail that I forgot. I bought Brooklyn a tutu for her Birthday...I thought it would be cute for her to wear. She actually just wore it during presents...and kind of looked like a little peacock when she stuck her hiny in the air and crawled. It was pretty fun! Aunt Jo even thought it made a festive hat! I agree, don't you? Anyways, we met Catherine today...and she was so gracious to take Brooklyn's picture!! She kind of reminded me of a little fairy in a garden! She just wore her birthday tutu and her multi-colored corker bows from Grandma. I can't wait to see the pictures!! We are doing family pictures with Catherine this next week!!
Alrighty, I seem to be a bit long-winded...but it was a BIG day in our little Brooklyn's life...so I had a lot to say. I think this seems to sum up all things 1st Birthday. Pictures you ask? Yes, that will be my next step...to add pictures for this post....AND the last!!
Monday, August 17, 2009
Less than 3 weeks...
First of all, you might be asking yourself what I am doing up blogging in the middle of the night? Brooks woke up at 2:30 AM (yes, AM!!) to go fishing at the coast. Needless to say, I have been unable to go back to sleep...and after tossing and turning for a bit I decided to turn on the computer and brought it to the bedroom.
Figured the 4 in the morning was a good time for me to catch up on our blog...and be un-distracted, since Brooklyn is sleeping. Although, she keeps stirring and talking/jabbering in her sleep...so I have been staring at the monitor in awe of how cute she is.
Ok...seems as if a month as gone by since my last post...and that makes me so sad. Mainly because this is the best re-cap on Brooklyn's life....and I haven't had time for it lately...so let me take you back. (although I don't think much has really happened in the last month).
July 25th I drug Brooks (and Brooklyn) along to the hospital for the "Buckle Up Baby" Refresher Class. We bought Brooklyn her new big girl carseat and wanted to make sure we knew how to properly use it. Out of all of our childbirth classes at Methodist Hospital...the carseat one was both of our favorites...worth every minute!! We are so critical when we see people driving around with the handle up on infant carriers, with things hanging all over the car to entertain their child...that could potentially knock them in the head, with the straps not tightened enough, with the chest clip too low on their torso...or with added things to the carseat for their child's comfort that make the seat not quite as safe as it was intended to be...ok, that is my rant on car seats.
We bought Brooklyn the Britax Marathon because of their safety ratings and their weight limits! I got an awesome deal on her seat...the pattern I wanted (pink and brown polka dots...yes girly...but it will be hers forever!!), it was on sale and I had a 15% off coupon!!! She can rear face until 35lbs...which we will likely follow because it has proven to be the safest...AND she can forward face until 65lbs...highest weight limit on the market! Not to mention, I weighed her on a friend's baby scale this past week and she was just shy of 18lbs...so she is still super tiny!! Totally worth every penny...everyone we know that has a Marathon, LOVES it!!!
Did you know that in Texas it is the law to rear face until your child is 1 year of age AND 20 lbs??? Apparently some people don't. I recently met another Mom, who happens to have twins...and she flipped her girls to forward facing at SIX MONTHS!!! I just met them at 10 months and they are 17 and 20lbs. I simply don't understand people. It has obviously been determined that rear facing is the safest position for children (BABIES!!)...so why woul you do otherwise?? For your own selfish convenience?? Yes, I realizes that we survived our parent's parenting skills...bumpers in the cribs, TONS of stuffed animals...and some of us not even having carseats...but this rule/law is in place for a reason. Ok...I will move on versus criticizing other people's parenting....
Anyways, Brooklyn is a B-I-G fan of her new seat. When she falls asleep in it she looks so comfy. Her head rests comfortably on the side of the seat and doesn't flop over when she falls asleep. It is also super soft and just comfy looking!! Brooks and I wish we had one! Did I mention how EASY it is to install!!??!! The carseat technician installed it for us and showed us exactly how to use it with the LATCH system, as well as with a seat belt. Britax wins the award for the B-E-S-T LATCH system on the market...so so easy!!! Easy to tighten, easy to install...would definitely recommend this seat!!
Do you remember the HUGE ball pits at the kid oriented pizza places (Little Piper Pizza...Chuck E Cheese???)....and how you didn't want to think how dirty and disgusting those balls might be from little kids wallering all over them?? Well, I tried to create Brooklyn's very own mini-ball bit. I got an inflatable baby pool at Target ($4.99) and then found a massive bag of balls for sale on Craigslist ($5). I filled the bathtub with bleach water, swished them around...and let them soak. We then rinsed them off and had balls laying all over our house to dry. We have more balls than fill the pool...so I figure we can upgrade to a bigger pool that might be more entertaining...because this pool is TINY!!!! Brooklyn can't even lay down it its so small!!
I thought this would be great fun for her. It entertains her for about 1/2 a second and then she rolls or crawls out of it. I think she has more fun crawling through the balls when they were laid out to dry. Oh well, it was the thought that counts. Maybe she will change her mind in a few months.
Speaking of crawling...this kid is everywhere!!! Talk about having a busy bee on our hands (we call her a bee for another reason...will get to that in a second). She is not phased if she goes somewhere without you. She will just trot off on her own to any room in the house...thus we have started shutting doors. She has discovered her skill of opening doors...and smashing fingers in drawers. Yes, we have bought cabinet locks (and our outlets are all plugged up)...but a certain Daddy hasn't gotten them installed yet. It is quite the daunting task of locking all of our kitchen and bathroom cabinets...but I think it will be worth it.
However, I do have to say...she is pretty good at sticking to "her" cabinet. We decided to let her play in the plastic cabinet...it is all of her dishes and our plastic cups. WARNING...anything in this cabinet needs to be washed before you use it!! Baby slobber and dog hair may be found on items!!! I washed everything the first time...and then decided that was a waste of time...haha.
She is learning "no no"..and when you tell her, she will usually look at you and then move on to something else. Although, funny story. We have three wrought iron candle sticks (1-3 feet high) in the corner of the hallway. She has tumped one over once...didn't hurt her...but I think just scared her. Anyways, when my Mom was keeping her...she went to investigate the candle holders. She put her little and on the first one...my Mom said "no no"...Brooklyn looked at her and moved her hand to the second one...my Mom said "no no"...so she tried the third one...and after being told "no no" for a third time (on her third object) she finally gave up.
Remember, how I said she is a busy bee...well she is also a BUZZING bee. I don't know if I have ever mentioned this before...but she is the noisiest eater ever!!! We think it's cute...unless she is bother other people. She must really enjoy her food...because it is constant buzzing and humming while she eats!! Brooks asked when she was going to stop buzzing and I said "just enjoy it...when she is 12 you will miss it (unless she still buzzes and that might be weird). I was on the phone with the pediatrician's office a few days ago scheduling her 12 month check up and the lady said "oh you have a moaner"...and I said "yes, she's eating...she hums when she eats"...and she said "she's buzzing"...so since then, Brooklyn has been our Busy Buzzing Bee.
12 months, what?? Really, Brooklyn's birthday is in less than 3 weeks?? Wow...how on earth did that happen. It's so funny, she is such a little girl. She is so long, so kid-like looking...it just blows our mind on where the last year went...and how we spent last September. Alternating who rocked her to sleep and held her until she was completely zonked out....and what seemed to be late nights. Although, we have been very very blessed with a child who is a wonderful sleeper...she has slept through the night since she was about a month old (really probably from the beginning, but I had to wake her up for feedings). She will go to bed between 8-9, and wake up between 8-9. She is even flexible..if we are out late or over at my parents house...she usually a pretty good trooper about staying up an hour or two past her bedtime. She is still pretty good about taking two naps during the day. Her morning nap is a breeze...sometimes she will fight me on going to sleep in the afternoon...but she will usually play herself to sleep.
I'm sure we will have a small celebration for her on September 3rd...how can we not?? However, her official party will be on September 6th. We are just having family and close friends over to the house...get together, have fun, eat...and watch her DIG into her cake!!!!! I bought her the cutest felt hat at Moon Mippy...Brooks thinks it looks like a scary clown hat...I love it, I want it to be her traditional birthday hat and wear it each year!!
Until recently, we had an 11 month 1 week old baby with no teeth. People have been asking us for months how many teeth she has. I didn't cut a tooth until the weekend of my first birthday...well Brooklyn has beat me!! This past Friday, my parents were over for dinner and she was buzzing away while eating...and I yelled out "Oh my gosh, she has a tooth!!!" There was a shiny white spot on her bottom gums. Her first tooth is on her lower right incisor...August 14th!!! I thought it was coming because last week there seemed to be a bump on her gums...so I had been feeling around. Wednesday night/Thursday morning she woke up crying for like 30 seconds...sat straight up in bed...looked around and flopped back over, maybe this was her tooth poking through??? Who knows, luckily "teething" hasn't seemed to affect her sleeping (knock on wood)...if we are now in the so called "teething stage."
Wow...so apparently I did find quite a bit to write about in the middle of the night and it appears that she has had a pretty eventful month. One as fun side note...Brooklyn knows how to kiss her baby doll. We bought her a doll at Wal-Mart so we could start practicing body parts with her (nose, eyes, ears, feet...etc). We also started giving the baby kisses on her head. If you say "kiss the baby" she will crawl over to her doll, open her mouth and slobber on her head. It's so stinkin cute!! Talk about getting a wet one!! She won't kiss us yet...although she has done this to me twice, but I don't know that it was intentional...but still sweet!! :) Speaking of faces...she loves to investigate our faces...grabbing eyebrows, nose...mouth.
She knows "da da da"....she will say "du" for duck and "ba" for ball...maybe the "ma ma ma" sound is right around the corner. I finally printed pictures of Brooklyn...birth through present. This has been something that had been weighing heavily on me...and stressing me out the further and further behind I got. Yes, yes...I know we are in the digital age where we can just pop a DVD/CD into the TV or Computer and look at pictures that way...but I want her to be able to flip through albums and look at baby pics. I am happy I had them printed...we now have 3 albums of Brooklyn snap shots (yikes...that is just through 10 months!!).
A few other fun facts about Brooklyn. We have been pretty conservative about what "real" food we will give her. She mainly just has Stage 2 and 3 baby foods. She eats puffs and yogurt melts. We have recently expanded her diet to have a Vanilla Wafer now and then. She started out eating those great....and now immediately tries to stick the whole cookie in her mouth. She also loves Graham Crackers and Gold Fish. She has eaten avocado, cheese, banana, potatoes, sweet potatoes, squash, strawberries, kiwi....but we have recently discovered her most very favorite are blueberries!!!
We also love it when we walk in the door from being away...and when she sees us coming she crawls at "super speed" towards us and squeals with her skrinkle face!! I think it just melts our hearts...
I will try to be better about posting more often...it would not be such a daunting task if I posted updates on a regular basis. However, lately I have been so busy with my Thirty-One business. I truly feel blessed that Betsy sent me the information on this company. I have been able to make enough extra money to help support us and continue staying home with Brooklyn. I know have a total of 6 women on my team (which is incredible since I have only been doing this since May). This includes recruits that my recruits have...which is wonderful because my team is growing like crazy!! I currently have three women that I am talking to who are interested in the business opportunity as well. I love having the parties and open houses...it is fun to show to women, they get excited about and love it just as much as I do. I never in a million years thought I would want to work for a company like this, but I guess since I love the product...it simply just works. I have been super thankful to my parents, aunt and Gina for being able to keep Brooklyn while I have been at parties. If it is on the weekend, my parents or aunt watch her...if it is a weeknight, Gina keeps her until Brooks gets off work. However, Brooks was lucky last Tuesday when he got to watch her all day when I was in New Braunfels for a party...he had it pretty easy and they had fun. I am looking forward to my future with Thirty-One...
For anyone who is curious about what I have been up to I have a website with the company, www.MyThirtyOne.com/Kristen and I have also created a blog http://www.my31gifts.blogspot.com/.
Okie dokie...hopefully I have typed myself to sleep. It is now 5 am and I think I will go to bed. I will try and get some pics off the camera and post later! :)
Figured the 4 in the morning was a good time for me to catch up on our blog...and be un-distracted, since Brooklyn is sleeping. Although, she keeps stirring and talking/jabbering in her sleep...so I have been staring at the monitor in awe of how cute she is.
Ok...seems as if a month as gone by since my last post...and that makes me so sad. Mainly because this is the best re-cap on Brooklyn's life....and I haven't had time for it lately...so let me take you back. (although I don't think much has really happened in the last month).
July 25th I drug Brooks (and Brooklyn) along to the hospital for the "Buckle Up Baby" Refresher Class. We bought Brooklyn her new big girl carseat and wanted to make sure we knew how to properly use it. Out of all of our childbirth classes at Methodist Hospital...the carseat one was both of our favorites...worth every minute!! We are so critical when we see people driving around with the handle up on infant carriers, with things hanging all over the car to entertain their child...that could potentially knock them in the head, with the straps not tightened enough, with the chest clip too low on their torso...or with added things to the carseat for their child's comfort that make the seat not quite as safe as it was intended to be...ok, that is my rant on car seats.
We bought Brooklyn the Britax Marathon because of their safety ratings and their weight limits! I got an awesome deal on her seat...the pattern I wanted (pink and brown polka dots...yes girly...but it will be hers forever!!), it was on sale and I had a 15% off coupon!!! She can rear face until 35lbs...which we will likely follow because it has proven to be the safest...AND she can forward face until 65lbs...highest weight limit on the market! Not to mention, I weighed her on a friend's baby scale this past week and she was just shy of 18lbs...so she is still super tiny!! Totally worth every penny...everyone we know that has a Marathon, LOVES it!!!
Did you know that in Texas it is the law to rear face until your child is 1 year of age AND 20 lbs??? Apparently some people don't. I recently met another Mom, who happens to have twins...and she flipped her girls to forward facing at SIX MONTHS!!! I just met them at 10 months and they are 17 and 20lbs. I simply don't understand people. It has obviously been determined that rear facing is the safest position for children (BABIES!!)...so why woul you do otherwise?? For your own selfish convenience?? Yes, I realizes that we survived our parent's parenting skills...bumpers in the cribs, TONS of stuffed animals...and some of us not even having carseats...but this rule/law is in place for a reason. Ok...I will move on versus criticizing other people's parenting....
Anyways, Brooklyn is a B-I-G fan of her new seat. When she falls asleep in it she looks so comfy. Her head rests comfortably on the side of the seat and doesn't flop over when she falls asleep. It is also super soft and just comfy looking!! Brooks and I wish we had one! Did I mention how EASY it is to install!!??!! The carseat technician installed it for us and showed us exactly how to use it with the LATCH system, as well as with a seat belt. Britax wins the award for the B-E-S-T LATCH system on the market...so so easy!!! Easy to tighten, easy to install...would definitely recommend this seat!!
Do you remember the HUGE ball pits at the kid oriented pizza places (Little Piper Pizza...Chuck E Cheese???)....and how you didn't want to think how dirty and disgusting those balls might be from little kids wallering all over them?? Well, I tried to create Brooklyn's very own mini-ball bit. I got an inflatable baby pool at Target ($4.99) and then found a massive bag of balls for sale on Craigslist ($5). I filled the bathtub with bleach water, swished them around...and let them soak. We then rinsed them off and had balls laying all over our house to dry. We have more balls than fill the pool...so I figure we can upgrade to a bigger pool that might be more entertaining...because this pool is TINY!!!! Brooklyn can't even lay down it its so small!!
I thought this would be great fun for her. It entertains her for about 1/2 a second and then she rolls or crawls out of it. I think she has more fun crawling through the balls when they were laid out to dry. Oh well, it was the thought that counts. Maybe she will change her mind in a few months.
Speaking of crawling...this kid is everywhere!!! Talk about having a busy bee on our hands (we call her a bee for another reason...will get to that in a second). She is not phased if she goes somewhere without you. She will just trot off on her own to any room in the house...thus we have started shutting doors. She has discovered her skill of opening doors...and smashing fingers in drawers. Yes, we have bought cabinet locks (and our outlets are all plugged up)...but a certain Daddy hasn't gotten them installed yet. It is quite the daunting task of locking all of our kitchen and bathroom cabinets...but I think it will be worth it.
However, I do have to say...she is pretty good at sticking to "her" cabinet. We decided to let her play in the plastic cabinet...it is all of her dishes and our plastic cups. WARNING...anything in this cabinet needs to be washed before you use it!! Baby slobber and dog hair may be found on items!!! I washed everything the first time...and then decided that was a waste of time...haha.
She is learning "no no"..and when you tell her, she will usually look at you and then move on to something else. Although, funny story. We have three wrought iron candle sticks (1-3 feet high) in the corner of the hallway. She has tumped one over once...didn't hurt her...but I think just scared her. Anyways, when my Mom was keeping her...she went to investigate the candle holders. She put her little and on the first one...my Mom said "no no"...Brooklyn looked at her and moved her hand to the second one...my Mom said "no no"...so she tried the third one...and after being told "no no" for a third time (on her third object) she finally gave up.
Remember, how I said she is a busy bee...well she is also a BUZZING bee. I don't know if I have ever mentioned this before...but she is the noisiest eater ever!!! We think it's cute...unless she is bother other people. She must really enjoy her food...because it is constant buzzing and humming while she eats!! Brooks asked when she was going to stop buzzing and I said "just enjoy it...when she is 12 you will miss it (unless she still buzzes and that might be weird). I was on the phone with the pediatrician's office a few days ago scheduling her 12 month check up and the lady said "oh you have a moaner"...and I said "yes, she's eating...she hums when she eats"...and she said "she's buzzing"...so since then, Brooklyn has been our Busy Buzzing Bee.
12 months, what?? Really, Brooklyn's birthday is in less than 3 weeks?? Wow...how on earth did that happen. It's so funny, she is such a little girl. She is so long, so kid-like looking...it just blows our mind on where the last year went...and how we spent last September. Alternating who rocked her to sleep and held her until she was completely zonked out....and what seemed to be late nights. Although, we have been very very blessed with a child who is a wonderful sleeper...she has slept through the night since she was about a month old (really probably from the beginning, but I had to wake her up for feedings). She will go to bed between 8-9, and wake up between 8-9. She is even flexible..if we are out late or over at my parents house...she usually a pretty good trooper about staying up an hour or two past her bedtime. She is still pretty good about taking two naps during the day. Her morning nap is a breeze...sometimes she will fight me on going to sleep in the afternoon...but she will usually play herself to sleep.
I'm sure we will have a small celebration for her on September 3rd...how can we not?? However, her official party will be on September 6th. We are just having family and close friends over to the house...get together, have fun, eat...and watch her DIG into her cake!!!!! I bought her the cutest felt hat at Moon Mippy...Brooks thinks it looks like a scary clown hat...I love it, I want it to be her traditional birthday hat and wear it each year!!
Until recently, we had an 11 month 1 week old baby with no teeth. People have been asking us for months how many teeth she has. I didn't cut a tooth until the weekend of my first birthday...well Brooklyn has beat me!! This past Friday, my parents were over for dinner and she was buzzing away while eating...and I yelled out "Oh my gosh, she has a tooth!!!" There was a shiny white spot on her bottom gums. Her first tooth is on her lower right incisor...August 14th!!! I thought it was coming because last week there seemed to be a bump on her gums...so I had been feeling around. Wednesday night/Thursday morning she woke up crying for like 30 seconds...sat straight up in bed...looked around and flopped back over, maybe this was her tooth poking through??? Who knows, luckily "teething" hasn't seemed to affect her sleeping (knock on wood)...if we are now in the so called "teething stage."
Wow...so apparently I did find quite a bit to write about in the middle of the night and it appears that she has had a pretty eventful month. One as fun side note...Brooklyn knows how to kiss her baby doll. We bought her a doll at Wal-Mart so we could start practicing body parts with her (nose, eyes, ears, feet...etc). We also started giving the baby kisses on her head. If you say "kiss the baby" she will crawl over to her doll, open her mouth and slobber on her head. It's so stinkin cute!! Talk about getting a wet one!! She won't kiss us yet...although she has done this to me twice, but I don't know that it was intentional...but still sweet!! :) Speaking of faces...she loves to investigate our faces...grabbing eyebrows, nose...mouth.
She knows "da da da"....she will say "du" for duck and "ba" for ball...maybe the "ma ma ma" sound is right around the corner. I finally printed pictures of Brooklyn...birth through present. This has been something that had been weighing heavily on me...and stressing me out the further and further behind I got. Yes, yes...I know we are in the digital age where we can just pop a DVD/CD into the TV or Computer and look at pictures that way...but I want her to be able to flip through albums and look at baby pics. I am happy I had them printed...we now have 3 albums of Brooklyn snap shots (yikes...that is just through 10 months!!).
A few other fun facts about Brooklyn. We have been pretty conservative about what "real" food we will give her. She mainly just has Stage 2 and 3 baby foods. She eats puffs and yogurt melts. We have recently expanded her diet to have a Vanilla Wafer now and then. She started out eating those great....and now immediately tries to stick the whole cookie in her mouth. She also loves Graham Crackers and Gold Fish. She has eaten avocado, cheese, banana, potatoes, sweet potatoes, squash, strawberries, kiwi....but we have recently discovered her most very favorite are blueberries!!!
We also love it when we walk in the door from being away...and when she sees us coming she crawls at "super speed" towards us and squeals with her skrinkle face!! I think it just melts our hearts...
I will try to be better about posting more often...it would not be such a daunting task if I posted updates on a regular basis. However, lately I have been so busy with my Thirty-One business. I truly feel blessed that Betsy sent me the information on this company. I have been able to make enough extra money to help support us and continue staying home with Brooklyn. I know have a total of 6 women on my team (which is incredible since I have only been doing this since May). This includes recruits that my recruits have...which is wonderful because my team is growing like crazy!! I currently have three women that I am talking to who are interested in the business opportunity as well. I love having the parties and open houses...it is fun to show to women, they get excited about and love it just as much as I do. I never in a million years thought I would want to work for a company like this, but I guess since I love the product...it simply just works. I have been super thankful to my parents, aunt and Gina for being able to keep Brooklyn while I have been at parties. If it is on the weekend, my parents or aunt watch her...if it is a weeknight, Gina keeps her until Brooks gets off work. However, Brooks was lucky last Tuesday when he got to watch her all day when I was in New Braunfels for a party...he had it pretty easy and they had fun. I am looking forward to my future with Thirty-One...
For anyone who is curious about what I have been up to I have a website with the company, www.MyThirtyOne.com/Kristen and I have also created a blog http://www.my31gifts.blogspot.com/.
Okie dokie...hopefully I have typed myself to sleep. It is now 5 am and I think I will go to bed. I will try and get some pics off the camera and post later! :)
Friday, July 17, 2009
1st Haircut!!
My Mom and I took Brooklyn to get her 1st haircut today...it has been getting quite shaggy. I love the whispy look of it...but unfortunately when she wakes up, she can't see because her bangs come down to her nose!! We wanted to even it up in the back...get rid of her mullet look and cut her bangs so she can see the world around her, without always having to have her hair pulled up! (because if we just use a clip...she yanks it right out!). She will also tilt her head upwards to try and see out from under her hair...it's just kinda sad :(
The Before...
Mommy sprays my hair with water every day...but somehow this is different...and NOT fun
So...ten and a half months after she was born we took her to Cool Cuts 4 Kids and made an appointment with Mary Lou (recommended by Karol). Mary Lou was so so good with Brooklyn, however Brooklyn might beg to differ. Unfortunately, I think it might have been a traumatizing experience for her. It was really no different than me fixing her hair (because I use a spray bottle of water), however they had to put a cape on her...and she was not a fan!! She loves to grab the comb when I do her hair and try to see what I am doing...the cape prevented her from getting her arms up and being Mary Lou's little helper...so that frustrated her from the beginning.
Why me??
Ok, maybe we can play beauty shop...
No more mullet...
However, they do everything in their power to make it fun for kids...they have movies playing...sit them in cute car hair styling chairs...and it is just a fun environment. Brooklyn loved sitting on the Lego table and playing with Legos...we decided they just should have cut her hair there...haha.
Time for bangs! Now do you understand why I can't see?!?!
Ok, I think this is better, but I might need a nap first...
Getting cute is hard work!!
The sum of our outing and first hair cut experience...is out little baby girl now looks even more like a little girl. She is more girl and less baby every day (and her BIRTHDAY is in less than two months...how??). Anyways, she is precious...and looks like a doll (I think she likes it too...she waved at herself in the mirror on the way out).
The 1970's Dorothy Hamill wedge...
No, she isn't going to have a haircut like I did when I was little...the short "boy cut"...although to my family it was known as the "Dorothy Hamill" style...and in my defense, my hair was always neat, clean and cute...and not long and stringy...I'm not a fan of stringy hair on little girls (long hair seems to frequently be stringy unless it is nice and thick).
(I will insert an old pic of me here)
Anyways, Brooklyn's hair is now evened up and super cute...we will let it continue to grow and just have her bangs trimmed from now on. My favorite part is the curl that she has (we think this is from her Daddy)...it curls so perfectly above each ear and looks like we used a curling iron...too cute!!
TaDa!!! Ok, Mommy save me!!
Ok, out of that silly seat...Mary Lou has stepped away and I'm back with Mommy. Phew, what a hard afternoon...but I feel like a cutie pie!!
Will try and post a non-fussy pic later so we don't have the snot flying and red eyebrows look going on...
Thursday, July 9, 2009
Brooklyn LIVE!!
Here are a few videos of Brooklyn in action...playing in the pool, crawling...and just being silly!!
Fourth of July & Summer Family Fun!!
Remember how I said she would make a few lurches and then go SPLAT...well SPLAT no more, we are on the move!! Brooklyn is a crawling machine!! She is zooming down the hallway and out of our sight in just seconds!! I love the way her hands sound as they slap the hard surfaced floors...however, she doesn't like the way her head sounds when it "slaps" the floor. Poor little thing still goes SPLAT every now and then and has her first little knot on the forehead!!
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My Mom and I went up to New Braunfels on Sunday to visit Aunt Jo and her cousin, John. Brooklyn had a blast playing with Aunt Jo's oxygen tubing...and Aunt Jo always enjoys seeing her. She is her surrogate Mame...so I want them to visit as much as possible!! My Mom's other cousin, Mary Lynn...and Tim, Katherine and Drew also came to see us...so it was quite a nice afternoon!!
One hot, tired, sweaty, sun-screeny baby...
I forgot to mention Brooklyn's favorite word "ooohhh"...she loves to "oooh" and "aah." ...and she does it with such inflection!! It is as if she is having a conversation with herself...but she will allow us to chime in, as long as we use the same vocabulary. It is truly priceless! Especially in the car...it makes us smile from ear to ear...
So her first "boo-boo" didn't photograph very well...but if you look carefully you will see the red/blue spot above her left eye. We even got out the frozen "boo-boo" bunny, Brooklyn wasn't a fan....
just a 'wonky' hair picture...got out a headband to keep the hair out of her face ...it was cute while it lasted...
For the 4th of July we took Brooklyn to a dusty parking lot. While our intentions were good, this was not our initial plan. We were headed out to watching fireworks at Lackland AFB...and then saw a crowd on the side of the road gathered to watch the festivities at Sea World. Turned out to be a gravel parking lot, which included clouds of dust every time the wind blew or a car entered. Anyways...we perched on the back of our car...patiently waiting. Then they began...and the were so crummy!! They weren't shot up high in the sky and they weren't loud. Not that I was wanting to traumatize our child with loud BOOMS, but it is part of the experience!! Then all of a sudden we heard BOOMS and big fireworks in the sky...but they were coming from behind us. The Hyatt Hill Country definitely upstaged Sea World...so at least she got a somewhat decent firework experience.
we all know fireworks are quite difficult to take pictures of...so here is the best of her 1st 4th of July Fireworks!!
However, next year we will be more organized and are DEFINITELY going to Landa Park in New Braunfels...my all time favorite place to be for the 4th of July!! A fun park to run around in, sit and enjoy the families...and just hang out in one of the all time best places in the world (ok, I might be a bit biased because of memories...but it is pretty great).
ahhh, yes...this was 4th of July in Landa Park many many years ago with Carinne and Scottie...and the infamous "ball of fingers"...that is a whole story in itself...
My Mom and I went up to New Braunfels on Sunday to visit Aunt Jo and her cousin, John. Brooklyn had a blast playing with Aunt Jo's oxygen tubing...and Aunt Jo always enjoys seeing her. She is her surrogate Mame...so I want them to visit as much as possible!! My Mom's other cousin, Mary Lynn...and Tim, Katherine and Drew also came to see us...so it was quite a nice afternoon!!
Aunt Jo & Brooklyn has so much fun swinging her tubing...if only they could have found someone to jump rope!!
...and for this reason we are glad that she is still toothless
(so far she is following her mother's teething pattern...I was 1 year)
Brooklyn was trying to grab the camera and crawl into it...and for some reason I just like these pictures...nothing special (other than what's in them!)
How could I resist capturing this face???
Hangin' out with Cousin John
(psst...wanna know a secret?? that fabric in the picture below is my very own Christmas Stocking that he is making just for ME!! Isn't is beautiful!!! He must love me a whole bunch!!!)
Still studying Cousin Mary Lynn's glasses...they are red, how fun!!
I don't know why she won't share...
Timmy & I...and I'm getting sleepy...
Cousin Katherine...she was so much fun!! We twirled and twirled together!!!
Brooks and I took her to the baby pool this past week and she splished and splashed!! We got her a little floaty seat and she liked being able to wander around the pool on her own...but she couldn't reach the water with her hands...so it hindered her splashing and she didn't last very long in it...
Do you see this piece of paper I found???
Now you see it...Now you don't...because it is in my mouth, as is EVERYTHING now days...
and I am so proud of my accomplishment!!! Silly Girl...
Now for a more impressive accomplishment...watch me GO!!
Hey, this seat is kinda nice...a new found freedom in the water!!!
I can't SPLASH!! I thought the seat was supposed to make this pool business more fun!!
Ahh, a book!! Maybe I can read in the pool...
That's better...out of the tube and splishing and splashing!!!
Ooops, I got water in my face!!
Trying to catch Daddy's toes!!
...and this is my "post" pig-tail hair do...with the lovely part down the center...
Daddy's Girl!!! For some reason I love the bottom picture...
Mommy & Me!!
One hot, tired, sweaty, sun-screeny baby...I forgot to mention Brooklyn's favorite word "ooohhh"...she loves to "oooh" and "aah." ...and she does it with such inflection!! It is as if she is having a conversation with herself...but she will allow us to chime in, as long as we use the same vocabulary. It is truly priceless! Especially in the car...it makes us smile from ear to ear...
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Really, we have a 10 month old??
This picture is older...but a fun "cartoon" pic of Brooklyn from BeFunky.comWhere does time go? I feel we are constantly on the go and time slips away from us. I have no idea how it is even feasible for Brooklyn to be 10 months old next week!! She is developing into such a little person and less of a baby every day. For such a "tiny girl" percentage wise...she is already wearing a lot of clothes that are 18 months. We have moved to two-piece footless jammies...and her clothes are less "baby" looking all the time. She is still an excellent sleeper and seems to prefer to "play" herself to sleep...
My 1st Pony Tail!
(finally doing something with all my hair!)
She had her 9 month check up the beginning of June and weighted 16lbs 13oz. Still tiny...but she's healthy and Dr. Ferreris thinks she looks great! She got two shots and was a trooper! She has also had her first "sick visit" at the doctor. She had been messing with her ears a lot and had a small scab in one of them. My mom told me that she thought her ear was bothering her....I said "yeah I need to cut her finger nails"...because I was thinking the scab itched. Well...obviously I misunderstood my Mom. Sure enough...Brooklyn had her first ear infection! I felt so awful for not knowing!!! I was actually working an even for Thirty-One and Aunt Jamie was babysitting Brooklyn...so her super duper Aunt took her to the doctor. We went through ear drops for 24 hours (and yes, I wore them in my bra just like my Mommy and Mame did...so they stayed nice and warm for her ears) and did a round of liquid amoxicillin (...and it still tastes the exact same!). Since then, her ears have been clear and healthy...so we are hoping her setback was just a fluke and will not become a recurrence.
Sitting in my cute beach chair with my umbrella (from Aunt Jamie)
...and showing off my pigtails!
We had a great time in Midland. We went to see Grandma Q and Grandpa Joe mid-May. We were going to go swimming, but it wasn't quite warm enough (which you wouldn't guess by today's weather...my car said 106 earlier!!!!!). Aunt Betsy held a Thirty-One party at her house...we got to visit with Quentin, Gracie and Brinin some...and then we came home. Overall the trip was too quick and too short!! We hope to go back in July and October!!
Sitting with Grandma Q...the ribbons on her buttons were quite interesting!!
Hanging with Grandpa Joe! Did I mention I LOVE glasses?
Aunt Betsy & Cousin Gracie (Brinin crawled away)
Brooks has been AWESOME at work! We truly think it is a result of a lot of answered prayers! He is currently the #1 Sales Counselor for KB Home in San Antonio!! Could we have a more amazing Daddy??? He's working hard for his girls and making people's dreams of home ownership come true...I'm truly glad he loves his job!!
I have had a very successful start to my Thirty-One business! So far I LOVE it and hope it is our answer to a part-time job for myself! I have had fun, met a lot of great women...and has given me something to work on!
Brooklyn...what has been keeping her busy these days? Focusing on learning how to crawl! That has been her main objective lately! It's so funny how I think she needs someone to teach her these things...but then instinctively, she just starts to do things on her own! She has been spending more time on her tummy and not being cranky about it. Although, her time on her tummy is still short because she loves to ROLL!!! She can make it across one side of the room and back before you know it! However, this new love for being on her tummy has gotten her to figure this crawling business out! This past Sunday, Father's Day...she actually finally got up on her knees and made her first lurch. She will rock back and forth a bit...make a step or two...and then splat! I told her that by the end of the week I bet we are chasing her around the house!! Brooks stayed with her last night and they made a Father/Daughter trip to Wal-Mart and bought outlet covers...so I came home to a semi child proofed house. Now, we just have to wander around and look at what things she can tug on that she might pull over on top of her.
Watch me go!
Another big milestone in Brooklyn's life is sitting on her own...from the laying down position! She did this last night for her Daddy (and Mommy missed it)!! However, Brooks happened to have recording her...so we got it on video! I think it's neat that he was alone with her and got to experience one of her "firsts." I also just laid her down for a nap...and when I looked at the video monitor, the little stinker was sitting up! So maybe she has secretly been practicing in her crib...who knows!
I think she is destined to shop....she loves playing with credit cards and tags on clothing!
Grandma is currently on a mission to make cute hair bows for her. I used to be called "bow head" because of my crazy bows...so Brooklyn can now take over my nickname. She is going to be so stinkin' cute though!!! She is in desperate need of a haircut...because the poor child can't see. So, I have been pulling her hair half up and putting it in pigtails...talk about adding personality! She is so adorable...and will be even more so with her color coordinating bows!!
Grandma's "Corkers"
Once again, I have written way to much for any sitting...but this is a current update on our life and what we have been up to! Tomorrow we will be babysitting Rowan, so that will be a fun play date for both of the girls!! Congratulations to Catherine & Greg Lopez who's sweet baby boy was born yesterday!! 6lbs 7oz, 19inches...and a ton of dark curly hair...we can't wait to meet him!!
And seriously...is July really next week?
Sunday, May 10, 2009
Time to play catch-up!
So apparently I have not created in a post in a very, very long time! I made an attempt to catch up to speed on our life and what had been going on. Brooks' surgery went very well and he seems to be nearly fully recovered (he still gets a twinge of pain every now and then).
Brooklyn had an AMAZING first Easter. The Easter Bunny was very generous and she got more goodies than she knows what to do with! She got some new PJ's, cute little bubble suits, books, lolly pop & cookie pop, BUBBLES, bunnies...and fun little Easter goodies! We had fun opening her basket with her, letting her taste things (although she didn't seem to be a fan...she was very unsure of things), putting silly headbands on her...and just being with her. We still can't get enough of her...she is simply amazing and the cutest thing we have ever seen. Brooks and I constantly talk about "we had no idea what she would look like or be like...but if we got to design our child, we couldn't have created something so wonderful"...she continues exceed our wildest dreams on a daily basis.
We also had a Belated Birthday Party for Brooks' 30th on April 18th. We didn't quite have the turn-out that we had anticipated, but had a wonderful time with those who were able to attend! Some who came were: Uncle Joey & Aunt Jill, Aunt Sandy & Uncle Steve, Dylan, Cassidy, Aunt Jamie, Grandma Jan, Ian & Seda, Eric, Uncle/Cousin Steven, Auntie/Cousin Jennifer, Gina/Jonathan/Rowan (who had fun with "Boopin" as usual), Mike & Sandy...and some other friends stopped by for a bit. I took pictures to capture the "event"...but unfortunately Brooks was upstairs with the guys playing pool most of the time, so I really only got pictures of Brooklyn with different people.
As a family, we went to Ft. Sam Houston to scatter Uncle Scott and May-May's ashes. We had been waiting for the markers to be placed and for everyone to have a time to get together. Everything looked nice and it was a gorgeous cemetery...it's size makes it so magnificent. It is hard to believe that we lost Uncle Scott a year ago...time passes so quickly, it seems unreal. We then took Brooklyn to Brackenridge Park to walk off our dinner (we at at Bun & Barrel...an old San Antonio favorite near downtown). Brooklyn seemed to enjoy her walk....considering how sleepy she is, although she looks a bit hot/sweaty. On a side note, we have decided that when Brooklyn is sleepy she doesn't do well with people sitting in the back seat next to her because she won't sleep. She is way to fixated on paying attention to who is next to her...so as a result she will just get fussy.
Brooks has a favorite local fishing spot...where he doesn't have to take the boat (it's not big enough for a boat). Earl Scott Pond is a short drive from the house and has a nice, brand new sidewalk that goes down to it. Apparently the city is putting in a sidewalk (it's very wide) that will eventually meander all the way through town....that would be one VERY long walk. This is the same pond that we took Gracie to in the fall...I'm sure Brooklyn will catch her own fish here someday...but for now we just sat on a blanket and watched Daddy.
Here is a short re-cap on our lives. Scroll down to see my many posts of pictures. I decided to do them separately because there were SO many! I'm sure there are other things I could fill you in on, but this should keep you busy for now!
I do want to mention my latest endeavour! I am now a Consultant for Thirty-One! Thirty-One sells truly fabulous personalized products that are so stinkin' cute!!! If you haven't heard of Thirty-One...or want to see their products, please visit my Thirty-One blog at www.My31Gifts.blogspot.com or my Thirty-One website at www.MyThirtyOne.com/KristenBrininstool ...if you have any questions, feel free to email me at Kristens31Gifts@satx.rr.com. I hope you love their stuff as much as I do!!!
Brooklyn had an AMAZING first Easter. The Easter Bunny was very generous and she got more goodies than she knows what to do with! She got some new PJ's, cute little bubble suits, books, lolly pop & cookie pop, BUBBLES, bunnies...and fun little Easter goodies! We had fun opening her basket with her, letting her taste things (although she didn't seem to be a fan...she was very unsure of things), putting silly headbands on her...and just being with her. We still can't get enough of her...she is simply amazing and the cutest thing we have ever seen. Brooks and I constantly talk about "we had no idea what she would look like or be like...but if we got to design our child, we couldn't have created something so wonderful"...she continues exceed our wildest dreams on a daily basis.
We also had a Belated Birthday Party for Brooks' 30th on April 18th. We didn't quite have the turn-out that we had anticipated, but had a wonderful time with those who were able to attend! Some who came were: Uncle Joey & Aunt Jill, Aunt Sandy & Uncle Steve, Dylan, Cassidy, Aunt Jamie, Grandma Jan, Ian & Seda, Eric, Uncle/Cousin Steven, Auntie/Cousin Jennifer, Gina/Jonathan/Rowan (who had fun with "Boopin" as usual), Mike & Sandy...and some other friends stopped by for a bit. I took pictures to capture the "event"...but unfortunately Brooks was upstairs with the guys playing pool most of the time, so I really only got pictures of Brooklyn with different people.
As a family, we went to Ft. Sam Houston to scatter Uncle Scott and May-May's ashes. We had been waiting for the markers to be placed and for everyone to have a time to get together. Everything looked nice and it was a gorgeous cemetery...it's size makes it so magnificent. It is hard to believe that we lost Uncle Scott a year ago...time passes so quickly, it seems unreal. We then took Brooklyn to Brackenridge Park to walk off our dinner (we at at Bun & Barrel...an old San Antonio favorite near downtown). Brooklyn seemed to enjoy her walk....considering how sleepy she is, although she looks a bit hot/sweaty. On a side note, we have decided that when Brooklyn is sleepy she doesn't do well with people sitting in the back seat next to her because she won't sleep. She is way to fixated on paying attention to who is next to her...so as a result she will just get fussy.
Brooks has a favorite local fishing spot...where he doesn't have to take the boat (it's not big enough for a boat). Earl Scott Pond is a short drive from the house and has a nice, brand new sidewalk that goes down to it. Apparently the city is putting in a sidewalk (it's very wide) that will eventually meander all the way through town....that would be one VERY long walk. This is the same pond that we took Gracie to in the fall...I'm sure Brooklyn will catch her own fish here someday...but for now we just sat on a blanket and watched Daddy.
Here is a short re-cap on our lives. Scroll down to see my many posts of pictures. I decided to do them separately because there were SO many! I'm sure there are other things I could fill you in on, but this should keep you busy for now!
I do want to mention my latest endeavour! I am now a Consultant for Thirty-One! Thirty-One sells truly fabulous personalized products that are so stinkin' cute!!! If you haven't heard of Thirty-One...or want to see their products, please visit my Thirty-One blog at www.My31Gifts.blogspot.com or my Thirty-One website at www.MyThirtyOne.com/KristenBrininstool ...if you have any questions, feel free to email me at Kristens31Gifts@satx.rr.com. I hope you love their stuff as much as I do!!!
1st Time Swimming!!
...or in a pool! Gina and I decided to take Rowan and Brooklyn to the pool last week and Brooklyn really loved it!! We went to Gina's neighborhood pool and the first step is a huge area that is only 6 inches deep....so Brooklyn had fun sitting and splashing. Of course, we walked around, played and bounced in the water! She is going to have such a good time playing in Grandma Q and Grandpa Joe's pool when we go to Midland next week!
What did you say? We are going swimming?!?! 
Where did my bow go?
What did you say? We are going swimming?!?! 
Where did my bow go?Ah hah! Here it is, in my other hand!
Earl Scott Pond
Brooks and I took Brooklyn to Earl Scott Pond...this small, local pond that is about ten minutes or so from the house. We wanted a fun, little afternoon outing...so we took a blanket and he took a fishing pole.
Waving at my Daddy
Waving at my Daddy(he was fishing on the other side of the pond)
Ft. Sam Houston & Brackenridge
We finally went to Ft. Sam Houston to scatter my Uncle and Grandmother's ashes. Daddy and Brooklyn took a break to go sit in the shade and had a little photo session....
I have an EIGHT month old, really??
Our pretty girl...
Watching us walk back and waving!!
Afterwards we walked around Brackenridge Park for a bit...
Brooks' Belated 30th Birthday
Chocolate Cherry Cupcakes
Talented or what??
Sitting so pretty!
...and her new game, she flops over and thinks its great fun to sit back up!
see...she's quite impressed with herself (or maybe she's watching Khloe come towards her)
Meeting Aunt Sandy
(or sleeping on her....which she NEVER does, so sweet!)
She was so content...and then we tried to lay her down
Meeting Aunt Sandy(or sleeping on her....which she NEVER does, so sweet!)
She was so content...and then we tried to lay her down(bad idea...we should have let her sleep on Sandy)
Meeting some of her "big" cousins...Dylan and Cassidy
Auntie/Cousin Jennifer
Seda loved her so much! They were buddies for the weekend!
Brooks and his buddies
(yes, this is the only picture I got of Brooks at HIS party.
Brooklyn with Mikey and Sandy!
Two pooped out doggies...
Brooks' fishing buddy Andrew
OK, I lied...here is another picture of the Birthday Boy
Meeting some of her "big" cousins...Dylan and Cassidy
Auntie/Cousin Jennifer
Seda loved her so much! They were buddies for the weekend!
Brooks and his buddies(yes, this is the only picture I got of Brooks at HIS party.
Brooklyn might have stolen the show (just a tad)...
but that's what he gets for staying upstairs the whole time)
Brooklyn with Mikey and Sandy!
Two pooped out doggies...
Brooks' fishing buddy Andrew
OK, I lied...here is another picture of the Birthday BoyHoppy Easter!!
My 1st Easter!
Hmm, is all this for ME?
Are you the Easter Bunny??
Daddy kept letting me taste things...not sure what to think about sugary stuff...
Tights!!
Trying to grab the walking chick!
Quite possibly my favorite part...it's like plastic paper! How perfect!!
I'll be the Easter Bunny!
Mommy & Daddy's Easter Goodies (they swapped grocery sacks)
I got this fancy basket with goodies galore!!
...and it was Mame's basket from her 80th Birthday Party!
Posing for Mommy to take my picture next to my basket
(I'm in one of Mommy's old shirts...it was a favorite
Posing for Mommy to take my picture next to my basket(I'm in one of Mommy's old shirts...it was a favorite
...she had a bit of a bunny obsession growing up)
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