Sitting...Sitting...Sitting

Gina and Rowan have let us borrow some nifty toys. One is a little table with toys on the top that Brooklyn can stand at (she lasts a few seconds)....and the other is the big mirror that props up with toys and music. She LOVES to sit at this and bang the toys. Just in the last week she is beginning to sit and lean forward ALL the time. She is also making these different sounds that really sound like words!!! It doesn't seem like babble...it's actually single repetitive sounds!! If anything, we think it sounds like 'Da Da'...but who knows. We won't make the conclusion of it being her first word quite yet. It's crazy. I feel like she has made major changes in her life over the past week. Brooks has been home from work, because of his surgery...so it has been fun for him to experience and watch her develop. She is starting to look more and more like a little girl and less like that teensy baby... I still can't fathom how time passes so quickly!!

Silly matching hats...who can resist??

Our $3 Purchase...

Our neighborhood was having a "neighborhood garage sale" today...so Brooks and I decided to go garage sale-ing. We woke Brooklyn up a bit early and left the house at 8. We weren't looking for anything particular...maybe a few fun baby toys??...but just anything that looked like we had to have it (you know...we NEED other people's junk or old stuff...haha). Needless to say...we got bored and lost interest very quickly. Brooks quickly decided that this is much more fun in Midland with Betsy. We stopped at a few houses...but never saw anything that said "buy me." We went by one house that had a ton of baby stuff! I think she must have had twins...because she had two of everything (swings, booster seats, etc). We drove off...then I began to obsess over the booster seat and thinking how it would be handy to have at my aunts house...and if I could get it for $3 it would probably be worth it (she was asking $5). Now, the tricky part...where was this house!! Luckily my super husband found it! ...and the booster seat was still there! She sold it to us for three bucks...so our little purchase made our garage sale-ing adventure worth while.

The Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day

That is what today feels like. I'm not sure why...but NOTHING has gone well for Brooklyn...so it brought back memories of this childhood book. Her day started with spit up sweet potatoes on her sheets...pleasant. Poor thing...she must have been sleeping in them. We got up, ate, jumped...had a grand time. Then came time for a nap and that was a different story. I laid her down and she slept for a few minutes and then she woke up. I walked in her room and I could tell (smell) that she had done something. Needless to say the sweet potatoes had come out both ends...and she even had some in her ear!! So we got a fresh diaper...rocked and sang for nearly 30 minutes and she was still a very unhappy camper.

Can we say SLEEPY??

I was planning on taking a shower and getting ready during her nap...but that didn't happen. So, we gave the swing a try...so I could at least go get dressed. The swing didn't seem to appease her either. So...we ate some more sweet potatoes (we are still in the process of introducing new foods to her...thus the constant meal of sweet potatoes), I nursed her...and we left. She had a 3 o'clock appointment with her neurosurgeon today for a follow-up appointment on her head. So a nap would have been in her favor. Of course, she was asleep before we got out of the neighborhood. I told my Mom I just should have driven around for 2 hours earlier.

So...the good news of the day! Brooklyn's head is better!! Last time the doctor said her plagiocephaly (flat spot) was very very mild...5mm. Today she said that it was only about 3mm and didn't think she needed a helmet...woohoo!! She told us the helmets rarely get it perfect...usually around 2mm, so why would we put her through that?!? She said she just expected it to get better or stay the same...but definitely not worse, so that was very good news. I also asked the doctor about cranial massage or craniosacral therapy (I read it is a more homeopathic way of treating such conditions)...she told me that was for crazy people in California and didn't work...haha. Some more good news...she weighed 14lbs 2oz...hopefully that will make Dr. Ferreris happy! She goes to see him next week for a weight check.



Then, Mommy had to go and make her day worse. The neurosurgeon that our pediatrician sent us to is in the pedi specialty group and I knew they had a hematologist in their group. So I asked her if she knew anything about VonWillebrand's disease (I was diagnosed when I was 5...it is a pseudo-hemophilia...I have NEVER had any problems). So, she went and got the hematologist (luckily he was available). He met with us...asked us questions...said they usually suggest testing after the child is 6 months...and went ahead and tested her!! My Mom and I were totally impressed that they didn't even want us to make another appointment and that they made time for us!! Stars in our book!! ...but not Brooklyn's. She has had her heels pricked...but they actually drew blood from her. Poor thing had a tourniquet, needle, vials of blood...the whole nine yards. Now...watching her go through that was heart wrenching!!! She was a champ though and left with a Hello Kitty band-aid. Cousin Gracie would be jealous!! (probably not...who would want one if they had to give blood to get it!!)

Shelby tried to kiss me and make it better...it did make me laugh

She slept as soon as we got in the car and the whole way home! Luckily dinner was uneventful...but she hasn't wanted to go to sleep tonight...so Daddy is in there giving it a whirl. I gave it my all and needed a break...so here I sit, updating you on Brooklyn's crummy day. It really hasn't been that awful...but not her best. Thankfully tomorrow is a new day and she won't remember today.

Our Little O'Cutie

Happy St. Patrick's Day!!! (Although I thought it was on Saturday the 14th). I nearly forgot about Brooklyn's fun St. Patty's Day outfits...but I remembered TODAY!! So at least she can wear them throughout March...and most importantly, today!

Crazy wonky hair after a bath...I even slept in green!!

Here is a little update on our cutie. We started her on Stage 1 Gerber foods on her 6 month birthday. She has had: Green Beans, Peas, Prunes, Carrots, Pears, Squash and Applesauce (and in that order). Next on our list are Sweet Potatoes, Bananas and Peaches!! Then we will be moving on to the Stage 2 foods...which are slightly bigger portions and combinations!! So far she hasn't been allergic to anything. Also...she really LOVES this thing we all do called eating!! Sometimes she makes you feel guilty when you eat in front of her because she looks like she wants to try it so so bad!! She gets "food" three times a day...morning: 1/2 container with cereal, lunch: full container and dinner: 1/2 container with cereal. So far this seems to be working well for her. When she looses interest in eating she starts to make "raspberries" and blow and splatter food everywhere!! Luckily she is usually pretty into it! She's not a fan of cereal alone...but once we mixed food with it she chowed down! A side note...I LOVE Brooklyn's new plastic bib!! One of the best things we have purchased!! We only need one bib (vs 3 a day) and we just wipe it off!! So so nice!! I'm all about convenience and cutting back on dirty laundry!! Also...a big fan of the "Take and Toss" spoons (and other products)...not that I would ever "toss" them (they are too nice! basically Gladware for babies)...but wouldn't be heartbroken if one got left at a restaurant. They come in a pack of 20 for only $3 and we go through a TON of spoons too...so this makes it easier on the dishwasher (AKA me).

Wonderful "Take and Toss" spoons

All gone!! Messy messy prunes!!

This is why we got the WONDERFUL plastic bib (and its cute!)

Although she's not near that messy anymore...

New plastic bib!!

She is nearly sitting unassisted. She is SO SO SO close! She can do it for just a couple of seconds before she teeters and totters. Another new found skill she has become a fan of is rolling. She rolled from her back to her tummy several months ago...but since we have been restricting her time on her back, she hasn't had the opportunity to try or practice. However, her much needed tummy time has now come to a screeching halt because she IMMEDIATELY rolls over...and kicks her legs in excitement!! I lay her back down and she rolls over...it kind of becomes a game. Therefor, making her spend time on her tummy has now gotten more difficult. She has progressed from crying and hating it...to realizing that she doesn't have to be there.

However, this skill has made a negative impact on her napping. For the past month or so she has been taking an incredible morning nap!! Usually for at least 2 hours...if not 3 hours some days. We put her on her tummy just for naps and she slept great!! She would wake up...check out her crib and go back to sleep. That isn't the case anymore. Now she wakes up and flips over...and that is the end of our nap. Yesterday she got herself stuck in the slats of the crib. We have nothing in her crib with her...just a sheet and Brooklyn. Her poor right arm and leg were wedged between the crib and the wall! Her arm came out with great ease...but it was a little tricky twisting her leg and getting back through. Needless to say Grandma bought her a lovely chocolate breathable bumper that we put in her crib last night. I must say...it might help our nap situation because today when she woke up she rolled over and fell back asleep for a little while because she didn't have the crib slats to play with. We also stopped swaddling her arms about a week ago at night. So far...so good! We just swaddle her torso...so basically we just use the little velcro wrap from her armpits down, so she still feels "snug as a bug in a rug." She seems to sleep really well. She likes to sleep on her side....so as a result, un-swaddling her has helped her to not be on her back as much!! With free arms comes movement though...she usually rotates a full 180-360 degrees by morning...so again, breathable bumper should be a good thing. So...we shall see.

Here is our new mesh breathable bumper (not our crib though)

Grandma also bought Brooklyn her first swimsuit!!! I didn't want a bikini for a baby...and they had some cute tankini ones....which were cute, but I thought the diaper would probably show a lot more with separate bottoms (although they might be easier to change). We got her cute little pink and orange plaid swimsuit that has three ruffles down the front and a white daisy at the bottom of each strap...it's pretty fun!! We may also get her one with sleeves...Old Navy has a really cute one with pink, orange and yellow flowers...that has ruffles on the leg holes...we'll see. I mean, how many swimsuits will a 9 month old need?? I really hope to take her to the pool though because she LOVES her bath...I think she will be a big fan.

Another fun thing in her life...we have introduced the sippy cup! She has no clue what to do with it...but she loves to wave it around (occasionally bonking herself) and suck on whatever part of it she can get in her mouth. I don't think she has yet to get any liquid out of it. I also wasn't sure what to put in it...so we have started with water. I think that is all she'll get for a very long while.

A new favorite (and oh so cheap) toy that will entertain her...mainly when we are at restaurants is PAPER!! Tissue paper, wax paper, napkins...anything that she can crinkle up and shove in her mouth!!! (under supervision of course!)...so when it gets nasty...we give her a new piece. It works quite well! I've decided I should have a big piece of cellophane in the diaper bag because it wouldn't get soggy with slobber. She also has fun sitting in our laps while we are at the table...but watch out! She will grab anything and everything in front of her!! Including a big handful of rice off of Brooks' plate.

She still loves to jump and be bounced around. Any fast movement makes her laugh. Brooks and I were talking about how much we just love (and I mean LOVE) to listen to that little chuckle that comes out of such a cute little body....and how it is such an innocent little sound.
Daddy tried to give me a mohawk...but it just flopped over into a big curl

Brooklyn goes back to the doctor for a followup on her head this Thursday, a weight check with the pedi on April 2nd. Brooks is having surgery next Monday and will be home from work for a week or so. Even though he will be recuperating...at least he will get to spend more time with us!! He has plans of catching up on The Unit, City Limit Fishing (which he has a MILLION recorded), watching guy movies...and playing video games (Playstation on loan from Ian)...all with Brooklyn at his side (unless she is eating or sleeping).

Just a sweet picture! She NEVER lays on us like this...how could I resist??

I have been working on planning a "belated" 30th birthday party for my Brooks (AKA my wonderful husband and Brooklyn's wonderful Daddy). It might be at Lake Medina...and it might be at our house...who knows! We went out to the lake last week and the water level is way down...so it didn't look like much fun. Either way...we hope to celebrate and have a get together for Brooks with family and close friends (he doesn't want a lot of people...I keep telling him, "Brooks, you come from a BIG family"). You might ask why we are doing it now when his birthday was in January...well it was really close to Christmas and people were already traveling left and right...and it's cold (or should be in January)...so we decided to have a little shindig for him in the spring. That is a short (or long) update on our life at the moment.

Cute little feet poking out of bluejeans...first time in jeans

Happy 1/2 Year Birthday!!!

Wow...so Brooklyn is half a year old today!!! She celebrated by going to see Dr. Ferreris! She got an excellent report, except her weight took a dip again (a dip on the weight curve that is...she should have nearly 14lbs if she kept in her percentile)...so he wants to see her back in a month to weigh her. She weighed 13lbs 1oz, 25 1/2 inches long and her head is now 16.7cm! Other than that...he said she looked great! He commented several times on what a happy and social baby she is!! He also told us that she may never like to be on her stomach because she is so social...and social babies love to be able to see the things around them, so we shall see if she learns to like it or not.

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He also talked to us about starting her on the stage 1 baby foods (because we have still only given her rice and oatmeal cereal). He had a medical resident with him today and they both explained to us how the teachings are changing. They used to think that you needed to wait until after 6 months to start foods, but new studies are showing that there is this ideal window of opportunity between 4-6 months to start foods...so it lessens the babies allergies later in life. We however, have obviously waited until 6 months...but she just had her first green beans and actually seemed to really enjoy them!!! She seemed to like them a little better mixed with her oatmeal (gross, I know)...but swallowed really well!!! So maybe this is why she has been pushing the cereal out...she's been saying "come on...give me real food! I want some flavor!!" Dr. Ferreris really wants us to get her introduced to all the Stage 1 foods so she can start getting more calories...and of course, I am still breastfeeding after her meals and in between...so basically it just adds a step in our daily life.

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My Mom pierced my ears when I was 4 months old...and have been grateful for that because I have always had earrings! She figured that at some point I would want them done (luckily I do like them) and so might as well do them early! I had the same though process for Brooklyn...so after we got Daddy's consent...we decided to go for it! Also...doing them when they are babies usually makes them adapt better to them and they don't mess with them...that is our hope. She hasn't really discovered her ears yet...so when she does she will just assume her earrings are part of her! Brooklyn Jean was a champ! She cried way less than she did with her shots...and was completely done crying by time they were done. We think she looks pretty... (not that she wasn't before!!), but they just add a touch of girliness!!

We celebrated in our PJ's when I woke up...

...and in the afternoon when we got home

Tillie's hat matched my outfit quite well, if I must say so myself...

See my pretty new earrings...

Hey...who says shots keep you from jumping??

Yummy yummy green beans!!

Visit with Karol and her kiddos...

As many of you know, Karol used to be my babysitter...and we have since become friends and she is a good friend of the family. She has two cute little boys...Nate (5) and Ben (2 1/2) (sadly I didn't get a pic of Ben). She was recently pregnant with her 3rd kiddo and it was a surprise! Sarah Marie was born last Tuesday, so Brooklyn, Grandma and I went for a visit today.

Let me tell you...there is a big difference between a 6 day old and a 6 month old...crazy!! I haven't had a true realization on how much Brooklyn has grown because Sarah seemed like a feather!!! She was so tee-tiny and Brooklyn looked HUGE next to her (or to me it seemed that way!). She was so so precious and I just wanted to share our visit. Nate loved to hold Brooklyn and kept saying "she's so cute!". They were adorable children and so well behaved...I have never seen two little boys with such incredible manners!!! We will have many future playdates!!!

Picture Time

Just thought I would share a few pictures of Brooklyn while I had some time...

Cute outfit form Aunt Teri. Ready for Ruby and Maudie's birthday party!!

Big beautiful blue eyes...

"Let's Do Lunch...It's on Me" from Ms. Marilyn

Maybe one day I'll become a pro at this tummy time business...

Look at my new Jumperoo!!! (Sorry video below didn't work)

Khloe likes to help out during tummy time...I think she thinks she is helping. She usually lays down right next to her...and she is so so good with Brooklyn! We keep an eye out and referee, but she doesn't mind when Brooklyn gets a handful of her ears, fur or paws...

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I hope to post something tomorrow about her SIX month check up and we'll see how big she has gotten!!! Speaking of big...she still seems so small to me, but she isn't getting to wear all of her clothes...it makes me sad (and she has more clothes than any child should own...so that makes it difficult). I can't get down her box of clothes by myself (heavy, and on top shelf of closet...I might bonk myself in the head)...so finally the other day my Mom and I got it down and got out her six month stuff...and umm, apparently I should have had them out a while ago...she is nearly too long for some stuff!!