Can't seem to keep up with life...

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!!!