10 and 11 Months!

OOO....I am that mom that starts to forget to do posts for 2 months! Oops! I do take tons of picture though so that makes me feel better about dropping the ball on this for Brooke. Let's update about this sweet, exuberant, awesome little girl!

• Brooke is wearing 9 month and 12 month clothing. I see no reason to have 9 month clothes...both my kids only wore them for a couple weeks.
• Brooke is eating mostly finger foods...she is too independent to be fed! :) She loves EVERYthing. Major eater on our hands. She really likes sweets...that would make sense since I ate ALOT of chocolate chip cookies while pregnant with her.
• Brooke is still drinking formula...she can chug a bottle with the best of them. :)
• Brooke is walking/running. She thinks she can run which is really awesome. She started walking at 10 months and is now a confident walker. She can bend down and stand up on her own. She sometimes will try to be naughty and look back at me to see where I am and then when I come up on her...she runs away! Or fast walks...funny...and naughty!
• She is a good sleeper. She naps twice a day and then goes to bed around 7:30-8:00 and wakes up around 6:30.
• Cole and Brooke are really beginning to play together. Love it! Cole can take advantage of her but is really starting to learn how to be a good friend and sibling. I hope they will always be close.



• Brooke is starting to use her words. She says "Hiiii" all the time...and I mean ALL THE TIME! She has dabbled in "dada, mama, nala, baby, baba" That is about it.
• Sign language isn't going as well as with Cole. She can do "all done" She claps for "more" and please just isn't happening yet. Pretty sure she did the motion over her ears today...not really sure! LOL So, we are working on that but if I know what she is saying, we are good right?!?!
• She has started to sit for one or two books. Love this!
• She LOVES to be outside. We are all going to be outside lots this summer.
• Brooke also loves water. We set up the kiddie pool and she was in the water and splashing like a crazy girl.
• Speaking of crazy...she is kind of crazy. She falls off the bed head first on purpose and cracks up laughing, she wants us to chase her all over the house, she runs after Buddy and Nala, wants to climb up steps, etc. She doesn't stop.
• Three Words to describe Brooke: Unbelievable, Exuberant, Intense

We love Brooke. She is such an important part of our family. She just completes us! :) Now I will remember to do 12 months-1 year FOR SURE! :)

8...and 9 months!

Our little princess Brooke is now 9 months! And my being the overcommitted mom that I am...missed the 8 month post! Oops!!! Sorry Brooke...if you are reading this someday. :) From looking at the 2 pictures, I think she just looks so much older from 8 to 9 months! And she has really "grown up" in the past 2 months. 

• She is tall and skinny! 30th percentile for weight and 71st percentile for height! Guess what the head was....90%!!! HAHA 
• She is a major mover and shaker. She likes to crawl fast to try to catch up to us.
• She knows where certain things are in each room that she is not supposed to touch....and she goes to those immediately when we enter that room...in her fast crawl! HA! In Cole's room it is his night light. In the bathrooms it is the little white capes that cover the screws on the toilets. Aren't babies NOT supposed to remember these things?!?
• She loves Nala and follows her around.
• She loves Cole. In month 9 I have really seen them start to play together. I love watching it. She takes his wrestling and laughs right along with it.
• She is eating everything. Loves many finger foods...prefers to eat herself than be fed. She has not developed a food aversion to green beans and peas BUT loves broccoli! Interesting! She really enjoys tastes of sweets...like ALOT!
• Brooke loves her bottles. 
• She says lots of DADADADADA. She also says "Uh Oh" That is cute and in the right context sometimes. 
• She screams/sqwuaks ALL THE TIME! This is a new discovery in the last week or two. It is ridiculous and cute at the same time. Poor Cole always says, "BE QUIET BROOKE!" haha She has spooked him many times....really funny!
• I think she is going to be an outside girl...we have been opening up windows to give us some fresh air and she often screams...I think she wants to be outside! The lake walks will be happening soon I hope!
• She is taking 2 naps a day and sleeps 11-12 hours per night. She goes to sleep around 7:30 and wakes around 6:30. She is happy in the morning. When I lay her down she instantly calms when the blanket goes on her. 
• Brooke has taught Cole compassion, sharing, and friendship. 
• Words to describe Brooke; smiley, loud, sweet, and content. 

Brooke is awesome! I adore her. Thank you God for such a gift! :)  

7 Months

Our little Brookie Cookie is 7 months old! This was a big month for her! Here we go...

• We had her 6 month appt last weekend when she was almost 7 months. She weighs 16 lbs and in the 34th % and her length was in the 64%...WHAT?!?!
• She is in all 6 month clothing now.
• She is eating 3 meals a day as of this week.
• She loves crackers.
• She loves avocado!
• She prefers to be standing.
• She is finally content with playing on her belly.
• She is almost crawling...like within a week I expect it to happen. Before she would get to her belly than flop down and give up. She can now get back to her knees and is rocking. So fun!
• Brooke now sleeps on her belly or her side. I love peeking in at this.
• I think she is finally over her forever long cold.
• I LOVE how she ends her days. We do bath time around 6:30 and she loves bathtime. LIKE her feet start wiggling and she loves to stand on the side of the tub while it fills. Then we get her jammies on and make her bottle. Every night she drinks 2-4 oz. and then whips her head to the side and closes her eyes and we are done for the day. So funny!
• She is already the annoying younger sister to cole...so funny! She always is grabbing at him...he enjoys it most of the time.
• One of my favorite moments was when I was meeting my mom so the kids could go to her house so she could babysit them and Cole looked at Brooke and yelled," Brookie we are going to Bumpa's house...are you excited?!?!"
• She prefers to play with Cole's toys.
• Brooke adores Nala. ADORES NALA! She could look at Nala for days.
• She is a very smiley happy girl.
• She loves to be "scared"
• Words to describe Brooke - sweet, exuberant, joyful

Brooke is an amazing blessing. I have had MANY moments with Brooke's life where I am like shocked that the next stage is happening. Like she should start with her finger foods and using a sippy cup. I am amazed at how fast she is growing up. I now know why people keep having kids....we won't be for awhile! :)

WE LOVE BROOKE!

First Ponytail!

Brooke is 6 months!

Well, this blog has become only a monthly check-in on my kids! I am okay with that so I can have the memories...maybe someday I will update more.

Well, our little Brookie Cookie is 6 months old! Wow, this has went fast!

• Brooke is wearing 6 months clothing. She can still fit in some 3 month but the arms are short.
• Brooke is eating lots of food. I wanted to get it all in before I started back to school. She loves the orange veggies and pears. She almost refused to eat the green beans tonight. I might have a picky eater on my hands...bummer!
• She loves her bottles...they have to be warm though.
• Brooke and Cole have started to "play." Brooke loves to be with Cole and she thinks it is really funny to grab him and he laughs too! Super cute to see a relationship forming.
• She had a rough patch of sleeping but now we are doing better. She goes down around 7:30 and wakes around 5:00 am to eat...not always though...somedays she doesn't wake until 8:00.
• She can find her nuk in the night now! WOOHOO
• She loves the little puffs.
• She LOVES my mom. She gets super excited to see her.
• She really loves most people and is such a smiley girl.
• We started using a little noise maker in her bed, she likes the stream flowing.
• Brooke celebrated her first Christmas. She greatly enjoyed the wrapping paper...and her new presents.
• She sits up and grabs at things all the time. She wants to pull herself up and stand but we need a bit of time for that.
• Brooke really doesn't love to be on her belly...we need to work on this. When she IS on her belly she reaches to grab things in front of her. Crawling will happen sooner than we think!
• She grabs my face and comes in for kisses. Love her interactions.
• She is a big coo-er.
• Words to describe Brooke... Silly, Loving, Excited

With 6 months comes the end of my maternity leave. I have been so blessed to be able to only work 1 month of Brooke's first 6 months of life. She is such a joy. This time at home with her and Cole has been wonderful. I am excited to go back to work because I love my job and my students but I will definitely be missing my kids. We will live for weekends again! :) I love my babies! :)

Photo Book - Merry Christmas Mom!

My mom wanted a book of all the pictures from the start of Cole's life to now Brooke and Rylie's life. Well, the book ended up being mostly Cole but since he was alive the longest, that is to be expected! Here is a glimpse of it! It was super fun to make! And I had a few teary eyed moments remembering how fast Cole has grown up!

Click here to view this photo book larger

Photo books are the perfect gift for any occasion.

5 months!

It is just amazing how fast this all goes! Brooke is getting to be a real moving active baby. She is not content to just sit and lay around anymore...she wants to be involved! :) She is still soooooo sweet and such a good baby girl!

• Brooke is now drinking formula. Since having the formula she has gained at least a pound. Woohoo!
• She has been sick most of the month so I was able to get her weight. 13.8 lbs! At her 4 month appointment she was 12.8 and the doctor wanted her to gain a bit more weight. There you go Dr. B. :)
• Brooke is also eating solids. Rice cereal for breakfast and Rice Cereal and Veggies for dinner. She wasn't thrilled with green beans but tonight she actually enjoyed the peas. Wierd.
• Brooke is ready for all her 6 month clothing. 
• She loves Nala and Cole. When they are running around she is content to watch them. She gets a big smile when Cole tries to play with her. 
• She loves when Cole jumps on her and tries to roll her around. Cole likes to be her babysitter.
• She is sitting up almost all the way by herself. She prefers to be sitting up.
• Her favorite laying down position is happy baby...so stinkin cute!
• Brooke is learning to go to sleep on her own...she is doing really well with it. 
• Brooke has finally went to the zoo and stayed awake. She didn't really see the animals but she was awake for it...hooray!
• Brooke spends lots of time with mommy during the day...I am her favorite...or my mom! I love when we are with my mom for a little arm break. My biceps are getting pretty huge though! 
• Brooke loves bath time and kicking her legs in the water.
• Speaking of kicking her legs...when we go into her room after she starts crying she starts kicking her legs and smiling at us. Adorable!
• BIGGEST NEWS...Brooke has a new playmate...baby Rylie!
• She should have a few teeth coming in.
• She isn't pooping through her clothes as much but when it happens it is A MESS.
• Her favorite game with me is riding on my legs or grabbing my cheeks and pulling my head to hers. I love it!
• She celebrated Thanksgiving for the first time...she slept through dinner!
• She likes to play ball...Cole is working on learning to roll the ball to her instead of chucking it! :) 
• 3 words to describe Brooke: Demanding (this month), Observant, Sweet

I am so thankful for Brooke. It is great to see her and Cole forming a relationship. I love knowing that God made her perfectly for our family. I can't wait to see what next month holds!

4 Months

Brooke is 4 months! Wow...time sure does fly! Let me tell you, this maternity leave is just wonderful at this stage of her life. I am so enjoying seeing her grow and change and get a glimpse of her personality.

• Brooke loves to eat...right at 3 hours. 
• Brooke is wearing 3 month clothing but I might be able to start switching to some 3-6. It is on my to-do list this week to go through her clothes.
• Brooke loves to laugh and smile. If I could pick a love language of hers already it would be physical touch. She just loves to be in close contact with others.
• Brooke is still working on sleeping. I can't figure her out yet. She likes to be rocked only sometimes. She sometimes needs to just lay down and go to sleep. Sometimes she screams ridiculously and won't settle down when I try to let her cry it out. It is so much fun. At night she sleeps until 4:00 and then cries and we put her nuk in and she goes back to sleep until about 5:30 to eat. PS: I looked back at Cole at 4 months and this was the exact same thing he did. 
• Brooke is rolling over!! Super fun to cheer her on!
• Brooke loves Cole...she loves to watch him everywhere he goes. Again as long as she can see people around her she is happy!
• Brooke poops through her clothes at least once a day. Now this is not a negligent parent situation...I am on it! It just keeps happening! 
• She looooooves to swim and be in the water! We have been to quite a few of my brothers football games this year and she goes swimming in the hotel pool with us. And she looks super cute in her swimsuit.
• She is starting to play. She loves the crinkly toys and is putting everything in her mouth. She is always kicking her legs and being busy. 
• Some words to describe Brooke: Calm, Sweet, Busy (I find it interesting that both my kids are busy bees...hands are going to be very full)

Brooke totally rocks! I love having a baby girl way more than I ever expected! I mean even her cries are more girly than Cole's were. Or she will randomly squeal and it sounds like a girl. We love our Brooke!