What is this?

Brooke has found her belly. It is the cutest thing. She pats it, squeezes it, and points to it. All you have to say is, "Where is Brooke's belly".

If only we were all so happy to squeeze our belly rolls.

No Heavyweight Champion Here

Brooke had her 1 year Dr.'s appointment today. She weighed in at a mere 19.5lbs and is 28.5 inches long. That puts her in the 25th percentile for each. Dr says, "No concerns, she looks great". Each appointment brings some shots :( The cry only gets louder and more heartbreaking each time. I know when I see 2 nurses walk in the door she is in for 2 shots. This time it was her last pneumococcal and her first chicken pox vaccine. Usually once the shots are done and the tears are wiped away we both can breath and think, "all done". Not this time. From the shots at the office it was time to get a blood draw done. Brooke had to get her blood counts and lead levels checked. As we waited at the lab I just prayed, "please let them get it on the first try". One try, a scream later, and some tears we walked out of that building with 3 bandaids. What a trooper Brooke was! Dad is a trooper too. I can handle the shots but not the blood draw. I never thought they would get it on the first try and didn't want to be the one to hold her down. Kudos to them! We had to the go ahead to continue with the whole milk. She needs this until at least 2 years so her myelin can form in her brain. Myelin is made up of fat so she needs that fattening milk. I was also informed that she can pretty much have anything now, including peanut butter. Bring on the peanut butter and jelly!

Something in the water?

Congratulations to Casey & Mike. The due date is June 12.
Congratulations to Laci & Matt. Due July 24
Another congrats to Amanda & Eric. You both look great! Due June 3
That makes 3 of my college roommates. I am so happy of for all of you guys. Brooke will expect a playdate. :) Miss you all!

No Longer a Baby

What a difference a year makes!
We now are the parents of a toddler. She is taking more steps on her own but I wouldn't call it walking. Still goes to bed at 8:30pm and up at 8:30am. Naps twice a day 11-1 and 4-6. She still doesn't eat much at times but makes up for it at the next meal. She prefers to feed herself but we can still spoon feed her(that is about the only way to get veggies in her). Brooke is doing better with the whole milk she gets it in a sippy at each meal and is down to one bottle a day. Brooke loves blueberries, well any fruit, cheese, yogurt, Eggo stuffed french toast, bologna, and the Gerber lil' crunchies. She laughs when she sees me coming with the can. We bought her this nifty thing that is supposed to prevent messes. They stick their little hands inside and it won't dump their snacks out. Problem? Brooke gets the lid off with her teeth and dumps them out. She is ticklish pretty much everywhere. Brooke's favorite game is playing her own version of hide and seek/peek-a-boo. She hides as we yell, "Where's Brooke" over and over until she pops out, "There she is". Brooke cracks up and does it again, "Where's Brooke"? Here she is posing for her last of the 12 month pictures.

Happy Birthday Brooke

Make photo slide shows at www.OneTrueMedia.com

There were so many pictures of Brooke from her birthday that I wanted to share. If you think I take a lot of pictures you haven't met my sisters. When the three of us are together we are bound to take a ton of pictures. Besides, who can resist taking of pictures of Brooke? She is just too darn cute! Remember to pause my music player. Enjoy!

Brooke's 1st Birthday Party

Brooke had a blast at her 1st birthday party. I can't believe I was singing "Happy Birthday" to my little baby. Thanks to everyone for being there to share this special day with her. I also wanted to thank everyone who helped us orchestrate the whole day. You kept Mommy and Daddy sane so they could enjoy the party with their little girl. Brooke loves all of her presents. Now we need to add on to the house. Just kidding. Really though she did get some great things that I know she will enjoy for a long time. Hope everyone had a great time. I know we did. It was great to see everyone. I wanted to just get a few pictures posted until I could get a slideshow together.

Black Friday Strikes Again!

What was I thinking? Those of you that know me also know that I don't like people, crowds, enjoy my sleep, and have NO patience for lines. All of these things need to be taken into consideration when making a shopping plan for Black Friday. When I say shopping plan that's exactly what it is. Map out where you need to go by when they open and what it is that you want. Divide and conquer from there. So why would I wake up at 3:30am to go shopping with my Mom? There are 2 things I love enough to get me out so early in the morning with all the crazy shoppers: finding a great deal and Brooke. That is why I decided to venture out for my first Black Friday shopping experience. Something I don't think every person needs to experience. I found some great deals and learned what some people will do for a bargain. What was my biggest peeve of the morning? The group that has mom wait in line with an empty shopping cart while the 4 of them run around to fill it and want to be individually checked out. GRRRR. Will I do it again next year? Guess you will have to stay tuned to see what deals are offered and what the "hot" toy is for a 2 year old next year. This is a frightening yet accurate portrail of our AM I found. Happy Holidays!
(pause my music and make sure the sound is turned up)

Happy Thanksgiving!

Brooke's First Thanksgiving. This is the last of her 1st holidays now. She was able to dig in and eat all the turkey, mashed potatoes, and stuffing that she wanted. Mashed potatoes sure aren't her favorite thing to eat. She did like pretty much everything else. Happy Thanksgiving Brooke!

Busy Night

I was beginning to freak out all this week that Brooke's birthday present wasn't going to arrive in time. Look at what FedEx dropped off today:


Who wouldn't want to order one of these? So cute.

Ok so it is true, they do love boxes. She kept throwing her toys it in, crawling in and out of it, and best of all playing peek-a-boo. Happy Birthday Brooke, we bought you a box! Just kidding it's what was in the box.

First Pizza for dinner. Don't worry she had her veggies and fruit first. Brooke also had a revolation today and drank all of her milk from her sippy. No bottle and no mixing at all today! My little baby is growing up :(

This picture has 2 things wrong with it. Can you pick them out?

1. She has no pants on and it's November. She has this thing now where not only does she take her socks off but now her pants. I tried to explain that little girls don't going running around without pants on. She just smiled and kept playing.

2. Her foot is stuck in the train. Everything goes in this poor train. Tonight it was her foot. It wasn't really stuck. I was just somewhere to put her foot while she played her piano.

Like I said, "Busy Night".

How is this comfortable?

She has the whole crib and some how she ends up facing the wrong way with no blankets. You can see the blankets I keep in there hoping that one will stay on her but no she manages to wiggle her way from under each and every blanket. Now I just layer her in clothes. Some nights I feel like I am bundling her up to go outside.

One week until Brooke turns 1

This is how little she looked her first night home in her crib. This was also the only time we used the lamb sleep positioner. She hated to be confined and that included being swaddled. What baby doesn't like to be swaddled? Brooke! She preferred to stretch and be free.

Thanks Jeff & Jessica

Brooke loves her first birthday presents. Jeff and Jessica were in town for a quick visit following their vacation to Mexico. It was great to visit with them during the big game. Brooke received her first birthday presents and loves to play with them. The Leap Frog Fridge Magnets are great. They are right at her level and she enjoys the songs while sticking the magnets to the fridge only to pull them back off. I don't have a picture of her Elmo stuffed toy but she has given that thing more kissing than I think I have gotten.

Still a Loyal Michigan Fan

It was Broooke's first Michigan Ohio State game. Michigan may not have won but Brooke is still a fan. Hard to believe that last year I was 9 months pregnant with swollen feet propped up on the coffee table. Look at what we have this year. Brooke cheering for a touchdown with Daddy and her Uncle Doug.

Brooke is standing by herself here. It does look like Daddy is helping but really all by herself. Naturally, she is missing a sock. I don't get her facination with bare feet. I usually have socks and slippers on at all times.

Brooke's Favorite Toy

Brooke has so many toys we don't know what to with them all. She enjoys playing with each and every one of them. Can you guess what fascinates her and keeps her occupied the longest? Scroll down to find out.

Mommy's Tupperware. I was able to get the whole kitchen scrubbed down today and this is what kept her entertained. We also had her favorite CD playing in the background. I not only know the words to popular kids songs and rhymes but I can dance and sing to them all. Who would have thought I would have fun dancing to Old McDonald again. Brooke and I had fun.

Brooke wants to be like her Mommy when she Grows Up

What a Mess!

It only takes Brooke about 5 minutes to accomplish this.
Notice Nala looking on, "I sure hope they don't blame me for this".

The Birthday Countdown

Brooke coming home from the hospital just days old and Brooke coming home from Grandma and Grandpa's 11 months old and in a different car seat. The straps really make you realize how little she was.
13 More days till Brooke is 1

Think Brooke Likes Elmo?

She loves this giant Elmo balloon. Notice the Elmo PJ's?

Transition to Whole Milk

What is this? I usually get juice in here!
Here you take it, and hand over the bottle!
As we get close to Brooke's 1st brithday we are starting the transition to whole milk. I now am a skim milk girl so pouring this whole milk stuff is like pouring creamer. I should give her a spoon instead of a cup. Just kidding.

Birthday Countdown

I thought it would be fun to get some old pictures out and compare them to now. Here is the first in the Birthday Countdown Series.
18 Days until Brooke turns 1
4Months

11 Months

Brooke gets a double whammy of presents with her birthday and christmas so close together.

I have been asked what things she would like so I decided I would make a list. Chances are if you think it is good she will like it. If you are still stumped here are a few ideas.

A girl can never have too many clothes. Size 12-18 months. Shoe Size 3. Socks
Books
12x12 Foam Alphabet Tile Set
Little People Sets
Wood puzzles/games
Children's Singing/Dancing CD's/DVDs
Pretend Vacuum
Any Leap Frog Toys
PJs
Infantino Matching Colors and Textures Puzzles
Eeboo Alphabet Tot Tower
Outdoor Toys for when it warms up
Laugh & Learn Learning Piggy Bank
Laugh & Learn Learning Pots & Pans
Parents Brand Toys (Target is the only place I have ever found them)

Brooke's Favorite Time

Brooke LOVES the bathtub. Even when she is not getting ready to take a bath she likes to crawl in the bathroom to see if it's still there. She bangs on the sides as if she is thinking "someone put me in here". Her newest thing is to throw all of her toys and clothes in the bathtub water or no water.

Everyone Can Relate

My Mom sent this to me last week and I had to share.

Don't Forget to Turn your Clocks Back

While most of you are loving getting the extra hour of sleep, I am not loving the extra hour of work. That's right, I will look at the clock at 2am and think "5 more hours of work". Oh wait, 1am? What happened? Something mush be wrong with the clocks because I was certain it was just 2am. Look at my charting, I even have a time in for 0145. Yes, that will be me. Tonight while most of the world is asleep, I will wonder where that hour went. When can I go home and get some sleep? Where is my RedBull? Knowing that there will be a spring ahead doesn't make it any better. Yuck!

Yes, I did it. I downloaded some of the songs to my iPod. I gotta tell you though, I was loving them last night working on my scrapbook.

I have a Monkey!

Remember the toilet paper incident when I said, "Never turn your back"? I turn my back long enough to make a bottle while Tim was right next to her doing dishes. I hear Tim laugh and say, "Look at your daughter".

This is what happened when I tried to brush my teeth. Guess she thought it was snack time. Don't worry, we do have the safety lock on the cabinets but as you can see it is down by her barefoot. I have no idea where her sock is.

Brooke's 1st Halloween

Brooke had a blast! I think my pumpkin is the cutest.