A new chapter begins.

It time to say good-bye to any shred of peace and order I have left in my day. Brooke has become a full-force almost-toddler. Just this evening she bonked her head two times on the coffee table. There was a wide array of toys in her play area, but nooooooo - she wanted to be over at the coffee table, shredding magazines.

Also, diaper changing and dressing used to be a cheerful time full of laughs, tickles, hugs and smiles. Now they are a flat-out wrestling match with shrieks, tears and much thrashing about (by both parties). Mom is sweaty and red-faced by the end of diapering and dressing, Brooke is happy and kicking her legs, all the baby-torturing over and forgotten about.

I must admit, though, she is so very bright-eyed, ready to investigate everything and wants Mommy and Daddy right there with her to share in it all. I can hardly wait to help her turn the pages of this new chapter. :)

The Shiner

Birdie got her first battle wound. She was reaching for a toy on the shelf at school and took a tumble.




The Crawler.

Fun

Drumroll please......

We have a crawler!!!!! Brooke did a some crawling today - she will be an expert by the weekend. I will try and get some video tomorrow. She looks mighty cute doing it.




She was very tired this evening - she got two shots today at her 9 month check-up. Blake and I were both way off in our guesses about how much she weighed. She was 17 pounds at her 6 month apt. Blake was guessing 26.5 pounds and I was guessing 24.75 pounds. Turns out she is 20 pounds, 3 ounces, which is in the 50-75th percentile. I guess she just feels like a box of rocks. She is 29 inches long, which is in the 90th percentile for length. All in all, Dr. Mary said she is doing fantastic. Brooke also showed off her "Birdie Banjo" skills for Dr. Mary and she was very impressed. :)

Quiet Week

Not much to post the last few days. Brooke had a good week at daycare. She is getting closer to crawling - she is very good at sort of scooting, stretching out, and reaching to grab what she spots. The coffee table is no longer a safe place, she can pull herself up onto her knees and grab stuff. I was cracking up watching her from the kitchen, peeping over the edge of the table. Busy bee.

Saturday we walked over to the park to spend some time on the swings and the slide again. Today we puttered around the house. She is pretty fussy and clingy, I think some more teeth are on the way. She took a late afternoon nap yesterday and is sleeping as I type now. Poor little thing. Tomorrow is her belated 9 month check-up. I will post the vital stats and perhaps a photo of the exam afterwards.

Even Thor's bed is being encroached upon with baby gear.



Sleepy little baby.

One more.

Seattle

We went on a mini-getaway this weekend to Seattle. We rode the ferry, took in a Mariners game, walked around downtown and ate at the Brewery in Pike's Market. Brooke (and Blake and I) had a fantastic weekend!

Trip to Imagination Station

We walked over to the playgound today for some time on the swings and even a few trips down the slide!




Her kicking skills are veeeeery evident here.

Home Improvement

Blake and I did a little painting last weekend - it really warmed up the room.

Silly videos.

Brooke entertains herself making noise in the kitchen.



I am not sure who is winning this wrestling match here....

Too many to choose from.

These were all good ones! She is such a character - so bright eyed. :)

9 Months Old

Brooke has officially been out of my tummy as long as she was in my tummy! She must weigh more than 25 pounds by now. Still no crawling or cruising, but she is very good at turning herself around in circles while sitting and will push herself backwards while in the crawling position. She loves freeze dried apple chunks and will eat them off her highchair tray first if they are mixed amongst cheerios. She has excellent kicking skills, too, which she practices on us frequently. She is starting to raise her arms up to be picked up if we come toward her. Brooke also has been trying out howler-monkey screeches. :)

Art Project

Brooke's daycare teacher Miss Erika has great projects for the babies to do. Last week the theme was Eric Carle's books (The Very Hungry Caterpillar, etc...). The babies made a different piece of art each day relating to one of his books and Miss Erika added them to a wall mural. I think it turned out great! Brooke loves it when we stand in front of the art and I point to what she made. She smiles and chatters away about it, which is the coolest thing! She really likes Miss Erika and the other babies. I will take some action shots of her in class later this week.

Toy Basket

Brooke has a toy basket now and a few times a day we put all her toys in it and she takes them all out.

No, we don't have a jetted tub.

But the way Brooke kicks her legs during her bath, you might think we do!

Cheerio Fan

Finger food is the new in thing around here. Brooke will eat her Cheerios happily, along with the occasional freeze dried apple. Tasty!

Sleeping Beauty