Happy 3rd birthday!!

Happy THIRD birthday!! For the past two months you have been saying "I two..almost three." And now you are THREE! You have the biggest personality- happy, energetic, excited, dramatic, passionate, strong willed, and hilarious! This all comes with emotional and moody. I often describe our days as a roller coaster ride with the highest of highs and lowest of lows. You are challenging little boy to say the least! We have started figuring out how to better with your passionate ways because the usual time out or ignoring behavior just doesn't work. However, these new strategies seem to be working even if that sensory bucket of rice lead to mommy sweeping... a lot. You are very creative and imaginative with your play. We often are looking for jaguars!! 

You love to wrestle on the bed with daddy and go flying everywhere! But you still want mama for the snuggles! Every night you say "Daddy get Brooklyn, mama get Jackson." 

Big one monkey is your all time favorite (he even goes to school!). But CARS, trains, planes are the next best thing! Look how handsome you are!!

You are getting a little rigid with what you eat but with a little help you are branching back out to new foods. Your favorite being anything sweet- cake, cookies, waffles, fruit, sandwiches. You do love green beans, peas, and corn...starting to like broccoli. And now you love rice! We frequent chick fila way too often but you love that too :)

Oh sleep. Sigh. You go to bed around 7:30 and will sleep anywhere from 6 am to rarely 7am and NO naps. None. We still make you go "rest" which really involves you changing your clothes and playing loudly in your room.  You often destroy something in that time frame as well. 

Your 3 year check up is Friday so we will get the height and weight checked. You have a crazy awesome vocabulary, constantly talking! You tell us the funniest things! You new favorite words are "anymore" "not" and "oh my gosh/goodness". "I not taking a nap ANYMORE. Hmp." "You not my best friend!" "OK mommy you are my best friend!!!" 

You just got done with swim lessons where you were getting much better being in the water and kicking! No actual swimming this year. You just moved up to the beginner preschool gymnastics class where you are amazing! You can do a back bend, rolls, lots of great jumping and swinging. 

You still really love your sister! You two love playing chase and getting into lots of trouble. Most of the time you are sweet but there have been times you have just shoved her down for no apparent reason.

We have take two vacations in the last six months- Atlanta to visit your cousins and Destin. Atlanta was very rough on the sleeping department but you loved playing with Lexie and seeing all the fish. We had the best time in Destin and you surprisingly slept! Improvements :)

You are potty trained with some accidents at night but we don't use pull ups anymore!

Jackson we love you more than you will ever know! We can't wait to see what next year brings!

11 months Brooklyn Clare!!

11 Months!

I mean this is the best we got...LOL

Brooklyn,

      I can't believe in one month you will be ONE?! I'm crying already! This month you (like your brother at this age) decided to HATE sleep. It was like having a newborn again...for 4 weeks. I think it was a combination of teething, trying to walk, and one of those developmental leaps. It seems to be getting better (fingers crossed). You still take two naps a day around 1-2 hours each. 

        You are wild and sassier than ever! We can't keep up with your constant unrolling of toilet paper, pulling things from the wall, going through the trash, and destroying anything and everything (destructa is what I have started calling you). You climbed half way up the stairs the other day and threw the big one when I removed you from the stairs. You have starting throwing fits... yikes. You love pushing your baby stroller around, however, immediately throw the lion or baby from it any chance you get. You still love to be held by mama! And are showing no signs of weaning BUT time is up girl friend! Mama needs to spend more than three hours away from you and the pump. I would also like to work out more and take a vacation :) So we have just begun the weaning process down from SEVEN to five times a day (seriously jealous of those who only nurse their babies four times a day it's pretty amazing). I give you two cups of breastmilk to fill in the two we dropped. You seem fine with it right now.  You are a fantastic eater! You love meat, TOMATOES (hooray!) and cheese. Your least favorite thing (and I saw least very loosely) is fruit but you will eat it. 

Milestones:

• Saying "mama, dada, uh oh, ow" 
• Pincher grasp, pointing, using spoon if I put the food on first
• Imitating kisses, mouth movements

Health: Healthy! 

 

Yep this is happening.. Jackson part 2??

10 months!

Brooklyn "Sassy" Clare, 
     You are such a sassy little thing now!! You let us know exactly what you want and won't tolerate any less. You cry if you can't seem me and follow me everywhere I go. Mommy's girl!!! You have been giving daddy quite the hard time when I'm gone- not eating and crying a lot :( Hopefully this is a stage! 
       You still take two naps- one in the morning and one in the afternoon between 1-2 hours each. At night you go down around 6:30-7 and wake up 1x a night still. No new teeth but I think you are working on two more. You go down fairly easily most of the time nursing to sleep but I'm told for others you go down without much crying- except daddy. Now when you wake up and see me you say "mama"... not quite sure we are counting this as first word but I'm impressed!
      You are such a little sweet snuggly thing and love to dive bomb into stuff animals or pillows head first and cuddle with them. Open mouth slobbery kisses are always given :) We often put you in our bed in the morning for a few minutes before getting up- you just love talking to us and cuddling with all the pillows. I love rubbing your little fuzzy head!! I mean where is your hair?! 

       Milestones:

• Standing with one hand all the time, brief periods of no hands!
• Walking with our hands
• Imitating sounds, imitating actions, elephant noise
• Such a smarty- understands cause and effect, looks for objects out of sight, plays peek-a-boo
• First trip to Destin! You were amazing and slept great!
• Love: Anything you can feed yourself- LOVES soy burgers or chicken
• Hate: babyfood, breakfast food
• CLIMBING why?!?!? You will climb up Jackson's chair and then pull to stand AHH 

I can't wait to see what next month brings!! Maybe walking?

9 Months Brooklyn Clare!

Brooklyn Clare,

          9 months?! This month has been so much fun! Now that you are crawling everywhere you are WILD. Your morning routine involves, sprint crawling to the cat bowls to take a bath in the water, fling the food everywhere, pull Stella's tail, and then find all the cords in the house and rip them out of the wall. I mean what is happening??! When I remove you from XYZ your legs and arms are still flying. It's hilarious and yet frightening at the same time. 5 days after your 9 month birthday you really figured out how to pull to stand on everything and you are THRILLED. You also have decided you can stand without holding on to things occasionally, slow down girl! You are definitely more cautious or a perfectionist- where you brother would just go for it, you take the time to figure it all out before doing it perfectly the first time. 

          While you are still such a good easy baby you are a little sassy thing and are very vocal about your needs. Sassy girl. You give your brother lip a lot which is necessary because he is oh so rough with you all the time. He really loves to touch your head, give tight hugs and push you into the tunnel- all of which you hate. You two do really love playing together and have a very fun game of chase happening everyday. I love watching you two together. 

          You took your first set of swim lesson last month and you LOVED it! You can kick, splash, put your head in, and float (with a little help). You are a water bug just like your mama :)

            This month was rough on the teething front, you how have 4 teeth, which cause you to HATE sleep and love to nurse all night long for 5 days. But now I am working really hard on making you wait 3 hours to nurse, moving to 5-6 days a day (please!!!). You are eating baby food 3x's a day, teething biscuits, puffs, we just started adding a snack which is cut up banana. Another new favorite for you is drinking water from your straw cup and then spitting it all out, over and over, and over. Recently you have been going to bed at 6:30/6:45 and getting up a little after 5!!!!!! You still take two naps, although I think you need the third you do not. 

Milestones:

• Crawling all over
• Pulling to stand
• Babbling with intonation- it sounds like you are telling stories!
• Sounds- m,n,d,b,h,y, w and some vowels
• Loves: bananas, green vegetables, puffs, teething biscuits, chicken, rice, peas
• Hates: she'll eat pretty much anything if you continue 
• Using your index finger to push things, turning pages in books, shaking head "no" (sassy)

Health: Nothing new!

Jackson

And perfection! Just look at her!!

AND WILD :)

8 Months Brooklyn Clare!

Brooklyn Clare, 

Can you get any cuter?!! I swear every month you get cuter and cuter! All of your pictures portray how you are ALL the time HAPPY.  You are just such a joy to be around, you stop traffic at stores because everyone has to look at you. Although you are super laid back and happy, you don't hand out those smiles for free! Stranger danger! 

This month you started hold your arms up to be held and you always let us know when that is :) You are really good at playing by yourself or with your brother but you have a limit. You prefer to have me in your line vision at all times and will cry hysterically if I leave the room. You love all of Jackson's toys and this little play house. Your lion is your favorite thing! You wake up kicking and playing with the lion every morning. Right before your 8 month birthday you started crawling!! It just took an iPhone and daddy watching and you did it. The first two weeks you were somewhat slow but not anymore! 

You had your first (ok really second) road trip Atlanta where you saw your cousins, went to the Aquarium and Stone Mountain. As usual you were a trooper through it all! At little fussy in the car but we quickly found out it was because you were getting way too hot (I have no rear air). 

You still nurse 7 times a day and are up 1x a night sometimes 2 sometimes none. You take 2-3 naps a day for about an hour or two. You have grown to tolerate baby food and you seem to love green vegetables and some meat. You hate the fruit. Complete opposite of your brother. 

We have truly enjoyed every minute and can't believe your first birthday is just around the corner (mommy will be crying).

7 Months~ Brooklyn Clare!!

Brooklyn,

     Could you get any cuter?! I just want to eat you up! Similar to your brother we can't go anywhere without someone making over you! Unlike your brother everyone loves to comment on how calm and good you are (sorry wild man you are our high maintenance kiddo but we love you :) ). This month was tougher because you were getting your first two teeth (one before your turned 7 months and one right after). But really a few fussy days and bad nights here and there and you were done. Whew!

     You love your mama but daddy is the apple of your eye! You light up when you see him!! And he melts to your smile (I just can't stand how sweet you two are) Smart girl :) You also really like your Mimi who watches you on Tuesdays. You will instantly calm and smile when she is around! BUT your all time favorite is your brother who can do no wrong and makes you giggle. He was literally sitting on you and you thought it was hilarious. Occasionally you give him lip but for the most part you are two peas in a pod. 

      This month started the whole if mommy puts me down I cry until she picks me back up...which is stressful at times because we all hate when you cry mostly because it's so rare. Usually after a few seconds you get distracted and will play. 

Milestones:

• completely in the crib (maybe I forgot to mention this last month)
• Waving! 
• Blowing kisses. Hello adorable! You love to imitate our mouth movements and sounds. 
• You are sitting!! Occasionally you decide to bail out (same exact thing your brother did) but you will sit and play forever sitting up.
• First time riding in the grocery cart. Not impressed. Riding in the Ergo carrier on mommy is way more fun. 
• SOOO close to crawling. You will move both legs and one arm and then sit up (which by the way is advanced). Recently you figured out the second arm but then you drag your head on the floor. 
• Babbling very clearly up a storm- mama, dada, baba, all kinds of sounds (music to my ears!!!) 

     Health: Cardiology reports you are 18.2 pounds and 27 inches! The medicine seems to be helping however it's not gone and in the worst spot ossible. Usually the medication is only given for 6 months and we are on month five. We are going to try it for three more months and reassess. 

Eating: 100% exclusively breastfed! This is important to note because it's a lot of work as a working mother to keep up pumping and your supply. My pump has made lots of trips to(work obviously) parties, car rides, and any events that I'm going to be gone longer than three hours for 7 months. No trips or over night anything without my pump or Brooklyn. It's important to know that I 100% love nursing Brooklyn and if I stayed at home I think it would be 10000 times easier. But I don't so they awful pumping continues. We recently started baby food which you hate BUT if you are starving you seem to enjoy it more.. hahah so we continue. I can't even begin to think of a favorite food because really breastmilk would be it. 

       Our sweet princess who makes everyday better!! We love you so much!! We can't wait to see what next month brings!!

And Jackson:

Daily Life/6 month old AND 2 1/2 year old

They play so nicely!!

As we all know Jackson and I love our schedules!! When Miss Brooklyn came along we kept Jackson's schedule the same (as much as we could) and just let Brooklyn go with the flow. She's really happy that way. She loves to eat when she wants, sleep when she wants. Cool as a cucumber that one :) And for the most part that REALLY works for us BUT that doesn't work if you want her to sleep in the crib and not nurse her to sleep (who makes these rules?! hashtag I most def. don't follow that at night shhhhh). So I finally decided to put her on a schedule.

5/6ish Everyone is awake (yay they wake each other up) Brooklyn would really sleep until 6:30 or 7 but her big brother doesn't want her to miss out on anything

6:00 AM: Breakfast for Jackson, Pretending to feed Brooklyn baby food… she hates that stuff

6-8:40 AM: We run around like crazy people packing, lunches, and getting ready. The house is turned upside down. There is usually a bribe to potty or let mommy shower without running Brooklyn over with the dump truck (news flash she thinks this is funny- WTH) which some how results in watching Mickey, Little Einstein's or now Jake.  Depending on the night time schedule Brooklyn will nurse during this time.

8:00 AM: Brooklyn is getting fussy.

8:40 AM: We are in the car this is nap #1 for Brooklyn. At this point my patience is thin from convincing Jackson to put his shoes on (and NOT throw them off), keep him from running around the car, and get him in the actual car, however, all is well with some music!

9:00 AM: Jackson is dropped off.

Jackson wanted me to take a picture of "rocket" 

9:15 AM: Brooklyn is usually up and ready to nurse… where she tries to take a nap because she wants to nap WITH mommy duh. No cookies my friend.

9:15-11 AM: I try to pick up or clean something and play with Brooklyn.

11 AM: I leave for work except for Tuesdays I work mornings and no Fridays.

11:30/12:30: Brooklyn takes her second nap (in the crib)

12:45: Jackson comes home and takes a nap.

1:30 PM: Brooklyn is up.. oh wait she probably only really took a 50 minute nap unless mommy was home and it's usually longer. She eats again.

3/4 PM: Brooklyn goes back down for another short nap (in the crib). Jackson wakes up and eats a snack. He's usually really cranky so a 30 minute show is usually put on.

5:00 PM: Brooklyn is up/ eats again

6:15 PM: We get home from work and start that rush of making dinner in which Brooklyn decides she's  really tired and would love to eat even though she just ate a bottle- bottles don't count apparently.

7:00 PM: … more like 7:30 we do our night time routine which is playing in Brooklyn's room for a little while, baths, bed. And then Brooklyn decides she needs to eat just one more time…

8:00 PM: Brooklyn is in bed.

9:00 PM: Hopefully Jackson has fallen asleep by now but lately he's been getting scared of something (I think it's the dark) and I have to put him back down.

9-10 PM: If I'm still awake Jamie and I finally watch some TV and catch up on our days.

10 PM: Bed for the grown ups.

2 or 4 AM: Brooklyn is up ready to nurse

5:00 AM: She is back up ready to nurse and wake her brother which grants her a pass to the big bed where she immediately falls asleep. Seriously there is a button in your bed that makes babies sleep… It's this miracle button that is AMAZING until you telling a judging parent/non-parent and then you start feeling guilty (or like me and not so much). BOO those judgers let us sleep! JK  Not for toddlers it makes them wrestle and jump around so don't even try it.

5:00 AM: Is now when Jackson decides to turn his light on and call "MOMMY COME BACK!!!!!" Repeat Repeat Repeat. The kid is persistent not to be confused with stubborn ;)

Brooklyn nurses 7 times a day so I don't know if there all in there.

Tuesday afternoons we usually go for a run, play date or run an errand in the afternoon. Friday mornings we always go do something fun (Zoo, gymnastics, park, play dates) even if that means Target :) We have had a ton of doctor appointments lately so that has filled some mornings and Fridays.

WHEW I'm tired just reading it! haha it's actually been a lot of fun and getting so much easier! I'm actually really enjoying my lack of sleep these days!!