Brooks at two

 

 

 

I seriously can't believe our little guy has been with us for 2 years! I still have not bought the poor kid a baby book so I'm so glad I've done a decent job with these updates.

Stats| He is finally getting back on the chart for weight, coming in at 24 pounds (10%) and 33.5 inches (25%) for his height.  He's basically the size of a one year old so he still seems like such a baby to me. I think all the doctor role play at home has made my kids love the doctor.  Our pediatrician had an intern following her around and she goes "I'm going to let you take a look at this one cause you won't find many 2 year olds that are this good." They laid him down to measure him and when they were done he said "one more." Then we ended with 2 shots that had him in tears so we'll see if he likes that place when we go back again. 

 

Sleeping| When he's in his crib he's an awesome sleeper, when we are out of town he usually sleeps with me and neither of us get any sleep.  He's usually in his crib for the night around 7:45pm and wakes up around 7am and naps from about 12:30-2:30. He'll yell for me when he wakes up but when we go in there, he doesn't want out of his crib.  He wants to lay and snuggle with his blanket until we force him out.  We are on day 3 of no binky and it hasn't been too terrible.  He got to put them inside of a monkey at build a bear and now Binky the monkey sleeps with him.  Not going to lie, I wanted to cave the first night and give him one of the 6 binkies I still have hidden.  He was yelling "mama! Binky!" and it was pulling at my heart. But after 1.5 hours, he finally fell asleep.  He cries a little bit throughout the night and there have been some tears still at nap and bedtime but we're on the homestretch and his teeth will thank me. 

Eating| He's a big meal time eater and not much of a snacker.  He'll rarely turn food down but he usually has no interest in an afternoon snack.  The perfect meal in his eyes would be lasagna, corn on the cobb and mandarin oranges. And "nandy" for dessert.  He's got a strong sweet tooth and if he hears the word candy, he will not shut up till he gets some.  The only kind of milk we can get him to drink are those danimal yogurt drinks.

Language| I have slow talkers but I believe Brooks is even less of a talker, than Collins was at this age.  I brought it up at his well visit and anytime the doctor asked him something, Collins answered for him.  So we believe that's playing a huge role.  I'm counting his words for a few days and if it falls way below 50 words, we'll get him evaluated.  I'm anxious to see if his speech picks up more now that Collins is in school a couple mornings a week and it will just be him and I.  I feel like I'm playing Pictionary with him throughout the day cause he'll use body actions to communicate.  For example, if you ask him wear he got his stamp from, the answer is gymnastics but he'll do a somersault.  I'm sure his vocabulary will bloom just like Collins' did. 

 

Playing| He is all boy with his toy choices.  He loves all sports, baseball being his favorite.  We haven't braved a Royals game with him yet but hopefully in the next month or two.  Whenever he watches them on TV, he says "splash!" because he loves watching the Salvy splash at the end of the game.  He is the happiest outside and is obsessed with his motorized motorcycle nana got him for his birthday.  He took gymnastics over the summer and loved it. He listened surprisingly well and did a great job.  He was also a fish at the pool this summer and was jumping in by himself by the end of the summer.  Despite their hourly fights, him and Collins get along pretty well.  He's going to make a good daddy one day as much as he plays babies with her. 

 

 

 Brooks, your onrery, sweet, funny, cute, happy and smart all rolled up into a little body.  You are a big mommies boy and fill my heart so full.  I wasn't sure if I could handle a boy but you have showed me that I was wrong and that your exactly what our family needed.  We love you like crazy and hope that two isn't too terrible.

 

As always, thank you The Studio for capturing our family. 

 

Brooks at 18 months

He's nearly 19 months but you know what they say, better late than never! And since I haven't even bought him a baby book, I better get an update on the good ole blog.

This will not come as a surprise but little man weighed in at 21 pounds 3oz (3%) and 31 inches (21%). We just don't make large kids. I will say though, he was diagnosed with RSV at this appointment so his eating had been horrible. He weighed 22 pounds the week before when we went to doc for ear infection. You got it, RSV and ear infection all in a weeks time. Before Christmas, he had never been sick (other then a cold) since Christmas (Eve to be exact) he's had croupe, fevers and a sore throat on top of what I already mentioned. Needless to say, we are ready for warmer weather.

Despite his low weight, he can eat like a teenager. He goes through picky stages but he's a pretty great eater. Usually eating 2 helping at every meal. Breakfast foods are his love language and since Collins isn't a big breakfast eater, he gets to polish off her food too. He only likes to drink water. Juice is effy and milk is a big fat NO. We've tried every flavor under the sun and he refuses. So he gets lots of yogurt, cheese and a vitamin. Still wearing 12-18 month clothes. 

Some of his vocabulary includes oh no, no no no (think he hears no very often?), sish (sis), amba (amber), mamy (Amy), tuck (truck) etc. I'm horrible at writing down words he's said but needless to say, he does a decent job repeating any word you ask him too. Only if he wants to though. He could care less about learning his body parts.  He probably knows them but he's sort of a punk. He for sure knows where his belly button is and want's to see everybody's after he shows his.

He loves balls and throws a fit every time we come in from playing outside. We just got our yard fenced so he may spend 99% of Spring and Summer out there. I'll toss him food and water every now and then. He is becoming quite independent and wants to help with meal prep, cleaning, laundry, etc. Kind of nice, kind of annoying. Speaking of nice, he is not always that. He knows how to push buttons and can really get on his sisters' nerves. He is for sure a mam's boy and pretty much wants to be attached to me 80% of the day.  We recently went to an indoor pool and he was hesitant at first but warmed right up.  I think he's going to be a fish like his sister this summer. He likes blues clues, dancing and trying to do everything Collins does.  He dislikes me leaving, the 4:30-5:30pm hour and his sister always being in his face. 

 

Sleeping is his strong point. He sleeps from about 7:30pm-7:30am and takes a 2-3 hour nap.  We haven't braved taking the binky away yet but we try to only give it to him when he's sleeping.  He also loves to cuddle a blanket when he sleeps and prefers his crib. I kind of dread going out of town cause he doesn't always sleep good in a pack n play. 

Brooks, you run wild all day and wear your mommy out.  But at the end of the day, when your fast asleep in your crib, I miss your little guts.  Love you so so much. 

 

 

 

 

 

Brooks at 14 months

At 14 months, Brooks is a boy through and through.  He is wild! Into everything, thinks the word no is hilarious, runs faster if I'm coming for him, hates sitting still, has a sixth sense for open toilets that he can get his hands into and eats as much as a teenager. 

 

 

Became a full time walker about a week after his first birthday and hasn't slowed down since.

 

For the most part he sleeps 12+ hours at night but we also have sleepless nights here and there too.  When he has a good nights sleep, he only takes 1 nap but occasionally has a morning nap or a car cat nap.

 

 

He does a really good job mimicking animal sounds, says mama, dada, hi, I think he was saying Elsie (eh see) today and maybe a couple other words that I can't recall. 

 

Likes: being outside (like obsessed), riding in his wagon, baths, clapping and people clapping for him if he does something good, food, mommy, reading books (like actually sits still and listens) and balls.

 

 

Dislikes: anyone being outside without him, when mommy leaves (sometimes), his sister smothering him and not getting his way.

 

He's definitely harder toddler then Collins was but he can be the sweetest thing too.  He's always trying to get a laugh out of people and has a fake laugh that you can't help but not laugh at. His smile melts me to a puddle and I truly can't imagine life without him.

 

 

 

 

 

Brooks, your crazy but I love you just the way you are. xoxo

 

Brooks at 10 months

I've lost count of how many times people have made the comment that he's almost one! Or he's so big!  Although I'm very aware of these things, I refuse to believe them. 

Stats| I think around 19lbs 8oz and I have no idea how tall he is.  Wearing 6-9 month clothes and size 4 diaper.  He's looking older and older although he's still petite. 

Eating| 3 meals that usually consist of whatever we are eating, 1 snack and 4-5 bottles a day.  He's always been a snacker and even now, he'll only drink about 4 of the 6oz we make him. He can polish off 8oz before bed though. He had his first french fry this month and he refused to eat anything but french fries after he had one.  We were out to eat so I just let him have a healthy french fry lunch so he wouldn't scream. I'd say his 3 favorite foods are strawberries, lunch meat and noodles.  With the exception of honey, I think he's tried just about every food. 

Sleeping| He slept through the night for the first time ever right after he turned 9 months (May 25) and then continued it for almost a week before a tooth started popping through and that sleeping went through the window. I felt bad for him so I caved for about a week but we did one night of crying it out and now he's back to sleeping from about 7pm-7am. 

Play| Army crawling and started to crawl up on his knees.  Pulled to a stand on May 26 and attempted to climb the stairs on June 21.  He always wants to be standing and can stand for about 15 sec by himself.  He let's go of things and tries to take off walking but his upper body goes quicker then his feet which doesn't work out so well for him.  As much as I don't want him to walk, I want him to walk so he'll stop being so clingy! If I am anywhere in sight, he'll crawl to me or scream at me until I pick him up.  He just wants me to stand him so he can have a better view. He finally says mama and I swear he's trying to say bye.

Health| He's had a runny nose for about 2 weeks and I took him 2 weeks ago to the doctor thinking he had an ear infection but they looked great.  He pulls on his ears a lot when he's teething but I wanted to be safe before we went to the lake for the weekend.  I believe he was 19lbs 4oz at that appointment so I took a guess on his current weight. 

Likes| Water! We already knew he loved the bath but the rain finally stopped and we got to take him swimming and loves it.  Sits there splashing or floats around in his floatie.  Mexico next month will be fun.  He finally got the chance to sit in the seat of a shopping cart and he enjoys the view.  Collins either has to sit in the basket part or we get the hideous car carts at the grocery store that they both can sit in.  Boy does he like driving those! He likes swinging, being outside, giving open mouth kisses and riding on daddy's shoulders. 

Dislikes| Being confined in things like his jumper, going inside or having things taken away from him.  I swear our neighbors probably think he's abused from the high pitched scream he lets out when we bring him inside.  I sometimes think he can throw a bigger fit then Collins does.

Your at such a fun and exhausting age.  Stairs with no gate? Crawling straight for them.  Wires? Straight into the mouth.  Silly sounds and faces? The best laughs.  We love you so so much, buddy.

Brooks at 5 months

 This boy has completely stolen my heart.  Every time I look at him I just want to smother him in kisses and eat his cheeks. He's just so easy to please and constantly smiling. I would have never believed you that he'd turn out this great 3 months ago.  Now I'm just going to need to bottle him up and keep him like this forever. 

Stats| We were just at his 4 month appt a couple weeks ago so I'm assuming he hasn't gained much.  Maybe closer to 15lbs now and probably still 25 in.  Mostly wearing 3-6 month clothes but the 6-9 month ones are washed and I made a few 9 month purchases today. Gulp. Size 2 diaper seems to still be fitting.  If you want to buy diapers in bulk, go with #2's.  I think babies are in this size the longest.   

Eating| Milk only for this guy.  Rice, oatmeal (even banana flavored), sweet potatotes and squash are disgusting according to him.  Bite goes in, horrible face, spits it out.  Repeat.  And if you keep trying to shove it down his throat, he WILL puke.  He nurses roughly 7 times during the day/night and drinks 4oz when he has a bottle.

Sleeping| The sleeping needed to change and the 4 month sleep regression is our "this baby has to learn to put himself to sleep."  We did it with Collins too.  We waited till after our travels for Christmas and dove in the week after.  There wasn't much training to do though, he has done so great with being swaddled, sang twinkle twinkle little star and then into the crib he goes.  He'll rub his head back and forth for a bit (forever gonna have a bald spot) and then off to dreamland.  Occassionally we have to go in and give him his binky or re swaddled throughout the night.  The breaking of the swaddle is where we are having issues now.  We are down to 1 arm in and 1 arm out but he hates being swaddled and usually gets the other arm out.  But he can't sleep with both arms free so it's a vicious cycle we are trying to break.  He sleeps 7:30pm-7am usually waking around 1:30am and 5:30am.  I probably go in and give him his pacifier 1-2/night as well.  Ideal sleeping? No.  But so much better then the past. 2, 1-1.5 hour naps and a 30 min. evening nap.

 Play| He rolls stomach to back and is sssooo close to rolling back to stomach.  He'll kick his legs into the air and roll to the side and really arch his back in attempt to roll over.  I love when he puts his tiny little feet in the air and grabs them.  I am a-ok with him not rolling over.  Makes things a lot easier on me when I know he isn't going anywhere.  He can sit for a couple seconds on his own and is a jumping machine.  He's starting to figure out how to jump in his jumper and he cracks up when Collins jumps around trying to get him to jump.  He grabs everything within reach (including sisters hair and although she doesn't like it, she doesn't get upset with him), and puts everything in his mouth. Omg the drool! We need a new Amber teething necklace for his ankle stat.  I am a total believer that it helped Collins.  She never drooled. 

Health| Most sensitive skin ever.  Absolutely no smells for him or he will break out with eczema.  

Likes| Finally a silent passenger in the car!!! Pushing himself up to the top of his crib.  I can have his feet touching the bumper and within 2 minutes he'll have his head to the top of the crib.  Just by kicking and pushing with his feet.  Loves bath time, his mommy, daddy and sister.

Dislikes| Sudden noises, solids, he's had a couple instances where he's pouted his bottom lip and cried with my mom and Amber.  I think we're treading the stranger danger phase even though he's around other people almost every day. 

Brooks, you melt me into a puddle every day.  Your smile is contagious and I adore when you get bashful and hide your face in my neck.  You're such a good sport about your sister always being in your face. You don't mind when we get bored and try headbands on you (ssshhh, don't tell daddy but you make a cute girl).  You have mommy's blue eyes even though you look just like daddy.  Maybe one day your hair will come in but I'll keep kissing that bald head until it does.  You really are the best, bubba.  Hugs and Kisses!

Day he came home vs. 5 months

Brooks at 3 months

 

Stats| No appointment this month so I'm gonna take a wild guess and say he's close to 13lbs and 22-23 inches.  Currently in size 2 diapers and 3-6 month shirts but 0-3 month pants.  Big belly and short leg problems.

Eating| About every 2.5 hours during the day, usually a 5-6 hour stretch at night followed by a 3-4 hour stretch.  I try to give him a bottle before bed but it's usually quicker to just nurse him.  When he takes a bottle, he'll drink 2-3oz. 

 

 

Sleeping| He was doing great and taking a long afternoon nap when Collins does but recently it's been a lot of cat napping.  Sometimes he'll sleep 1-3 hours but its usually 30-45 min.  The only good thing about cat naps is that he's been ready for bed about 7pm.  I make him do a dream feed at 9:30 before I go to bed.  I could never get Collins to wake up enough to do a dream feed but this guy doesn't turn down a meal.  After that little snack he sleeps till about 2:30am and around 6am he's ready to snack again and then go back to sleep in bed with me.   

Play| He'd be totally content with no toys and just his fist.  He goes to town on it and I've been putting a bib on him to catch all his drool.  I'm wondering if a tooth is on its way? His favorite thing to do is lay on the floor and talk to people.  He's getting good at hanging on to toys and when he gets a good grip on one, it goes straight to his mouth.  I sat him in the gumbo chair and he had pretty good head control in it.  He despises tummy time so we gotta work those neck muscles other ways. 

 

 

Health| We are battling a severe case of cradle cap.  He's had it for about 2 months and we've been on a prescription shampoo but it's still not working.  I called the doctor and we started a prescription cream today to go along with the shampoo.  I have no idea why we can't get it cleared up but he constantly scratches it and rubs it on anything he can.  We are on reflux medicine number 3.  He went about a week without any but he was getting the hiccups and swallowing a lot again so we got him back on it.  He's been such a happier baby the past couple weeks.  He still has some screaming fits but I finally don't want to pull my hair out on a daily basis.  Of course he had a 3 hour crying spell when Derek was out of town which led to me crying right along with him.  I was ready to take him to the emergency room but he finally passed out on my shoulder.   We are so glad to be at the end of the colic stage.  He so easily breaks out in a smile, is a chatterbox and has the cutest little laugh.  Whole new baby. Praise jesus. 

 

 

Likes| snuggling in mommy and daddy's bed, eating, anyone talking to him, falling asleep with his binky and the TV.

Dislikes| his binky after he's fallen asleep, his car seat (wwhhhyyyy don't my kids like the car), tummy time and still hates getting out of the bath.

Bubba, Brooksie bear, mama's boy, etc.  You are such a smiley boy now. You just light up when you see someone and always have something to say.  Those chubby cheeks and scrunched nose smiles are irresistible.  I love you so so much. 

Brooks' Birth Story

*The credit for most of these AMAZING pics goes to my sister, Amy.  Seriously, if your having a baby I strongly encourage you to have a photographer there. I treasure these pics and the ones of Collins' birth dearly.  Let me know if you want her contact info!*

 

August 21, 2014 we parked the car at 4:56am for our 5am induction.  It wasn't until we were on the elevator heading up to labor and delivery that a since of panic swept over me.  That hospital smell really made it all feel real and I thought I was going to throw up.  Maybe that was my clue for what later was going to entail.  We got to the desk and told them we had a scheduled induction and they looked at the board and didn't see our name.  Oh hell no was I going home.  It was rough enough leaving my first born, I wasn't doing it again.  They looked in the planner on the counter and sure enough, our name was on there.  Luckily they had a clean room ready for us and didn't make us turn around and go home. 

 

 

 

They needed to monitor Brooks for a bit before they could start me on Pitocin so they hooked me up and we went through all the paperwork, questions and got my IV in.  At 6am I was checked and was 1cm and 50% effaced.  Baby looked great on the monitor and I was actually having some contractions on my own.  Derek wasted no time pulling out the bed and getting some sleep before things started picking up.  I hardly slept the night before but I was too excited to fall asleep.

 

 

Pitocin was started at 6:10am.  It only took about 30 min for the contractions to become stronger and the nurse came in every 30 min to bump up the Pitocin and make them even stronger.

My ob came in at 7:45am and I was dilated to a 2 and had my water broke. Things really picked up after that and the contractions got really strong.  I was in pain and trying to go as long as I could without the epidural. I got to facetime Collins when she woke up and before Amy come up to the hospital.  Amy watched her until Derek's parents got there around 8.

 

 

 

 I finally through in the towel at 10am and got the epidural.  My mom tried to convince me to go without it but there is no way.  I'm a wuss and epidurals are a god send.  Once the epidural had me nice and numb I got checked and was a 4.  Things were going a little slower then I anticipated but I knew after I got past 5, things would probably speed up.

 

 

Derek and my parents left at 11:30am to go up the street and grab some lunch.  Amy stayed incase I magically dilated to a 10.  You know cause pictures are way more important then the dad being there.  They got back quickly and all ate yummy food right in front of me.  Jerks. 

Nausea set in while they were eating their lunch.  I had everyone scrambling around the room trying to find something for me to puke in. I paged the nurse when we couldn't find something but luckily only a tiny bit came up and I swallowed it back down. So gross but better then being all over the bed! She gave me some medicine into my IV to help with the nausea but I didn't notice much of a difference. I never threw up again though. 

 

 

At 12:15 I was a 7.  Now we were on to something.

 12:45, 8cm. 

 

The nurse came in again at 1:25pm and turned down the Pitocin because he wasn't tolerating the contractions and his heart rate kept dropping.  She asked me if I felt any pressure to push and I said no.  She left the room and I kept waiting for this strong urge to push like everyone says you get.  I think the Pitocin just works extremely good on me because I didn't feel a single thing when I had Collins.  I kept telling my mom and Amy that I felt a little different but not pressure.

 

 

 At 1:45pm I buzzed the nurse and said I felt a little something and maybe I should get checked just in case.  She hardly touched down there and said "yeah, your baby is right there."  I gave a set of practice pushes for the nurse and then my ob walked in the door.  She looked panicked and an oxygen mask was placed on me.  I remember hearing his heart rate super slow and they were telling me to breath slow and deep.  Not easy when your freaking out.  My ob hardly got her scrubs on and was ordering me to push.

 

 

 

 

3 pushes and about 30 sec. later, Brooks Anthony was born at 1:55pm.  7lbs 8oz (just like his mama) and 19 in.  I was instantly in love.

 

 

 

He went straight to my chest for awhile before getting weighed and all that jazz. 

 

 

 

Then it was back to mommy and daddy for some alone time.  We really soaked up meeting our newest addition and talking about how different he looked from Collins.  But so cute in his own way.

 

 

 

Then he got to be loved on by the family who was anxiously waiting to meet him.

 

 

Memo and papa brought Collins up soon after he was born.  I bawled as soon as we saw the car pull in and the tears really started coming when I watched her run to daddy out the window.  You'll see that the tears didn't stop for quite awhile.  I made sure to not be holding him when she came in the door and she got to open a present from her new brother before we introduced them. She took right to her brother and wanted to hold him over and over again.  Melted this mommy's heart like crazy. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The nurse came in to give him his first bath and she had many onlookers.  Big sister was very concerned for the crying baby and wanted to be right there.

 

We got moved into our new room and since Amber had just started a new job, she didn't make it to the hospital till after work. 

 

 

 Another easy and perfect labor and delivery.  Our family is complete...for now :)