Eating on the Run

Since Brooke is now doing three solid meals a day, she's graduated to her booster chair (why did we get a high chair???) at the dining room table for dinners with us. It's pretty fun. We basically spend most of the meal just watching her and laughing. On fajita night, she had some of my avocados and black beans. Turns out she WILL eat avocado when she's able to use her fingers.


When eating at Grammie and Grandpa's, she's now sitting in the Alley children's old high chair. Almost 29 years later, I think it's safe to say that this high chair is quality.


We do still take the Bumbo with us on occasion, although her Thunder Thighs are limiting her days left using it. We took it over to Great Grandma and Great Grandpa Johnson's and Brooke had a fun time eating dinner with Great Grandpa while Great Grandma fed her. (Happy Birthday, Great Grandma!!!)


Great Grandpa wanted to "pound it out". She wasn't too sure.

She really gets a kick out of him!

And...she noticed the camera. Candid photo shoot over.


We're headed to St. Louis again for my favorite niece's birthday. See you next week!

One Size Fits "Most"

Brooke's pretty consistently on the smaller side of the clothing spectrum: she's just recently legitimately fitting into her 6-9 month clothes. This hat, however, is for an 18-24 month-old.

File This One in the Huge Folder Labeled "Athletics"

Brace yourself for another sports-related post. While I was at a continuing education course on Saturday, Matt and Brooke had a little daddy-daughter date. Naturally, their time together included a stop by the WWS field and a photo-op at the State Championship banner.


The next day, the White Sox clinched first place in their division, so Matt had the idea to wear matching Sox gear to family dinner and I was pretty happy to comply. Yep, we're THAT cool. Anyway, considering the Tigers, the Hawks, and now the Sox, Brooke's had a pretty charmed first year, sports-wise.

Just 'Cause

Nothing new to report. We've had a pretty low-key week here. It's been really nice to just get caught up on the house and spend time with the Little Lady. Here's a picture of Brooke and Ozzie hanging out in the only shade provided in our yard after about 11 AM. We haven't been able to do much of that this week as it's been so hot and humid.


Lately she's been doing this mad scientist-like laugh when she's excited about something. Her whole body tenses up, she wiggles her hands and feet, and lets out this guttural giggle. We see it mostly at mealtimes. Hopefully I'll get a video of it one of these days.


Speaking of videos, I was able to get one of her briefly clapping the other day. She was a little distracted by trying to get something (nothing) out of the pail.

And speaking of meals, we've seen her doing the sign for "more" the last several days. It's not totally consistent and I'm pretty sure it hasn't completely clicked with her, but it's still cool to see the pieces coming together in that giant noggin of hers. Her other trick is to spit food out of her mouth by blowing "raspberries". I made the mistake of laughing the first time she did it, so it's becoming a regular occurrence. It's still cute now, but talk to me in a few more days. Again, hopefully I'll get some pictures of it.

For the Dogs

Saturday marked Matt's and my sixth wedding anniversary. Our wedding photos aren't on this computer and it's not worth the time that it would take for me to figure out how to scan one in, so instead enjoy this picture of us from Mike and Jane's wedding almost 2 years ago. I looked better in this wedding than my own, anyway.


We had so many fun things planned that we labeled this weekend the "Anniversary Weekend O' Fun". Actually, I labeled it that and Matt made fun of me for doing so. Our weekend began with my seeing Eclipse with the girls Thursday night (easily the best Twilight movie yet). On Friday, Matt and I played golf then had dinner with his parents. On Saturday, my parents came in town and watched Brooke so we could go out to dinner and a movie (Wildfire and Solitary Man, respectively. The movie was a HUGE disappointment. I don't get to see many movies out these days so I'm really annoyed when I waste a night on a bad one. That's what we get for being indie movie snobs.). My parents also got up with Brooke in the morning. We slept until 8! We went to church and capped the day off with a BBQ with friends and family at our place.


We were excited to be around for the 4th this year. We typically travel (many times not in the US) during our anniversary, but for whatever reason, this year we were actually home to enjoy the 4th with fellow Americans. Some of those "fellow Americans" happened to include our crazy neighbors who were shooting off a ridiculous amount of clearly illegal fireworks. Also included in that group were some of our friends' dogs. We ended up with four dogs running around our place, three of which are under a year old. Brooke had a great time playing with them, especially Maggie. Ozzie also had a good time with them, but we don't think he really realizes that he's a dog, so he stuck pretty close to us.



All in all, it was a great long weekend and extended celebration of the best six years of my life!

8 Month Update

Brookester turned eight months old on Sunday. We celebrated with some (gag) chicken and sweet potato baby food. I don't think it's a coincidence that Ozzie is MUCH more interested in the smell of her food when there's some "meat" in there. As long as I'm not the one grinding the meat, I guess...


She's become quite the social butterfly, flirting with the people behind us in line at the store or at the next table over when we're eating out. She's also learned that the louder she "talks", the more quickly she gets attention. Just yesterday, we were on a walk with Ozzie and, no lie, the man an entire block ahead of us turned around in response to her "talking".


She loves to clap. We're working on waving and high fives. She's become quite the momma's girl, especially when she's tired. (I'd be lying if I said I didn't secretly kind of like it.) She's starting to get her first tooth and aside from being a little more tired than normal, she seems to be handling it really well. Because she's so laid back when being held, my Dad's given her the nickname "Noodle". As far as the crawling thing? Check back with me in a few months. She's in no hurry, so why should I be, right?


Brooke really is such a sweet, social, happy baby. We continue to marvel at how blessed we are and try to treasure every minute. For your viewing pleasure, I'll leave you with a video of her and Matt playing. Notice her noticing the camera about halfway through. Little ham!

Culver-ized

We got back from our trip to St. Louis late Thursday night and turned around Friday afternoon to head to Culver, IN, with our friends Jeff and Michelle and Scott and Kristina. Jeff's parents have a house there and were gracious enough to let us stay for the weekend. Thank you, Clausens!


It was a really great weekend with great friends. Jeff is a phenomenal water skier and every morning a group headed out to the boat for some skiing while the water was calm. In the afternoons we would take walks, boat rides, or just hang out on the screened-in porch.


The town is such a cute, throwback town. We didn't use a car (except to load gear on to the boat), television (except to watch "The Italian Job"), or a computer all weekend. So relaxing! And at night, we played multiple games of Settlers of Catan. A board game that other people enjoy?!? Be still my heart! (Brief sidenote - 1) I could play board games every night; 2) We were introduced to this game by our friends, The Murphys, several years ago. It sounds incredibly dorky and you feel kind of foolish explaining it, but once you catch on, it's addictive!)


Brooke loved the boat. The life jacket, not so much.


After some protesting, she eventually just kind of resigned herself to being uncomfortable.


She was noticeably more happy/comfortable by the second day.


In packing all of her water/sun/boat things for the boat, I neglected to pack her restaurant stuff. So rather than focusing on how she's disgustingly eating leftover coleslaw off of a dirty table, focus on her nice pincer grasp.