Good Day, Sunshine

We headed for Florida a couple of weeks ago with Matt's family and had such a great trip! We couldn't have asked for better weather. Actually, I would have enjoyed temperatures in the 90's, but I think that may have ruined everyone else's trip. The guys spent lots of time golfing, I got to run every day (yay for built-in babysitters!) and on the one rainy day we were able to shop. I could post a million photos here, so I'll try to spare you and get to the highlights. Brooke loved this baby floater as it allowed a maximum pool experience with minimum effort. That's pretty much Brooke's motto.


Of course, we also spent lots of time at the pool and had some great dinners, both in and out - not including Pinchers and their ONE HOUR wait after "call ahead seating." And then they suggested we stack three high chairs on top of one another so Brooke could reach the bar table. Great idea! We politely declined. We all needed a stiff drink after that stress.


Brooke wasn't so sure about the sand. I think she's more a pool girl than a beach girl, like her momma. The sunny weather also allowed for her to capitalize on her sunglasses fetish. No one's shades were safe with her around!




Everyone got a little face time with Brooke. We combined our photos and I think out of about 400 photos, Brooke's in 300 of them. The joys of being the first grandchild/niece...







Brooke relaxed on the plane by listening to some of her favorite tunes. She actually did great on both flights. No sleeping, so WE didn't really get to relax, but also little to no crying/screaming so everyone else on the plane did - except for the poor row behind us that she kept flirting with. BTW, this is another outfit I won't repeat. An older lady had a whole conversation with me about what a "beautiful boy" she was. In my defense, the polka dots are pink and so were her shoes.

Brooke perused "The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo." She thought it was slow to start, but good after the first 100 or so pages.


She tried to get in on the action in the annual family tennis tournament. Jane and I respectfully declined. 2009 champs - Brian and Jamie; 2010 champs - Matt and Mike. The pressure for next year's tourney is already building!



I'll leave you with a few more shots of Brookester. Thanks again for another great trip, Grammie and Grandpa!

Pardon Me...

We're still adjusting to NOT living out of a suitcase like we have the past 2 1/2 weeks.


I promise some Florida/Christmas/St. Louis updates are on their way!

To Hold You Over...

*Another photo courtesy of Grammie*

We're headed to Florida with Matt's family in a couple of days and I really couldn't be more excited. It was a little stressful getting everything ready for Christmas 2 weeks early, but it will be worth it when we escape single digit temperatures for the warm sunshine. We're also really looking forward to quality time with both sides of the family - Matt's up till Christmas, then mine on Christmas and the week after. With that said, unless I'm incredibly ambitious, I won't be doing any posts until we return from St. Louis, so here are some shots that deserve a little face time on the blog...

This was right after Amy and Mati left. So sweet! You can't fully appreciate it from this photo, but Brooke's hair lately could best be described as that of a 40 year-old man with male pattern baldness. She wakes up now with bed head, but only in the back. And of course Oz had to get in on a shot.

She was proudly wearing this Bears hat prior to their beating by the Patriots yesterday.


Have a very Merry Christmas!!!

Santa's Little Helper, Part 2

As promised, here are more shots of Brooke causing a little holiday mischief. She's discovered the tree at Grammie and Grandpa's (thanks for the pictures, Debbie!).


Baby-zilla Attacks the Nativity...


Brooke playing with the nativity magnets that Grandma and Papa T got her last year. That reminds me, time to clean the fridge.



Packing peanuts: 10 minutes of fun for days of clean up. I'm still finding pieces of them 3 days later. Isn't that parenting in a nutshell?



Happy holidays!!!

Ready for My Close-Up

Last Saturday, my friend Danielle was gracious enough to offer to take some photos of our family (that may incidentally be used for our Christmas card). Brooke wasn't as camera-ready as she usually is - we had come from brunch with my cousin, Doug, and it was pretty much naptime - but Danielle was very patient and creative the whole time and got some shots that I LOVE.



It was the first snow of the season and Matt was really excited about getting pictures outdoors. I was just excited that Matt was excited about something related to family photos. Turns out he was right. Those were some of my favorites. And Brooke LOVES the snow. How is she my child? I'm thinking about having a maternity test done. My only regret is that Ozzie wasn't with us for any of them. Maybe next time...


Thanks again, D!

*Note: I'll post more of these pics later. Turns out legit photos take much longer to upload than my dinky camera's pictures.*

Santa's Little Helper

Brooke's been having fun exploring some of the Christmas decorations I've put out (hmm...in looking at this picture I realize it's time to take the price tag off that jingle bell dog). My Aunt Brenda got her this Christmas Elmo and the Little People Nativity set last year and she LOVES both of them. It ends up looking like Baby-zilla's come through when she gets done playing with the nativity - photos of that to come.


I'm hoping she doesn't end up in counseling for this, but we haven't had a tree either of her Christmases. Our family Florida trip has fallen the week before Christmas both years, then we get home and turn around and head to St. Louis, so it hasn't been worth it to get a tree. I LOVE real trees, but I'm thinking we're going to have to give in and get a fake one. I'd hate for her to be the preschooler who visits a friend and asks, "What's that sparkly thing?" when she sees their tree.

I'm also having to be strategic about when and where I wrap gifts thanks to my little elf, but I wouldn't trade it for anything.

Perfect Couple

Our friends, Scott and Kristina, are some of the most thoughtful and loyal people you could ever meet. That's a photo of them at the hospital the night Brooke was born. They're also ridiculously fun and make a pretty perfect couple, which is why we were so excited when the got ENGAGED over the Thanksgiving holiday. We love you guys and can't wait to celebrate with you next year!


Some of the ladies in the wedding party on the night K asked us.


I love a good wedding and I'm pretty sure theirs will be epic (no pressure or anything).