Flashback one year ago!

Its hard to believe but my baby is ONE!  It seems like yesterday Derek and I were Christmas shopping in Elmira when I started to have contractions..although at the time I did not believe they were contractions.  It was while we were in Dicks Sporting Goods and Derek was looking at all the newest and coolest golf clubs that I sat on the bench and thought to myself...this really could be it!  We continued shopping and stopped around 8:30 at Friendly's for dinner on the way home.  I started timing my "crampy things" that I still wasn't convinced were contractions and realized they were about 7 or 8 minutes apart.  We finished eating and came home.  I called labor and delivery and told them I had no idea what was going on but thought something might be wrong..or right.  They told me to relax and time the "contractions" (still wasn't convinced) and to come in when they were 5ish minutes apart or the pain got to hard to handle.  So I insisted Derek go to work since I STILL wasn't convinced it was labor.   Derek went into work around 11pm and I sat in the tub for a while listening to music. I got out of the tub and by this time was pretty convinced it was the real deal.  I slowly got around and started packing my bag to go to the hospital. Around 1 o'clock I called Derek and told him to come home because I was going to go to the hospital soon.  Derek came home and we debated on waiting for a bit longer...around 2 o'clock we headed over to the hospital.  I walked into L&D and told them I still wasn't exactly sure what was going on (HAHA) but thought it might be labor.  Well it was labor!  At 5:17 the next afternoon Brooklyn Ann joined the world at 8lbs 7oz and 20inches long.  From that moment on my whole world changed!

She is my biggest accomplishment in life and my greatest joy!  I did not believe it was possible to love someone so much.  She has shown me what true love really is.  I also did not realize it was possible to worry about someone so much...and this worry has only grown along with her.  I worry more now than I did the day she was born.

She has changed so much in a year!  She went from a tiny helpless bundle of joy to a strong, independent, stubborn, loving, silly, little girl!  Its crazy the difference a year makes!

At 12 months Brooklyn:
* Walks...no I mean runs! She started walking at 11months!!
* is Strong and independent.  Pulls herself over things, climbs whatever she can, and knows exactly what she wants...even when mommy and daddy have no idea!
* Babbles some pretty crazy things..not sure what she is saying but it sounds like it makes sense to her! Her only real words so far are mama, dada, and dog...and i'm pretty sure she says shoes but that could just be me! :)
* Learns and remembers things that we teach her with her toys and on the Ipad.
* Loves music..especially the Old McDonald Song...mommy and daddy are getting tired of it!
* is starting to pick and choose what she wants to eat...but doesn't usually turn down cheerios, mandarin oranges, peas, chick peas, eggs, toast, spaghetti, cheese, mac n cheese, bananas, or apples.
* got her first boo boo - fell into the fireplace hearth and got a small cut next to her eye :(  She took it like a champ though.
* has celebrated all of her first holidays now!
* is a big sister!!
* likes to walk in the tub instead of sit...and constantly falls and gives mommy a heart attack
* loves to laugh and giggle as she tortures the dogs and her brothers
* loves to play with her big brothers and misses them when they are not home
* dances along with any music she hears
* can find your nose, hair, and eyes

From this tiny baby to a very strong willed toddler.....Love you Brookie boo!



Some pictures from her party:

Fall Fun with the kids!

We have been able to do lots of things with the kids this fall!  We made a trip to the pumpkin farm, played in leaves, and carved pumpkins!  It has been fun watching the boys share all the new experiences with Brooklyn.  Here are a few pictures..

Brooklyn refused to stand by the growth chart lol...maybe next year

Derek's second mini me

Brookie and the boys...she was slapping Colton's head haha

Sitting in the pumpkin patch!

Daddy and Boo bear! 

Her first trip to the pumpkin farm!

She didn't want to sit still for anymore pictures lol

First time in the leaves!  

Trying to eat the leaves..and anything else she gets her little hands on

Painting her first pumpkin

She was very delicate at first...

Then had more fun painting herself lol

Getting ready to help the boys carve pumpkins

She wasn't real sure about the pumpkin guts

Colton and Derek

Zach working solo this year! 

Dylan also working solo but still needing some help..

The finished products!

Colton's, Zach's, Dylan's, and Brooklyn's

Love this picture of all the kids! 

She loves to swing! 

My sweet baby <3

11 months old today!!

11-9-13....Eleven months ago my biggest joy in life was born!  I can not believe she is 11 months and will be one year old in one month!!! It makes me excited to watch her grow and learn but makes me sad that she isn't a baby anymore. We have started planning Brooklyn's first birthday party.  Im having a blast planning and getting ideas from pinterest!  What would I do without pinterest?! We are having a Winter ONEderland theme party.  Complete with polar punch, snowballs (powder covered donuts), a warming station (hot cocoa bar), and lots of other cool things!  I can't wait to decorate and see Brooklyn with her cake!

Brooklyn also just celebrated her first Halloween! It was warm out (60 degrees!) but unfortunately, it was rainy!  So we walked around with the boys for a while under her stroller canopy and umbrella but didn't stay out too long.  Colton and Dylan went trick or treating...but sadly, Zachy thinks he is too old.  So he stayed at Grandma's and handed out candy while we took the other two boys and Brooklyn.  We met up with Lilley, Carter, and Kylie and they all went together.  Dylan was a ghouly ghost and Colton was a ninja!  Brooklyn was dressed up as a pretty little mouse!

So even though Brooklyn is 11 months...

During her 10th month Brooklyn:

* Weighs 25 lbs and is 31 inches long!! 

* is moving a cruising all over

* is starting to get brave and take a few steps at a time

* loves to laugh when she makes the dogs jump

* loves to feed herself and eat all kinds of food

* wants to stand in the bath tub now instead of sitting

* does not like to keep a hate on her head

* or keep socks on her feet

* started adding whole milk to her bottle (towards the end of 10 months)

* is starting to jibber jabber more and is making different sounds

* starting saying mama!!  

* likes to feed the dogs from her high chair

* likes to drop food onto the table or floor from her high chair

* likes to stuff her food beside her in her high chair

* is sleeping through the night again!!  usually about 10 hours

* has 8 teeth!!

* loves playing with her brothers

* is starting to dance a little when she hears music

* learned how to climb stairs

* can unlock the dog crate and let Zoey out! 

* can make my worst day the best! 

Some 10 month pics: