Troubles & Triumphs of a Growing Family: December 2013

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