Christmas Eve

Lucy always so happy

We acted out the Nativity,Hannah was Marry, Danny and I were the Wise Men and Brooklyn was baby Jesus

Jake as Joseph taking care of baby

Stephanie reading about the true meaning of Christmas

Baby Clara always smiling, she is such a great baby

We spent Christmas Eve at Richard and Stephanie's it was great to have a casual night. It was Pj's and pizza with the family. We acted out the nativity story and talked for a little while. It started snowing that night which was exciting because we were guaranteed a white Christmas! This Christmas Eve we got to bring, Nana Maria and Grandpa Karl it was a treat for us, fun to have family around for the holidays.

More Snapshots!

Our lights after some snow, it looked pretty in person

Brooklyn's favorite sleeping position
Uncle Ricky and shy Hannah
Cousin Jake so happy to have a new cousin

Christmas Cookies

Some of the girls got together at Jenny's new house to bake cookies and treats for the holidays. We had a good time talking and baking. After everyone finished there treats, they were divided up and shared with everyone. It was a great way to get a good variety of treats and not have to bake them all yourself.

We Finally got out!

So Nana Maria came into town late Thursday night the 18th and Friday night we got invited to go bowling she did not want to go so we volunteered her to babysit Brooklyn and Garrett. We had dinner at home first and went back and forth with Matt and Marin if we were going to go and finally decided we would for a few hours. We were glad we decided to go, it turned out to be really fun. Nana was excited to babysit and they were both angels, they slept the whole time. It was cosmic bowling night which made it funner. I sucked so bad, it was pathetic. Danny and Marin were the bowling champs, they showed everybody up.
Matt

Crazy, tired parents
Matt, Marin and Sara

Out Visiting!

Holly holding Brooklyn

Miss these girls, fun trip to visit the aerobics girls

Tummy Time - thanks Aunt Melinda for the great quilt I love the colors

Cheese! Big smiles for daddy

Snoozing in the office

Gotta love friends!

Typical work day for Danny, Brooklyn on his lap either on the phone & designing on the computer!

Why are you taking pictures of us! Brooklyn with her friend Garrett, they are about 3 months apart

They still think I am crazy for taking pictures of them. One day I will get a picture of Garrett smiling and you will fall in love with his smile like I do!

We have been very fortunate to have found a great place to rent and having great neighbors that have become good friends of ours. We have meet several other couples through them and we all have a good time together. Last Sunday Marin and Matt brought over dinner, which is always great to not have to cook and spend time with friends. It is fun to watch there baby grow up and learn things about ours and what we have to look forward to.

First Snow Fall

Mommy trying to take photos of me, the bow was quite big, perhaps a few more months
The white skin is starting to break through poor thing no hiding that white glow
Sunday was the first official day of snow this is a view down our street
The front of our house, it is always so peaceful and clean when it snows
Before the snow view of the Christmas lights

Random Pics

Trying to get a pic with her holding her head up, I was not fast enough
Getting ready to take Nana to the airport
Love my soft purple blanket, thanks Grandma Karen

Such a proud Nana

Finishing touches on Christmas decor

Dad trying to get the baby to relax
Nana came for the weekend she held the baby while Danny and I set up the tree. Thanks to Grandma Little all we had to decorate ourselves was the tree and the outside lights.
Danny putting up the lights outside
The clouds Saturday night on our way back from the airport picking up Nana

Day out and Fun Gifts!

Brooklyn's first time in her carrier and day out. We went to Lowe's to get a Christmas tree
Emergency Diaper changing kit, a gift to Danny from his customer Steve from Powertank
This was a clever and funny gift for the Dad, much needed since he does most of the diaper changing! What a good dad and husband
So peaceful if only she slept that good at night!

Thanks Grandma and Papa

The puzzle dad did to keep busy or to keep from getting bored!

We got to enjoy having Grandma and Papa here for a week and a half. Brooklyn is grandchild #18 for mom and dad. Thank you both for coming up and sharing the first week of Brooklyn's life with us. It was great to have you here, we truly enjoyed having you. Thanks for all the groceries, the yummy cinnamon rolls and all the meals. Mom thanks for cleaning the house you were a big help.

We missed you as soon as we dropped you off, hopefully we will get to see you again before you go on your mission (which I am happy for you guys, but can not even think about you going without crying - I know selfish, but I am escpecially now that we have a child to share with you)

Thanks agian for all your help, we love you! This is when it is hard to be away from family, can't wait for Brooklyn to meet her Aunts, Uncles, and Cousins.

New Parents

It's our "Thriller" Baby, she learned some moves while in the womb!

She likes her swing, she hangs out in the office with mom and dad learning about the business

Taking an afternoon snooze always has her fists up ready for attack

Even dad needs to take a mid-afternoon nap once in a while!

These are just some random pictures taken over the last few days, we have enjoyed looking at our beautiful daughter thinking we are pretty lucky to have her. It has taken some getting used to understanding what she needs and no we have not figured her cries out yet. Does anyone ever really?

Well you might say we are new parents and a little unsure of the parenting thing Brooklyn has been to the doctors 3 times already and the lactation nurse once. She was born at 8lbs. 12oz., by the time we went home Wednesday she was 8lbs. 9 oz.. Then Thanksgiving night Danny noticed that she had a rash all over her body, we called the nurse (thanks to Aunt Stephanie coming for a visit) they said she should be fine just come in on Monday for her 1 week checkup. Well Friday came adn it did not look any better so I called the doctors and said I need peace of mind can I just come in. Sure enough it was some crazy medical name and they said some newborns get it and it should go waya in a few weeks to months and she wasn't pooping so they probed her a few times to help that one (happy to say the rash is almost gone and the bowel movements are just fine). At this appointment she was down to 8 lbs. 1 oz about 7% drop from birth border line to watch her. Saturday morning we went to a lactation nurse she helped.

Brooklyn's 1 week check up was Monday (12/1) she gained some weight, hooray she was 8lbs 3oz (75% for weight), 19 3/4 in ( she grew from 10 1/3, 50% for height). Things looked good mom got a lecture from the doctor to take naps and only worry about feed ing myself and the baby. That is hard for me to do because I am so particular about how my laundry and things get done that I have a hard time having someone else do them for me. We took her back to the doctors this past Monday (12/8) for the PKU test and to be weighed again she is now up to 8lbs 8 oz. so things are looking up! Back to the doctors next week until she reaches her birth weight again, good times over here, sure glad the doctor is down the street.

Kinda crazy how nervous you get about things on your own baby, you start to question every little thing.

So many things to be thankful for!

Aw so Peaceful, thanks Marin for loaning us Garrett's bouncer she seems to like it!

Mom has one REALLY sore breast so this is the temp way to feed, pump the bad one and feed it to her through the tube while she is feeding from the good one, breastfeeding is so much fun!

Our Little Turkey! Thanks Claudia for the cute outfit we got it when we got home from the hospital

The day we brought her home from the hospital, our sleeping beauty

Now that Danny is back at work I guess it is my turn to update the blog, although I think he does a better job. The command station he had going on at the hospital with the labtop and the phones was quite the opertation, even the doctor was impressed. I have a short window before Brooklyn wakes up to post. I have some new pictures, but won't have time to put those up tonight perhaps tommorrow.

This past Thanksgiving was really nice, mom made her famous homemade rolls so yummy! Danny and I stayed home while my parents went to dinner at Richards. Ricky brought over some yummy dinner and we enjoyed just being a new family together. Danny and I were telling each other things we were thankful for and both ended up in tears looking at out new daughter, thinking we have cried more in the past two days than she has!

The whole motherhood thing is crazy the birthing alone, wow no ones tells you about that, now I know why! It is hard to believe I am a mom. All though I have been a bit emotional lately, pretty much do to lack of sleep and difficulty breastfeeding, I am so grateful for the opportunity to be a mom and have a family. When I look at her it somehow makes it all worth it.

This holiday season is a special one it has helped me to think of the many great things I have and to be so grateful for them. Danny is amazing, if I did not have his support I could not have done this without him. I am very fortunate to have him at home working and that he cares so much about how to take care of me and Brooklyn. He is with me every step of the way, sometimes a few steps ahead. Our families and friends have been great checking up on us to see how things are and what they can do to help. Thank you everyone for all your love and support, it had been greatly appreciated. We are very fortunate to be loved by so many people and now Brooklyn gets to be a part of that, couldn't ask for anything better.