On vacuuming the carpet...

Today's parenting lesson:

You never really know how dirty your carpet is until you have a baby rolling around on it.

Thats right folks, we have a roller! She rolled tummy-to-back early last week and went through a phase where she would consistently roll to her back if we ever laid her down on her tummy.  The first time she did it Brett was down encouraging her and when she did it we both cheered and clapped.  I think the whole experience scared her because she started crying. Often she will prop herself up while on her tummy and "play" with us if we are down on her level.  Then when we get up or stop engaging her she decides she is done and will simply roll over.

Then on Monday of this week I put her on her back and looked over seconds later and she was on her tummy.  She has been twisting her body getting ready to do this for quite some time so I wasn't too surprised.  I got up and put her on her back and she did it again!  And just like that, it was official.

Since discovering her new talent this little girl does not like to lay still.  Yesterday I laid her down and she rolled over and then scooted herself on her belly a couple feet off her blanket and across the carpet. Here is where I learned the truth about my carpet.  I went to go pick her up and she had a lovely ball of hair in her hand.  Gross! I know!  Last night Brett was watching her and she rolled over 6 times in a row!  So it looks like I'm going to have to get her a bigger blanket to play on and vacuum more often. She is still just figuring out the whole being able to roll and get places thing, but it won't be long before she is seeking out her toys and being able to entertain herself for longer periods of time. I think she is really enjoying her freedom and I am going to enjoy not being the one who has to constantly move her around when she gets bored.

And for your viewing pleasure here is a video of her rolling to her tummy.  (Sorry for the abrupt ending, Brett came into the room and scared me...)

Brooke's Baby Blessing

We had the beautiful experience to bless Brooke while in Portland over the holiday break.  We had lots of family there to celebrate with us and I am so grateful for Brett and his righteous example and ability to preform the blessing.

My lovely and talented mother made the dress she wore. I was very impressed and she looked beautiful in it. Brett's mother provided the little bracelet that makes her look so lady like and dainty! Brooke also had a beautiful heirloom handkerchief bonnet from one of Brett's grandmothers for the special day.

We did the blessing at my parent's house and Brooke was having an excellent morning, until it was game time.  The second they started the blessing she started screaming.  Poor Brett could harldy hear himself think over her screams.  I heard every word though and was brought to tears.  Brooke is loved by so many people including her Father in Heaven.  I just hope that I can do my part as her mother to help her become all that she can be.

Smith side 

Bracelet 

Bonnet  

Dress

Clark side

Christmas 2012

We celebrated Christmas 3 different times this year.  We loved being able to spend time with family and we were well taken care of.  Everyone also seemed to like the presents we got them so that always feels good too.

Brooke met Santa

Brett and I celebrated an early Christmas in Houston.  We opened our presents for each other and the presents we each got Brooke.

This picture was taken after we told Brooke that not ALL of the presents were for her.

Brooke loved looking at the Christmas tree lights

Then we went to Portland where we celebrated Christmas with the Clarks.  These pictures are courtesy of my Dad's camera.  

We also had a mini Christmas celebration in Baker City with the Smith's but unfortunately I didn't take any pictures.  Aside from opening presents our trip was filled with other fun events but those pictures and details will have to wait for another day when I have more time.

Brooke: 4 Months

Month 4 was a big one for us!  And like usual, I have lots of photos to share!

Height: 23 in. 10th %tile

Weight: 11 lb 5 oz. 10th %tile

Head: 16 in. 40th %tile

She grabbed onto the sides all on her own. Although we'll have to work on the "between the knuckles" grab.  

• She is still short but starting to get a little meat on her bones. Her height to weight percentile is 25% which we are very happy about! We have moved out of all the newborn clothes though and she fits nicely in the 3 month clothes. 

• We spent half of the month away from home visiting family for the holidays.  This was kind of rough on Brooke and her schedule but she loved having all the interaction. 

Playing with Uncle David and Aunt Linda

•  Thankfully, she outgrew her aversion to strangers and was more than happy to dish our her adorable smiles to anyone and everyone she saw. 

• Sleep is still a struggle at times but getting better.  While out of town she had lots of practice sleeping in the car and falling asleep with both grandmas but did not want to sleep at night.  She was up every hour multiple nights.  No fun. 
• We had her baby blessing in Portland with all our family together to celebrate.  More pictures from that event in a future post. 

Love her blue eyes! 

• At home she does much better. She is sleeping on her own at nights and usually for one nap a day (a recent development).   

• Her new medicine has fully kicked in and is working great.  A huge part of her sleeping better is in thanks to the meds.  She no longer grunts and tosses and turns and wiggles all night.  Just a few times as she gets comfy.  
• Probably the hardest part of this last month was the nursing strike that Brooke went on when we got home from vacation.  Our guess was a combination of getting over a cold, a learned preference for the fast and easy flow from the bottle she used more often during the trip, and a confusion from the change in schedule/time zones. We are still working on getting back to our normal schedule and hoping that she doesn't decide to do that again! 

Uncle Tyler and Aunt Nicki got her this ball that is supposed to help her hold a bottle. We haven't had the chance to use it yet but she loves playing with it and smooshing it into her mouth.

• She gained even better control over her hands and now will grab at, hold, and bring toys to her mouth.  The first official reach/grab/hold movement was on the way home from church in her car seat as she stared at and then wrapped her little fingers around one of her rattles. 

• With her newfound ability to move her hands, EVERYTHING goes into her mouth now.

• She LOVES to stand and will often straighten her legs and "demand" to stand if we try to hold her any other way. 

Proud of herself playing in the jumperoo at Grandma Smith's house

• Brooke and Dad have just about perfected their "trick" of standing in his hand. 

She was smiling all proud of herself until I got the camera close then she gets this lovely face

• As seen in the previous post's videos she has definitely found her voice and loves making noises. She is loud and we can always tell when she is in a good mood because she will be talking up a storm. 

She smiles and giggles when we kiss her

• Still loves bath time, splashes lots, and likes watching the water pour from her toy onto her belly.
• Brooke loves to look around and will follow every action of something if it gets her interest.  Me drinking from a water bottle, eating, clapping hands, etc etc.

• She likes hands and at times can be easily entertained simply by moving our fingers and hands. 

Playing with Grandma Clark

• She also likes her own hands and they are often in her mouth.  She seems to chew on them sometimes but we are hoping the teething stage holds off for a little longer. She also will suck on her fingers for short periods of time.

• Her hair is growing and getting rather long on top and in the back.  Parts of her bald spot are growing in slowly but surely. 

• Brooke did great traveling on the airplane (nursed and slept the whole time) and even in the car.  We were worried about the car ride but we had a bottle handy and it would help her fall asleep for a bit and then she'd wake up and play again.  

She spent a lot of time in her car seat but still loved getting all bundled up and going for walks

• Blowouts and throwups.  She had a major blowout diaper during the first day of driving.  We had to stop on the side of the road to clean her off and change her clothes.  It was freezing outside (snow and all) and poor thing was getting wiped down with wet wipes. We also accidently overfed her on the second day and she threw up just minutes before our final destination. 
• Even when she has a blowout Brooke doesn't seem to mind a dirty diaper.  She does, however, like getting her diaper changed. 

Smiling at Grandma Clark during diaper duty

• Still not rolling over but she is getting better at holding herself up during tummy time.

Just chilling on my tummy like a big girl (this picture was not posed by me and totally makes me laugh) 

• While laying on her back she likes to twist around and look up and back. She seems to get scared if she starts to tip though and will jerk herself back. 

• She got her shots and although she cried, I did not.  This was an improvement from her last set of shots when I cried along with her.  On a related note we REALLY like her new doctor!

Overall its been another good month.  We loved spending time with family and Brooke went through a withdrawal when we got home and I was the only one around again.  Brooke is officially out of the newborn stage and is a full on baby. We love watching her learn and grow each day.  Its hard to notice when we are with her everyday but looking back at old pictures/videos we are amazed at how different she is.  

Babbling Brooke

I meant to post this on Thursday but wasn't able to finish uploading the videos and then forgot. Sorry about the delay. On a related note I have unfinished posts about thanksgiving, Christmas and Brooke's 4th month. So stay tuned.

....

Brooke is 4 months old today! I don't have access to the laptop to do the official post but figured I'd get these videos up here instead. Before Christmas break I was trying to get a video of Brooke "talking" I never got around to posting any but now she is past the talking stage and prefers to "sing". Sorry the videos are kinda long, I don't have a way to edit them on the iPad. The first is from about 3 months and 1 week. The last is from a few days ago, just shy of 4 months.

Also here are some pictures I took this afternoon of her. What a cutie!

Disclaimer....yes she kind of looks like a boy in her "boy" swing and with her blue jacket on in the video. Oh we'll.