Six Months...

Hard to believe Brooklynn is half way to her first birthday! Her six month check up was today; she's 16 pounds, 2 ounces and 26 inches long (exactly 10 pounds and 6 inches gained since birth).

She is now reaching for and grabbing everything in sight and tormenting her puppies to no end (they have learned to stay just a few inches short of her reach). This past month she has started to roll around all over the place and 'motor boat', or do raspberries as Anamanda calls it.

Here are some pics from this past month's adventures:

Watching Uncle Joe at Highland Games with Anamanda

First play date with Lilly FosterReady for a stroll with Mom and the Puppies

Playin on the bed and rollin around

First Luncheon/Shower with Mommy and her friends Friends since High School

Trying to eat Lilly's arm

If they're anything like their moms... this could be trouble!

Brooklynn 4 Months.. Photos by Debbie Devita

These are a little late being posted. I had to scan them (which explains why they're a little off color)..

Five Months and Counting

This past month has been full of new discoveries and milestones. To touch on a few; her hand eye coordination is in high gear, she has started to teeth and is putting everything and anything in her mouth. She still loves to talk and laugh, much like her mom, and has this little 'ha ha ha ha' she says over and over.

In loving tribute to Michael Jackson, one night we switched up playtime from the normal tummy / exercise routines to dancing to his music. Needless to say, it was a hit, she LOVED it! It was the first time we heard her giggle uncontrollably with these deep belly laughs. As you can imagine, we have now incorporated dancing into our weekly activities. We tried to video it a couple of times but she gets camera shy.

This month included her first 4th of July. We went to Grandfather Golf and Country Club's gathering at the beach and much to our surprise, she wasn't the least bit scared of the fireworks.

Happy girl Lookin mischievous (and drooling of coarse)
4th of JulyWatching the fireworks (Aunt Lydia went with us)
Holding a bottle all by herself

Father's Day Weekend

We had a wonderful Father's Day weekend; Patrick, Aunt Lydia and I went to visit Uncle Joe, Anamanda (we figure Brooklynn won't be able to say Aunt Amanda for some time so we shortened it) and cousin Boss in Wilmington.

It was Uncle Joe's first time meeting his adorable niece and I think you can tell from the pic, he was a little excited! Joe's mom and knitting extraordinaire, Kris, took us all out for an amazing Father's Day brunch at Boca Bay. We were so sad to see the weekend end!

Uncle Joe was all smiles

Two of a Kind

Instant BondingShe loved climbing all over him (Boss is a little over it)
Hangin' dockside with her Aunties
Chillin in the shade with mom
Ms. Kris was so excited
Father's Day Brunch

Four Months...

Today was Brooklynn's Four Month check up, besides having her second set of vaccines, she's doing great and continues to grow by one pound and one inch a month (13 pounds and 24 inches).

This past month she has really started to show expression and is talking all the time. Her favorite spot in the whole house (besides mommy and daddy's arms) is her changing table. She loves to be naked and look all around and talk, laugh, wiggle, stretch and squirm. She really is a very happy, sweet and loving baby.

Blowing bubbles

In her element

So sweet and sleepy after her bath

Perfect First Mother's Day

I couldn't have asked for a more perfect first Mother's Day! Besides the obvious reasons, it was particularly special being Brooklynn's dedication at church. We thank God everyday for blessing us with this perfect little angel and for trusting us with her life.

Our Pastor, Dr. Bill Jones It was truly a special day for all

Big Day

Not only is today Brooklynn's birthday of 3 months, it's her first day at Daycare. It just doesn't seem right that this day is here already. She is getting so big; she weighs 12 pounds and is 23 inches long.

We've had a big time this past month as she continues to melt our hearts with her sweet personality, expressions and mannerisms. She has a curiosity unlike anything I've ever seen and looks like a deer in headlights with her eyes open as wide as they will go while she looks around. She loves to be held and walked around so she can discover the world around her. She also loves to turn her head from side to side, looking back and forth, back and forth just taking it all in.

She is still very much a wiggle worm and loves to kick and stretch out. Her communication skills are improving everyday, she talks all the time and tries so hard to get words out. She has a favorite toy she talks a lot to, a little stuffed sheep we named Chloe that her friend Weston got her.

Some pics from the beach..

It's a ... Family Tradition

Now that the Howard Family Vacation series begins, it brings back memories of some good 'ol Van Pelt vacations. It's no secret that we never had anything materialistic to speak of, yet my parents always found ways to enrich our lives in so many other ways. I am so grateful for their desire to go and do and let us experience the world around us. I can honestly say I have been to almost all 48 states, have flown all over the country and have driven cross country several times.

Those cross country trips would take us weeks to do being we would take different routes every time and stop at any and everything there was to see. Reno, Grand Canyon, Hoover Dam, Las Vegas, Yellowstone, Yosemite, New York City, Atlantic City, Carlsbad Caverns, Atlanta... I could go on and on. And that's not to mention all the little touristy adventures we came across along the way. I can remember seeing signs for parks, western villages, historical sites, etc and stopping to get out and explore.

I realized a while ago that my parents didn't necessarily do this for us girls and I love this about them. When they returned from Cocoa Beach, FL a couple years ago, they had pictures of them at Disney World, Universal Studios, Daytona Speedway and Kennedy Space Center. Every time they go somewhere, if there's something worth seeing within a reasonable distance, they are there.

This is definitely something I want to establish as a tradition and carry on with our family. So starting now, with our first official family vacation, we are making it a tradition to seize the moment and world around us.

Go Beach!

is what Patrick used to say very excitedly when he was little getting ready to go to the beach. Needless to say, GO BEACH, we are packing up the family, all five of us (dogs included), and heading to Harbor Island, SC in the morning for a week! Yay! Well, kind of. Next week also marks the LAST week I have of maternity leave which makes today a very sacred day being my last day home with just her and I.

I knew this time would come and that my blissful 12 weeks at home would come to an end, I just never imagined it would feel like this. It's so hard to explain how much I LOVE being home with her. Not to say I don't love my job too, I do, and everyone at Diamond Creek has been more than amazing, I just don't want to miss a second of her life and worry about all the things every new mother worries about when faced with this crossroad.

I know we'll get through it and am not going to focus on the negative or make it worse by dreading it, rather I'm going to enjoy every second of these next 10 days. This beach trip will be a fun adventure and the first of many fun-filled family vacations!

Easter 2009

Gettin ready to dye Easter Eggs

She slept through most of it Dressed in her Easter Best ~ hat and sweater made by Kris Welliver

Two Month Check-Up

Today was Brooklynn's two month check-up and first visit with her Pediatrician, Dr. Yale. He reported that she is 'beautiful and perfect', which of coarse we knew! I must admit, it never gets old hearing it.

She weighed in at 10 pounds, measured 22 inches long and had her first set of shots which made both her and mommy cry. Those cries of pain are so different from normal cries and it absolutely broke my heart. Thankfully, we both survived and she was back to her normal happy self by bedtime.

Milestones, she continues to build strength in her neck, arms and legs and loves to kick and wiggle. She loves to listen to music. True to her roots, she seems to like country the best; Alabama, Diamond Rio, Rascal Flatts and of coarse I had to throw in a little Old Crow Medicine and OAR.

Her communication skills are steadily improving; she can have complete conversations through her little eyes, sounds, sighs, coos, grunts and faces. She is becoming more animated and emotional everyday and is quick to communicate what she wants, what she likes and what she doesn't like. One of her new favorite past times is taking a bath in mommy and daddy's big bath tub.

A few more pics from her second month..

Dinner time with Grandpa Howard

Snuggle time with Granny Howard

Poochy pouty lips

Fighting sleepBath time

Little faces