Dear Brooklyn,
Last month your dad and I joined this really cool gym called Sky Fitness. I've been doing really good about getting there about 3-4 times a week and even did an hour cardio session this past Sunday as a "bonus" workout! You aren't interested now in lifting weights or aerobic activity but someday you will be.
Today one if the Sky employees asked how I was enjoying the gym- I said I loved it and so did my son. Then he laughed and mentioned that all the workers loved him and also voted him "Best Dressed in December" - I thought that was pretty cute :) And to top it all off, you went today in your Buzz costume!
I love you in whatever you're wearing!
Love,
mom
Monday, January 24, 2011
Saturday, January 8, 2011
Naked Nu Nu Man
Dear Brooklyn,
Something you've been asking to do lately is to run down the hall...naked :) After a dirty diaper has come off and I've wiped your bottom clean, you ask to run as a "naked nu nu" I think it's so funny that you love being naked so much and that it's such a treat to run while naked.
I'm sure when you're older you will love that I've posted this sweet, mildly personal baby moment~
Love you,
mom
Something you've been asking to do lately is to run down the hall...naked :) After a dirty diaper has come off and I've wiped your bottom clean, you ask to run as a "naked nu nu" I think it's so funny that you love being naked so much and that it's such a treat to run while naked.
I'm sure when you're older you will love that I've posted this sweet, mildly personal baby moment~
Love you,
mom
Monday, January 3, 2011
Fatherly Advice
Dear Brooklyn,
Last night we went to a great little place called Chipotle for dinner. Rachel and Aaron met us there after our Ohio trip to see grandma Grace. As we were standing in line a man said to dad "I'll trade you sons" and then laughed, Chris asked how old his son was and the man said 21. Later on he and I started talking and I asked him if he had any advice for new parents, here's what he said:
1.- Document EVERYTHING: you think you will remember all the little things... but you won't. Write it all down .
2.- Time: remember that you only have a short time together, so spend as much of it together as you can, kids acquire 80% of who they will be from birth-3 years old. Don't waist that time- spend it together.
3.- Be very careful who you let them hang out with: their friends will determine their future. Don't worry about hurting your kids feelings or offending their friends.
... He then went on to say that his son was in prison :( He will be sitting in prison instead of living his life, he chose bad friends and they influenced him too much. His son had potential to play college baseball and instead threw his life away. He said briefly is was from alcohol influence as well. His throat was a little horse and he explained he just made it through throat cancer and it made him think about the things that are most important in life. It was his kids and his family. NOT a car, house, clothes or STUFF.
I was thinking about this sweet dad and how sad it must have been for him to be in the hospital with cancer and not have been surrounded by all of his family. I will never forget that man's courage to share his son's failures with a perfect stranger- me.
I want you to know son that the Lord is teaching me daily how precious my time is with you right now. That you will never be young again and just BEING with you is the most important thing. I'm learning that a clean house, the latest fashion or all the stuff I want will never compare to how valuable you are to me.
I love you-
mom
Last night we went to a great little place called Chipotle for dinner. Rachel and Aaron met us there after our Ohio trip to see grandma Grace. As we were standing in line a man said to dad "I'll trade you sons" and then laughed, Chris asked how old his son was and the man said 21. Later on he and I started talking and I asked him if he had any advice for new parents, here's what he said:
1.- Document EVERYTHING: you think you will remember all the little things... but you won't. Write it all down .
2.- Time: remember that you only have a short time together, so spend as much of it together as you can, kids acquire 80% of who they will be from birth-3 years old. Don't waist that time- spend it together.
3.- Be very careful who you let them hang out with: their friends will determine their future. Don't worry about hurting your kids feelings or offending their friends.
... He then went on to say that his son was in prison :( He will be sitting in prison instead of living his life, he chose bad friends and they influenced him too much. His son had potential to play college baseball and instead threw his life away. He said briefly is was from alcohol influence as well. His throat was a little horse and he explained he just made it through throat cancer and it made him think about the things that are most important in life. It was his kids and his family. NOT a car, house, clothes or STUFF.
I was thinking about this sweet dad and how sad it must have been for him to be in the hospital with cancer and not have been surrounded by all of his family. I will never forget that man's courage to share his son's failures with a perfect stranger- me.
I want you to know son that the Lord is teaching me daily how precious my time is with you right now. That you will never be young again and just BEING with you is the most important thing. I'm learning that a clean house, the latest fashion or all the stuff I want will never compare to how valuable you are to me.
I love you-
mom
Saturday, December 25, 2010
IT'S CHRISTMAS!!!
Dear Brooklyn,
I thought I would take a moment on this quiet Christmas morning to remind you of some amazing Christmas memories. You and dad are asleep still at 6:15 am and for some reason you've been getting up 1-4 times a night this week, coming into our bedroom and thinking it's morning! (the dark mornings sure don't help either) so this morning I just couldn't get back to sleep when you came in at 5:30~ all I kept thinking was that it was CHRISTMAS morning!!!!
Dad- I mean "Santa"- stayed up later then me putting your train, scooter and truck together and in front of the tree! It looks so great and I am admiring it with coffee in hand, pandora Christmas playing and soaking it all in.
This Christmas season has felt the most "un-Christmas" I've ever had: we've been looking at houses, having ubber amounts of showings to work around, neither dad or I can really think of much we want or are excited about ( in the line of presents for ourselves) because we just want our own house and furniture for that house!
Of course, we've walked through the Rhema lights, drove through neighborhoods looking at Christmas lights (which you ADORE) baked and decorated gingerbread men with friends, decorated a gingerbread house with dad, sat on Chick Fil A Santa Cow's lap, watched Polar Express and Elf (we tried other movies... you were NOT feeling any of the other ones) we've shopped for lot's of gifts and you helped me wrap presents.... but really it all really FEELS like Christmas when you, me and dad are together opening presents!!! Maybe cliche but oh well.
Yesterday we started a new Christmas Eve tradition and went to the gym early and worked out! Let's just say I'm feeling a little sore from that work out! We joined this amazing new gym (Sky Fitness and Well-Being) They are a really cool kid's area with games, slides and coloring! I also promise you a bag of organic gummy bears after every gym visit... hmmm that's not bribery is it?
This week we just started a new game downstairs: I hide all your stuffed animals (all 10) and you and dad come downstairs in the dark with your flashlight and "search" for them! You LOVE this game and say" igain" after each round!
Well I better get some food prep started before you boys wake up!
Love & Merry Christmas my sweets-
Mom
I thought I would take a moment on this quiet Christmas morning to remind you of some amazing Christmas memories. You and dad are asleep still at 6:15 am and for some reason you've been getting up 1-4 times a night this week, coming into our bedroom and thinking it's morning! (the dark mornings sure don't help either) so this morning I just couldn't get back to sleep when you came in at 5:30~ all I kept thinking was that it was CHRISTMAS morning!!!!
Dad- I mean "Santa"- stayed up later then me putting your train, scooter and truck together and in front of the tree! It looks so great and I am admiring it with coffee in hand, pandora Christmas playing and soaking it all in.
This Christmas season has felt the most "un-Christmas" I've ever had: we've been looking at houses, having ubber amounts of showings to work around, neither dad or I can really think of much we want or are excited about ( in the line of presents for ourselves) because we just want our own house and furniture for that house!
Of course, we've walked through the Rhema lights, drove through neighborhoods looking at Christmas lights (which you ADORE) baked and decorated gingerbread men with friends, decorated a gingerbread house with dad, sat on Chick Fil A Santa Cow's lap, watched Polar Express and Elf (we tried other movies... you were NOT feeling any of the other ones) we've shopped for lot's of gifts and you helped me wrap presents.... but really it all really FEELS like Christmas when you, me and dad are together opening presents!!! Maybe cliche but oh well.
Yesterday we started a new Christmas Eve tradition and went to the gym early and worked out! Let's just say I'm feeling a little sore from that work out! We joined this amazing new gym (Sky Fitness and Well-Being) They are a really cool kid's area with games, slides and coloring! I also promise you a bag of organic gummy bears after every gym visit... hmmm that's not bribery is it?
This week we just started a new game downstairs: I hide all your stuffed animals (all 10) and you and dad come downstairs in the dark with your flashlight and "search" for them! You LOVE this game and say" igain" after each round!
Well I better get some food prep started before you boys wake up!
Love & Merry Christmas my sweets-
Mom
Thursday, December 16, 2010
Things Red and GREEN
Dear Brooklyn,
Wow things have gotten more crazy, more hectic and through it all you are still your sweet self. Christmas is next week and we've been finishing up our shopping (but what about those non-existence Christmas cards? sorry family and friends- not sure if those will happen this year)
You've been helping me wrap gifts (you're the tape man) hang ornaments, make countless gingerbread men and in the midst of this all I've started our family eating more RAW.
I can't explain how amazed I am at your willingness to drink and eat so many new foods! We juice "green lemonade" every morning (kale or spinach, celery, lemon, ginger and apple) and you adorably call it apple juice (let's be honest their IS an apple in there) but... it's green :) You even downed a "green smoothie" (banana, water, spinach and strawberries) yesterday without taking a breath! I am so proud of you for eating so many new fruits and veggies and more daringly trying drinks that are GREEN.
We also are looking for a NEW NEW house, yes not one of the 5 houses we've lived in since April, and not the Sandusky house we've driven by, prayed over and waited on for the last 8 months... but a BETTER house. The Lord has a plan for us and while we wait for it to unfold we are hanging out in our Toledo house. You really love this house: you have your own room for JUST TOYS!!! we have stray kitties that play with you, it has hardwood floors for you to slide around on and mom and dads bedroom is only one room over.
I'm sure we will look back on this time and see that the Lord was teaching us lot's of new things... but I'll be honest it's been harder then I thought. You've been awesome during so much change, but I'm really ready to have a house to call our OWN! oh and to get rid of all the boxes and to officially UNPACK everything! (after 3 months of looking I finally found our blender!)
Love & hugs-
Mom
Wow things have gotten more crazy, more hectic and through it all you are still your sweet self. Christmas is next week and we've been finishing up our shopping (but what about those non-existence Christmas cards? sorry family and friends- not sure if those will happen this year)
You've been helping me wrap gifts (you're the tape man) hang ornaments, make countless gingerbread men and in the midst of this all I've started our family eating more RAW.
I can't explain how amazed I am at your willingness to drink and eat so many new foods! We juice "green lemonade" every morning (kale or spinach, celery, lemon, ginger and apple) and you adorably call it apple juice (let's be honest their IS an apple in there) but... it's green :) You even downed a "green smoothie" (banana, water, spinach and strawberries) yesterday without taking a breath! I am so proud of you for eating so many new fruits and veggies and more daringly trying drinks that are GREEN.
We also are looking for a NEW NEW house, yes not one of the 5 houses we've lived in since April, and not the Sandusky house we've driven by, prayed over and waited on for the last 8 months... but a BETTER house. The Lord has a plan for us and while we wait for it to unfold we are hanging out in our Toledo house. You really love this house: you have your own room for JUST TOYS!!! we have stray kitties that play with you, it has hardwood floors for you to slide around on and mom and dads bedroom is only one room over.
I'm sure we will look back on this time and see that the Lord was teaching us lot's of new things... but I'll be honest it's been harder then I thought. You've been awesome during so much change, but I'm really ready to have a house to call our OWN! oh and to get rid of all the boxes and to officially UNPACK everything! (after 3 months of looking I finally found our blender!)
Love & hugs-
Mom
Monday, November 15, 2010
Holiday Ideas
Dear Brooklyn,
It's official the holidays are around the corner! It's 1/2 through November and I can't wait to start holiday decorating, events, movies and Christmas shopping. We've been going to toy stores and letting you give us ideas of what you like. So far, you want anything Toy Story :)
Besides holiday shopping we have some fun events coming up: this Saturday is Philbrook's Festival of Trees and its one of my favorite things to do to start off the holiday season. Lot's of local artist make trees, gingerbread houses and holiday items to sell and raise money for Philbrook art museum. This year Marmie and I are submitting pieces. It's been one of my dreams to enter a tree and I just finished it this morning.
I have a list of things to do and movies to watch this holiday season:
MOVIES:
Home Alone
Elf
Christmas Vacation
A Christmas Story
Polar Express
To Do:
Build Gingerbread House
See Rhema Lights
Bake Cookies
Buy and decorate Christmas Tree
Drive around town looking at Christmas lights
Go to Utica Square and shop at night with hot chocolate from Starbucks
I think that's most of what I can think of right now... I love you and can't wait for you to experience Christmas this year!
Love,
mom
p.s. this photo was from our first attempt at a Family Christmas photo... although dad doesn't like it.
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
In Those Crazy Times
Dear Brooklyn,
This morning was the last day of my Bible study and your Grammy and Pop Pop played with you all morning. When I came to pick you up... you were CRAZY WILD.
Not like the regular B I'm used to- you were soooo tired from not having a good night sleep (believe it or not- we all woke up from real cats fighting outside our windows, anyways) While driving home- you were very disobedient. You pulled my hair, hit me while I tried to buckle you in your seat, then pulled your straps off ( I pulled over and spanked you) then you wouldn't get back in your car seat or get buckled up... ugh.... it was horrible.
You cried the whole 5 minute ride home- ok it took about 10 because of you're temper tantrums, then when we got home I sat you down and told you why you were getting spankings- you cried and said no no no- but after your spankings you stopped, we hugged and then cuddled. You wanted to cuddle and giggle with me... the one who you were hitting 15 minutes prior.
All this to say- you have the best heart- it's so tender. On those rare days that you get a bad night sleep and throw fits- you still want to hug and be with me. I cannot explain the overwhelming love I have for you- even in those crazy times, I still love you.
Being a mom helps me to understand (just a little bit) our Heavenly Father's love for me. To think- he loves me when I throw fits, disobey and cry about things not going the way I want them. He is patient with me, thank you my sweet B for making me a mom and helping me to understand love a little bit better.
Love,
mom
This morning was the last day of my Bible study and your Grammy and Pop Pop played with you all morning. When I came to pick you up... you were CRAZY WILD.
Not like the regular B I'm used to- you were soooo tired from not having a good night sleep (believe it or not- we all woke up from real cats fighting outside our windows, anyways) While driving home- you were very disobedient. You pulled my hair, hit me while I tried to buckle you in your seat, then pulled your straps off ( I pulled over and spanked you) then you wouldn't get back in your car seat or get buckled up... ugh.... it was horrible.
You cried the whole 5 minute ride home- ok it took about 10 because of you're temper tantrums, then when we got home I sat you down and told you why you were getting spankings- you cried and said no no no- but after your spankings you stopped, we hugged and then cuddled. You wanted to cuddle and giggle with me... the one who you were hitting 15 minutes prior.
All this to say- you have the best heart- it's so tender. On those rare days that you get a bad night sleep and throw fits- you still want to hug and be with me. I cannot explain the overwhelming love I have for you- even in those crazy times, I still love you.
Being a mom helps me to understand (just a little bit) our Heavenly Father's love for me. To think- he loves me when I throw fits, disobey and cry about things not going the way I want them. He is patient with me, thank you my sweet B for making me a mom and helping me to understand love a little bit better.
Love,
mom
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