Growing Up

8 months

20 months

2 and a half years.

Wow. Where did the time go?

Trick or Treat

Brooks didn't want to go Trick or Treating this year. We decided he just didn't know what he was missing out on and "made" him go with us. As you can imagine, it took one house for it to be "game on"! Brooks had a blast and ate way way way too much candy tonight. He told us he had a tummy ache. I told him it was because he ate too much candy. He told me that it wasn't from candy it was from his apple juice. I don't think so, Brooks.

Brooks melted lots of hearts tonight. Who wouldn't smile when they open the door to a 2 year old muscle man saying "Trick or Treat"? And then, to make it even better, Brooks never missed a big "Thank you!" to each person who gave him candy. It was awesome and so is Brooks.

"I got an I Pod Touch, Oh yeah!"

Brooks made his first big purchase today! Brooks has a savings account and this is the very first purchase he has ever made with his own money!

Brooks got an I-Pod Touch! Okay, we know he's only 2, but this kid is obsessed with our I-Phones and the educational apps that we have installed on them. It was getting to the point of us not being able to make phone calls because he was so excited to play the "color game" or the "monkey game" on our phones.

So...we gave in. Brooks is now the new owner of his very own I-Pod Touch. He loves it, knows how to unlock it (4 digit password), knows how to play the movies (Dora, Mickey and Einsteins) and most importantly has learned how to do puzzles, numbers, colors and letters because of the awesome apps that they offer. (Oh, and because we teach him. We don't fully rely on the I-Pod. Don't worry.)

As you can see, he is one HAPPY kid. Oh, and one SPOILED kid, too!

Gerber Baby?

Okay, Okay I know I am her mom, but I seriously believe this little girl could be a Gerber Baby! What mom doesn't say that, but I am in love. I want to take bites out of her chubby little cheeks and snuggle my nose into her formula (Yes, FORMULA!) covered neck. Mmmmm....she is just a edible.

I love her little fingers, her chubby thighs (really, really chubby), her HUGE head and her pug nose.

I think she already says "mama" when she cries without knowing it and the bubbles she blows are the best!

This little girl is one awesome creation.

I am in love.

The life of a 2 year old

Brooks loves to watch Dora. I have (had) a chest full of summer clothing at the foot of our bed. Now, the summer clothing are in a bin and the chest at the end of the bed serves only one purpose. It is officially Brooks' place to lay and watch TV. It is not uncommon for us to come into our bedroom and find this. Brooks even figured out how to turn on SpongeBob the other day. We don't even watch SpongeBob at our house, nor do I even know what channel it is on!

Brooks also loves to play with his sister. I mean really "play with" his sister. Today he decorated her with some "artists" that we had around the house. I assume the sword is a pacifier, the skull must be a belly button cover and the long skinny thing? Can anyone guess what Brooks told us that was? Ha, Ha! He is SO boy.

Brooks is a huge helper in the kitchen. We decorated muffins for fall the other day and Brooks really enjoyed it. He also had fun making Weight Watchers muffins with his daddy on Sunday. Did I mention I am on Weight Watchers and am OFFICIALLY under my pre-pregnancy weight! Woot, woot! I was 10 pounds overweight when I got preggo, but STILL! I only have 6 pounds to go until my "ideal" weight. At that point, I am sure I still won't be satisfied, but I never am. I am working on it.

Brooks is always taking care of Ba-Ba. Here he is, making sure that Ba-Ba is securely placed in Chloe-Belle's car seat. I love how Brooks talks to Ba-Ba like he is human and also treats Ba-Ba like a buddy. For example, he shares everything with Ba-Ba including cookies, candy, suckers...you get the idea. Ba-Ba needs to be washed all the time.

Ahhhh...my two year old. I love him dearly. He is such a lover and such a great kid. I am so blessed.

Pumpkin Party 2009

We hosted a Pumpkin Party at our house tonight. It was a really good time and was so fun to watch all the kids enjoy unlimited sugar! I am shocked that Brooks went to bed right away and was asleep within minutes of being put in bed. He did such a great job tonight, but I am sure tomorrow we will have some tummy aches from all the candy.

Chloe was held almost the whole party by a sweet girl, Katie, who really helped us out since we were the hosts of the party. I wish I would have snapped a picture of Chloe with Katie, but didn't get a chance. She wasn't dressed up, she was simply in fall colors.

Muscle Man! Brooks didn't want to flex until my dad (Opa) bribed him with a dollar. That little stinker!

Greg went to the costume store by himself to pick something out. He called me and told me that he was going to be a "taco". I giggled and asked him what he was "really" going to be. He told me he wasn't kidding. He really was a taco...a very handsome taco. I was a midnight fairy and it was really fun to wear wings and glitter.

Mary Poppins and Bert came to the party too. Mary was handing out sugar...because you know, "Just a spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down!"

Maggie was so cute when describing her doctor costume. She told everyone she was a "flu shotter and a cortisone shotter". Kennedy and Maggie are two awesome little girls (oh wait, I mean an awesome flu shotter and awesome flamingo). Batman was also in the house with his sexy wife Bat Girl. Sweet.

We are all exhausted after the party, but are so glad that our kids will have great memories of fun times like tonight. After all, fun times and great memories for our kids is what it is all about.

Good Night

Precious Girl

My dear Chloe-Belle is getting so big. She is cooing at us, smiling the day away and almost laughing at times. It is late and we are tired, but I had to get these pictures on here as soon as possible. They are my favorites to date. I am sure there are more to come, but for now these are the winners in my mind.

It is so much fun having a girl. Now if I could just go to Gymboree without thinking that my little Chloe-Belle "needs" a new outfit! Ha, Ha, yeah right! I am falling more and more in love with the color pink and the idea that I get to actually buy the color pink for my child. What a blessing.

Thank you Jesus for Chloe-Belle.

Mama's Boy

Oh, what a beautiful weekend. We had such a great time hanging out family outside enjoying God's creation. We unloaded hay to cover the septic, played on the playground, worked around the yard, played basketball and took a hike. It was wonderful. Last night we even had a fire in our fire pit and roasted marshmallows. It was a great weekend with lots of fresh air. I love fall.

On our walk Greg had the camera and took some awesome pictures of Brooks and some that actually included me! Thanks, Greg!

Getting Strong!

Tonight at dinner I told Brooks that he needed to drink more of his milk because "milk makes your muscles strong." So, for the rest of the meal and much of the evening we enjoyed Brooks taking a sip of milk and then showing us his muscles. He did this several times and it seemed to get more hilarious each time he did it. If anything, it was a great way to get him to drink his milk!

Blessed

We are so blessed to have two beautiful children. Brooks has begun to turn an "obedience corner" in the last few days and has been extra fun to be around. He is loving Sunday School and actually cried when he had to leave today. He recites his verses to us and loves to sing his songs from Sunday School. His little spirit is so sensitive and he has become such a lover. Lately, out of nowhere, he has been telling us he loves us. For example, I grunted yesterday while I tried to get onto the bed (sore from the marathon) and he looks at me and says, "It's okay Mama. I love you." It was an instant moment of MELT MY HEART, BROOKS HARTLEY.

Brooks is such a hard worker. When he plays outside (which we do everyday or bedtime is rough), he loves to "work". He has an amazing play set in the backyard, but he prefers to wipe the snow off rocks, clean his daddy's car, clean the patio and pick up sticks. He mimics everything his daddy does, so I guess I can see why he'd rather work then play!

My little Princess Belle continues to be just that. She smiles and recognizes faces now, which is an instant way to melt my heart. Her sleeping is still less than to be desired although she slept over at her cousins house this weekend and decided she'd sleep for 10 hours. Hmmm...nice. It was back to 4 hours last night since her parents were back in town! Thanks, Belle!

Brooks has a gentle spirit. He is rammy and totally boy, but also has such real sensitive emotions. He loves to tell his baby sister that he loves her and he randomly, out of the blue enjoys kissing her. He has done amazing adjusting to life with a sister, even though sometimes he'd like to be a "geel" (girl) as well!

Could I really be more blessed?